Some guitarists chase speed. Eric Clapton turns time into feeling. A single bend carries a whole paragraph of memory. A clean phrase drifts like smoke, then a sudden burst shows teeth. Through blues, pop, acoustic intimacy, and arena sized charge, his voice and guitar keep choosing melody over fuss. Collaborators frame him with piano glow, […]
In a cute video for her latest single, “Romeo,” 2000s sample queen PinkPantheress blurs the lines between speed dating and speed chess at a tournament that could just as easily be a singles mixer. The real-life chess master sits down to face off with a variety of hotties, crushing the competition as she makes eyes […]
Some voices wear a crown without asking. LaVern Baker let rhythm sit tall while melody did the smiling. Her records feel like street corner harmony walking into a bright studio and keeping its neighborhood soul intact. Horns grin, drums step with purpose, and her phrasing turns everyday words into velvet. She can tease, testify, and […]
Hip-hop continues to mount wins in 2025, with some big album releases serving as the score for the year. Things don’t slow down in September, with projects from some of the biggest names in rap scheduled to drop. Cardi B Preps Am I The Drama? Album Following a plethora of delays, Cardi B is finally ready to […]
Some groups sound like they were born at a crossroads. Buffalo Springfield felt like three roads meeting at once. Stephen Stills brought sculpted songcraft and a drummer’s ear for groove. Neil Young brought mystery, noise, and a poet’s magnetism. Richie Furay brought golden tone and a country shimmer that softened hard edges. Under the California […]
Cardi B’s second album, Am I The Drama? is just about a month away from release after over a half-decade of waiting, and now, Cardi’s teasing its next single, “Imaginary Players.” While we still don’t know what the single will sound like, Cardi posted its release date and pre-save link on Instagram, writing in the […]
A piano can be a confessional, a carnival ride, and a rocket launchpad. Few artists have proven that truth like Elton John. From barroom tenderness to arena sized uplift, his catalog maps a lifetime of melody and partnership, especially with lyricist Bernie Taupin. These ten songs capture the range that made him a fixture on […]
Need ItX-Games gold medalist snowboarder Zeb Powell is dead set on bringing hip-hop culture to the mountaintop.Interview: Joey EchevarriaEditor’s Note: This story appears in the Summer 2025 issue of XXL Magazine, on newsstands now and available for sale on the XXL website. World-class snowboarder Zeb Powell is just as passionate about hip-hop as he is about the world […]
Velvet grit and Sunday morning light. That is how Al Green turns a room into a sanctuary. His voice can smile, plead, tease, and testify within a single verse, while the Hi Rhythm Section lays down grooves that move like warm rivers under city lights. Producer Willie Mitchell paints with horns, organ, and strings that […]
With the lyrics of Gunna‘s The Last Wun track “Just Say Dat” focusing on “the driver that go with the Maybach,” it’s only right that the song’s new music video features a small fleet of the luxury cars rolling through his old neighborhood in Atlanta. The video opens with comedians Desi Banks and Reggie Conquest […]