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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

For rapper Killer Mike, the ’80s was the most impactful decade of sound. Sitting down with SPIN and Bose as part of our Decades of Sound collaboration, Killer Mike shares his thoughts on the eclectic ...

Hip-hop culture penetrates every aspect of people's lives, from the way they dress and speak to walk and dance. Though mostly associated with music, hip-hop from its inception has always been a ...