Julianne Escobedo ShepherdContributing Writer

The icon’s 2023 tour has not only been the most ambitious of her career, but a unique representation of dance music history and Black art that imagines a more inclusive pop future. 

Talking politics, sex, and radical human engagement with the rapper around the recent block party she organized to celebrate community, activism, and her brilliant new album, Sundial.

Including a pop-punk revenge anthem courtesy of Alaska Thunderfuck, a punchline-rap clinic from Bob the Drag Queen, and a slinky brush-off by the almighty RuPaul

Atop exuberant beats, the Baltimore singer-songwriter Marcus Brown explores life’s indignities—heartbreak, capitalism, and where they intersect—with the tender heart of a poet.

“Bro, I’m the first to the studio and the last to leave,” says the Spanish singer, songwriter, and producer.

As contemporary autobiography, T.I.'s new high-concept, low-organization album is sadly more Glitter than Mimi.

R. Kelly returns with another bombastic, maximalist album full of sexaphors and surrealistic tales that blur the line between melodrama, delusion, and dog-and-pony show.

Part rapper, part comedian, and part internet-generation hero, Lil Wayne-- who possesses the most interesting grasp on language in hip-hop right now-- slowly leaks his new mixtape, Da Drought 3.

"A word is also a picture is a word"-- especially in the music-escapist heat of summer, and MySpace hits from a South London pop&b duo and a reggaeton pre-teen.

Resucitating hip-hop with lipgloss and ponytails thanks to Lil Mama and Lady Te.

UK soul singer Amy Winehouse adds the grit of hip-hop or rock'n'roll to her roots in classic soul and jazz-- all sung in a rugged, graceful voice that conjures busted vodka bottles and rough living.

The end of the Republican Congress, Hell Hath No Fury, Pharrell takes on freak-folk and dubstep in the same song-- it's barely halfway done, and November is already the best month of 2006.