JID. Saba. Mereba. Deante' Hitchcock. The date is June 19th, 2019. Welcome to the climactic final stop of JID's "Catch Me If You Can" tour, performed in front of a sell-out crowd in ATL. Dreamville shirts. Dreamville shirts everywhere. As I stumbled down the stairs and onto the sidewalk in front of Atlanta’s Center Stage Theater, I ran my hand through my … [Read more...] about Inside the Show: JID & Saba – An Atlanta Homecoming
Anatomy of the Funk: G-Funk Deconstructed
G-Funk, one of the most iconic sub-genres in hip-hop history, was a defining chapter in the West Coast's rise to become the hip-hop powerhouse that we know today. Although G-Funk enjoyed a relatively short-lived golden era, the producers and samples behind the classic West Coast sound remain as influential as ever. Music is never created in a vacuum. It’s an … [Read more...] about Anatomy of the Funk: G-Funk Deconstructed
The Hard Reality of Snippet Culture: A Case Study
The way we consume music is ever-changing, becoming easier and quicker as the days go by. Snippets, despite their small size, have become a vital piece of an artist's marketing process and one of the most complicated mediums to follow as a fan. This is a look into snippet culture and how it's both helped and hurt every party involved. Snippets. 15 to 30 seconds of … [Read more...] about The Hard Reality of Snippet Culture: A Case Study
Jordn. Cleo is Built to Create: The Red Wine Joint Interview
After the release of his debut album, Red Wine Joint, Jordn. Cleo talks about using music as an emotional release and why there’s no such thing as a “perfect” album. Get to know the talented multi-instrumentalist and producer’s mentality and creative process in our exclusive interview. Jordn. Cleo (real name Jordan Argrett) is a breath of potential and … [Read more...] about Jordn. Cleo is Built to Create: The Red Wine Joint Interview
Behind Warren G’s Regulate… G Funk Era: Every Sample, Every Collaborator
The ‘G’ in Warren G stands for Griffin, but it might as well be shorthand for “G Funk”. Warren’s distinctive production chops and romantic vision of gangsterism made him one of the most indispensible voices of the G Funk era and, in the years since, they’ve enshrined him as one of the West Coast’s most recognisable veterans. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, we’re … [Read more...] about Behind Warren G’s Regulate… G Funk Era: Every Sample, Every Collaborator
How J. Cole Flourished Under – and Ultimately Outgrew – Jay-Z’s Approach as a Label Head (ROTD 3 Preview)
J. Cole is changing before our very eyes. The infamous “no features”, self-reliant Cole that flourished under Jay-Z’s hands off management at Roc Nation has learned from his mentor to form a new mentality - far, far from his comfort zone. This new J. Cole is a label head first and foremost, sacrificing his own solo career and personal comfort to give his new generation of … [Read more...] about How J. Cole Flourished Under – and Ultimately Outgrew – Jay-Z’s Approach as a Label Head (ROTD 3 Preview)
How Earl Sweatshirt and Quelle Chris capture the Complexity of Human Existence through Art
Earl Sweatshirt and Quelle Chris use the contrast and inconsistencies in their psyche to create music that digs at what it truly means to be human. On their most recent solo albums, the two MC's undertake a tandem journey to understand their own minds and how self-perception shapes the imperfect realities of being alive. Earl Sweatshirt, Quelle Chris, and the Oscillating … [Read more...] about How Earl Sweatshirt and Quelle Chris capture the Complexity of Human Existence through Art
Tyler, the Creator’s Personal Evolution: A Lyrical Analysis
Early in his career, Tyler, The Creator gained fame as an innovative producer whose abrasive lyrics leaned heavily on topics like rape, violence, and homophobic slurs - also known as “shock-rap”. But when Tyler’s new album Igor drops later this week, the project will come from a man whose music is nearly unrecognizable when compared to his early output - a man who is carving … [Read more...] about Tyler, the Creator’s Personal Evolution: A Lyrical Analysis
25 Years of Illmatic: The Producers and Samples that Created a Classic
If 1994 is one of hip hop’s greatest years, then Illmatic is one of the richest cherries atop the proverbial cake. Whilst it might not have been the most immediately impactful of the year’s debuts, it still stands as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. We’re breaking down the samples throughout the massive album, from killer to killer. That’s right: there ain’t no … [Read more...] about 25 Years of Illmatic: The Producers and Samples that Created a Classic
How Curren$y Rose as the King of New Orleans, In His Own Words
Today marks the 38th birthday of New Orleans’ own Curren$y. We celebrate his born day by chronicling his path to becoming the latest king of the Crescent City. Happy Birthday, Spitta. Burn one for us. Curren$y cares about his legacy. The forefather of the fly doesn’t always make it clear, his nonchalant demeanor can mask his intentions behind clouds of smoke, but anyone … [Read more...] about How Curren$y Rose as the King of New Orleans, In His Own Words
