Many of his songs reflect on the alienation of the inner-city poor
Rodriguez was bigger than The Beatles in 1970s apartheid South Africa. In this special tribute to the Mexican-American singer-songwriter who died recently, the Mail & Guardian explores the politics, mores and sounds that made him massive then, and also what makes him still relevant today.
In the past, South African jazz marketed overseas was often sold on stereotypes, but there’s been an important and positive shift
Hip-hop turning 50 will be celebrated around the globe. But, as a South African hip-hop scholar reminds, there’s a local anniversary that should not be forgotten
As the 50th birthday of hip-hop rolls around, it’s clear that its influence isn’t limited to New York — it’s a mic to black lives across time and everywhere
American band Gabriels has just released their first album, which has fresh sounds but also echoes of the greats
DJ Lag, also known as the King of Gqom, has grown from strength to strength in his career
Tim Cohen gets his knickers in a tangle choosing a Bob Dylan desert island track
Examine the preppy renaissance and new objects
The new feed of visual clips allows users to scroll through music, podcasts and audiobook previews
Cate Blanchett gives a masterful performance in this outstanding thriller about an unhinged conductor
What does Louis Vuitton’s appointment of Pharrell Williams tell us? Expect the unexpected
Stunning show is a sonic exploration of a note written by the musician to the land of freedom centred around love and words
Considered one of the greatests of all time in SA hip hop, AKA was on the long road to redemption that sadly got cut short
2003 produced some iconic songs in hip hop and R&B
Your Love is King: The legend, the myth and the band behind one of the most enduring musical acts of our time with
Has the notion of separating art from the artist evolved? The answer is personal and lies in the eyes, ears, and actions of audiences.
The Grammy-nominated band kicks off its tour in Cape Town
Creative talks, classes and business workshops lead up to the main Sounds of Freedom Festival, headlined by Msaki, Big Zulu and Blxckie
Organisations like Partners Against Piracy, a campaign to protect the livelihoods of content creators by raising awareness about piracy, are gaining traction
Even Jay-Z’s legendary verse on the title track can’t save this album from mediocrity
Legendary jazz pianist’s New York City concerts show he is unstoppable
A perspective on the nuance of creation by pianist, composer and singer Thandi Ntuli, who through her lineage traversed from exile to integration to produce this work
Ihashi Elimhlophe is recording a DVD live in Soweto
They have consistently failed fans and artists of late. What is required to regain our trust?
Thato Saul is no one-dimensional gangster, his latest album ‘Life Is Gangster’ mixes street talk and moments of vulnerability.
The evolution of technology has changed how music is produced, removing the need to have a contract with a record label to do it. With more musicians choosing to be independent, are big recording companies becoming obsolete?
She may have left South Africa more than 20 years ago, but this jazz singer is still firmly rooted in her heritage
The Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble celebrates 25 years of music making since first playing at the Linder Auditorium
For the first time in two years, The National Arts Festival is back with an in-person star-studded list of artists and performers
The free festival Fête de la Musique Joburg makes a return post-lockdown with performances at four venues in the city
DBN Gogo, Blxckie and ByLwansta are headliners at the return of this iconic event