Rolling Out

LL Cool J declares himself hip-hop’s most pivotal figure

On December 3, 2024, LL Cool J made waves with a bold proclamation on Apple Music’s Le Code podcast. During a candid conversation with host Mehdi Maïzi, the rap icon shared insights about his ...
PBS

Hip-hop turns 50, reinventing itself and swaths of the world along the way

NEW YORK (AP) — It was born in the break, all those decades ago — that moment when a song's vocals dropped, instruments quieted down and the beat took the stage. It was then that hip-hop came into the ...
NPR

How LA proved hip-hop could go global — by staying thoroughly local

As it celebrates its 50th birthday, we are mapping hip-hop's story on a local level, with more than a dozen city-specific histories of the music and culture. Click here to see the entire list. If you ...
Charlotte Observer

Hip-hop architecture exhibit covers a lot of history — but resists a simple definition

Sekou Cooke’s curated exhibit in uptown Charlotte on hip-hop architecture has a lot to offer. Walk through The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City and you’ll see rap lyrics from Nas, Slick Rick ...