New York, United States | AFP | Beyonce’s Spanish-language remix of “Mi Gente” for hurricane relief opened Wednesday on top of the US Latin song chart, finally dethroning the global mega-hit “Despacito.” “Mi Gente,” which Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin created from the African dance rhythms of French DJ Willy William, …
Read More »BOBI WINE: We are more powerful than we’ve been made to believe
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | In the thick of Uganda’s current political tensions, artists from across Africa and the diaspora have come to Kampala for a “Your Music Your Voice” 2017 event to collaborate and discuss their common goal of advocating for social justice in their respective countries. On Tuesday …
Read More »Gaga urges gun control amid artist shock at Vegas carnage
New York, United States | AFP | Lady Gaga urged US leaders Monday to act quickly to tighten gun laws following the carnage in Las Vegas as artists voiced shock at the deadliest shooting in modern US history. While most artists left their comments to general messages of sympathy after the …
Read More »‘What does it mean to be a civically engaged musician?’
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kampala’s German Culture organization Goethe-Zentrum Kampala is hosting socially conscious artists from across Africa this week for the “Your Music Your Voice” event. “Your Music, Your Voice” will create a platform for Pan-African dialogue between socially active artistes to discuss their role in using music …
Read More »Jay-Z, J.Lo headline hurricane benefit show
New York, United States | AFP | Rap mogul Jay-Z and pop superstar Jennifer Lopez will headline a concert in New York to raise funds for survivors of hurricanes that have devastated the United States and the Caribbean. Tidal, the streaming service led by Jay-Z, on Wednesday announced the line-up of …
Read More »In political turn, Bieber rallies for Black Lives Matter
New York, United States | AFP | Pop star Justin Bieber, known more for headline-grabbing scandals than activism, on Friday took an unexpected political turn as he hailed the Black Lives Matter movement. The 23-year-old, who abruptly cut short a tour in July, took to Instagram to show support for …
Read More »Bobi Wine set for ‘Your Music, Your Voice’
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Music and politics will come together in Kampala on October 3rd and 4th at the “Your Music, Your Voice” event. “Your Music, Your Voice” will create a platform for Pan-African dialogue between socially active artistes to discuss their role in using music and fame to …
Read More »Lady Gaga hospitalized, pulls out of Brazil’s Rock in Rio
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AFP | Lady Gaga said Thursday she had been hospitalized in “severe pain” and was pulling out of Brazil’s Rock in Rio festival, which she was due to headline this weekend. The US superstar, who revealed Tuesday that she suffers from the chronic disease fibromyalgia, had …
Read More »New dimension to Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ and story behind it
Venice, Italy | AFP | Director John Landis says his new 3D version of “Thriller” gives Michael Jackson fans chance to see the groundbreaking video how the late king of pop would have wanted them to. “Michael and I always intended it to be seen in a cinema,” Landis told reporters …
Read More »Year after album, Frank Ocean drops mellow new track
New York, United States | AFP | Frank Ocean, the introspective singer who has thumbed his nose at music industry conventions, has unexpectedly released a new song, a reflection on relationships set to a mellow R&B vibe. Ocean put out the new track, “Provider,” on his irregularly scheduled Apple Music radio …
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