A.D. Carson – Assistant Professor of Hip-Hop, University of Virginia Hip-hop culture is often recognized as being born on Aug. 11, 1973. That was about seven months after Roe v. Wade, the …
Phuti Sepuru – Lecturer in Jazz, University of Pretoria Nduduzo Makhathini is a prolific South African pianist, improviser, healer, educator, scholar and storyteller. He possesses a gift that enables him to …
Rashad Shabazz – Associate Professor at the School of Social Transformation, Arizona State University It’s been six years since Prince’s death, but fascination about the artist, the man and his …
Nick Lehr – Arts + Culture Editor To commemorate African-American Music Appreciation Month this June, Vice-President Kamala Harris released a Spotify playlist with songs spanning genres and generations, from TLC’s “Waterfalls” …
Lisa D. Tinsley For as long as albums have existed, they have offered listeners wonder, hope, truth and reality concerning the state of the human condition. This is achieved through a …
Jabari Evans – Assistant Professor of Race and Media, University of South Carolina Before he was arrested in December 2011, Chief Keef was a 16-year-old budding rap star. He’d released …
R&B singer R. Kelly was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking charges on Sept 27, 2021, having been exposed as the ringleader of a decades-long scheme to recruit girls, boys and …
For months, fans were relegated to watching their favorite singers and musicians over Zoom or via webcasts. Now, live shows – from festivals like Lollapalooza to Broadway musicals – are officially back. The songs …
In ‘Rumors,’ Lizzo and Cardi B pull from the ancient Greeks, putting a new twist on an old tradition
Grace B. McGowan – PhD Candidate in American Studies, Boston University It isn’t often that a pop star releases a music video that aligns so well with my academic research. But …
Adam Gustafson Assistant Teaching Professor of Music, Penn State “I need a change,” Aretha Franklin says at one point in “Respect,” the new film starring Jennifer Hudson as the Queen …