BBC CultureThe forgotten political roots of Bridge over Troubled Waterverified_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 Lynskey. On the evening of 30 November 1969, the silver-haired actor Robert Ryan introduced CBS …
BBC CultureMax Martin: The secrets of the world’s best pop songwriterverified_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 recognise the name Max Martin, you’ll definitely know his music. Since breaking through in the late …
BBC CultureOG Keemo: The German rapper taking aim at entrenched racismverified_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 Keemo released his new single 216, his Twitter timeline was headed by a retweet of one of his idols, …
BBC CultureHow hip-hop is saving a dying Colombian languageverified_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 Padilla Julio, leader of the Afro-Colombian hip-hop group Kombilesa Mi. The crew rapidly switches …
BBC CultureSampa The Great: The African voice of Australian rapverified_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 have gone unseen are finally heard. This distinction allows for a spectrum of emotions from …
BBC CultureWhy Young Thug is the 21st Century’s most influential rapperverified_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 Atlanta rapper, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, has been a growing force in hip-hop for the better …
