How PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s “Stateside” Interrogates the American Dream
A possibly too-close reading of one of the most ubiquitous songs of the year
Essay
36 articles
What Does It Mean For Rap to Have “Substance”?
Hip-hop is constantly mired in discussions about importance, significance, and, yes, substance. If you come up for air, you’ll feel it all around you.
Monocultural Rap Stardom is Dead—and That’s OK
What does it mean to be a rap star in 2026? Some thoughts on rap’s current standing in the mainstream and the genre’s health in the post-social media era.
The Sneaky Genius of Industry's Synthy Soundtrack
For four seasons, the HBO show has given us impeccable needle drops that subtly undermine its shady world of crypto-capitalism.
Do I Really Have to Care About AI Music Now?
Thoughts on what—if anything—generative AI programs like Suno could bring to the future of music.
In Praise of the Most Perfect Podcast Theme Song Ever
As heard on the show ‘Heavyweight,’ a track by the Weakerthans expresses the beauty of life’s smallest and most consequential moments.
Tyler, the Creator Brought This Reckoning on Himself
The California rapper-producer spent his early years cultivating a fanbase of trolls. How much reckoning will it take to shake them?
To Live and Die by a Kai Cenat Stream
A breakdown and analysis of the hugely popular Twitch streamer’s Mafiathon series and his standing as one of rap’s favorite press stops
Cardi B Can’t Contain Her Bronx Rizz
On her second album Am I the Drama?, the captivating rapper cackles through her city-hewn armor.