New books collecting objects central to rap’s physical history demonstrate the importance of celebrating these relics before they vanish. Credit... Supported by By Jon Caramanica For the last year, ...

The past two decades of hip-hop music have been well-documented, thanks to social media and streaming platforms. Today, anyone with internet access can essentially tap into a database of their ...

At first many dismissed it as a fad when it exploded out of the Bronx after a dance party in the summer of 1973 where Dj Kool Herc used two turntables to switch back and forth between two records to ...

Editor’s Note: This story appears in the Winter 2023 issue of XXL Magazine, on stands now. Hip-hop has been the cornerstone of New York City's culture since its evolution in the Bronx in the 1970s.

I’m from the small Central Illinois town of Decatur. My hometown is one of the sites where the war on drugs and many of its battles took place. In 2018, Decatur was listed at number seven in USA Today ...

The GRAMMY Museum is celebrating 50 years of hip-hop with the “Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit.” Running from October 7 until September 4, 2024, the 5,000-square foot installation explores the ...

The culmination of 2 Chainz’s rise to superstar status came in the form of his debut album under Def Jam Records, Based On A T.R.U. Story. Collaborations were heavy with big songs featuring Drake, ...

On this day in 2002, 50 Cent released his breakthrough mixtape Guess Who’s Back?, marking a pivotal moment in his career and setting the stage for his rise to global recognition. Released through the ...

Hip-Hop didn’t invent rebellion, it inherited the fire from H. Rap Brown long before the culture had a name. Growing up, my parents were not overtly activists or political. But there were clues. One ...