Bust a Rhyme
Exploring the men, women, and motivations behind your favorite hip-hop music.
Revisiting Jay-Z's '4:44': Family Matters
In classic Shawn Carter fashion, it has been almost four months since the release of his thirteenth studio album, 4:44, and we're still talking about it.
Sadé SanchezPublished 6 years ago in BeatRevisiting Jay-Z's '4:44': Bonnie & Clyde, Hov and B
In classic Shawn Carter fashion, it has been almost four months since the release of his thirteenth studio album, 4:44 , and we're still talking about it.
Sadé SanchezPublished 6 years ago in BeatTrippie Redd - 'A Love Letter To You 2'
Trippie Redd has an opportunity to distinguish himself. Strengths/Weaknesses I’m just casually sipping lean right now while I listen to numerous beats so I can croon about the reckless lifestyle I lead. Aye, and these haters better stop calling my phone because ya boy is in the salon getting his dreads dyed. Alright bruh? What color should I do this time? Red? Yellow? Blue? All three…?
Rap DisciplePublished 6 years ago in BeatThe New Wave: Who Is Trippie Redd?
Eighteen-year-old rapper and singer Trippie Redd (also known as Lil 14) is making his mark in 2017. Redd just dropped his second album A Love Letter To You 2. This album is making its mark amongst rap fans of all ages. However, before dropping A Love Letter To You 2, he made his mark with his debut mixtape A Love Letter To You. Trippie has found a new spot in the music game amongst other rappers such as XXXTENTACION, Famous Dex, and Lil Yachty.
Alí GonzálezPublished 6 years ago in BeatThe Bobby Shmurda Effect
At just 17 years old, rapper Tay K has achieved notoriety in what seems like the blink of an eye. When he took off his ankle bracelet and dashed from the cops while on house arrest to film his video for “The Race,” hip-hop rejoiced.
Rap DisciplePublished 6 years ago in BeatA.Boogie - 'The Bigger Artist'
His talent speaks for itself. Strengths/Weaknesses It seems like every other day there’s a new artist going viral or dominating Soundcloud with their music. Music has never been so easily accessible, and listeners are consuming music much faster than at any other point in history. There are so many trends and fads that it’s easy to get dizzy trying to keep up with all of them. With so many artists to choose from and numerous channels to discover them, many artists will be here today and gone tomorrow.
Rap DisciplePublished 6 years ago in BeatMacklemore — 'Gemini'
Here is an album review of Macklemore's Gemini. Strengths/Weaknesses Let’s face it: Geminis are the punching bags of the zodiac. The rest of the zodiac would have you believe that they’re two-faced and shallow. They're stereotypically associated with snakes for their deceptive behavior.
Rap DisciplePublished 6 years ago in BeatSmokepurpp – 'Deadstar'
Hip-hop has been enjoying a shift in its sonic landscape for a few years now. Southern rappers like T.I. and Jeezy were ahead of the pack because trap instrumentals are everywhere now. Today’s beats are arguably more innovative than they were in the past; there’s less sampling and more 808 drums.
Rap DisciplePublished 6 years ago in BeatPartyNextDoor — 'Seven Days'
Party has come a long way since first bursting onto the scene. 1. "Bad Intentions" I immediately liked the vibes on this opening track. Party doesn’t get enough credit as a producer. He has his own distinct sound; his instrumentals never sound as if they’re attempting too much, but they never feel lackluster, either. The nocturnal R&B vibes he has cultivated over the years becomes a little more polished with every project.
Rap DisciplePublished 6 years ago in BeatG Herbo – 'Humble Beast'
In the windy city of Chicago, there once was a rapper named Lil Herb. Rapping alongside close collaborator Lil Bibby, the two showed hip-hop the raw talent they possessed with their hit “Kill Shit.” Bibby’s deep voice over beats gave the impression of a war general, and Herb’s intensity and flow made his microphone a deadly weapon.
Rap DisciplePublished 6 years ago in BeatJames Baldwin's Vision & Love of Hip-Hop
Since James Baldwin’s death, we have now entered a period of meta-understanding of the racism and the system built upon the massacre of the indigenous people of North America by European settlers. Furthermore, the use of human labour under conditions deemed slavery, provided the basis for expansion of the American Empire, lead to the induction of the “American Dream” lived by White-Americans in the 1950s. However, it was not until the 1960s that Black-Americans were deemed equal partners to their racially polarized counterparts through the Civil Rights act of 1964. Given these existing historical events, Baldwin suggests that instead of focusing on exterminating racism, rather, the identity of the African-American lies within their ability to gain freedom and reject the captivity imposed by the racism of the White American System, where hip-hop provides the avenue to freedom through education.
Intelligent MovementPublished 6 years ago in BeatThe Only Person That Can Stop XXXTentacion is XXXTentacion
This situation is sad. It sucks. It hurts. There's really no other way to put it. For the case of up-and-coming rapper XXXTentacion, it's a fear that we are going to see a young star burn up before he really got to shine.
Bailey VanHoutenPublished 6 years ago in Beat