DaBaby Tentatively Steps Out of the Box on 'Blame It on Baby'

Published Apr 28, 2020

Since the not-so-distant beginning of his career, DaBaby has packed his music with energy, fun, chaos, and unimaginable breath-control. His...

Snotty Nose Rez Kids Born Deadly

Published Apr 10, 2020

Over the past three years, Snotty Nose Rez Kids have made a name for themselves as a First Nations rap duo known for their exciting stage pe...

Rochester Dreams Don't Have Deadlines

Published Apr 01, 2020

The elephant in hip-hop culture conversations has always been time. When is it too late to start a career? When is it time to retire? How mu...

Naya Ali Godspeed: Baptism (Prelude)

Published Apr 01, 2020

Since first releasing "Ra Ra" in 2017 and following up with her Higher Self EP in 2018, Montreal-based rapper Naya Ali has been slowly expan...

Burd & Keyz Honours His Partner's Legacy and Keeps an Eye on Toronto Up-and-Comers While Building His Producer Buzz

Published Mar 31, 2020

Being a Toronto producer has a ring to it in boardrooms today, but ten years ago, it was all about pushing a few dollars into a dream.   "...

Key Glock Yellow Tape

Published Feb 20, 2020

Memphis, TN has long been a space where rap music has thrived, yet in the past few years, we've seen a resurgence of music popping out of th...

Pop Smoke Meet the Woo 2

Published Feb 20, 2020

New York drill may be a new phenomenon in the city that never sleeps, but it surely isn't new. What once started in the streets of Southside...

D Smoke Black Habits

Published Feb 20, 2020

Over the course of six months, D Smoke went from a relatively unknown teacher/rapper from Inglewood, CA to the winner of Netflix reality sho...

Eminem Music to Be Murdered By

Published Jan 22, 2020

There were rumours of a new album that casually popped up throughout 2019, but at no point was it suggested that Eminem would release a surp...

G Herbo Sessions

Published Jan 07, 2020

Chicago's murder rate has decreased for the third year in a row, yet the effects of gangs, violence and a failing socio-infrastructure are s...

Travis Scott / Various JACKBOYS

Published Jan 07, 2020

In a world that puts aside supergroups (or groups in general) for label collectives, Travis Scott's JACKBOYS serves as an introduction to hi...

The Legacy of Nipsey Hussle

Published Dec 12, 2019

Shocked, confused, angry and devastated were a handful of emotions that zip-lined through the hip-hop community on March 31, 2019. It's a st...

Fat Joe and Dre Family Ties

Published Dec 11, 2019

Nearing the end of the third quarter, Fat Joe, like many veteran rappers in 2019, pulled up with new energy and hunger that had seemingly be...

Lil Nas X and the Challenge to Country Culture

Published Dec 10, 2019

When Solange Knowles released her fourth studio album, When I Get Home, in March 2019, she did it to highlight Black cowboy culture.   "I...

Tory Lanez Honours His Own R&B Golden Years on 'Chixtape 5'

Published Dec 05, 2019

The shape of R&B music is in constant motion, often moving from big body vocals to soft airy whispers within moments. It has a telling histo...

The Regal Life of Queen Bee Lil' Kim

Published Oct 09, 2019

Standing at 4-foot-11, Kimberly "Lil' Kim" Jones has been one of the most revered and feared rappers of her time — not just as a woman who's...

Young M.A Finds Peace Through Vulnerability on Debut 'Herstory in the Making'

Published Oct 01, 2019

"I'm nervous and excited at the same time," Young M.A tells Exclaim! The Brooklyn rapper, who first broke onto the scene with her single "Oo...

​Common Learned How to 'Let Love' Lead Before Dropping His New Album

Published Aug 30, 2019

In his 25 years in the music industry, Chicago rapper Common has taught hard-knock lessons about the streets, community, economic literacy,...

Common Let Love

Published Aug 27, 2019

In a world that seems to be constantly in despair, the glue that bind trials and tribulations is found in one four-letter word: love. Vetera...

Rick Ross on Drake, Nipsey Hussle and the Emotional Extravagance of 'Port of Miami 2'

Published Aug 22, 2019

"I most definitely wanted the album to feel powerful, vintage," asserts Miami rapper Rick Ross. He's sitting for an interview at the Hazelto...