Rob Kenner

New York

Author and Contributor at Freelance

Author of the NYT Bestseller, The Marathon Don’t Stop.’ Director, ‘De La Soul Is Not Dead.’ VIBE magazine OG, Founder, Boomshots Media

Articles

Busta Rhymes Teases Vybz Kartel's First Music Video Since Jail Release

2 weeks ago | vibe.com | Rob Kenner

When Vybz Kartel sings “God is the greatest,” he has every reason to believe. It’s been just over eight months since the Jamaican dancehall legend was freed from captivity after serving 13 years behind bars for a murder conviction that was overturned on appeal in March 2024.
Busta Rhymes Talks “Crazy” Collab With Vybz Kartel And Akon: Watch

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Rob Kenner

When Vybz Kartel sings “God is the greatest,” he has every reason to believe. It’s been just over eight months since the Jamaican dancehall legend was freed from captivity after serving 13 years behind bars for a murder conviction that was overturned on appeal in March 2024.
I Worked At Vibe Magazine For 17 Years. Here's What I Learned From Quincy Jones.

Nov 7, 2024 | huffpost.com | Rob Kenner

The first time Quincy Jones appeared on the cover of his own magazine, he had a sense of humor about it. “How come it didn’t happen earlier?” he joked with Scott Poulson-Bryant — the brilliant young staff writer who came up with the magazine’s oh-so-evocative name, Vibe — in the November 1995 cover story. “What took so long?” Quincy added with a laugh.
Venture Capital is Back

Sep 6, 2024 | stretchfour.substack.com | Rob Kenner |Matthew Parker

Hey everyone, Happy Friday. It’s Matt Parker here with the End of the Day (EOD) show for Friday, September 6th. Let's dive into some key topics from this week in the world of venture capital and startups. Sponsored by FlippaFlippa.com provides a marketplace for buying and selling online businesses. List your digital business, get it valued for free, or find your next acquisition. They've been great to work with, and I'm excited to bring you more content in partnership with them.
Queen of Dancehall Spice Celebrates Vybz Kartel's Release and Reflects on 25 Years of Dominance

Aug 7, 2024 | complex.com | Rob Kenner

When Spice got the news that Vybz Kartel had just been released from prison last week after 13 years behind bars, the Queen of Dancehall was stepping off a plane from London where she’d co-headlined Popcaan's Unruly Fest in front of 25,000 fans at the Crystal Palace stadium. Jetlagged as she was, she had to commemorate the moment with a selfie video. "Me voice gone!" she whispered hoarsely to her 4.4 million IG followers. "Me just land to the bloodclaat news....
The RZA Explains the Real Reason Ol' Dirty Bastard Bum-Rushed the Grammy Awards, and Why Wu-Tang Really Is For the Children

Feb 2, 2024 | yahoo.com | Rob Kenner

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/Getty ImagesIn February 1998, at the 40th Grammy Awards ceremony, Wu-Tang Clan’s gloriously chaotic double album Wu-Tang Forever, a nominee for Best Rap Album, faced some steep competition—The Notorious B.I.G.’s Life After Death, Puff Daddy’s No Way Out, Wyclef Jean’s The Carnival, and Missy Ellott’s Supa Dupa Fly— and lost. Diddy’s win was not televised, but Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s revolution definitely was.
The RZA Explains the Real Reason Ol' Dirty Bastard Bum-Rushed the Grammy Awards, and Why Wu-Tang Really Is For the Children

Feb 2, 2024 | gq.com | Rob Kenner

Well, you certainly have done many things—music, film, philanthropy. So shout out to mom and dad. That’s the power of a name. In more recent history, your name has been given to a baby born to Rihanna and A$AP Rocky. Yeah, yeah. How did you hear about that for the first time? You know, A$AP had gave me a tip early on. But that’s, they’re family so I never speak on it. But then one of his family members ran into me, and I think I was at a Nobu. He was like, “You know he did it, right?”I said, “Yeah?
The Best Rapper Alive, Every Year Since 1979

Aug 16, 2023 | complex.com | Insanul Ahmed |Noah Callahan-Bever |Christine Werthman |Ernest Baker |Rob Kenner |Frazier Tharpe | +7 more

Image via Complex Original Rap fans tend to get into arguments with other rap fans, and it doesn't take much more than someone declaring their Favorite Rapper. Your favorite rapper is a personal preference, one that requires the most subjective defenses. If you’re rooting for the rookie of the year or a washed-up veteran experiencing a career resurgence or someone no one has heard of as your favorite, then so be it. The choice is yours.
The VIBE Q: Chuck D

Aug 10, 2023 | vibe.com | Rob Kenner

Standing in a crowded ballroom inside the Anaheim Convention Center, Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, known to the Hip-Hop generation as Chuck D, held the NAMM Impact Music & Culture Award in his hand. “I don’t usually accept individual accolades, trophies,” Chuck said. “I don’t accept anybody who says this is about me.
When A Daisy Grows In Your Mind

Mar 4, 2023 | vibe.com | Rob Kenner