Abdullah Ibrahim: Movement Through Melody
Oppression is, and always has been, a grim reality for countless individuals and groups. Far too often, people have endured overwhelming discrimination in a society that devalues their humanity....
View ArticleSteven Wilson: No Shoes, But Plenty of Grooves
Walking around barefoot at home is common for me since I feel my house is my tranquil place; but still, leaving my socks and shoes at home to perform at a concert is a little uncanny, […]
View ArticleJoss Stone: A Voice of Stone
Almost everyone has some sort of talent. Some talents are weird or quirky, like a few of mine. One I’ll share is that I can twist the top of my thumb backwards. Weird, right? Most talents […]
View ArticleLittle Dragon: The Swedish Symphonies
Have you ever reminisced about your high school days when you and your friends would gather at your house and attempt to create a rock band in your parents’ basement or garage? You know, after school, […]
View ArticleCozz: More than Just a Pipe Dream
Success, however you define it, isn’t always easy to achieve. If you have a vision, you’ll do everything in your power to realize it. Even if the odds are stacked against you, that strong desire spurs […]
View ArticleA City Crying for Chino
I’m a firm believer that wherever you are in life, you’re there for a purpose. In some cases even, when you think you’re somewhere for one purpose, there is another separate purpose that you have to […]
View ArticleNneka: Singing the Truth
Capitalism, poverty, and war aren’t usually concepts that fuel musical genius but a 34-year-old Nigerian singer, named Nneka, has turned these topics into passionate lyrics. Her music draw attention to...
View ArticleTidal: On to the Next One
“That’s another difference that’s between me and them. I smarten up, open the market up,” Jay-Z once boasted in his 2001 album The Blueprint. The enterprising mogul, whose real name is Shawn Carter,...
View ArticleJanine and the Mixtape: Music from Within
When you begin a new song, what is the first thing you do? Maybe you will sit at a desk with a piece of notebook paper and a pencil in your hand. Or perhaps, you will […]
View ArticleTidal: On to the Next One
“That’s another difference that’s between me and them. I smarten up, open the market up,” Jay-Z once boasted in his 2001 album The Blueprint. The enterprising mogul, whose real name is Shawn Carter,...
View ArticleRyan Kilgore: Jazz Made Personal
“We were created to be creators,” the Atlanta saxophonist informed me before the release party for his debut album began. Despite having just arrived home from touring with the legendary Stevie...
View ArticleVince Staples: Rapping from the Heart
If you listen to rap music, then you’ve probably heard the expression “hip hop is dead.” While this may be an overstatement, it’s not farfetched to say that hip hop is on life support. In recent […]
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