Max Bell

Photos

No One Sees Rap Like Photographer Brian Cross

See photos from 'Ghost Notes: Music of the Unplayed,' featuring Outkast, Kendrick Lamar, DJ Quik, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and more.
Max Bell
1.19.18
PROFILES

LA Rapper Natia Charts a Path Out of Homelessness

The 24-year-old has been homeless for six years—the whole of his rap career—surviving by any means necessary. Now, with his debut LP '10K Hours,' he's going for stardom.
Max Bell
10.22.17
PROFILES

Buddy Is One of the Best West Coast Rappers You've Been Sleeping On

Since 2011, the 24-year-old Compton native has spent his career on the cusp while working with Kendrick Lamar, Freddie Gibbs, Kaytranada, and more. Now he's almost famous, so he bought a billboard.
Max Bell
9.7.17
Premieres

Here Is an Extremely Good Cover of the Best Song of All Time, “Return of the Mack"

Pioneer 11 give a proper rendition.
Max Bell
2.16.17
Low End Theory

As LA's Beat Scene Evolves, Can Low End Theory Festival Survive?

LET Fest returned for a third year with fewer marquee names, but a fresh crop of rising young acts.
Max Bell
7.26.16
Interviews

XL Middleton and Eddy Funkster Are Keeping LA Funky and Fly

The MoFunk label founders share their single "California Fly," featuring Domino and Moniquea, and discuss what makes LA so damn funky.
Max Bell
7.12.16
Premieres

PREMIERE: Gensu Dean and Denmark Vessey Offer Spiritual Guidance with "The Meek"

The duo is preparing a joint project, 'Whole Food,' out July 29 via Mello Music Group.
Max Bell
5.31.16
Features

Chester Watson's Fantastic Visions

We spent 4/20 in LA talking high times and high anxiety with rap's 19-year-old mad genius.
Max Bell
5.18.16
Interviews

How Darkside's Dave Harrington Improvised a New Solo Career

We spoke with the prolific guitarist about making his debut LP 'Become Alive' and playing Hall & Oates in the club.
Max Bell
4.15.16
Interviews

A Freak Is a Freak, and Egyptian Lover Is an Icon

Ahead of his new anthology, we spoke with the gilded lothario about 808s, the state of DJing, and how he shaped West Coast hip-hop as we know it.
Max Bell
4.13.16
Interviews

Freddie Gibbs Sings in the Shower: "If You Don't Evolve with the Game, Get Out"

Freddie Gibbs explains why Drake and Future are his only competition for his new album 'Shadow of a Doubt.'
Max Bell
11.20.15
Longreads Or Whatever

Vince Staples's Summertime in the LBC

The 21-year-old rapper is on the cusp of his highly anticipated debut 'Summertime '06.' How did a kid from a broken home who tangled gang life get to this moment?
Max Bell
5.6.15
0102