In the last several years, The Roots have been busy. While the hardest working band in Hip-Hop is on television five nights a week, fans have not heard the music that they've been making behind the scenes. Producers, including 9th Wonder, Salaam Remi, and J. Period, have been previously attached... Read more

Less than two weeks ago, Common released his 12th album, Let Love. Featuring production from Karriem Riggins as well as the late J Dilla, the LP also involves Swizz Beatz, A-Trak, and BJ The Chicago Kid, among others. The music campaign coincides with Common's latest book, Let Love Have The... Read more

At today's (May 19) graduation keynote address, 56-year-old billionaire Robert Frederick Smith made a monumental pledge to the 2019 Morehouse University grads in Atlanta, Georgia. The CEO of the San Francisco, California-based Vista Equity Partners told approximately 396 students at the historically Black, all-male college that he wanted to provide... Read more

T.I. is officially completing his transformation from trapper to philanthropist. The Georgia State Senate is celebrating the Atlanta native born Clifford Harris' work in the community. The veteran rapper and executive appeared at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta on Friday (March 22). Tip was recognized for his nonprofit organizations... Read more

Will Smith name-checking West Philadelphia in the theme song to The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air took a city section with a rich history, a vibrant culture, and a no-nonsense reputation and made it known—at least by name—in the mainstream. From the Overbrook neighborhood, Smith and business partner James Lassiter named... Read more

For much of modern American sports history, champions have visited The White House and met with the President of the United States. Following their 2016-2017 NBA championship season, the Golden State Warriors refrained from a trip inside the White House gates. In September, that decision prompted some public outcry from... Read more

Drake is among the few Hip-Hop artists who can afford to make a million-dollar music video in 2018. One of the reigning cash kings of popular culture creates all forms of his art with strong intent and frequently does things on a grand level. In making the music video to... Read more

Kendrick Lamar credits discovering Malcolm X as a teen and a 100% commitment to his music as the two things that saved him from the streets of Compton, in an interview with Touré for VICE's i-D, published today (October 16). “[Malcolm X’s] ideas rooted my approach to music,” says the... Read more

Last month, Dr. Dre announced he would be donating $10 million to break ground on a performing arts wing within his Compton High School alma mater. In The Defiant Ones documentary, Dre toured the present grounds and showed development plans. They include a recording studio, complete with a mixing board.... Read more

Fans of the ubiquitous crime-procedural television dramas like "C.S.I." or "Law & Order" see criminal cases processed and solved rapidly, but in reality the time it takes law enforcement to properly address any given crime is far greater. For crimes like rape, in which D.N.A. testing and lab-based examinations are... Read more

Chance The Rapper took giving back to a new level this week. One day after announcing that he would surprise a series of 6-11 year-olds in the Chicago, Illinois area with a trip to a local museum and Cole Field, C.T.R. delivered. Proud to announce I'll be surprising a few... Read more

Terminator Genisys hits theaters next week (July 1). In the lead up to the film, Arnold Schwarzenegger recently put his talents to use to benefit After-School All-Stars, an organization dedicated to providing comprehensive after-school programs that keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life. He donned... Read more

Rappers love sunglasses. But over the last 20 years, has any MC worn shades more consistently than The Roots' Black Thought? The South Philadelphia MC star often dresses the part of a Soul/Jazz band front man, which is exactly what The Roots pull from, in presenting their grooves. Thought (a/k/a... Read more

Click here to check out the full story of how the real Ari and David Geffen helped orchestrate the biggest non-criminal, sports news story in a decade.... Read more