Hip-hop and reggae have always been different branches on the same family tree. Think second or maybe third cousins. Sure, they've grown into their own distinct genres, but they've been borrowing from ...

While Atlanta was still in its funk era in the 1970s, reggae and dancehall music began to gain popularity in New York, where they would be infused with round-the-way rap to form hip-hop. For example, ...

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 ...

Discover the essential music instruments for creating captivating Hip Hop beats. Explore drum machines, synthesizers, and samplers, and learn valuable tips for choosing the right instrument to achieve ...

Long before streaming platforms and social media reshaped the industry, Beat Street in Downtown Brooklyn was the cultural ...

There’s a raw energy in the air—a palpable, jittery anticipation as the old guard of hip-hop production gets tossed aside by the relentless force of technological innovation and cultural upheaval.

The festival season is just around the corner. Those looking specifically for a particular music genre will find suitable festivals in Germany. Each of these events focuses on a specific genre. Rock ...

This story is part of our new Hip-Hop: ’73 Till Infinity series, a celebration of the genre’s 50th anniversary. Producers are just as (if not more) important than MCs on a track. As much as fans care ...

Osmic Menoe was a young kid in South Africa when he first fell in love with hip-hop culture during the late 1980s, at the height of the country’s anti-apartheid movement. But like so many, at first, ...