music-op-eds
Cardi B Is the Queen of Features That Break The Internet
For a woman whose reality TV slogan was “If a girl beef with me, she gon’ have beef forever,” the Bronx rapper plays exceptionally well with others.
Polo G's Arrest Shows That the Miami Police Department Hasn't Changed Much
In 2004, 'The Miami Herald' accused the city of targeting rappers. Nearly 20 years later, the arrests are still raising questions.
This Pop Rap Trend Is A Lot Messier Than You Think
Florida rappers Yungeen Ace and Foolio have given vintage classics like Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” and Fantasia’s “When I See You” a more sinister meaning.
Travis Scott Is Sick of Brands and So Are We
Scott told Adweek he doesn't like marketing. His comments make you wonder who benefits the most from branding.
How Many Artists Have to Say They're Struggling Before We Listen?
DMX’s death and the testimonies of Demi Lovato and Bobby Brown should force the industry to consider how fame exacerbates addiction and mental health.
Is There a Right Way to Boycott the Grammys?
The Weeknd will no longer submit music to be nominated by the institution. Does that fix the problem?
From Prince to Whitney to Nicki: The Plight of the Black Pop Star
How does one exist as a Black pop musician when pop is predicated on whiteness?
The Co-Opting of Rap Criticism Is About More Than Just Music
The strongest reporting on the LA riots of 1992 came from Black writers at a hip-hop magazine. In 2020, the infrastructure for a robust Black press doesn't exist.
Justin Bieber's Struggle to Hit No. 1 Proves Roddy Ricch Is a New Kind of Pop Star
The barriers separating rap music and the mainstream have been obliterated, and the sun is setting on a certain generation of pop star.
Enough With the Bob Dylan Biopics
Hey, Hollywood: Bob Dylan is still alive, and so overdone that I’m concerned for our collective creativity.
Trent Reznor's Music Was the Perfect Soundtrack to the Dark, Disorienting 2010s
In a decade of distraction, angst, and demoralization, there’s been no one better suited to document our collective breakdown.
A Rash of Booing Incidents at Concerts Reveals That Fan Culture Is Getting More Toxic
Drake's rejection at Camp Flog Gnaw earlier this month shows that fans increasingly believe they have control of the aux cord, even when it harms artists.