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Latest Articles

Interview: John Legend

Despite being one of the most successful R&B singers of the decade — with six Grammys and three top-selling albums — John Legend is something of an oddball.
A different kind of R&B star
By BEN WESTHOFF | August 07, 2009

2008 Listravaganza!

We are not at all sick of bands with animal names yet and seem to have a soft spot for Erykah Badu that we kept very hush about all year.
An absolute glut of cruelly reductive Top 10 lists from our dedicated staff of tirelessly enthusiastic writers
By BOSTON PHOENIX MUSIC STAFF | December 24, 2008

Say what?!

Rapper Esoteric has been getting lots of death threats via e-mail recently. But he’s not too worried about them, if only because of their elementary character.
East Coast Avengers wrong the right with ‘Kill Bill O’Reilly’
By BEN WESTHOFF | September 02, 2008

The call of the wild

It’s not easy being in a band whose two primary songwriters have quite different ideas about how to write an indie-rock song.
Wolf Parade get instinctual
By BEN WESTHOFF | July 28, 2008

Variety pack

A compendium of Wolf Parade side projects
By BEN WESTHOFF | July 28, 2008

The silent rapper

One of the most influential hip-hop MCs of all time, Rakim brought rap from its sing-songy beginnings into its late-’80s golden era with his dense lyrics and virtuoso internal rhyme structures.
What the hell has Rakim been up to?
By BEN WESTHOFF | July 21, 2008

Green initiative

In an era when the major labels ignore just about everybody without a nickname that rhymes with “sleazy,” it was no small feat for Wale to land a deal with Interscope Records earlier this year.
Hip-hop’s heads go on Wale watch
By BEN WESTHOFF | July 21, 2008

Wolf Parade

At Mount Zoomer will give you those same goosebumps you felt when you heard the band’s debut.
At Mount Zoomer | Sub Pop
By BEN WESTHOFF | June 24, 2008

Lil Wayne

All rappers ride on the claim that they’re the best, but on III Wayne makes his case.
Tha Carter III | Young Money/Cash Money/Universal
By BEN WESTHOFF | June 17, 2008

Mates of State: Re-Arrange Us

For their fifth album, Mates of State sought out and found the perfect pop tune. Ten of them, actually.
Barsuk
By BEN WESTHOFF | June 03, 2008

Ready to wear

It’s difficult to keep up when Jamie Lidell is talking.
Enough respect — Jamie Lidell wants you to like him
By BEN WESTHOFF | June 02, 2008

Identity crisis

Black Kids lead singer Reggie Youngblood is relaxed and focused, articulate and unpretentious, polite with a sharp sense of humor.
Black Kids know who they are, even if you don’t
By BEN WESTHOFF | May 06, 2008

Solid gold

One of the biggest names in indie rap for the better part of a decade, Minneapolis duo Atmosphere have just released their latest album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold.

Atmosphere’s Slug grows up. . . . sort of

By BEN WESTHOFF | April 22, 2008

The French are coming

The launch of an extensive North American tour sponsored by MySpace that comes to the Paradise this Saturday.
Justice and Busy P bring the Ed Banger sound to Boston
By BEN WESTHOFF | March 10, 2008

New day rising

As a member of alternative punk band Hüsker Dü and crunch-pop outfit Sugar, Bob Mould became legendary for blissful guitar melodies and personal lyrics that explored his inner angst.
Mr. Mould goes to Washington
By BEN WESTHOFF | March 04, 2008