Tara Mahadevan
Yung Noodle Cup began freelancing in her hometown of St. Louis, MO before moving to New York to do the damn thing. She specializes in music, entertainment, and culture, with a passion for indie, underground, and emerging artists. When she's not going to shows or writing, she's digging through SoundCloud and Twitter for hidden gems.
More by Tara Mahadevan
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS :: Boy Bye
01.19.17 — 10 Track Commandments is back with a playlist exclusively for the ladies, curated by Tara Mahadevan.read more
The 10 Best Indie Rap Projects of 2016
12.29.16 — Tara Mahadevan does us all a solid with her list of 10 best indie rap albums of the year, including releases from Joey Purp, Jay Prince, Cousin Stizz, and more.read more
Audio Therapy :: The 10 Best Albums of 2016 for Self-Care
12.22.16 — "Listening to one of your favorite rappers so fiercely and authentically bare his truths is restorative." From Isaiah Rashad's The Sun's Tirade to Jamila Woods's Heavn, 2016 was a year...read more
10 Songs That Made Chicago Label Closed Sessions Fall in Love with Music
08.12.16 — "It was the first time I realized how music can transcend language and tell a story without words." Closed Session's artists on the most impactful songs that have influenced their...read more
East London Duo Stööki Sound Want to Bridge US Rap & UK Grime
07.14.16 — "A lot of Americans always ask me how do you get that sound? I don’t know how to explain it, you just have to be in London."read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS :: Watch Out Lil Bitch (Haterade Mix)
06.16.16 — "...The [Lil Bibby 'You Ain't Gang'] hook is so devilishly catchy that I fell asleep with it stuck in my head last night, and woke up with it still there."...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS :: Across the Pond (UK Edition)
05.12.16 — "[Jay Amo] exemplifies that lo-fi quality of musicians making something on their own... where you can hear that the artists are taking control of their creative direction." Tara brings us...read more
On His Grind :: Philly Rapper/Producer Tunji Ige Breaks Through with 'Missed Calls'
05.02.16 — "...We see a glimpse of something more, as he edges into adulthood. We see someone a little more bold, and less self-effacing; we see someone more discernible."read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS :: Made In A Chicago Hood
04.28.16 — "While the Dilla beat lingers in a hazy, boom bap trance, Via's voice is supple and velvety, harmonizing and ruminating on something that worries a lot of us..." Tara brings...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
04.07.16 — "This is that early summer jam, the kind you bump on hot, sticky summer days." Your must-listen playlist of the week, curated by one of our best, Tara Mahadevan.read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
03.24.16 — "Innanet James' voice is unadorned and magnetic, almost as if he casually read his lyrics from a piece of paper and recorded it all in one go." Tara enlightens us...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
03.03.16 — "You can damn near sing along with [TeeJay] about sipping on lean and pissing out codeine. Sometimes you just fuck with a song and can't exactly explain why." Tara's essential...read more
Becoming Joey Purp
02.23.16 — “I still feel like art should have no filter... but if you’re put in a position of power, you have to be understanding of like the lives that you’re affecting."...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
02.18.16 — "'Changed My Number' is the reason Campaign Don't Text Ya Ex 2016 has officially launched." Tara Mahadevan guides us through new ethereal beats and Boston's burgeoning rap scene with this...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 15 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
02.04.16 — Tara's crucial-listening playlist of songs released in the past month + an old one that still knocks.This week's features Lucki Eck$, Cousin Stizz, Ohana Bam, a mysterious up-and-comer named TRUCE,...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 14 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
01.21.16 — Tara's digs deep through Soundcloud to bring you this week's 10 must-listen jams, featuring Jimi Tents, Noname Gypsy, Rockie Fresh, and more. read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 13 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
01.07.16 — Tara's back to kick off the new year with her extra-finessed playlist of must-listen Soundcloud jams, featuring Klassik, dvsn, Little Simz, and more.read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 12 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
12.17.15 — Let us present you with the soundtrack that'll get you through to the weekend, curated with love by Tara, and featuring deep cuts by Adam Joseph, Jean Deaux, Kipp Stone,...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 11 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
12.03.15 — Tara's back with a tracklist of deep cuts by artists from Boston to Memphis to NYC—with projects as diverse as a Radiohead-influenced rap release to some new Acid Trap. read more
An Homage to the City :: Chicago's Streetwear & Footwear Mainstay, Saint Alfred
12.02.15 — "Everything is an homage to Chicago." David Robinson, manager of the city's premiere boutique Saint Alfred, opens up about how fashion and streetwear are bridging cultural divides between Chicago neighborhoods...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 10 :: Shit You Shouldn't Sleep On
11.19.15 — Tara Mahadevan's curated playlist of must-listen jams, including fire tracks by Kirk Knight, Beach Jesus, Joey Purp, Sango, and more. Here to get you through the rest of your week,...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 9 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
10.29.15 — Our bi-weekly must-listen playlist of Soundcloud jams, excavated with love by Tara Mahadevan. This week's edition features tracks by Jay Prince, Hurt Everybody, Chief Keef, Michael Christmas, and more.read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 8 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
10.15.15 — Tara's back with the 10 Track Commandments, this week's must-listen nod-your-head-to-it jams. Artists featured include Kez the Dude, Broderick Batts, Justin Rose, Noah Sims, and more. read more
Going Against Inertia :: Melody Ehsani & Fairfax's Only Women's Boutique
10.05.15 — "Every woman in my entire family has done the same thing... they’ve just repeated history, and it’s like here you are—breaking it.” Melody Ehsani recounts her experience of breaking Persian...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 7 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
09.24.15 — Tara Mahadevan once again soundtracks our season with must-listen hip-hop and r&b jams, with this week's Soundcloud playlist featuring new drops Alexander Spit, Danny Seth, Chaz French, Ta'East, Dee Goodz,...read more
Made in a Chicago Hood :: Streetwear Boutique & Brand Fat Tiger
09.11.15 — “I want to be the city representation of a brand. That’s my main goal.” Tara catches up with Chicago's FAT TIGER WORKSHOP, a streetwear boutique, brand, and creative hub that's...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 6 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
09.10.15 — Tara continues to soundtrack our summer with must-listen hip-hop and r&b jams, with this week's Soundcloud playlist featuring Amine, Don Von, Fuego, Leikeli47, Michael Christmas, and more.read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 5 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
08.27.15 — Every fresh, underground summer anthem you need to listen to this week, courtesy of Tara's Soundcloud obsession: 40ozDai, BoodahDARR, Monte Booker, Jay IDK, Ro Ransom, and more. Stay ahead of...read more
Venice Beach's Newest Menswear Boutique Bridges the City's Cultural History
08.25.15 — Tara sits with the three founders of Venice's newest menswear boutique the day before their recent grand opening, showcasing an exhibition of historic photos of the beachside city taken by...read more
Long Way from Home :: Chicago Rapper Saba's Road Trip to Debut in NYC
08.14.15 — Writer Tara Mahadevan goes road tripping with rappers Saba, collective Hurt Everybody, and XVRHLDY from their hometown of Chicago to perform at NYC venue S.O.B.'s—a rite of passage for rising...read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 4 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
08.13.15 — Tara continues her bi-weekly must-listen Soundcloud playlist series, this week featuring Homeboy Sandman, Max Wonders, Pell, Reece, Sales, Yung Moe, TUT, and more. #TYBG.read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 3 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
07.30.15 — Tara continues her new bi-weekly playlist series to help us get this weekend started early, featuring Green Street, Jay2AintShit, Ikon X Pivot, Frett, Louie Lastic, Cousin Stizz, and more.read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 2 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
07.16.15 — Tara continues her new bi-weekly playlist series to help us get this weekend started early, featuring Toro Y Moi, Rome Fortune, Prince Harvey, Maka, Proctor, Gorrillawarfaretactics, and more.read more
10 TRACK COMMANDMENTS, VOL. 1 :: Shit You Shouldn’t Sleep On
07.02.15 — Just in time for the fourth of July holiday weekend, Tara shares the first edition of her new bi-weekly playlist series "10 Track Commandments," featuring Boogie, Felly, The Internet, DP,...read more
"The Hobby Grew Wings" :: Oakland Cloud Rap Duo Main Attrakionz Makes a Comeback
06.25.15 — Tara catches up with Oakland cloud rap duo Main Attrakionz as they come off a brief hiatus to see how they plan to build from the foundation they made for...read more