Nas, a rap great by any measure, has released four studio albums in the last 12 years — all ambitious, all restless, all with their own cohesive artistic thread. And despite none of them being as groundbreaking as his storied 1994 debut Illmatic or as narrative-grabbing as his 2001 return …
Read More »DJ Khaled's Brand Wears Thinner on 'Father of Asahd'
DJ Khaled has now released 11 albums in 13 years, and, if nothing else, Father of Asahd is certainly, as the man says, “another one.” As usual, the DJ/hypeman/impresario’s latest 15-track collection boasts a slew of superstar team-ups along with some of the hottest working producers and dares you to …
Read More »Song You Need to Know: Lil Zay Osama, 'Changed Up'
Chicago is making the most beautiful rap music in the world right now. Over half a decade removed from the drill scene’s peak, the subgenre’s musical descendants are blossoming. The subject matter — survival, betrayal and death — remains intact, but the music beneath the lyrics has turned from sinister …
Read More »Black Lives Matter Petitions Against Deportation of 21 Savage
On Sunday night, Atlanta rapper 21 Savage (real nameShe’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph)was arrested and detained by ICE, which claims that he is British and illegally overstayed a visa issued in 2005. In response, a petition from Black Lives Matter Global Network has been released, demanding that Abraham-Joseph’s potential deportation be halted. …
Read More »A Good Music Video Can Get You a Grammy Nomination
Childish Gambino‘s “This Is America” is not one of the best songs released in the past year. It’s a good song— frantic and mournful and rattling— but it’s not one of the best songs of the year. Yet there it is, nominated for both a Song of the Year and …
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