Slick Rick

The Essence Music Festival in New Orleans is in full swing. On day two, Friday (July 3), artists such as Slick Rick, India Arie and Charlie Wilson performed great sets. Here's our top seven moments on the second day of Essence Fest.

From the random to the serious and everything in between, check out 100 Hip-Hop Facts That Will Blow Your Mind.

A side by side comparison of your favorite rappers' style back in the day to how they dress now.

From Eric B. & Rakim's 'Paid in Full' to Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean,' take a trip down memory lane with the 25 Best '80 Songs.

Just as important as charisma, rhymes and beats, personal style is one of the most important elements of a rapper's allure. An MC must also have impeccable taste to really flourish in the visual world of hip-hop. But following popular trends and bragging about brand names isn't enough to earn a spot in our Style Hall of Fame.

Slick Rick is indeed the ruler when it comes to bling. The veteran rhyme-slinger is never without an iced-out eye patch and several diamond-encrusted chains around his neck. Recently, a piece of his jewelry got an expensive $75,000 upgrade.

Hip-hop and Valentine's Day go together like the cast members of Love & Hip-Hop. Which is to say, well, not that swimmingly. But whatever. Some of the genre's most enduring contributions, in any era, have been songs about the ladies. Fr...

Redferns via Getty Images Atlanta's ONE MusicFest promises to be a final farewell to summer not to be missed and The BoomBox is offering five lucky winners the chance to score a pair of tickets to the event. Kicking off on Sept. 1, the festival will take place at Atlanta's historic 4th Ward Park...

The prevailing voice for young readers during hip-hop's early years, several of Dr. Seuss' books sell enough copies to go gold annually, and while works like 'The Cat in the Hat' and 'Green Eggs and Ham' are generally referenced due to their simplicity, his impression on rap music, thanks to his employment of the repetitive, sing-song anapestic tetrameter, is undeniable...

Derrick Jones has never lost his appreciation for the music he has been a part of since he was a teen. Known to most as D-Nice, he's parlayed his trusted status as a lifelong member of the hip-hop community into a flourishing career in photography, finding exclusive opportunities to capture his subjects -- mainly fellow rappers and R&B stars -- at their most candid, and most at ease. ... Read