Freddie Gibbs: It's an infrastructure problem in Gary, not storm damage
Freddie Gibbs, the Grammy-winning rapper from Gary, Indiana, spoke on MSNBC about the power crisis in his hometown and emphasized that the problem isn’t caused by the storm, but by outdated infrastructure. Since a derecho struck Gary on August 11, more than 20,000 residents have been without power, which is having serious consequences for the community, especially because…
Digital Underground’s Shock G: An Architect of Hip-Hop
Today, Gregory Edward Jacobs, better known as Shock G of Digital Underground, would have celebrated his birthday. Shock G was a versatile artist and mentor who enriched hip-hop with his creativity, including by introducing Tupac Shakur through the song “Same Song.” Although he passed away in 2021, his influence on hip-hop and his…
Australia Completely Bans AI-Generated Music from Official Charts
The Australian music industry has banned music generated entirely by AI from the official ARIA charts, in response to an AI-generated cover song that charted highly. Tracks in which AI plays only a supporting role remain permitted, but songs produced entirely by AI are barred to protect human artistry. While Australia is taking this strict stance, other countries are choosing…
August 26, 2026 – History Fact
Big K.R.I.T. was born on Aug. 26, 1986.
Public Enemy and Bomb Squad: The Sonic and Political Power of Hip-Hop
In the late 1980s, Public Enemy and the Bomb Squad transformed hip-hop both sonically and politically with their albums “Yo! Bum Rush the Show” and “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back.” Their radical, multi-layered production and explicit political messages about racism, police violence, and Black resistance turned hip-hop into a powerful platform…
E-A-Ski builds the B-50 preamp, drawing on decades of hip-hop studio experience
E-A-Ski, a veteran of the Oakland hip-hop scene, has teamed up with audio designer Tom Hilbe to develop the B-50, an analog preamp that preserves analog warmth in the digital age. The B-50 is a mono microphone preamp and EQ in a 500-series format, designed for microphones, drum machines, and high-impedance instruments, and is manufactured by T.H.E. Company for $1,595. With…
Boosie Badazz is organizing a mentoring event for young Black boys
Boosie Badazz organized the ‘Save Our Sons’ mentoring event at his estate in Georgia, where hundreds of young Black boys received guidance and a sense of purpose. Drawing on his own raw life story, he offers not only words of wisdom but also a tangible space and role models to inspire the next generation. This initiative is part of a broader movement within…
Biggie's son claims that he and his sister were removed from their grandmother's will
Christopher “C.J.” Wallace, son of Notorious B.I.G., claims that he and his sister T’yanna were removed from their grandmother Voletta Wallace’s will two weeks before her death. Voletta Wallace, who had protected her son’s estate for years, passed away earlier this year, and shortly before her death, there were reportedly significant changes to her will…
Gene Deal's testimony: Could it link Diddy to the Tupac case?
Sean “Diddy” Combs is not being charged with the murder of Tupac Shakur, but his name comes up frequently in the trial against Duane “Keffe D” Davis. Gene Deal, a former bodyguard of Diddy’s, has been asked to testify about the relationship between Diddy and Keffe D, which may help the prosecution establish the credibility of…
The 10 Essential G-Funk Albums of West Coast Rap
G-funk is the signature sound of West Coast hip-hop, shaped by synthesizers, thick basslines, and Parliament-Funkadelic samples, with Dr. Dre’s album *The Chronic* as its foundation. This style combines laid-back music with raw gangsta lyrics and put a region and a generation of rappers on the map with their own distinct identity. Decades later, G-funk remains influential, with artists such as…