Rick Rubin has spent decades helping shape classic albums, but the biggest mystery might not be the music. It might be the philosophy behind how he creates it.

Some of these tunes are by homegrown heroes; other picks are just great songs that mention a state or happen to be set there or that evoke the place in some special way. Our list has rock classics, ...

Ahead of his Atlanta performance, Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels reflects on ‘My Adidas,’ hip-hop’s early days, sobriety and why he believes positivity can be gangster.

Bronx before it became a global movement — including some perspective from rap critic and native New Yorker Alphonse Pierre on why it's still best when close to home. Hip-hop’s origin story is ...

The “Because I Got High” rapper was a beloved star of the early 2000s — until a raid on his home and a colorful trial turned ...

In 2026, the craft of rapping is still thriving. These are the 15 best verses of the year, featuring everyone from Jay-Z to ...

Hop” (Backbeat Books, 2026). I felt dumb for never making the connection until now. Rap and punk, argues critic Carlo ...