Sun, Nov 08 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Sophie B. Hawkins emerged from New York City with a distinct rhythmic sensibility rooted in her percussion studies at the Manhattan School of Music and training under master drummer Babatunde Olatunji. After being abruptly dismissed from touring as Bryan Ferry’s percussionist, she channeled her artistic voice into songwriting, penning the seminal confession of longing, “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover”. While working as a coat-check attendant at Manhattan’s Joe Allen restaurant, her demo tape circulated to industry executives, triggering an intense bidding war among multiple record companies. Hawkins signed with Columbia Records and released her 1992 debut album, Tongues and Tails, which achieved widespread international acclaim, earned Gold certification, and garnered her a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Columbia
Mariah Carey’s Secret Daydream Rebellion
Sun, Aug 0& 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Mariah Carey’s fifth studio album, Daydream, released in 1995, represented a monumental turning point in her career both musicSlly and personally. Moving away from the highly managed, traditional pop-balladeer image cultivated by Columbia Records, Carey sought to infuse her sound with contemporary R&B and hip-hop influences. This stylistic pivot led to intense creative friction with her record label and her then-husband, Sony Music head Tommy Mottola, who favored her established adult-contemporary formula. To bypass this corporate surveillance, Carey systematically established direct studio partnerships with innovative producers like Jermaine Dupri, Dave “Jam” Hall, and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. Through these collaborations, she achieved immediate historic success; the Tom Tom Club-sampling lead single “Fantasy” became the first song by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, while her Boyz II Men duet “One Sweet Day” remained at the top of the charts for a record-breaking sixteen weeks. Ultimately, the album achieved a Diamond certification from the RIAA, selling over 11 million copies in the United States and cementing Carey’s status as a self-directed pop auteur. Continue reading
Following the Money: The Unraveling of Jeffrey Epstein’s Elite Enablers
23 Feb. 2026 /Mpelembe Media — The provided sources detail the immense global fallout following a massive 2026 Department of Justice document release concerning deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Government investigations and news reports highlight how JPMorgan Chase executives reportedly ignored internal alarms to facilitate Epstein’s financial activities for nearly two decades. The materials reveal a vast network of enablers, leading to the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the resignations of prominent figures like Goldman Sachs lawyer Kathryn Ruemmler and UK Ambassador Peter Mandelson. Academic institutions like Harvard, Columbia, and UCLA are also facing internal reckonings as files expose deep ties between Epstein and various professors or donors. While the FBI maintains there is no evidence of a specific “client list” or blackmail, the documents have sparked a wave of accountability across global politics, finance, and elite social circles. Ultimately, the sources illustrate a systemic failure of high-level oversight that allowed Epstein to maintain influence long after his initial criminal convictions. Continue reading
A Year of Climate Breakdown
Jan. 4, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — Christian Aid’s report, “Counting the Cost 2024,” analyses the economic impact of ten extreme weather events in 2024, revealing billions of dollars in losses and highlighting the disproportionate effect on poorer nations. The report underscores the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy, citing expert opinions stressing the escalating consequences of inaction. Continue reading
England are one of the favorites to win the the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Tuesday, Aug 8 2023 – – The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has certainly produced some surprises so far, with teams like Morocco and New Zealand knocking out more fancied opponents. England have also progressed on slim margins, but they have shown that they have the quality to go all the way and win the tournament. Continue reading