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Jeff Weiss on How Rap is Adapting to Low Album Sales

Good to see great writers getting those WaPo bylines. This is a wide-ranging and entertaining piece on how smart cats are hustling to make up the difference in a long, long drought.

Facebook to Small Business: "Fuck You, LOL"

Big Blue announced they’re going to be blocking any Facebook content you don’t pay for your audience to see. Time to rethink that whole shit.

Cortez Bryant profiled by Jeff Weiss

Great article on a powerful behind-the-scenes player. Sure, this guy is responsible for wall to wall shitty product, but he’s got a lot of insight to offer here.

How Hip Hop Got Its Name

I know: that sounds like the headline to a boring, pedantic, clickbait turd. Two important caveats: 1) It’s not about the Sugar Hill Gang, at all and 2) this is written by Jeff Chang. Click it.

MaLLy interview with Hip Hop DX

Hip Hop DX always has good interviews, but this one goes in depth about the Rhymesayers “tour boot camp” experience. Essential reading.

Oddisee Interview on Being a World Citizen & Touring Musician

So much science here, this is just absurd. What a great damn read. Get on this, now.

Closing the Book on XXL

Paul Cantor is a talented writer with decades of experience covering hip hop. I don’t think anyone else’s thinkpiece on this particular subject matters much by comparison.

Just Blaze Geeking Out Over His Entire Catalog

This was a goldmine of insights and a very entertaining read. Also a damn long interview. 10/10.

Blueprint: "I Love it Out Here"

So much that gets written by artists about the music business is an extended complaint, it’s beautiful to read something this grateful and pure. Dig it.

Nocando on Why He Quit Battling

Damn good read from a damn smart mammal.

Peak Summer Festivals

The bubble has to burst eventually. Bear in mind this is largely an extension of the tech bubble, since top-end “VIP packages” subsidize the ticket prices for the proles.

Cold Analysis of Youtube vs. Indie Labels

Too much FUD, too much noise. This short, simple piece is valuable clarity.

The Pro Audio Files

Spose Talks about the Record Deal Meat Grinder with Cracked

Every bit as entertaining as it sounds, Spose gives a great play-by-play of what Major Label Hell is like these days. Edutainment, it’s back. Tell KRS.

Es-K Talks Shop on Productivity, Tech, and Motivation

The hardest working producer I know gives a great, in-depth interview with StreetsConnect discussing his breakout new project, “Serenity.”