Hip-hop has existed for over 50 years, and since its inception, the genre has mastered the art of sampling to create some of the most iconic records in music history. Effectively using a sample ...

Dr. Pamela Blackman, Ta’Rhonda Jones, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Love McPherson, Dr. Elaine Smith and Dr. Cartman at the Ibukun Hip Hop Arts and Culture Festival at the Zhou B art Center in Chicago ...

I’m torn. On one hand, with a rapper like Finesse2Tymes, you really do want them to grow up and grow beyond what they’ve known — if only for their own self-preservation, since hood habits have often ...

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 ...

The year in hip-hop was defined by an epic battle between two of the genre’s biggest stars, Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Kendrick’s decisive victory over Drizzy culminated in one of the year’s best rap ...

Hip-hop is a multi-billion-dollar industry and the world’s most popular music genre. Originating in the South Bronx in the 1970s by African American and Latino communities in response to industrial ...

August 11 is National Hip-Hop Celebration Day! The celebration was made official by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer last July, following the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. In a speech on the Senate ...

Last year, we published our inaugural Hip-Hop Media Power Ranking. Joe Budden took the top spot. Fierce commentary ensued, from those both on and off the list. Life moved on. The hip-hop media ...

It was only in 2018 when hip-hop surpassed rock 'n' roll to become the most popular music genre in the U.S., but its glory was short-lived. In 2023—the year when hip-hop celebrated its 50th birthday— ...

Come along and ride on a fantastic voyage to the most popular hip-hop songs to drive to. A new study finds J. Cole and The Weeknd to be among the most played tracks while behind the wheel. Nearly ...

On the surface, country music might not seem to have a whole lot in common with genres like hip-hop and R&B. For one thing, the latter two styles are more often associated with city life, while ...

MTV will air A Hip Hop 50th Celebration of Jersey’s Finest, presented by MTV Unplugged live tonight, Thursday, December 14 at 9 p.m. on MTV. The celebration will honor the birth of hip hop music, some ...