GPS

In the final post of this Beatz+ GPS series, we trace how rap and hip hop went from local block parties to global anthems. From Kid Frost to Fabri Fibra to Super Bowl halftime shows, this entry explores how the culture broke borders, connected continents, and became a universal language.

This post explores how modern hip hop production stopped being defined by location — and started blending sounds from every region, every era, and every platform. From MTV and BET to YouTube and bootleg tapes, GPS 05 breaks down how style spread, borders blurred, and the beat became truly global.

This post takes it back to where it all started — the basements, block parties, and bootleg tapes that birthed both rap and hip hop. GPS 04 dives into the earliest beats, the DJ culture that shaped them, and how the movement evolved before the world was even paying attention.

In this post, we explore how different regions across the U.S. helped shape the unique sounds of hip hop and rap — from East Coast grit to Southern slow rolls. This is just a snapshot of a much bigger picture, and future GPS entries will dig even deeper into the artists, movements, and stories behind each sound.

GPS 02 continues our journey through the sound and soul of hip hop with a deeper look at the subtle but important differences between hip hop and rap. We break down the way each style moves, how they connect to freestyling vs. written bars, and why understanding the distinction can shape how you approach your next beat.

This post kicks off our new Beatz+ series, GPS — a map through the past, present, and future of rap and hip hop. In this first entry, we break down the core differences between rap beats and hip hop beats, and why the line between them still matters today.