HipHop

Cam’ron selecting Mobb Deep’s Shook Ones as an all-time favorite puts production, atmosphere, writing and cultural staying power into the same debate.

Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo said Suge Knight was not called to testify because prosecutors viewed him as uncooperative and not credible, and because he could invoke his Fifth Amendment rights. DiGiacomo also described the confrontational question he would have asked Knight about Biggie’s killing; that question was not a finding that Knight committed the crime.

DMX’s complicated view of Jay-Z illustrates how competitive relationships in hip-hop can include genuine respect alongside suspicion and tension.

Ludacris highlighting Pimp C shows how memorable writing can travel far beyond an artist’s home region and remain influential for peers.

RZA joking about elaborate studio routines with Busta Rhymes shows how personality and process can shape whether two artists actually finish records together.

Charlamagne’s comments imagine how Jay-Z could answer a year of criticism through music, reopening discussion about the role of response records in rap.

Praise from Missy Elliott adds a peer-to-peer perspective to Cardi B’s live-performance growth and the scale of her current audience.

Young Noble’s recollection adds a personal memory of Tupac that contrasts with the tragedy that dominates so much of the public conversation around his final days.

A major award win adds another measurable milestone to a career that has combined hit records, touring and a highly visible public profile.

Daz Dillinger’s story shows how production can travel through different hands and eras before listeners finally hear the finished record.