Kendrick Lamar Steps Off the Pedestal on ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’
On Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, renowned rapper Kendrick Lamar observes the strife plaguing his kingdom and consciously abdicates the throne.
experimental hip-hop
Hip-Hop Matters: The Best Hip-Hop of March 2022
This month’s best hip-hop traverses the spectrum with the return of a legendary group, a dreamy jazz-rap collaboration, a UK drill upstart, and industrial rap metal.
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The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2021
Hip-hop and myriad mutations of electronic music are the critical contemporary cultural lenses through which we view the creation of new ideas and aesthetics.
Moor Mother Makes Accessible and Challenging Music on ‘Black Encyclopedia of the Air’
Black Encyclopedia of the Air from Philly-based poet and musician Moor Mother fuses activist hip-hop with a warm, jazzy groove and an experimental spirit.
Hip-Hop Matters: The Best New Hip-Hop of July 2021
These are the best hip-hop albums released this July, including new LPs from Dave, Tkay Maidza, Declaime x Madlib, Unknown T, and John Glacier.
Mike Ladd and Remi Rough Unite on ‘The Dead Can Rap’
Mike Ladd with producer Rough pulls up a wealth of succulent groove on The Dead Can Rap, nudging the think tank of his polemic poetry onto the dancefloor.
Mick Harris, Kool Keith, and Submerged Discuss Scorn’s “Distortion”
Scorn’s new LP adds to the foundation Mick Harris built 30 years ago. We spoke with Mick Harris, Kool Keith, and Submerged about how their universes collided.
Melvin Gibbs Breathes New Life Into Protest Music on ‘4 + 1 Equals 5 for May 25’
Long-time New York jazz sideman Melvin Gibbs breathes new life into protest music on the short but highly potent EP, 4 + 1 Equals 5 for May 25.
Kool Keith Delivers Another Surreal Rap Odyssey on ‘Keith’s Salon’
Veteran rapper Kool Keith’s latest album, Keith’s Salon, finds his brand of dirty, absurdist hip-hop in especially sharp form.
Clipping Take a Stab at Horrorcore with the Fiery ‘Visions of Bodies Being Burned’
Clipping's latest album, Visions of Bodies Being Burned, is a terrifying, razor-sharp sequel to their previous ode to the horror film genre.
Tricky’s ‘Fall to Pieces’ Lacks the Risk-Taking of his Early Work
Tricky's Fall to Pieces gives the impression of an artist struggling to sustain his vision, leaning on his collaborators to make up for the lack of it. Like on the last two albums, Tricky sounds too restrained here.