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…
A fresh haul of indie artists to explore and support on Bandcamp Friday. What was once a short-term campaign to supplement the incomes of working-class musicians is now a cornerstone policy at Bandcamp. Until further notice, the indie-friendly streamer is waiving its cut of sales every first Friday of the month, offering artists a reliable … Read more15 Independent Artists to Support on Bandcamp Friday (December 2020 Edition)
Behind The Beat is a new series where we talk to rap producers about the making of their most iconic beat. For our second edition, we speak with Ski Beatz, who crafted Camp Lo’s iconic single “Luchini AKA This Is It.” Hip-hop had never seen anything quite like Camp Lo before. The Bronx rap duo, … Read moreBehind the Beat: Ski Beatz & Camp Lo Created a New Language…
Consider supporting Black art on Black Friday by shopping these books. This past summer, as Black Lives Matter protests erupted across the globe, it became evident that racism and anti-Blackness aren’t regulated to policing but through all industries. Book publishing is no exception. While the conversations about Black people’s relationship with police pivoted to conversations … Read more15 Books By Black Authors to Support on Black Friday
Ahead of the 20-year anniversary of Mama’s Gun, a retrospective look on why Erykah Badu’s sophomore album is better than her debut. “Never expect anything from an artist because we like to change and grow. Music is therapy and depending on what I need, that’s what I put out. I never underestimate the audience’s ability … Read moreErykah Badu’s ‘Mama’s Gun’ Is Better Than ‘Baduizm’
It’s been nearly eight years since Pro Era co-founder Capital STEEZ died. And despite the fact fans have heard little of STEEZ posthumously, there remains a small, dedicated cult following engaged with the rapper’s story. The rap group Pro Era stands around in a circle in The Source’s downtown Manhattan office, their young, eager faces … Read moreWhat’s So Special About Capital STEEZ?
We spoke with entrepreneur Telsha Anderson to get an understanding of how she was able to launch her Black-owned New York City-based business during COVID-19 quarantine. Opening a store in the middle of a global pandemic might not appear like the most logical thing to do. But Telsha Anderson, an inspiring young entrepreneur, decided to … Read moreThe First 90 Days: What Telsha Anderson Learned Opening a Black-Owned Business…