From a man who's known as much for his biting, verbose cultural and political criticism, it was hard to know what to expect from a new record that was called, by the artist himself in the press release announcing it, "a dance album." But spoken-word poet, writer, musician, and activist...

Photos and Words by Alex Cullen for IRISCAPE Productions

In 2008, Grammy-winning recording artist India.Arie took a trip to Israel. While there, she asked people she met, "Who is the most talented and interesting musician in Israel?" Everyone had the same reply:...

By Marc Gabriel Amigone

Bouncing Cats, the new documentary film shot and directed by Nabil Elderkin, tells the powerful story of Abramz Tekya, the organization he founded, and hip-hop pioneer Richard "Crazy Legs" Colon of the legendary Rock Steady Crew's trip to Uganda. Elderkin follows the legendary B-Boy and several...

Ebo Taylor is one of the funkiest people to ever walk the earth. Love and Death, his first internationally released studio album out October 24th on Strut Records, is a continuation of Taylor's already legendary legacy as a composer and performer of African music.

Starting in the...

by Andrew Aprile

Modiba recently spoke with Steve Gorman, drummer of the Black Crowes, to talk about their most recent release, Croweology, an acoustic double album retrospective of the band's catalogue celebrating the 20th anniversary of their breakthough debut, Shake Your Money Maker.

From the top of the rock n'...

by Jon Sheldrick

Let's get one thing straight: I love free music. If a musician decides to give away an album, I'm the first to download it. I am against the RIAA lawsuits that sue people for sharing music. Rather than scaring people into buying music, I advocate...

by Marc Gabriel Amigone

"I'm a black man, my skin is white and I like it, it's my difference. I'm a white man, my blood is black, I love that, it's the difference that's beautiful." Those are the words of Salif Keita, taken from La Différence, the title...

By Lars Russell (Follow on Twitter)

Like near everyone who saw Just A Band's music video "Ha-He," otherwise known as "Makmende Amerudi!", I was captivated. Grainy B-style gangster-film parody, all stances and stage punches. Delicate, absurdist, almost phenomenological subtitles ("Are you...

by Samuel Bathrick

In March of 2010, Trinity College soccer captain Sam Adams Wisner made 'em say "huh?" when his rap EP Boston's Boy (ahem, his first attempt at a record) debuted at the top of the national iTunes charts, trumping even mega-star Lil Wayne. With...

by Sofia Verzbolovskis

The city of Buenos Aires oozes energy, spirit and creativity, all of which are strongly echoed in its art scene. Yet, it has often puzzled me why Argentina's art has not received the same international spotlight as some of its Latin American counterparts have....

by Samuel Bathrick

As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Grammy-award winning recording artist, Benin-born Angelique Kidjo is fighting to provide education and opportunity to young women in Africa. On her new single, "A Song for Everyone," a collaboration with Emmy-award-winning musician and producer Peter Buffet, Kidjo makes...

By Ezra Gale

The following is written in response to Charles Isherwood's article on the Broadway musical "Fela!" in the New York Times on Sunday, January 28, 2010.

I took a special interest in Charles Isherwood's critical review of "Fela!" not only because I recently saw the...

by Sofia Verzbolovskis

Staff Benda Bilili's first explosive, jaw dropping tour came to an end in Paris' Café de la Danse after more than a month of hypnotizing crowds throughout Europe with their towering energy and unfaltering charm.

Staff Benda Bilili is a group of homeless, paraplegic...

by Samuel Bathrick

Global Fest 2010 has come and gone for the seventh time. For those who trekked it to Webster Hall on a frigid Sunday evening, instead of bundling up with a cup of hot cocoa for Survivor re-runs, the reward was a warm island oasis of their own....

by Marc Gabriel Amigone

The Touareg people, nomads from the south of the Sahara in Northern Mali, West Africa, have a longstanding tradition of coming together for annual meetings called Takoubelt. These congregations allow them to reconnect with each other, have fun, resolve conflicts between individuals or groups,...

This is HuffPost World's regular feature that highlights interesting musicians and musical trends around the world. Know of a great musician doing ground-breaking work outside the United States? Send us your ideas for bands to profile or up-and-coming musicians to follow. Please fill out this survey form.

This is HuffPost World's regular feature that highlights interesting musicians and musical trends around the world. Know of a great musician doing ground-breaking work outside the United States? Send us your ideas for bands to profile or up-and-coming musicians to follow. Please fill out this survey form.

This is HuffPost World's regular feature that highlights interesting musicians and musical trends around the world. Know of a great musician doing ground-breaking work outside the United States? Send us your ideas for bands to profile or up-and-coming musicians to follow. Please fill out this survey form.

This is HuffPost World's regular feature that highlights interesting musicians and musical trends around the world. Know of a great musician doing ground-breaking work outside the United States? Send us your ideas for bands to profile or up-and-coming musicians to follow. Please fill out this survey form.

By Ian Merkel

Cheick Hamala Diabate, a Malian jeli or caste musician, released his second solo album in the U.S. after his Grammy-nominated collaboration From Mali to America with Bob Carlin. He plays several instruments, but is most comfortable with his ngoni, a three-stringed lute that may have been...