BBC Culture The forgotten political roots of Bridge over Troubled Water verified_publisherBBC Culture - Dorian LynskeyFifty years old this month, Simon and Garfunkel’s soaring anthem became one of the defining songs of the 1970s and beyond. But its saccharine reputation belies its protest-song origins, writes Dorian On...
BBC Culture Max Martin: The secrets of the world’s best pop songwriter verified_publisherBBC Culture - Nick LevineThe Swede has created mega-hits for acts from Britney Spears to Ed Sheeran - and now a new musical is putting his genius in the spotlight. Nick Levine asks what makes his songs fly. Even if you don’t the...
BBC Culture OG Keemo: The German rapper taking aim at entrenched racism verified_publisherBBC Culture - Julian BrimmersOG Keemo is a Sudanese-German rapper who has caused controversy by holding a mirror up to the racism that still exists in Europe’s most powerful economy. On 5 September, the day that German rapper OG released...
BBC Culture How hip-hop is saving a dying Colombian language verified_publisherBBC Culture - N David PastorIn Colombia’s historic town of San Basilio de Palenque, hip-hop is helping resurrect a local language in danger of dying out. Rap folklórico palenquero represents the voice of the people, says Andris Julio,...
BBC Culture Sampa The Great: The African voice of Australian rap verified_publisherBBC Culture - Kish LalBorn in Botswana and raised in Zambia, Sampa The Great is one of Australia’s rising hip-hop stars. Innovations in hip-hop often don’t happen when there are new stories to tell, but rather when those who...
BBC Culture Why Young Thug is the 21st Century’s most influential rapper verified_publisherBBC Culture - Jeff WeissThe Atlanta star has become his own genre; he is the sun king at the centre of rap’s solar system If you haven't heard of Young Thug, the chances are you've heard someone who sounds like Young Thug. The...
BBC Culture How today’s rappers are resurrecting the spirit of punk verified_publisherBBC Culture - Thomas HobbsFrom the UK’s Slowthai to JPEGMAFIA and Rico Nasty in the US, a thrilling hip-hop punk hybrid sound is stirring young people into a frenzy, writes Thomas Hobbs. There are few things more exhilarating being...
BBC Culture Who was the real Freddie Mercury? verified_publisherBBC Culture - Nick LevineAs a new box-set of Mercury’s solo work is released, Nick Levine considers the Queen legend’s mysterious identity – and his complex relationship with both his race and sexuality. In 1984, two years after...
BBC Culture The greatest hip-hop songs of all time verified_publisherBBC Culture - TM BrownBBC Music polled over 100 critics in 15 countries to find the best hip-hop song ever – here’s the top 25 list (Warning: Some song titles in this list contain language some readers may find offensive) Sugarhill...
BBC Culture The greatest hip-hop songs of all time – who voted verified_publisherBBC Culture - Arwa HaiderWe polled 108 critics from 15 countries across six continents to find out the best hip-hop song – here are their ballots in full (Warning: Some of the song titles in this list contain language some readers...
BBC Culture Why are there so few women in ‘best-of’ hip-hop polls? verified_publisherBBC Culture - J’na Jamerson“Best-of” lists and conversations often exclude women. Why? Women are just as much a part of hip-hop and rap as their male counterparts. Whether it’s through their rapping abilities, writing chops, or...
