Hip-hop beat-makers are usually unseen. Not all sample-based producers are as reclusive as the torch-bearing loop artist Madlib, but even the most prominent among them are part of the backdrop. After ...

From MPCs to FL Studio sessions, one thing remains consistent across generations of Hip Hop and R&B: The power of the sample. With that said, few eras have been mined more heavily than the 1980s. With ...

There’s a raw energy in the air—a palpable, jittery anticipation as the old guard of hip-hop production gets tossed aside by the relentless force of technological innovation and cultural upheaval.

Generative artificial intelligence is seeping deeper into our cultural fabric by the day. In just two years, AI videos of Will Smith eating spaghetti have evolved from poorly developed nightmare fuel ...

Hip-hop, which emerged from the streets of New York City in the late 1970s, has grown into a global cultural phenomenon. Its influence extends far beyond its own genre, permeating various musical ...

Some serious legends will be in the house to celebrate the legendary movie “Beat Street” and other Hip-Hop legends. Legends of Hip-Hop will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic film Beat ...

Welcome to The State of R&B, ESSENCE’s look at the past, present and future of rhythm and blues. In this piece, ESSENCE editor Rivéa Ruff reports on the blending of hip-hop and R&B. Since the ...

Despite how they’ve at times been ideologically pitted against one another, country music and hip-hop are often compared as the two forms of pop music that speak most directly to the everyday problems ...

From his booth at the corner of the court, Miami Heat disc jockey M Dot has a front-row look at the harmonious fusion of basketball and music. M Dot — real name Michael Hankerson — has watched LeBron ...

Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio. The Queen of Hip Hop Soul. Think about that moniker. It’s more than just ...

On this day in Hip-Hop history, one of the most important films ever made for the culture, Beat Street, hit theaters worldwide. Directed by Stan Lathan, Beat Street played a pivotal role in propelling ...