Magna Carta

The Graying of Hip-Hop

What happens to the youth-obsessed genre when its greats reach retirement?

The Craziest Musical Gambles That Paid Off

Every year it's a guarantee someone will grouse about record labels and musicians never taking risks anymore, and never producing anything exciting or unique. While that's probably true to a certain extent, it's not been true in much of 2013. For instance, first there was Kanye West's Yeezus and the ... More >>

Finding Hip-Hop's Beginning in Afrika Bambaataa's 40,000-Deep Record Collection

What to Expect From Lady Gaga's ARTPOP

Last Friday Lady Gaga revealed on her website that her new album would be released on November 11th. It will be called ARTPOP. She elaborated (of course) with the following gibberish: "ARTPOP explodes onto the physical and virtual universe at once on November 11, our 'BIG BANG! On this day HAUS OF G ... More >>

Kill Your Idols: Why Rap's Superstars Stay Relevant

For the most part, we agree. Three of Jay-Z's last four albums have been terrible. Lil Wayne, addled as he is by lean and anatomical discharge (or just pure not-caring), don't rap so good no more. Eminem hasn't released a worthwhile LP in over a decade. Nas is wildly inconsistent--but we await all h ... More >>

Jay-Z Bungles Nirvana

Magna Carta Holy Grail and Yeezus have arrived; somehow, Jay-Z's album has the better production, and Kanye's has the better lyrics. In any case, one of the most polarizing aspects of the former work is how it uses Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in the opening track, "Holy Grail." Between ver ... More >>

WIN TICKETS to See NAS at Citi Field!

This summer has been a weird season for rap. Kanye fell short of ascending to heaven withYeezus. Jay-Z's attempt to transcribe the Illuminati Handbook ended up being a Magna Carta Holy Fail (YUK YUK). J. Cole ranted on Twitter about no one paying attention to him because not Ye or Jay. But luckily f ... More >>

Every Person, Place, and Thing on Magna Carta Holy Grail: A Checklist

If while listening to Jay-Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail, you experienced an indescribable sensation that you were actually listening to an encrypted invitation to a very luxurious party with a super exclusive guest list and even more ridiculous gift wish list, you were right!!! We made note of every pe ... More >>

No One Cares About Jay-Z's New Music

Ever since the announcement of his game-changing arrangement with Samsung Electronics, most of the conversation about Jay-Z's forthcoming studio album, Magna Carta Holy Grail has revolved around the nature of the deal, not the coming music. Even as the project (out officially tomorrow) is being roll ... More >>

Mitt Loves N.Y.: Robert Rosenkranz

With Mitt Romney as its de facto candidate, the roster of Restore Our Future, Romney's designated Super PAC slush fund, reads like a laundry list of New York City's wealthiest denizens. And, according to the Center for Responsive Politics and contrary to popular belief, Super PAC ... More >>

Boys and Their Combat Toys in 13th-Century Knights' Tale Ironclad

Is Sex a Thing Of the Past?

Nope.​Is sex over? First the Observer said the Youngs are through with it. Now the New York Times, always on the vanguard, is exploring the notion that sometimes, people don't want to have sex. In fact, sex is sort of unfashionable now, due to the widespread availability of porn and various other ... More >>

Grinding Justice

Operation Streamline Costs Millions, Tramples the Constitution, Treats Migrants Like Cattle, and Doesn't Work

Things to do this weekend for (mostly) free

​Leaf peeper map of NYS What little there is left, we have here, and we're at peak leaf (according to the News, we owe that information to the city's official foliage monitor, Cori Carl). Local foliage tours are here.

Our Human Rights Show

Countries abusing their prisoners say they are following America's practices

'Psychopathia Sexualis'

Third American Revolution

Chancellor Joel Klein's plan to turn students into active citizens for the Constitution

Daruma Bums

Please don't ban the bomb at cave-like Williamsburg Japanese

Bushwhacking the Constitution

U.S. Senate proves as disdainful of the Constitution as George W. Bush. Be forewarned.

The Rumsfeld-Bush Legal Black Hole

Powers Formerly Reserved Only for Kings

Film

One Man’s Machines

Lone Guy Wrangles Worldwide Weirdness in Winner Show

Quiz Show

Fans drop beer and pick up pencils to find out who's best

Petticoat Junction

The struggle for dress reform