In Part 2 of this episode of Hit Parade, Chris Molanphy continues his analysis of when singing became central to rap music. Rap has always been musical. But back in the day, rappers generally, well, rapped: talked in cadence over a beat. Fans judged MCs primarily by their rhymes and rhythms, not their melodies.
Now? Rappers are mostly singers: MCs from Drake ... Show More
Nov 15
Pour Some Sugar on Me Edition Part 1
When you hear the term “superproducer,” names like George Martin, Quincy Jones, Max Martin, Pharrell Williams or Missy Elliott might come to mind. But … Robert “Mutt” Lange? Probably not. Yet Lange was by some measures the biggest hitmaker—the producer of more top-selling albums ... Show More
1h 3m
Nov 12
The Slate Culture Gift Guide
Hark, the holiday season is upon us—and with it, the most solemn of festive traditions: a gift guide! In this video and podcast special, Slate hosts Dana Stevens, Chris Molanphy, and Willa Paskin beam in from their collective hearths to deliver unto the internet their favorite gi ... Show More
49m 39s
Oct 31
If You Love Sting, Set Him Free Edition Part 2
Walk into any store or flip on a radio, and you’ll probably hear the Police’s “Every Breath You Take” sooner or later. Thanks to that ubiquity, the swooning, menacing megahit’s songwriter—Sting—is a very wealthy man. Now his former bandmates, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, ar ... Show More
55m 27s
Jul 2020
Ep 4: The rise of the singing rapper
It's pretty common to hear rap and R&B influences on the same track, but that wasn’t always the case. Hip-hop was not received with open arms by many in the R&B establishment. Still, rappers found creative ways of being heard on the radio, while others pushed beyond stereotypes o ... Show More
55m 12s
Apr 2023
RAE SREMMURD: MILLION DOLLAZ WORTH OF GAME EPISODE 214
We’re joined by sibling hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd. Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi rose to fame with their chart-topping hits "Black Beatles" and "No Type", and have since become known for their high-energy performances, unique sound, and infectious beats. Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi share th ... Show More
1h 29m