Pursuit of Happiness: Bushy B’s Headphones are an Escape — Whether He’s Listening to Music or Not For the latest edition of Pursuit of Happiness, Miami’s own Bushy B breaks down just how he finds momentary peace. wellness February 25, 2026
Eric Benét Slams Jelly Roll: "Full of S**t" The neosoul singer called out the Grammy-winning country star for evading commentary on social issues. news February 24, 2026
This is What Black History Sounds Like A century of songs that didn’t just reflect the moment — they shaped eras, sparked movements, and carried the joy and resistance that define Black life. featured February 24, 2026
An Investigation: The Case for Baby Keem as the Best Nepo Rapper Ever Trading in my fitted for a fedora and white tee for a trench coat, I probe the possibility that pgLang’s Golden Child just may be the strongest branch of hip-hop’s sprawling family tree. entertainment February 23, 2026
Player’s Pass with DJ MOMA: DJ Moma Turns the Party Into His Debut Project On 'Jozi Love Affair,' DJ Moma turns Johannesburg’s energy into a sonic journey, reflecting on his roots, his influences, and the moments that shaped his sound. featured February 23, 2026
27 Years of Okayplayer in 27 Moments From the early days of the boards to Art Basel, these are 27 defining moments that shaped Okayplayer’s evolution. featured February 23, 2026
How To Be Outside, Inside with Famed Hip-Hop Photographer, T. Eric Monroe The acclaimed lensman’s NYC picks include swanky hotels, skate shops, and family-owned neighborhood restaurants. new york February 21, 2026
What’s Free to Do in New York: Lunar New Year, Celebrating Frederick Douglass, and Shea Butter Grooves Dance Class You can embrace fashion, culture and style on the runway or spend a family day at a farmhouse, there’s plenty of free things to do as February begins to wind down. new york February 20, 2026
The Listening: New Music From Baby Keem, SZA, J.I.D, Thundercat & Mac Miller and More This week’s new music Friday also features Mozzy, Young Thug, Jorja Smith, Khalid and Dave East. entertainment February 20, 2026
Jesse Jackson Challenged Hip-Hop Because He Believed in It The Civil Rights leader recognized hip-hop’s power early on and spent decades holding the genre and its artists accountable for their influence. featured February 19, 2026
‘The Almanac of Rap’ Returns for Season 4 The two-time Webby Award-winning Okayplayer podcast returns Feb. 26 with a new slate of heavyweights and deeper conversation rooted in hip-hop history. featured February 19, 2026
From Mary J. to Miles Davis: Inside NBA Legends’ Playlists From locker room anthems to late-night jazz, NBA legends and cultural figures share the songs that move them, and settle the Kobe versus Shaq rap debate. featured February 18, 2026
Big Daddy Kane to Headline Hip-HOPE Ball for Black Health Awareness The Brooklyn legend is working with Oya “Grand G” Gilbert to help address multiple myeloma. news February 18, 2026
The Real All-Star Energy Was Outside the Arena As All-Star Weekend unfolded in Los Angeles, Okayplayer House brought basketball, music and community into the same room. featured February 17, 2026
Phonte, Bilal and More Help the Roots Take Over the Brooklyn Bowl on Valentine’s Day The Roots’ first performance of 2026 unfolded at the Brooklyn Bowl this past weekend — and it didn’t disappoint. entertainment February 17, 2026
Jesse Jackson Mourned by Al Sharpton, Kamala Harris and More Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson passed away on Tuesday morning after a long battle with a hospitalizing nuerological condition. news February 17, 2026
OK1st: Juvenile, Luh Tyler, Lakeyah and More Dish on Their First-Ever Dates Ahead of Valentine's Day For the first edition of OK1st, Okayplayer caught up with multiple artists about the first dates they ever went on. featured February 13, 2026
Not Your Soft Launch: 41’s Ratchet Valentine’s Playlist The Brooklyn rap trio curates a playlist for sneaky links, situationships and love that doesn’t whisper. entertainment February 13, 2026
The Listening: New Music From Jill Scott, Brent Faiyaz, Victoria Monet, Mary J. Blige, Ras Kass and More This week’s new music Friday also features Jamie Foxx, Central Cee, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Denzel Curry and Justine Skye entertainment February 13, 2026
Rediscovered: The Fugees’ ‘The Score’ Turns 30 With their sophomore album, ‘The Score,’ The Fugees transformed their sound. And in turn, they helped a section of hip-hop do the same. featured February 13, 2026
How to Be Outside Inside, Featuring Chef Shorne Benjamin The founder of Brooklyn’s Fat Fowl delivers a classy and diverse tour of his favorite NYC spots. new york February 13, 2026
Rediscovered: 2Pac’s ‘All Eyez on Me’ Turns 30 On his fourth album, the iconic rapper embraced the villain role and his status as Death Row’s newest superstar, but beneath all of the rage, there is a sense of pain, as well as purpose. featured February 13, 2026
From the Court to the Block: Okayplayer House at The Legends Bash During NBA All-Star Weekend Here’s what to expect from Okayplayer House at The Legends Bash during All-Star Weekend. featured February 12, 2026
Which Came First: The Shift in R&B or the Shift in Intimacy? R&B has always sung about intimacy. The difference now is how plainly it says it. featured February 11, 2026
D’Angelo’s Daughter Remembers Neo-Soul Legend on First Birthday Since His Death Today is D’Angelo’s birthday. Speaking to Okayplayer, his daughter, Imani Archer, reflects on the loss. featured February 11, 2026
J. Cole’s ‘The Fall-Off’ Is Lifted and Hindered By Its Ambition J. Cole’s latest album, ‘The Fall-Off,’ is sprawling, skillful, and doing a little too much. entertainment February 10, 2026
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Proves Radical Moves Don’t Have to Be Loud At a moment when expectations of protest were high, Bad Bunny delivered a halftime show centered on culture and belonging instead of controversy. featured February 10, 2026
5 Best Moments From Super Bowl LX, Including Bad Bunny From Kenneth Walker III’s MVP performance to Coco Jones channeling Whitney Houston, these were the big moments from the big game. featured February 9, 2026
Rediscovered: 20 Years of J Dilla’s ‘Donuts’ In the last project completed before his passing, the super producer from Detroit reached his highest heights while setting a new standard. featured February 7, 2026
Super Bowl-Bound Benito: 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Listening to Bad Bunny Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is not your regular artist, but a performer creating a full-blown cultural movement. entertainment February 6, 2026
The Listening: J. Cole, Ella Mai, Fredo Bang, Ransom & Boldy James, RZA and More This week’s new music Friday also features Ty Dolla $ign, Raahiim, Stove God Cooks, Public Enemy and Ariel J. entertainment February 6, 2026
What’s Free to Do in New York: Nikki Giovanni and James Baldwin Screening, Booze Book Fair, and BHM Textile Workshop Whether it’s a special viewing of two Black icons’ conversation or a boozy book fair, there’s plenty of free things to do in the first week of Black History Month. new york February 6, 2026
How to Be Outside, Inside Featuring Maiya The Don The Brooklyn rapper’s NYC picks feature an eclectic mix — from bookstores in The Bronx to sexy lounges in Hell’s Kitchen. new york February 6, 2026
Why NBA Legends Still Run All-Star Weekend As NBA All-Star Weekend approaches, former players continue to shape the game, the culture and how fans experience it. featured February 5, 2026
Pursuit of Happiness: Fredo Bang Would Rather Watch ‘Inuyasha’ Than Argue Online Fredo Bang is just the latest example that the path to happiness isn’t the same for everyone. wellness February 4, 2026
Albums We’re Excited For in February J. Cole to Jill Scott, this month features some high profile releases from artists who have kept us waiting a while. featured February 3, 2026
What’s the Price of Manhood? Moses the Black and the Consequences of Drill-Era Masculinity A look at masculinity, survival and consequence through the lens of ‘Moses the Black’ and drill-era reality. featured February 2, 2026
Bad Bunny, Lauryn Hill and Kendrick Lamar: The 7 Best Moments From the 68th Annual Grammy Awards There was a lot of politics, a lot of emotions and even more music as stars like Tyler, The Creator and Raphael Saadiq took the stage on music’s biggest night. featured February 2, 2026
Fela Kuti Changed the World Without Asking for Permission As the Recording Academy honors Fela Kuti posthumously, it reminds us that culture doesn’t wait for institutions to catch up. featured February 1, 2026
The Listening: J. Cole, Mya, Wiz Khalifa, Dave East & Joyner Lucas, Terrace Martin and More This week’s new music Friday also features E-40, Thundercat, Alchemist, Kelly Rowland and Tems. entertainment January 30, 2026
J. Cole Wants ‘The Fall-Off’ to Be His Best Album. Here’s How He Can Do It With his seventh and final album on the horizon, J. Cole has the opportunity to cap off his legendary career with his greatest work yet. Here’s how he can make 'The Fall-Off' the masterpiece fans deserve. featured January 30, 2026
What’s Free to do in New York: Free Puppet Show for Kids, Moon Gazing in the Park, Extreme Hip-Hop Aerobics Class Looking for some weekend activities in New York City that won't break the bank? We've got you covered from forest fitness to lessons from a jazz master. new york January 30, 2026
Do Grammys Still Matter? Artists Tell Okayplayer Why They Do As conversations around the Grammys continue, artists like Rapsody and Terrace Martin reflect on what the recognition still represents at this point in their careers. entertainment January 30, 2026
If 2026 Is the New 2016, Rihanna’s 'ANTI' Was the Blueprint A decade later, Rihanna’s most unapologetic album still shapes music, fashion and culture. entertainment January 29, 2026
How Drake, Jay-Z and the NBA Speak the Same Language From locker rooms and warmups to highlight reels and All-Star Weekend, here's how music became basketball’s unofficial language. featured January 28, 2026
5 J. Cole ‘Birthday Blizzard '26’ Lyrics That Will Make You Sorry for Hating The North Carolina spitter unloaded a surprise new project just ahead of his birthday, and Okayplayer breaks down the best bars. entertainment January 28, 2026
On 'Vacancy,' Ari Lennox Sinks Smoothly Into Hard-Earned Freedom Ari Lennox’s latest album is her first since she departed Dreamville Records last year. entertainment January 28, 2026
Okayplayer Hosts the Okayplayer House During 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend In partnership with the National Basketball Retired Players Association and The Finn Group, the Okayplayer House pop-up is bridging music, basketball, art and legacy. news January 28, 2026
J. Cole Drops Surprise New Mixtape, 'Birthday Blizzard '26' The DJ-Clue hosted mixtape arrives ahead of his new album, ‘The Fall Off,’ which is supposed to drop next week. entertainment January 28, 2026
Roc Marciano’s ‘656’ Is Another Minimalist Masterpiece Roc Marciano’s entirely self-produced album only reinforces his legend. entertainment January 26, 2026
‘The Vince Staples Show’ Wasn’t Perfect, But it Was Too Good For Netflix Anyway The streaming platform canceled Staples’ show after just 11 episodes, before its strange world could blossom into something beautiful entertainment January 26, 2026
Delroy Lindo’s First Oscar Nomination is Beautiful — But Also Decades Late The 73-year-old is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Delta Slim in Ryan Coogler’s 2025 hit ‘Sinners.’ entertainment January 26, 2026
The Listening: Roc Marciano, Ari Lennox, T.I., Juvenile, DaBaby and More This week’s new music Friday also features Flo Milli, Denzel Curry, Nija, Wiz Khalifa and Roc Marciano. entertainment January 23, 2026
What’s Free to do in New York: Violin Master Class, 2026 Vision Boards in the Park, Blog and Newsletters Workshop and More From beginners' salsa classes to writing workshops, here’s what’s free in NYC this weekend. new york January 23, 2026
A$AP Rocky’s ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ Is a Convoluted, But Rewarding Blockbuster A$AP Rocky’s latest album can be a bit sprawling for its own good, but his superhuman cool holds the vista together. entertainment January 20, 2026
John Forté Remembered: “Legends Never Die” The longtime Fugees affiliate was celebrated by Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill after his death at 50. news January 16, 2026
The Listening: J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, Ella Mai, Fivio Foreign and More This week’s new music Friday also features Wiz Khalifa, Lexa Gates, Charlie XCX, NBA Youngboy and Gunna. entertainment January 16, 2026
What’s Free to do in New York During MLK Weekend: Acting Classes, MLK Service Weekend, Max B at Polygon From community service to partying with Max B, this MLK weekend has a lot to offer — when it comes to what’s free. new york January 16, 2026
Teyana Taylor, Ryan Coogler Take Home Trophies at the 2026 Golden Globes ‘One Battle After Another’ took home major honors as TV shows like ‘Pluribus’ and ‘The Studio’ also won. news January 12, 2026
5 Takeaways From Max B & French Montana’s ‘Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos’ Max B & French Montana’s latest proves the two are nearly as wavy as ever. entertainment January 12, 2026
The Listening: Ari Lennox, Bruno Mars, Max B & French Montana, A$AP Rocky and More This week’s new music Friday also features Jill Scott, Kodak Black, Pusha T and Danny Brown. entertainment January 9, 2026
Albums We’re Excited For in January From A$AP Rocky to Ari Lennox, here are the month’s hottest releases. entertainment January 9, 2026
What’s Free in New York This Weekend: Yin/Yang Yoga, Family Art-Making, Memoir Writing and More Enjoy the city without spending a dime. Check out our weekly list of free activities for friends, family and first dates. new york January 9, 2026
How To Be Outside, Inside Featuring Rasheeda Purdie The chef and owner of NYC’s Ramen by Ra takes us on a downtown tour featuring museum stops, thrifting breaks, pastry intermissions, and breezy bike rides. new york January 9, 2026
Styles P on Being Willing to “Lose a Dollar” to Help the Black Community The Yonkers native and his company, Juices For Life, are working to promote healthier lifestyles through better choices. wellness January 7, 2026
