“I’m in my third prime”: ranking the Nas & Hit-Boy hexalogy.
A comprehensive ranking of Nas and Hit-Boy’s once-thought-unlikely partnership.
Mafia, what else: ranking every Boldy James album.
A review of the Detroit rapper's impressive discography.
Songs for your summer road trips.
With summer vacation — and freedom from the UChicago grind — finally here, the time for road trips and warm drives is approaching. Here are ten songs to add to your summer road trip playlist!
The top ten trap albums of the modern era.
Now an inescapable subgenre of hip-hop, trap music originated in early 2000s Atlanta, its name derived from the prevalence of “traps” — places set up for illicit production and movement of drugs — and its lyrics full of hyper-realistic depictions of life in and around them.
Songs to help you romanticize the remaining weeks of winter.
From dream pop to folk: listen to these songs while you wait for the snow to melt.
Ten pop-rap crossovers that went horribly wrong.
Creatively bankrupt and hollow collaborations that leave you wanting so much more.
Firebird’s Top Albums of 2022: Staff Picks.
See our staff’s individual lists of their favorite albums of 2022 here!
Firebird’s Top 20 Albums of 2022
The top 20 albums of 2022 as voted by Firebird’s staff.
Songs I won’t forgive the artist for leaving off Spotify.
These songs deserve their moment in the spotlight.
New Music Highlights: January — June 2022
Some of Sha’s favorite new releases from the first half of 2022.
Small Acts: familiar sounds from five artists you’ve never heard of.
The top 10 Spotify web apps.
Songs for when you are an angry woman.
When you need the energy of murderous women, these songs are here for you.
Songs that Will Keep You Warm When Chicago Gets Cold
These songs will give you a warm, fuzzy feeling and make the windy walk to class a bit more bearable.
Firebird’s Best Albums of 2021
Firebird Staff’s 2021 top picks.
Five 2021 Releases to Get You Through the Winter
From folksy ballads to mellow synth beats, these five new releases will keep you warm on even the coldest days.
New Music Highlights: January — May 2021
Some of my favorite singles, EPs, and albums from the first half of this year. Take some of these with you this summer as we put the pandemic behind us.
10 Songs to Make You Feel Less Single During the Pandemic
Featuring Frank Ocean, Lorde, Harry Styles, and more.
The Soundtrack to Your Life
Featuring Phoebe Bridgers, The Cranberries, M.I.A, and more.
Songs for the Adventure that We Will Take Some Day
Featuring Leon Bridges, Vance Joy, Kanye West, and more.