Patrick Bierut

Features6 days ago

‘Currents’: How Tame Impala’s Psychedelic Pop Electrified The Mainstream

In its quest for a fresh start, Tame Impala’s ‘Currents’ reveals layers of hope, uncertainty and anxiety beneath its warm, inviting surface.

Features1 week ago

‘The Tipping Point’: The Roots At The Crossroads Of Hip-Hop

‘The Tipping Point’ is populated by hip-hop’s forgotten heroes, and catches The Roots still finding their place in the pop culture pantheon.

Features3 weeks ago

‘Scorpion’: How Drake Unseated Himself With A Sprawling Masterpiece

‘Scorpion’ allowed Drake to showcase both sides of his personality: the tough-talking MC and the vulnerable R&B singer, all in one slick package.

Features1 month ago

‘Yeezus’: How Kanye West Shifted The Hip-Hop Paradigm

‘Yeezus’ is proof that hip-hop can take any form. Kanye West’s exercise in minimalism was polarizing to some, but uncompromising in its sonic mission.

Features1 month ago

Best Tupac Songs: 20 Essential Tracks

The best Tupac songs reveal a complex body of work straddling mediations on life and death, party jams, and some of the most thoughtful hip-hop in history.

Features1 month ago

‘Rebirth’: Lil Wayne’s Unlikely Rap-Rock Renewal

With ‘Rebirth,’ Lil Wayne threw down the rap-rock gauntlet, resulting in one of the most unlikely success stories – and influential albums – of the 2010s.

Features2 months ago

‘The END’: How The Black Eyed Peas Forged The Future Of Pop

Having owned the early 00s with their unstoppable run of singles, ‘The END’ was both a comeback and a victory lap for The Black Eyed Peas.

Features2 months ago

‘The Art Of Storytelling’: The Return Of Slick Rick, Hip-Hop’s Master Narrator

A decade after his trailblazing debut, ‘The Art Of Storytelling’ saw Slick Rick return to the hip-hop fold with some new tales to tell.

Features2 months ago

Best Drake Songs: 20 Classics To Get In Your Feelings

Over the past decade, Drake has redefined rap’s sound and the way we consume pop music.

Features2 months ago

‘The Marshall Mathers LP’: Eminem’s Provocative Masterpiece

With ‘The Marshall Mathers LP,’ Eminem catapulted rap to the forefront of the pop world and proved himself hip-hop’s greatest instigator.

Features2 months ago

‘Relapse’: The True Marvel Of Eminem’s Sinister Return To Hip-Hop

On ‘Relapse,’ Eminem returned in full force, proving himself one of the most formidable rappers in the world, with one of his most extreme collections yet.

Features3 months ago

‘Views’: When Drake Found It Lonely At The Top

After assuming the hip-hop crown, ‘Views’ saw Drake at his most navel-gazing, wondering if his kingdom came with a price.

Features3 months ago

‘Late Orchestration’: When Kanye West Broke The Code Of Conduct

Recorded live with a 17-piece orchestra, ‘Late Orchestration’ was an early sign that Kanye West would create art that transcends time.

Features4 months ago

Pharrell Williams: From Music NER*D To Pop’s Top Producer

From his pioneering work with The Neptunes to N*E*R*D and solo albums, Pharrell Williams has become music’s top producer, pushing the envelope of pop.