Diddy’s Open Secrets The rap mogul shook off decades of rumored bad behavior with wholesome PR revamps.
where’s the beef?
Apr. 8, 2024
J. Cole Is Giving Us Cognitive Dissonance Why would he regret his (very mild) Kendrick diss?
album review
Apr. 2, 2024
Our Sweetheart of the Rodeo Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter chronicles an artist with a voice pliable enough (and a following large enough) to crash whatever scene she pleases.
What Is Kendrick Thinking? The rapper’s fiery Drake and Cole diss leaves more questions than answers.
album review
Mar. 19, 2024
Justin Timberlake Wants You Back His new album sticks to a safe, occasionally satisfying script, even when it’s clear he’s lost the plot.
movie review
Mar. 14, 2024
The Eras Tour Film Is Sequined Asset ManagementTaylor Swift’s big-screen adaptation is almost too much movie.
album review
Mar. 12, 2024
Ariana Grande Is Telling This Story Herself Eternal Sunshine stares directly into the past — and recontextualizes it.
album review
Mar. 7, 2024
Schoolboy Q Is Following in the Footsteps of Giants On Blue Lips , he rummages through decades of Black American history.
a long talk
Feb. 15, 2024
Vince Staples Is Just Happy to Be Here Whether it’s making music or his new Netflix series, the rapper only wants to connect people.
song review
Feb. 12, 2024
Usher Rolls Out the Complete R&B Experience The Atlanta legend’s halftime show was a message to never doubt him again.
album review
Feb. 4, 2024
Boygenius Is Here to Blunt Whatever Life Throws Our Way Their Grammy-winning debut album is about finding strength in themselves.
album review
Jan. 30, 2024
We Should Appreciate The Smile While It’s Still Here Dropping four projects in 20 months screams “Here for a good time, not a long time.”
the industry
Jan. 22, 2024
We Owe Pitchfork For all its chaotic choices, the site reshaped how we think about music.
song review
Jan. 16, 2024
Jay-Z Is Lost in the Shuffle on ‘I Want You Forever’ His new song with D’Angelo feels like a 10-minute sound bath.
song review
Jan. 12, 2024
Lil Nas X’s Return Is More Than a Second Coming His breezy new single arrived on the prickliest possible battlefield.
netflix or tubi
Jan. 5, 2024
Katt Williams Scorches the Earth and Every Comedian on It “What do you mean ain’t no gatekeepers? There’s a hundred gates out here. Every one I seen got a keeper.”
best of 2023
Dec. 22, 2023
All the Music I Didn’t Get to Write About This Year (Until Now) A final shout-out to the best docs, YouTube explainers, and songs from otherwise bad albums.
album review
Dec. 12, 2023
Nicki Minaj Locks the Gates Pink Friday 2 drips with the irritating realization that running a kingdom means defending its walls.
album review
Dec. 5, 2023
Peter Gabriel Is Trying to Keep It Together i/o is a series of lofty ideas for the future.
best of 2023
Dec. 5, 2023
The Best Albums of 2023 The year’s top releases surveyed disorder, sought companionship, and offered glitzy escapism.
album review
Nov. 22, 2023
André 3000’s Solo Album Is a Breath of Fresh Air New Blue Sun isn’t the esteemed return to form rap fans hoped for. It’s something more.
a long talk
Nov. 17, 2023
‘I Don’t Care What People Want Out of Me. I Care About Myself’ Danny Brown on leaving Detroit, getting sober, and finding happiness.
album review
Nov. 14, 2023
PinkPantheress Is Remastering the Y2K Aesthetic Heaven Knows sounds like lightning striking a 160 GB iPod.
fall preview 2023
Oct. 20, 2023
Sampha’s Circle of Life His first album tackled loss and made him a star. On his follow-up, Lahai , he writes from a happier place: fatherhood.
album review
Oct. 11, 2023
Sufjan Stevens Tours the Garden of Heartbreak His new album Javelin urges us to embrace life’s beauty while we still can.
album review
Sept. 22, 2023
Doja Cat Is Fighting Fires of Her Own Creation On Scarlet , the rapper, singer, and internet terror channels negative comments into some of the best work of her career.
album review
Sept. 8, 2023
Olivia Rodrigo Would Rather Go Through It On Guts, the pop star sidesteps her winning formula.
album review
Aug. 11, 2023
Noname Shakes the Table On Sundial , the rapper is pushing back against everyone — including herself.
album review
Aug. 2, 2023
Travis Scott Is Raging Into Oblivion On Utopia , the rapper is too scared to mess with the blueprint.
album review
July 21, 2023
Blur’s Return Is a Fitting Evolution for a Once-Chaotic Band On their beautiful, occasionally plodding new album, the Britpop legends embrace stillness.
This Should Have Been a No-Brainer The Weeknd and Sam Levinson aimed for greatness with The Idol. The result was as subtle as a Lifetime film.
a long talk
June 11, 2023
Killer Mike Said What He Said Is the Southern rap legend a truth teller or a capitalist in activist’s clothes?
album review
June 9, 2023
Janelle Monáe Lets Go of Her (and Our) Anxiety On her breezy new album, she abandons perfectionism.
album review
June 2, 2023
The Foo Fighters Reach for the Light Their new album isn’t for getting over tragedy. It’s about learning to live beside it.
Tina Turner Bet on Herself When the industry turned its back, she refused to give in.
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Taps the Ceiling of What Switch Can DoIt’s a god game with the patina of a ronin story that makes you wonder, This is good, but is this as good as it gets?
Andy Rourke Paid His Dues The Smiths’ late bassist was the band’s driving force even as he fought for credit.
vulture lists
May 22, 2023
The 100 Hardest Video-Game Levels of All Time Dizzying shooters, agonizing puzzles, and water stages (ugh) that raise the question: Continue?
billy woods Is on an Indie-Rap Hero’s Journey He’s running an acclaimed record label, resurrecting old weed strains, and releasing the best music of his career.
comedy review
May 9, 2023
Hannah Gadsby Feels Good In Something Special , the comedian strives toward a new balance.
The Ed Sheeran Formula Hits a Roadblock His grief-stricken new album is personal, messy, and necessary.
remembrance
Apr. 26, 2023
Harry Belafonte Dragged Us Into the Future The late legend ditched stardom for something far greater.
album review
Apr. 24, 2023
Lighten Up and Listen to Everything But the Girl The duo’s new album eases the pain without sacrificing pleasure.
album review
Apr. 14, 2023
Metallica Vanquish Their Demons Their new album conquers the present by conversing with the past.
Mo’Nique Says It Loudly The comedy veteran’s new special is a reintroduction: “It lets you understand why I fight the way that I fight.”
‘We Were Obsessed’ Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda didn’t plan to revisit the band’s 2003 album Meteora — until he found a lost demo.
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