Nas Talks Cognac, Cars, Cooking Out

In 1994, Nasir Jones released Illmatic, one of the hottest hip-hop records of all time. Nearly two decades later, he’s still scorchin’, with his last three albums topping the charts. We asked about his favorite things and his best advice. Also, Priuses. …

Chef Rock: Doug Psaltis’ Cookout Jams

The Chicago-based barbecue master of the upcoming Windy City Smokeout shares the tunes he rocks out to while bringing his favorite outdoor cooking recipes to life. …

12 Songs For a Late Night Party

The night doesn’t have to end when the bars close, so rally your troops and let the after party start. You’ll need some music, of course, and Made Man’s after hours playlist has all the right sounds to keep the festivities going well into the morning. …

10 Songs for a Summer Road Trip

Summer is coming soon. The sky is clear, the days stretch long and the prospect of setting out on a meandering road trip is looking more and more enticing. Don’t hesitate. Just go. But first, make sure you have the right music. Get started here. …

13 Songs That Mean Summer, 2013

Summer’s coming, are you ready? Along with your shades, sandals and six-pack (abdominal or otherwise), you’re going to need some fresh beats to get and keep the party going. So click, cue up this diverse playlist and start the season right… …

Katy Perry’s Songwriting Secrets

No matter how you feel about her tunes, you can’t miss Katy Perry’s beautiful blue eyes and voluptuous curves. Best of all she’s single—and very over her ex, Russell Brand. At the recent ASCAP I Create Music Expo, the singer told a panel: “It’s a very tiny elephant. It’s like a little tchotchke now.” Read on to find out how she makes hit music and how you can too. Oh yeah, you can see some rather fetching photos of her, too. …

13 Fresh Acts to Check Out in 2013

In the 21st Century, you don’t have to voyage to your local record store to get new sounds. All you have to do is open Spotify, kick back and rock out. In the spirit of helping you get the most out of the world’s hottest music app, we’ve singled out 13 performers (including Walk the Moon, in action above) that have the potential to light up the charts—or at least your MP3 player—this year. …

On the Front Lines: Making It in EDM

What’s the deal with EDM? Why is it so popular, where do all its artists come from, and what’s up with all that neon clothing? To find out the answers, we sat down with Jake Weinstein and Ethan Bruno, the duo behind the up-and-coming EDM group Live City. …

10 Songs for a Warm Weather Workout

The weather is warming up, and that means it’s a great time to take your workouts outside. Need a little extra motivation? That’s where music comes in. Hitting “play” on a list of upbeat tracks is the perfect way to keep moving through a tough run or bike ride. …

The 10 Best Closer Walk-Up Songs

Kiss the cheesy organ music goodbye. Nowadays relievers take the mound like pro wrestlers, their soundtracks pumping up fans and building brands. Like the spectacles of Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn, these hits and the men who chose them stand out. …