The Survivor: A Conversation With M.I.A.
After using her art to open the world’s eyes, M.I.A. has finally reached a sense of peace. But that doesn’t mean she’s through speaking her mind.
DJ Earl: The Future of Footwork
A onetime apprentice of the late DJ Rashad, Earl Smith combines tragedy and ecstasy in his BPM-busting tracks, offering elegies that breathe with frenetic life.
Meet the Queer Female MC Who’s Writing Your Favorite Rappers’ Songs
After spending years toiling in studios and liner notes, Gizzle is aiming for marquee status. Is hip-hop ready for her?
The 50 Best Indie Rock Albums of the Pacific Northwest
From Bikini Kill to Elliott Smith, the records that withstand the rain
Topaz Jones and the Philosophy of the Groove
The son of an activist scholar and a funk guitarist, this 23-year-old rapper and singer is embarking on a retrofuturistic path toward enlightenment.
Uncovering the Secrets of Shy Layers’ Musical Déjà Vu
Marked by warm vocoder lines, African guitars and rhythms, and the wistfulness of Arthur Russell, the songs JD Walsh makes as Shy Layers sound both familiar and alluringly out-of-reach.
Afropunk Brooklyn 2016
Portraits and live shots from this year’s fest featuring Janelle Monáe, Thundercat, Kelela, Flying Lotus, Earl Sweatshirt, and more—plus the awesomely stylish crowd.
Music Technology of the 1970s: A Timeline
Mind-warping synthesizers! The Walkman! Karaoke! Looking back at the ’70s innovations that shaped how people created and listened to music throughout the decade and beyond.
Punk, Disco, and Silly Love Songs: Revisiting the Explosive Summer of 1976
Connecting the dots between Pink Floyd, the Ramones, Patti Smith, Judas Priest, Kraftwerk, and more at a time when everything seemed to be happening at once
