Music

Photo of hip hop artists on stage with a crowd cheering them on

Planet Hip Hop: The World celebrates 50 years of hip-hop around the globe

Hip-hop turns 50 this summer, and its influence has been felt in all corners of the globe. From the streets of the Bronx to a revolution in Beirut, from anti-apartheid messages in Cape Town to graffiti in Cairo. Throughout the summer, we will be exploring Planet Hip Hop.

Planet Hip Hop: The World celebrates 50 years of hip-hop around the globe
man with guitar

This blues musician fled Russia for Serbia. But he sounds like he came straight from the Mississippi Delta.

This blues musician fled Russia for Serbia. But he sounds like he came straight from the Mississippi Delta.
man outside

Ukrainian rock band Vopli Vidopliassova and fans rediscover an old hit 

Ukrainian rock band Vopli Vidopliassova and fans rediscover an old hit 
Ilona Kravchenko and Jan Vana perform in “Giselle” with the Ukrainian Classical Ballet in Bucharest, Romania.

The long fight for arts and culture in Ukraine as war rages on

The long fight for arts and culture in Ukraine as war rages on
Ukrainian Eurovision contestant TVORCHI band performs at a concert before departure to the Eurovision contest

Liverpool steps in to host Eurovision Song Contest

Liverpool steps in to host Eurovision Song Contest
The group Obiní Batá has taught dozens on women how to play Afro-Cuban drums since it started in the early 1990s.

How a group of Cuban female musicians claimed a drum — and a tradition

The legendary group Obiní Batá is celebrating 30 years of music and women’s empowerment in Cuba. But the road to acceptance and success was not easy. 

How a group of Cuban female musicians claimed a drum — and a tradition
Sandré in concert recently in Tarragona, Spain.

Young people in Spain use punk rock to vent their frustrations

In Spain, there have been an increasing number of punk concerts taking place each month, with the genre seeing a rise in popularity.

Young people in Spain use punk rock to vent their frustrations
DMV rapper and record producer Oddisee realized early on that purpose and success are self-designated.

Sudanese American rapper Oddisee on overcoming cultural taboos and confronting self-doubt

"Movement" host Meklit Hadero speaks with Sudanese American MC Oddisee about his new album, "To What End," which grew out of a period of intense self-doubt.

Sudanese American rapper Oddisee on overcoming cultural taboos and confronting self-doubt
Pilani Bubu found her music community after she moved from South Africa to New Orleans. She understood that the people she met wanted to learn more about her culture back home. That’s when she started to incorporate South African music into her repertoire

South Africa’s Pilani Bubu has ‘jumped off the shoulder of giants’ to create music filled with tradition

The singer-songwriter has always straddled between the worlds of globalization and the traditions of her homeland.

South Africa’s Pilani Bubu has ‘jumped off the shoulder of giants’ to create music filled with tradition
portrait of nun reading a musical score

The astonishing life and music of Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, the Ethiopian nun who has died at 99

Her exquisite piano compositions drew fans to the Jerusalem monastery where she lived after fleeing Ethiopia, in a stunning fourth act to her life.

The astonishing life and music of Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, the Ethiopian nun who has died at 99
Haitian Musician and Voudo priest Erol Josué has a new album titled Pèlerinaj, which includes songs like “Rén Sobo,” “Ati Sole” and “Palave Maria" that invoke Voudo goddesses and saints.

Erol Josué’s new album Pèlerinaj highlights Haiti’s Vodou tradition and the artist’s own pilgrimage

The 18 tracks on "Pèlerinaj," or “pilgrimage” in Haitian Creole, are a mix of sacred Vodou chants and traditional Haitian rhythms with funk, jazz, rock and electronic music.

Erol Josué’s new album Pèlerinaj highlights Haiti’s Vodou tradition and the artist’s own pilgrimage
Singer Gloria Estefan performs at the Statue of Liberty Museum opening celebration at Battery Park, in New York, May 15, 2019.

Gloria Estefan is set to be the first Hispanic woman to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

She's already won numerous awards and has been a pioneer of Latin music.

Gloria Estefan is set to be the first Hispanic woman to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Iraqi cellist and conductor Karim Wasfi leads a performance at the National Theatre in Iraq, Baghdad, March 11, 2023.

Iraq’s revived art scene is helping to heal the country’s wounds

Years of war and violence have interrupted and undermined Iraq’s music scene, with many musicians fleeing the country. But the current relative stability has created a space for its revival.

Iraq’s revived art scene is helping to heal the country’s wounds
Kea Sokun is a rapper who sings about social justice issues in Cambodia.

‘I cannot give up’: Cambodian rapper says he will sing about injustice despite threats from govt

Last month, the Cambodian government issued a warning to rapper Kea Sokun over his latest single, “Workers’ Blood,” about a garment workers’ strike, saying that it threatened national security and order.

‘I cannot give up’: Cambodian rapper says he will sing about injustice despite threats from govt
rockstar inside a home

Ukrainian rock star reflects on a year of war in his country

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk is vocal about supporting Ukraine, visiting troops on the front lines and raising money for the country. 

Ukrainian rock star reflects on a year of war in his country