Chris Brown performs at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, Fla. on Aug. 13, 2022. Photos: Isaiah Stephens. By Lesly Delgado TAMPA, Fla. — Lil Baby and Chris Brown brought a plethora of hits and checked all of the boxes of a superstar performance to a sold-out MidFlorida Credit Union…

On his fifth album, Vince Staples returns to his hometown of Long Beach, Calif. to reflect on his connections with the hood. Ramona Park Broke My Heart, offers a look into the connections he holds with the place, balanced with with themes of loss and love. It’s surprisingly not as heavy…

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…

“All that glitters isn’t always gold,” so the saying goes. Expensive Pain, the fifth studio album from Meek Mill, rides largely on the idea that money can’t buy happiness. While the album still indulges in the luxurious lifestyle someone of Meek’s status can enjoy, the curtain is often drawn back…

Lil Baby performs at the Oakland Arena in Oakland on Sept. 25, 2021. Matt Pang/STAFF. OAKLAND — Coming off the hype of being featured on two of the biggest hip-hop records of the year in Kanye’s Donda and Drake’s Certified Lover Boy, as well as one of the most moving performances…

Gucci Mane has made a name for himself as a cornerstone of the trap movement that dominated the last decade of hip-hop. His prolific output of albums and mixtapes have earned him success and a large following, but sooner or later you’re bound to hit a snag. Ice Daddy…

Megan Thee Stallion performs during the 2021 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021. Courtesy. While the main pre-show distraction centered on snubs and the lack of diversity at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, the tone changed with a plethora of memorable and historic moments from this…

63rd Grammy Awards, courtesy: Recording Academy. Welcome to the Olympics of music! The 63rd Grammy Awards are not the be-all, end-all of music achievement, or even an accurate representation of the most adventurous, unique music being made today, but they’re the standard barometer of commercial success. The two awards…

Megan Thee Stallion, courtesy. Apple on Wednesday announced the winners of the second annual Apple Music Awards, recognizing musicians who have had an impact on global culture. Awards were again handed out in five categories, with winners selected through a process that reflected Apple Music’s editorial perspective and popular listener opinion…