NPR

For Shawny Binladen and his collective the Yellow Tape Boys, sampling is a sacred act — the highest form of respect. Photo by GShotEm After Pop Smoke's tragic death in 2020, many wondered what would become of New York drill, and many naysayers claimed it died with him. Over the next year, several booming voices would knock at that door, but the man who broke it down was one who […]

The disbelief and disrespect Megan Thee Stallion suffered at the hands of the culture after being shot by Tory Lanez proved one of the rules of misogyny and racism within hip-hop: Being exceptional doesn't make you the exception. Amanda Howell Whitehurst for NPR Last December, a jury convicted rapper Tory Lanez of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet. The high profile trial shined a light on the misogyny directed […]

Trina performs a Tiny Desk concert "I wanna introduce you guys to the baddest bitch," Trina told the audience of her Tiny Desk. "The original baddest bitch." It's a title no one but the hip-hop icon herself could been able to claim at the Tiny Desk — and for good reason. As a rapper, Trina has been pushing P since before her successors were even sitting up in Pampers and […]

Atlanta rapper Latto belongs to a lineage of women inspired by Miami icon Trina, whose sexually explicit bars have both challenged gendered double standards and shown their staying power. Breyona Holt/Courtesy of the artist This story was adapted from reporting for Episode 4 of Louder Than A Riot, Season 2. For more about sexual agency in hip-hop, including the pioneering raunch of Miami icon Trina and her complex journey with […]

This story was adapted from Episode Three of Louder Than A Riot, Season Two. For more about body policing in hip-hop, including tales of cosmetic surgery, peer pressure and comment culture, stream the full episode or subscribe to the Louder Than A Riot podcast. Childish Gambino's "This Is America." Cardi B's "Press." Lil Nas X's "Industry Baby." Scroll through popular music videos and you'll see nudity and violence on the […]

Meet Me @ The Altar's debut album, Past // Present // Future, features a punchy rhythm section and a momentum that reaches out a hand to yank potential friends into the fun. Jonathan Weiner/Courtesy of the artist It can be a disorienting moment, when a broken shard of yourself kept cushioned to your chest reflects the light of thousands of others like it. For the last few years, closeted pop-punk […]