Sheldon Pearce
Stories
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Music
Taking the toll of Drake and Kendrick Lamar's vicious, gripping psychological warfare
As the jolt of adrenaline lit by the clash between the two biggest rappers of a generation fades, it's worth holding onto the possibility — however slim — that something new can grow from the chaos.
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Music
J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Drake in a conflict without a cause
If the current conflict between J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar and Drake feels confusing, it's because the artists often hailed as hip-hop's "big three" have never played by the same rules.
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Music
10 takeaways from Beyoncé's new album, 'Cowboy Carter'
Is the much-hyped sequel to Renaissance a country album? In many ways, yes — but it's also a sprawling collage of disparate references, while remaining a Beyoncé album at its heart.
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Arts & Life
The lonely throne of Usher, modern R&B's greatest showman
This year's Super Bowl halftime star is a rare species in pop: More entertainer than celebrity, his enduring stage presence has eclipsed his melodramas, and perhaps even his music.
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Music
Can the Tupac Shakur murder trial salvage any justice from a 27-year-old case?
The arrest of Duane Davis in the 1996 shooting of the rapper in Las Vegas is a huge development in a case that has evaded closure, as competing narratives and mythologies have emerged in its place.