Adam Aziz

The Hip Hop Museum Newsletter October 2024

Election Day in the US is Tuesday November 5th. By the time the November issue of The Hip Hop Museum Newsletter is out, America will have a new President elect. Hip Hop has always been a vessel for conversations around politics and societal issues.

The Hip Hop Museum Newsletter September 2024

Whether you're an MC or DJ, a passionate learner of Hip Hop culture, or someone who only has a cursory understanding of Hip Hop, there will be an experience and moment for you as you walk through the Museum, touch, feel, and hear Hip Hop culture. No matter your knowledge, you will leave with a new appreciation for what an impact Hip Hop has made on the world and how the culture continues to infiltrate everyday life.

The Hip Hop Museum Newsletter August 2024

This month, we end Hip Hop's 50th anniversary celebrations and look ahead to the next 50 years. What started in the streets and parks of New York City, Hip Hop is now a multi-billion dollar business and global and cultural phenomenon. It is the most influential culture in the world, reverberating across music, fashion, business, and sports.

The Hip Hop Museum Newsletter July 2024

This month, we connect with people leading the culture forward.

10 Times Hip-Hop Has Given A Voice To Mental Health: Eminem, J. Cole, Logic & More Speak Out |...

Underneath its rugged exterior, hip-hop culture and its artists have long been proponents of well-being and the importance of taking care of one's mental health. From the message of "The Message" to Joe Budden's vulnerable podcast and Jay-Z speaking about the importance of therapy, read on for moments in the history of hip-hop where mental health was at the forefront.

Shawn Desman reached the peak of Canadian music, then suffered a brutal setback. Now he's back -...

The star is back with new music and big plans for recording a live album during a Toronto concert this month.

Little Brother brews a new future

On the surface, the story of Little Brother, the Durham, North Carolina hip-hop duo, originally a trio, doesn't seem different from many music groups. A foundin...

Hip-Hop History Month: An In-Depth Conversation With The Legendary Mister Cee

Hip-Hop veteran Mister Cee has been attached to some of the most iconic moments and artists in Hip-Hop history.

Drake's "Over My Dead Body": Chantal Kreviazuk's Untold Story

You know the name, and you know her songs. Chantal Kreviazuk's debut album Under These Rocks and Stones was released in 1996, and featured well-known singles "Surrounded" and "God Made Me."

Can CDs Make A Comeback? Reevaluating The CD At 40

The CD was first commercially released 40 years ago and may be having a whole new coming-of-age. With sales on the rise and collectors showcasing their pride across social media, the format might rewind to its glory years.

A look back at 50 Cent's industry-shaking song 'How to Rob'

How the Queens, New York, MC put everyone on notice with one of first major label tracks.

From 1973 till infinity: How LL Cool J is keeping hip-hop culture alive

On Aug. 6, in Queens, New York, LL Cool J's Rock the Bells Festival launched a day's worth of hip-hop music and experiences featuring artists from all eras of the culture.

Why hasn't hip-hop had a real Las Vegas residency?

Here are some of the musical artists performing or just coming off long-term residencies in Las Vegas: Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson and Aerosmith. Notably missing is any representative of music's most popular genre, hip-hop. Hip-hop artists play Vegas, of course. Drake has a 10-date partnership with the Wynn's XS Nightclub.

Kool Moe Dee and British Knights: The story of one of hip-hop's earliest sneaker campaigns

Hip Hop at 50 is our year-long look at the people, sound, art, and impact of hip-hop culture on the world. Among the most notable sneaker deals for hip-hop artists, from Kanye West's deals with first Nike, then Adidas, to 50 Cent's run with Reebok for his G-Unit sneakers, there is an oft-forgotten deal that brought rap and fashion together.

Every Artist Who Played Drake's All Canadian North Stars Show One Year Later, Ranked

One year after Drake put some of his favourite Canadian artists together on one stage, Complex Canada looks at how the artists have done since getting the Drake co-sign.

Are Old Rap MP3s Hip-Hop's Hottest New Collectible?

MP3s are bubbling thanks to the influx of streaming and the fact that a whole generation of classic hip-hop songs and mixtapes are not available on streaming services. Last year, vinyl sales surpassed CD sales for the first time since the '80s.

dead prez's stic.man Recalls The First Time He Heard Public Enemy

Stic.Man of Dead Prez talks to Rock the Bells about the first time he heard Public Enemy.

The Hip Hop Museum Newsletter May 2024 - The Respect Issue

We sat down with Mike Ford, the "Hip Hop Architect" and founding principal at Brandnu Design Studio, to talk about the architectural design of the Hip Hop Museum and how the culture's history was respected in the work.

From "Old Town Road" To "Small Town Girl": The Growing Connection Between Rap & Country

Hip-hop music and culture are weaving their way into the fabric of country music. Yet the marriage of hip-hop's liberal sensibilities with the often conservative culture of country music presents unique challenges.

'Flossin' all through Long Beach': The story of 'Summertime in the LBC'

Hip Hop at 50 is our year-long look at the people, sound, art, and impact of hip-hop culture on the world. On Aug. 15, 1995, Def Jam Recordings released the sou...

The Hip Hop Museum Newsletter June 2024 - Going Global

This month, we will explore the global aspect of Hip Hop and its ability to make history and do good.

The Record Store: What Used To Be

Monday nights used to be unique. The anticipation for Tuesday mornings could barely be contained. Plans were made on how to ensure you could get to the mall and still make it to class on-time. Or, in many cases, how you were going to skip school altogether to sit with your newfound treasure.

The coming battle over rap album lengths

When emcee Vince Staples released his self-titled fourth album this summer, the introspective project continued Staples' path as a picture painter with vivid lyrics about his upbringing in Long Beach, California. The most surprising aspect of the album was how short it was.

Jay-Z's 50 Most Underrated Songs

The following sentence is guaranteed to make you feel old: Jay-Z turns 50 on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. Arguably the most celebrated hip-hop artist of all-time, Shawn Corey Carter, has lived multiple lifetimes as he comes to the halftime of life.

DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Fresh Prince and a Grammy boycott that set the tone for three more decades of...

It was 1989. The scene: Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. The host: Billy Crystal, who then was starring in films such as Memories of Me and When Harry Met Sally . The event was the 31st Annual Grammy Awards. George H.W. Bush had recently been sworn in as president of the United States, and the Gulf War would soon be looming.

'Rolling Stone': Aug. 20, 1992

In August 1992, Los Angeles was three months removed from the city's worst uprisings since 1965. When four Los Angeles Police Department officers were acquitted in the roadside beating of Rodney King, frustrations that had been simmering exploded into days of looting and demonstrations.

Sean Kingston On "Beautiful Girls" Hysteria, Bad Deals & Starting Over On 'Road To Deliverance'

Fifteen years after topping the charts, Sean Kingston will release a comeback album, 'Road to Deliverance,' on Sept. 30. Kingston spoke with GRAMMY.com about the heavily dancehall-influenced record, and what he's been up to in the intervening years.

How Horrorcore Became A Forgotten Sub-Genre

While horrorcore artists like Gravediggaz have all but disappeared, many of the characteristics of the sub-genre carry-on albeit with less fanfare. These haunting words, from Wu-Tang affiliate Shabazz the Disciple, kick off Gravediggaz's "Diary of a Madman," a song that hip-hop fans look to as a pi

What happened on the days Kendrick Lamar made 'untitled unmastered'?

Kendrick Lamar took the rough-draft motif of his untitled unmastered to heart. The project-a compilation of previously unreleased demos recorded during sessions for To Pimp A Butterfly -is made up of eight (also) untitled tracks distinguished presumably by the dates on which each was recorded. There seems to be one exception.

The Best Drake Songs

ComplexCon returns to Long Beach Nov. 6 - 7 with hosts J. Balvin and Kristen Noel Crawley, performances by A$AP Rocky and Turnstile, and more shopping and drops. Secure your spot while tickets last! When we look back at Drake's first single, 2009's "Best I Ever Had," it's hard not to wonder, "Why Drake?"

Is Drake Getting More Hands-On With OVO Sound Artists?

On the song "Summer Sixteen," Drake raps, "I used to want to be on Roc-A-Fella, then I turned into Jay." The "Roc-A-Fella" Drake refers to is the legendary Roc-A-Fella Records which started as an independent record label when Jay-Z couldn't find a home for his debut album Reasonable Doubt.

DJ Screw, the godfather of Houston's slowed-down sound, gets the book treatment

Syrup - or purple drank - didn't kill DJ Screw, says Lance Scott Walker, an expert on Houston's hip-hop culture. Although police said Screw died of an overdose of the prescription cough medicine, Walker argues it was just one factor among many that led to his death at 29.

What happens to Verzuz and Instagram once the pandemic is over?

When 1.8 million people came together in November to watch the Verzuz battle between Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy live on Instagram, it was a new high for a social media music renaissance driven by lockdowns and quarantines.

A change in Spotify's royalty payments could be a problem for hip-hop

A new Spotify feature that allows labels and artists to take a lower per-stream payment in exchange for an algorithmic boost through its "autoplay" and "discover" features could have a disproportionate impact on hip-hop artists. Many of these artists' careers are born from social media and viral singles, with record labels signing them to contracts with sizable and recoupable advances.

What the Music Industry Can Learn From the Success of Video Games

In a streaming and playlist first world, albums have become less of a critical component of success for the industry. There is, however, opportunity to revive what is a dying format. And the blueprint comes from video games.

10 Ways the Coronavirus Will Change the Music Industry

Because of COVID-19, the music business will be forced to shift. Here are 10 ways the coronavirus will change the music industry. There isn't a business in the world that won't change in some material way as a result of COVID-19. The music industry is no exception.

10 Problems With The Grammy Awards And How To Fix Them

Going into the 2020 iteration of the show, The Grammy Awards couldn't be more irrelevant and in a place of struggling to attract younger viewers. Each year sets new lows in the coveted 18-49 demographic, and the show continues to take one step forward and ten steps back when it comes to its relationship with hip-hop.

Meet Frank Dukes, Your Favorite Artist’s Favorite Producer

The Toronto act behind tracks for Drake, Rihanna, and Kendrick Lamar shares his story of success.

20 Great Rap Songs Featured on 20 Terrible Rap Albums

Consider diving back into some oft-forgotten albums and mining for gold. Here are 20 great rap songs featured on 20 terrible rap albums. In a world where streaming dominates the music industry, bad albums are cast away quicker than fans can say "new music Fridays." If albums don't resonate quickly,

Great Hip-Hop Songs You Haven't Listened to in Years

So. Much. Music. There has never been more music available and being created than there is in 2016. And with so much good, new material to sift through, one can sometimes neglect the better songs from the "good ol' days." Whether it's that Cru album you haven't throw on in a minute or the '90s Canadian hip-hop mixtape collecting dust under your bed, there is no better time than the present to revisit some of the best hip-hop music from back in the day.

10 Ways The Music Industry Will Change In 10 Years

The music business is in the midst of a growth period. With total revenues increased 10 percent in 2018 to $4.6 billion and streaming making up a whopping three-quarters of revenue, the industry is healthy albeit putting most of its eggs in the streaming technology basket.

7 Problems With Music Award Shows And How To Fix Them

When Eminem walked down Sixth Avenue towards Radio City Music Hall during the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, it was both a performance that captured the carefree, rebellious nature of those pre-9/11 times and one that would likely be met with serious backlash and controversy today thanks to its racial undertones and today's on-edge, Trump-fueled political climate.

Inside Dave Chappelle's Juke Joint w/ Fred Yonnet

It's -25 with the wind chill in Toronto on the Thursday before NBA All-Star Weekend and a long line stretches down the block outside of 99 Sudbury, an event venue in the Liberty Village area of Toronto. Inside, security staff prepare to open the doors into a party unlike any other.

Big L's 10 Funniest Punchlines

It’s hard to believe that Big L would have been 40 years old today. One of the illest to ever touch the mic had his life cut short at the age of 24 on February 15, 1999. So much was left unfinished for the Flamboyant Entertainment CEO (including a possible deal with a then Dame Dash lead Roc-A-Fella Records). But underneath the hard exterior, intricate storytelling, and tragic ending, lies countless hilarious punchlines from the Harlem rapper. Whether it be referencing Beavis & Butthead to...

How the Digital Revolution Disrupted the Music Industry - Linktree Blog

Technological advancements have changed the music business in monumental ways over the past 20 years, and show no signs of slowing down. Two months after "The Blueprint," the first version of Apple's industry-shaking iPod device was released in November 2001.

All of your favourite rappers are obsessed with golf. Here's how they're inspiring change on the...

From the Notorious B.I.G. to Drake, hip-hop has had a decades-long love affair with the sport.

‘Don’t screw this up.’ Frank Catalanotto remembers his unbreakable Blue Jays record 20 years later

On May 1, 2004, he set the franchise record for most hits in a game with six, a remarkable achievement that has yet to be broken two decades later.

'He smelled good.' What's it like to sit beside Drake at a Raptors game?

Ask the average Toronto Raptors fan and they'll tell you that looking to see if Drake is sitting courtside at home games has become as automatic as Raptors play-by-play announcer Matt Devlin shouting out Canadian cities when Fred VanVleet hits a three-pointer from deep.

Hockey jerseys have returned to hip-hop

Hip Hop at 50 is our yearlong look at the people, sound, art, and impact of hip-hop culture on the world. Hockey jerseys, a '90s hip-hop fashion trend, have returned, with their vibrant colors framing logos from lightning flashes and bears to leaves and sharks.

Evander Kane continues to be outspoken in his return to hockey

The Edmonton Oilers forward talks racism in the NHL, how he’s perceived in the media and how the league promotes its athletes.

The NHL's slow skate toward change

As the Tampa Bay Lightning pursue another Stanley Cup trophy, let's not forget they already made history this season. On May 10, the team started the first all-Black line in NHL history. The league celebrated by tweeting a highlight with the hashtag #HockeyIsForEveryone. It was a moment to be remembered.

The tangled history of hip-hop and boxing

" Even you yourself predicted that last night in Vegas," raps Treach of Naughty By Nature on the Tupac Shakur tribute song " Mourn You Till I Join You." The night Treach is referring to, of course, is Sept. 7, 1996, the night of the Mike Tyson vs.

Bruins' and NHL's handling of Mitchell Miller the latest in hockey's disregard of racism

On Tuesday, the Boston Bruins announced they retained former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to conduct an independent review of the team's player vetting process. This was in response to the Bruins' much-criticized signing of prospect Mitchell Miller earlier in the month.

How coronavirus will change the NBA courtside experience

As the world wrestles with a new normal built around social distancing, working from home and a dormant sports world, one aspect of the NBA experience is especially at risk. Sitting courtside at an NBA game is unlike any other first row in sports. What will become of it post-COVID-19?

30 years after Magic Johnson's HIV announcement, we still have work to do

In the late afternoon of November 7, 1991, Magic Johnson stood in front of reporters, as millions more tuned in on TV. The NBA season had just gotten underway, and the league's teams and fan bases were filled with optimism and dreams of championships.

Sharks' Mike Grier a long-overdue Black general manager in the NHL

On Tuesday, the San Jose Sharks made former NHL player Mike Grier the first Black general manager in NHL history. Upon the news being announced, the broader hockey world celebrated the appointment, including co-chair of the Hockey Diversity Alliance Akim Aliu, who tweeted, "Congratulations to Mike Grier on becoming the first black GM in the NHL's 100 + year history.

The 1997 'David Arias' rookie card of David 'Big Papi' Ortiz

When he made his big-league debut, David Arias informed the Minnesota Twins: He preferred to go by the name "David Ortiz." Little was known about David Arias when he debuted for the Minnesota Twins on Sept. 2, 1997. He'd toiled in the minor leagues for several years with Seattle Mariners Single A affiliate the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

The 2021 Olympics have their problems, but athletes still need our support

When Michelle Moultrie takes to the diamond representing Team USA in softball at the 2021 Summer Olympics, it will be monumental on multiple fronts. Not only is Jacksonville, Florida's Moultrie the lone black female on the team, but it's the first...

Why the NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas will be a pivotal moment for the league

The last two years for the NHL have been some of the most challenging in its history. The coronavirus pandemic forced the NHL into contained bubbles, and the league stumbled to address the Black Lives Matter movement in June 2020. Fall 2021 brought the troubling Kyle Beach sexual assault investigation to the forefront.

The Storyteller | 8

By late 1988, hip hop was more popular than ever. But a tragedy at a concert fueled a different narrative: that rap music was dangerous. Enter Slick Rick, an artist well-aware of the power of storytelling. Featured voices: Slick Rick, MC Lyte, and DJ Red Alert. Follow Class of '88 wherever yo...

Brothers and Sisters | 7

NWA's landmark album Straight Outta Compton might never have happened without the help of of three teenage girls from Rialto. This is the story of JJ Fad. Featured voices: JJ Fad and Arabian Prince. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Priva...

The Showstoppers | 6

In 1988, Salt-N-Pepa found that they had "crossed over" with their hit song Push It. But success came with its own set of problems, especially for female rappers. Featured voices: Salt-N-Pepa and Roxanne Shante. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and Cal...

Yo! MTV Raps. Finally. | 5

For years, rap music was mostly absent from MTV. But the debut of Yo! MTV Raps changed everything. For better, and for worse. Featured voices: Fab 5 Freddy and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at h...

Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos | 4

In the summer of 1988, Public Enemy dropped an album that would take them to the top of the charts, to front page news, and even to a stage in New York's most notorious jail - Rikers Island. Featured voices: Public Enemy and Chuck D. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19...

Follow The Leader | 3

Hip hop started as a DJ-led medium. But with the rise of rappers like Rakim and Queen Latifah, MC's were moving to center stage. Featured voices: Queen Latifah, Rakim, and DJ Red Alert. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at h...

Kings of Rock | 2

Run-DMC were the kings of hip hop. But in 1988, they faced new competition from a generation of artists they had helped inspire. Featured voices: Run-DMC and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels. Follow Class of '88 wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to episode 1 everywhere or you can binge the entire...

The Battle for World Supremacy | 1

In January of 1988, the music industry was treating hip hop like a fad. But that was all about to change - along with the lives of two kids from Philly. Host Will Smith brings us straight into the most pivotal year in hip hop history.

Class of '88 with Will Smith

In the US, hip hop reigns as the genre that influences every aspect of our culture. From fashion to film, the dominance of this prolific sound can be traced back to one year - 1988.

Celebrating and Reconciling Hockey Culture

There have been a lot of hockey stories, good and bad, in the news as of late - Donnovan brings on Andscape writer Adam Aziz to sort through all the news, including Pride Night controversy in the NHL and how the league can learn from this in a variety of ways, plus a discussion on his stories about Evander Kane and hockey jerseys returning to the world of hip-hop.

The Evolving Business of the National Hockey League

Afterwards, freelance writer and consultant Adam Aziz makes his second appearance on the show, to discuss the connection between music and sport. Is the NHL catching up to other leagues such as the NBA, MLB, and NFL (29:00)?

Cultural Marketing in The World of Hockey

Listen to this episode from Going Deep with Donnovan Bennett on Spotify. Donnovan takes a look at the NHL's handling of the Mitchell Miller signing by the Boston Bruins. He brings on writer Adam Aziz to examine the league's efforts to market their product to different communities in North America and across the world.

More Hip-Hop, More Sports, More Culture with Adam Aziz (@brokencool)

Listen to this episode from The Cheats Movement Podcast on Spotify. This is another AMAZING interview. Cheats goes one-on-one with Adam Aziz AKA @brokencool - one of the most prominent and prolific journalists of our time. Adam's first love is hip-hop. He first started covering the culture when he was 16 years old, back in 1996.

"Back to Beats: Adam Aziz's 'Class of '88' Dives into Hip-Hop's Golden Era with Will Smith"

🎧✨ Dive into the golden era of hip-hop with Adam Aziz in the 'Class of '88' podcast. 🎤 Hosted by the legendary Will Smith, #ClassOf88Podcast is your backstage pass to the beats that changed the game forever. Tune in for a lyrical journey back in time! #HipHopHistory #WillSmith #GoldenEra

Ever wonder what Drake smells like?

What's it like to sit beside Drake at a Raptors game?

As the Raptors return to full capacity crowds, we take a closer look at what the world famous rapper brings to the game when he sits courtside.

Shawn Desman Is Back...With A Little Help From Drake

The star is back with new music and big plans for recording a live album during a Toronto concert this month.

Six-for-six: Catalanotto's Jays hit record turns 20

On May 1, 2004, he set the franchise record for most hits in a game with six, a remarkable achievement that has yet to be broken two decades later.