Inside Hip-Hop’s New Activist Era
- By u.net
- Aug 26, 2016
On July 7th, Jay Z did something out of character: He released a protest song. The rapper had reportedly wired tens of thousands of dollars to bail protesters out of jail in Baltimore in 2015, and Tidal donated $1.5 million to Black Lives Matter-related causes earlier this year. But it was only after [...]
Songs in the Key of Life
- By u.net
- Aug 26, 2016
Songs in the Key of Life was the culmination of a historic period of creativity for Stevie Wonder. Its ambition and scope were unprecedented, and he never approached its caliber or impact again. Stevie Wonder’s legacy ranks among the most powerful in pop music, though his story remains elusive. His songwriting [...]
From Urban Planning to Hip Hop
- By u.net
- Aug 26, 2016
Life in the so-called inner city has always been a major theme in hip-hop. From the desolate state of the Bronx Projects described in Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message” to the poor conditions in parts of Brooklyn and Queens recounted by artists like Jay Z, Biggie, and Nas, rappers have used [...]