The success of Manchester’s Outbreak festival shows the appetite for the genre isn’t just healthy, it’s on the rise. Its organisers discuss the scene’s evolution, its fragility, and its (very loud) future. (The Guardian)
“Your Favourite Rappers Are Only Alive Because of Our Sacrifices”: The Secret Life of Rap Bodyguards
From 2Pac in the 90s to XXXTentacion and more in recent years, murder is frequent in the US rap scene. The men trying to protect the artists explain the physical and psychological toll. (The Guardian)
Released in July 1984, Diamond Life is one of UK pop music’s most enduring jewels. Here, with the help of producer Robin Millar, Kemi Alemoru maps the legacy of Sade's timeless debut. (DJ Mag)
How Long Gone: Your Favourite Podcaster’s Favourite Podcasters
In 2024, ‘Two white guys with a podcast’ is no longer a pitch - it’s a punchline. But Chris Black and Jason Stewart, co-hosts of How Long Gone, are having the last laugh. (Gentleman's Journal)
A rapid fire interview series. (No Score)
Ahead of new shows in Gstaad and London, Roe Ethridge discusses the American psyche, memory and Freudian twists. (Plaster)
The Death of the Artist Holiday
The 20th century was laced with tales of opulent sojourns to distant lands. But in an era of mass tourism, Insta-travel saturation and employment precarity, is the pursuit of creative inspiration abroad just nostalgia? Kitty Grady explores what travel and holidaying means for artists today. (Plaster)
As the luxury publisher Assouline celebrates its 30th birthday, the industry it helped create has become almost unrecognisable. (Town & Country)
The UNDERCOVER designer is at the peak of his powers. So why is he considering scaling back? (SSENSE)
South Korean Sharpshooter Kim Yeji Is the 2024 Olympics’ First Breakout Style Star
Sporting sci-fi shooter glasses and an ice-cold stance, the South Korean athlete medaled in her Olympic debut - and sent her own aura levels off the charts in the process. (GQ)
Is Nike Still Cool?
After decades of dominating the sneaker game, the Swoosh’s top-dog status suddenly feels vulnerable. GQ’s Noah Johnson examines how that happened. (GQ)
With skate’s inclusion in the Olympics, Kyle Beachy asks what it means for the culture around the sport, and whether it’s possible to institutionalise an artform. (Huck)
Moods July 2024 (Moodmail)
