Good music and a good drink often go hand in hand, but do we ever really stop to appreciate the pairing? We do now, because 2025 has been a banner year for rap music, but it’s also quietly been an ...

Week in and week out, there are plenty of brand-new rap songs, no matter the time of year. It can be really difficult to stay aware of what’s out and also what’s hot, so XXL decided to make things ...

A recent tiff between underground rap promo pages has sparked an impassioned online debate about the definition of “gimmick rappers” over the past week. Most of it is boring and wrapped up in ...

Music is changing at a rapid pace. Every year there is a hot new artist or trend. Hip hop’s success in the mainstream means that it is no stranger to these shifts. The genre’s success also means that ...

“Syracuse Playlist” is a monthly feature on syracuse.com highlighting music from local artists. If you’re a Syracuse-area musician, email gherbert@syracuse.com to share your music, including your ...

Expect to see selections from the established stars, the next wave of new talent, the up-and-comers and everyone else in between. If the song is fire enough to beat the competition, it'll take one of ...

The Best New Hip-Hop This Week includes albums, videos, and songs from Nav, Will Smith, and Lil Durk. Some huge comebacks are hallmarks of this week’s hip-hop, with Will Smith dropping his first album ...