Mulatto continues to open doors. But her name is still ruffling feathers. We talk to five Mulatto fans and asked if the rising star should change her controversial name. Last week, Mulatto’s rap name was the topic of conversation. Attention for the rising rapper usually arises due to her biting bars and the bass-heavy beats … Read moreShould Mulatto Change Her Name? Five Fans Weigh In
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the legendary New York City club Giant Step. To celebrate we took a look at the club’s ’90s heyday, hearing from the voices who lived it. By now, hip-hop’s lineage with jazz, funk, and soul has a well-trodden history. From being highly sampled in golden era classics to … Read moreA Brief But In-Depth History of Giant Step, The Pioneering Club That…
Slowed and reverb and lo-fi hip-hop share some distinct similarities, with both subgenres birthing their own subcultures online, and becoming the soundtrack to Generation Z. On TikTok, the hashtag for slowed and reverb has over 30 million views. Among some of the top videos associated with the hashtag are DJs making slowed and reverb remixes … Read moreLo-Fi Hip-Hop Has Become One Of The Internet’s Most Popular Subgenres; Is…
Released a year before 9/11, Outkast’s hit single Stankonia “B.O.B.” was cultural commentary misinterpreted as outright patriotism. In 2018, Istanbul-based conflict and human rights journalist Shawn Carrié headed to Baghdad to report on the city’s post-war reconstruction. As he’s done throughout his career in the Middle East, he stuck with the same cab driver for his … Read moreSept. 11 Turned OutKast’s “B.O.B.” Into A War Cry
Over the last couple of months, celebrities and influencers have rushed to OnlyFans, utilizing the platform as a marketing tool. What does this mean for the Black sex workers who built up the platform? Rapper Rubi Rose was at her mom’s house in Gwinnett County, Atlanta on a mid-summer afternoon when she announced on Twitter … Read moreWhat is the Future For Black Sex Workers on OnlyFans?
Both rap veterans and contemporary up-and-comers rely on independent music venues to sustain themselves, but the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a majority of those venues permanently closing. In June, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) conducted a survey with over 2,000 of its members, which includes venue owners, bookers, and promoters throughout the United … Read moreCan Hip-Hop Shows Survive When 90 Percent of Independent Music Venues Face…
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s explicit anthem “WAP” is the most talked-about song of the year. But it’s not unprecedented. Hip-hop has a long history of sexual anthems from women rappers. On August 7th, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion debuted their radical, sexually explicit song “WAP.” From the beginning, the song is … Read more“Let’s Have A Sex Talk”: The Eras of Sex Talk By Black…
With COVID-19 not going anywhere, rappers have gotten into the business of selling hand sanitizer and masks. We spoke to the artists and, in some cases, teams behind these protective pandemic gear initiatives. The global COVID-19 pandemic has spread around the entire world and uprooted the lifestyle that we previously believed to be normal. More … Read moreHow Rap Is Profiting Off The Hand Sanitizer & Mask Game
Contemporary rap classics, regional hits, deep cuts, and standouts from some of rap’s youngest stars have become the soundtrack to protests around the country. As the nation continues to erupt in protest in demand for justice for Black lives, chants of those slain, as well as chants like “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No … Read moreFrom “Fuck Tha Police” To “Dior”: What Is Soundtracking Protests Across The…