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From the beautifully arranged and impactful title track to the call to action of “Change the World” featuring Blackalicious’ Gift of Gab, Albuquerque’s Wake Self’s latest album, Malala, retains a musicality unmatched by most modern day emcees and offers up brilliant social commentary often lacking in the current hip-hop landscape. 

As the follow-up to 2014’s Good Things Happen to Those Who Wake, it’s clear the 20-something emcee has done some growing up over the past two years. From tackling his own personal demons to having the courage to speak out against social injustices, his voice has become more powerful with every rhyme he spits. Every song on the 15-track album has its own concept, something Wake made sure was

  Let’s face it, Hip-hop isn’t really something you would link to the Brits. In fact, the scene has endured much criticism over the years, leaving UK’s brand of Hip-hop fading into the music industry’s darkest corners. This, however, proves to be the perfect stage for this British rapper “Murds” as he defies these odds and generates a unique voice within the Hip-hop scene.

Born and raised in Bracknell, England, Robert Bambridge, despite the genre proving an obscure kind, spent his entire childhood immersed in the Hip-hop scene. Murds then picked up the pen as a teenager in college, representing the beginning of the young artist’s journey.

In a culture fundamentally estranged from Hip-hop, Murds persisted with his music,

Today marks the fifteen year anniversary of the passing of one of hip hop and R&B's biggest talents, Aaliyah.

Born Aaliyah Dana Haughton in 1979, and it was clear she was talented from the start: by age 11 she was already performing as the opening act for soul legend Gladys Knight. By the time she was the age when most kids are busy with college, Aaliyah already had earned multiple platinum records, had appeared in multiple blockbuster movies, and was an accomplished model and fashion icon.

In her tragically short 22 years of life, Aaliyah sold millions of records and helped redefine modern pop music with her unique style that blended influences from pop, hip hop, R&B, and classic soul. Critics credit her with popularizing the unique, beat driven sound th

Norman Rogers, a.k.a. Terminator X was born on this day in 1966. With his iconic look -- his towering height, futuristic sunglasses, and stoic expression -- and his peerless ability on the turntables, Terminator X earned a reputation as one of hip hop's most talented DJ's during his almost twenty years with Public Enemy.

Besides his work with Public Enemy, Terminator X also released two solo albums, Terminator X and The Valley of the Jeep Beets and Super Bad, on which Terminator X collaborated with some of hip hop's biggest DJ's, including DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Caz, and more. Both of his solo albums charted on The Billboard Top 200.

Terminator X left the band and walked away from the music scene in 1999. Al

Frank Ocean has reportedly left Def Jam. His latest album, Blonde, was released this weekend and was apparently produced independently.

Ocean released two albums last week: the visual album Endless, and the more traditional studio album Blonde, which was released through Apple Music. According to The Fader, Endless was Ocean's final, contractually obligated release through Def Jam, while Blonde was released independently without the backing of a major label. 

Ocean signed with Def Jam in 2009. Ocean released the critically acclaimed Channel Orange through Def Jam, but released his mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra through the internet without the backing of his label. Aro

The late, great Prince's private mansion is in the process of being converted into a Graceland-style museum, and fans can start reserving their tour spots starting this Friday.

 “Opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do and was actively working on," said Tyka Nelson, Prince's sister, of the new Paisley Park attraction.

Fans will be able to reserve tour spots starting Friday, and the park will open officially sometime later this year. The tours will reportedly take fans through Prince's private recording studios, rehearsal spaces, and the home concert hall where Prince held private events for friends and family. Prince memorabilia, such as his costumes and instruments, will be on display throughout the est