When Afro-Cuban musician Mario Bauz? introduced Dizzy Gillespie to Havana-born percussionist Chano Pozo in 1947, it paved the way for the emergence of Latin Jazz. Gillespie didn't know what a conga drum was called, but the trumpeter sure knew he like...
Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! Gender frequently plays a role in creating an image with music. Whether a song is dripping with the feminine empowerment of a two-bit pop act like the Spice Girls or throbbing with the stuffed trousers of any of the...
Phora during a meet-and-greet at Pachuco Tattoo earlier this year An unknown assailant opened fire on a car driven by rapper Phora just after midnight Tuesday in Pasadena. The Anaheim-bred rapper's brush with death happened when he headed home wit...
The World's Most Dangerous Biopic As you've probably heard, for the second week in a row the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton was number one at the box office. Director F. Gary Gray's film has been inspiring passionate responses across the boa...
Renowned DJ and producer, A-Trak, brings his homegrown festival to LA this weekend. When Fool's Gold Day Off starts this Saturday at the Shrine Expo Hall & Grounds in LA, you might not know every artist who takes the stage. Hell, some of the ones ...
Jimmie Walker is the man in more ways than one and while it'd be easy to say he was "dy-no-mite," we actually think he's more like dyno-mighty. Mighty funny, mighty talented, and mighty inspirational when it comes to his comedic craft. Something else...
Many people regard love as the greatest virtue, but since there has always been a shortage of virtue in the world, lots of folks settle for lust. Now, in any community with an economic system, wherever there is a demand, there is an opportunity for p...
Moz in his element, fending off stage a stage crasher Before the gates for FYF Fest opened this past weekend, many of its faithful festival goers had plenty of shit to talk about the big names on the bill--Kanye West (who took over for Frank Ocean...
No matter how brilliant and familiar live classical music may be, unless the audience member is thoroughly versed in the genre or that particular piece of work, his 21st century attention span is probably going to wander off a bit during a concert. H...
The Orange County Poetry Club Poetry is arguably like punk rock. It's an underground art form committed to raw emotion, placing emphasis on self-expression. It's a conduit for social and personal angst, and has little regard for the status quo. Po...
The Bout It One Himself, Master P Hip-hop and Hollywood have combined to create the biggest story in all of entertainment at the moment as the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton is dominating the box office and receiving rave reviews for bring...
No lines. Plenty of food. Ample space. Shorter walking distances between stages. Plenty of activity. Believe it or not, we're not talking about Coachella, but instead the new and improved FYF Fest. It seems that after last year's logistics debacle,...
By Johan Vogel Gather 'round youngens. Come and sit for a spell. And I'll spin you a yarn of olden times... Y'see, back in the early 19 hundred and 90's, back when the crick ran fat with catfish and freedom was just another word for nothing left to...
Teresa Su?rez, better known as Teri Gender Bender, is the charismatic poetess and frontwoman of the Mexican garage punk band Le Butcherettes. She's been dubbed "The Latina Bj?rk", but Terri Gender Bender is much more than a quirky feminist who cover...
Regulators, mount up! If you've noticed more rhythm in your bass and more bass in your treble than usual, it's because the Guardian of the G-Funk Mr. Warren G has dropped his first release in six years, and it's a sequel to his classic. Regulate... G...
Motorhead Motorhead Riverside Municipal Auditorium 8/19/15 Few things should compel a human being to willfully enter the 91 East freeway during Wednesday rush hour traffic. But if there's one thing worth enduring miles of IE gridlock, it's Motorhe...
He's captured notable LA rap figures like Tupac Shakur, Coolio, Snoop Dogg, and Eazy E; album covers, lowriders, and fashion models, all with a breathtaking flair and energy that espouses west coast/Los Angeles culture. Known as a true originator, Mi...
Focus DJs: Josh Billings & Nonfiction If you can get down with the finest acts in electronic music such as Kygo and Gramatik, dig activities like stand up paddle, peddle boats, swimming and yoga, and you are in need of a seriously stunning backdro...
If you are one of those who believe in such tomfoolery, the fifth anniversary is traditionally termed the wood anniversary, with the modern gift-giving equivalent being silverware. Well, let's keep the forks and knives away from some of the main cha...
Poor iPhone photos of Wu-Tang Clan members ain't nuthing ta fuck wit. Ghostface Killah The Observatory 8/19/15 There are approximately eight people currently in hip-hop who could perform at just about any mid-sized venue in America at 11:10 p.m. ...
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