To celebrate the golden anniversary of hip-hop, we rounded up 35 essential hits. These songs were hugely significant for the genre's growth and made an impact on the music industry. Our picks are ...

Fifty years after critics dismissed hip-hop as a passing fad, Grammy winner LL COOL J is taking viewers back to the genre's authentic New York roots with his new docuseries "Hip Hop Was Born Here," ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) LL Cool J’s name has long been synonymous with hip hop’s evolution, versatility, and resilience. From the moment he burst onto the scene in the mid-1980s, his commanding voice, ...

Week in and week out, there are plenty of brand-new rap songs, no matter the time of year. It can be really difficult to stay aware of what's out and also what's hot, so XXL decided to make things ...

“I just completely screwed that one up and didn’t mean to. Honestly, it was like losing the playoffs.” Photo: Vulture; Photo: Paul Natkin/WireImage In a lengthy Zoom call, he broke down the biggest, ...

LL Cool J at the 34th Annual PaleyFest Los Angeles - "NCIS: LA" at Dolby Theater on March 21, 2017 in Los Angeles. (Photo credit: Shutterstock.com/Kathy Hutchins ...

Origins and pioneers: Early innovators like Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony began merging rap with melody and harmonies, creating a more accessible and versatile sound. Mainstream ...

LL Cool J is without doubt one of the greatest MC’s of all-time and while many may consider him to be the actual GOAT of the rap game, LL himself is going a step beyond that assessment and labeling ...

To get you in the mood for Valentine’s Day, here are some of The Root’s favorite rap love songs. While hip-hop is often characterized by its bravado and aggression, the genre has also flourished ...