Creating a playlist for anyone but yourself is an act of bravery. A carefully curated list of songs can ignite a party and/or reveal more about ourselves than words can express.

It’s difficult to predict music’s next innovation. If history is any indication, the DJ will be front and center.

On a recent episode of “Teen Titans GO!” (yes, you read that correctly), the adolescent superheroes journey to Mars to reclaim De La Soul’s music catalog from a money-hungry monster. Spoiler Alert: In real life, the monster is Tommy Boy Records. 

This Valentine’s Day you may not be feeling so lovey-dovey. Ok, pandemic-breakup-boomer. You’re not alone! Queue up these songs for the bitter, bereaved, and getting better.

The embers of art can ignite wonder. The Muslim world has often leveraged the inspirational power of poetry to great effect. Many modern emcees are ushering that tradition into the modern era.

You can’t discuss the history of spirituality and hip hop without mentioning the Five Percent Nation, also known as the Nation of Gods and Earths (NGE).

In part 1 of my 3 part series, I take a look at the overlap between hip hop and Christianity.

Why do I write? Because of MF Doom. Not just Doom, but because of rhymers like him.

When done well music is a multisensory experience. That’s why, even in the streaming era, album art matters. Here are hip hop’s most iconic album covers.

"Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late." So goes the famous Benjamin Franklin quote about the aging riddle. His truism can easily apply to hip hop.

“My seeds grow with his seeds, marry his seeds/ That’s how we keep Wu-Tang money all up in the family,” Ghostface Killah rhymed on “Glaciers of Ice,” off Raekwon’s classic solo album Only Built for Cuban Linx. That was in 1995. Twenty-five years later, the words from the Wu-Tang Clan rapper has proven prophetic.

“Social distancing,” has silenced live music in the District and throughout the country, but Corona won’t stop the music.

Welcome to “Will Call +1.” My name is Will and I am a music photographer, dare I say, journalist? Often, when I cover a show I get a “+1” with my ticket and photo pass. Thus, “Will Call +1.” Clever, I know...