Blu Opens Up on Early Days, Iconic Collabs, New Track
The definitive Blu interview @paulxt talks to the LA legend about everything from his early days rapping for Suge, "Below the Heavens," "Her Favorite Colo(u)r," collabs w/ Madlib & Myka 9 & his latest gem w/ Exile, "Time Heals Everything." https://t.co/LxsjCju6X6 @HerFavColor
Unreleased N.E.R.D Track Reveals Kendrick’s Future Lyrics
This is "One of You," an unreleased song by N.E.R.D featuring Kendrick Lamar & André 3000. Allegedly recorded in 2019, it features lyrics Kendrick would later use on his own song "Count Me Out". https://t.co/ou1xTMF46f
Pop Culture Shows Our Growing Comfort with Surveillance
I wrote about Justin Bieber and Coachella or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Modern-Day Surveillance State. https://t.co/df2cSXBcqb
Top 2010s Rap Stars Drop New Return Tracks
In a Very Special Rap Up ™️, a look at the new return-to-action singles from some of the biggest rap stars of the 2010s: Action Bronson, Vince Staples, Lil Yachty, Shoreline Mafia, and more. By @paulxt https://t.co/OodVExZTmn
Shabaka Hutchings Returns to Sax, Explores
An interview with the brilliant jazz multi-instrumentalist Shabaka Hutchings about picking up the sax again, making beats, the literary genius of billy woods and ELUCID and his new album "Of the Earth." By Chris Robinson https://t.co/C3s4CGU2eL @shabakah
Rare 2004 Crime Mob “Knuck If You Buck” Shoot Photos
Photos from the video shoot for Crime Mob's "Knuck if You Buck." Columbus, Georgia (June 2004) https://t.co/zDQaTyf9G5
Nedra Talley: From Ronette Icon to Gospel Singer
A beautiful tribute to Nedra Talley, the last living member of The Ronettes How the iconic girl group formed and recorded "Be My Baby." A short history of 3-part harmony. The madness of Phil Spector. And Nedra's late in life turn...
Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Want You’ Marks 50
Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" turns 50 @jamdraper reflects on the divisive, atmospheric masterpiece from a tortured artist in a time of fleeting happiness, tranquility & gratification An artifact of possibilities, doomed hopefulness, and bold evolution. https://t.co/6x1qI7YzJc
Remembering Nedra Talley-Ross: Ronettes' Iconic 1965 Shindig Performance
The Ronettes performing "Be My Baby" live on Shindig - August 11, 1965 RIP Nedra Talley-Ross. https://t.co/k5SdPcb6cB
Akon Credits Jail Loneliness for His Breakthrough Hits
We had the legend Akon on the latest episode of The Truth Hurts to talk about how the loneliness of jail helped him write his first hits, learning music from his percussionist father & the Fugees, signing Lady Gaga &...
Slam on the CDJ Delivers Top March‑April DJ Sets
Slam on the CDJ returns to bring you the Best DJ Sets of March and April. Featuring the latest odysseys from Nicolás Jaar, DJ DEADNAME, Finn, thehouseofacidhouse, Time is Away, Traxx, Alfred Andres, Al Wootton, Bass Clef, Batu, and more. By...
New Kanye’s Work Lacks Vision and Spiritual Depth
"Bully" was not good enough to force any sort of mass reckoning. This was true of both "VULTURES" just as it was true of both "Dondas." [They're] works devoid of vision, of idiosyncrasy, of any sort of spiritual center." @paulxt on the...
Iconic Icons Grace Jones, D'Angelo Open Armani Exhibit
Grace Jones & D'Angelo at the opening of the Giorgio Armani Exhibit in New York (2000) https://t.co/Fq01PUZezn
Unreleased Kendrick Track Organized Madness Surfaces with Bilal, Lalah Hathaway
This is "Organized Madness," an unreleased Kendrick song featuring Bilal and background vocals by Lalah Hathaway. Allegedly recorded in July 2014 during the "To Pimp A Butterfly" sessions, some of its lyrics were later re-used on various "TPAB" tracks. https://t.co/hpO9hH1VFH
Hip‑hop Pioneer Bambaataa’s Legacy Marred by Abuse
A brilliant and damning obituary for Afrika Bambaataa, who helped build the future of hip-hop, and then systematically used his position of power to abuse dozens of young men, robbing them of the future that they deserved. By @paulxt https://t.co/NBfLCPWCnU
Eliana Glass's New Album Evokes Haunted Cabaret Soundscapes
"Tilt your head one way and you’ll see a warped Nina Simone; squint and you might spot a hint of Erik Satie; look at it in the right light and you’ll spy a hundred shuttered cabarets." @mmck_ profiles the elusive Eliana...
Juvenile Reflects on New Orleans, Aging Gracefully in Rap
This @ocksportello piece is nominally an interview with Juvenile, but it's also a rumination on the wonders of New Orleans, aging gracefully in rap, and not taking anything for granted in life. It's also a fantastic interview with Juvenile. https://t.co/8aoxjoFcBN @juviethegreat
ELUCID Dissects His Seminal Albums with Sebb Bash
A journey through the essential records of ELUCID In which the modern avant-garde great breaks down the making of "Save Yourself," "I Told Bessie," "Revelator," and his latest opus, "I Guess You Had to Be There," with Sebb Bash. By @paulxt https://t.co/EvItDkmovB...
From Garbage Man to Albanian Bad Bunny: Gashi’s Wild Journey
This entire Truth Hurts episode w/ Gashi was a fever dream. We talked about how he was a garbage man before music, nostalgia, hating Sea World, meeting Kanye at 13, almost signing Chappell Roan, collaborating w/ Sting & how he's...
Remembering Shock G: Psychedelic Rap Pioneer Who Shaped Hip‑Hop
RIP Shock G, gone 5 years today. A psychedelic rap pioneer, one of the first and best to translate the funk into hip-hop – who discovered 2Pac, invented sex packets, and changed the image and the style we were used...
Chester Watson’s Psychedelic Beats Serve as Witchcraft Study Soundtrack
The "Psychic Warfare Department" instrumentals. Surreal and psychedelic spells summoned from the liminal mind of Chester Watson. Beats to study witchcraft to. https://t.co/EQqRoKGDXa @swampmonti
Lost In The Masquerade: Unreleased Method Man‑Lauryn Hill Gem
This is "Lost In The Masquerade," an unreleased Method Man & Lauryn Hill collab, produced by Wu-Tang affiliate 4th Disciple. The "Star Wars” sampling track initially appeared on J-Love’s legendary bootleg Method Man mixtape series, but never saw an official...
Digital Underground’s 35-Year Legacy: Prince, 2Pac, Humpty Dance
In 1990, Digital Underground took over the world with "Sex Packets." On its 35th anniversary @thobbsjourno spoke to Money B & the group's manager, Atron Gregory, about Prince clearing their samples for free, rooming with 2Pac, the "Humpty Dance" & more. https://t.co/KglE4OyvpM
Tribute to Guru on Anniversary of His Passing
On the anniversary of Guru's death, a re-up from the archives, paying tribute to the gifted unlimited rhymes universal. https://t.co/YxJd7MGAK9
Afroman Turns Fake Raid Into Iconic Diss Anthems
This is the story of how Afroman turned a bogus police raid into some of the greatest diss songs of the decade - and in the process made himself a modern day civil liberties hero. Lemon pound cake will never...
New Rap Parables Spotlight Kodak's Controversy and Vault Drops
The latest highly quotable parables from RXK Nephew The genius of recent Kodak Black and the moral complications of still listening to him Sleepy Hallow x Sheff G drop one from the vaults while still incarcerated The Rap Up returns. By @gnarlyheffner https://t.co/XkN6Lq5c2I
Prince's 1994 Paisley Park Game Merged Music and Puzzles
In '94, Prince released a graphic adventure video game where players explored the different rooms of Paisley Park & solved puzzles to collect the 5 pieces of Prince’s symbol. Inside the rooms were interactive media including songs, music videos &...
First Interview Reveals NBA Youngboy’s Early Raw Edge
For the relaunch of POW, we're running my lost long-form profile of NBA Youngboy – a story that I began reporting a decade ago. This is how it came together: In 2016, I returned to Baton Rouge for the first time...
POW Relaunches: Join to Save Independent Music Journalism
In the last decade, the media landscape has become unrecognizable. Independent magazines are endangered. But POW has weathered the storm and built a space for analog futurists, digital crate-diggers, and people who love and care deeply about music. We have...
Tunnel Vision, AI, and Brand-Building in 2026
A very inspiring conversation w/ Blazzy, one of the West Coast's biggest streetwear & product designers, about how to build a brand in 2026, the value of tunnel vision, the rise of AI & what it akes to stand out...
Mobb Deep’s 1996 BET Live Performance of Classics
Mobb Deep performing "Shook Ones" and "Hell On Earth" live on BET in '96. https://t.co/TR8TpoagxW
The Roots and Jill Scott's 1999 French TV Performance
The Roots & Jill Scott performing "You Got Me" on French television program Nulle Part Ailleurs Canal (1999) https://t.co/4vqNhQIOno
Remembering Blondy: Trailblazing First All‑Female Rap Group
RIP Blondy from The Sequence, the first all-female rap group, an unsung pioneer who Queen Latifah said "showed us how to do it and gave [us] a path to our future." https://t.co/3ELLAxldjG
A Tribe's Rare Europe EP “The Jam” Unearthed
After "Beats, Rhymes, And Life" dropped in '97, A Tribe Called Quest released a Europe-exclusive EP called "The Jam." It featured two album cuts, a loosie from the Men In Black soundtrack and "Mardi Gras At Midnight," this J Dilla...
Shyne's Journey: From Prison to Belize Politics
We interviewed Shyne about the making of "Bad Boyz," his incarceration and reaction to the Diddy documentary, becoming a leader in Belizean politics, working with Timbaland, RZA and Dre, finding a form of enlightenment, and more. On the new Truth Hurts. https://t.co/LLXcGpOFDS
Ice Cube and DMX Rocked Vibe's 1998 Late‑night Show
Ice Cube and DMX performing the "We Be Clubbin" (Clark Kent Remix) on Vibe's late night talk show in 1998. https://t.co/DTljZBnVme
Chaka Khan and Miles Davis Reinterpret MJ’s “Human Nature” Live
Chaka Khan & Miles Davis covering "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson. Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival. 1989. https://t.co/xTxy3h2wal
Unearthed Black Hippy Track “Just Like” Features Kendrick, SZA
A lost track called "Just Like" (also known as "Heroin") from the scrapped Black Hippy project. Featuring Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Isaiah Rashad, Ab-Soul, Punch, Jay Rock, and Lance Skiiiwalker. Produced by Thundercat. Allegedly recorded in 2016. https://t.co/tbbuZpVnvU
Dr. Dre, Chris Tucker, and 2Pac Filmed “California Love” Video
Dr. Dre, Chris Tucker, and 2Pac on the set of the "California Love" music video. https://t.co/YQRnSJiaj2
Behind the Scenes of Missy
BTS of the "Sock It 2 Me" video shoot with Missy, Lil Kim, and Da Brat. https://t.co/5AP612qshc
Juvenile's 1999 Conan Performance Highlights "Follow Me Now"
Juvenile performing "Follow Me Now" and "Ha" on "Late Night With Conan O' Brien" in 1999 https://t.co/XTQiRjTduZ
Mos Def and Robert Glasper Reimagine “Stakes Is High” Live
Mos Def & the Robert Glasper Experiment covering De La's "Stakes Is High" at A Vaulx Jazz Festival (2014) https://t.co/6WMG2qWed1
Mickey Avalon Reflects on Graffiti Roots and Social Media Evolution
On the 20th Anniversary of his debut cult classic, I spoke to Mickey Avalon about his early graffiti days, modern social media vs. the Myspace era, "Jane Fonda," the Boost Mobile commercial with Jeezy & Jermaine Dupri &...
Stevie Wonder Joins Coolio, LV for “Gangsta’s Paradise” Live
Stevie Wonder, Coolio, and LV performing "Gangsta's Paradise" at the '95 Billboard Music Awards https://t.co/VJt9EF3pig
DOOM Covers “Rhinestone Cowboy” With Robert Glasper Experiment
DOOM performing "Rhinestone Cowboy" at the iTunes Festival in 2012. Backed by the Robert Glasper Experiment. https://t.co/SJVkfFppaX
Kendrick's Unreleased "Good Kid" Track Samples Radiohead
An unreleased gem from the Kendrick vault over a sample of Radiohead's "Everything In It's Right Place - taken from the "good kid" sessions. https://t.co/lqdtZWBdpE
Aaliyah and DMX Reunite on “Come Back in One Piece”
Aaliyah and DMX performing "Come Back in One Piece" from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack. https://t.co/PbFInpOADp
Digital Underground Rocks Apollo with Tupac‑backed Performance
Digital Underground performing "Kiss You Back" on "Showtime at the Apollo - backed by 'Pac https://t.co/yn3E8rLw9b
Fatboi Sharif on Music, Horror, and Bad Art
We spoke to the New Jerusalem nightmare Fatboi Sharif. His thoughts on Britney & N’Sync, grunge, hero worship, his favorite horror films, listening to beats in his sleep and the unpopular truth that "art can be bad.” On the Truth Hurts https://t.co/6EFWizuwOf @fatboyprospect
De La Soul and Chaka Khan Unite on Late‑
De La Soul performing "All Good?" with Chaka Khan on the Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn (2000) https://t.co/mjsRHxASjt