hip hop
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Mic Drop: Are We on the Come-Up?
We all know music can be a useful outlet for all of the pent-up shit we deal with, whether we’re simply listening to it or actually making it—and on the subject of “making it,” this week’s music releases all had a major “come-up” vibe to them. For instance, I was really excited when I saw…
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Hip-Hop Legend MF DOOM Dies at 49
This past Halloween, hip-hop lost one of its greats. MF DOOM, aka Metal Face, aka King Geedorah, aka Viktor Vaughn, aka the Villain, was as eccentric as he was talented and through both traits, he built an underground following and a hip-hop legacy that is literally like nothing we’ve seen before. This is a man…
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Iconic Hip-Hop Artist John 'Ecstasy' Fletcher of Whodini Dies at 56
It is with great sadness that we report that John Fletcher, one third of the ’80s Brooklyn-based hip-hop trio Whodini, has died at the age of 56. Fletcher’s family shared the news of his passing on Wednesday in a statement sent to Billboard: The African and Native American ancestors have gathered around and chosen this…
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Auntie Unfiltered Catches Up With the Legendary MC Lyte
Hey nieces and nephews! Have I got a treat for you this week. How many of you are fans of hip-hop? I mean real fans, like you know the history and who came when and that type of stuff? I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Ms. Lana Michelle Moorer, known the world…
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'Blow the Whistle'! The Next Verzuz Will Be a 'Rappers' Ball' With Too $hort and E-40
You hear that? That’s the collective coalition of California yelling, “Wessssiiiiiiiiiiide!” On Sunday, the official Verzuz account announced the next lineup will be Too $hort and E-40, titled “Legends of the Bay!” Too $hort Verzuz E-40 will take place Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET and, per usual, fans can tune…
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'We Need to Be Unified': LL Cool J Drops a New 'Rock The Bells' Collab With a Focus on Bridging the Divide
Just last week, we revisited the culture-shifting moment in 1999 when LL Cool J subverted retail juggernaut Gap by sporting a FUBU cap while appearing in a commercial for the brand. The moment was a gamechanger, both for the independent Black brand founded by Daymond John and for the culture, at large; a subconscious reminder…
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The Anniversary of Mary J. Blige’s My Life Is Almost Here and I Can’t Help but 'Be Happy'
Nov. 29 marks the 26th anniversary of Mary J. Blige’s sophomore album, My Life. It’s an album filled with stories of trials and triumph, but most importantly it’s a breakthrough album that set the tone for both R&B and Blige’s career trajectory. Boasting fire-ass hits such as “Mary Jane,” “My Life,” “Be Happy,” and the…
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Good News! Megan Thee Stallion Is Showing Off Her Body-Ody-Ody-Ody of Work in Debut Album
Extra extra, read all about the extra sizzling hotness coming your way on Friday! Megan Thee Stallion’s debut album, Good News is finally here! Since we’re talking about being “extra,” we all know by now that Meg doesn’t do “basic.” Along with a whole-ass album dropping, she also released a sexy and empowering music video…
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'Believe It or Not,' Jeezy and Gucci Mane Will 'Put On' for the Verzuz, and I Think Black Twitter Loves It
The year 2020 is really bringing people together—first Will Smith and Janet Hubert…now this! What is “this,” you ask? Well, Gucci Mane and Jeezy have officially been confirmed for the next round of Verzuz. They’re kicking off Season 2! The whole thing was a whirlwind, actually. Fans first saw the news via Gucci’s Instagram page…
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'Welp, Kanye West 2024': Rapper Concedes 2020 Presidential Race, Will Not Run This Town Tonight
For those of you who were expecting to tell Kanye West, “Congratulations, President-Elect Kanye West”…well, you can’t tell him nothin’. We may not know yet who our next president is—but it certainly isn’t Kanye. According to Billboard, Kanye admitted defeat in the 2020 presidential election race. The 43-year-old rapper tweeted “KANYE 2024” along with a…