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Every so often, hip hop is gifted with a landmark album that challenges the status quo and forever alters the trajectory of the art form.  Rather then fall in step with the norms of the time, these albums eschew the immobilizing tendency towards stagnation and push the boundaries of what can be done within the genre.  One such album that fans and critics universally regard as a genre transforming classic is Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt.

Given Jay-Z's current status as a giant of popular culture, its interesting to examine the music he released before he rose to these meteoric heights.  Reasonable Doubt captures Jay-Z at an intimately raw juncture; the music exudes a brooding darkness that stands in contrast to the glossy sheen radiating fro

Long Beach rapper Vince Staples has made quite the name for himself this past year.  In 2015, he not only secured himself a position in XXL's Freshman Class, but he also released his debut album, Summertime 06, to widespread acclaim.  With the production responsibilities largely being held down by No ID and Clams Casino, the album offered listeners a sonic coming of age tale couched between atmospheric production and Vince Staples' intelligent, street-savvy rapping.

Now that he's earned himself a spot at the forefront of hip hop music, Vince Staples is using his position to launch a program that will help give back his hometown.  On Tuesday, Staples and Long Beach Ninth District Councilman Rex Richardson introduced the Youth Institute in North Long B

On the heels of the success surrounding his 2014 major label debut, Oxymoron, ScHoolboy Q is now about to release his sophomore album, Blank Face.  With just a few days left before the album hits store shelves, Q has just released an accompanying cinematic trailer.  Complete with consummate cinematography and professional-looking footage, the trailer depicts life in Q's South Central, Los Angeles stomping ground.  It opens with Q hanging out with his friends, before quickly cutting to subsequent footage of Q getting arrested and going through the rigmarole of legal proceedings.  

See ScHoolboy Q's Blank Face Trailer

Nestled in the b

TLC was one of the biggest hip hop/R&B acts of the 90's and early 2000's, but following the tragic death of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in 2002, new material from the band has been rare. That's going to change very soon, as the remaining members of TLC have announced that they've completed work on the band's fifth album.

The band announced on their official Facebook page that they've completed work on all fifteen tracks for the fifth - and reportedly final - TLC album.

The album's production was partially funded through an online crowd funding campaign which generated over $400,000 in donations from fans. Pop star Katy Perry, a fan of the band, donated $5

Chance the Rapper has been riding high ever since the release of his critically acclaimed, Billboard-chart topping "Coloring Book," and today he announced the details of his upcoming worldwide victory lap, the Magnificent Coloring World Tour.

The Chicago rapper will be taking his act around the world for his new tour, but will still kick off his new tour in North America this August. You can check out the date and times for his domestic shows here, with Citibank members getting early access to the tickets. While only North American performances have been announced so far, Chance says European shows should be announced before the end of the week,

"Color Book," Chance the Rapper'

With the release of The Life of Pablo and the album's companion St. Pablo tour that he is set to embark upon, Kanye West has certainly had no shortage of activities with which to occupy his time.  Now, you can add performing at the inaugural edition of the new Meadows Music and Arts Festival at Queen's Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to Kanye's busy to-do list, as it was announced that Kanye West and Chance the Rapper will be headlining the event.  In addition to the two Chicago rappers, the Meadows stage will also be graced by Pusha T, The Weeknd, Chromeo, Kamasi Washington, Grimes and many more.

Founders Entertainment, the group responsible for the Governor's Ball festival on Randalls Island, are also the architects behind this Queens-based event. &nbs