For any student of Rap music, its origins in other forms of African-American musical traditions is well known. Many scholars argue that the roots of the rapping tradition can be found in the call-and-response elements in Black church music and the dozens. Certainly, the arrival of a distinct Blues sound in the... Read more

On November 20, 1955, American television viewers were introduced to Bo Diddley, a Mississippi musician whose style would come to influence future generations in ways that are still felt powerfully today. What is now known as the "Bo Diddley Beat" may be his greatest legacy; the syncopated five-accent rhythm he... Read more

In the world of mash-up mixes, Amerigo Gazaway is one of the premier visionaries as of late. The Nashville, Tennessee based-DJ/producer looks beyond the quirky, the niche, or the party staples to draw connections out of time, space, and genre for artists. Amerigo displayed greatness in 2014's Yasiin Gaye merging... Read more

Los Angeles, California-based Hanni El Khatib has thrived as a singer-songwriter, licensing his funky, Blues-inspired Rock tracks to campaigns for Nike and Nissan, in addition to shows such as "Suits," "The United States Of Tara," and "Luther." Khatib knows what the people want, in making vibe-driven music. So in remixing... Read more