Talib Kweli Announces Upcoming Joint Album With 9th Wonder, An Analysis Of His Hip-Hop Worldview In Today’s Digital Age

Talib Kweli is a legendary emcee who has a well-spoken demeanor that usually translates to thought-provoking interviews. This is demonstrated in his chat with the folks with KMEL in San Francisco in which he discussed numerous topics including his latest album Gravitas, the role social media plays in hip-hop, and an upcoming joint project with producer 9th Wonder in the works. That last part of news was a first-time announcement from the independently proud Kweli and it came as a great surprise for many underground hip-hop fans. While the details surrounding the project are scarce, Talib provided plenty of gems in the interview that showcased how a successful veteran rapper such as himself navigates the industry in today’s digital world. 

A Lesson in SEM: The Impact Of Rap Genius In Hip-Hop And On The Internet

Everyone has moments when they are listening to their favorite song and are inclined to look up the lyrics. This applies even more so to listeners of hip-hop as many artists have deliveries that are not always easy to follow along with. As the Internet continues to evolve, plenty of websites have popped up that outline the lyrics of musicians from all genres. However, none have made the impact Rap Genius has since its inception in 2009 as they became not just the go-to lyrics website, but a source of discovery through user annotations/interpretations. The site relies on user-generated content through a ‘Wikipedia-like’ format in which contributors earn “IQ” points for well thought out explanations. Rap Genius has become a lyric encyclopedia not just for hip-hop, but many other musical genres as they recently expanded with the creation of News Genius, Rock Genius, and Poetry Genius. Whether you want to read an explanation of an outrageous Eminem line or if you need some help understanding a Robert Frost poem, Rap Genius prides itself on being your primary destination for cultural knowledge. And although the Rap Genius co-founders have run into some legal trouble due to their somewhat misguided SEO practices, the website received a $15 million investment from the Silicon Valley venture firm Andreessen Horowitz last year and are well-positioned to become a digital giant. 

Beats Music Enters Online Streaming Market

While once upon a time music fans were limited in the ways they could consume their favorite songs and albums, nowadays people are running into the opposite problem. iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, Google Play, SoundCloud, and YouTube. Although all of these platforms differ in their technical infrastructure, they are similar in the fact that they offer options for people in terms of listening to music. iTunes has become the standard digital music store, Pandora started strong but suffers from a lack of variety, Spotify has grown into a worthy competitor of iTunes as a free option, Google Play is still gaining traction, SoundCloud is the primary location for up-and-coming artists, and YouTube offers convenience yet suffers from a lack of quality (not quantity). Is there room for another big-time player in this space? Co-founder of Interscope Records Jimmy Iovine, along with Beats By Dre partner Dr Dre, certainly think so as they officially brought their Beats Music streaming music service to the market this week and are taking an unique approach in their latest business venture.

50 Cent Talks SMS Audio, Upcoming Music at CES 2014

50 Cent is much more than a rapper nowadays as he has taken part in multiple entrepreneurial business ventures. The rapper who rose to fame early in his career off the success of his debut album Get Rich Or Die Tryin has become a branding expert with a strong financial backing and consistent social media presence. The multi-platinum rapper has mainly devoted his time and money to SMS Audio, his headphone company that is competing with the likes of powerhouse Beats By Dre among many other alternatives. 50 Cent recently paid a visit to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in order to promote SMS Audio as well as give his fans an update on the music side of his career.

The State Of Hip-Hop In 2014: What We Are Anticipating And Looking Forward To

2013 was a monumental year for the hip-hop genre has there were album releases from many rap heavyweights such as Kanye West, Jay-Z, Drake, and J Cole. Whether you are a fan of the more radio-friendly style of hip-hop or if you stick to the independent and underground side of things, chances are you had plenty of awesome music to keep you entertained. The story-lines of 2013 were endless as Kendrick Lamar shook up the industry with his “Control” and BET Cypher verses while Kanye West was the subject of many headlines for his experimental Yeezus album and media outbursts. Some of these stories may carry over into the new year, so let’s take a look at what we are looking forward to in 2014. 

Barcelona Becomes First Sports Organization To Reach $50 Million Facebook Fans

According to a recent report, FC Barcelona has become the first sports franchise in the world to have 50 million fans on Facebook and also claimed their page is top 30 in terms of overall popularity. While the club is based in Spain, the page has the most followers in other foreign countries across the world such as Indonesia (4.7 million), Mexico (3.4 million), Brazil (2.5 million), and the United States (2.1 million). This historic accomplishment is a testament to the photo and video content provided by Barcelona on their Facebook page.