Recommended by Jaxson
If you’re tapped into how culture, media, and tech actually intersect — not just surface-level, but how narratives get shaped and move — "Manny Faces" is a solid read. It leans into hip-hop, journalism, and digital culture in a way that’s informed without feeling heavy, and thoughtful without losing its edge. One of those newsletters that helps you zoom out a bit and really see how everything connects.
From the author of Original Gangstas (the definitive history of West Coast rap) and Fentanyl, Inc. — Ben Westhoff brings the same investigative depth to his Substack. Deep-dive essays, rare interviews with legends from N.W.A to OutKast, and on-the-ground reporting where hip-hop culture and real-world crisis intersect. His Hip-Hop 25 countdown alone is worth the subscribe. If you care about the culture beyond the surface, this is essential reading.
If you’re someone who thinks about music beyond just listening — more how it’s made, structured, and evolving — "Music Scientists" is a solid add to your rotation. It leans into production, AI, and workflow in a way that’s actually useful, not just hype, breaking down how the tools and systems shape the way music gets created. It’s less “music news” and more “how this all works under the hood,” which makes it especially valuable if you’re building, not just consuming.