Thomas Hobbs

Five West End venues that helped ‘See How They Run’ construct the scene of the crime.

“I was obsessed with my mom’s record player and curious to know how the needle would automatically find the right groove to start the vinyl. I took it apart with a screwdriver to see what its insides looked like. My mom whooped my ass for that!”

Possessed of ancient roots, tattoos have in recent years gone from being taboo to part of the social fabric. The next step? Their acceptance as art works that can even outlive their owners, writes Thomas Hobbs.

For the 12th Behind the Beat, Thomas Hobbs spent time in LA with JoogSZN. The producer talked about his partnership with the late, great Drakeo the Ruler and crafting their iconic song “Back Flip or Sumn.”

"In 2010, Nicki Minaj was arguably the biggest breakthrough artist on the planet, climbing to the top of a male-dominated rap world with intricate wordplay and a hyper-confident energy that showed women could be alphas too. As she started a live interview with BBC Radio 1’s Tim Westwood, then the biggest rap DJ in the country, Minaj joked: “Aren’t you going to get me a chair?” Westwood, grinning like a Cheshire cat, quickly replied: “Yo, please, would you like to come over here and sit on my knee?" This interaction told you everything you needed to know about Tim Westwood as an interviewer."

"Gabe ‘Nandez looks at profundity and irreverence as two sides to the same coin, and on the addictive “Wagesick”, the New York-based emcee moves from questioning late-stage capitalism to blowing kisses at peak Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson."

Following the release of her new album, we catch up with the Alabama rapper to talk sexism in hip hop, her friendship with Tiffany Pollard, and the importance of optimism.

“[In the Seventies], music criticism was a blood sport,” says veteran critic Jim Farber. “The record companies would pay to send you across the globe to write stories and the writer could come back and type up the most vicious thing imaginable. Even the 1990s had its fair share of put downs. It was just accepted. But in 2022, every artist is framed as a genius."

"Backed by a blunt guitarist channelling Steve Albini, Carti lets out feral screams more reminiscent of Slipknot than the thugged-out baby-voiced coos he made his name with. “Ever since my brother died / I’ve been thinking about homicide!” he proclaims during highlight Stop Breathing, and the collective stomp ripples our drinks."

My review of the RZA's latest as part of an "Albums of the Week" feature.

The 43rd part of my 'London on Screen' series trades the Big Smoke for the Big Apple and looks at Joker's staircase.

For the latest print edition of HUCK, I interviewed Sharon Van Etten.

Salih Williams — producer of Mike Jones, Slim Thug, and Paul Wall’s “Still Tippin’,” — is a criminally underrated musician. For the latest Behind the Beat, Thomas Hobbs tempted Williams away from fishing to discuss his most legendary production.

The reluctant star on coming out of retirement, staying politically conscious and why he doesn’t like drill music.

Following the release of his latest album God Don’t Make Mistakes, the rapper talks horror villains, police brutality and being unafraid to show his vulnerable side.