Why Mark Merren is rounding up the coolest rising rappers for one of the biggest nights in Boston hip-hop.
IN KOUNTRY WAYNE’S WORLD, COMEDIANS MAKE MORE SCRATCH THAN RAPPERS
“They thought it was a trend. Eventually I’d get back into music. They say, okay, let’s use the fans on the comedy and bring them back over here. And that’s cool. But after long it was like, shoot, the comedy is what it is.”
THAT N-WORD AGAIN
A short history of rationalization, hate, and debate
THE BEST LOCAL ALBUMS OF 2018 (SO FAR)
From alternative hip-hop to chamber folk, here’s a cheat sheet to Boston’s best music of the year so far.
‘SHOW ‘EM WHATCHA GOT’ AT THE MASS HIP-HOP ROADSHOW
The scrapbook party rockers are asking heads in their network and whoever else is in possession of relevant goods to bring items to be digitally archived, so that all eras and elements of the culture can be represented and catalogued for future generations—for research purposes, sure, but primarily so that their contributions can be scanned in stone.
OOMPA: THE POETIC JUSTICE OF ROXBURY’S MOST POSITIVE RAPPER
How a Roxbury poet-turned-rapper is making a career off of hyper-reflective truth and optimistic perseverance.
CLIFF NOTEZ: FIVE LESSONS FOR JUGGLING COMMUNITY WORK
The musician, filmmaker, photographer, writer, producer, and founder of HipStory dishes out tips about how to get involved in Boston’s music & arts scene without burning out.
JOINING JOYNER
Not like one of the most hardworking successful rappers out of Mass in years needs the approval of an aging hip-hop head in dad jeans, but I’m going to stand firmly behind Joyner Lucas on this one.
AROUND MY WAY: THE PULL UP
The latest quarterly expression of their mutual affection, the Pull Up, will showcase the area’s emerging and established talent. But for this unique crew, it’s not just about seeing artists perform live—it’s about the building of community that comes from regular connections, and fixing systems that for too long have denied people an equal shot.
WHEEL OF TUNES: SAMMUS
For our interview series, the PhD rapper talks Metroid, social caveats, and the lasting impact of NASA icon Mae Jemison.
