The Digital Vacuum: Why Online Sleuths Are Investigating Drakeo the Ruler’s Murder
Four years after the tragic death of Drakeo the Ruler, a lack of official progress has allowed internet speculators to fill the void.
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The Truth Hurts: An Analysis of HoodTrophy Bino
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The Rap-Up: Exploring the Pure Absurdity of Modern Hip-Hop
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Bad Noise: The Art of the Walk-Up Song
Longboat Has 35 Albums and Zero Interest in Slowing Down
Igor Keller recorded four albums last spring. Not across four years. Not in rotating sessions between tours. Four complete albums, back to back, in a single season. For Longboat (a project led by Igor Keller), it’s just how the process works. The latest output from his Longboat project, Album 35, didn’t arrive with a grand […]
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Digital Underground’s ‘Sex Packets’ at 35: A Legacy of Funk
Celebrating 35 years of Digital Underground's 'Sex Packets,' we explore the group's innovative spirit, the creation of Humpty Hump, and their legendary connection to Prince.
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The Rap-Up: Exploring the Pure Absurdity of Modern Hip-Hop
Harley Geffner dives into the chaotic, genre-bending sounds of RXK Nephew, the relentless consistency of Kodak Black, and the Brooklyn drill synergy of Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow.
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One Thing About New Orleans, We Stick Together: An Interview with Juvenile
New Orleans legend Juvenile discusses his latest album, 'Boiling Point,' the importance of community, and his enduring legacy in hip-hop.
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Afroman’s Free Speech: A Legal and Musical Retrospective
Afroman turns a harrowing police raid into a masterclass of protest art, defending his First Amendment rights with wit, music, and a flair for the dramatic.
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NBA YoungBoy: The Lost Profile
Jeff Weiss unearths a long-lost portrait of NBA YoungBoy, capturing the volatile, raw energy of a budding superstar from a decade ago.
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Bad Noise: The Art of the Walk-Up Song
Matthew Ritchie explores the decline of the baseball walk-up song, analyzing how players' choices reflect a broader struggle with taste and identity in the modern game.
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Hope Is a Dangerous Thing for Girls Like Us: A Parasocial Reflection
Anna Dorn explores the enduring, complex, and deeply personal connection she has maintained with Lana Del Rey over the past thirteen years.
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The Rap Up: March 2, 2026 Edition
A deep dive into the latest releases from Rich The Factor, Dave East, and Chris Crack as we break down the week's essential hip-hop landscape.
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The Truth Hurts: An Analysis of HoodTrophy Bino
A deep dive into the artistry and narrative evolution of HoodTrophy Bino as he navigates the complexities of his musical journey.
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The Enigmatic Return: Kool Keith’s ‘Facts Remain’
Kool Keith returns with 'Facts Remain,' a track that reaffirms his status as hip-hop's most unpredictable and enduring surrealist.
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The Mothership Connected: Seth Neblett on the Women of Parliament-Funkadelic
An exploration of the unsung heroines behind the P-Funk empire, as discussed by Seth Neblett.
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The Truth Hurts: Mavi on Freddie Gibbs, Sobriety, and the Drake Mayor
A deep dive into the evolving landscape of hip-hop culture, sobriety, and the intersection of music and politics.
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The Rap Up: March 9, 2026
A look at the latest developments and upcoming releases in the hip-hop landscape for the week of March 9, 2026.
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As Independent Venues Become Endangered, SF’s Noise Pop Offers An Antidote
Photo by LJ Rhodes via Noise Pop Industries Show your love of the game by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon so that we can keep churning out interviews with legendary producers, feature the best emerging rap talent in the game, and gift you the only worthwhile playlists left in this streaming hellscape. […]
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Leaving Las Vegas: Baby Keem Bets the House On “Ca$ino”
Art by Evan Solano Show your love of the game by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon so that we can keep churning out interviews with legendary producers, feature the best emerging rap talent in the game, and gift you the only worthwhile playlists left in this streaming hellscape. All the critics love Paul […]
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RIP Oli “Power” Grant, The Wu-Tang Business Mastermind
In 2011, I interviewed Oli “Power” Grant, the financial mastermind of the Wu-Tang Clan, who along with RZA and Divine, helped redefine the business of hip-hop. In the wake of his passing, we’re re-upping this interview about the origins of Wu Wear clothing, the history behind the song “Wu-Wear: The Garment Renaissance,” and the unfulfilled plans […]
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Russ: Why Authenticity Outlasts the Algorithm
Art via Evan Solano Show your love of the game by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon so that we can keep churning out interviews with legendary producers, feature the best emerging rap talent in the game, and gift you the only worthwhile playlists left in this streaming hellscape. Russ joins Jeff Weiss, […]
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The Rap-Up: Jap5 Returns, SOB x RBE Reunite? Chief Keef Aging Gracefully
Screenshot via Jap5 – “Unlocked”/YouTube The Rap-Up is the only weekly round-up providing you with the best rap songs you need to hear. Support real, independent music journalism by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon. Harley Geffner still wants to know if Project T-Pain is 03 Greedo’s best album? [embedded content] [embedded content] […]
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Slam on the CDJ: The Best DJ Sets of January 2026
Art via Michael McKinney Independent rap journalists will recommend you new music until their voices give out. Keep it that way by supporting Passion of the Weiss via a subscription to our Patreon. Michael McKinney understands the cultural importance of Kreayshawn’s “Gucci Gucci.” In January, plenty of the world’s finest selectors proved their chops yet […]
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Songs That Carry a Handaxe: An Interview With Sopa Boba
Art by Evan Solano Show your love of the game by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon so that we can keep churning out interviews with legendary producers, feature the best emerging rap talent in the game, and gift you the only worthwhile playlists left in this streaming hellscape. Michael McKinney is the […]
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$tupid Young: “I want to be the Asian Jay-Z”
Art via Evan Solano Show your love of the game by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon so that we can keep churning out interviews with legendary producers, feature the best emerging rap talent in the game, and gift you the only worthwhile playlists left in this streaming hellscape. Long Beach rapper $tupid […]
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The Rap-Up: Week of February 16, 2026
Image via Nickelus F/Instagram The Rap-Up is the only weekly round-up providing you with the best rap songs you need to hear. Support real, independent music journalism by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon. Ant shall bring disaster to evil factors. [embedded content] [embedded content] Before turning 30, Chief Keef and NBA Youngboy […]
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Check The Scoreboard: The Fugees’ Classic Turns 30
You can find Jeff Weiss in his Mitsubishi, eating sushi, bumping Fugees In the American imagination, voodoo is all zombies and hexes, New Orleans tourist traps and American Horror Story. In its Haitian incarnation, it is a ritual of the powerless to right injustice. It’s a response to a chaotic world and an ancestral history […]
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My Collection: Shad Breaks Down 20 Years of Rap History
Art by Evan Solano Show your love of the game by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon so that we can keep churning out interviews with legendary producers, feature the best emerging rap talent in the game, and gift you the only worthwhile playlists left in this streaming hellscape. Dash Lewis wants someone to […]
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RenowedOmen Is Crafting Soundtracks for the After-Hours State of Mind
RenowedOmen is not interested in fitting neatly into a genre box. The Colorado Springs producer is focused on building music that feels immersive, intentional, and alive. His tracks don’t just play in the background. They create a space you step into. He describes his sound as a “futuristic underground renaissance,” but what stands out most […]
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Lipstick Killer: From Setback to Self-Made
Lipstick Killer has never separated danger from femininity. She built her identity on the collision. The name itself says everything. She describes Lipstick Killer as “cute, feminine, and absolutely deadly on the mic” — a reflection of growing up balancing softness and toughness. As a teenager, she was battling mostly boys, holding her ground while […]
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Concrete Jungle Jazz: Cataloging Grupo Um’s Jittery São Paulo-Based Music
Art by Evan Solano Show your love of the game by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon so that we can keep churning out interviews with legendary producers, feature the best emerging rap talent in the game, and gift you the only worthwhile playlists left in this streaming hellscape. Dean Van Nguyen‘s book Words […]
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The Truth Hurts: Maxo
Art via Evan Solano Show your love of the game by subscribing to Passion of the Weiss on Patreon so that we can keep churning out interviews with legendary producers, feature the best emerging rap talent in the game, and gift you the only worthwhile playlists left in this streaming hellscape. Maxo joins Jeff Weiss […]
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