RIFF photographers’ best work in 2021 included these shots of (clockwise from top left) Lil Baby, Lindsey Stirling, J Balvin, Murs, Black Veil Brides, Tinashe, Bleachers, MisterWives, J. Cole, Korn, Megan Thee Stallion and KISS. Concerts returned, first tentatively and then in full force. We asked our photographers to…

Our list of the 20 best hip-hop albums of 2021 includes (L to R): Row 1: Lil Nas X, Polo G, Tyler, the Creator, J. Cole, Nas. Row 2: Little Simz, Meek Mill, Isaiah Rashad, Czarface & MF DOOM, Backxwash. Row 3: Vince Staples, Wale, Your Old Droog, BROCKHAMPTON,…

The best albums of 2021 include Adele, Chvrches, Sufjan Stevens and Angelo de Augustine, Halsey, Lil Nas X, J. Cole, Orla Gartland, Black Country, New Road, Aesop Rock and Blockhead, and Black Veil Brides. Down to the top 20. Whew! Now’s a good time for you to let us…

EarthGang, courtesy Ant Soulo. After recording their past recent albums and EPs either while on the road or in brief breaks between tours, inventive hip-hop duo EarthGang finally had a chance to reconnect with their hometown of Atlanta when the pandemic halted concerts almost everywhere. Outside Lands Lizzo, The…

Wale wastes no time whatsoever on Florian II, getting at the heart of his frustration with critics, superficiality of his peers and asserting his status within the hip-hop scene—all while packing punch after punch, track after track. In the follow-up to his 2012 mixtape of the same name (coming after…

J. Cole performs at Oakland Arena in Oakland on Oct. 20, 2021. Matt Pang/STAFF. OAKLAND — Months following the release of his acclaimed new album, The Off-Season, J. Cole is finally back on stage bringing his self-reflective new tracks to life. On Wednesday, he brought his most prominent collaborators and…

It’s kind of wild that Punk is only the second album from Young Thug, considering his prolific output of 19 mixtapes. The rapper had expressed a desire to embrace a significant shift in tone on the follow-up to 2019’s So Much Fun. He sought to embody what he referred to as “real rap”…

It’s been three years since J. Cole released KOD, his last album, and announced his next project, The Off-Season. Since then, he’s maintained a contentious place in hip-hop in no small part due to thinly veiled criticisms he’s lobbed at other rappers like Kanye West, Lil Pump and Noname on tracks…

Sharon Van Etten performs at Treasure Island Music Festival at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland on Oct. 14, 2018. Photo: Chloe Catajan. Kyle Kohner’s top 100 songs countdown gets one step closer to revealing his favorite song of 2018, with numbers 50 through 26. Catch up with part one and…

Photos: Jay Demetillo OAKLAND — As soon as J. Cole reached the stage, made up like a prison break, the orange jumpsuit-clad rapper unleashed his lyrical prowess upon the sold-out crowd. Known for his storytelling and audience engagement, J. Cole didn’t disappoint on the first night of a two-night stand at Oracle Arena.…