‘It Takes a Thief’—that was the one that made the hood like me. ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’—that was the one that made white people like me. Open in browser Thursday September 29, 2022 Coolio in Amsterdam, Nov. 3, 1995. (Paul Bergen/Redferns/Getty Images) quote of the day “‘It Takes a Thief’—that was the one that made the hood like me. ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’—that was the one that made white people like me.” - Coolio, 1963 – 2022 rantnrave:// Fantastic Voyage Like all true one-hit wonders, he’ll forever be remembered by a certain sector of the populace for that one dark, dramatic, fantastic song. Unlike all true one-hit wonders, he wasn’t a one-hit wonder at all. He had several more, including two other pop top-fives, during a brilliant if brief run during those mid-‘90s glory years of OASIS and the NOTORIOUS B.I.G., which were also a time when, it should be remembered, hip-hop hits becoming pop hits was absolutely not a given. They were good to great and had genuine influence. He reached with intention across cultural lines and continued to do so long after that burst of pop stardom. He understood that “after I’m long gone from this planet, and from this dimension, people will come back and study my body of work.” Perhaps to give them a starting point for that study, he died on the anniversary of the release of STEVIE WONDER’s SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE, the classic album that provided that one particular song with its unforgettable minor-key hook. Or perhaps they’ll choose to start somewhere else. RIP. It’s Friday And it’s the last day of eligibility for the 2023 Grammy Awards, so save some hardware if you can for SHYGIRL, the new queen of provocative pop; YG, who’s still working through some issues; (very deserving) country critics’ faves ASHLEY MCBRYDE and TYLER CHILDERS; and multitasking hip-hop veteran KID CUDI. Also feel free to consider Freddie Gibbs, Boldy James & Nicholas Craven, DDG, Prodigy (RIP), City of Caterpillar, Titus Andronicus, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Björk, Slipknot, Pixies, Buddy Guy, Dropkick Murphys (channeling Woody Guthrie), Alison Sudol, Kolb, Mamalarky, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Lambchop, Shannon Moser, the Bad Plus, Snarky Puppy, Keith Jarrett (live album), Basher, Autopsy, Acephalix, Mamaleek, High Vis, Upchuck, DJ Scriby/DJ Marillo/DJ Skothan, DeepChord, Oren Ambarchi, Cole Pulice, Clark (rarities), Forest Claudette, Gabriels, Craig David, Bladee, Rome Streetz, Tory Lanez, Richard Marx, Sammy Hagar & the Circle, Off!, John Fullbright, Mary Bragg, Hellbound Glory, David Adam Byrnes, Zach Williams, Crystal Shawanda, Pretty Sick, the Big Pink, Perera Elsewhere, Disheveled Cuss... And a second volume of the “Blue Note Re:imagined” cover series, featuring tracks by UK artists Ego Ella May, Theon Cross, Cherise and others. - Matty Karas (@troubledoll), curator sumpin' new Rolling Stone Coolio's 'Gangsta's Paradise': The Oral History of 1995's Pop-Rap Smash By Dan Epstein How Stevie Wonder, Michelle Pfeiffer and "Weird Al" Yankovic played a role in the ubiquitous mega-hit. Slate Coolio Was More Than 'Gangsta’s Paradise' By Nitish Pahwa The hip-hop classic was both 1995’s biggest song and its most acclaimed, but it was neither the rapper’s first hit nor his last. The Washington Post The Search for the Perfect Sound By Geoff Edgers Vinyl is booming in the digital age. So why does the best way to listen feel just out of reach? Billboard Why Is Opening a New Vinyl Pressing Plant So Hard? By Brittany Trang Growth in vinyl demand that’s overwhelmed production presents a business opportunity for new manufacturers - they just have to open first. The Guardian ‘The work we do isn’t algorithmic’: A&R in the era of TikTok By Eamonn Forde In the digital age, marketability is just as important as music. Artist and repertoire reps from Warner, Ministry of Sound and Partisan explain how they discover music in 2022. Texas Monthly The 'Harry Styles Professor' Went to See Harry Styles. Here’s What Happened By Kathy Blackwell Going to Harry’s House--the singer’s six-night residency in Austin--with Texas State University’s Louie Dean Valencia. Los Angeles Times As emo nostalgia crests, Paramore returns, with a new sound and a healthy outlook By Suzy Exposito The band, now a trio led by singer Hayley Williams, is set to release its first album since 2017, following mental health and personnel struggles. Stereogum With The Screamo Scene Surging, Some Of Its Foundational Bands Are On The Comeback Trail By Julian Towers City Of Caterpillar, Jeromes Dream, and more on the challenge of playing vital skramz in middle age. The Washington Post How Lizzo came to play James Madison's crystal flute on a D.C. stage By Theresa Vargas Yes, *that* James Madison. Previously On Let Lizzo Touch Everything In the Library of Congress By R. Eric Thomas Library card never declined, my gawd! c u when u get there NPR Where are the Black musicians in the country's largest orchestras? By Jeff Lunden In 2014, a study found that only 1.4% of orchestra musicians were Black. In 2022, it's hard to know if that number is better or worse. Billboard ‘The Industry Is Prepared’: How Tech is Turning Up the Volume in the Nigerian Music Biz By Ify Obi The country is currently experiencing a technological revolution that has helped Nigerian artists impact the global charts. Pitchfork Pitchfork's 150 Best Albums of the 1990s By Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Quinn Moreland, Max Freedman... From Lauryn Hill to Radiohead, My Bloody Valentine to Janet Jackson, Nirvana to Wu-Tang Clan, and so many more, these are the albums that changed music forever. British GQ The radical liberation of Sam Smith By Jeremy Atherton Lin A decade after their spot on a Disclosure track defrosted hearts around the world, Sam Smith is entering a new phase of power and influence -- and embracing their ascendance from musical megatalent to full-blown cultural icon. Tape Op Suzy Shinn: Soaking Up the Sun By Sadie Dupuis Over a call between a busy week of sessions, Shinn, a producer/engineer/songwriter who's worked with some of her childhood favorites such as Weezer, Fall Out Boy, and Panic! At The Disco, tells me about making recordings with heart, the importance of daylight in her studio, and other creative outlets that inspire her music. Bloomberg Hit Songs Are Staying on the Top Charts Longer Than Ever By Lucas Shaw Why are songs spending more time on the charts, and what does that mean for the music business? Refinery29 The Meaning Behind Stormzy's 'Mel Made Me Do It' & How It Champions Black British Culture By Nikki Onafuye Stormzy's new single 'Mel Made Me Do It' shares the importance of our identity -- not just being Black but being Black and British too. Rolling Stone Puerto Rico’s Biggest Stars Take Hurricane Relief Into Their Own Hands By Juan J. Arroyo Rauw Alejandro, PJ Sin Suela, and Bad Bunny are a few of the artists working to help Puerto Ricans after the damage caused by Hurricane Fiona. Resident Advisor How Creativity is Shaping the Virtual Rave By Sophie Misrahi and Sian Bradley A thriving underground nightlife scene is on the rise, but you don’t need to leave your house to be part of it. Detroit Metro Times ‘For the heads’: An oral history of EXAT, Detroit’s legendary ’90s experimental and ambient techno night at Zoot’s Coffeehouse By Michaelangelo Matos Detroit's underground dance events of the '90s are justly storied - but one of the decade's most consistently attended and long-term impactful was small, insider-heavy, and not intended for dancing at all. LAist In The Early '90s, MARS FM Channeled The Sounds Of LA's Underground House And Techno Rave Scene By Liz Ohanesian The short-lived commercial radio station uniquely put the sounds of LA’s underground rave culture on the dial. Despite its brief existence, the legacy that it left lives on. what we're into Music of the day “Fantastic Voyage” Coolio Music | Media SUBSCRIBE Suggest a link “REDEF is dedicated to my mother, who nurtured and encouraged my interest in everything and slightly regrets the day she taught me to always ask ‘why?’” Jason Hirschhorn CEO & Chief Curator HOME | ABOUT | SETS | PRESS Redef Group Inc. LA - NY - Everywhere Copyright ©2021 UNSUBSCRIBE or MANAGE MY SUBSCRIPTION