Atlanta Hip-Hop Icons Back $5 Billion Overhaul of Downtown’s Historic Gulch

A rendering shows the proposed layout for Centennial Yards, an upcoming $5 billion entertainment and residential district in downtown Atlanta. The massive 50-acre redevelopment project, backed by celebrity investors including Usher, Killer Mike and 2 Chainz, aims to transform the historic rail yard known as the Gulch into a thriving cultural hub featuring a Cosm immersive theater, a Live Nation music venue and luxury housing. (Courtesy of Centennial Yards)

If you want to see the future of Atlanta, look down into the Gulch.

For decades, the 50-acre sunken rail yard in the heart of downtown has been little more than a vast concrete void shadowed by towering stadiums. But now, the royalty of Southern hip-hop and R&B are putting their money exactly where their roots are to transform that crater into the city's next crown jewel.

Usher, the diamond-certified voice behind the monumental 2004 album "Confessions," has officially joined rap veterans Killer Mike and 2 Chainz — alongside other notable celebrity investors like Shaquille O'Neal, Vince Carter, and Migos frontman Quavo— as major investors in Centennial Yards, a sprawling $5 billion redevelopment project set to completely remake downtown Atlanta.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Centennial Yards | Downtown ATL (@centennialyards)

Led by Los Angeles-based developer CIM Group and a group headed by Atlanta Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler, the massive venture aims to replace empty parking lots with a thriving, world-class entertainment and residential district.

The heavy-hitting roster of homegrown celebrity investors was recently celebrated during a ribbon-cutting event for the district's new Hotel Phoenix. Financial literacy advocate John Hope Bryant has also joined the effort, bridging the gap between urban luxury development and community financial empowerment.

In a statement posted to its official Instagram page, the Centennial Yards team praised the artists for stepping up to physically shape the city's skyline. The developers shouted out the hometown heroes as "true leaders who love Atlanta, believe in its people, and understand both the vision and the real need for #CentennialYards."

"These are individuals who showed up with trust, purpose, and pride in Atlanta's future," the statement continued. "This is what happens when Atlanta builds for Atlanta."

For artists who spent the 1990s and 2000s building the city's cultural infrastructure, the investment represents a transition into literal city building. The Centennial Yards footprint sits perfectly between two of the city's biggest hubs: Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena.

Once completed, the district will boast a towering skyline of residential buildings, luxury hotels, retail spaces, and restaurants. However, the crown jewel for music fans will be the brand-new entertainment hub. The space will feature an immersive 70,000-square-foot Cosm viewing theater boasting an 87-foot LED dome, alongside a dedicated 5,300-capacity live music venue operated by Live Nation.

The development is currently operating on a massive deadline. Developers are pushing to open Cosm, the Hotel Phoenix, and a central gathering plaza by June 10, 2026 — just five days before Atlanta is set to host international fans for the first of eight matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Live Nation music venue is slated to open its doors the following year, in 2027.

Bob Power, the Studio Genius Behind the Native Tongues and Soulquarians Movements, Dies at 73

Legendary audio engineer and producer Bob Power sits at a mixing console in a recording studio. Power, whose technical mastery shaped the sound of golden-era hip-hop and neo-soul for iconic artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu, and D'Angelo, died on March 1 at the age of 73.

The music industry has lost the meticulous ear behind its most flawless-sounding masterpieces. Bob Power, the legendary audio engineer and producer whose technical wizardry defined the sound of the Native Tongues movement and the birth of neo-soul, died on March 1 at the age of 73.

A funeral listing in Maryland confirmed the passing of the sonic pioneer, noting that his family requested donations be made to NPR in lieu of floral tributes. No official cause of death was immediately provided.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Questlove (@questlove)

For purists of 90s hip-hop and R&B, Power's name in the liner notes was a guarantee of sonic excellence. Born in Chicago in 1952, he was a classically trained musician who studied at Webster College before earning a master's degree in jazz from Lone Mountain College in San Francisco. Before completely altering the sound of rap, he spent the 1970s and early 1980s composing music for PBS television shows and major commercial campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola and Intel.

Power relocated to New York City in 1982, famously taking gigs playing mafia weddings in Bensonhurst to pay the bills before landing a pivotal role as a fill-in engineer at Calliope Studios. It was there that he engineered his first major hip-hop project: Stetsasonic's 1986 debut album, "On Fire".

That session made Power the indispensable sonic translator for the emerging Native Tongues collective. He engineered and mixed foundational texts for A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and the Jungle Brothers. Prior to Power's touch, hip-hop struggled to balance heavy bass lines with crisp, sample-heavy melodies without muddying the track.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by UNICORN - we dont buy bots - all organic (@erykahbadu)

"Bob was the KING of the Low End," The Roots' frontman Questlove wrote in a social media tribute. "Drums Crispy & Loud... but the BASS is FULL... before him? Hip Hop was chaotic & muddy... Bob was our training wheels for how to present music".

Beyond his alternative hip-hop foundation, Power was equally responsible for engineering the R&B revolution of the mid-1990s as a trusted engineer for the Soulquarians collective. He mixed the blueprints of the neo-soul movement, including D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar," Erykah Badu's "Baduizm," and Common's "Like Water for Chocolate".

Following the news of his death, Badu openly mourned her mentor online. "What a great loss for the music community today," Badu shared, noting his immense influence on her sound. "'Baduizm' is thee most bass heavy singing album in history. You mixed like a TRIBE album!".

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @djpremier

Legendary producer DJ Premier also paid his respects, writing, "R.I.P. to one of the iLLest Engineers of all time... Thank you for your various pointers in recording from D'Angelo to ATCQ'S 'Low End Theory,' Erykah Badu's 'Baduizm' and so on!".

Later in life, Power became an Arts Professor at New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, ensuring his technical mastery and philosophy would be passed down to the next generation of audio engineers.

In an era where producers and MCs rightfully received the lion's share of the glory, Bob Power remained the quiet genius behind the boards. He did not invent the culture, but he built the acoustic architecture that allowed it to stand the test of time.

‘All Eyez on Me’ To ‘Atliens’: Inside the 30th Anniversary of Hip-Hop’s Golden Year

If you want to measure the passage of time for a golden-era hip-hop purist, just point to the calendar: The Class of 1996 is officially 30 years old.

As 2026 unfolds, the culture is bracing for a relentless wave of retrospectives honoring a 12-month span widely considered the genre's zenith. The sheer volume of watershed albums released in 1996 remains a staggering anomaly, their sonic architecture still firmly woven into the fabric of contemporary music.

The anniversary marathon commenced with a massive milestone in February. On Feb. 13, 1996, record store shelves absorbed two culture-shifting releases simultaneously: The Fugees' inescapable global juggernaut "The Score" and 2Pac's sprawling, diamond-certified double album "All Eyez on Me." Both projects pulverized the commercial ceiling for rap, proving the art form could dominate pop radio and command global attention without compromising its street-level authenticity.

As the summer approaches, the historical gravity only intensifies. June marks three decades of Jay-Z's mafioso-rap blueprint "Reasonable Doubt," followed swiftly by Nas' cinematic sophomore effort, "It Was Written," in July. That summer proved existential for New York hip-hop, reaffirming the East Coast's lyrical supremacy and commercial viability amid heavily publicized regional rivalries.

Down South, the celebratory wave will crash over Atlanta in August when OutKast's atmospheric masterwork "ATLiens" turns 30. Fulfilling Andre 3000's prophetic 1995 Source Awards declaration that the South had something to say, the album offered undeniable proof. It anchored the region's place in the hip-hop pantheon, submerging listeners in the futuristic, funk-laden soundscapes of Organized Noize.

Concurrently, R&B experienced a permanent metamorphosis. The genre's topography shifted unequivocally with the August release of Aaliyah's "One in a Million." Galvanized by the erratic, syncopated production of Timbaland and the sharp penmanship of Missy Elliott, the album decisively closed the curtain on the new jack swing era, laying a futuristic foundation for the new millennium. Months prior, Maxwell’s April debut, "Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite," executed a similar pivot, helping to birth the neo-soul movement.

Three decades removed, the Class of 1996 defies categorization as mere nostalgic trivia. Contemporary vocalists continue to borrow these cadences, producers still scavenge for the analog warmth of these drum breaks, and ascending MCs perpetually dissect these flows. Nineteen ninety-six wasn't just a prolific calendar year; it was the seismic event that permanently realigned the tectonic plates of Black music, pouring the concrete foundation upon which the entire modern industry is built.

Upcoming 1996 30th Anniversaries to Watch

Busta Rhymes, "The Coming"

March

Maxwell, "Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite"

April

Jay-Z, "Reasonable Doubt"

June

Nas, "It Was Written"

July

Aaliyah, "One in a Million"

August

OutKast, "ATLiens"

August

Ghostface Killah, "Ironman"

October

Lil' Kim, "Hard Core"

November

Honorable Mentions: The Underground & Cult Classics of '96

De La Soul, "Stakes Is High"

July

A crucial, boom-bap rejection of the era's growing commercialism.

The Roots, "Illadelph Halflife"

September

The live-band pioneers establishing their heavier, uncompromised sound.

Makaveli, "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory"

November

2Pac's posthumous, darkly prophetic masterpiece.

Mobb Deep, "Hell on Earth"

November

The grimy, cinematic follow-up that cemented Queensbridge royalty.

Redman, "Muddy Waters"

December

A masterclass in funk-sampled, blunt-fueled lyricism.

Watch: De la Soul’s Triumphant, Bittersweet Tiny Desk Concert Tribute to Trugoy the Dove

Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer, center left, and Vincent "Maseo" Mason, center right, of the pioneering hip-hop group De La Soul perform during their NPR Tiny Desk Concert in Washington on Tuesday, March 3. Backed by a nine-piece live band featuring drummer Daru Jones, back left, the duo celebrated their newly independent catalog and paid tribute to late co-founder David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur. Jolicoeur's memory was honored throughout the set, including a "Dave" nameplate resting on the desk. (Screensgrab via NPR Music)

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're a new group called De La Soul."

When DJ Maseo delivered that deadpan introduction to the crowd gathered at the NPR offices on Tuesday it drew a laugh. Humor has always been the foundational glue of the legendary Long Island trio. But behind the turntable, the joke carried a heavy, undeniable truth: the duties have been reassessed, the focus has shifted, and the architects of the D.A.I.S.Y. Age are navigating a new reality.

The highly anticipated NPR Tiny Desk concert premiered on what fans officially recognize as De La Soul Day. It was billed as a celebration of milestones, primarily marking year three of the group's classic catalog finally returning to their control and hitting streaming services after a decades-long legal battle. It also served as a showcase for their 2025 music album, "Cabin in the Sky."

But hovering above the soaring live instrumentation was the profound absence of David Jolicoeur  —known to the culture as Trugoy the Dove, or Plug Two — who passed away in February 2023 just weeks before the group's masters were finally liberated.

According to NPR's Bobby Carter, surviving members Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer and Vincent "Maseo" Mason were highly intentional during the planning process, openly discussing what their late brother would and would not approve of creatively. The result was a setlist that masterfully balanced raucous joy with open grief.

"Cindy said if y'all stop, then Dave stopped, and that wouldn't be the show," Posdnuos rapped early in the set, making it clear that their continued forward motion is the ultimate tribute to Jolicoeur's legacy. Throughout the room, the mantra was simple and repeated: "Dave always."

Backed by a sprawling, nine-piece live band directed by powerhouse drummer Daru Jones, the newly minted duo completely reimagined their sample-heavy catalog. With the addition of a horn section, a viola, and phenomenal background vocalists Yummy Bingham and Gina Loring, the group breathed expansive new life into 90s foundational texts.

The crowd was fully engaged during a towering rendition of "Stakes Is High," with Posdnuos leading the room in a call-and-response, urging the audience to shout "vibration" against the track's iconic, thumping beat. Later, Loring took center stage for a transcendent vocal performance on "Different World," cementing the live band's incredible chemistry.

Yet, amid the massive musical arrangements, the group still found time for the intimate, off-the-cuff humor that made them famous. Before launching into a heartfelt new track titled "A Quick 16 for Mama," Maseo and Pos joked about their current side hustles, with Maseo claiming he was driving Uber XL and Pos quipping that he was doing DoorDash. "Got to get it how you live," Pos laughed, before the band settled into a smooth, nostalgic groove that Maseo noted reminded him of the beats his mother used to play.

The emotional climax of the set arrived during the closing performance of their 1989 breakout hit, "Me Myself and I." As the familiar, infectious bassline rolled through the NPR offices, the lyrics took on a poignant new weight. The group demanded the audience sing along, eventually stripping the beat away to let the room chant the chorus a cappella.

Before the final notes rang out, Maseo took to the microphone to issue one last, simple instruction to the room: "Let me hear you say thank you, Dave."

Watch the full De La Soul Tiny Desk performance below.  

De la Soul Brings Classics, New Tracks to NPR Tiny Desk Concert in Honor of Trugoy the Dove

The album artwork for De La Soul's landmark 1989 debut, "3 Feet High and Rising," features group members Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer, bottom left, Vincent "Maseo" Mason, top, and the late David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur, right. The pioneering hip-hop group is set to perform an NPR Tiny Desk Concert on Tuesday, March 3, honoring Jolicoeur's legacy. (Courtesy of Chrysalis Records)

Legendary hip-hop trio De La Soul is set to take over the NPR offices for a highly anticipated Tiny Desk
Concert on Tuesday, March 3, promising a setlist that bridges their foundational 90s classics with their modern, grief-tinged renaissance.

NPR Music officially announced the performance on social media, noting that the set will honor the group’s decades-long legacy while paying special tribute to late founding member David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NPR Music (@nprmusic)

Jolicoeur, who was instrumental in defining the group's intricate, off-kilter lyrical style, passed away in February 2023 at the age of 54 following a battle with congestive heart failure.

According to the announcement, the performance will feature a mix of the group's foundational hits alongside brand-new material. De La Soul — now operating as a duo with Kelvin "Posdnuos" Mercer and Vincent "Maseo" Mason — recently released "Cabin in the Sky" in late 2025. The critically acclaimed project marked their latest studio music album and their first since Trugoy's passing.

However, Trugoy's presence was heavily felt on "Cabin in the Sky," with the group utilizing his previously recorded vocals and production to ensure his spirit remained central to their sound.

"This album is therapy and celebration at the same time," Posdnuos said in a statement preceding the album's release. "There's a vulnerability in these songs, because everything we've been through has brought us to this moment, to this album, honoring what we've lost and lifting up what still remains. That duality. That's life, and that's De La."

The Tiny Desk appearance marks another significant milestone in what has been an emotional few years for the pioneering Long Island group. In March 2023, just weeks after Trugoy's passing, De La Soul's first six classic albums — including their 1989 masterpiece "3 Feet High and Rising" and 1991's "De La Soul Is Dead" — finally arrived on digital streaming platforms. The release ended a years-long, highly publicized legal battle regarding sample clearances and label disputes, finally making their music accessible to a new generation.

Fans can catch the Tiny Desk performance when it premieres on Tuesday directly on NPR.org and via the official NPR Music YouTube channel.

Drowning, Psilocybin Use Cited in Accidental Death of Lil Jon’s 27-Year-Old Son

Rapper Lil Jon, left, poses with his son, Nathan Smith, following Smith's graduation from New York University in a photo posted to the late producer's social media. Smith, 27, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was found dead in a Milton, Georgia, retention pond on Feb. 6. The Fulton County Medical Examiner recently ruled his death an accidental drowning in the setting of psilocybin use. (Courtesy of Nathan Smith/Instagram)

The Fulton County Medical Examiner has officially ruled the death of Nathan Smith, the 27-year-old son of hip-hop legend Lil Jon, as an accidental drowning "in the setting of psilocybin use."

Smith, known professionally as DJ Young Slade, was found dead on Feb. 6 in a retention pond at Mayfield Park in Milton, Georgia, following a frantic three-day search. According to the newly released autopsy report, a blood sample taken from Smith tested positive for psilocybin, the active hallucinogenic compound found in magic mushrooms.

The medical examiner officially classified the manner of death as an accident, confirming early statements from the Milton Police Department that there were no signs of foul play. The coroner's report also noted water-immersion wrinkling on Smith's hands, concluding that the drug was present at the time of his death.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LIL JON (@liljon)

The tragic discovery earlier this month ended a massive multi-agency search that began after Smith ran out of his family's home under "unusual circumstances" on the early morning of Feb. 3. He left on foot and without his phone, prompting authorities to issue an alert that he may be disoriented and in need of assistance.

In a heartbreaking statement released on the day his son's body was recovered, Lil Jon described Nathan as "the kindest human being you would ever meet" and an "amazingly talented young man."

A graduate of New York University, Smith was an accomplished music producer, DJ, and engineer who frequently collaborated with his father. Lil Jon confirmed on social media that his son was laid to rest during a private funeral on Feb. 18, writing, "Life will never be the same without you."

A Massive Day for R&B: New Edition, Luther Vandross Earn First Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominations

A collage of artists nominated for the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including several legends of hip-hop and R&B. Pictured among this year's nominees are first-time contenders the Wu-Tang Clan (top row, second from left), Lauryn Hill (second row, left), New Edition (second row, third from left), and the late Luther Vandross (bottom row, right), alongside returning nominee Mariah Carey (bottom row, second from left). (Photo courtesy of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officially unveiled its 17 performer nominees for the Class of 2026 on Wednesday, delivering a ballot heavily stacked with the architects of 90s hip-hop and the golden era of R&B.

This year's list marks a significant moment for the culture, with the Wu-Tang Clan, Ms. Lauryn Hill, New Edition and the late Luther Vandross all appearing on the ballot for the very first time. They join returning powerhouse nominees Mariah Carey, who is making her third appearance on the ballot, and Sade, who returns for a second time.

The inclusion of the Wu-Tang Clan and Lauryn Hill underscores the Hall's ongoing effort to recognize hip-hop's foundational impact. The Wu-Tang Clan have been hailed as rap innovators since changing the landscape of East Coast rap with their game-changing 1993 debut album, "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)". Hill's solo masterpiece, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," made history in 1999 as the first hip-hop album to win the Grammy for album of the year.

Meanwhile, the nomination of Boston-bred pioneers New Edition honors a legacy that essentially created the blueprint for the modern R&B boy band. The group — consisting of Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill — dominated the charts with classics like "Candy Girl" and "Cool It Now." The nod comes just months after their hometown of Boston officially renamed a Roxbury street "New Edition Way" in their honor.

Vandross, the undisputed king of romantic R&B who sold more than 25 million albums and delivered hits like "Here and Now" before his death in 2005, also earned a long-overdue first nomination.

"This diverse list of talented nominees recognizes the ever-evolving faces and sounds of Rock & Roll and its continued impact on youth culture," John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a statement on Wednesday.

To capture the full scope of the 2026 class, the ballot also features a wide array of pop, rock, and metal legends. The remaining nominees vying for induction include Phil Collins, INXS, Iron Maiden, Shakira, Melissa Etheridge, Jeff Buckley, P!nk, The Black Crowes, Oasis, Joy Division/New Order, and Billy Idol. Of that group, Collins, Shakira, P!nk, Etheridge, INXS, and the late Buckley are also making their first appearance as nominees on the ballot.

The official Class of 2026 will be determined by an international voting body of over 1,200 artists, historians, and industry professionals, as well as a fan vote that is currently open on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website. The final inductees will be announced in April, with the induction ceremony scheduled for this fall.

Wu-Tang Clan Visionary Oliver ‘Power’ Grant Dead at 52

Oliver "Power" Grant, the visionary business architect who helped fund the Wu-Tang Clan and founded the pioneering hip-hop brand Wu Wear, died Monday at the age of 52. Grant was instrumental in launching the Staten Island group's global empire and bridging the gap between rap and streetwear. (Photo courtesy of Wu Wear / File)

The hip-hop community is mourning the loss of Oliver "Power" Grant, the visionary business architect behind the Wu-Tang Clan, who passed away on Monday, Feb. 23, at the age of 52. His death was announced by the group on Tuesday. An official cause of death has not been disclosed.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Method Man (@methodmanofficial)

Grant, a childhood friend of RZA, was instrumental in funding and marketing the group's earliest legendary releases, including the breakthrough tracks "Protect Ya Neck" and "Method Man". Beyond music, Grant pioneered the merger of hip-hop and fashion by creating Wu Wear, widely recognized as one of the culture's first highly lucrative, artist-owned streetwear brands.

Tributes immediately poured in from the Clan. Method Man shared a heartfelt photo of the two on Instagram, writing, "Paradise my Brother safe Travels!! ... Bruh I am not ok". Raekwon also expressed his grief, posting, "POWER we been everywhere …. now you everywhere!"