New York Stories: Steve Reich
The renowned composer talks about his ambivalent ode to New York, City Life.
Magazine
The 99 Records Story
From ESG to LCD, Ed Bahlman’s punk-funk record label, 99, is one of the most influential New York imprints ever.
New York City House
Masters At Work, Todd Terry, Strictly Rhythm, Danny Tenaglia, Junior Vasquez, The Sound Factory, Tunnel, Twilo, Limelight: Michaelangelo Matos charts how Gotham put its twist on the 4/4 sound.
New York Stories: Vijay Iyer
The jazz pianist tackles the question, “Are cities music?”
2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G.: Rappers on Location
Jeff Weiss and Evan McGarvey explain how each rapper perfectly embodied the region they came to represent.
New York Stories: Dave Tompkins
A tale of magical realism from an unusual Manhattan record store.
New York Stories: Hua Hsu
A Cali transplant becomes a New Yorker with help from a Williamsburg groove merchant.
Felix K’s Flowers of Destruction
Todd L. Burns profiles the man and label behind one of the most consistently engaging albums of the year.
Nightclubbing: Dingwalls
Don’t call it (just) acid jazz. Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge’s legendary ’90s night remembered.
New York Stories: Nick Catchdubs
The Fool’s Gold boss and New York DJ/producer rides for his Jersey roots.
Bugalu on Broadway: The Dawn of Salsa in New York City
Ned Sublette charts the birth of salsa, a rhythm with Cuban and Puerto Rican roots that found its legs in ’70s New York before it was marketed to the world.
Industry Rule #4083: Andre Torres
The Wax Poetics editor talks about the challenges in curating a reissue campaign for Fania, NYC’s legendary salsa imprint.
System Clash: Stone Love Movement
Okayplayer’s Eddie Stats explains why the Jamaican soundsystem is the best of all-time.
Rap 1.0: A History of the Early Hip Hop Internet
A trip through the bizarre and forgotten corners of the hip hop Internet.
The Crooklyn Dodgers: An Oral History
The story behind Spike Lee’s hip hop supergroup.
New York Stories: Will Hermes
A personal postscript of no wave New York.
Less Is More: A Brief Survey of Minimalism
Kiran Sande highlights a sampling of the many artists influenced by the classical breakthroughs of Steve Reich, Philip Glass and more.
Black Magic: Jazz and Metal’s Unholy Union
Hank Shteamer uncovers the rich overlapping history between two genres that seem to have little to do with one another.
The Hum of the City: La Monte Young and the Birth of NYC Drone
Alan Licht profiles the remarkably influential composer – and charts the impact his work has had on generations of avant-garde music-makers.
Key Tracks: Chuck D on “Public Enemy No. 1”
The Public Enemy frontman explains how one of their first tracks came to be.
