Category Archives: Music

17Jun/26

Celebrating 30 Years of MOBO: The Visionary Legacy and Enduring Impact of Kanya King

June 17, 2026MusicAfrobeats, Amy Winehouse, Beverley Knight, Black, Black British music, Black British people, Craig David, Glasgow, Grime music, Idris Elba, Jim Legxacy, Kanya King, Kilburn, London, Manchester, Mobo, MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards, MOBO Awards, Newcastle, Olivia Dean, Pharrell Williams, Sadiq Khan, United Kingdom, YolanDa Brownadmin

The Architect of Cultural Justice: Remembering MOBO Awards Founder Kanya King CBE

Wed, Jun 17 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Kanya King CBE, the visionary founder and CEO of the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards, passed away on June 3, 2026, at the age of 57 following a courageous battle with colon cancer. Remembered as a fearless champion and an “architect of cultural justice,” King fundamentally transformed the United Kingdom’s creative landscape by shifting Black British music from marginalized subcultures to the mainstream. Continue reading →

14Jun/26

Jazz, Soul, and Zambian Pride: The Rebirth of Adele Emeli Sandé

June 14, 2026MusicAberdeenshire, Adele, Adele Emily Sandé, Adele Sandé, Alford, Emeli Sandé, Free, Heaven, Kingdom Coming, Let's Say for Instance, Members of the Order of the British Empire, Michelle Obama, Our Version of Events, Real Life, She Adele, Wonder, Yoana Karemova, Zambiaadmin

Sun, Jun 14 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Emeli Sandé is currently undergoing a profound professional and artistic transformation, characterized by a pursuit of independence and a deep exploration of her cultural heritage. She recently launched her own independent record label, Venus Records, which grants her complete creative control and liberates her from the commercial pressures of the major-label pop industry. Under this new label, she released her latest single, “Roots,” a moving track celebrating female empowerment, independence, and her Scottish and Zambian identity. Continue reading →

30May/26

Breaking Boundaries: How Beat Street and Breakin’ Exported Street Culture

May 30, 2026MusicAfrican-American culture, African-American music, Afrika Bambaataa, Beat Street, Brazil, Breakdancing, DJ Kool Herc, Dresden, East Germany, Films, Harry Belafonte, HERC, Hip hop, Hip-hop culture, Hip-hop dance, Japan, Jay Electronica, Kenny, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Melle Mel, Nas, Phoenix, Poland, Rae Dawn Chong, Ramo, Ramon, RED BULL, Rock Steady Crew, Roxy—Lathan, Sha-Rock, South Bronx, Soviet Union, Stan Lathan, Street danceadmin

The Phoenix of the Bronx: From 1970s Block Parties to the Olympic Games and Broadway

Sat, May 30 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The Origins of Street Dance Hip-hop dance originated in the 1970s as a powerful form of self-expression and community building for marginalized youth. In the South Bronx, African American and Puerto Rican teenagers developed breaking (b-boying/b-girling) as a creative outlet and a peaceful alternative to territorial gang violence. Concurrently, West Coast dancers in California independently invented “funk styles,” such as popping and locking, which were originally danced to funk music rather than hip-hop. Continue reading →

16May/26

Boycotts and Algorithms Broke Eurovision 2026

May 16, 2026MusicAustralia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Charlie McGettigan, Croatia, Estonia, European Broadcasting Union, Eurovision Song Contest, Finland, Gaza, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jon Ola Sand, Jonas, Linda Lampenius, Luxembourg, Martin Green, Martin Österdahl, Michael Kroen, Moldova, Netherlands, Noam Bettan, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom, Viennaadmin

Sat, May 16 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Vienna, Austria, following JJ’s victory for the country in 2025. While it marks a major milestone for the longest-running annual international televised music competition, the 2026 event is defined by profound geopolitical crises, sweeping rule changes, and intense musical competition. Continue reading →

09May/26

Jamaican Patois is not broken English

May 9, 2026MusicAnalytic languages, Caribbean English, Culture of Jamaica, Dancehall, George, Jamaica, Jamaican, Jamaican English, Jamaican Patois, Kingston, Patois, Patwaadmin

Sat, May 9 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The text portrays a flirtatious dialogue where the male protagonist expresses an intense desire for a woman’s affection and physical presence. Throughout the verses, the artists exchange lines about romantic attraction, the fulfillment of fantasies, and the undeniable chemistry shared between two people. By repeatedly asking when the other will surrender to their feelings, the song highlights a sense of urgency and longing. Ultimately, the narrative focuses on a mutual temptation and the hope of building a lasting romantic connection.
Beyond “Ya Mon”: 6 Surprising Truths About the Soul of Jamaican Patois Continue reading →

26Apr/26

The Jazz Illusion Matching Your Budget to the Right Vibe

April 26, 2026MusicAdrien Chevalier, African-American music, Arturo Sandoval, Ashley John Long, Australia, Ben Creighton Griffiths, Cardiff, Dan Doherty, Detroit, Eric Clapton, Gladys Knight, Hampton, Jazz, Jeremy Lohier, Kingston, Lennie Williams, London, Mahal, Manfred, Mann, Mick Rogers, Musical improvisation, Oxford, Patti LaBelle, Popular music, Robert Glasper, Sandy, Singapore, TORONTO, Traditional music, United Kingdom, United Statesadmin

April 26, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — These sources provide a comprehensive look at the historical and contemporary jazz landscape across various global regions, with a primary focus on the United Kingdom and the United States. A detailed historical account documents the evolution of the jazz scene in Kingston-upon-Thames, tracing its roots from the 1950s through the rise of rhythm and blues. Modern event calendars highlight the active career of harpist Ben Creighton Griffiths, detailing his international performances and workshops through 2027. Additionally, the texts promote major American festivals like the Hampton Jazz & Music Festival in Virginia and the Hamptons JazzFest on Long Island. Venue-specific information also identifies local pubs and clubs in Middlesex that continue to host live jam sessions and resident artists. Together, these documents serve as both an archival record of jazz heritage and a practical guide for upcoming musical events. Continue reading →

17Apr/26

Championing the Bhundu Boys: How Andy Kershaw Redefined British Radio

April 17, 2026MusicAli Farka Touré, Andy Kershaw, Angola, Bhundu Boys, Biggie Tembo, DJ John Peel, Equatorial Guinea, Fraser Kershaw, Haiti, Harare, Iraq, Jesse Fuller, John Walters, Kershaw, London, Mali, Montserrat, North Korea, Radio Academy Awards, Robin Millar, Roger Wright, Russia, Shrapnel Kershaw, Sierra Leone, Spotify, Toumani Diabaté, True Jit, World musicadmin

April 17, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Andy Kershaw’s career as a pioneering radio broadcaster was defined by his relentless curiosity and rejection of Anglo-American rock hegemony in favor of global “roots” music. Beginning his BBC Radio 1 tenure in 1985 with the rare privilege of complete editorial freedom over his playlist, Kershaw mixed country, blues, reggae, folk, and a vast array of African, Caribbean, and Latin American dance music. His broadcasting philosophy was anchored in a Reithian motto he shared with his mentor, producer John Walters: “We’re not here to give the public what it wants. We’re here to give the public what it didn’t know it wanted”. Continue reading →

13Apr/26

Simmi Samma Record Label

April 13, 2026MusicAfrican-American music, Def Jam Recordings artists, Hip hop production, Jazz, Latifah, Music production, Nas, Rapping, Sampling, Simmi Samma, The Blueprintadmin

April 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Simmi Samma, a jazz artist and lifelong hip-hop enthusiast, has outlined a specific creative vision for his upcoming musical project. This production blueprint draws heavy inspiration from classic nineties boom-bap and the intricate sampling techniques of artists like A Tribe Called Quest. The desired track must blend soulful vocal manipulation, specifically alternating between high-pitched female samples and natural choruses. To accommodate potential collaborators, the composition requires extended instrumental loops of at least eight bars. Ultimately, the artist aims to synthesize his jazz background with the rhythmic sensibilities of his favorite golden-era and contemporary rap influences.

Continue reading →

03Apr/26

How Street Codes Survive the AI Era

April 3, 2026Music.google, African-American culture, Compton, Crip Walk, Crips, DeepMind, Hip hop, Hip-hop dance, Kendrick Lamar, Robert, Sam Mbale, Serena Williams, Signs, Snoop Dogg, Street dance, THAMES WATER, TikTok, West Coast hip-hopadmin

Decoding the Dance: How the Crip Walk Transformed from a Secret Gang Code to Global Entertainment

April 3, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The C-Walk, originally known as the Crip Walk, was developed in 1970s Compton by gang member Robert “Sugar Bear” Jackson as a complex, non-verbal “secret code”. It utilized precise footwork to spell out gang identifiers like “C-R-I-P” and visually cross out the names of rival gangs. During the 1990s, West Coast hip-hop artists like Snoop Dogg and WC popularized the dance, transforming it from a localized ritual into a mainstream symbol of regional pride.

Continue reading →

18Feb/26

Lyria 3 Enters the Fray: Google’s Multimodal Push into a Litigious, High-Fidelity AI Music Landscape

February 18, 2026Music.google, Ableton Live, Articles, Artificial intelligence, Chatbot, Computational neuroscience, Cybernetics, Data science, Deep learning, DeepMind, Formal sciences, Generative AI, Generative artificial intelligence, Google DeepMind, Jacob Collier, Lyria, Robot, Sony, Taylor Swift, Technology, Watermarkadmin

Feb 17, 2026 /Mpelembe media/ — Google DeepMind has introduced Lyria 3, a sophisticated artificial intelligence model designed for high-fidelity music generation. This technology allows users to transform text prompts or uploaded images into cohesive audio tracks with natural rhythmic flow. Creators can exercise technical control over specific details, such as vocal styles, linguistic nuances, and acoustic arrangements, to produce professional-grade compositions. To ensure ethical use, the developers integrated SynthID watermarking to identify AI-generated content and worked alongside musicians to establish creative guardrails. Beyond music, the broader ecosystem features specialized tools for scientific research, robotic reasoning, and environmental mapping. Consistent with its mission, the organization emphasizes responsible AI development that enhances human productivity and artistic expression. Continue reading →