Jay-Z, one of rap’s most innovative and trailblazing stars, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Saturday, Oct. 30th. The rapper earned his Rock Hall spot on his first year of eligibility, as his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, turned 25 in 2021. Over the past two-and-a-half decades, …
Read More »Leslie West, Mountain Guitarist Who Belted Out 'Mississippi Queen,' Dead at 75
Leslie West, the towering guitarist who created the hard-rock milestone “Mississippi Queen” with his band Mountain, died Wednesday morning. West’s brother, Larry West Weinstein, confirmed the musician’s death to Rolling Stone. He was 75. The cause of death was cardiac arrest. On Monday, West was rushed to a hospital after …
Read More »No I.D. Still Believes We Can Fix the Music Industry
This summer, five A&R veterans convened on Zoom to discuss racism in the music industry. As protests erupted around the country after the killing of George Floyd, various music companies made statements supporting equality and announced donations to organizations fighting for racial justice. This virtual panel was notably different — …
Read More »Jay-Z, Meek Mill Launch 'The Avengers' of Criminal Justice Reform Organizations
Michael Rubin, a co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, used to have a recurring argument with the rapper and hardcore 76ers fan Meek Mill. “Meek would say, ‘Michael, there are two Americas,’” Rubin recalled during a press conference at John Jay College in Manhattan on Wednesday. “I’d be like, ‘Bro, what …
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