Grammy Awards — Bunk History

Nas performing at the 2022 Grammys.

Grammys Have Little Credibility in the Hip-Hop Community

While the awards have recognized achievements in rap, Black artists continue to face musical segregation.

by A. D. Carson via Made By History on April 10, 2022

John Travolta on the dance floor in the film Saturday Night Fever, 1977.

Disco and Classical Music: A Copacetic Couple

Despite seeming like strange dance partners, disco and classical make the best music—together.

by Angelica Frey, Ken McLeod via JSTOR Daily on July 20, 2025

A drawing of a family tree of white rappers connecting Eminem and Macklemore.

A Brief Cultural History of the White Rapper

Why do they exist? Where did they come from? Can they be defended? The most pressing questions, answered.

by Alex Skopic via Current Affairs on November 29, 2023

The male-dominated field of pop songwriting.

Women are Superstars on Stage, but Still Rarely Get to Write Songs

Songwriting credits since 1958, broken down by gender.

by Chris Dalla Riva, Ashley Cai via The Pudding on July 20, 2023

Little Richard holding his arms out at a performance.

What Little Richard Deserved

The new documentary “I Am Everything” explores the gulf between what Richard accomplished and what he got for it.

by Hanif Abdurraqib via The New Yorker on April 26, 2023

Photo of Danyel Smith.

Danyel Smith Tells the History of Black Women in Pop Music

The author discusses Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, racism in magazines, and why she’s so hopeful for the future of music and writing.

by Emily J. Lordi, Danyel Smith via The New Yorker on April 17, 2022

Picture of DeFord Bailey holding a harmonica amplified by a gourd.

The Unsung Black Musician Who Changed Country Music

From the moment DeFord Bailey stepped onto a stage in Nashville, country music would never be the same. Decades after his death he finally got his due.

by Diana Bianco via Narratively on January 23, 2020

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