In 1969 Harlem, a Music Festival Stuns [ungated link] – “Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, Mavis Staples and others shine in a documentary about the Harlem Cultural Festival from Questlove.” (via) [1,2,3; fanfare] Sometimes these archival-footage documen…
Beyoncé’s Evolution
After more than two decades in the spotlight, Beyoncé has become much more than a pop icon. She’s a cultural force who has routinely defied expectations and transformed the way we understand the power of art to change how we see ourselves and each othe…
“All Killer, No Filler”
detail from cover art from the book Electrical Banana: Masters of Psychedelic ArtSlinga has posted the perfectly wonderful 45 minutes of Funky Old Japanese Soundtracks to chill out to, and we love it.
Hit songs rely on increasing “harmonic surprise” to hook listeners, study finds
Childish Gambino’s “This is America” ranked highest in challenging musical expectations
‘It was like: people from Aberdeen shouldn’t rap!’ Scotland’s hidden hip-hop scene
At Hang, Scotland’s first hip-hop conference, the country’s MCs are given a hero’s welcome – but there’s also important discussion about the prejudices they face“Here’s a golden oldie,” Nova laughs, breaking into her 2019 single 3am. The crowd scream l…
Junglist by Two Fingas and James T Kirk review – when jungle was massive
A stream-of-consciousness novel capturing the 1990s jungle music scene over one weekend marks a defining moment in British multiculturalismRalph Ellison, in his 1952 classic Invisible Man, may have best captured a sense of blackness not as a racial abs…
Let Me Get with You Next
Disney alum (slwiki) Olivia Holt has been hanging around the pop and dance charts, amassing a small collection (slyt) of decent-enough, non-cringe pop that sometimes gets you movin’.
Her latest – Next – comes with a clip filmed (by Alex Nazari) around…
Themes, dreams and schemes – We’re gonna need more ice!
Over 100 episodes broadcast between 2006 and 2009, Bob Dylan hosted “Theme Time Radio Hour”. After a hiatus of 12 years (“I mean, does anybody even still have a radio? Some folks might even be listening on a smart toaster.”), a new episode emerged in 2…
Dennis Thomas, founding member of Kool & the Gang, dies aged 70
‘Dee Tee’ played alto sax, flute and percussion and was stylist for celebrated soul-funk bandDennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, a founding member of the long-running soul-funk band Kool & the Gang, known for such hits as Celebration and Get Down On It, has d…
Lizzo: rapper, flautist, activist … with charisma to spare
She’s had hard times in the past, but the irrepressible plus-sized superstar from Minnesota is back with a new single that continues her crusade for positivity and never giving upIn the video to her multi-platinum hit single Truth Hurts, Lizzo gets mar…