Earl Sweatshirt on the Evolution of Music Streaming Services and Big Data’s Impact on the Industry: ‘These Algorithms Are Weird...
Earl Sweatshirt, reflecting on his tenure with Columbia Records, lambasted modern music‑streaming services for relying on opaque, "weird and undefeatable" algorithms powered by big‑data analytics. He argued that these systems create a power vacuum that skews exposure toward a few algorithm‑favored acts, leaving many artists disadvantaged. Sweatshirt also warned that younger listeners increasingly idolize the internet as a god‑like authority, eroding genuine community and critical thinking. Seeking artistic autonomy, he expressed excitement about breaking free from the streaming‑driven status quo to pursue riskier, more meaningful projects.
On This Day 7 Years Ago, Future Released One of His Darkest, Most Underrated Projects To Date
Future’s seven‑year‑old EP *SAVE ME* resurfaced as a dark, introspective entry in his catalog, highlighting themes of grief, drug use, and emotional isolation. The project’s fragile vocal delivery and blues‑infused production set it apart from his more commercial releases like...
Vince Staples Trashes His Old Label for Trying To Keep Him Boxed Into ‘Straight Hip-Hop’
Vince Staples publicly criticized his former label for forcing him to produce a conventional hip‑hop record, prompting him to release his politically charged, punk‑infused album "Cry Baby" independently. The Long Beach rapper explained he avoided press tours because he was tired of...
Baby Keem Reveals the Real Reason Why He Disappeared From Hip-Hop for 5 Years
Rising hip‑hop star Baby Keem vanished from the public eye for five years due to a serious health condition that left him unable to create music. He resurfaced in February 2026 with the personal album *CA$INO*, a departure from the...
90s Rock Singer Says Putting Out Albums Is a ‘Waste of Time’ These Days
Kevin Martin, frontman of 90s grunge band Candlebox, told the Pod Scum podcast that releasing full-length albums is now a waste of time. He argues that artists should drop three-song batches as soon as they’re ready, since record sales have...
3 Must-Have Albums for a 2010s Indie Pop Starter Pack
The article curates three cornerstone albums that define 2010s indie pop: Marina & The Diamonds' debut *The Family Jewels* (2010), Vampire Weekend’s chart‑topping *Contra* (2010), and Regina Spektor’s experimental *What We Saw From the Cheap Seats* (2012). Each record showcases the...
How Prince Once Stole the Spotlight From This R&B Icon Onstage: ‘Oh Damn, That Wasn’t for Me’
Raphael Saadiq, who played in Sheila E.’s band on Prince’s 1986 Parade tour, recounts a memorable Copenhagen festival where Prince unexpectedly joined his performance of “Stone Rollin’.” After praising the song, Prince leapt onto the stage and began dancing, causing the crowd...
Khalid Shares Encouragement for Support Act Who Announced Exit Mid-Way Through Tour
Khalid praised opening act Lauv on Instagram after Lauv announced he would leave the It’s Always Summer Somewhere North American tour. Lauv, who had performed at ten shows, cited mental‑health struggles as the reason for his mid‑tour exit. The tour,...
A$AP Rocky Claps Back at Haters of His New Experimental Album: ‘Just Shut the F**k Up’
A$AP Rocky’s new album *Don’t Be Dumb* pushes beyond his hip‑hop roots, weaving alt‑rock, experimental and avant‑garde elements. In a VIBE interview he dismissed critics, urging fans to listen without preconceptions, especially to tracks like “Punk Rocky.” The rapper cites...
Mastodon Just Announced a North American Tour for Fall 2026
Mastodon announced the Poisonous Weapons Tour, a 30‑date North American run spanning September 16 to October 24, 2026. The itinerary hits major markets from Orlando to Dallas, with support from Deafheaven and Alcest on every stop except the final festival. A presale begins...
Dame Dash and Bobby Shmurda Clown ‘Goofy’ Jay-Z After His Diss Freestyle at the Roots Picnic
Jay-Z delivered a diss‑heavy freestyle at the Roots Picnic, taking shots at Drake, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West and Tory Lanez. The performance ignited a flurry of reactions, with former Roc‑A‑Fella co‑founder Dame Dash posting a Goofy‑themed meme and rapper Bobby Shmurda mocking the verses on...
Nas Revealed That an Iconic Dark Divorce Album Influenced His 2012 Record ‘Life Is Good’
In 2012 Nas released *Life Is Good*, an album that openly chronicled his highly publicized divorce. He revealed to NPR that Marvin Gaye’s 1978 divorce record *Here, My Dear* served as a key artistic catalyst. While Gaye turned his settlement...
New Music Friday: 5 Songs You Need to Hear This Week (5/29)
This week’s New Music Friday spotlights five fresh tracks across rock, indie‑pop, and Caribbean styles. A Perfect Circle breaks a year‑long silence with “Starless,” while Violet Grohl debuts the garage‑rock single “Bug In The Cake” from her new album. Julia...
A$AP Rocky Released His Most Divisively Dark Album Ever on This Day 11 Years Ago
On April 30, 2015 A$AP Rocky released his sophomore album AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP, a dark, drug‑laden project that arrived a month after the death of mentor A$AP Yams. The record was executive‑produced by Yams, Danger Mouse, and Juicy J, and its title...
Jay-Z Was the Reason Pharrell Got To Work on an Iconic 2000s Pop Track
In a 2014 Vibe interview, Pharrell revealed that Jay‑Z’s club connection with Justin Timberlake led the Neptunes to work with *NSYNC and ultimately Britney Spears on “I’m a Slave 4 U.” Despite early pushback from industry peers who warned against pop projects,...