As we begin a new year with the government still shut down, American politicians still apologizing for white supremacy, and inner cities still embroiled in turmoil, the Age of Crisis carries on. And there's nothing better to complement my blog post than the Age of Crisis playlist. While I had hoped to have every track … Continue reading In Steady Curation: Hip-Hop in the Age of Crisis Playlist
Hip-Hop in the Age of Crisis
In 1980, then California Governor Ronald Reagan visited Charlotte Street in the South Bronx while campaigning for the presidency. As he surveyed the piles of rotting trash, the rubble of collapsed buildings, and the mangled terrain of disrepair, he likened the South Bronx to a war zone. And indeed, the Bronx sat on the precipice … Continue reading Hip-Hop in the Age of Crisis
The Essential Tiny Desk Hip-Hop List
It's not often that you'd mention hip-hop and NPR in the same sentence. For lifelong fans of the culture, hip-hop represents a grassroots movement that stems from social activism, rule-breaking, and finding your inner strength. And while hip-hop may itself be a form of storytelling and street news, its origins in Bronx house parties and … Continue reading The Essential Tiny Desk Hip-Hop List
This Summer’s Hip-Hop Essentials
Are you sticky AF right now? I know I am. This summer has been soaked in humidity and there hasn't been much relief. Fortunately, hip-hop has come to the rescue. Pusha T's new album Daytona has marked the triumphant return of the coke rapper while Mac Miller's Swimming has showcased the emcee at his most introspective and … Continue reading This Summer’s Hip-Hop Essentials
In Steady Curation: Past is Present
In the whirlwind of grad school, I often found solace in scrolling through my SoundCloud feed and cranking the volume. I fended off the stress of assignments, transcended the chaos of my surroundings, and escaped the exhaustion of the intellectual vortex. Now that I've shattered those chains, I've been trying to show a little love … Continue reading In Steady Curation: Past is Present
Griselda Puts Buffalo on the Map
When digging through the digital crates of online music, occasionally you completely miss something. You’ve done your due diligence checking the blogs, keeping the SoundCloud feed greased, hitting up the homies, and vigilantly reading through Underground Hip-hop distributors. You feel pretty confident in your knowledge of the scene, and know who’s who, for the most … Continue reading Griselda Puts Buffalo on the Map
The Return of the Old School
When the death knell of American democracy first sounded with the mindless chanting of "Make America Great Again", I saw no upside. To my mind, the cry of MAGA represented a nefarious "good ol days" dog whistle. Another instance of "Remember when?" that often leaves us waxing nostalgic for times when black and white folks … Continue reading The Return of the Old School
Best Listens of 2016
Fuck 2016. That's right, I said it. Let's collectively bid adieu to the colossal shitstorm of Brexit, the Dallas Shootings, relentless police brutality, the siege of Aleppo, the election of Trump, and the sudden deaths of more musical artists than I care to recall. Like any patriotic American, I ended up burying my head in the sand when I became overwhelmed, clicking my … Continue reading Best Listens of 2016
Conflict, Catharsis & The Come-Up: Three Albums To Rotate
What drives emcees to continue producing, continue recording and continue writing? What launches a person into the world of hip-hop? I've always conjectured that at its core, hip-hop culture derives itself from conflict. Some of this conflict is internal. Rappers initiate their quest from the inside out, searching for their greater meaning as they draw upon personal experiences where … Continue reading Conflict, Catharsis & The Come-Up: Three Albums To Rotate
In Steady Curation: From Texas, With Love
Since moving to the Lone Star Republic, life has been busy. Really busy. It's fair to say that I underestimated the intensity of graduate school and have only recently been calming from my whirlwind of learning. My intellectual trial-by-fire and the drastic change of schedule jolted me from my routines, many of which included this blog. … Continue reading In Steady Curation: From Texas, With Love
In Steady Rotation 