He’s Black, Orthodox Jewish, and a Dope-Ass Rapper
Seattle-born Nissim started out a Black Gangster Disciple — then became a disciple of the Torah
Music
The Legend of the Biggie Belt
Twenty-three years ago, The Notorious B.I.G. left his 52-inch belt at ‘The Source’ magazine weeks before he died. Nine Keepers of the Belt kept it safe and secret. Why was this accessory so important?
Being Old Doesn’t Mean Rappers Named ‘Baby’ Are Trash
If you think so, you’re no different than your uncle joking about ‘Snoop Doggy Doo-Doo’ 30 years ago
The Accidental Success and Freaky Legacy of ‘Wait (The Whisper Song)’
15 years ago, the Ying Yang Twins created a raunchy rap classic with a surprising shelf life
Royce Da 5'9" On Eminem, Kaepernick, and Dinner With Racists
In a wide-ranging conversation about race…
Thirty Years Ago, ‘Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ’Em’ Changed Everything
But what was it like for Gen-X hip-hop fans in 1990? We convened an old heads summit to discuss
My Crazy Oscar-Nominated Year
From battle rapper to activist to state representative to the focus of…
The Deadly War on Brazilian Funk Music
In law enforcement and politics, an organized effort to silence…
Dallas Got Next: Why the Next Hip-Hop Mecca Never Got Its Due
Rap duo The Outfit, TX aims to drag…
Folks Cancelled Sammy Davis, Jr — but It’s Time to Reinstate Him
Thirty years after his death, the…
Jump Up, Turn Up, Dress Up: The Men Playing Mas at Carnival
Wearing colorful costumes at Caribbean carnivals isn’t just for women — but the gender politics are more complicated than ever
How Bad Bunny Became the Sound of Home for Millions of Latinx Fans
When ‘X 100PRE’ dropped, the trap star’s debut album helped give a generation of Latinx listeners a sense of place
Boosie Wearing Greek Letters Isn’t Disrespect — It’s Hilarious
From one Black Greek member to another: Y'all are getting way too bothered
No, You’re Not R. Kelly — But You Still Have Work To Do
If I’m in danger from a man, that man is more…
Sometimes You Just Need a Quick Hit
Artists like Bino Rideaux and Tierra Whack have forged a new…
Team LEVEL’s Favorite Things From the 2010s
From movies to music and podcasts to platforms, the decade…
Was This the Decade Hip-Hop Finally Moved Past Its Homophobia?
Looking back at all the artists who…
Your Favorite Rapper Will Fade Away Some Day — and That’s Okay
The best emcees never fall off, but that doesn’t mean they stay hot forever
Black Gospel Matters — Because Gospel Is Intrinsically Black
Gospel is one of the only predominantly…
A Definitive Guide to the Modern Bro, From Ironic Rap to Mega-Woke
White dudes think they see themselves in me. They have no idea.
How Pimp Culture Survived the #MeToo Era
From rap makeovers to movies, pimps are everywhere. What’s…
Jay-Z Is About to Redefine What a Man’s Fifties Look Like
Shawn Carter has rewritten the playbook and outgrown men twice his age. Does a billionaire have anything left to prove?
How I Aged Gracefully in Hip-Hop
Going from being fixated on good green and syrup to obsessed with rooting for my granddaughter at her cheerleading competitions
The Boundless Optimism and Timeless Wisdom of Fantastic Negrito
Xavier Dphrepaulezz’s triumph is the…
Why We Should Look to Black Artists for the Future of Music
We’ve seen Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, and Chance the Rapper introduce new methods of music distribution—but they’re following a long line of…
The Jungle
On Guns N’ Roses and making nice.
The Night Is Yours Alone
R.E.M., soul food, and death.
This Is What You Get
On Radiohead, climate, and Steve.
Missy, We Owed You a Better Future
On rhythm, astronauts, and rain
Kanye West’s Impossible Album
Graduation