Articles
Essays, interviews, and stories from Rap Therapy, newest first.
Tony Touch: A Michigan Kid’s First Bootleg Signal from New York
Cassettes Traveled Hand to Hand Tony Touch hit my hands the way a lot of real rap did back then: unannounced, slightly…
The Curse of Scarface: A song of one’s own
Scarface and the Weight of Influence in Hip-Hop. As I instruct my Composition 101 students on the foundational essay, essay 1, a…
PinkPantheress Defies Industry Silence, Stands With Palestine
I first came across PinkPantheress in the summer of 2021 while wandering through Cincinnati, Ohio. A friend of mine, known for her eclectic…
Immortal Technique: 24 Years After 9/11 – Lies, Loss, and the Price of Fear
Immortal Technique has never shied away from speaking truth to power, and on the 24th anniversary of September 11th, his words cut…
Dead Prez “These Are the Times” Still Hits Today
Dead Prez Confronts Reality Dead Prez "These Are the Times" is a striking example of politically charged hip-hop that remains deeply relevant.…
Drink Champs Celebrates FUBU: Lessons in Culture and Business
I have a love-hate relationship with Drink Champs, the popular podcast hosted by Queens-based rapper Noreaga and DJ EFN. On the one…
Vinnie Paz Calls Out Tech Platforms Over Control of His Audience
Seeing Vinnie Paz Live at The Recher Theatre Vinnie Paz Calls Out Tech Platforms, and it took me back to the night…
Why Isn’t the Media Covering the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy?
While researching for my latest article, the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, I turned to YouTube, expecting it to be an abundance of…
Tee Grizzley Juvenile Detention Visit and the Truth About These Kids
Tee Grizzley juvenile detention visit was a raw and powerful reminder of the struggles many young people face. He was invited to…
Icewear Vezzo Good Job New Hustle and Why It Matters
Icewear Vezzo good job new hustle is the message he’s been pushing lately. After rising from the streets of Detroit to becoming…
Tupac’s Makaveli: The Unseen Back Cover Depicting Puffy
Tupac's Makaveli album was not released as he had originally envisioned. The unreleased back cover boldly portrayed Puffy in a pink skirt…
Marcus 7th Born Taylor and the Rise of Conscious Hip Hop Voices
If you're looking for conscious hip hop artists who capture that Dead Prez “Let’s Get Free” vibe, Marcus 7th Born Taylor delivers.…
2Pac’s Euthanasia Project: Insights into the Tracklist and Collaborations
2Pac's Euthanasia Project, was drafted on October 4, 1995. Written in blue and red pen on white notebook paper, this blueprint gives…
Detroit King Tape: A Detroit Legend’s Transition from Crime to Consciousness
His appearance is neat, meticulous, and tapered: attributes that earned him the moniker "Tape." He is an exquisite man, a person of…
Payroll Giovanni: Authentically Raw, In His Own Words
Payroll Giovanni has returned with his newest release, "Have Money, Have Heart," distributed through his BYLUG label in collaboration with Empire. This…
Courtney Bell: The Detroit Artist Making Therapy Cool
I remember the first time I heard about Courtney Bell; it was during a marathon phone conversation with Detroit's Filthy Rockwell as…