What's this? This is an unbiased just-the-facts news timeline ('newsline') about Genius, created by Newslines contributors. Become a contributor

Genius

Genius2 posts

Genius started as Rap Genius, a website that allows users, to annotate rap lyrics. The site now allows users to annotate all kinds of articles, both on the site and on partner sites.

Latest News view > Click for Biography view
26 May, 2014

Resigns over offensive comments

Fired0 Comments

Rap Genius co-founder Moghadam resigns after posting a series of annotations on the site’s copy of Roger’s 41-page manifesto. Moghadam comments include “beautifully written” and comments about Rodger’s sister:

Elliot barely mentions his sister Georgia throughout the book! Towards the end, however, he tells us that they did not get along and becomes extremely angry when he hears her having sex with her boyfriend MY GUESS: his sister is smokin hot

He tells Valleywag:

I was fascinated by the fact that a text was associated with such a heartbreaking crime, especially since Elliot is talking about my neighborhood growing up. I got carried away with making the annotations and making any comment about his sister was in horrible taste, thankfully the rap genius community edits out my poor judgement, I am very sorry for writing it

And apologizes on Twitter

I want to apologize to everyone. I need to hear these criticisms, reflect for real, and work on becoming a better person.

Rap Genius CEO Lehman issues a statement:

However, Mahbod Moghadam, one of my co-founders, annotated the piece with annotations that not only didn’t attempt to enhance anyone’s understanding of the text, but went beyond that into gleeful insensitivity and misogyny. All of which is contrary to everything we’re trying to accomplish at Rap Genius.

May 2012

Enlists Nas for RapGenius

Hired0 Comments

Carter helps enlist Nas to become RapGenius’ first verified rapper. Carter:

Our thinking was, ‘You get Nas and a lot of people are going to follow. He’s going to be able to give you great advice on the product. He built so much credibility on the rap side, that now people are annotating presidential speeches, Shakespearean plays, country lyrics. Our bet, and Andreessen Horowitz’s bet now, is that after a few months people are going to be able to utilize the site for just about anything.