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Wednesday January 6, 2016

Songs We Love: Siimba Liives Long, 'W.I.A.'

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Songs We Love: Siimba Liives Long, 'W.I.A.'

January 6, 2016 • Delivered over a Brazilian jazz-funk sample, the Ethiopian-American rapper's quizzical style is Native Tongues-meets-Dr. Seuss, esoteric yet accessible

Songs We Love: Siimba Liives Long, 'W.I.A.'

4:44

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Thursday December 10, 2015

Songs We Love: Aloe Blacc, 'Merry Christmas Mr. Brown'

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Reid Rolls/Courtesy of the artist

Songs We Love: Aloe Blacc, 'Merry Christmas Mr. Brown'

December 10, 2015 • The soul singer's musical gift to the families of police violence is a healing Christmas Spirit.

'Merry Christmas Mr. Brown'

3:47

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Tuesday December 1, 2015

Songs We Love: Rusangano Family, 'Heathrow'

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Songs We Love: Rusangano Family, 'Heathrow'

December 1, 2015 • African-Irish rap trio comes with a timely mix of immigrant emotions from a first-person perspective that's as personal as it political.

'Heathrow'

4:11

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Friday November 13, 2015

Songs We Love: Paris, 'Lethal Warning Shot'

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Songs We Love: Paris, 'Lethal Warning Shot'

November 13, 2015 • Veteran Bay Area rapper re-emerges with snarling Black nationalism on an urgent and aggressive declaration of intent.

Lethal Warning Shot

4:00

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Friday October 30, 2015

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Songs We Love: dae zhen., 'Friday'

October 30, 2015 • A young Los Angeles rapper joins the storied tradition of great end-of-the-week, just-got-paid songs, with a quaint, warm jam full of small victories.

Friday

4:03

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Wednesday August 5, 2015

Stakes Is High: Drake Ghostwriting Accusations Matter More Than You Think

Drake performs at Finsbury Park in London, England in June. Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill recently accused Drake of using ghostwriters, spurring the two to release diss tracks aimed at each other. John Phillips/Getty Images hide caption

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John Phillips/Getty Images

The Record

Stakes Is High: Drake Ghostwriting Accusations Matter More Than You Think

August 5, 2015 • With the notion of authorship dispatched as silly and inconsequential, the way has been paved for even greater corporate influence over hip-hop.

Stakes Is High: Drake Ghostwriting Accusations Matter More Than You Think

Listen · 4:58 4:58

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Thursday February 20, 2014

A Phony Article Epitomizes Hip-Hop's Struggling Underclass

The rapper Shirt created a counterfeit article designed to look like it was written by the New York Times critic Jon Caramanica and published on the Times' website. NPR hide caption

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The Record

A Phony Article Epitomizes Hip-Hop's Struggling Underclass

February 20, 2014 • When even the biggest stars in the world are relying on extramusical gimmicks to hype new albums, what's an unknown rapper supposed to do to get noticed? Maybe fake a profile in the paper of record?

Thursday November 7, 2013

Eminem, in a still from his video for "Don't Front," a bonus track on The Marshall Mathers LP 2. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Review

The Record

Eminem: The Great Confounder

November 7, 2013 • It's almost as if, on The Marshall Mathers LP 2, he's trying everything to be accepted and unacceptable, all at once. Yet his ability to be lyrically captivating through it all is astounding.

Thursday August 29, 2013

Goodie Mob Puts Crossover Acceptance On The Line

Goodie Mob (from left to right, Big Gipp, T-Mo, Cee Lo Green and Khujo) at a Dodgers game the day the group's first album in 14 years was released. Noel Vasquez/Getty Images hide caption

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Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Review

The Record

Goodie Mob Puts Crossover Acceptance On The Line

August 29, 2013 • That Goodie Mob doesn't aspire to be like anyone else is the gift and the curse of its new album, Age Against the Machine.

Thursday August 22, 2013

The Blast Radius Of Kendrick Lamar's 'Control' Verse

Kendrick Lamar performing in the Netherlands three days before his verse shook up the rap world. Greetsia Tent/WireImage hide caption

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Greetsia Tent/WireImage

The Record

The Blast Radius Of Kendrick Lamar's 'Control' Verse

August 22, 2013 • He said what we've all been saying: Rappers need to try harder. And if the past week is any indication, this fall there will be a marked dispensation of niceties — and a renewed focus on craft.

Tuesday July 9, 2013

Jay-Z's 'Magna Carta' Is A Fait Accompli

Jay-Z (left) and Timbaland (who produced most of the album) at the release party for Magna Carta Holy Grail July 3 in Brooklyn. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Samsung hide caption

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Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Samsung

Review

The Record

Jay-Z's 'Magna Carta' Is A Fait Accompli

July 9, 2013 • It's not right, but it's okay, because even on cruise control, Jay-Z is revolutionary by his very existence.