Naima Cochrane

Naima is a music industry veteran, writer, and self-described culture preservationist in NYC. She's also the creator, curator, and Senior Pastor of #MusicSermon. In her free time she watches too much tv, spends too much time on twitter, and eats too much candy. Follow her on twitter @naima.

How ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ Launched Hip-Hop Into the Mainstream

30 years ago MTV took a chance on hip-hop and propelled the genre from being a fad to becoming one of the most important genres in history.

The Best ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ Moments: Revisiting the Most Talked About Interviews & Performances 30 Years Later

We take a look at 10 of the best moments from 'Yo! MTV Raps' in honor of the sow's 30th anniversary.

Queen Latifah & Friends Prove the Ladies Still Kick It at Essence Fest

The only criticism was that there wasn’t more.

Remembering the OTHER Female R&B Voices of the ’90s

Many times when discussing women in R&B during the '90s, the same names dominate the conversation. Here's a list of some (good) singers you might have forgotten.

ALL HAIL THE QUEENS: In Appreciation of MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa

MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and Salt-N-Pepa are rarely discussed regarding pioneers in hip-hop. While many women have come after them, these three hip-hop acts laid the foundation for the women in rap today to fly.