Talib Kweli isn’t your usual rapper – he’s much better…

As a pioneer of Afrocentric hip hop, Talib Kweli can justifiably be called an innovator. Born in New York City to a privileged background (which is anything but typical in rap circles), Kweli made his professional debut in 1997 in partnership with Mos Def.

Although Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star had limited mainstream appeal, it has gone on to influence the likes of Kanye West and Jay-Z.

Moreover, Kweli’s thoughtful, intelligent lyrics with their rich socio-political content have helped give rap and rappers (although Kweli himself prefers the term ‘MC’ or ‘conscious rapper’) intellectual credibility.

In the process, mainstream success has accumulated, with Kweli’s most-recent solo album, Eardrum, …

Are modern recording techniques ruining the ongoing evolution of music?

When it comes to music, some people are easy to please. They like easy listening, hard rock, heavy rap, metal and jazz, and don’t even mind the occasional classical offering. With such a variety of sounds available, it’s tempting to ponder the progression of music from cavemen pounding animal-skin drums to modern DJS mixing techno beats on computers.

But, as well as being time-consuming, chances are that would get a little tedious. So let’s just take a moment to consider the ongoing evolution of music…

We live in an era of musical shortcuts and artists are increasingly taking advantage of cheap gimmicks. In terms of selling records, it could …

The godfather of rap will be appearing at the Metro on Valentine’s Day. Don’t miss it!

Good news has just been posted on www.liveguide.com.au. The site lets visitors know which acts are due to visit these shores and as it turns out one, of my favourite artists is coming back to Australia.

RZA will be appearing at the Metro in Sydney on 14 February. For anyone who went to the Wu-Tang concert last year, this is big news. Commonly regarded as one of the best MCs, rappers and composers around, RZA is a lyrical genius and the main reason why the Wu-Tang Clan became one of the biggest rap sensations of all time.

When the Wu-Tang …

Big Day Out 2010 has some BIG shoes to fill…

For 17 years, the Big Day Out has arguably proven to be the biggest Australian music event of the year. Since its origins in 1992, the travelling festival of musical superstars has enjoyed a succession of killer line-ups. The Big Day Out has always had a killer line-up, with the Violent Femmes and, most memorably, Nirvana headlining the very first event.

Since then, huge local and international names like Beasts of Bourbon, Sonic Youth, Metallica, Grinspoon, Smashing Pumpkins, You Am I, Beastie Boys, The Offspring, Silverchair and System of a Down have graced the stage. Or stages, to be more accurate, since each BDO usually boasts …

Christmas is just around the corner. The summer music festival season is almost upon us. Which means 2009 is about to be consigned to history and the brash new year of 2010 will soon be announcing its arrival. (It may be bleary-eyed and feeling a bit sorry for itself to start with, but a Berocca and bacon sandwich later, it will be feeling much better…)

So, to mark the impending arrival of the new year, we’d like to hear some of your musical predictions. They can be international in content, they can be as local as your own band playing its first gig in front of an awestruck grandma in the front room. Who is …