TL;DR: The year hip-hop went queer. 

Hip Hop Duo Releases Song In Support Of Marriage Equality | BuzzFeed

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, two Seattle-based hip hop artists, partnered with Music For Marriage Equality campaign and Sub Pop to release a new track (‘Same Love’) that addresses same-sex marriage and stigmas of being gay. (Listen here.)

(Pictured above: Macklemore’s two uncles who served as inspiration for the track.)

Though the track was written in April, it’s release comes in the wake of Frank Ocean’s decision to come out and major rap artists openly supporting marriage equality - both positive steps for homosexuality in hip hop.

It’s hip to be square. Can we take a moment to discuss the fact that MTV2 is reviving Hollywood Squares? Of course, now it is called Hip Hop Squares with the center square going to the likes of Nick Cannon and Method Man.

If you don’t believe me, watch this very serious report by The New York Times where Melena Ryzik tries to explain the history of hip hop in game shows while invoking a concern of realness for the genre of music as if its current form seen on MTV is the most authentic.  

Hip-Hop’s Future Billionaires. Forbes identifies 5 rap icons on their way to becoming members of the Forbes 400. [forbes]

Diddy ($500 Million)
Jay-Z ($450 Million)
Dr. Dre ($250 Million)
Birdman ($110 Million) 
50 Cent ($100 Million) 

Bitch by the numbers. According to an unverified poem, Jay-Z is to retire the word bitch. [vulture]

289 songs by Jay-Z (as the main artist)
355 mentions of the word bitch
1.2 bitches per song 

Top 5 Bitchiest Songs:

Is that Yo Bitch: 41 bitches
Bitches and Sisters: 27 bitches
Stick 2 the Script: 22 bitches
Paper Chase: 12 bitches
Jigga What’s My Name: 10 bitches

It’s Nicki’s World | New York Times

“Part sweet Lolita, part street-smart punk from Queens.”