Intelligencer
The Cut
Vulture
The Strategist
Curbed
Grub Street
Magazine
Subscribe to the Magazine
Give a Gift Subscription
Buy Back Issues
Current Issue Contents
New York
Shop
Subscribe
Sign In
Account
Profile
Sign Out
Menu
Menu
Close
Close
TV
Movies
Comedy
Music
TV Recaps
What to Stream
Books
Theater
Art
Awards
Podcasts
About
Newsletters
Vulture Insiders
Video
Vulture Festival
Like Us
Follow Us
Follow
NYMag.com
New York Magazine
Intelligencer
Vulture
The Cut
The Strategist
Grub Street
Curbed
Search
Search
Close
Subscribe
Give A
Gift
Menu
Menu
Close
Close
TV
Movies
Comedy
Music
TV Recaps
What to Stream
Books
Theater
Art
Awards
Podcasts
About
Newsletters
Vulture Insiders
Video
Vulture Festival
Like Us
Follow Us
Follow
NYMag.com
New York Magazine
Intelligencer
Vulture
The Cut
The Strategist
Grub Street
Curbed
Search
Search
Close
MOST RECENT ARTICLES BY:
Paul Thompson
See all their articles from across New York Magazine
the law
July 2, 2019
The Biggest Revelations From the Unsealed Nipsey Hussle Murder Case Docs
His last words were “You got me.”
the week in rap
July 1, 2019
Bad Bunny and J Balvin Are Even More Exciting Together
On
Oasis,
two of urbano’s titans lure or outright shove one another into new, interesting corners.
the week in rap
June 24, 2019
Nicki Minaj Is Finally Back in Queen Form
Her new songs suggest she’s capable of regaining the strangle she once had on rap and pop radio.
the week in rap
June 17, 2019
Drake the Celebrity Has Fully Overshadowed Drake the Rapper
He just can’t stop getting in his own way.
obits
June 11, 2019
How Bushwick Bill Became a Rap Pioneer and One of Its Most Conflicted Figures
The story of his life is one of resilience.
the week in rap
June 10, 2019
The Absurd Longevity of Tyga’s Career
By placing himself next to an endless parade of stars and tastemakers, Tyga has, improbably, been one of this decade’s commercial mainstays.
the week in rap
June 3, 2019
Cardi B May Not Need (or Want) This Press, But Her New Single Deserves It
“Press” is the kind of song countless artists have written after tipping over into superstardom, but Cardi elevates it through sheer force of anger.
this week in rap
May 28, 2019
YG Remains One of L.A.’s Great Rap Stars This Century With New Album
His new album,
4REAL 4REAL
, continues to build on the West Coast legacy his close friend Nipsey Hussle left behind.
this week in rap
May 20, 2019
Megan Thee Stallion Is Exactly What Rap Needs
Her debut album,
Fever
, shows off the Houston star’s sheer force of personality.
this week in rap
May 3, 2019
This Week in Rap: Could Offset Really Go to Jail for Breaking a Teen’s Phone?
For slapping a phone out of a teen’s hand who was filming Offset without his permission, the rapper has been charged with a felony.
this week in rap
Apr. 26, 2019
This Week in Rap: Have People Forgiven Kanye Enough to Join His Church?
In the midst of all that worship and celebration at Coachella, he … also sold “HOLY SPIRIT” sweatshirts for $255 and socks for $50.
this week in rap
Apr. 19, 2019
This Week in Rap: Kodak Black Just Keeps on Imploding
In less than two weeks, Kodak Black has more or less spit on Nipsey Hussle’s grave, briefly gone missing, and then got arrested at the border.
scene report
Apr. 11, 2019
The Final Lap: How Los Angeles Gave Nipsey Hussle a Hometown Hero’s Farewell
The scene at the late rapper’s memorial service, on the streets where he lived and died.
this week in rap
Apr. 5, 2019
This Week in Rap: The Case for Why Boosie Badazz Still Matters
Boosie’s post-prison rapping has been sharp but buried by his still-frustrating trajectory.
the week in rap
Mar. 29, 2019
This Week in Rap: Juvenile Returns, billy woods Writes Paranoia, More
Featuring returned veterans, low-key gems, and beautiful paranoia.
the week in rap
Mar. 22, 2019
This Week in Rap: Chief Keef Teams Up With Zaytoven, Quelle Chris Innovates
Featuring Detroit innovation, coming-of-age meditations, and more.
the week in rap
Mar. 15, 2019
This Week in Rap: Dave’s Personal Discovery, Juice WRLD Finds His Voice, More
Featuring self-discovery, emo-rap, and great songs out of West Oakland.
music
Mar. 14, 2019
How Cash Money Records Changed Rap Forever
Exploring the enduring legacy of Juvenile, B.G., Baby, Turk, Mannie Fresh, and a young Lil Wayne.
the week in rap
Mar. 7, 2019
This Week in Rap: 2 Chainz Gets Personal, Rap Legend Myka 9 Returns, More
Featuring personal and heavy music, an exploration of rap styles, living legends, and much more.
the week in rap
Feb. 28, 2019
This Week in Rap: Offset Goes Solo, Lil Pump’s Cartoon World, and More
Young Thug is now a genre, Eminem rarities are officially available, rap veterans find new ways to shine, and more.
the week in rap
Feb. 21, 2019
This Week in Rap: Papoose Returns, Lor Choc Loves, Lucki Gets Frantic, and More
New York street rap, nuanced meditations on addiction, reality rap, and much more
the week in rap
Feb. 14, 2019
This Week in Rap: Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, Sean Price, Navy Blue, AJ Tracey
A faithful posthumous album, the return of a perma-stoned duo, and much more.
the week in rap
Feb. 7, 2019
This Week in Rap: G Herbo Gets Manic, Fly Anakin Breaks Out, and More
Manic Chicago rap, deadpan deliveries, and weird and dark tracks, and much more.
the week in rap
Jan. 30, 2019
This Week in Rap: Dreezy Impresses, Sada Baby Shows Off His Range, and More
Including Detroit street rap, New York throwback done right, and impressive showings from future legends.
the week in rap
Jan. 24, 2019
This Week in Rap: YNW Melly’s Star Turn, Future’s Breakneck
The WIZRD,
and More
Including star turns, hyperdetailed gross-out raps, beautiful production, and heartbreaking songs.
the week in rap
Jan. 17, 2019
This Week in Rap: Tree and Vic Spencer Release a Tour De Force, Plus Lots More
Including career highs, poignant looks at the past, and promising new tracks from rappers on the verge of breaking out.
the week in rap
Jan. 10, 2019
This Week in Rap: Ketchy the Great, Serengeti, and Sameflannel
Including late night missives, an intense solo debut, and, unexpectedly, a Jenny Lewis feature.
the week in rap
Jan. 2, 2019
This Week in Rap: Young Scooter, Shoreline Mafia, 21 Savage, and More
Also including some albums that slipped in at the end of 2018.
documentaries
Dec. 21, 2018
American Dream/American Knightmare
Gives Suge Knight the Last Word
This Showtime documentary does not fawn, but it lets the Death Row co-founder’s claims go unchallenged.
the week in rap
Dec. 20, 2018
This Week in Rap: Another One From Gucci Mane, Mozzy Returns, and More
Featuring Mozzy, Curly Castro, Rucci, Gucci Mane, and more
the week in rap
Dec. 12, 2018
This Week in Rap: Serengeti Gets Into Character, Nef the Pharoah Is Funny, More
Featuring Serengeti, Nef the Pharoah, Rucci, Koran Streets, and Drego & Beno.
the week in rap
Dec. 6, 2018
This Week in Rap: Meek Mill’s Triumphant Return, Ski Mask’s Gymnastics, and More
Featuring Meek Mill, Ski Mask the Slump God, Lil Baby, and DaBoii
the week in rap
Nov. 28, 2018
This Week in Rap: Earl Sweatshirt Breaks Boundaries, Dipset Returns, and More
Featuring Earl Sweatshirt, J.I.D, Boosie, Black Thought, Dipset, Benny the Butcher, and Key Glock.
the week in rap
Nov. 21, 2018
This Week in Rap: Tyler Makes Music for the Grinch, Kossisko Gets Absurd, More
Featuring Kossisko, Chris Crack, City Girls, MBNel, Mike WiLL Made-It , and, uh, Tyler the Creator’s
Grinch
music.
the week in rap
Nov. 14, 2018
This Week in Rap: Smino Gets Silky, Cupcakke Pushes Boundaries, and More
Featuring Smino, Cupcakke, Zilla Rocca, and Lil Peep.
the week in rap
Nov. 7, 2018
This Week in Rap Music
From slick ’70s drug rap to vital California storytelling, and everything in between.
the week in rap
Oct. 31, 2018
This Week in Rap Music
From underground vets to Washington, D.C.’s hometown hero, and everything in-between.
the week in rap
Oct. 24, 2018
This Week in Rap Music
From internet obsessives to underground introspection and budding megastars, you’re bound to find something to love.
July 31, 2018
Why Future Is One of the Most Important Artists of This Decade
On a now-classic run of mixtapes and albums, the artist found new ways of conveying pain.
Mar. 13, 2018
Remembering Craig Mack, Bad Boy’s Forgotten First Success Story
The “Flava in Ya Ear” rapper died Monday at 46 from heart failure.
Feb. 6, 2018
A Brief Guide to Mozzy, the Sacramento Rapper Kendrick Lamar Loves
The California rapper is poised to cross over thanks to crucial placement on the
Black Panther
soundtrack and a Grammys shout from Kendrick Lamar.
Dec. 15, 2017
How Eminem’s
Slim Shady
EP Paved the Way for Superstardom
The six-song EP was a proof of concept so strong that it has survived sea changes in rap and in American life.
Nov. 21, 2017
Armand Hammer’s
Rome
Is a Gritty Rap Album for the Modern Era
It’s dark, but sometimes funny too.
Nov. 15, 2017
Milo Is Building an Indie Rap Empire
“I wanna be a lifer in this. I want this catalogue that becomes undefinable because I’m just so stubborn.”
June 19, 2017
Tupac Shakur’s Complicated Legacy, Explained
Tupac’s life is dramatized in the film
All Eyez on Me
, but how detailed did it really get?
Apr. 13, 2017
What Does Kendrick Lamar’s
Overly Dedicated
Tell Us About
DAMN.
?
As Kendrick Lamar prepares to release
DAMN.
, we look back at his earlier work for signs of where he was heading all along.
vulture lists
Feb. 25, 2016
15 Albums to Try If You Like
The Life of Pablo
Including Kirk Franklin, DJ Dodger Stadium, Noreaga, and more.
the album formerly known as swish
Jan. 28, 2016
Guide: Max B, Who Sparked Kanye-Wiz Twitter Spat
Kanye’s new album title caused some waves, mostly surrounding his use of the word “wave.”
Jan. 15, 2016
Every Pop-Culture Reference Kanye West Has Ever Made
Fun fact: Kanye always mentions MJ when he big-ups Geico.
vulture lists
Aug. 21, 2015
The Essential Young Thug: A 20-Song Guide to the Prolific Rapper
A guide to the most prolific (and vital) rapper right now, who’s yet to drop his proper commercial debut.
More Articles