Features
Thursday, February 9 2012
“Don’t Let Me Fall”: Hip-Hop in the Age of Austerity
Rappers have always wrestled with the question of how to succeed in a society where the odds are stacked against them. The biggest difference now is that their middle class listeners have the same worries.
Wednesday, December 28 2011
The 75 Best Songs of 2011
The year's best songs are headlined by an instant synth pop classic, the massive hitmaking of the planet's hottest new diva, the pristine harmonies of a young band headed for greatness, the return of the poster boys for indie rock, and an instant Americana classic.
Friday, December 19 2008
The Best Albums of 2008
PopMatters presents our 60 best albums of 2008, highlighted by the return of British trip-hop legends and some infectious American indie rock by way of the Cascade Mountains.
Friday, December 12 2008
The Best Hip-Hop of 2008
A return to the mic nine years in the making, a hip-hop supergroup of sorts, and Tom Waits beatboxing: this year's top-shelf hip-hop is equal parts anticipation, teamwork, and wha?!
Thursday, January 25 2007
Hip Hop Is Dead: Art, Culture, & Tradition
Homer, Dante, Milton, and Nas: It's bigger than Hip Hop Is Dead.
Columns
Monday, July 20 2009
It Ain't Hard to Tell: The Legacy of 'Illmatic'
The "half-man, half-amazin'", Nas' persona is part myth and part "everyday kid" from the Queensbridge projects.
Friday, December 12 2008
The Politics Inside Black Pop
Will black pop artists still see themselves as outsiders now that a black person is President? Will they use their cultural platform to criticize him if need be, just as they did to help elect him?
Monday, July 30 2007
The NAACP’s Mock Burial of Its Relevance
Our enemy is not the "N-word" itself; it’s whatever propels people to use it. We need healers, not language nannies.
Reviews
Friday, October 21 2011
Pretty Lights + Nas: 2011 September 15 - Austin, TX
Smith's dynamic sound clearly appeals to a wide demographic, resulting in a diverse crowd that becomes like one nation under a groove here tonight.
Monday, July 14 2008
Nas: Untitled
Nas's ninth studio LP lost its title. Its content, however, deserves far more dialogue than the controversy generated by what he wanted to call it.
Friday, December 22 2006
Nas: Hip Hop Is Dead
In a fall where many stumbled and even Jay-Z slipped up, Nas is back with a record for history.
Friday, January 7 2005
Nas: Street's Disciple
With middle age rapidly approaching, ghetto poet/prophet Nasir Jones settles in for the long haul. Of all his peers, he ages gracefully, although Street's Disciple two discs reflect the less-focused Nas of the past, a Nas that's ready to hand off the baton, but unsure what to do next.
Tuesday, May 25 2004
Nas: Illmatic [Anniversary Edition]
While the critical success of Illmatic has helped Nas's career immeasurably, it has also been his greatest enemy. Subsequent albums have all been unfairly weighed against Illmatic.
Blogs
Tuesday, January 26 2010
Nas and Damien Marley - Distant Relatives (video)
One is arguably the most iconic lyricist in rap history; the other is a reggae star and the son of a legendary musician/activist (Bob Marley).…
Tuesday, July 15 2008
Dissecting Nas’ Untitled - Part 3
Tracks four and five: the triumphant pop songs...
