Thirty years ago this month, 2Pac was murdered in Las Vegas. When I got home from covering the trial, I wanted to write one final piece about what the verdict means. It metastasized into a 7,500-word essay about the last 30 years of American conspiracies, "Twin Peaks: The Return," the atomic history of Las Vegas and the threat of AI apocalypse, the parasites of the YouTube rap murder economy, the decay of journalism, random acquaintances texting me screenshots of myself taking notes in the courtroom, our true crime obsession, and why it's hard to believe anything but what you see with your own eyes. powmag.net/p/until-the-end-o…

On the new Truth Hurts, we spoke to Ishmael Butler about everything from his Seattle roots to the Shabazz Palaces reinvention, his ‘94 Grammys speech after Digable Planets won for “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat),” meeting Herbie Hancock, making "Blowout Comb," and his new masterpiece, "It’s a Style Sport." Plus, tales of playing college hoops for John Calipari, interning at Arthur Russell’s Sleeping Bag Records, collaborating with his son Lil Tracy, and the genius of Octavia Butler and Moby-Dick. youtube.com/watch?v=yfWQIRE-… @shabazzpalaces

Bootsy Collins turns 75 today. No better time to watch this performance of “I’d Rather Be With You” in Houston on Halloween 1976.

This tribute from Ice Cube to D.O.C., right before the latter received his Paid in Full Award this weekend, was one of the most powerful things I've heard in a long time.

On the 30th anniversary of "Endtroducing....", @AGSpinelli spoke w/ DJ Shadow about creating his instrumental hip-hop masterpiece, forming the SoleSides crew, sample clearance, the influence of DJ Premier & Prince Paul, David Axelrod, Twin Peaks & more. powmag.net/p/dj-shadow-endtr… @djshadow

Grandmaster Caz rapping over the "Good Times" instrumental, backed by Nile Rodgers and Chic, last night at the Paid in Full Awards in Vegas. A partial healing of hip-hop's original sin.