Best Hip Hop Websites and Blogs
If you’re a fan of hip hop then you’ll love this list of best hip hop websites and blogs! From music news to artist interviews and everything in between, these sites offer everything you need to stay up-to-date on the latest in hip hop.
Not only that, but they also offer plenty of resources that will help you improve your musical skills. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced listener, check out these wonderful rap websites and blogs!
Rap Music And Its Bad Reputation
Top 12 Best Hip-Hop Websites And Blogs
Below is a list of the top 16 best hip-hop websites and blogs. These rap websites feature rap videos, singles, interviews, album reviews, and news about what’s going on in hip-hop. Keep in mind that this list is of websites and blogs that only showcase rap music. Sites that feature pop culture, gossip, and fashion like Complex.com, The Shade Room, The Jasmine Brand, etc are not listed.
1) ThisIs50
This Is 50 is a website that is owned by rap legend 50 Cent. The website is an extension of his brand and showcases the latest in hip-hop culture. ThisIs50 features interviews, videos, rap battles, indie rap music, rap news, and G-Unit clothing – which he still owns and operates. The website also features a section dedicated to 50 Cent so his fans can keep up with the latest news about it.
2) Hot New Hip Hop
Hot New Hip-Hop has been showcasing the best in hip-hop culture since 2007. It has been nominated by B.E.T. for having the best Hip-Hop platform, although it didn’t win the award, they have maintained its status as a great platform in our culture.
On their website, you can view rap videos, singles, top 100 popular rap songs, mixtapes and albums, and also rap news and gossip.
The Salary Of An Independent Rapper
3) World Star Hip-Hop
World Star Hip Hop is still world-renowned as a controversial content-aggregating video website. Although it has the word Hip-Hop in it, it’s less about hip-hop and more about uploading videos that are shocking and entertaining.
Worldstar has helped launched the career of many rappers and producers, many of which ended up getting signed to record labels. Worldstar continues to promote up-and-coming rappers on its Youtube channel.
Worldstar has toned down its outrageous content just a bit. The most popular sections of the site used to be street fights, pictures of models, and believe it or not homemade pornography!
Overall this site is the ugly side of the hip hop culture but still needs to be listed because when showing hip hop, you have to show it in its totality. This is what makes our culture authentic.
.
.
4) Hip Hop Push Media
Well, we can’t go any further without patting ourselves on the back. We launched our official website hiphoppush.com in 2009 but the inception of our promotion company was in 2005. Since then we’ve been a vital staple within the hip-hop culture promoting upcoming talent and record label artists.
For over 17 years we’ve been responsible for launching the careers of some of the most successful rappers, and have set the standard of what a true rap promotion company is supposed to be. This is why many record labels, music agents, managers, DJs, radio hosts, artists, and producers hold us in such high regard.
Our prestige and reputation have led us to be featured in many publications like XXL Magazine, Billboard Magazine, Complex Magazine, Vibe, and The Source. We’ve also been featured on countless websites and blogs.
We will stay on course and continue to push the hip-hop culture forward and leave an indelible mark within the game. Our motto will forever ring true to up-and-coming rap artists on our platforms – and that is – Get Featured, Get Discovered!
This Is When Rap Became Popular
5) RapTV
RapTV started in 2017 and was just a page on Instagram where you can get the latest rap news. Now it has successfully expanded its brand to all social media platforms, and is one of the largest rap communities online!
RapTV covers all aspects of rap news. On their Twitter, for example, you can find streaming updates, memes, and conversations among RapTV followers. Similarly, on their Instagram, you’ll see news, polls, videos and so much more.
On their website, you’ll find rap news, editorials, power rankings (lists of the hottest rappers and albums for the months), and the shop which sells merchandise.
6) Rap-Up
Rap-up launched its platform in 2001 it originally started as a website but shortly after changed its format to a magazine. Rap-up has featured many Rap and R&B superstars like T.I., Rick Ross, Ciara, Nelly, and more.
Rap-up features news, singles, music videos, and rap-up tv – which are interviews of celebrities and artists.
7) RevoltTV
Revolt TV is a media network launched in 2013 by P. Diddy and his business partner Andy Schuon. It’s a network that focuses on hip-hop culture, R&B, and social injustices.
P. Diddy created RevoltTv to give more exposure to black content creators. Black content creators don’t get enough exposure in mainstream media due to racism and prejudice – P.Diddy is trying to level the playing field with his network.
The RevoltTV website showcases music videos, new music, interviews, news, featured posts, and discussions about social injustices.
8) Underground Hip-Hop Blog
At this point in the list, we have to show love to all the hip-hop purists out there. The ones who don’t want the rapper they listen to talk about jewelry, cars, money, mansions, and how many women they sleep with. Underground hip-hop is rap music’s foundation. It’s the conscious side of rap music that elevates the mind and spirits of those who listen to it.
Underground hip-hop represents truth, equality, unity, and the fight for justice for the disenfranchised. One of the big differences between underground rap and mainstream rap is the high level of lyricism displayed by the underground rapper. One of the blogs that have represented the underground rap music scene since 2012 is the Underground Hip-Hop blog.
On the site, you can find new music, albums, mixtapes, interviews, reviews & mic sessions.
https://undergroundhiphopblog.com
9) ALLHipHop
AllHipHop was dubbed the “CNN” of hip hop by Essence Magazine. It has been in operation since 1998 and is an older classic site within our culture. The website has definitely withstood the test of time and deserves credit for being a pioneer hip-hop platform. One of the major faults of AllHipHop was that it didn’t change with the culture. It didn’t adapt to the changing times and lost its lust to many other hip-hop websites.
Many other rap blogs took the format from AllHipHop and made it 10 times better! Not to throw shade at AllHipHop but it’s true. By the time they realized that the hip-hop culture was leaving them behind it was too late. In 2017 they ventured into a new deal and revamped their website, but the majority of their fanbase was gone. We’ve placed Allhiphop on this list out of respect for their contribution to the game.
10) Rap Radar
Rap Radar was created by two individuals that have tremendously impacted the hip-hop culture. The first is Elliot Wilson who started with his own publication in the 90s called Ego Trip. In the mid – to late ’90s Wilson became an editor at The Source.
After the second walk-out at The Source Magazine, Wilson brought his talents to XXL Magazine where he became the Editor in chief. Elliot remained at XXL for many years until he got fired. After Elliot was laid off he was asked by Paul Rosenburg, the owner of Goliath Records, if he wanted to go into business together and form Rap Radar. Wilson took him up on the opportunity and the rest is history.
Rap radar showcases rap news, music videos, and interviews with major label artists.
11) HipHopDx
HipHopDX has always been a staple within the hip-hop community. It’s an online hip-hop magazine that showcases rap music, videos, album reviews, music criticism, and news. HipHopDX is the flagship publication of Cheri Media Group. In September 2020, the website was acquired by Warner Music Group.
12) XXL Magazine
XXL Magazine was founded in 1997 by Townsquare media. XXL has featured many iconic rappers on the cover of their magazine including Jay-Z, Nas, Ludacris, Biggie, 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, etc. One of the cover features that readers use to look forward to every year was the Freshman Class – it use to be exciting seeing the list and reading about the up-and-coming rappers.
Now the XLL Freshman List is watered down and not interesting anymore. It’s like they’re throwing anyone on the cover of that list and it has made them look less credible within the hip-hop community. Nonetheless, XXL also maintains a popular website, which provides daily hip-hop news, original content, and content from the magazine.
Steps To Become A Famous Rapper
What Websites Do Rappers Use?
As an up-coming rapper, there are websites that you should utilize in order to promote your music to the masses. I think as an artist you should have your own website. Well, you can become successful without one, but it’s always good to have your own platform to showcase your music and express yourself without repercussions. Something that social media won’t allow you to do.
Below is a list of websites that you can use to give your music more exposure.
- Youtube
- TikTok
- Soundcloud
- Reverbnation
- Hip-Hop websites and blogs (Like the one we listed above)
- LiveMixtapes
- Spinrilla
- All music streaming retail websites (Spotify, Itunes, Tidal, etc.)
There are also mobile apps that you can use to help you out as a rapper. These are great tools to have as they can help streamline your music-making on the go!
- Music Maker JAM – App For Rappers.
- Battle Me – A Battle Rap App For Android And iPhone.
- Rapchat Provides Beats For Rapping Over.
- AutoRap By Smule – Transform Your Rap Voice.
- Rap Wars – Free iPhone App For Rappers.
- Tape-A-Talk Recorder.
- Evernote Is Great For Rappers.
Be sure to research these apps online in order to get the full run down on how to use them.
What Are Some Free Mixtape Websites?
Keeping up with the theme of introducing you to websites that will help promote your music to the world, we’ve come to the section on mixtapes. What is a mixtape? A mixtape is a compilation of songs by an artist or artists. A mixtape differs from an album because it can be considered less quality, less structured, and has fewer songs.
A mixtape is more geared towards upcoming artists as a promotional tool. Major labels have taken all of their artist’s music from mixtape websites and placed them on streaming websites. The reason being is to make profits.
A mixtape website offers free downloads of a single or mixtape project, a record label can not make money from that. Some mixtape websites pay for major label artists to feature their mixtape on their sites.
Many mixtape websites have become obsolete over the years, but the ones listed below are staying strong.
4 Free Mixtape Download Websites
Live Mixtapes – Established in 2006 and serves as a platform where you can download the latest mixtapes across the globe.
Spinrilla – Spinrilla is known as one of the pioneers of the mixtape scene. It is also the world’s first mixtape music app, giving you all hip-hop, all the time. On the app, you can discover independent and emerging hip-hop artists and hear the next big song before anyone else.
.
Where Rappers Sell Their Mixtapes
Datpiff – Datpiff launched its website in 2005 and has featured many legendary rap mixtapes – some of which remain on the website. The run that Datpiff had since its inception is nothing less than amazing. The brand is still synonymous with being one of the best mixtape websites in the world.
MyMixtapes – MyMixtapez delivers the newest and hottest mixtapes to download or stream at home and on the go. Stream your favorite artists and DJs, and save your favorite songs. The offline listening feature and car play compatibility make My Mixtapez the peak source for your music needs.
List of Rappers Merch Websites
Last on our list are rapper’s merch websites. these are the blogs/websites where you can purchase all types of rapper merchandise like t-shirts, mugs, hats, etc. Before buying anything from these sites please do proper research – this list is not an endorsement of any of the websites.
Summary
In conclusion, these are the best hip-hop websites and blogs rap fans can indulge in. These platforms provide the latest in hip hop music, videos, interviews, and news. these hip-hop websites have been around for many years and have greatly contributed to pushing the culture forward.
Top Music Streaming Platforms
What Does Hip Hop Mean?
The ILLestmatic: 20 Year Anniversary of ILLmatic
About The Author
