Beyond Beats And Rhymes

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Old School Is The New School: Clipse Goes Big With Grammys, Coachella, Major Tour - Pollstar News

"We got one!” Pusha T and Malice—collectively known as Clipse—were stuck in rehearsals when their co-manager Kevin McMullan rushed to the Cr

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‘Constant stimulation, dopamine overload’: how EsDeeKid and UK underground rap exploded on a global scale

With an experimental and maxed-out sound, bold new MCs are emerging from all corners of the UK – and with US rap in the doldrums, the time i

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‘You can’t wear gold without diamonds!’ Hip-hop legend Slick Rick on bling, British roots and his 26-year break

He is the rapper’s rapper, adored by Jay-Z, and once called ‘the most beautiful thing to happen to hip-hop’. So why has he taken so long to

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‘The music industry is as cold blooded as Scrooge McDuck’: the return of rapper Yasiin Bey

Under the radar for a decade, the artist formerly known as Mos Def is back. He talks about rejection, revival, and his new partnership with

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‘Hip-hop was like dog years. You’d be over by your third album’: De La Soul on grief, Gorillaz and never giving up

Two years after the death of Trugoy, the remaining duo are still feeling raw. They relive the daisy age they built together – and explain ho

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Twenty-five years ago, Roots Manuva dropped Brand New Second Hand—a cornerstone of UK hip-hop.

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Busta Rhymes: ‘David Bowie’s Hunky Dory is the illest music ever’

Answering your questions as he releases new album Blockbusta, the veteran MC recalls his childhood in Morecambe, fiery encounters with 2Pac

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Supa Dupa Fly Always: How Missy Elliott Fearlessly Made Her Way Into The Rock Hall - Pollstar News

In a word: bodacious. As if one word could contain the audaciousness of Missy Elliott.

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The 45 King, Producer Who Worked With Jay-Z, Eminem and Others, Dies at 62

Known for the distinctively jazzy flavor of his beats, he contributed tracks to Queen Latifah’s debut album and produced the Eminem hip-hop

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Killer Mike, Atlanta’s Rap Journeyman, Is at the Peak of His Powers

More than 20 years into an idiosyncratic career, the musician and activist is finally opening up for real on “Michael,” his first solo album

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The New ‘Princess’ of Rap: How Ice Spice Exploded Into Stardom

Just two years after her debut single, the viral Bronx rapper has scaled the charts and been dubbed “the People’s Princess” by her fans. But she’s still adjusting to the spotlight.

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‘A new style of speak’: the lyrical genius of Trugoy the Dove

While De La Soul will always be defined by 3 Feet High and Rising, Trugoy and his fellow bandmates were constantly pushing the boundaries of rap throughout their stellar career

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The Obscure J Dilla Beat Tape That Changed Music Forever

Long before Donuts, a passed-around cassette made the Detroit producer a key influence on the sound of hip-hop and soul. The author of the celebrated Dilla Time takes us inside the making of this legendary tape.

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Hip-Hop, Still Fly at 50

A museum exhibition and book kick off the anniversary of a genre incubated in the Bronx and exported to the world.

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Violent Gang, or Rap Label? Prosecutors Say Young Thug’s YSL Is Both.

With a blockbuster case set to begin, the superstar rapper sits at the intersection of complex questions about art, crime and the criminal justice system.

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Migos: Takeoff shot dead in Houston aged 28

The Georgia rapper was known for creating hits such as Versace and Motorsport alongside fellow rappers Quavo and Offset

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How Atlanta History Shaped Lil Baby and Generations of Rappers

The city is home to one of the world’s most important musical ecosystems, and the 27-year-old is one of its biggest new stars.