Heaven Studios, Inc / Entertainment One U.S. Royce 5’9″ is an old dog teaching hip-hop new tricks. Having released more than two decades of music both as a solo artist and in groups like Slaughterhouse and Bad Meets Evil, Royce has become a familiar, reliable presence for rap fans. Yet after making a career relating his experience through hard-nosed, deft lyrics, the Detroit […]
Columbia Records Lil Xan is the latest millennial rapper to fall victim to hip-hop’s purist firing squad—and it’s not just because he’s 21 years old, covered in face tattoos and chose a prescription-turned-recreational drug for his moniker (albeit projecting an anti-Xan stance). Xan’s recent backlash is all because he seemingly defaced hip-hop’s Mount Rushmore by calling Tupac’s […]
In 2018, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to distance the artist from his or her art. This especially holds true when entertainers are facing legal charges as daunting as those of XXXTentacion. The Florida artist’s entire career thus far has been riddled with bad press stemming from a laundry list of disturbing allegations. When he exploded onto the mainstream […]
In the final battle scene of the 2002 film 8 Mile, Eminem’s character B-Rabbit goes toe-to-toe with his antagonist Papa Doc, leader of the rival crew dubbed Free World. Instead of slinging insults at the character (played by Anthony Mackie), B-Rabbit’s disses are self-inflicted, leaving Papa Doc with no fodder for a rebuttal. Papa Doc stood […]
PRhyme Records In 2018, hip-hop’s generational gap is seemingly wider and deeper than ever before: You’re either all vibes and slurred rhymes or lyrical-miracle traditionalist. The stereotypes—clearly hyperbolic, if not dangerous—position participants of the same culture in opposition. You might think DJ Premier and Royce 5’9″’s deadly rap duo PRhyme would stand firmly with the purists. But […]
August Greene Hip-hop’s newest supergroup emerged in January after Common announced that himself, Grammy-winning jazz percussionist Karriem Riggins and acclaimed pianist Robert Glasper had teamed up to form August Greene. Less than two months later, the trio’s eponymous debut offering is here. While Com’s spoken-word flow can get monotonous and the album is a bit too one-note to live […]
All Money In/Atlantic Nipsey Hussle has been practicing quality over quantity since he low-rode his way into the game more than a decade ago. The Slauson boy has dropped 12 solo mixtapes and a handful of collab projects that speak to and for the streets. And he really lives the hustler mentality that he weaves into his bars […]
Dreamville/Interscope Most aspiring rappers view signing a deal with a major record label as confirmation that they’ve made it big—more like a finish line than a fresh beginning. Once the ink dries, these artists can lose the sense of hustle that landed them their spot in the first place. Luckily, J. Cole protégé Cozz doesn’t subscribe to that kind […]
Quality Control Music It’s hard not to give the Migos credit for shaping the sound and state of rap music in 2018. The last five years—with heightened emphasis on the past two—have been nothing short of a total Migos-subjugation. Not only has their distinct flow and delivery become a standard amongst rappers of varying generations, but their […]
CupcakKe may be famous for her eyebrow-raising lyrics about sex and sexuality, but even her earliest songs like “Pedophile” and the electro-infused LGBTQ anthem “LGBT” have showcased an artist with near-boundless thematic and stylistic range. The Skittles-tinged 20-year-old continues to display that versatility on the sonically kaleidoscopic Ephorize, a striking blend of pop sensibilities, gritty lyrics and blunt self-help advocacy. The […]
