Music

Ryan Montgomery aka Royce da 5.9 is as essential to hip hop as water to fishes. Witty lyrical soldier, the Detroit underground emcee puts his heart and soul into his rhymes. Unlike many rappers in the game, Royce doesn't rap for fame and money, his reps are the full representation of his unconditional love for hip hop. That's truly what Royce is all about.

It's been 46 years since three folk singers first took the stage together at the Bitter End coffee house in New York City's Greenwich Village. Soon the world would know the trio on a first-name basis as Peter, Paul & Mary. Their music, with its signature vocal harmonies, endured long after public tastes switched to rock-'n'-roll. And their continuing popularity helped keep folk music alive and on the radio.

“Robbie might be celebrating now, but he's put himself under huge pressure." An industry insider was quoted in 2002, after Robbie Williams signed a record deal with EMI that he commented with “I’m rich, beyond my wildest dreams”. Four years, two tours and three albums thereafter, Robbie Williams is longing for the end of the contract.

I guess I’m like most people: I find myself intrigued by the Britney Spears saga and yet, I have no idea why. Really, what’s the big deal? I simply don’t get why we as a society care so much about what Britney Spears is doing.

April the 11th, 2006 was a tragic day for Deshaun Holton s family, friends and fans. A talented artist ended up in a pool of blood over a stupid argument at the infamous CCC club, leaving a whole hip hop community in grief. It also marked the end of an era in Detroit hip hop history. Deshaun Holton was deeply rooted with the Detroit scene. Eminem and D12 s overwhelming success, Proof always busy schedule never changed the man he was. Down to earth, heartfelt, true to his roots, Proof always kept his underground work with local artists active and worked hard towards getting Detroit hip hop on the map.

In 1965 Bob Dylan had successfully revived folk music with his first 4 albums, but then he committed the ultimate folk singer sin: he picked up an electric guitar. Bringing it All Back Home was Dylans first real foray into electric roots rock and there was a considerable backlash with a flurry of boos from concert venues and negative press from his folk music following .

Most underrated on the Detroit scene and among mainstream artists? Obie Trice certainly is…the worst is that the average listener often doesn't pay attention to the Detroit artist's lyrical skills. Long before he blew up on the international scene, Obie Trice has been in the rap game for a long time. His life has been far from easy, leaving him homeless for a period because of his drug deals, kicked out of his mom's home, having to struggle on his own. Eleanor Trice can be hugely proud of her son, because, despite the numerous arguments that opposed mom and son, Obie has eventually made it

The municipal opera company based in Nashville has undertaken a number of steps to expand interest in its art form. They provide podcasts with the director's commentary. These podcasts are downloaded from the Opera Company's website, one for each of the three acts of their last production of the year, Romeo and Juliet.

Hip hop is one of the musical genres that is probably the most listened to among today's youths. It is, however, one of the most misunderstood and discriminated against by politicians and comfortable middle classes adults.

Madonna is a true artist. To be an artist, one lives the work, incorporates a big part of themselves, from their personality, to their tragedies, their joys, their point of view, be it political, religious or life in general. Madonna has taken various aspects of her life, from her big dreaming days back in New York City before worldwide fame, up into present time. She has continuously been able to blend everything together into a popular form of artistry, that of pop star, but from a truly unique place, her own point of view, which has crossed over into a spiritual realm, hence her latest incantation.

Louis Jordan must have been the most prolific songwriter of the genre in his time. They didn't call him "king of the juke box" for nothing - He had 57 hits on the R&B charts between 1942 and 1951.

The 1980s were an incredibly important decade in indie music history. It was during this decade that the first indie charts were compiled in the United States and in the United Kingdom- whether or not appearing on these lists was considered a sell-out depended on who you talked to.

Demetric Brown aka "E-dro, born and raised in Washington DC, describes his music as 'reality influenced by rap'. Rapping since he was nine years old, E-dro was influenced by such acts as N.W.A, Run DMC and LL Cool J. In October 2005 E-dro joined Vantage Media Records, signed his deal in January 2006 and began recording his new album "Er Day Hussle".

Carrying the infamous nickname of The Villain, MC Ren is known for his qualities as a lyricist. Along with Ice Cube, the talented rapper wrote most of NWA s lyrics. The overwhelming success of Straight Outta Compton propelled NWA to the top. Controversy and acclaim followed.

From Liverpool to lattes: Sir Paul McCartney has become the first artist to sign with Starbucks' new record label, Hear Music. Chairman Howard Schultz announced the news March 21 at the coffee company's annual meeting in Seattle, Washington.