Author: info@rapgriot.com

Step into the frame with renoun artist and curator Isaac Pelayo for a groundbreaking group exhibition in Los Angeles, ‘OBSCURA’, through the lenses of the culture. “This show features work from established artists and emerging artists from all walks of life with one thing in common, an eye for the culture.” Pelayo explains his passion for the project: “I wanted to curate a group show of young photographers that I respected, admired, and believed in. I have a passion for photography myself though I don’t consider myself a photographer by any means but I appreciate the craft.” That deep appreciation fuels this…

A$AP Rocky seems to diss Drake on the new track “Stole Ya Flow.”On Friday (Jan. 16), the Harlem, N.Y. rapper released his first album in eight years, Don’t Be Dumb. The latest installment in the rapper’s discography features 17 songs, including the song “Stole Ya Flow,” where Pretty Flacko appears to take aim at Drizzy.“First you steal my flow, so I stole your bi**h/I can’t trust a soul, just my pole and my kid,” Rocky raps on the chorus.“Ni**as getting BBLs, lucky we don’t body shame/Throwing dirt on Rocky name, turn around and copy game,” the A$AP Mob cofounder rhymes…

A$AP Rocky’s fourth album Don’t Be Dumb arrives after an eight-year gap and a messy, drawn-out rollout, so expectations were always going to be unreasonable. Rocky leans into that pressure instead of dodging it, building a record that is restless, flashy, self-conscious, and deliberately uneven. This is not the clean high of LONG.LIVE.A$AP or the woozy cohesion of AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP, but it is the first time since those records that he sounds fully locked in, even when the ideas don’t all connect. For the record: there has always been respect here at HHGA for A$AP Rocky. LONG.LIVE.A$AP (2013) and AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP (2015) sit among the strongest “modern” mainstream rap albums…

This is the 3rd mixtape from southern horrorcore superduo The Horde consisting of Boondox & Bukshot. One hailing from Convington, Georgia signing to the Insane Clown Posse’s Psychopathic Records in the mid-late 2000s & the other puttin’ it down for Louisville, Kentucky since ‘97 by founding the independent hip hop label Mobstyle Music. The pair started worked with each other for over a decade now continuing to do so after the scarecrow left PSY to form his very own Krimson Crow Entertainment following his 4th album Abaddon eventually signing to Majik Ninja Entertainment couple years later whether it be their first 2 mixtapes Hell’s Kitchen & Paradigm Shift as…

Here we have the 19th proper solo album from Ghanan emcee Recognize Ali. This guy has been a dominant force in the underground from his vast discography of LPs, mixtapes & EPs within the last decade or so to the stellar feature performances that he’s provided for numerous artists. Some standouts in his ever-growing catalog to me personally include the Giallo Point-produced Back 2 Mecca, the Stu Bangas-produced Guerrilla Dynasty trilogy & the Bronze Nazareth-produced Season of the Se7en to only name a few. Coming off Back to M3cca this fall, DJ D-Styles has been brought in to fully produce All Shall Perish. “Realest” comes out the gate with this gritty boom bap…

At long last, A$AP Rocky returns with his highly anticipated, oft-delayed new album Don’t Be Dumb.On Friday (Jan. 16), the Harlem, N.Y. rapper finally released his first solo album in seven years. Don’t Be Dumb includes 17 songs, with production from The Alchemist, Tyler, The Creator, Pharrell Williams, Mike Dean, Hitkidd, Madlib, Metro Boomin and more. Features include Tyler, The Creator, Westside Gunn, Doechii, Sauce Walka and others. Rocky taps into multiple genres on the project, which was preceded by the singles “Punk Rocky” and “Helicopter$.”The album was initially scheduled to drop in August of 2024. However, Rocky announced the release date…

Finesse2tymes has been arrested for drug possession again, and this time he is placing the blame on Moneybagg Yo.On Thursday (Jan. 15), Finesse2Tymes, born Ricky Hampton, was booked in Rusk County, Texas, on multiple drug charges, including possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana, according to police records. He has since been released on bond.Finesse has had a string of drug arrests in recent months. He was booked along with his girlfriend, Halle Buckingham, for drug charges in Smith County, Texas, on Sept. 20. A month later, he was arrested again in Harris County, Texas, on multiple drug possession…

Show & Prove: HanumankindWords: C. Vernon Coleman IIEditor’s Note: This story appears in the Fall 2025 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website.Hanumankind’s music should come with a serious side effects label because listening to songs like his explosive hit singles, “Big Dawgs” and “Run It Up,” can result in extreme bouts of turn-up. He found out how real it gets on the final show of the European leg of his OTW Tour last July when he decimated his knee during a rousing set in London.“I was just in the middle of the performance,” he…

Lil Durk is no longer being held in solitary confinement after five months.On Thursday (Jan. 15), XXL confirmed that the 33-year-old Chicago rapper is back in general population at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center after being in a special housing unit since last August due to an alleged infraction.Durk, born Durk Banks, was originally separated as punishment after he was found in possession of an Apple Watch. However, in a motion filed on Jan. 6, Durk’s attorneys requested his release. They argued that the alleged infraction had still not been reviewed by the Unit Discipline Committee to determine proper disciplinary action,…

Hartford, Connecticut emcee Fuego Base kicking off 2026 with his 3rd extended play. Getting his start a few years ago off his debut EP Tell My Momma Imma Rapper, he would continue to build up his catalog by going on to drop another EP called Tell My Momma Imma Rapper Still & the Say Dat mixtape trilogy prior to Buffalo’s very own Benny the Butcher signed Fuego to Black Soprano Family Records. However, the Biggest Since Camby wants to Tell My Momma I’m Still a Rapper. “I’m Still a Rapper” begins with a symphonically hardcore instrumental asking why he isn’t considered to be amongst people’s favorites whereas the trap-inflicted “Wish ‘Em Well” sends…