Unfortified Castle

Outkast's magnum opus has taken on quite an interesting life since its 2000 release.

Simply put, it's N.E.R.D — that says more than any genre label.

You don't sample and rap over Otis Redding and get away with it... right? Unless you're Ye and Jay.

Gil Scott-Heron took on a decidedly different perspective from the Last Poets in his response to "When the Revolution Comes."

As I ponder various current events and prospects for "revolution," I turn to the Last Poets' Harlem-based perspective toward social change.

I only came around to hip hop a few years ago, but more recent developments make it resonate with me even more now.

...especially considering the halftime's West Coast hip hop theme perfectly matched the game's outcome.

Kendrick Lamar's funky 2015 single remains a personal favorite for a slew of reasons, many of which come back to what I like in older music.

Through his celebrity lens, Childish Gambino questions the trustworthiness of, frankly, anyone who seems to be a friend in the digital age.

From insane samples to hard-hitting rhymes and a splash of motivation, Mobb Deep's signature track is an all-time great rap cut.

...and I had to figure out which one version I liked / wanted to write about the most.

In reinterpreting Roberta Flack's soul classic, Lauryn Hill does the heavy lifting, but she's also never alone.

One of the many highlights on Lil Nas X's debut album, its personal narrative stands out to me.