Piece by Piece review – Pharrell’s Lego biopic deserves to be a blockbuster
Toronto film festival: The endlessly inventive musician gets an unlikely yet deserving biopic told via plastic bricks – a big swing that more than pays off
LL Cool J: ‘Hip-hop isn’t underdog music any more’
The artist and actor answers your questions about dodging animatronic sharks, hanging out with Al Pacino, his love of Abba and the making of his first album in 11 years
US rapper Fatman Scoop dies after collapsing on stage mid-performance
New York-born artist, 53, known for collaborating with Missy Elliott, was performing in Connecticut on Friday
One to watch: Hanumankind
The Kerala-born, Texas-raised rapper is taking Indian hip-hop to a global audience. Now even Arsenal FC want in on the action…
All for you! Janet Jackson, Snõõper, Bob Dylan and more: the best music of autumn 2024
From Chat Pile’s apocalyptic noise to Nala Sinephro’s celestial bliss, plus posthumous releases from MC5 and Sophie, here are the albums and tours not to miss – while in classical, Kahchun Wong takes over at the Hallé
Kneecap review – Irish-language hip-hop trio in fiercely riotous Belfast romp
The story of Northern Irish teenagers who reinvent the political purpose of hip-hop, the film is most uproarious when the energy of the music lets loose
Palestinian hip-hop collective DAM: ‘Music can’t stop a war machine’
Despite censorship and boycotts, the veteran rap group have never shied away from the political. But the situation in Gaza has made them question whether there’s really any power in art
On my radar: Zadie Smith’s cultural highlights
The writer on Netflix’s brilliant plague tragicomedy, the best British debut novel she’s read in a while, and her deep love of singer Chappell Roan
National Indigenous Music awards 2024: Barkaa wins artist of the year
The Malyangapa Barkindji rapper also won the best music video, while album of the year went to singer-songwriter Dan Sultan
Jpegmafia: I Lay Down My Life For You review – scattergun brilliance
The US rapper brings reflection as well as energising polemic to his compelling fifth studio album
Still fresh: why Mtume’s Juicy Fruit underpins generations of rap classics
Thirty years ago this week, Notorious BIG released Juicy and turned an 80s funk sample into hip-hop history. Its creators and fans explain its enduring, sensual appeal
Lauryn Hill blames ‘clickbait headlines’ for low ticket sales and cancelled US tour
Tour featuring Hill and her reunited group Fugees was due to begin this week, but Hill blames media sensationalism for impacting sales
Killer Mike: Michael & the Mighty Midnight Revival: Songs for Sinners and Saints review – hard-won life lessons
The Run the Jewels rapper follows up last year’s Grammys-sweeping Michael with an album addressing a tumultuous few months
‘Your favourite rappers are only alive because of our sacrifices’: the secret life of rap bodyguards
From 2Pac in the 90s to XXXTentacion and more in recent years, murder is frequent in the US rap scene. The men trying to protect the artists explain the physical and psychological toll
Post your questions for LL Cool J
As he prepares to release The Force, his first album in over a decade, the rapper and actor will take on your questions