As I’m sure you all have noticed by now, we have a newly rebuilt website. Let us be the first to welcome you to HipHopDX Version 8.
Six months ago, when we started brainstorming about how DX could take our online experience to the next level, we realized that the best place to go was straight to our users. You all had great ideas about how the site could be better, how we could bring you the features that you really wanted. We took notes, lots of notes, and we went to work to rebuild a faster, more modern, and easier to use website that was flexible enough to always let us incorporate your new ideas.
A Cutting-Edge New Homepage
When you told us you wanted more dynamic stories, an easier way to scan for the artists you’re looking for, and a better mix of content, we overhauled our homepage and delivered. We’ve got a new HipHopDX Now section that lets users quickly see everything we’re putting out, a redesigned sidebar that’s bringing more of every category (Audio, Video, Mixtapes, etc.) to the homepage, and our hand-picked Editor’s Choice items that users won’t want to miss – straight from our veteran staff.
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Revamped Herobox
Our updated Herobox (the carousel of images you see on our index page) shows you exactly who’s making headlines. You’ll get a quick dose of our exclusive interviews, features, and award-winning editorials. We’ve also got big plans to introduce video and interactive content here, so stay tuned!
Introducing “HipHopDX Now”
Consider this your Hip Hop life-line. Everything that comes through our editorial desk posts in the Now section, including the latest tracks, news, interviews, mixtapes and album reviews. This visual experience gives you everything in one place, with an image-heavy presentation of Rap icons, and the faces to remember for tomorrow.
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Rethinking Audio
For the longtime readers that come to DX to stream their favorite Hip Hop singles, we built out a whole new way to view our Audio Singles. Hit the audio singles page and you’ll instantly see which artists are getting the traffic, where the discussion is happening, and which Singles are blowing up right at that moment. There’s no faster way to see what’s hot right now in Hip Hop.
You’ll also notice our improved rating functions. From songs and videos, to mixtapes and album reviews, you’ll be able to get a greater consensus on what’s hot, what’s not, and how user opinion stacks up against our writing staff. How many people gave this a perfect five? What’s the average rating? You’ll get the breakdown right there, so you can really see what the people think.
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Facebook & Twitter Comment Integration
We’ve also overhauled our comment system and changed the way people log in to comment. Rather than continuing to run our internal system and force users to keep track of yet another username and password, we’ve integrated with Facebook and Twitter. Now you can log in with your Facebook or Twitter account and post comments directly to HipHopDX. You don’t have to have an account with one of these sites to post a comment, but we offer the option to all of our Facebook and Twitter users.
You Spoke Up & We Listened
Admittedly, these are just a few of the features of the new website. We could go on and on about how it’s also built on a faster architecture, how we’re loading content and pushing media in new ways, and how we’re reconstructing our back-end so that our editorial staff can break the Hip Hop stories even faster, but we’re tired of doing the talking here. All of that can speak for itself. This time around, it’s about you, the user, and that’s why we’ve launched our GetSatisfaction feedback page.
See that Feedback tab on the left side of the page? If you’re ever on the website and you’ve got an idea, or something doesn’t work, or you have a question, click that Feedback tab. It’s a direct line to the top brass at HipHopDX. That tab lets you submit ideas and suggestions, day or night, on our new GetSatisfaction forum, where we hold daily discussions on new features and ideas for HipHopDX.
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During our two week beta test (giving you a sneak preview of the site), we were able to build out new sections of pages and bring requested features live in just a matter of days, thanks to that Feedback tab. Someone would come up with a great idea on Monday, and by Friday it was on the site. Users are already sharing ideas about what new features they’d like to see, and we’re building them out just as fast as they’re coming in.
Update the mobile platform? Check, we’re on it. You want to be able to surf through pages while listening to audio? No prob. It’s on our to-do list. People are lining up to tell us what they want on HipHopDX, and then we just, do it. The site is about bringing Hip Hop to you, the user, so tell us how you want it and we’ll make it happen.
The HipHopDX staff thanks you for the success of the past 11 years. We wouldn’t be here today without your ideas, your encouragement and your (and and our) love of Hip Hop culture.
Here’s to 11 more.
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The HipHopDX Team
