J. Cole

A screenshot from the Smino album Luv 4 Rent shows men getting ready in a mirror

‘Luv 4 Rent’ Brings Smino Back Into the Spotlight

Liam Jackson, Michigan State University

After years of silence, the St. Louis rapper is back.…

November 11, 2022

illustration of person wearing 2021 New Year's glasses

Flashback Through 2021: The Defining Moments of the Year

Rory Conlon, De Anza College

Several key political and entertainment events have shaped mainstream discourse. It’s time to remember some of these developments in time for the start of 2022.…

December 29, 2021

Dreamville’s New Compilation, ‘Revenge of the Dreamers III,’ Proves They Shouldn’t Be Treated as Underdogs

Maddy Ipema, Columbia College Chicago

Dreamville finds strength and inspiration in numbers.…

July 23, 2019

The Top 5 Rapper-Producer Combos in Hip-Hop, Ranked

Brandon Scott, University of New Hampshire

Check out these triple double no assists.…

May 15, 2019

"Middle Child" points out the rap industry's shortcomings, and gives the black community hope. (Illustration via Luca Bowles, Kingston University)

J. Cole’s ‘Middle Child’ Is a Syllabus for Aspiring Rappers

Layan Sasa, University of Texas at San Antonio

The real is back, the ville is back.…

February 13, 2019

A Breakdown of ‘K.O.D.’ by J. Cole and Drug Culture

Sam Kasierski, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

According to J. Cole, the fans are all to blame. And the rappers.…

April 26, 2018

Suggestions