Welcome to The State of R&B, ESSENCE’s look at the past, present and future of rhythm and blues. In this piece, ESSENCE editor Rivéa Ruff reports on the blending of hip-hop and R&B. Since the ...

This article has been handpicked from the Okayplayer editorial archives and included in our Hip Hop 50 collection as a noteworthy inclusion to the genre's rich and diverse narrative. The article has ...

In the '80s, hip-hop hit the mainstream, and it's stayed there in the decades since. When hip-hop emerged, it had an urgency and power that set it apart from the pop that dominated the charts, but ...

I’m a little bias in this opinion, but growing up in the ’80s was the best time ever. So much happened in the ’80s in terms of culture, pop culture, and entertainment. It was in the ’80s where hip-hop ...