FEATURES
Everything We Loved in Music This Week: November 30
This Thanksgiving week, we were graced with a solid scope of music headlines, ranging from Uzi going indie to Kenny Beats becoming Kenneth Blume.The release lineup spanned solid longform projects from Ferg, SWAVAY, MAVI, Zukovstheworld, and Pink Siifu, along with the beginning of Biggavelli's proper return to the rap scene...Ferg’s FLIP PHONE SHORTY – STRICTLY FOR DA STREETZ VOL. 1 Features His Own Art View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hypetrak (@hypetrak)One of my favorite days ever is the day I got to visit Ferg’s art gallery pop-up in New York City back in April. Held in an intimate gallery space in Soho, Ferg gave us a tour, explaining each painting in grave detail – oftentimes referencing lyrics directly – and emphasizing the fact that painting is just as much a p...
Kenny Beats Going By His Government Name Means Nothing At All
Do you remember your first-ever email handle? Probably made in middle school, and likely referencing a defining hobby, trait, or hyperfixation of the time. Mine, for one, was "elainaisamazinggg." Kenneth Blume's was "kennybeats."And that's the lore of how Kenny Beats came to be.To the surprise of many (and chagrin of others), the pioneering force in contemporary music production has dropped his infamous stage name and shifted to sophistication, now going by his government name, Kenneth Blume.They are telling me my new tag needs to be “hold your horses Kenneth”— kenneth blume (@kennybeats) November 24, 2025 A few music commentators and fans were quick to comment about how the name change marks a shift in focus for Kenny, specifically suspecting that it points to the producer distancing hims...
Stranger Things Season 5 Soundtrack: A Guide to Every Needle Drop
The new season features tracks by The Psychedelic Furs, Diana Ross, ABBA, and (of course) Kate Bush. Stranger Things Season 5 Soundtrack: A Guide to Every Needle Drop Liz Shannon Miller
Stranger Things Recap: Everything You Need to Remember Before Season 5
Let's look back on Seasons 1-4, including who Vecna is and who's kissing who. Stranger Things Recap: Everything You Need to Remember Before Season 5 Liz Shannon Miller
‘The Vince Staples Show’ Season 2: The Genius of Unhinged, High-Style Satire
Vince Staples, the man dubbed by the internet as the funniest rapper alive, is back with a powerful new installment of The Vince Staples Show on Netflix. Unlike its intentionally episodic predecessor, season two features features a linear-but-still-not-linear approach to storytelling — a wise creative decision when taking into consideration the heavy topics of grief, success and identity tackled in the episodes.In an era saturated with rigid, algorithm-friendly programming, The Vince Staples Show season two shines brightest as an audacious, dark-comedy outcast.The Grief, The Game, and The White BroncoThis season, the chaos has a specific genesis: grief. Vince is reeling from the loss of his Uncle James Brown, a character less a relative and more a cultural metaphor — one heavily modelled a...
Everything We Loved in Music This Week: November 22
This week in music is setting us up for a solid close to 2024.Kenny Mason continues to make strides after last week's Killer Mike co-sign; the rapper rises once again with a new three-track EP, as well as a confirmed appearance on MAVI's mixtape dropping next week.As two of my favorite (and once-gatekept) artists Dijon and fakemink are both wrapping the year with full-circle co-signs by the cultural mainstream.Billie Eilish's Latest Fragrance Foray(aka I got to interview her). Read the full conversation here.New Release: Kenny Mason – Pup Pack: 1st ShiftFollowing up on last week's Killer Mike co-sign, Kenny Mason has dropped off his first new music in a year. Based on how expansive his discography is from 2023 and 2024, I'd honestly forgotten it had been that long, but boy, are we so back ...
Odeal’s Change of Season: ‘The Fall That Saved Us’
It's clear Odeal has a lot to say right now. Back in July, the British-Nigerian musician ushered in summer properly when he dropped his acclaimed EP The Summer That Saved Me.The seven-track, almost fully solo endeavor from the budding artist, revelled in, what Odeal refers to as more "selfish" feelings, while spanning the full sonic spectrum of R&B. As the cold front comes in, the musician is shedding his summer skin with The Summer That Saved Me's, alter ego, if you will. His new EP, The Fall That Saved Us, is sort of a follow-up to July's EP, but more so, it's an fully independent body of work, rooted in an entirely new range of cathartic feelings, anecdotes, and memories that come after the summer smoke clears."Our feelings and perspective can change quicker than seasons do," he sha...
Heavy Song of the Week: Converge Return With Vicious “Love Is Not Enough”
The title track from the band's first proper album under its own name since 2017. Heavy Song of the Week: Converge Deliver Vicious Statement of Intent on “Love Is Not Enough” Jon Hadusek
fakemink’s Supreme Co-Sign Is the Perfect Full-Circle Close to His Meteoric Year
fakemink has known he’s been destined for greatness. Either that, or he might just be the best manifestor of the modern age.The ascendant 20-year-old UK artist has penned plenty of bars of or relating to high fashion, referencing Ann Demeulemeester, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, and Alexander McQueen to name just a few.Two particular points of creative inspiration for the now nearly mainstream-veering musician that have remained consistent throughout mink’s meteoric rise? Hedi Slimane and Supreme.He spits on two of his breakout tracks – ”MAKKA” with Ecco2k and Mechatok, and its original solo version “Snow White” – the same hypnotic hook. “I'm only twenty, but it feels like plenty / Man, I still get blown, but I don't sip Henny / I'm layin' in the back of the Maybach Benny / 2025, yea...
The 10 Most Hyped Films of 2026
2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year in film. The cinematic battlefield will see the biggest franchises, the most ambitious auteurs and the most talented A-listers clash for your time, attention and box office dollars. From long-awaited superhero showdowns to prestige epics and the return of cult favorites, next year's slate is absolutely stacked. We've cut through the noise, ignored the speculative whispers, and curated the 10 films that are a must-watch in 2026.The Mummy Release date: April 17, 2026The mere prospect of Blumhouse and New Line breathing new life into The Mummy franchise has created a stir powerful enough to send tremors through ancient Egyptian tombs — and perhaps even rouse Imhotep himself. Although details are scarce, The Mummy 4 is rumored to bring back original fr...
Rolling Loud India: 10 Acts to See at the 2-Day Festival
The two-day event will feature a total of 33 local, international and hybrid acts. 10 Acts to See at Rolling Loud India’s 2026 Festival Debut Karan Singh
Everything We Loved in Music This Week: November 15
This week belongs to one person and one person only: Max B.Other contenders include Charli XCX for launching a Substack, Choker for showing a sign of life, and Summer Walker for serving up a Grade A album rollout like it was second nature.Charli XCX Launches SubstackThe Letterboxd aficionado is adding another platform to her pillars of influence over the zeitgeist And what better way for her to kick it off with a 1,500-word essay entitled “Running on the spot in a dream.” None.Tyler, the Creator’s Fortnite OutfitFortnite isn’t my forte, but Fortnite fashion surely is – or can be. Tyler, the Creator’s long-awaited Fortnite Skin is here, which includes two outfits. One of which is his current signature, his CHROMAOKOPIA green suit, and the other pays homage to what still holds true as one of...
