A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
- By u.net
- Oct 28, 2016
Twenty-five years ago, a duo whose sound was decidedly different from what was popular at the time stepped to Hip-Hop with A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Black Sheep’s debut LP was the result of two minds, Dres and Mista Lawnge, merged into a unit who existed within the parameters of the [...]
Inside Hip-Hop’s New Activist Era
- By u.net
- Aug 26, 2016
On July 7th, Jay Z did something out of character: He released a protest song. The rapper had reportedly wired tens of thousands of dollars to bail protesters out of jail in Baltimore in 2015, and Tidal donated $1.5 million to Black Lives Matter-related causes earlier this year. But it was only after [...]
Songs in the Key of Life
- By u.net
- Aug 26, 2016
Songs in the Key of Life was the culmination of a historic period of creativity for Stevie Wonder. Its ambition and scope were unprecedented, and he never approached its caliber or impact again. Stevie Wonder’s legacy ranks among the most powerful in pop music, though his story remains elusive. His songwriting [...]
From Urban Planning to Hip Hop
- By u.net
- Aug 26, 2016
Life in the so-called inner city has always been a major theme in hip-hop. From the desolate state of the Bronx Projects described in Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message” to the poor conditions in parts of Brooklyn and Queens recounted by artists like Jay Z, Biggie, and Nas, rappers have used [...]
#23ways
- By u.net
- Jul 14, 2016
In one of the most powerful clips in recent memory, Kevin Hart, Bono, Beyonce, Chris Rock, Common, Talib Kweli, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Chance The Rapper and several other entertainers have come together to recite 23 ways you could be killed if you are Black in America. With each [...]
I. Reed on the Untold History of Ali
- By u.net
- Jun 10, 2016
We talk about the life and legacy of boxing champion and activist Muhammad Ali with educator and writer Ishmael Reed, author of the book, "The Complete Muhammad Ali," which was published last year. Reed is a recipient of the MacArthur "genius" award and is currently a visiting scholar at the [...]
Rapping, deconstructed:
- By u.net
- May 27, 2016
hat makes lyricists like Rakim, MF DOOM, Notorious B.I.G. and others stand out? For Heads, reasons can vary but it’s a generally accepted tenet that what makes them and others so great at what they do is their ability to play with language – not just in terms of rhyming [...]
Un tributo a Ishamel Reed
- By u.net
- May 17, 2016
Istituito tre anni fa, il Premio Alberto Dubito di Poesia con Musica si propone di valorizzare e stimolare la produzione artistica giovanile nel campo della poesia ad alta voce e poesia con musica, privilegiando le esperienze innovative e capaci di dare un reale sviluppo all’espressione artistica in questi campi nei [...]
Protest Music Playlist
- By u.net
- May 09, 2016
Di seguito le canzoni, gli artisti e i video dei pezzi che costituiscono l'ossatura del Protest Music Live Set. Nel 2014-15, la musica rap impegnata ha vissuto una sorta di rinascita, dall'underground al mainstream. Questa nuova ondata di liriche di lotta sono state ispirate da un forte movimento politico di [...]
Larry Levan & the Paradise Garage
- By u.net
- Mar 31, 2016
Larry Levan was the first superstar DJ. The first to really convince the world that there was more to DJing than just playing one record after another. For 10 years from 1977 to 1987, Levan was the star attraction at New York’s legendary Paradise Garage, writing himself into clubbing lore with [...]