Archive
From Shook Ones to Infinite: The Mobb Deep Story
Prodigy and Havoc made The Infamous in a Queensbridge bedroom, got dissed by Tupac, were dropped by two labels, signed to G-Unit, and still outlasted every era they passed through. The full arc of Mobb Deep.
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The Whole City Was There: Three Nights of Jay-Z at Yankee Stadium
Reasonable Doubt turned 30. The Blueprint turned 25. Jay-Z played three nights in the Bronx and most of us watched from our phones. A dispatch from the outside, where the culture actually lives.
Dillagence: Busta Rhymes and J Dilla's Vault
Mick Boogie brought Busta Rhymes and a vault of unreleased J Dilla beats together for the most important tribute the producer ever received.
Paper Route: How Dolph Built His Own Empire
Young Dolph never left Memphis and never signed away his music. The story of Paper Route Empire and the independence that outlasted him.
Houston's Griot: How Scarface Made The Diary
In 1994, while New York owned the conversation, Scarface made the album that proved Southern rap could carry the full weight of human experience. The Diary, reissued now for Rap-A-Lot's 40th anniversary.
Eli's Rotation
Every week, my 15-year-old son Eli picks the track that's got his generation talking. This is what's on repeat in the halls, the group chats, and the car rides home from school.
Pz'
Havana
Pz' floats. Havana, produced by rue.de.sevres, is all warm haze and low-slung drums, and Eli has not taken it out of rotation since it landed.
Last week: Joshua Raw - Blowing Steam
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Now in the Vault
We Got It 4 Cheap, Vol. 2
Clipse
Jive would not drop Hell Hath No Fury, so Pusha T and Malice moved into Pharrell's mansion and made the tape that changed everything. Clipse did Grindin' on night three at Yankee Stadium. All 18 tracks streaming in the archive.
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Rob Markman was in the building all three nights. His night one recap, the first of the series, is part of how those of us watching from outside pieced the weekend together.
Rob Markman — JAY-Z 30 Night One Recap