Earl Hopkins is an award-winning arts and culture reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, focusing on the institutions and trailblazers shaping the region’s identity. His upcoming book, Raps of Resistance: How Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Reignited a Hip-Hop Tradition, is scheduled for a May 14, 2026, release under Bloomsbury Publishing.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Earl graduated from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in May 2019, and soon launched his professional media career. After graduating from Ohio University, he worked as an education and family issues reporter for the Evansville Courier & Press before transitioning to arts and entertainment coverage. He went on to cover art, food, music, film, and fashion as the at-large culture reporter for the The Columbus Dispatch and Austin American-Statesman.
Beyond his daily coverage, Earl is the co-host of the music review podcast Rap & Reason and a sought-after freelance writer and cultural critic, who’s contributed album reviews, music history guides, and essays for Billboard, Complex, GRAMMY.com, MTV News, SPIN Magazine, and other digital platforms.
Earl is also a noted public speaker and guest lecturer, who’s led discussions and workshops on the fundamentals of digital reporting, the art of feature writing, and the history of music journalism at universities, conferences, and public forums throughout the country.
Drawing on his experience and institutional knowledge, Earl continues to work as a mentor and digital journalism instructor for youth programs throughout the Philadelphia area, including the Acel Moore High School Journalism Workshop and iCamp Summer Academy. He’s also an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists, and an advisory board member for Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication.