hip hop Archive
28 May 2026
¡Viva Cuba! Part Three: Obsesión
An edited version of this feature appeared in SPIN. Pioneering hip hop duo Obsesión is based in Regla, an industrial suburb on Havana Bay. Founders and MCs Magia Lopez and […]
19 Sep 2025
The Mind Movies of Adrian Younge
This feature appeared previously in SPIN Magazine. Some artists combine genres as a stylistic challenge, motivated by curiosity: Can it even be done? But when Adrian Younge blends musical forms […]
13 Aug 2025
San Jose Jazz Summer Fest Highlight Reel
Note: This roundup refers to an event that took place last weekend, Aug. 8-10. Celebrating its 35th year, the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest is an institution. When the festival […]
08 Jul 2025
Something Enduring About April: Adrian Younge
One of the most creative and prolific artists in today’s music, composer-musician-arranger Adrian Younge has recently completed and released Something About April III. The concluding entry in a trilogy of […]
01 Jun 2025
30 Days Out, June 2025 #1: Peter Hook, Beach Boys, Sugar Bomb, Adrian Younge
Wowzers. I have a lot to say about the four spotlight acts that dominate the Asheville music calendar in the coming 30 days. Off we go! Artist: Peter Hook & […]
08 May 2025
Cypress Hill Meets Reno Phil (Part 2 of 2)
Continued from Part One… Altieri: With all the different musicians in the Reno Phil, we all have our different ideas in approaching something like this. Usually it takes a conductor […]
07 May 2025
Cypress Hill Meets Reno Phil (Part 1 of 2)
When hip hop and orchestral music meet, sparks fly Founded in 1969 by Russian-born conductor Gregory Stone, the Reno Philharmonic – affectionately known as the “Reno Phil” – has become […]
01 Feb 2025
30 Days Out, February 2025 #1: Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Fantastic Negrito, Judy Collins, Michael Marcagi
Great artists from here (Asheville) and there (everywhere else), from now (Fantastic Negrito) and then-to-now (Judy Collins). Those are among the highlights for the the third 30DO of this new […]
01 Dec 2024
30 Days Out, Dec. 2024 #1: LA LOM, The Nutcracker, ‘Together We Rise,’ RJD2
A popular multi-hyphenate aritst, an amazing new(ish) group putting a creative spin on an an established form, a benefit for WNC and a beloved holiday tradition (times four): those are […]
01 May 2024
30 Days Out, May 2024 #1: Eric Slick, Carpal Tullar, Cypress Hill, Real Estate
What an impressive lineup of touring (and local) acts on the calendar over the next 30 days in Asheville. Even with everything going on in the world, what a great […]