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At 50, hip-hop has grown into an economic giant

Aug 4, 2023
The genre is celebrated across the world and has permeated many facets of American society, creating wealth in the process.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Hip-hop traces its roots to economic hard times

Mar 15, 2023
An exhibit at New York City's Fofografiska museum spotlights how poverty and inequality in the 1970s helped create the genre.
Grandmaster Flash, Debbie Harry, Fab 5 Freddy, Chris Stein of Blondie and friend, 1981.
Courtesy of Fotografiska New York and copyright of the artist.

Thoughts on creativity from lyrical powerhouse Rakim

Sep 27, 2019
The influential emcee reflects on his life, his creativity and his career.
"I loved every aspect of the culture and tried my hand at all of it," Rakim says of growing up with hip-hop.
Photo courtesy Rakim & Associates

Rapper Dessa on hard truths about life as a touring artist

Sep 18, 2018
"I have earned the dark circles this year," she says.
Dessa is a touring musician and a member of the Minneapolis based hip-hop collective Doomtree.
Chad Kamenshine/Courtesy of Dessa Wander

The three richest American musicians are all rappers

Mar 6, 2018
Diddy, Dr. Dre and Jay-Z built multimillion dollar empires around their music careers.
Diddy, Dr. Dre and Jay-Z (L-R) used to compete in the rap wars of the '90s. Now, their companies are rivals.
Getty Images

What do you have in common with the kings of hip-hop?

Mar 6, 2018
Check out what personality traits you might share with Jay-Z, Dr. Dre or Diddy.
Sean “Diddy” Combs performs onstage during the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour at The Forum on Oct. 4, 2016, in Inglewood, California.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Live Nation

Using the lessons of hip-hop to start a business

Jun 6, 2017
A program in Philadelphia is teaching entrepreneurship through the successes and failures of the music business.
Students at the Institute of Hip Hop Entrepreneurship are learning how to start a business.
Photo courtesy of the IHHE

For public good, not for profit.

Flatbush Zombies on remaining independent, racism and more

Jun 24, 2016
For the Brooklyn-based hip-hop group, independence isn't just a business decision, it's a lifestyle.
Erick Arc Elliott, Zombie Juice and Meechy Darko of Flatbush Zombies perform onstage during TIDAL X: 1020 Amplified by HTC at Barclays Center of Brooklyn in 2015 in New York City.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIDAL

China pushing propaganda through hip-hop

Jan 6, 2016
Also known as rapaganda.