NEW YORK, April 17, 2024 /Entertainment/ —
To understand its journey, let’s rewind to the 1980s, a pivotal decade for street dance, rap, and hip-hop culture. Continue reading
17Apr/24
Tag Archives: African-American culture
29Nov/23
The Origins of NOW
/Music/ — Now That’s What I Call Music (NOW) is a compilation series of popular music released in the United Kingdom since 1983. The series is known for its eclectic mix of genres, including pop, rock, dance, and R&B. NOW has been a popular source of music for young people in the UK for many years, and it has played a significant role in British pop culture.
The Origins of NOW
The idea for NOW was conceived by Virgin Records executive Simon Draper in 1982. Draper was inspired by the success of a similar series in the US called “K-Tel Records.” Draper believed that there was a market for a compilation series that featured the biggest hits of the day.
The first NOW album was released in 1983 and was an instant success. It sold over 1 million copies in the UK and topped the charts for 30 weeks. The album’s success was due in part to its strong tracklisting, which featured hits from artists such as Culture Club, Duran Duran, and Michael Jackson.
NOW’s Influence on British Pop Culture
NOW has had a significant impact on British pop culture for many years. The series has helped to launch the careers of many successful artists, including Oasis, Blur, and Spice Girls. NOW has also been a major force in the development of British dance music.
The series has been praised for its ability to capture the zeitgeist of British music. NOW albums have always been a reflection of the current musical landscape, and they have helped to define the sound of British pop music for many years.
NOW in the 21st Century
NOW is still a popular series today. The latest album, NOW 113, was released in 2023. NOW has also expanded into other areas, such as television and DVD.
The series is still significant in British pop culture because it continues to provide a snapshot of the current musical landscape. NOW is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to stay up-to-date on the latest music trends.
Here are some of the reasons why NOW is still significant in British pop culture:
- It is a reflection of the current musical landscape.
- It is a source of new music for young people.
- It has helped to launch the careers of many successful artists.
- It is a major force in the development of British dance music.
- It is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to stay up-to-date on the latest music trends.
14Aug/23
Hip-hop at 50: how the sights, sounds and moves of the music spread across the world
Adam de Paor-Evans, University of Plymouth
On August 11 1973, DJ Kool Herc and his sister Cindy threw the now legendary Back To School jam in the recreation room of 1520 Sedgewick Avenue in The Bronx, New York.
Herc’s party represented a coming together of music and the start of something new. The Bronx crowd did not want the dancehall sounds Herc had begun to play. They wanted soul and the tough percussion of funk. So, Herc changed up the sound and used the main switch for the lights like a strobe-light to add atmosphere. Little did they know, that his event would be commonly accepted by the hip-hop fraternity worldwide as the starting point of what was to become one of the most important creative movements of the last century.
01Aug/23
Hip Hop movies that made impact
Here are some of the hip hop movies that have had the most impact: Continue reading
01Aug/23
Hip Hop is beyond Drake memes. It’s a phenomenon
July 31, 2023 /Entertainment/ — Hip hop has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the Bronx in the 1970s. It has evolved from a local street art form to a global phenomenon that encompasses all cultures and generations.
There are a number of factors that have contributed to hip hop’s rise to popularity. One of the most important factors was the release of the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” in 1979. This song was the first rap single to reach the top 40 of the Billboard charts, and it helped to introduce hip hop to a wider audience. Continue reading
19Jun/23
What to know about the holiday Juneteenth
June 19, 2023 /Social/ — Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the end of slavery in the country. The holiday falls on June 19, which is the date in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce that the enslaved people in the state were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
Juneteenth has been celebrated by African Americans since the late 1800s, and it became a state holiday in Texas in 1980. In the decades since, every state but South Dakota has formally recognized Juneteenth as a state or ceremonial holiday. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Continue reading
16May/23
We intend to cause havoc
May 16, 2023 /Technology/ — Zamrock is a genre of rock music that emerged in Zambia in the early 1970s. It is characterized by its fusion of traditional African music with Western rock influences, such as psychedelic rock, funk, and heavy metal. The genre was heavily influenced by the political and social climate of Zambia at the time, which was experiencing a period of rapid modernization and economic growth. Zamrock bands often used their music to express their hopes and dreams for the future, as well as to address social and political issues. Continue reading
01Dec/22
ROCK THE BELLS ANNOUNCES THE FIRST-EVER TIMELESS HIP-HOP CRUISE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SIXTHMAN
Rock The Bells, the global platform dedicated to elevating Hip-Hop culture from its roots to the modern day, announced today the “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience” in partnership with Sixthman, the industry leader in immersive music and lifestyle festivals at sea. Setting sail from Miami to the Bahamas on November 13 – November 17, 2023, the cruise is the first of its kind, offering an all-inclusive four-day, four-night Hip-Hop experience aboard the Norwegian Pearl. Continue reading
01Oct/22
~Pourri is Flipping the Funk and Transforming the World of Odors, Through an Interactive Music and Dance-Inspired Campaign
From funky to fresh! ~Pourri, From the Makers of Poo~Pourri, bring you an original song and series of dance videos, to introduce their continued expansion and transformative journey to tackle all kinds of funky odors – naturally. The five core videos present Flip That Funk™: an immersive digital experience into the world of ~Pourri, that is aimed to liberate you from life’s (potentially) funkiest moments! With the first two videos of the five-part series will launch ~Pourri’s most-anticipated product of all time, Pet~Pourri, followed shortly by Poo~Pourri. The series has been brought to life through the help of the award-winning Amsterdam-based dance troupe, the Ghetto Funk Collective, with original song Funk Check! Feat. RC & The Gritz and Black Joe Lewis, written and recorded in collaboration with Texas-based producers Matt Pence and Electrophunck (Jason Burt). Continue reading
05Aug/22
Beyoncé has helped usher in a renaissance for African artists
James Chikomborero Paradza, University of Pretoria
Beyoncé has released her seventh solo studio album, titled Renaissance (2022). The album, an event in global popular culture, is the first of a three-part project by the US artist. Her previous outing, the visual album Black is King (2020), collaborated with a host of African artists. Renaissance pays tribute to black dance music and again features African artists, including Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems, who is having a global moment of her own.