for my @nytimes.com debut, i wrote about Kanye &his new, endlessly forgiving core fanbase

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/11/o...

my newsletter’s officially behind a paywall

im writing 3 posts a week: an essay, a review or profile, and a friday roundup.

paid subscriptions receive access to everything, free receive the friday post &my monthly indie rap column

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The “Bread and Circuses” Aren’t All That Distracting Super Bowl Sunday doesn’t distract us from societal ills, it reminds us of them.

between the performances, military spectacle, &dystopian ads, i didn’t know what to write about sunday. so i wrote about all of it

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Friday Roundup: Kanye Has More To Apologize For Even if it's not just an album rollout, there's still too much for one letter to atone for.

Anyway, for more on why we should be wary of Ye's current moves, read @andrejgee.bsky.social andrejgee.substack.com/p/friday-rou...

These AI “Soul Singers” Are A Spit In The Face To Black Vocalists What precedent does the success of these Black women avatars set for an industry that’s consistently sought to exploit Black women?

What precedent does the success of these Black women avatars set for an industry that’s consistently sought to exploit Black women?

latest for my newsletter. are you subscribed?

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Friday Roundup: The (Streaming) Kids are Alright It’s cool to see Kai and Speed embrace that power in ways that people can genuinely learn from.

Nice one from @andrejgee.bsky.social

The rapper podcasts that dominate the algorithm do so with a two-fold approach: bickering and gossiping.

latest for my newsletter. are you subscribed?

andrejgee.substack.com/p/on-the-wen...

some words on our conditional compassion for torturous prison conditions, &other things

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Another trend turned global phenomenon that originated within Black culture. The definitive explanation, in all of its somber grandeur. I have two elementary school kids. I'm just waiting for the right moment to toss this in a parent group text like a grenade.

last piece of the year: dug into the origins of “6-7” &what the co-opting says about america

open.substack.com/pub/andrejge...

Selfishly, I'm glad that Andre now has the time to work on more pieces like this. Well worth a read if you've gotten cynical about the way major label rap works...

Is 'F The Streets' Praxis Or A Marketing Campaign? It’s hard for people to stomach “fuck the streets” from artists who are actively profiting from music romanticizing gun violence.

“It’s hard for people to stomach ‘fuck the streets’ from artists who are actively profiting from music romanticizing gun violence.”

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some personal news: after 11 years i was laid off from rolling stone! kind of surreal feeling to start over but excited to see what's next 🫶

i think i might just end up posting here more

Donate to offering support after rolling stone layoff, organized by Andre Gee Last week, after three years at Rolling Stone, I was unexpectedly laid off. Appa… Andre Gee needs your support for offering support after rolling stone layoff

send some $$ to the legendary @andrejgee.bsky.social post-layoff
gofund.me/f3693630e

Donate to offering support after rolling stone layoff, organized by Andre Gee Last week, after three years at Rolling Stone, I was unexpectedly laid off. Appa… Andre Gee needs your support for offering support after rolling stone layoff

after 3 years, i was laid off by rolling stone. im appreciative of my time there, but i know this is opening a better path🙌🏿

putting everything into my newsletter for now, plz subscribe: andrejgee.substack.com

+ a gofundme for anyone who'd like to help: www.gofundme.com/f/offering-s...

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are you subscribed to my #morefire newsletter?

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He Tried to Bring Aid to Gaza. Now He's Ready to Sue Israel Former Amazon Labor Union president Chris Smalls said Israel’s military forces assaulted him after intercepting an aid flotilla heading to Gaza.

I spoke to Chris Smalls about his organizing journey, his recent experience in an Israeli prison, &his future plans, including “revitalizing” the American Labor Party.

@rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

Drake’s Litigious Moves Aren’t “Hip-Hop” — But It Doesn’t Matter To His Fans Drake has made a fortune from hip-hop while pretending its core tenets don’t apply to him. But maybe, to his ardent fans, they don’t.

Drake has made a fortune from hip-hop while pretending its core tenets don’t apply to him. But maybe, to his ardent fans, they don’t.

the latest for my #morefire newsletter

open.substack.com/pub/morefire...

Classic Lil Wayne and Rick Ross Mixtapes Are Showing up on Streaming Without Permission Industry insiders say it’s ‘too easy’ for a random person to upload an artist’s unlicensed music to their page

A source close to Lil Wayne tells @rollingstone.com that the recent mixtape uploads on his DSP pages were “not legitimate,” exemplifying what one industry insider says is a “too easy” process for people to upload unlicensed music to artist’s official pages.

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

Clipse Had the Most Traditional Album Rollout in Years--and It Worked Blog-era rap fans were treated to a wealth of interviews and teasers ahead of the album, which proved to be Clipse's best-performing record yet

I wrote about the ins and outs of Clipse’s ‘Let God Sort Em Out’ rollout. It was an intentional, nostalgic press run that, for several reasons, we may never see again.

@rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

How SeaWorld San Diego Made One of the Summer's Most Viral Concert Series From Bow Wow to the Ying Yang Twins, the aquatic amusement park has been home to some surprisingly well-curated concert lineups

Spoke with Tyler Carter & Jackie Plaza of SeaWorld San Diego about their Y2K hip-hop & R&B-celebrating Summer Spectacular series

@rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

How Bay Swag Turned His Pain Into a Debut That's Both Fun and Vulnerable Queens MC also talks about his friendships with rap legends like Young Thug and Meek Mill, and the influence of his incarcerated father on his work

Profiled rising Queens rapper Bay Swag. Talked about his new album 'Damaged Thoughts,' his father Bay Lloyd's influence on his life, &the rise of 'Sexy Drill.'

@rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

Wu-Tang Clan Bid Farewell to New York in Majestic Fashion Wu Tang Clan bring the ruckus to Madison Square Garden during their farewell tour.

The Wu-Tang Clan’s possible MSG farewell was a star-studded showcase worth of their legacy.

@rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

Drake's 'Iceman' Era Could Be a Misstep if It's Too Focused on Beef Drake's 'Iceman' lead single "What Did I Miss" hints at a vengeance-filled project

Drake’s ‘What Did I Miss’ is solid, but it feels less convincing due to his UMG lawsuit. The dynamic could be a harbinger for his ‘Iceman’ era.

@rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

Beating RICO Charges Doesn't Make Diddy a Hero The public's focus on Sean "Diddy" Combs evading the more serious charges against him ignores the plight of his victims

the reaction after the Diddy verdict proves that too many of us don’t know how to be real about patriarchal violence, &may never will.

@rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

'L.A. Was Not on Fire': Angelenos Speak on Trump's ICE Raids and 'Escalation' Angelenos dispute Donald Trump’s claim that L.A. “would be burning down,” amid anti-ICE protests, if he didn’t send in the National Guard.

I spoke with several Angelenos bout the ICE raids in LA &their experience at recent protests, which was much different than what Trump is telling the world.

@rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

The Diddy Allegations Aren't Entertainment. They're Disturbing The sexual misconduct allegations against Diddy continue to be disturbing. But to some, they’re entertaining.

“We’re consistently so fascinated by queerness that it takes precedence over sexual assault.”
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-... via @andrejgee.bsky.social @rollingstone.com

The Joey Bada$$ vs. Everyone Beef Is Fun, But What's It Really About? Joey Badass' feud with Ray Vaughn and a slew of others has been marred by homophobic bars and a general feeling of attention-seeking

The Joey Bada$$ vs. everyone beef is fun — if you don't ask too many questions about its genesis or homophobic bars

@rollingstone.com

www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...