Earl Hopkins is an award-winning arts, culture, and entertainment reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, focusing on the institutions and trailblazers shaping the region’s identity. His work has appeared in Billboard, Complex, GRAMMY.com, MTV News, SPIN, Stereogum, UPROXX, and many other platforms.
Earl is the co-author of the forthcoming book, Raps of Resistance: How Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Reignited a Hip-Hop Tradition, which chronicles the evolution of socially conscious rap and emphasizes the roles Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole have played in its formation. The book is scheduled for a May 14 release under Bloomsbury Academic.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Earl graduated from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, 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, music, film, television, food, style, and nightlife as an entertainment reporter at The Columbus Dispatch, and as the at-large culture reporter for the Austin American-Statesman.
Beyond his daily coverage, Earl is the co-host of the music review podcast Rap & Reason and a noted digital media educator, who’s led lectures and workshops on the fundamentals of digital reporting, the history of hip-hop journalism, and the implementation of AI in the media landscape. He’s also been tapped as a featured speaker at national conferences throughout the country.
Drawing on his experience and institutional knowledge, Earl continues to work as a consultant and writing mentor for youth programs throughout the Philadelphia area, including the Acel Moore High School Journalism Workshop and iCamp Summer Academy at West Chester University. 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.
Earl is available for freelance gigs, speaking opportunities and consulting work.