Hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco will work as a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Institute for the 2025 Fall season. He will teach rap as a part of the school’s new 4-year hip-hop degree program, which is being headed by professor and musical artist Wendel Patrick.
After collaborating with Roc Legion Productions on a previously released single, Sheldon Gava has once again joined forces with the Thailand-based creative. The new record, which went live on streaming platforms on January 1, 2025, is called Read.
Surprisingly, Sheldon, who is known to be a private person, uses this new track to publicly address a very personal issue. “Read is me poetically crying out to my son to judge me based upon the love I’ve always shown, not by the lies and assumptions programmed in him by ones [his mother and stepfather], with whom I have not had a civilized conversation in over 20 years,” says Gava.
Read is a combination of hip-hop—the genre in which Roc Legion specializes—and dub poetry—one of Sheldon Gava‘s preferred modes of expression. It’s fresh, bright, and upbeat, and although the story being told may be interpreted as unfortunate, the record still gives off a positive, feel-good vibe. According to Gava: “Read basically says that actions speak louder than words in any type of relationship. It’s not what you say; it’s what you do.”
Read can be streamed and downloaded on Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, Amazon Music, Tidal, etc.
R&B and soul singer Chrisette Michele has six back-to-back shows at the City Winery (650 North Avenue NE) in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 14, 15, and 16. There will be an early concert at 6:30 pm followed by a later set at 9:30 pm on each night.
Chrisette Michele is both a multi-Grammy nominee and winner. She was previously signed to Motown Records, Capitol Records, and Caroline Distribution. Click here for tickets and additional information.
Nneka is without a doubt one of the most inspirational secular artists from Nigeria. All her songs stir the soul and trigger deep thinking regardless of the audience. Her latest is called Mirror, and on this one she talks about the God within.
The official video for Mirror was uploaded to Nneka‘s YouTube channel two days before Christmas, on the 23rd. If you have not yet seen it, click here or on the image above to check it out, and remember to like, comment, and share.
Hip-hop legend and teacher KRS-One will make a rare appearance at The Midway, a dynamic and interactive 40,000-square-foot live music venue located at 900 Marin Street in San Francisco, California, on Friday, January 17.
Presented by SF Hip-Hop and The Midway, this event will also feature DJ Qbert, Seiji Oda, and Stunnaman02. It will start at 8:00 pm, and tickets can be purchased on Tixr.
Four-time Grammy-nominated singer, platinum songwriter, and passionate health and human rights activist Raheem DeVaughn will do eight shows at Atlanta’s City Winery on January 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th.
Three of the 8 are already sold out. On each of the aforementioned dates, Raheem will do two sets, one at 6:30 pm and the other at 10 pm.
Raheem DeVaughn, a masterful architect of soul music, has continuously ascended the ranks of artistic brilliance. His debut album, The Love Experience, reached No. 46 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. It featured the singles “Guess Who Loves You More” and “You.” His second album, Love Behind the Melody, was released in January 2008.
The highly anticipated Holiday Honors Induction Ceremony & Concert, which is being hosted by Washington DC’s National Hip-Hop Museum, is this Saturday, December 28th, at the Bethesda Theater (7719 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD).
Kool Moe Dee, The Treacherous Three, Marley Marl, DJ Jazzy Jay, The Fearless Four, Soul Sonic Force, Lords of the Underground, and other hip-hop legends will be in attendance. Furthermore, Melle Mel and Scorpio will both be inducted, and Melle Mel will receive the NHHM Legacy Award. Click here for additional information.
MARIA JACKSON 27 MAGAZINE 