War & Peace: The Cultural Meaning of Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake
The Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake feud is serious, but it is the claim to and manipulation of culture that may have the greatest consequences for all of us.
west coast hip-hop
Vince Staples Is in Beautiful, Dark Limbo on New LP
With his latest album, Vince Staples mines an artistic, existential, and notably fertile limbo. It’s his most reflective and sober perspective to date.
Maestro Gamin and Aeks’ Latest EP Delivers LA Hip-Hop Cool (premiere + interview)
MaestroAeks' Sapodigo is a collection of blunted hip-hop tunes, sometimes nudging a fulsome boom-bap and other times trading on laid-back, mellow grooves.
Ice Cube’s ‘Death Certificate’ Soundtracked the Rodney King Era
It was during the period between the Rodney King beating and subsequent court verdict that Ice Cube cut Death Certificate, a chilling glimpse into the anger and frustration South Central Los Angelinos were feeling.
YG’s ‘Stay Dangerous’ Stays Well Away from Being a Classic Album
Compton's YG offers up Stay Dangerous, an often disappointing return to gangster rap fundamentals with patchy production.
Keeping an ‘I’ on the Prize: An Interview with Zumbi of Zion I
Zion I lyricist Zumbi offers PopMatters an overview of his body of work and discusses what he brings to hip-hop as a creative individual.
Dr. Dre: Compton
A rapper/producer that started in the '80s raps and produces a surprisingly good album three decades later.