Music

...

March 02, 2023

Hip-Hop at 50: What next for the music of resistance?

As the sun sets on another US Black History Month, an anniversary of global significance was quietly commemorated that deserves so much more international recognition. In 2023, hip-hop, arguably...

Chuck Berry: a father of rock music and his legacy

The death of African-American singer-songwriter and guitarist Chuck Berry (October 18 1926 - March 18 2017), who died of natural causes at his home in Saint Charles, Missouri, provides us with an opportunity to revisit Black, pop, rock music history and c ...

Rapper Kanye West: Canadians say 'we don't want him'

A petition launched to prevent Kanye West from playing the closing ceremony of the Pan American Games in Toronto later this month has now reached the 50,000 signature mark.The Pan Am Games, which takes place every four years, recently annou ...

Is hip-hop finally changing its attitude to mental health?

Lots of people use music to drown out the sadness - which is why it was hardly surprising when a study by Cambridge University, released earlier in the month, found rap music can help people tackling depression. The paper suggests that rap’s ra ...

'Today's pop star should just grow up'

Taylor Swift works within the well-worn cliché of phenomenon. At 23, the country music star turned global behemoth is a chart-conquering, CoverGirl-endorsing, one-woman cottage industry; a superstar so unavoidable that at times the Pennsylvania native seem ...

Hip-Hop at 50: What next for the music of resistance?

As the sun sets on another US Black History Month, an anniversary of global significance was quietly commemorated that deserves so much more international recognition. In 2023, hip-hop, arguably the greatest US contribution to global contemporary culture ...

How Missy Elliot won respect for women who rap

Missy Elliott’s The Rain will always be remembered as one of the most memorable videos in the history of hip-hop.It introduced the world to Elliott’s vibrant and innovative aesthetic, in which she donned finger waves, monochromatic looks and t ...

'We need pop stars who rock the establishment'

From Rihanna’s liberated nipples to Iggy Azalea’s fake accent to Eminem’s freestyle about punching Lana Del Rey “right in the face”, music has had its fair share of controversial moments in the last year.Others included, but ...

Stars' slack lyrics are bad for our girls

It’s almost impossible for impressionable young girls to ignore big name music stars like Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus and Beyoncé who shamelessly promote raunchy sex through their songs, videos and dress.These so-called “iconic” pe ...