QUEEN has arrived with the fanfare reserved for both Pop Stars and Hip Hop’s Elite, a duality that Nicki Minaj has spent her career cultivating. Nicki stoked the flames of a lyrical resurrection by dropping “Chun-Li” and “Barbie Tingz” prior to the album’s release, leading to further speculation that QUEEN will mark Nicki’s to the […]
The Numbers Behind Nas and Jay-Z’s Iconic Beef: “Ether” vs “Takeover”
The “Nas vs. Jay-Z” beef is now a legendary entry into the lexicon of hip-hop history. The beef is so permanently iconic that when the two artists both drop new projects (EVERYTHINGISLOVE and Nasir) on the same weekend seventeen years later, the rap world explodes with speculation that their feud is still alive and well. The beef between two […]
Drake vs Kanye: Quantifying Hip Hop’s Biggest (Proxy) Beef
It’s the question no one is asking – how could it be possible for Kanye not to have his hands in the Drake and Pusha T beef? Now that the dust has settled, we’re diving into the numbers to understand what the consequences of 2018’s defining beef have been – and what exactly happened between […]
How an Australian Rapper Out-Sold and Out-Charted Every Other Rapper in 2014
If you were to ask your typical Australian hip-hop enthusiast about their thoughts on Iggy Azalea, you’d probably get one of two reactions: awkward silence, or a snort of contempt followed by a forcible removal from the venue. But why? Iggy is a rapper and she is Australian, but she seems about as welcome in […]
KIDS SEE GHOSTS: Tracking Kanye and Cudi’s Fight Against Mental Illness
The journey back from the sunken place of unchecked mental illness is long, uncertain, and unmapped. The path is littered with lost souls and all progress can be rescinded in a moment. The effort to remain present and forward-facing can cost the strongest man his entire reserve of will and power. On KIDS SEE GHOSTS, […]
Watch The Throne 2: Kanye Seeks Self-Awareness, Jay-Z Embraces Family
New statistical analysis from KSG and EIL gives insight into the rumblings of a potential reunion between Jay and Ye for Watch The Throne 2. Numbers don’t lie: never before have Jay-Z and Kanye’s music been further apart. The two artists have both grown and matured since their classic collab album, but the data shows […]
Kanye West’s “ye” Makes a Statistically Unprecedented Statement On Mental Health
The wait is finally over. Kanye West’s 8th solo album ye has arrived with critical acclaim and a wave of controversy, as we’ve come to expect from Kanye. But despite the familiar reception, ye feels quintessentially different than any other Kanye West project we’ve heard so far. The shorter format certainly contributes to the unusual […]
DAYTONA is Officially the Most Drug-Heavy Album of Pusha T’s Career
Pusha T’s music is known far and wide for its drug-related central themes, particularly when it comes to crack/cocaine. On his new album DAYTONA, Pusha claims that even today, he’s just a “stone’s throw from the streets.” But does the content of DAYTONA validate his reputation and support Pusha T’s claims? It’s official. Pusha T’s […]
We Did the Math: Pusha T is Hip Hop’s “King Pusher”
Drugs have always been a prominent topic in hip hop, but few artists match the lyrical ‘dope density’ of Pusha T – particularly when it comes to crack/cocaine. Drugs references are dominant throughout Pusha T’s discography, so much so that he’s earned the nickname ‘King Push’. This begs the question: is Pusha T truly the […]
The Erratic Data behind TLOP, Kanye’s Most Complicated Album
After Kanye West released the most experimental album of his career in 2013, one thing was clear: the industry had some major catching up to do. Just three years later, Kanye dubbed his newest project a “living, breathing, changing creative expression” and left us all scratching our heads, stuck back in the past yet again. […]
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