Wrote this Bad Bunny 101 for hip-hop heads a couple of years ago and I think it’s still useful. Check it out. One more day til he makes history (again). newsletter.jaysonrodriguez.info/p/bad-bunny-...

Government is shut down. Chaos in airports. 42 million going hungry. 24 million face skyrocketing healthcare costs. Economy in turmoil. And the president of the United States is in the Fox broadcast booth calling plays for a football game.

It's ironic that an industry being funded by billions each year has to be subsidized by starving artists.

Once again, if an industry cannot exist without stealing, that is an argument against the industry, not an argument for stealing.

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

the core of MAGA government is giving resentful mediocrities to power to act as tyrants and dominate others

Seems like the kind of thing federal agents could handle if they weren’t busy tracking down America’s most wanted DoorDash delivery drivers in DC.

Republicans keep telling us not to "politicize" these shootings, but that's only because they understand that these shootings were entirely motivated by the political arguments they themselves have been making and entirely facilitated by the political campaign against gun control that they have led.

It goes w/o saying Tyler, The Creator is a creature of Al Gore’s internet. Surely he saw the viral post/subsequent convo after a DJ said he couldn’t play any hip-hop from the past five years or no one will dance. His response: Stop, Tyler time. backseatfreestyle.jaysonrodriguez.info/p/tyler-the-...

I'll say it a thousand times -- any account of the past that only celebrates the good parts of a nation without reckoning with the bad is not what we call "history" It is propaganda, pure and simple.

It goes w/o saying Tyler, The Creator is a creature of Al Gore’s internet. Surely he saw the viral post/subsequent convo after a DJ said he couldn’t play any hip-hop from the past five years or no one will dance. His response: Stop, Tyler time. backseatfreestyle.jaysonrodriguez.info/p/tyler-the-...

Working on my next newsletter to drop later today. If you aren't yet, subscribe below: you'll immediately get 2 playlists in your when you do: 10 new songs I listen to every week + new 2025 songs & the songs they sample. Tap in! #hiphopsky #newsletters backseatfreestyle.jaysonrodriguez.info

🚙 The Clipse Conversation: What does Pusha T & Malice's press run reveal about hip-hop journalism? Dive into the latest issue of Backseat Freestyle! Subscribe & share! backseatfreestyle.jaysonrodriguez.info/p/the-clipse... #HipHop #Newsletter #Clipse

🚙 The Clipse Conversation: What does Pusha T & Malice's press run reveal about hip-hop journalism? Dive into the latest issue of Backseat Freestyle! Subscribe & share! backseatfreestyle.jaysonrodriguez.info/p/the-clipse... #HipHop #Newsletter #Clipse

Zohran Mamdani and Mahmoud Khalil Are in on the Joke: By Hanif Abdurraqib www.newyorker.com/news/essay/z...

Rather than spoon-feed you the same major label albums you already know about, CABBAGES presents an all-new-to-you midyear feast of independent and underground rap music from the past six months. You're welcome. www.cabbageshiphop.com/ten-2025-rap...

A manifesto for 2025

....was a popular drink and it still it/I get more props and stunts than..... #ripGuru #dwyck

one of the projects of the court is to expand the ability of states to pursue reactionary ends and constrain the ability of the federal government to set minimum standards *or* of democratic-led states to expand upon existing rights

On Friday night, we walked the length of Manhattan, from Inwood Hill to Battery Park. New Yorkers deserve a Mayor they can see, hear, even yell at. The city is in the streets.

AOC: If Senator Fetterman or anybody else is concerned with law and order, we should be looking at one of the most law breaking agencies and administrations that we've seen in the United States.

I was in downtown #losangeles at the beginning of this week. The streets had a way different feel from what’s been on my screens. No signs of insurrection just love and peace. For more check out this full post open.substack.com/pub/baratund...

This was an interesting headline choice, as if to almost say bullets just happened to hit her rather than someone (maybe...an officer, perhaps) shot said reporter. This is not how we learned to write in journalism school, by the way. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/09/u...

Clearly a talented journalist, said something that was truthful, but two things: 1) Clowns whining (not gonna call it bad faith arguments) and 2) this premise of unbiasedness instead of pursuit of truth is wrecking journalism.

The U.S. government is spending $134 million dollars to deploy troops in America while veterans sleep on the streets.

a woman just trying to get home gets shot

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"For now".... they don't need a later once they get access.

Had a quality chat w/ @weketchum.bsky.social about regionalism in hip-hop, the stakes of rap battles (real or not) + aftermath of Joey Badass v. The West/Field/20 whatever nomenclature you choose. Check out this clip. Link to listen in the next skeet #blueskyhiphop www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXqa...

Sweet Thing -- and as much as I love me some Chaka Khan, gimme the version by Yolanda Adams with Prince and Stevie Wonder in the backing band. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdg9...

I warm up my grill with a brew in one hand and Ohio Players on blast. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb6E...

Listen here: jaysonrodriguez.info/podcast/

Had a quality chat w/ @weketchum.bsky.social about regionalism in hip-hop, the stakes of rap battles (real or not) + aftermath of Joey Badass v. The West/Field/20 whatever nomenclature you choose. Check out this clip. Link to listen in the next skeet #blueskyhiphop www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXqa...

It's truly a project that shows the energy, passion and talents that young folks with a guts and guile can achieve. If you're in town, I highly suggest checking it out.

ego trip. ego trip's Big Book of Rap Lists. ego trip's Big Book of Racism. Vibe. Mass Appeal. Fresh Dressed. Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men. And that's just a fraction of his contributions to the world. He *was* culture. Another pillar lost. RIP Sacha Jenkins. 🕊️ youtube.com/watch?v=KDUE61JNh-A

Sacha was brilliant, but also just as kind as he was talented. As a young hip-hop journalist at Vibe, he worked on a DVD extras project I was on and I coaxed him into a lunch that I told him I could expense (he knew I couldn't) and he regaled me with A1 stories + advice. And then footed the bill.

All these Ray Vaughn tracks are better than his album imo. His LP wasn't bad, but it's so melancholy with no bite. These loosies are ravenous. Though, I will say, he comes off like he's taking each swipe way more personal than everyone else involved and each subsequent track is starting to show it.

There's something there with the JaeWon record in parts...mixing on the record ain't great tho. This overall spat has been dope bc the bars, true, but the records are good, with videos, composition, etc. Real high-level talent shit. Bobby Mercer didn't meet the mark.

Word. Whatx2 and his verse on Thuggin Not Clubbin, too. He been cooking.

DayLyt is obvi talented but 1) didn't hit Joey that hard/often and 2) though the raps were impressive, I just don't love the track as much. Joey is impacting bc he makes his releases events: Jan 1, a Conductor beat, Red Bull platform + Lux. Plus he's swaggering through it all and raps r delivering.

Reason's approach was ill. Had fun with hit, light, but serious lines. Some nice references he drew from with The Dead Apple. Sort of Joey like, the way he went wide with it, @'ing New York. Made it more fun tho. Gave us Kai Cash and JaeWon.

I think AZChike been automatic in '25. What Would You Do? is hard. How you a pro from your era and ain't made a hit song, is blistering. But when he said " n---- think he can take a break and come back/huh, fuck is up with that/ what I gotta lyrical miracle whup ya ass." was fun, funny; more please.

Seriously have no idea when Im going to sleep tonight. Just running back all these records. Folks on both coasts is flexing their talent.

I like that overall Joey Badass is having fun with it (very non-plussed), while being lethal and including all his homages to BK/NY in his rhymes. Lot of growth in his approach. I love it here.

The NBA Eastern and Western Conference Finals are set. The last time each of these teams won the championship: ◻️ Knicks — 1972-73 ◻️ Pacers — never ◻️ Thunder — never ◻️ Timberwolves — never

The 2024-25 NBA Champion will be a team that either: 1) has never won an NBA title or 2) hasn't won one since the 1970s

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