A cultural ‘cancer’, soft porn … or the height of empowerment? A revealing documentary examines the debates around one of the raunchiest – and most talked about – rap records aroundAs winter forces many of us to ditch nights out with friends in favour …
Archbishop apologises for steamy video filmed in Spanish cathedral
Video shows rapper C Tangana and singer Nathy Peluso grind against each other inside Toledo CathedralThe archbishop of Toledo has apologised to offended Roman Catholics after one of Spain’s most famous cathedrals was used as a location for a raunchy vi…
The message: why should hip-hop have to teach us anything?
Almost since it first emerged on the streets of the Bronx, audiences have expected hip-hop to express a revolutionary purpose. But perhaps this music shouldn’t have to take a political standHalfway through side one of A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, the 19…
I’ll Never Have Dinner with the President
This month marks the 29th anniversary of Ice Cube’s second solo album, Death Certificate. While his first solo album, Amerikkka’s Most Wanted, was produced by Public Enemy’s The Bomb Squad, this one featured a more West-Coast-style production by longti…
Dr Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Mary J Blige and Snoop Dogg to perform at Super Bowl
The five multi-award-winning artists will perform on the same stage together for the first time at next year’s half-time showDr Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Mary J Blige and Snoop Dogg will headline this season’s Super Bowl LVI half-time show.The acts,…
Common’s teenage obsessions: ‘Michael Jordan gave me the shoes off his feet’
As he releases his new album, A Beautiful Revolution (Pt 2), the US rapper remembers his terrible chat-up lines and the magic of the moonwalkEvergreen Plaza was a place that I would take the bus to go and shop, eat and see movies. It was one of the coo…
Birmingham rapper M1llionz: ‘Really and truly, drill is beautiful’
His smart storytelling and wry jokes have helped put Midlands rap on the map. Now he wants to demonstrate rap’s power to deliver real-life change“I’m not shy at all. I just … I’m not a very loud person,” says M1llionz. “I don’t really like attention. W…
Tion Wayne: Green With Envy review – a bid for rap’s top table
(Atlantic)The chart-topping MC tilts at the mainstream with mixed resultsGirls, gangs, guns, Edmonton Green: Tion Wayne (Dennis to his mum) is the ladies’ hard man who boasts about boning as much as he does defending the block. Previously best known fo…
Rapper Tion Wayne: ‘Police don’t want us to win, they want us in jail’
The north London MC recently scored drill’s first No 1 single, a triumphant turnaround after spells in prison. He explains why he wants to lift up a community living in ‘survival mode’Dennis Junior Odunwo, AKA Tion Wayne, is a hard man to pin down. Aft…
Parklife festival review – proof that Manchester is still mad fer it
Heaton Park, ManchesterA young crowd – who could make even twentysomethings feel fossilised – gleefully accepted their city’s rave mantle, losing it to Megan Thee Stallion, Bicep and moreHosting 80,000 rain-resistant punters each day, Parklife festival…