NPR

'Rapper's Delight': How hip-hop got its first record deal

Hip-hop was born at a party in 1973, but it'd be another six years until the first commercial hip-hop records. People have differing views of it, but the release of "Rapper's Delight" changed history.
Rolling Stone

How Little Brother and Rap Portraits Made One of The Year’s Best Music Documentaries

For some, life is a series of chance meetings with historical consequences. Little Brother, the trio comprised of rapper/singer Phonte, rapper Big Pooh, and (formerly) producer 9th Wonder met on the ...
Okayplayer

From the Basement to the Culture: How ‘Rap City’ Became Hip-Hop’s Eternal Pulse

We sat down with the Chicago native, Lili-Anne Brown, to discuss the American perspective and the legend that continues to be Fela Kuti. “Rap City was a religion. The hosts were the disciples,” former ...
Rolling Stone

How Babyface Ray Became the Rap World’s Favorite Rapper

Near the end of fashion week, and a day before the VMAs, New York is even more bustling than usual. At Manhattan’s Sei Less, Detroit rapper Babyface Ray and I got a glimpse of just how popular he — ...
The Root

Bigger Than Rap Beef: Here’s How Kendrick Lamar’s Epic Juneteenth Concert Made Hip-Hop History

Sometimes you have to pop out and show people…and that’s exactly what Kendrick Lamar did on Wednesday night at his surprise Juneteenth concert in Los Angeles. Arguably the most L.A. setlist of all, ...