Al Shipley

Al Shipley

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Freelance critic (e.g., Rolling Stone, Vulture); hip-hop/pop coverage and industry trends.

Sun Ra Documentary Premieres on WHIT‑TV in 10 Minutes
SocialMar 30, 2026

Sun Ra Documentary Premieres on WHIT‑TV in 10 Minutes

the Sun Ra: Do The Impossible documentary is airing on WHUT-TV in Maryland in 10 minutes, I'm seated

By Al Shipley
Kelis Appeared on Gravediggaz Track Before Neptunes
SocialMar 29, 2026

Kelis Appeared on Gravediggaz Track Before Neptunes

wow i didn't know kelis was on a gravediggaz song before she even met the neptunes https://t.co/2m80NSeqlP

By Al Shipley
Dominic Fike's Old Demo Becomes Career‑defining Hit
SocialMar 29, 2026

Dominic Fike's Old Demo Becomes Career‑defining Hit

Dominic Fike just randomly having the biggest song of his career four years after they failed miserably at marketing his music through a Euphoria guest star arc, with a 98-second home demo he made years before that

By Al Shipley
Rules Free Radio Spotlights Chip Taylor on 98.3
SocialMar 29, 2026

Rules Free Radio Spotlights Chip Taylor on 98.3

Rules Free Radio on 98.3 The Gamut doing a Chip Taylor retrospective right now, good shit

By Al Shipley
J. Cole's No‑Interview Strategy Let Album Shine
SocialMar 27, 2026

J. Cole's No‑Interview Strategy Let Album Shine

turns out it was a good idea for j. cole to just let the album breathe for a few weeks before doing any interviews, and in fact probably should've just continued to not do any interviews

By Al Shipley
TMZ Debuts TMR for Daily Chappell Roan Gags
SocialMar 26, 2026

TMZ Debuts TMR for Daily Chappell Roan Gags

TMZ launches spinoff site TMR (Thirty-Mile Roan) to post hysterical daily updates about Chappell Roan

By Al Shipley
Celebrating Jailbreak's 50th with Thin Lizzy Album Rankings
SocialMar 26, 2026

Celebrating Jailbreak's 50th with Thin Lizzy Album Rankings

Jailbreak was released 50 years ago today, so I ranked Thin Lizzy's albums for @Spin: https://t.co/Xwy6f44r6o

By Al Shipley
Kanye Remix Overused Across Three Ghostface Albums
SocialMar 21, 2026

Kanye Remix Overused Across Three Ghostface Albums

def jam made the kanye remix of "back like that" a bonus track on three different ghostface albums. just corny and thirsty.

By Al Shipley
Nicki and Kanye Both Promise March 27 Album Drops
SocialMar 21, 2026

Nicki and Kanye Both Promise March 27 Album Drops

first nicki said she was gonna release an album on march 27, then kanye said he was gonna release an album on march 27. so we're either gonna get one, two, or zero albums from washed mentally ill maga rappers...

By Al Shipley
Morrissey's 'Make‑up Is a Lie' Misses Provocative Mark
SocialMar 20, 2026

Morrissey's 'Make‑up Is a Lie' Misses Provocative Mark

morrissey releasing an album called 'make-up is a lie' feels like he wanted to come up with a title as provocative as 'meat is murder' and failed miserably

By Al Shipley
Exploring Sly’s “Africa Talks to You” On Spin’s Deep Cuts Playlist
SocialMar 20, 2026

Exploring Sly’s “Africa Talks to You” On Spin’s Deep Cuts Playlist

I wrote about Sly & The Family Stone's "Africa Talks to You" for @Spin's Deep Album Cuts playlist this week: https://t.co/59btbjOKFg

By Al Shipley
Daily Wire to Cast Kristy Swanson as Conservative Buffy
SocialMar 17, 2026

Daily Wire to Cast Kristy Swanson as Conservative Buffy

the stars are aligning for the Daily Wire to make a movie with Kristy Swanson as an old, conservative Buffy

By Al Shipley
Brendan Canty Rings Cantybell at Minute One
SocialMar 17, 2026

Brendan Canty Rings Cantybell at Minute One

when brendan canty hits the cantybell™ almost exactly one minute into the new messthetics https://t.co/Cfx1nfVIi8

By Al Shipley
Timothée Chalamet Targets Oscar‑Bait Roles, From Biopics
SocialMar 16, 2026

Timothée Chalamet Targets Oscar‑Bait Roles, From Biopics

timothee is going to go oscar bait apeshit, biopics and wwii movies and makeup-heavy physical transformations, it's all on the table

By Al Shipley
Casting Finally Gets Its Own Oscar—Essential for Film Success
SocialMar 16, 2026

Casting Finally Gets Its Own Oscar—Essential for Film Success

i am so so so glad there's an oscar for casting now, so many movies live and die by the casting

By Al Shipley
Strait of Hormel Closed, Chili Spikes to $200 per Barrel
SocialMar 15, 2026

Strait of Hormel Closed, Chili Spikes to $200 per Barrel

the Strait of Hormel remains closed and the price of chili has surged to $200 a barrel

By Al Shipley
Jack Harlow Declares End of “White Boy Summer”
SocialMar 15, 2026

Jack Harlow Declares End of “White Boy Summer”

there will be no white boy summer this year, jack harlow saw his shadow (and it was black)

By Al Shipley
Jessie Buckley Joins Shane MacGowan Tribute, Risks Controversial Slur
SocialMar 14, 2026

Jessie Buckley Joins Shane MacGowan Tribute, Risks Controversial Slur

jessie buckley is doing a duet on a shane macgowan tribute album, which means there's a non-zero chance she's going to sing the f-slur this year

By Al Shipley
Exploring R.E.M.'s Hidden Gem
SocialMar 13, 2026

Exploring R.E.M.'s Hidden Gem

I wrote about R.E.M.'s "7 Chinese Bros." for @Spin's Deep Cut Friday column this week: https://t.co/8xXVfM2VJz

By Al Shipley
Paperless Bills Fail When Schools Demand Physical Proof
SocialMar 11, 2026

Paperless Bills Fail When Schools Demand Physical Proof

paperless bills are fine and good until your kid's stupid school district only wants things like physical copies of utility bills as proof of address

By Al Shipley
Tired of Re‑Submitting Same Proof for School Registration
SocialMar 11, 2026

Tired of Re‑Submitting Same Proof for School Registration

getting my son registered to start middle school in the fall and giving the county all the same proof of address and proof of birth documents we've given them so many times before 🙄

By Al Shipley
February's Must-Listen Albums: Ratboys, J. Cole, Charli XCX
SocialMar 9, 2026

February's Must-Listen Albums: Ratboys, J. Cole, Charli XCX

Monthly Report: February Albums - Ratboys, Department, J. Cole, Charli XCX, The Paranoid Style, The Tomeka Reid Quartet, Willow, etc. https://t.co/52p0LNSgaa

By Al Shipley