Awesome Hip Hop

“Who to call when no one obeys the law and there ain’t no Iron Man that could come and save us all?” Sweet Christmas. Method Man bodies other TV show themes with this slice from the soundtrack of Luke Cage. Produced by Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.

(PG-13: Language) A biographical film about the life and career of ’90s rapper Tupac Shakur, aka 2Pac. The movie appears to touch on most of his adult life, from his rise to fame to his tragic and violent death. Actor Demetrius Shipp Jr. was born to play this role.

(PG-13: Language) Rapper YG sat down with First We Feast to talk about his favorite fast food pizza, his politically-charged tracks, booting people off his house after a party and more, all while wondering where the hot sauce is supposed to be.

Beat maker Crank Lucas has an ongoing parody series about trends in hip hop across the decades, from its inception in the ’80s until today. Watch his funny take on rap songs that involve drugs. It’s okay though, we gon’ be alright.

Soul and hip hop artist Xenia Rubinos livens up NPR Music’s office with stripped down versions of Lonely Lover, Mexican Chef and Laugh Clown, all from her new album Black Terry Cat. This is the vibe of someone who’s about to blow up.

(PG-13: Language) “I’m talking about Slick Rick, did he not inspire you? DJ Quick, sh*t the whole entire Wu! 8Ball & MJG and Beanie Sigel, and what the f**k ever happened to Malik from Illegal?” Cee-Lo raps about his favorite rappers over chill beats.

Our heroes don’t appear on no stamps, but now they’re action figures thanks to this retro set designed by Hip Hop Family Tree creator Ed Piskor. The set also comes with four comic book style stickers of Chuck D, Flava Flav, Professor Griffin and Terminator X.

(PG-13: Language) Air Credits is a new collaboration by Chi-town’s prolific samplers The Hood Internet and rapper Showyousuck. Their first single is a two-part pop rap track that’s half synth and half soul.

(PG-13: Language) Young beatmaker Daniel Asadi has a little fun with The Office‘s memorable opening theme by using it as the backgrount beat in this live remix of Kendrick Lamar’s Poetic Justice.

(PG-13: Language) Vox points out a few verbal tricks that some of the most technical rappers invented and perfected. These go beyond rhyming words to matching the syllables, flows, and of course the beats behind them, all while telling a story.

YouTuber Sandurz deconstructs Kanye West’s breakout hit Through the Fire, which showcased his knack for pitch shifted sampling and his (now extinct) storytelling. It’s based on Chaka Khan’s Through the Wire and drum samples from a remix of OutKast’s Player’s Ball.

The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon says clipping. vocalist and Hamilton actor Daveed Diggs is Broadway’s fastest rapper, because of his 3-second 19-word burst in the hit musical. Daveed then rapped lines from clipping.’s Taking Off to show that he can go faster.

YouTuber Sandurz demonstrates Timbaland’s genius with this breakdown of the mega producer’s beat for one of Jay Z’s biggest hits. It’s built around Khusara Khusara, an Egyptian swing track by Hossam Ramzy. Man those congos are lit.

“Whatever it take I hope you find it, Mike. The look on her face shown that glory replaced all the shame and the hate and that she wears a crown.” Run the Jewels worked with Wevr to make this to the point 360 video for Crown, from their album Run the Jewels 2.

Beyoncé’s surprise album features Jack White, The Weeknd, James Blake and Kendrick Lamar. It’s accompanied by a series of eclectic short films, and many of the songs address her troubled relationship with Jay-Z. It’s exclusive to Tidal, but we’ve got previews of each track.

(PG-13: Language) YouTuber J.Cyrus mimics the flows of rappers Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Ludacris, Future and Young Thug while pretending to be a waiter, a principal and other everyday professions. Good kid, Second City.

(PG-13) The first episode of Viceland’s music documentary series Noisey focuses on Kendrick Lamar and Compton, where everyone has the same dreams as the rest of America, but the paths they take are twisted by poverty and violence.

(PG-13: Language) Producers Mick and Chi Duly mark Notorious B.I.G.’s 19th death anniversary by dropping this cool mixtape featuring some of Biggie’s most popular verses juxtaposed against the beats of phenom beatmaker Metro Boomin. Thanks Karlo!

(PG-13: Language) Kendrick Lamar follows up last year’s To Pimp A Butterfly with a surprise EP. Some of the tracks in untitled unmastered. include the songs that he performed on The Colbert Report and The Tonight Show.

“Routine day with a dirt cheap brush, then a week goes by and it goes untouched. Then two, then three, then a month, then the rest of your life you beat yourself up.” Aesop Rock raps about regret at letting one’s creativity rot in this single from his album The Impossible Kid.

(Flashing lights) Kendrick Lamar continues to use his medium as a bell for change and a mirror for society. His explosive performance at the 2016 Grammys is a medley of The Blacker the Berry, Alright and a final verse lamenting the death of Trayvon Martin.

(PG-13: Language) “My daddy Alabama, Momma Louisiana, you mix that negro with that Creole make a Texas bamma.” Beyoncé drops the hammer on all manner of haters and uses herself as bait to remind us of her home states’ woes. The song is exclusive to Tidal.

Beat Breakdown reveals how Madlib sampled Johnny Guitar Watson’s Give Me My Love, Junie Morrison’s Suzie Thundertussy, Larry Graham’s Stand Up and Shout About Love, and Ghostface Killah’s Mighty Healthy to make the barebones music for Kanye’s latest single.