Beats are the foundation of hip-hop. They set the rhythm for the rap and like these classics from 1996, are sure to make you dance.

Pitchfork writer Alphonse Pierre’s rap column covers songs, mixtapes, albums, Instagram freestyles, memes, weird tweets, fashion trends—and anything else that catches his attention. Rap history is ...

The topic of classic hip-hop albums is among the quintessential barbershop conversations that has transcended from shop chairs to social media platforms. And of course, no one LP is at the helm of the ...

While rap music was born in the 1970s with groups like The Sugarhill Gang, it was codified in the 1980s with outfits like Run-DMC. But it was the 1990s when everything fell into place and the genre ...

Timbaland and Metro Boomin are sitting in 11th Street Records in Las Vegas one afternoon in July, talking about the difference between a hit and a classic. “You did ‘Bad and Boujee,’ ” Timbaland notes ...

The Crocodile might’ve waddled a few blocks north, but opposite the old venue at Second Avenue and Blanchard Street, a new music night is taking shape in the heart of Belltown. In the summer of 2024, ...

In the case of these well-known female singers, some of their hip-hop features complemented an already vibrant solo discography. But when it comes to ‘90s rap, there are other lesser-known and ...

Mark your calendars for an event that’s set to be the ultimate celebration of classic hip-hop and R&B. On September 15th, 2024, from 3 PM to 12 AM, Barcode N.J. will be the epicenter of hip-hop ...

Don't call it a comeback: Classic hip-hop is making inroads on select radio stations, and the results thus far have been positive. Two months ago, Houston station KROI-FM changed their format from ...

The last decade of hip-hop history is about the destruction of consensus. The neat, precise stories we once told about rap music in the '90s have unraveled to a degree, as regional histories and ...

Killer Mike performs on Sept. 23, 2023, at SPIN's Louder Than Life afterparty in Louisville, Ky. (photo: Max Sharp). Run the Jewels’ Killer Mike and his trusty DJ Trackstar kept the party going ...