The birth of trap music and the rise of southern hip-hop
In 2003, T.I. and other Atlanta rappers created new subgenre of rap: trap music. Twenty years later, its influence is everywhere.
Music & Culture
Hip-hop at 50: A history of explosive musical and cultural innovation
To mark hip-hop's 50th anniversary, NPR's All Things Considered explores five moments that are integral to how the culture grew and evolved.
As hip-hop turns 50, reflecting on the role Latin artists played
Friday marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. African-Americans created the art form, but Latinos played a historic role in the birth and evolution of hip-hop.
A dancer's killing — over voguing — highlights the dangers Black LGBTQ Americans face
O'Shae Sibley was stabbed for voguing to Beyoncé at a New York City gas station. His death, which is being prosecuted as a hate crime, comes as anti-LGBTQ bills and incidents surge across the U.S.
How LA proved hip-hop could go global — by staying thoroughly local
There may be no better case for the power of hip-hop's geographic diversity than Los Angeles, whose sprawl of distinct creative microclimates is a genre unto itself.
Sixto Rodriguez, singer-songwriter of 'Searching for Sugar Man' doc, is dead at 81
Sixto Rodriguez, the musician whose story was documented in the film Searching for Sugar Man, has died at 81. He had minor success in the U.S., but was surprised to learn his music was a hit abroad.
All Rap is Local: The Playlist
As it celebrates its 50th birthday, hip-hop is a global phenomenon. But to map the music's true impact, you have to look closer.
2 Live Crew fought the law with its album, 'As Nasty As They Wanna Be'
In 1989, 2 Live Crew's As Nasty As They Wanna Be became the first album declared legally obscene, and the group's legal battles set a precedent for the rappers that followed.
As Hip-Hop turns 50, what better place to celebrate than a New York City subway?
The Metropolitan Transit Authority is issuing limited edition MetroCards with photos of famous New York rappers such as LL Cool J. They'll be available at a handful of stations in Queens and Brooklyn.
DJ Casper, creator of the iconic and ubiquitous 'Cha Cha Slide,' dies at 58
We explore the pop cultural impact of "Cha Cha Slide" — a perennial wedding reception and family reunion hit.