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

I Went To A Diddy Party, Here's What I Saw

2 weeks ago | complex.com | Rob Kenner

“This is the police! We have a warrant! Come out with your hands up!” Last March, a caravan of law enforcement cars and trucks announced their arrival via loudspeaker before busting through the main gate of 2 Star Island Drive—the luxurious oceanfront residence that Sean “Diddy” Combs purchased from music executive Tommy Mottola back in 2003 for $14.5 million.
Lefty Gunplay Wants To Get Right

2 weeks ago | vibe.com | Rob Kenner

In the words of the great philosopher Ferris Bueller, “life moves pretty fast. And if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” L.A. rap phenomenon Lefty Gunplay would definitely agree. This Friday (May 2), he releases Can’t Get Right—his fifth full-length project in just over a year. Back in November 2023, he was released from federal prison after serving more than 9 years on a gun charge, and he hasn’t wasted a moment ever since.
Lefty Gunplay Wants To Get Right

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Rob Kenner

In the words of the great philosopher Ferris Bueller, “life moves pretty fast. And if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” L.A. rap phenomenon Lefty Gunplay would definitely agree. Next Friday (May 9), he releases Can’t Get Right—his fifth full-length project in just over a year. Back in November 2023, he was released from federal prison after serving more than 9 years on a gun charge, and he hasn’t wasted a moment ever since.
Busta Rhymes Teases Vybz Kartel's First Music Video Since Jail Release

1 month 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

1 month 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?