Hip Hop
The rise of Sampa the Great: hip hop's brightest spark
Giving into greatness — Sampa Tembo's family hoped she’d lead a conventional life: one where music was just a backup plan. But that was never going to happen. Instead she started opening for the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Joey Bada$$, winning acclaim for her socially conscious rhymes. Now, with a debut album on the way, the 24-year-old is primed for a major breakthrough.
Written by: Niall Flynn
A peek inside the world of hip-hop’s video vixens
Lavish illusion — In his new book, Hip Hop Honeys, photographer Brian Finke goes behind the scenes on the world’s most glamorous music videos – only to find that things aren’t quite what they seem.
Written by: Miss Rosen
The Native American rapper turning rhymes into activism
A different kind of superhero — After a difficult upbringing and a foray into petty crime, Supaman found himself – and his purpose – through hip hop. Now he’s determined to elevate other voices.
Written by: James Stout
The photographer who defined old-school cool
Street symphony — Jamel Shabazz has spent his life documenting the city that never sleeps. But while his shots of urban street style have become iconic, the bigger picture – a world of police and prostitutes, drifters and dancers – reveals something much deeper: a commitment to community.
Written by: Alex King
We need to stop celebrating rappers who abuse women
From Where I Stand — Despite facing disturbing allegations of abuse, rappers like XXXTentacion and Kodak Black enjoy flourishing careers. It’s time we stopped letting them get away with it.
Written by: Anon
This Syrian rapper risked everything for freedom. Now he wants the world to listen
From activist to outcast — In his homeland of Syria, Mohammad Abu Hajar is considered a fugitive – a political musician who wore out his welcome. But in Berlin, where he lives in exile, the right to exist poses a new set of challenges.
Written by: Lara Atallah
Soda_Jerk remix films of the past to re-invent the future
Moses + Elvis + Judy Garland? — This two-sister collective are sampling everything cinema, blending characters and narratives together to talk politics, death, and everything in between. Oh, and they don't give a shit about copyright law either.
Written by: Biju Belinky
South Sudan’s youth come of age in the face of chaos
Living in limbo — With South Sudan descending back into civil war, a new generation of returnees need to flee for the second time in their lives. But even in exile, their message is clear: change only comes when you're willing to fight – and music is a weapon.
Written by: Siobhán O'Grady
Zydeco Cowboys: where hip hop partyin' meets country life
A world of Creole cool — In the Louisiana countryside, trail rides are blowing up: fusing zydeco music with rap, blending the old world with the new. But can traditionalists accept that you’ve gotta evolve to stay alive?
Written by: Gwendolen von Einsiedel
Inside the unlikely hip hop scene taking root in Italy
Brothers in the barrios — On the outskirts of Milan, a divided city rife with tension, photographer Roberto Ramirez has uncovered a stigmatised community bonding over the power of rap.
Written by: Cian Traynor