industry
The music world is characterized by a blend of constants and continuous change; Beat examines the inside of the industry from recording studios to record labels, live performances, music streaming technology and beyond.
10 Obscure 90s Rock Albums That Deserve Another Listen
In the past, if you wanted to find old albums, you had to dig through CDs at the used record store and hope you'd uncover a few lost treasures. Today, Spotify hosts thousands of obscure albums that you can check out for free. This includes the 90s alternative rock genre, which has plenty of one-hit and one-album wonders who might've been forgotten without Internet archivists.
By Kaitlin Shanks5 months ago in Beat
Modern Rap Serves Time in a Regressive Rehab Program, c/o the Prison-Industrial Complex
In the era where perception often trumps reality, modern rap finds itself in a paradoxical predicament: artists are praised for playing gangsters, yet panic when faced with the consequences of gangster life. Once a platform for marginalized voices to speak truth to power, hip-hop today seems caught in a feedback loop, regurgitating performative rebellion while actively sidestepping the realities it once sought to expose. At the heart of this shift lies a tangled relationship between rap culture, the commodification of crime, and the looming shadow of the prison-industrial complex.
By Victor Trammell5 months ago in Beat
Dear DJ Enuff, From New York With Love by NWO Sparrow
When you talk about the voices that shaped New York City radio, DJ Enuff’s name rises to the top without hesitation. From Brooklyn to the airwaves, his career has been a living history of hip-hop, a career that has touched generations of listeners and artists. His presence on Hot 97 was more than just music, it was a ritual, a reminder that the culture was alive and moving forward every single day.
By NWO SPARROW6 months ago in Beat
10 Eighties Emo Albums That Defined the Genre
Eighties music has a reputation for being bright, sparkly and poppy, but in Washington, D.C., a darker genre was starting to evolve. The first "emotional hardcore" bands emerged from the 80s punk scene, setting the stage for mainstream emo to explode in the 2000s while giving listeners an outlet for their heartache, grief and rage.
By Kaitlin Shanks6 months ago in Beat
Music at the Margins: Why the Church Needs Outsiders to Lead Revival
God Moves at the Edges History makes one truth clear: revival rarely begins at the center of power. It begins at the margins, among those dismissed, overlooked, or rejected by polite society.
By Sunshine Firecracker6 months ago in Beat
Brandon Lake: The Chuck Smith of a New Generation?
Is Brandon Lake sparking a Jesus Revolution 2.0 as the Chuck Smith of our time? The original Jesus Revolution began when Chuck Smith welcomed the outsiders of his day into Calvary Chapel. Today, worship leader Brandon Lake may be playing a similar role—tearing down barriers through music, radical love, and collaborations that reach the margins. Could his ministry be the beginning of a new awakening?
By Sunshine Firecracker6 months ago in Beat
10 Nineties Emo Albums You Should Hear
I'll admit it: I've been a bad emo kid. Like a lot of millennials, I sincerely thought that emo started in the 2000s, when bands like Taking Back Sunday and Aiden appeared on the scene. However, when I did some research, I learned that emo's roots go all the way back to the mid-eighties.
By Kaitlin Shanks6 months ago in Beat
10 Songs That Shaped Who I Am. AI-Generated.
Music has always had a direct line to my memory, my emotions, and my identity. These 10 songs didn’t just sound good—they stayed with me. Some made me feel seen. Some made me feel joy. Some broke my heart in ways I couldn’t explain at the time. But all of them shaped me.
By Travis Johnson6 months ago in Beat
French Montana and Cash Cobain's "Pack U Up" Is the Victory Lap for NYC's New Era by NWO Sparrow
The Coronation: How "Pack U Up" Solidifies Cash Cobain's Reign and Returns NYC to the Party Let’s be foreal , In my line of work, we’re inundated with press releases. They land in our inboxes with predictable fanfare, each one touting the “next big thing,” the “cultural reset,” the “explosive new single.” Most are noise. But every so often, one arrives that doesn’t just announce a release , it documents a moment. The presser for French Montana and Cash Cobain’s “Pack U Up” felt like one of those rare moments. And having now lived with the track and, more importantly, devoured its visual component, I can confirm the feeling was correct. This isn’t just a song , it’s a coronation.
By NWO SPARROW6 months ago in Beat
Real McCoy and the Secret Behind “Another Night”
In the mid-1990s, Eurodance was at its peak, and one of the defining acts of the genre was Real McCoy. Their pulsating beats, catchy hooks, and late-night club appeal brought them international stardom. At the center of their success was their most recognizable song, “Another Night”, which climbed charts worldwide and became a cultural touchstone of the decade. Yet behind the track’s glossy music video and radio-friendly polish was a surprising truth: the voice that millions sang along to wasn’t the one audiences were led to believe.
By Edwin Betancourt Jr.6 months ago in Beat
