vulture lists
Sept. 11, 2023
11 Essential Hip-Hop Books From star-studded memoirs to “one of the most engaging examinations rap has ever received.”
album review
June 20, 2023
Gunna Is Fed Up Isolation and anger hang over a Gift & a Curse , the rapper’s first album since taking a plea deal in the YSL indictment.
TDE Played the Long Game For years, Kendrick Lamar and his (soon-to-be former) record label dominated hip-hop. But getting there came at a cost.
Drakeo the Ruler’s Life Was Stolen Too Many Times There is a level on which the rapper’s story works as a metaphor for a variety of systemic horrors.
Rap’s Most Imaginative Roads Lead Back to Shock G His presence is felt in those rappers who skip from one identity to another to get at something deeper in the human condition.
King Von Was Building Something Bigger Than Chicago Drill He was fluent in a wide array of styles while wielding a distinctive point of view, despite only recording seriously since 2017.
vulture lists
Sept. 14, 2020
radio vulture
Mar. 13, 2020
Your Guide to the Extended Mythology of Jay Electronica, Rap’s Great Mystery Tapping Jay-Z to play sidekick on your decade-overdue debut album would be staggering if it weren’t what Elec always claimed to be in the tea leaves.
Pop Smoke’s Murder Is a Brutal Loss for Brooklyn Drill and Rap Crossing Borders In just over a year, he’d become perhaps the most unmissable young rap star in New York City.
radio vulture
Jan. 13, 2020
How Roddy Ricch’s ‘The Box’ Just Became Rap’s First Viral No. 1 Hit of 2020 The Compton rap newcomer just denied Justin Bieber another No. 1 debut. Here’s how he did it.
Juice WRLD and a Legacy Cut Short His resonance seemed to highlight just how desperate many young people have become to dissociate from an increasingly fraught world.
So, Uh, What Happens to Tekashi 6ix9ine Now? It stands to reason that, in an unscrupulous attention economy, there would be a market for more content from 6ix9ine should he ever be released.
the week in rap
Aug. 28, 2019
The Return of Missy Elliott, Icon Her signature works still sound as if they’re from many years in the future. She’s now back with her first original project since 2005.
the week in rap
Aug. 19, 2019
What Does Jay-Z Hope to Gain From the NFL? From a public-relations standpoint, it is difficult to see how the risk-reward calculation makes sense for Jay.
the week in rap
Aug. 14, 2019
Everything to Know About A$AP Rocky’s Arrest and Detainment in Sweden Rocky has been found guilty of assault, but given no further jail time than his month in detainment. Here’s how the controversial case played out.
the week in rap
Aug. 12, 2019
Drake and Rick Ross Are Turning to Their Pasts for Present Hits Both Care Package — a compilation of Drake’s one-offs — and Port of Miami 2 — the sequel to Ross’s debut — wind back the clock.
the week in rap
July 29, 2019
Where Does Big Sean Fit in Rap? He’s not only survived the sea changes in pop-rap sounds this decade, but navigated them deftly — at least in fits and starts.
the week in rap
July 24, 2019
The Downfall of Tay-K, the Viral Teen Rapper Just Convicted of Murder He has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for the murder of a man during a home invasion, which he bragged about on his most famous song.
the week in rap
July 17, 2019
Lil Nas X Is Strategically Closing in on History It’s a testament to Lil Nas X’s extremely online charm that “Old Town Road” (and its many remixes) has yet to run out of steam.
the week in rap
July 1, 2019
Bad Bunny and J Balvin Are Even More Exciting Together On Oasis, two of urbano’s titans lure or outright shove one another into new, interesting corners.
the week in rap
June 24, 2019
Nicki Minaj Is Finally Back in Queen Form Her new songs suggest she’s capable of regaining the strangle she once had on rap and pop radio.
the week in rap
June 17, 2019
the week in rap
June 10, 2019
The Absurd Longevity of Tyga’s Career By placing himself next to an endless parade of stars and tastemakers, Tyga has, improbably, been one of this decade’s commercial mainstays.
the week in rap
June 3, 2019
Cardi B May Not Need (or Want) This Press, But Her New Single Deserves It “Press” is the kind of song countless artists have written after tipping over into superstardom, but Cardi elevates it through sheer force of anger.
this week in rap
May 28, 2019
YG Remains One of L.A.’s Great Rap Stars This Century With New Album His new album, 4REAL 4REAL , continues to build on the West Coast legacy his close friend Nipsey Hussle left behind.
this week in rap
May 20, 2019
Megan Thee Stallion Is Exactly What Rap Needs Her debut album, Fever , shows off the Houston star’s sheer force of personality.
this week in rap
May 3, 2019
This Week in Rap: Could Offset Really Go to Jail for Breaking a Teen’s Phone? For slapping a phone out of a teen’s hand who was filming Offset without his permission, the rapper has been charged with a felony.
this week in rap
Apr. 26, 2019
This Week in Rap: Have People Forgiven Kanye Enough to Join His Church? In the midst of all that worship and celebration at Coachella, he … also sold “HOLY SPIRIT” sweatshirts for $255 and socks for $50.
this week in rap
Apr. 19, 2019
This Week in Rap: Kodak Black Just Keeps on Imploding In less than two weeks, Kodak Black has more or less spit on Nipsey Hussle’s grave, briefly gone missing, and then got arrested at the border.
scene report
Apr. 11, 2019
The Final Lap: How Los Angeles Gave Nipsey Hussle a Hometown Hero’s Farewell The scene at the late rapper’s memorial service, on the streets where he lived and died.
this week in rap
Apr. 5, 2019
This Week in Rap: The Case for Why Boosie Badazz Still Matters Boosie’s post-prison rapping has been sharp but buried by his still-frustrating trajectory.
the week in rap
Mar. 29, 2019
the week in rap
Mar. 22, 2019
the week in rap
Mar. 15, 2019
How Cash Money Records Changed Rap Forever Exploring the enduring legacy of Juvenile, B.G., Baby, Turk, Mannie Fresh, and a young Lil Wayne.
the week in rap
Mar. 7, 2019
This Week in Rap: 2 Chainz Gets Personal, Rap Legend Myka 9 Returns, More Featuring personal and heavy music, an exploration of rap styles, living legends, and much more.
the week in rap
Feb. 28, 2019
This Week in Rap: Offset Goes Solo, Lil Pump’s Cartoon World, and More Young Thug is now a genre, Eminem rarities are officially available, rap veterans find new ways to shine, and more.
the week in rap
Feb. 21, 2019
This Week in Rap: Papoose Returns, Lor Choc Loves, Lucki Gets Frantic, and More New York street rap, nuanced meditations on addiction, reality rap, and much more
the week in rap
Feb. 14, 2019
This Week in Rap: Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, Sean Price, Navy Blue, AJ Tracey A faithful posthumous album, the return of a perma-stoned duo, and much more.
the week in rap
Feb. 7, 2019
This Week in Rap: G Herbo Gets Manic, Fly Anakin Breaks Out, and More Manic Chicago rap, deadpan deliveries, and weird and dark tracks, and much more.
the week in rap
Jan. 30, 2019
This Week in Rap: Dreezy Impresses, Sada Baby Shows Off His Range, and More Including Detroit street rap, New York throwback done right, and impressive showings from future legends.
the week in rap
Jan. 24, 2019
This Week in Rap: YNW Melly’s Star Turn, Future’s Breakneck The WIZRD, and More Including star turns, hyperdetailed gross-out raps, beautiful production, and heartbreaking songs.
the week in rap
Jan. 17, 2019
This Week in Rap: Tree and Vic Spencer Release a Tour De Force, Plus Lots More Including career highs, poignant looks at the past, and promising new tracks from rappers on the verge of breaking out.
the week in rap
Jan. 10, 2019
This Week in Rap: Ketchy the Great, Serengeti, and Sameflannel Including late night missives, an intense solo debut, and, unexpectedly, a Jenny Lewis feature.
the week in rap
Jan. 2, 2019
documentaries
Dec. 21, 2018
American Dream/American Knightmare Gives Suge Knight the Last WordThis Showtime documentary does not fawn, but it lets the Death Row co-founder’s claims go unchallenged.
the week in rap
Dec. 20, 2018
More Articles