Before hip-hop MCs and vinyl-loving cratediggers got a hold of Cymande’s first two albums, the band had been buried under the sands of obscurity. The British psychedelic funk outfit released their ...

As a teenager Grandmaster Flash began pioneering the turntable-as-instrument, playing the now iconic Bronx block parties that gave birth to hip-hop and revolutionized music. On Friday, he was back ...

Welcome to The State of R&B, ESSENCE’s look at the past, present and future of rhythm and blues. In this piece, ESSENCE editor Rivéa Ruff reports on the blending of hip-hop and R&B. Since the ...

Legendary Philly soul architect Thom Bell, prolific rock session pianist Nicky Hopkins, and trailblazing studio bassist Carol Kaye are all being honored with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2025 ...