These days, the line between Hip Hop and pop is nearly invisible. In many cases, rap artists routinely drive the sound and the success of global pop culture. At the same time, pop stars have long ...

Nothing about Biz Markie’s unapologetically wacky, is-this-guy-for-real? 1989 hip-hop love song “Just A Friend” screamed POP HIT! The “vocalist,” a Long Island, New York MC, deejay and beat boxing ...

Hip-hop celebrated its 51st birthday in August and it’s fitting that it is shortly followed by Hispanic heritage month. While hip-hop has most of its roots in African-American culture, the sound has ...

It's not Spanish, and it's not Latin. Quechua is a language all its own. Around 10 million people speak it in countries such as Peru and Colombia. Sisa Quispe is one of those 10 million. She says rap, ...

Wyclef Jean once explained to me the thinking behind blending pop and hip-hop. He called it “Beauty and the Beast.” It’s similar to the quiet verses and loud choruses that defined alternative rock in ...

This year’s live music calendar is shaping up to be a diverse one, with metal and punk rock (Wolfgang, One OK Rock), indie ...

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Artists like G-Dragon, one of the pioneers of K-pop’s modern sound, openly credit hip-hop as a core influence. Groups like BTS, BLACKPINK, and Stray Kids have built their global brands by blending pop ...

The year 2025 has been a whirlwind year for music, with songs from every genre going viral and dominating playlists around the world. From pop chart-toppers to underground experiments, artists have ...

Though at times ignored by the American spotlight, performers of Asian or Pacific Islander descent have long been part of the global pop scene, from the hit “Sukiyaki” by Japan’s Kyu Sakamota in 1963 ...

Brendan Carmack is the teddy bear of Chicago’s underground pop scene. The Oak Park native has been making hip-hop as Grizzy Mack since high school. Now 31, he keeps busy with music, and performing is ...

On Thursday, Lollapalooza plugs back into Grant Park, bringing 170-plus bands on eight stages across four days. To help make sense of the massive lineup, we asked local experts in the worlds of ...