Deluxe Edition

Dolly Parton’s Love Letter(s) to Hip Hop

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:30:05 GMT

Dolly Parton will be missed. Since news broke that the Queen of Country died at the age of 80, our collective timelines have been inundated with memories of the beloved songwriter, singer, actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist. Flags are flying at half mast and “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” are being played nonstop.

In a divided country, she brings people together.

I especially love seeing the spotlight on her humanitarian work — donating over $600 million throughout her life— that has eclipsed her professional accomplishments, if that’s even possible. She could have been a billionaire but instead chose to be a good human. From opening the Imagination Library to spread literacy among kids to helping develop the Moderna vaccine, she was a role model of how to do rich and famous right. PSA to other billionaires. The Forbes list should be studying her.

Dolly Parton transcended genres. Remember, there was a time when Country and hip-hop were mutually exclusive, despite what the Billboard charts reflect now, and the Backwoods Barbie was a unifying force.

Artists like Cardi B, Tyler, the Creator, and Fabolous have name-checked her over the years. “What's the point if I'm guardin'? Double-D up, hoes, Dolly Parton,” rapped Nicki Minaj. And Pras sampled her hit duet “Islands in the Stream” for his “Ghetto Superstar” (featuring ODB and Mya) in 1998.

I knew that, but I had no idea how Dolly was supporting rappers on the low with letters.

Recently, Eminem shared a lovely letter that he received after they were both inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022:

“Marshall (Eminem), Congratulations on your induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Your performance was amazing and everybody said so,” she wrote. “Even though I don’t know a lot about rap music, I’ve come to know that you are the very best at it. Aside from that I hope what I have to say will not seem weird or strange to you but I have always felt some unexplained connection to you like I know you somehow.”

“I had hoped to meet you at the show but you know how nuts those things are, personally I hate ‘em and I missed my chance but maybe someday we’ll meet,” she wrote.

It takes a lot for Eminem to get starstruck. “Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon. A superstar in every sense,” he shared after her passing.

Dolly was an OG without the title.

She penned a similarly nice note to Three Six Mafia after “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle & Flow won Best Original Song at the Oscars in 2006, beating her “Travelin’ Thru” from Transamerica. Now, that’s class.

“She sent us a letter and signed it,” shared rapper Juicy J this week. “And it said, ‘Congratulations and I’m glad somebody from Tennessee won the Oscar.’”

Dolly was never a hater — she was always a lover.

That’s why we will always love her.

Tupac Shakur's "Unsolved" Murder Goes to Trial Today

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 20:24:26 GMT

One of hip-hop’s most notorious crimes is heading to the courtroom today. But for many, this is not really a cold case. There’s no mystery to who killed Tupac Shakur — everybody already knows.

Tupac Shakur was gunned down on the streets of Las Vegas on September 7, 1996. The rap superstar died six days later at the age of 25. The official causes of deat…

Unboxing Day!

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 01:48:22 GMT

It’s officially Unboxing Day! Unless you are an author or follow BookTok or Bookstagram, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about. It’s like Christmas for authors.

Here’s the deal: A few months before publication day, your publisher sends out galleys (or the advanced reader copies) of your book. These are meant to be shared with media, influence…

New Book... New Cover!

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:33:28 GMT

I can’t believe that it’s been one week since I was at Yankee Stadium and watching Jay-Z perform Reasonable Doubt. First off, let me shout out all millennials and Gen-X hip-hop heads who prove that OGs still got it! We trekked up to the Bronx and watched 2.5 hours of hip-hop, baby!

For the rapper, this concert celebrates his debut album. And for me, it …

Clive Davis and the Last Era of Music Men

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 20:12:01 GMT

It’s the end of an era. Clive Davis, one of the last titans of the music industry, has died at the age of 94. The founder of Arista Records and J Records was known for his “golden ears” and credited with discovering Whitney Houston as well as shaping the careers of an array of superstars including Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Alicia Keys, and Carlos …

'Hacks' Proves That AI is Terrible at Writing

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Thu, 28 May 2026 17:03:33 GMT

Tonight is the series finale of Hacks. For those of you who are not Lil’ Debbies, this is the best show you’re not watching but need to. So, consider this your sign to binge. I’m actually jealous you get to experience it for the first time.

For five seasons, we’ve watched comedian Deborah Vance (played by Jean Smart) claw her way back to the top of Holl…

Drake Chases Gen-Z Relevance with Three New Albums — and It's Sad

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Fri, 15 May 2026 23:36:40 GMT

Today was a big day for Drake. It still is depending on how old you are. The rapper was slated to release his highly-anticipated album, Iceman, which was potentially his reputational comeback after the humiliating battle with Kendrick Lamar. The lane was wide open: Could Drake return to the top of hip-hop?

Instead of answering that question with a class…

'Michael,' Mythmaking, and the Business of the Music Biopic

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:12:17 GMT

Michael has won the box office. The highly-publicized musical homage to Michael Jackson took the highest opening weekend ever for a biopic, pulling in over $200 million, and besting Bohemian Rhapsody and Straight Outta Compton.

Scathing critical reviews did nothing to dissuade audiences. Personally, I did enjoy the usage of “bad” in several reviews. No…

Diplo Threatens Creatives to Use AI — or Become Uber Drivers

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:32:23 GMT

There must be something in the water… or at the data center. This week, celebrities are coming out of nowhere and in full support of AI…with curiously similar talking points. The most recent mouthpiece of AI propaganda is Diplo.

The DJ/producer spoke to the Behind the Wall show and threatened anyone who dares fight AI. He then doubled down on Twitter — t…

Kanye West Gets Wireless Festival Cancelled

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:19:02 GMT

Kanye West is back. Or, maybe he’s cancelled and will never work in this industry again. Either of these things are true based on who you are — and how much you care about him or his discography. As Kanye apologists often say: Don’t forget, he made Graduation!

Today, Wireless Festival announced that it was being cancelled after the rapper was blocked en…

My new book is coming! THE BLUEPRINT: Inside the Business of Roc-A-Fella Records 💎

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:26:37 GMT

I can finally announce my new book: THE BLUEPRINT: Inside the Business of Roc-A-Fella Records! Since we’re all talking about the Jay-Z interview with GQ, there’s no better time to get into the story behind the story.

Capitalism is capitalism whether on the street corner or in the corner office.

Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records are a testament to the America…

Ryan Coogler and the 'Sinners' Creative Community Win at the Oscars

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:59:58 GMT

Did you know that the script for Sinners was originally titled Grilled Cheese? I learned this random fact when I attended a talk by designer Kenny Gravillis, whose team designed the vibrant posters for the flick.

Aside from the creative process—which was fascinating— what stood out to me was that he also designed artwork for Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Sta…

Take a Creative Vacation

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:54:13 GMT

It’s currently 80 degrees and I’m writing this by the pool. In February. I know, my fellow New Yorkers hate me.

What began as a 10-day trip to LA during the Grammys has turned into a spontaneous sabbatical — and I’ve never been more productive.

Seeing the Pacific Ocean on a random day because, why not?

I needed a creative vacation.

There’s a specific kind o…

Go Touch Grass ... and Other Music Predictions in 2026

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:06:17 GMT

Happy New Year! It’s officially 2026 — and I’m already exhausted. Like many of you know, the year has kicked off with a daily dose of dread courtesy of President Trump. Apparently, now America runs Venezuela or something.

Anyways, now’s a good time to share my 2026 predictions in music to hopefully give you some optimism.

This is the year to touch grass.

…

Why Are Celebrities Taking Over Substack?

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:02:30 GMT

Writing is the most confusing, frustrating, and contradictory job in the world. It’s revered, yet notoriously underpaid. Respected enough to garner the approval of strangers and impressive to name drop at cocktail parties. But it’s also the first craft that we readily handed over to AI.

Every day, we see new headlines about media consolidation and my ti…

Diddy’s 'The Reckoning' Is a Hit — But Will Anything Actually Change?

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 17:55:39 GMT

The unraveling of Sean “Diddy” Combs is a hit. Netflix’s The Reckoning is the most-watched series on the platform right now. The documentary —executive produced by 50 Cent–gives an intimate look into the rap mogul on the days leading to his arrest.

The Bad Boy Records founder was charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation…

Hip-Hop Is Winning at the 2026 Grammys Nominations—but Losing Everywhere Else

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 23:42:46 GMT

The nominations for the 2026 Grammys just dropped, and it’s looking like the year of hip-hop. Well… kind of.

Not surprisingly, Kendrick Lamar leads with a massive nine nominations—including Record of the Year for “Luther” and Album of the Year for GNX. Clipse and Tyler, the Creator also scored nods in that latter category.

Honestly, it’s a big win for hi…

Forget the 9-to-5. Are You Ready for 996?

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 19:28:51 GMT

Forget working at 9-to-5. Are you ready for 996? The number combination refers to a new work schedule — 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week — that is taking over Silicon Valley. The grueling schedule started in China— it has since been banned —but tech start-ups are hoping workers will drink the Kool Aid here.

While most of us see this as nothing more than…

Drake Takes Another L — This Time in Court

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 18:20:58 GMT

Drake just lost again in his never-ending war with Kendrick Lamar—this time, not on a record, but in court.

On Thursday, a federal judge dismissed Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group for defamation and harassment stemming from the release of Kendrick’s “Not Like Us.” The plot twist? UMG is the parent company of both Drake and Kendrick.

In her ru…

Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' is the life of a billionaire

Sowmya Krishnamurthy — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:18:46 GMT

Welcome to the billionaire ~~boys~~ girl club. Taylor Swift dropped her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, on Friday. The music industry, critics and every corner of social media seems devoted to pushing this album.

The album has already sold three million copies in its first week and is on track to beat Adele as the most successful album debut of all ti…