Happy 'Watch the Throne' Day

The Jay-Z and Kanye West album is finally here. Read on for some random first impressions. Real review coming soon.

Curren$y has his arrival moment at Pitchfork Music Festival

Watch the stoned Spitta perform to an also stoned crowd at Chicago's Union Park.

Slow day: Taylor Swift covers Eminem and it goes how you'd expect

Watch the YouTube clip of Swift performing "Lose Yourself."

Gang brawl! Tragic love! iCarly! It's the new Best Coast video for 'Our Deal'

The Drew Barrymore-helmed clip stars Chloe Moretz.

Rome Cee, Baltimore's most promising rapper, knows redemption first hand

The Walbrook High dropout lost his mother to Lupus, went to jail and became one of the city's best rappers with the release of 'The Extra Mile.'

Drake and 'Headlines': A charming surprise with real bounce

'Take Care's' first single, "Headlines," dropped over the weekend. Listen to it here.

Odd Future to play, possibly implode Sonar in October

OFWGKTA will also play D.C.'s 9:30 Club the night before.

Download this: Neon Indian's 'Fallout'

The first offering from the chillwave poster boy's forthcoming album.

R.I.P. Amy Winehouse, 27

Remembering the troubled, incredible singer.

Wiz Khalifa forms a stoned Voltron with Big Sean and Curren$y on 'Dot Dot Dot'

Before their show at Merriweather on Sunday, listen to this trio's latest leak.

Kanye West and Jay-Z's 'Otis': Good for scarf aficionados, bad for the rest of us

The pros and cons of the latest offering from West and Jay-Z's forthcoming album, 'Watch the Throne.'

Rad Bromance: When Lady Gaga and Van Halen collide

The Lady Gaga tribute band from Philadelphia plays the Ottobar Saturday.

On Lil Wayne, 'Sorry 4 the Wait' and lofty, misguided expectations

His label pushed back his album so he gave you a free mixtape as an apology. And this is the thanks Lil Wayne gets?

Like/Dislike: Jana Hunter of Lower Dens

The lead singer of one of Baltimore's best bands on her favorite place to grab a drink, Ray Kurzweil and more.

Lana Del Rey knows how to love in 'Video Games'

Meet the 25-year-old New York City singer. Her idea of a romantic night could involve Xbox360 and beers.

Virgin FreeFest 2011: Hip enough, but lacking hip-hop

A quick review of the recently announced lineup for this year's Virgin FreeFest. Or, Cee Lo, I've had enough.

Lil Wayne is 'Back' and not as good, at least according to him

Listen to "Tunechi's Back," the first offering from Lil Wayne's new mixtape, 'Sorry For the Wait.'

ASAP Rocky's 'Purple Swag' will throw off your equilibrium

Hailing from Harlem, a new rapper gets marvelously druggy.

Lil B gets extra felonious on 'Bill Bellamy'

"I'ma come in and straight disrespect," raps the Bay Area rapper.

Future Islands' beautiful sadness on 'Before the Bridge'

The Baltimore trio sticks to its guns on their latest single. Grab the tissues and comfortable dancing shoes.

Album You Need: Kendrick Lamar's 'Section.80'

A California rapper arrives.

King B: The evolution of Beyonce

In honor of Beyonce's new album, '4,' I present a timeline dedicated to our most vital pop star.

Trae the Truth's voice provides the low-end on 'Gettin' Paid'

Wiz Khalifa also shows up, doing what he does ... best? But this is all about Trae's voice.

Grading the Leaks: New songs from Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Nas and Big Sean

Christmas came early to rap blogs on Monday. But are the songs any good?

Five Great Songs: Beyonce, Bon Iver, Jamie xx, Lil Wayne and Nipsey Hussle

It's the debut of a new Louder Now feature. The first edition is a summery, ballad-heavy bunch.

Lloyd Banks and Pusha-T: Good rappers!

Watch their gritty video for 'Home Sweet Home' here.

French Montana's 'Choppa Choppa Down (Remix)' a darkhorse Song of the Summer candidate

Watch the video, featuring Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa and Waka Flocka Flame, who showed up for ad-lib duty.

The Other Side of ... the 14th Circuit's Ethan Rosenberg

The guitarist/mixer/engineer on po'boys, HBO and more.

Kid Cudi offers first rock song, drops 'Marijuana' on his way down rabbit hole

Hear his band, 2 Be Continuum, and their first song "Perfect is the Word." The video for "Marijuana," also included, is much better but doesn't offer much solace.

Watch this now: Frank Ocean, 'Acura Integurl'

Odd Future's resident R&B dude drives an Acura in the mountains. It's beautiful.