Hip hop is at a crossroads as we examine the one-year anniversary of J Cole's apology and how the beef between Drake and Kendrick has reshaped the landscape of the genre. We explore what makes an artist "lyrical" versus "commercial" and why both styles deserve respect in today's diverse hip hop ecosystem.
• The resurgence of party and dance music with Nokia's viral hit suggests audiences want an escape from serious, lyrical content
• Drake's lawsuit against Universal Music Group raises questions about industry favoritism and streaming numbers manipulation
• Concerning footage of Doja Cat appearing robotically controlled during a post-Grammy appearance sparks conspiracy theories
• Ice Cube announces a new Friday movie after a 20+ year hiatus, with speculation about returning cast members
• Trippie Redd's "Life's a Trip" album gets wildly different reviews from us (4/5 vs 2/5), highlighting the subjective nature of emo rap
• Next week we'll be reviewing 2 Chainz's "Based on a True Story" album
Join us next Monday for another episode of Late to the Party, where we'll continue breaking down hip hop culture, music, and entertainment from our unique perspective.