wearethelastbeatniks

Forty years on from the night the first inklings of hip-hop filtered out of DJ Kool Herc’s decks at a Bronx house party, NME celebrates the legendary records, rappers and riot-starters who’ve turned it into one of the most vital genres in history. Rap stars old and new discuss the roots of the scene, the importance of Public Enemy, NWA, Erik B & Rakim, Eminem, Outkast, Nas, Missy Elliott, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar and look to the future of hip-hop in a fast-tripping rap special!

Steve Coogan leads NME through the myriad of cinematic possibilities he envisioned for regional radio presenter turned action hero Alan Partridge as his first chat-flick Alpha Papa hits cinemas. Back of the net, anyone?

Alan McGee is back from ‘retirement’ with a new label 359 Records and signings including one John Lennon (of sorts). He tells NME all about his new vision, his fresh love for Rotherham and how his love of releasing music was re-sparked by seeing a 14-year-old doing Dylan covers…

Radar star Chance The Rapper opens up about his psychedelic recording sessions, gun violence, being under the influence of Yeezus’ juice and, um, his love of Jamiroquai.

Suggestive metaphors aplenty as NME catches Thom Yorke’s side-project Atoms For Peace at the Roundhouse and finds the band getting ”gloriously, dangerously messy”

White Lies return with ‘Big TV’, a quasi-concept album about Eastern European romance and longing, but how will it fare beneath the acid gaze of our NME reviewer?

In quite possibly the best Braincells quiz ever, Johnny Borrell digs through his grey matter to talk hovercrafts, supermodels, KGB assassination attempts and, yes, giant sex bunnies.

Mick Farren remembered! The new Vaccines EP dissected! Rock’s worst publicity stunts! Indie’s latest supergroup! And Speedy Ortiz, Washed Out, Bloc Party, Primal Scream, Public Enemy and The Wu-Tang Clan reviewed!