Album Review: the villain wins, by MESSIAH!
On his first album in two years, Charlotte’s MESSIAH! balances light and shadow, and an identity as savior or villain.
Latest
Mez's Story is Still Loading
Balancing a solo rap career with being a creative right hand to legends — writing songs for Dr. Dre and Ye, directing videos for J. Cole — has left the Raleigh native hard to pin down. He's (mostly) OK with that.
Genius Bars
The 24th edition of the stalwart RDU hip-hop event "The Genius Party" gets everyone involved — from producers, to vocalists, to attendees themselves.
Dispatch From Wilmington: Bridge to Forever
At Waterline Brewing, a night of wide-ranging music — from Georgia to New York, and from the 90s to the present day — along the Cape Fear River.
Appalachia Gets a Good Rap
On the upcoming compilation album No Options, more than a dozen Appalachian hip-hop artists present a different side to an often misunderstood, oversimplified region.
Leroy Is Ready to Be Himself
The Charlotte rapper, formerly known as WELL$, is back in his hometown and embarking on his most personal and mature work yet — starting with the reclamation of his childhood name.
The Rest Is History
"End Times," courtesy of Angelo Mota, leroy and Mez, is a somber reckoning with our overwhelming reality — and a late-2010s NC hip-hop family reunion.
Dispatch From Charlotte: Sudd, The Curator
With its overflowing roster of talent from the Carolinas and beyond, No Stress Fest reflects the enduring role of the DJ — and specifically, the pull and influence of High Point native E.Sudd.
The Foreign Exchange Are Still On Their Own Time
“The Grey” propels us into the uncertainty of space through the coordinates of hip-hop’s sonic past.
The Restless Yet Unhurried Ambition of Ayinde Anderson
The Los Angeles-based cinematographer talks about growing up in Raleigh, working with Vince Staples, honoring his love of music through film, and the self-imposed pressures that keep him growing.
Godric Pops Out In Pink
"Tiffany Mink" embodies the confidence and sophisticated extravagance that sets the Durham-based artist apart.
J. Cole's Middle Child Syndrome
Maligned by critics and fans alike, "Grippy" is the greatest test yet to the 39-year-old's self-defined role as a bridge between generations.
Song Of The Week
The Gospel According to Cheeno Ghee
"God Don't" is a showcase of the Charlotte rapper's versatility and precision — and her unflinching sense of self-confidence.
Album Reviews
Album Review: Please Don't Cry, by Rapsody
Rapsody's first album in five years is a tender, expansive look at the distorting mirror of self-image.
Song Of The Week
With "For You," NANCE Focuses on His Most Important Audience: Himself
Prioritizing personal fulfillment over external validation, the Raleigh rapper sounds sharper than ever, and genuinely at peace.
Q&A
Erick Lottary Wants to Remind You That He Raps, Too
Heading into his first major release since becoming a social media golf sensation, the Charlotte rapper talks celebrity friendships, authenticity, and trusting his vision.
Song Of The Week
Suzi Analogue and Blu's "Best 16" Sounds Like The End of the World
A UNC professor and a West Coast rap legend combine to make a fitting soundtrack for unnerving times.
The Scene
Beats N Bars 2024, Through the Lens of Tommy Coyote
A hip-hop holdover from Durham's mid-2010's festival era stubbornly refuses to go away.
Song Of The Week
On “One,” JSWISS Models Self-Belief Over Cynicism
The NC-schooled, NY-based rapper continues his stellar string of jazz/experimental collaborations, this time with saxophonist/producer Marcus Strickland.
A light that can never be extinguished
Remembering Joshua "J. Rowdy" Rowsey
Features
Bury Me At The Casa Bacardí
Super Empty goes to Dreamville Festival 2024
Features
A Tale of 2 Cameraz: Scenes From Dreamville Fest '24
Two days, two shooters and a ton of images.
Q&A
Did J. Cole Do The Right Thing?
A baker's dozen of NC hip-hop artists and media personalities react to "The Apology."
Song Of The Week
Song of the Week: "Other Side" - Kooley High
The Raleigh quintet leans away from Earthly matters like sales and streams, and into mortality and eternal life.