Jan. 11 is a day that needs no introductions for fans of hip-hop and R&B. It’s one that has ushered in significant ...

From MPCs to FL Studio sessions, one thing remains consistent across generations of Hip Hop and R&B: The power of the sample. With that said, few eras have been mined more heavily than the 1980s. With ...

Hip-hop beat-makers are usually unseen. Not all sample-based producers are as reclusive as the torch-bearing loop artist Madlib, but even the most prominent among them are part of the backdrop. After ...

Albums like To Pimp a Butterfly and 1999 blend jazz harmonies with sharp lyricism, proving the genre’s deep connection. Hip-hop may keep evolving, but funk and jazz remain its heartbeat, fueling its ...

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 ...

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.

For anybody who’s ever flipped out discovering the original song sampled in a hip-hop track, or even for anyone who just enjoys celebrating community and culture, there’s an event for you Saturday ...

All-time greats Nas (working with producer extraordinaire DJ Premier) and De La Soul dropped lively, sonically eclectic ...

CLEVELAND, Ohio - When Mary J. Blige takes the stage on Saturday, October 19, as part of her entry into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, she will embody the feelings, hopes and dreams of millions of her ...

As it celebrates its 50th birthday, we are mapping hip-hop's story on a local level, with more than a dozen city-specific histories of the music and culture. Click here to see the entire list. If you ...

As a part of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra's new community partner-focused concert series, Sound Waves, the KSO is working with local artists to bring a fusion of Hip Hop and classical music to ...