November 14, 2003: with nothing left to prove, Jay Z releases The Black Album, a project billed as his last. Fifteen years on, we reflect on the production throughout the LP, breaking down the sampling, examining the sonic palette and looking at the collaborators Jay chose to score his classic curtain closer. Fifteen years ago, Jay-Z felt he’d said all he had to … [Read more...] about Behind “The Black Album”: Production & Sampling Deep-Dive
eminem
Beats & Bars: The Complete History of Dual-Discipline Artists in Hip-Hop
Tyler, the Creator. J Cole. Mac Miller. Childish Gambino. Kid Cudi. Hip hop's new generation seems to be filled with artists that wear the hat of both "producer" and "rapper" like never before - but this DIY movement is no recent phenomenon. We trace the lineage of today's dual-discipline artists to its origins, over 30 years ago. The storied birth of hip-hop in the … [Read more...] about Beats & Bars: The Complete History of Dual-Discipline Artists in Hip-Hop
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’
Inside Anderson .Paak’s Early Career as Breezy Lovejoy
It may seem like Anderson .Paak has risen to fame overnight, but the stupidly talented singer-rapper-drummer-producer has been on the scene for longer than you think. In his early chapters - years before he went by Anderson .Paak - he had another name. Here’s everything you need to know about the story of Breezy Lovejoy. Anderson .Paak's Early Days Brandon Paak … [Read more...] about Inside Anderson .Paak’s Early Career as Breezy Lovejoy
Anderson .Paak Teases Audiences with Unreleased Music from New Album [Live]
The last album that Dr. Dre produced went double platinum. Will Dre's magic touch do the same for Anderson .Paak’s highly anticipated major-label debut this year? If this unreleased song that Paak performed is anything to go by, the answer is a definite yes. Anderson .Paak is gearing up for a massive 2018. After the wild success Paak’s sophomore album Malibu saw in 2016, … [Read more...] about Anderson .Paak Teases Audiences with Unreleased Music from New Album [Live]
