Jon Caramanica
Posts
For Saint Levant, Sexy Music Is Personal, and Political
What’s at stake for a 22-year-old trilingual rapper who became a TikTok sensation by talking dirty and who aspires to be the president of Palestine?...
On Her SOS Tour, SZA Makes Small Feelings Huge
The R&B star’s first New York arena show supporting her blockbuster album “SOS” was a deft mix of styles and sounds, with guests Cardi B...
Pharrell Threads the Needle
Why Louis Vuitton chose Mr. Williams as its new designer of men’s wear. It’s bigger than hip-hop.
At the Super Bowl, Rihanna Returns to Music, Briefly
After seven years largely away from the stage, the singer and mogul used the halftime show to perform a dozen hits, nod to her nonmusical...
How the Grammys Bring Rebels Into the Fold
The awards show needs to build bridges between generations. That means convincing once-overlooked upstarts to show up as elders.
Drake: Rap’s Biggest Fan
Hip-hop can sometimes discourage rappers from openly embracing their heroes, but Drake wears his enthusiasms loudly and, this past week, literally.
Ice Spice, Hip-Hop’s New Princess, Is Just Warming Up
Last year, the Bronx rapper emerged from the drill scene with a pop-friendly sound, and attracted the attention of Drake. Now she’s releasing her first...
A Night With FunkFlex, New York Rap Historian and Booster
What happens when various generations of rappers end up in the same room? The radio D.J. and local connector, craving hometown pride and action beyond...
‘Her Loss’ Is Playtime for Drake and 21 Savage
The rappers’ collaborative album is loose and untethered, a frisky experiment that’s intermittently successful.
How Takeoff and the Migos Flow Changed Atlanta Rap
Quick-jabbing triplets had been a staple of rap, but the trio made the style sound fresh, thanks in large part to Takeoff, its master of...