How to describe Tory Lanez’ music? As a singer he could be thought of as an amalgamation of Chris Brown and Trey Songz singing over The Weeknd’s production.

Twenty years ago, nineteen year old Nasir “Nas” Jones elevated the ever-evolving rap game to a new, unprecedented level with the release of his debut album Illmatic.

In July 2013 indie hip-hop superpower Top Dawg Entertainment announced that they signed singer-songwriter SZA, making her the newest member to the TDE family.

“Just killed another career, it’s a mild day” – Nicki Minaj, “Monster”

Vic Mensa is the next big thing out of Chicago.

Schoolboy Q is on track for a #1 debut on the Billboard chart this week, a first for the rapper and his label, TDE.  

10 years ago, Kanye West released his (first) masterpiece, and changed the rap game forever.  

This  Women's History Month, we may ask how Minaj's question goes to the heart - or, perhaps, breaks the heart - of our ongoing conversation about gender and sexual politics in Hip Hop Culture. 

Women's History month is the perfect time to reflect on the fact that many women unapologetically support both Hiphop and feminism. When I teach college courses on language use and identity, I ask all of my students to write the words they hear and use to describe women in their communities and on their campus.

Say My Name (2009) is a documentary that excavates many of the lost voices of women in Hiphop. Directed by Nirit Peled and produced by the production company Mamamess, the film presents a broad look of past, present and future female MCs of Hiphop music in the United States and London.