This article has been handpicked from the Okayplayer editorial archives and included in our Hip Hop 50 collection as a noteworthy inclusion to the genre's rich and diverse narrative. The article has ...

Southern hip-hop’s influence continues shaping modern music through strategic sampling, with artists like Future, GloRilla and Sexyy Red drawing from classic Southern tracks. Recently, Juicy J noted ...

There was a lot of politics, a lot of emotions and even more music as stars like Tyler, The Creator and Raphael Saadiq took the stage on music’s biggest night. 3 hours ago Although newer artists and ...

As we continue to celebrate hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, here’s how A Tribe Called Quest helped me appreciate one of the most important aspects of the genre. As a Queens native, my 15-year-old self was ...

I usually write this column based on whatever music I’m listening to during the week. Along with this column, my radio show on Wednesday nights follows the same idea, an hour of what I’ve been ...

Sampling has become a huge part of music production. However, you must choose a sample that matches other aspects of your song. Sampling has become one of the most influential strategies in modern ...

Some samples breathe new life into forgotten classics, while others recontextualize a song's place in contemporary music more than anything else. Not ...

Albums like To Pimp a Butterfly and 1999 blend jazz harmonies with sharp lyricism, proving the genre’s deep connection. Hip-hop may keep evolving, but funk and jazz remain its heartbeat, fueling its ...