In a genre often preoccupied with youth culture, an album exploring the trials of adult relationships and responsibilities is like a breath of fresh air. That goes double when it’s the work of a veteran producer and a legendary emcee. We’re celebrating their excellence with this, an in-depth exploration of No I.D.’s incredible production work on Jay’s most mature record. … [Read more...] about Dissecting No I.D.’s Production Masterclass on “4:44”
Featured Sauce
Abhi the Nomad Takes Hip-Hop Outside Its Comfort Zone (“Marbled” Tour Interview)
We sat down with Abhi the Nomad for his very first interview on his first ever national tour. Our conversation explored his experiences with tour life, the art of live performance, the legacy of Pharrell and N.E.R.D., his production style & equipment, his biggest musical inspiration, and Super Smash Bro's. Sit back and dive in. (Cover photo courtesy of Levi … [Read more...] about Abhi the Nomad Takes Hip-Hop Outside Its Comfort Zone (“Marbled” Tour Interview)
Essential & Unheard September: Kilo Kish
“Essential & Unheard” is a collaborative content series between the CentralSauce Creators that highlights awesome music that flew under the radar each month. A 20 track-maximum playlist, featuring songs by lesser-known artists that deserve more recognition than they’ve been getting. September in Review September was a great month for music, but the airwaves were … [Read more...] about Essential & Unheard September: Kilo Kish
Triumph & Tragedy: Eminem’s Journey from the ‘Slim Shady LP’ to ‘Kamikaze’
At the tail end of his career, Eminem is at a crossroads between legacy and longevity. We revisit his meteoric rise from trailer parks to superstardom to make sense of this glaring dissonance. As someone who fell in love with rap after buying The Eminem Show in 2002, watching Marshall Mathers tarnish his legacy for the better part of a decade has been extremely … [Read more...] about Triumph & Tragedy: Eminem’s Journey from the ‘Slim Shady LP’ to ‘Kamikaze’
Dissecting Jay-Z’s Forgotten Classic Album “Vol 2… Hard Knock Life” [20th Anniversary]
![Dissecting Jay-Z’s Forgotten Classic Album “Vol 2… Hard Knock Life” [20th Anniversary]](https://centralsauce.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/jay-150x150.jpg)
Today marks 20 years since the release of Jay-Z's third studio album, Vol 2... Hard Knock Life. While the album's legacy is often overlooked in favor of other Jay classics, Hard Knock Life still remains Jay's commercial peak to this day, and represents the beginning of hip hop's invasion of the mainstream. On Pusha T’s 2018 highlight, “Infrared,” he muses about the … [Read more...] about Dissecting Jay-Z’s Forgotten Classic Album “Vol 2… Hard Knock Life” [20th Anniversary]
The Creation of “Flower Boy”: A Track-by-Track Visual Guide
This past summer, Tyler, the Creator unveiled a secret Instagram account that he'd been hiding for years. The account held hundreds of never-before-seen images and videos from the "Flower Boy" sessions, chronicling the album's creation from its earliest stages. We went through the entire account, from top-to-bottom, to collect every single post that corresponds with any of … [Read more...] about The Creation of “Flower Boy”: A Track-by-Track Visual Guide
Behind Drizzy’s Most Essential Album, “Nothing Was The Same”
The months before the release of Nothing Was The Same, the third studio album by Canadian hip hop titan Drake, were dominated by the emcee’s hit singles. The album’s first single, “Started From The Bottom,” was released in February, a whole seven months prior to the album. The simplistic rap banger hit #6 on the Billboard 100, turning in at least one new quotable and … [Read more...] about Behind Drizzy’s Most Essential Album, “Nothing Was The Same”
All Eyez on Tupac: Remembering Hip-Hop’s Immortal Emcee, 22 Years Later
Twenty two years after his death, we pay homage to the most influential rapper of all-time. The man who inspired millions and changed hip-hop forever. This is the story of Tupac Shakur. Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the untimely death of Tupac Shakur (born Lesane Parish Crooks) and, more than two decades after his passing, Tupac's passion and influence … [Read more...] about All Eyez on Tupac: Remembering Hip-Hop’s Immortal Emcee, 22 Years Later
