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xxxtentacion

In an article about Noah Cyrus, the singer, dressed in all white, stands in front of her name, spelled in red letters on a black background.

Noah Cyrus Is Exactly What Music Needs

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

Noah Cyrus has battled the pressures of addiction and being forced into fame at a young age, but has emerged triumphant as a rare lyrical talent.…

September 10, 2023

A screenshot from takeoff's funeral shows a group standing on stage in front of his picture on a screen.

Takeoff Left a Permanent Imprint on Hip-Hop

Liam Jackson, Michigan State University

This young rapper's life may have ended recently, but his impact on the music industry will last forever.…

November 22, 2022

In an article about posthumous albums, a photo of a vinyl on a record player.

Posthumous Albums Can Involve Questionable Ethics and Mixed Intentions

Zach Spangler, University of Michigan

Despite allowing unfinished projects to reach the fans who appreciated late musicians most in life, they remain a pressing gray area.…

August 19, 2021

Lil Nas X, who got some help from TikTok

TikTok Is Changing How We Discover Music and Here’s Why

Nayeli G. Pena, Colorado College

The social media platform, which seems engineered for virality, is displacing streaming services like Spotify when it comes to finding new songs and artists.…

February 7, 2020

breakup song

11 Breakup Songs That Perfectly Express Heartache

Katelyn Melder, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Heartbroken? There’s a song for that.…

September 19, 2019

XXXTentacion and Abuse: How Far Can an Artist Be Distanced from Their Music?

Jack Brandon, University of Michigan

The politics and lessons of XXXTentacion’s abusive behavior—which is by no means exclusive to him—and rash of domestic abuse among young hip-hop artists.…

September 26, 2017