Kiana Fitzgerald

Feb 26, 2025 | complex.com | Kiana Fitzgerald |Shawn Setaro |Adrienne Black |Alessandra Maldonado

When The Weeknd first made waves in 2011, his identity was unclear. We hadn’t really met Abel Tesfaye yet, and we had no idea if The Weeknd was a solo act or not. But none of that mattered; the music stood out for itself and his star power increasingly grew with each release. His lyrics were always incredibly vulnerable and honest. And yet, he still seemed to be hiding in the shadows, never fully revealing himself.

Feb 21, 2025 | kianafitz.substack.com | Kiana Fitzgerald

On January 20, 2012, Kyle Gonzales experienced a moment of a lifetime. At 17 years old, he was an avid fan of the blog rap era, championing artists like the Cool Kids, Dom Kennedy, and Kid Cudi. He quickly became a stan of one of the era's most prominent and promising voices: Kendrick Lamar. Gonzales had attended punk-rock shows before, but when Kendrick announced that he was coming through Austin, Texas on tour, Gonzales bought a ticket to his very first rap concert.

Nov 1, 2024 | avclub.com | Kiana Fitzgerald

The idea of stagnation terrifies Tyler, the Creator. If you’ve been paying attention, it’s obvious that this fear has driven the L.A. rapper/producer’s ambitions since he began his career in the late aughts. Starting with his debut 2009 mixtape Bastard, a revelatory introduction to an angst-ridden artist, Tyler has been fixated on growth and expansion.

Oct 1, 2024 | avclub.com | Kiana Fitzgerald

“I know it’s some haters in here,” mixtape demigod DJ Holiday taunts at the top of “Never Stop,” the third track of Gen-Z rapper ian’s debut mixtape Valedictorian. It’s a common statement—especially in the braggadocious community of hip-hop. Released at the end of May, Valedictorian has potential: a consistent flow from ian; abundant influences; and a general aversion to taking himself seriously.

Sep 11, 2024 | avclub.com | Kiana Fitzgerald

On May 22, 2017, in the dead of night, LL COOL J posted a tweet that has become the stuff of internet legend: “If I hear one more terrible rap record I’m gonna have to do it to these meatballs.” The message, while hilarious in format, painted a picture of an artist who was hungry for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the hip-hop industry. Again.