Nas Honored With BMI Icon Award at 2026 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards in Los Angeles
Nas has added another major honor to a career that has already helped define modern hip-hop. The Queens, New York rapper is being recognized with the BMI Icon Award at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards in Los Angeles, celebrating his lasting influence as a songwriter, recording artist and cultural figure. While Nas is firmly rooted…
J. Cole Returns to Oakland for Two-Night Bay Area Run With The Fall-Off
J. Cole is heading back to the Bay Area. The North Carolina rapper is scheduled to bring his The Fall-Off World Tour to Oakland Arena for two consecutive performances on August 29 and 30, marking his first Bay Area shows in five years. The two-night run gives Oakland fans an opportunity to see one of…
Kendrick Lamar Collaborator Dahi Steps Into the Spotlight With New Album Black Boy (Alternative)
Los Angeles producer Dahi is stepping out from behind the boards. The acclaimed producer, whose credits include work with Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Drake and Madonna, has released his new solo album Black Boy (Alternative), giving listeners a closer look at the artist behind some of the most recognizable sounds in contemporary music. The project arrives…
Nipsey Hussle and Bino Rideaux Release Long-Lost Album PROLIFIC Seven Years After His Death
Nipsey Hussle’s voice has returned to Los Angeles hip-hop . Seven years after the Grammy-nominated rapper was killed, Nipsey Hussle and longtime collaborator Bino Rideaux have released their long-awaited joint album, PROLIFIC. The 15-track project arrived on August 14, 2026, giving fans previously unreleased music recorded by the two Los Angeles artists nearly a decade…
DJ Akademiks Questions the Current State of West Coast Hip-Hop
DJ Akademiks has sparked a fresh debate over the current state of West Coast hip-hop after arguing that the region’s rap scene has lost much of its momentum outside of Kendrick Lamar. The media personality made the comments during a recent Kick livestream, with a clip of his remarks circulating online on August 8. Akademiks…
Tupac Murder Trial Begins as Keefe D Faces Court Nearly 30 Years After Rapper’s Death
Nearly 30 years after the death of Tupac Shakur, one of the most closely watched cases in hip-hop history has finally entered a courtroom. Jury selection began Monday, August 10, in Las Vegas for the murder trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the former Compton gang member accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of the…
Too $hort Turns 60 and Keeps Oakland Hip-Hop Moving With Sir Too $hort Vol. 2
Too $hort is 60 years old, but the Oakland hip-hop veteran has no intention of slowing down. The legendary rapper has released Sir Too $hort Vol. 2: Drink & Smoke, his 23rd studio album and another chapter in one of the longest-running careers in West Coast hip-hop. The project pairs Too $hort with Atlanta producer…
The Game vs. YG Who Owns the Modern West Coast Legacy?
By Eli Jesse Few debates generate as much discussion among West Coast hip-hop fans as the question of who has carried California rap in the post-G-funk era. Two names consistently dominate that conversation: The Game and YG. Both artists come from Compton. Both have released multiple platinum records. Both have represented Los Angeles on the…
Snoop Dogg, Kurupt & DJ Battlecat Revive Classic G-Funk With “Me N The Boyz”
By Eli Jesse West Coast hip-hop is experiencing another moment of nostalgia—and this time, it’s coming directly from some of the artists who helped define its golden era. Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and legendary producer DJ Battlecat have reunited on the new single “Me N The Boyz,” delivering a record that proudly embraces the unmistakable sound…
Hiero Day Expands Beyond Oakland as Bay Area Hip-Hop Reaches New Audiences
By Eli Jesse For more than a decade, Hiero Day has stood as one of the most important celebrations of independent hip-hop on the West Coast. Created by the legendary Hieroglyphics collective, the annual festival has become synonymous with Oakland’s rich rap heritage, bringing together artists, DJs, graffiti writers, breakdancers, and fans for a community-driven…
