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Digital Covers
Anderson .Paak & BJ The Chicago Kid Are Here To Save Your Souls
“Aight, get off my stage, n***a.” Anderson .Paak’s words lack the bite that usually comes with such a succinct command. Instead, it’s the kind of lax scold that one brother quips to another before erupting in laughter right after. Just moments prior, .Paak and BJ the Chicago Kid bobbed and weaved across the small Austin, Texas stage, pacing around each other playfully as they traded bar for...
Features
VIBE Presents Aaliyah Week: Rarely Told Stories Of A 'One In A Million' Artist
It's been 15 years since Aaliyah Haughton's unexpected passing (Aug. 25). Within that time span, her music has continued to serve as an inspiration and catalyst for other artists' careers. The epitome of sticking true to the real you, Aaliyah made sure that her opinions on her career mattered without compromise for the sake of success, leading her to be one of the few authentic and relatable entertainers...
Music
Premiere: Slim Thug Makes Boss Moves From The Throne In His "King" Video
Emcees in Houston's historic rap scene stay loyal to their soil, and Slim Thug is no different. After over a decade in the game, the O.G. Texascrhymer sits upon the throne as the "King" in the lead single from his new album Hogg Life 4: American King. Slim, who has grown and prospered significantly since his "Still Tippin'" days, is making numerous boss moves in music, business, and his community with...
Viva
How Swizz Beatz Halted "Piano District" Invention With South Bronx Art Fair
Night two of BACARDÍ and The Dean Collection's No Commission art extravaganza opened with a vibrant playlist of Caribbean rhythms that ping-ponged between old school salsa and reggae. The pleasant surprise of Celia Cruz's dulcet vocals echoing throughout a maze of brightly decorated corridors—a hodgepodge of 2D, 3D and cinematographic works—instantaneously brought to mind Swizz Beatz's little-talked...
Viva
'Hands Of Stone' Premiere: Roberto Durán Threatens Sugar Ray Leonard With Bloodshed
Panamanian boxing legend Roberto Durán is considered, by many, to be the greatest lightweight of all time. In 1980, he became most infamous for abruptly forfeiting his welterweight title in the middle of his rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard. After defeating Leonard in Montreal, Leonard initiated the rematch clause, and a second bout took place at the Superdome in New Orleans. [speedbumplink prefix="READ:...
Album Reviews
Review: NAO Is An Open Book On 'For All We Know' Debut
NAO’s debut album, For All We Know (Little Tokyo/RCA), instilled a set of feels within me that I didn’t expect. It’s very rare that you find an artist that can force you to convey a certain emotion without having experienced the very content that they lay on wax. Alicia Keys’ “Diary” had me thinking I was in a committed relationship with my junior high school crush. I had yet to feel heartbreak...
Viva
Photo Essay: Brazilian Graffiti Artist Attempts World Record With Olympics Mural
While athletes of all sizes and backgrounds, across all sectors of sports and gymnastics, aim to bring home the gold, Brazilian graffiti maven Eduardo Kobra, 40, is enacting his own best performance yet. On a huge wall in Rio's formerly dilapidated port area, which has been rejuvenated ahead of the Games, Kobra is attempting, with his spray cans and polychromatic colors, a Guinness World Record...
Features
The Musical Genius Of Gucci Mane, Trap's Most Prolific Voice
Back in 2005, Gucci Mane envisioned himself as the preeminent elder statesman of East Atlanta. “Lil’ kids wanna be like Gucci when they grow up,” he boastfully rapped on his breakout hit, "So Icy," in his congested, nonchalant flow. At the age of 14, I wasn’t sure if he was referring to the fact that he had acquired so much expensive jewelry and was living the lavish lifestyle of a baller...
