Earl Hopkins

About

Earl Hopkins is an award-winning arts and culture reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, focusing on the institutions and trailblazers shaping the city’s identity. His upcoming book, “Raps of Resistance: How Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Reignited a Hip-Hop Tradition,” is scheduled for a 2026 release under Bloomsbury Publishing (US). A native of Columbus, Ohio, Earl graduated from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in May 2019. After graduating from OU, he worked as an education and family issues reporter for the Courier & Press in Evansville, IN, before transitioning to arts and entertainment coverage. He went on to cover music, fashion, film, food and spirits as a culture reporter for The Columbus Dispatch and Austin American-Statesman. Along with his daily work as a reporter, Earl hosts the Rap & Reason Podcast, where he discusses pop culture news and reviews new hip-hop releases. He's also a sought-after freelance writer who’s contributed album reviews, profile stories, and music history guides for Billboard, Complex, GRAMMY.com, MTV News, Stereogum, UPROXX, SPIN Magazine, and other publications. Earl is an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the Society of Professional Journalists, and NABJ Philadelphia. He’s also an a noted guest lecturer and featured speaker, who’s addressed the future of entertainment journalism at universities and conferences across the country. To view his work, go to www.earlhopkins.com.