SZA Comes Into Her Power On Ctrl
Her full-length debut is a forceful vision with roots in Audre Lorde’s wisdom
Alt-J Take On Climate Change And Broken Hearts On ‘Relaxer’
The British band’s third album tries to expand beyond atmosphere, with mixed results
Kendrick Lamar’s Journey Into The Funk
The way his vocal style has evolved in recent years is revealing
Solange Makes the Guggenheim Museum Her Own
On the scene at ‘An Ode To,’ her latest reimagining of ‘A Seat at the Table’
Kweku Collins Embraces Ambivalence On Grey
On his new EP, the Illinois rapper wrestles with his background and looks for a sense of self
The Subtle Power Of Memory In Frank Ocean’s Music
Notes on how his recent releases play with short- and long-term meaning
The Revealing Gaze of J. Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only
In his new documentary, the rapper sheds light on the Southern black experience
How ‘Deep Cover’ Illuminates The Limits Of Gangsta Rap 25 Years Later
Snoop Dogg and the myth of the black outlaw
GoldLink Dances With Mortality On At What Cost
The D.C. rapper’s debut album dodges some clichés, collides with others
Rick Ross Tells a Fantastic Tale on Rather You Than Me
The rapper gives his trademark parables an intriguing political makeover
Vince Staples Sails The Stormy Seas Of Today’s Rap Scene
On the scene at the Long Beach rapper’s Life Aquatic tour
Oddisee on Rap, Knowledge, and Hard Work
Speaking with the D.C.-area rapper about his great new album, ‘The Iceberg’
Khalid Aims To Live Free On American Teen
Notes on the 19-year-old singer’s promising debut
The Legion Soundtrack Is A Trip Worth Taking
Composer Jeff Russo’s psychedelic work complements the FX series’s themes
Jidenna’s The Chief Is An Adventurous, Deeply Rooted Debut
Two years after ‘Classic Man,’ the Nigerian-American artist expands his range
Prince's 'Love Symbol' At 25: Revisiting An Underrated Album
The album where Prince tried to make his peace with hip-hop is a fascinating tour-de-force
The Bittersweet Story of Zydeco in 2017
Five years after the Grammys stopped recognizing zydeco music, how is the Gulf Coast genre faring?
Syd’s 'Fin' Is A Cool, Confident, Sexy Solo Debut
The Internet’s mastermind steps out on her own terms
How Aminé's 'Caroline' Became a Political Weapon
Revisiting a provocative late-night moment as Trump prepares to cut arts funding
How Hip-Hop Survived The Atlanta Mixtape Raid
10 years ago, the state of Georgia went after DJ Drama’s prosperous empire
Big Sean is Rap’s Most Improved Artist
After years of slow progress, he’s become one of the genre’s most engaging stars
Kendrick Lamar’s Prophecy
‘Untitled Unmastered’ pulled back the curtain on the creation of a black masterpiece
Common and Saba Fight for Chicago’s Future
On ‘Black America Again’ and ‘Bucket List Project,’ the two artists offer competing visions of their city
Blues Run The Game
How Kendrick, Young Thug, Mick Jenkins and more are tapping into the painful prayers of a bygone era.