LL Cool J

How to Make Sense of Brad Paisley and LL Cool J's "Accidental Racist"

You might think progressive-minded social-critic types would cheer a development as unlikely as America's top male country star releasing a song that pleas for racial understanding, acknowledges the failings of our nation's founders, and features a black man rapping "Just because my pants are saggin ... More >>

Ralph McDaniels Celebrates 30 Years of Video Music Box

New York is not only the birthplace of hip-hop culture, but the home of the first television program to broadcast rap videos. Video visionary Ralph McDaniels launched "Video Music Box" 30 years ago and now, three decades and a global phenomenon later, the hip-hop nation is ready to celebrate. Among ... More >>

Ah Ha! Moment: Armstrong Confesses to Oprah

Two people had a discussion last night that has been a long time coming. A question was asked and with an answer in the affirmative, their entire relationship changed. Though the description sounds like a delightful marriage proposal, this was actually a television interview. "Yes." With one word ... More >>

Five Hip-Hop Albums We're Excited For in 2013

The new year is right around the corner, and while we're sure you're squeezing every last bit of new music you can from the few remaining "Best of 2012" lists, it's important to look toward the future and keep in mind all of the great music still to come. While we've all but given up hope that 2013 ... More >>

The Most Bizarre Music-Based Halloween Costumes of 2012

It's the Halloween season once again, and weather permitting (guess what ... IT'S NOT PERMITTING) soon the streets will be flooded with people of all ages in costumes, ready to party. This year, there's a surprising number of costume options for the discerning music fan, so we decided to investigate ... More >>

The Top Five Queens Rap Anthems (As Chosen By Hip-Hop Artists)

Talk of patriotism might be all up in the BBQ-scented air at this time of year, but rap artists are equally as proud of their local roots, not least when it comes to the great masses who hail from Queens. With the Q-Boro having provided perhaps more great rappers than any other section of New York C ... More >>

The Top 15 Hip-Hop Songs About Police Misconduct

Though artists like Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and Baby Huey spoke on police corruption, it wasn't until the dawn of the rap era that the message in the music began to convey the anger and frustration of people who had been systematically disenfranchised and brutalized since the United States was ... More >>

Nine Culinary Ventures By Hip-Hop Artists

Today, excitable Long Island-raised rap firebrand Flavor Flav will open his House Of Flavor restaurant in Las Vegas. The restaurant—which will have fried chicken and something called a "red velvet waffle" on the menu—is Flav's second attempt to break into the food world, following the di ... More >>

Radio Hits One: "Baby Got Back" And 20 Years Of Ass-Themed Hits

20 years ago, the Seattle-based rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot was doing pretty well as a mid-level star of the burgeoning west coast hip-hop scene, coming off of two successful albums and a series of rap radio staples like "Posse On Broadway" and "My Hoopty." In February 1992 he'd just released his third alb ... More >>

Live-Blogging The 2012 Grammys: Tributes, Tribulations, Skrillex, And The Return Of Adele

via Cats Who Look Like SkrillexWill this cat win Best New Artist?​Welcome to Sound of the City's liveblog of the 54th Annual Grammys, coming to you live from a couch in Astoria. There are quite a few questions lurking around tonight's ceremony. Will Adele sweep the three major categories in wh ... More >>

Live: Grand Wizzard Theodore Brings It Back, Fred The Godson No-Shows At Simpson St. Block Party

​ Grand Wizzard Theodore, Illstyle and Peace Productions, Hip-Hop Kung Fu, and more Simpson Street, Casita Maria Saturday, August 6 Better than: Cowboys & Aliens. "Some of you might say I'm preaching to the choir," Jorge "Popmaster Fabel" Pabon, a former Zulu Nation member and our master of ... More >>

Radio Hits One: The Long, Long Legs Of Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday

​A few weeks ago, my colleague Chris Molanphy broke down how "Super Bass," the late-breaking crossover smash from Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday, presented a rare example of a hit album taking months to yield a top 10 single after moving major units out of the gate. But at the time, I was patiently ... More >>

The Tranny Chaser Chaser

Gay guys who like straight guys who like guys dressed as girls

Q&A: Pharoahe Monch On Growing Up in Queens, Twitter, Pizza, and Porn

​"A guy got shot in the head at a club and the brain pieces were on the mirror -- as I was running out I took a glance at it." Pharoahe Monch is talking about the most unfortunately explicit thing he saw growing up in the same Southside Jamaica, Queens neighborhood that 50 Cent would later myt ... More >>

The Fame Cookie: 2011 Grammy Awards Live Blog

It's the return of the most talked-about Grammy Awards live blog--a collection of quips, blips, and arguably insightful observations that dares to match the actual Grammy telecast in terms of pure spectacle and Justin Bieber mentions. Please join our hosts Tom Breihan and Ryan Dombal below, and keep ... More >>

Download: Skyzoo and !llmind, "Speakers on Blast"

Yes In My Backyard is a semiweekly column showcasing MP3s from new and emerging local talent. ​Fuck chillwave. Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo and producer !llmind have your tape-damaged nostalgia fix without any Peter Pan hysterics or lazy mush. Their full-length collaboration Live From The Tape Deck ... More >>

10 Nominations for 2010 World Cup Anthems Better Than Shakira's "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)"

We defy you to unironically enjoy this song. The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa kicks off on June 11th. Sports-wise, the tournament promises to be thrilling, with 32 teams from around the world pitting their varied domestic styles and approaches to the game against each other in a bid to deci ... More >>

Your Big, Honking Guide to Haiti Benefits and Valiantly Intentioned Fundraising Efforts, Non-Wyclef Musical Edition

If this doesn't say it all, don't know what does Wyclef's Yele charity has recently drawn a firestorm of criticism, but he's not the only musical figure trying to mobilize folks and funds on behalf of Haiti. There's also an impressive number of benefit concerts and music events happening in the cit ... More >>

The Tentative Return of Whitney Houston

Not a disaster, but not exactly a triumph, either

The Lousy Onstage Pickup Line Hall of Fame Hereby Inducts Mickey Factz

Actual seduction not depicted, but you should be grateful, trust me. If you've not had the pleasure of one of the Roots' jam sessions at Highline Ballroom, know first of all that "jam" is taken very literally: They're more or less just fucking around, learning how to play Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" ... More >>

Chuck D's Presidential Ambitions

Status Ain't Hood's Favorite Live Shows of 2007

Track 18 Wins Again

Major-label hip-hop records in burying-best-tracks shocker!

More Songs About Burgers and People

Lupe Fiasco shows off and nerds out on his ridiculously ambitious follow-up

Live: Zune's Old-Rapper Picnic

DMX Has a Greatest-Hits Album

LL Cool J, Please Break Up

Pharrell and Twista Discover Baltimore Club

Jay-Z is Afraid to Fight

A Rap Beef Roundup

Tical 2006: The Falling-Off

Wu royalty gets a bit too defensive with self-prophetic comeback/never-left campaign

The Game Goes to War (Again)

Jay-Z is Rapping Again

Anatomy of a Banger: DJ Khaled's "Holla At Me"

A Running Diary of the Billboard Music Awards

VMT&A's

Who and what went down at the MTV Video Awards

One Mind. Two Million Voters.

Russell Simmons and Doug Banks Launch Ambitious Voter Registration Drive

Ear, Nose, and Throat

Ho ho hee hee ha ha to the funny farm where life is beautiful

Music

She Pop

Lava Baby’s Lips Are Not Sealed

So This Guy Walks Into a Bar . . .

Call and Response

Targeting Silent Rappers: A Street Fight for Justice or Hip Hop McCarthyism?

Music

The Passing of the Mic

We got your hip-hop hall of fame

The Uninvited

Diddily-Dee

Breaking's New Ground

Generation Next Spins on its Head

Licensed to Sell

Why Jingles Died and Licensed Pop Rules