In “Straight Loops, Light & Soul,” a project evoking Roy DeCarava’s Harlem jazz pictures and the music of J Dilla, Williams captures the underground beat-maker scene of Queens.

But sadly, the Soul Sonic Force—comprised of Mr. Biggs, Pow Wow, The G.L.O.B.E and DJ Jazzy Jay—has lost one its members.

The sequencer on the 808, a row of 16 color-coded buttons, offered artists ... era of hip-hop. But the 808’s initial heyday was short-lived and beset with naysaying: The machine was expensive.

These 10 artists represent some of the ... building a sustainable career. Unlike many hip-hop success stories centered on youth, Conway the Machine found his greatest success later in life after ...