Rap Essays

The Grammy winner opened up about how the rise of GLP-1 drugs is changing visibility for women who look like her.

Never forget the pioneers. Before Troy Ave called out Kendrick, Andre 3000 was the original "weirdo."

Who had the best rap album of the '90s? It matters, but it's not *all* that matters. A closer look at experience vs. knowledge.

Skew it on the bar-b: A review of Australian-American Iggy Azalea's "The New Classic," an unusual record.

Future's "Honest" drops into the world Future created. But can his art live up to his influence?

Both ATL and the City of Angels are flourishing in '14, but which city is really on top? Los Angeles vs. Atlanta.

When a rap fan's favorite rapper blows up, it might not be as great of an outcome as it once seemed.

"Don't be afraid to get old, man...you may learn some sh*t. You may know some sh*t. You may see some sh*t."

Thirty-five years after "Rappers Delight," there are still innovators and emulators. A look at what biting means in 2014. Every day a new rapper pops up.

Hip-Hop has had a presence at South By Southwest for a long time, but my how things done changed. Here's a look at how rap has evolved at the festival over the last 14 years.

Get a preview of the rising L.A. star's big debut.

The press calls it the "loud music trial." That's not what this is about.

Being the best mixtape rapper doesn't mean what you think it does.

No really: The year after DJ Drama was busted, before the implosion of Kim Dotcom's MegaUpload empire, 2009 was the best year for rap mixtapes ever.

No poetic justice...unless you're Pharrell.

It's not polite.