Category: Reviews
-
Usher – 'Looking 4 Myself' | Album Review
The last time we saw Usher Raymond, IV, he was in a strange place. A living legend who had sold close to 50 million albums worldwide by the age of 25, Usher’s fifth studio album Here I Stand was considered a flop despite selling over 5 million copies. The pop music landscape had changed and a…
-
Diva Geek – 'He Said, She Said' | Album Review
The London-based duo known as Diva Geek is no stranger to the world of music. Singer Vula Malinga and multi-instrumentalist/producer Ben Jones have each been involved in various projects, the most notable being Vula’s appearance on Basement Jaxx‘s 2005 single “Oh My Gosh.” We’ve featured a few of Diva Geek’s tracks here on SoulCulture over…
-
Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) at HMV Forum, London | Live Review
Despite the heat and sweat of this prelude to summer in London, Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) performed at the HMV Forum in Kentish town on Saturday (May 26) with a show that unfortunately left most people in the audience feeling hotheaded by the end of the night.
-
Jay-Z x Kanye West 'Watch The Throne' in London | Live Review
Otherworldly. That is the first word that comes to mind when trying to describe exactly what went on at London’s O2 Arena the days that the city belonged to Jay-Z and Kanye West. Arguably one of the most-hyped albums in recent years, the announcement of the “Watch The Throne Tour” in Europe brought with it…
-
50 Cent – 'The Lost Tape' | Mixtape Review
Having somewhat completed the full circle of Hip-Hop success (mixtapes, classic albums, built a label and an empire), many would believe that 50 Cent might finally walk away from the ferocious battleground on which he ran roughshod for years. But in between brokering deals, acting and setting up a charity to feed hungry children in…
-
Romain Virgo – 'The System' | Album Review
Reality TV alumnus Romain Virgo has become a genuine success since winning Digicel Rising Star, Jamaica’s equivalent to the popular [Insert Country Here] Idol series. Under the guidance of revered producers Shane Brown from Jukebox Records and Penthouse Records’ Donovan Germain, The System has big shoes to fill as a follow-up to Virgo’s acclaimed self-titled…
-
Tank – This Is How I Feel | Album Review
With his name permanently etched as a powerhouse in the R&B history books, eight-time Grammy nominated singer, songwriter and producer Tank has earned a reel of songwriting [writing for fellow R&B artists Omarion, Keri Hilson, Jennifer Hudson & more] and production credits as an associate member of production team The Underdogs throughout his blossoming career.…
-
Uprising: Hip Hop & The LA Riots (Narrated by Snoop Dogg, Dir. Mark Ford) | Documentary Review
Sometimes the hardest thing to do when you look back at a unique situation is to assess its true impact. It is possible to mould the evidence to fit in with whatever narrative you ultimately choose. Such is the case with the L.A. Riots of 1992: you either believe it was a turning point in…
-
Meek Mill – Dreamchasers 2 | Mixtape Review
The Warner Music stable Maybach Music Group may very well be the next great powerhouse in Hip Hop to be acknowledged alongside the likes of Roc-A-Fella, Bad Boy and Death Row. The reason for this isn’t the magnitude of hype/output that its leader Rick Ross possesses, its the crew’s supporting cast who potentially will bring…
-
Manu Dibango at Ronnie Scott's, London | Live Review
Best known for his much-sampled dance floor funk bomb “Soul Makossa” [that Michael Jackson got sued for unauthorized use of in “Wanna Be Starting Something”], Manu Dibango is among a small illustrious group of musicians who’ve managed to sustain their career into a fifth decade. The Cameroonian saxophonist and vibraphone player blends Afrobeat, jazz and…