Generative artificial intelligence is seeping deeper into our cultural fabric by the day. In just two years, AI videos of Will Smith eating spaghetti have evolved from poorly developed nightmare fuel ...

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.

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 ...

Hip-hop at it's core is lyrics on a beat, with both being vital for the final product. Throughout the genre's history, there have been some truly incredible beats that turned producers into stars, and ...

This novelty from Detroit producer Black Milk is an all-instrumental experiment in two styles of beatmaking: Electronics that nod to the guys-in-labcoats era of synthesized computer music, and good ...

On this day, the late television icon Don Cornelius launches Soul Train and rappers Ja Rule and Will.i.am drop new studio albums. In addition, R&B singers LaTocha Scott and Freddie Jackson celebrate ...

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 ...

Hip-hop, which emerged from the streets of New York City in the late 1970s, has grown into a global cultural phenomenon. Its influence extends far beyond its own genre, permeating various musical ...