Malik Yusef, 02.13.2012

Grammy-winning Songwriter; Spoken Word Artist

Beyond the awards, this is about the art -- about putting something beautiful in the world. That is what I savored from under "All of the Lights" of the Grammys tonight.

Drumma Boy, 02.01.2012

Music Producer

Though I flirted with selecting one genre and perfecting it, once I began studying the diverse career of iconic composer Quincy Jones, I began to realize that the merger of Hip-Hop and Classical music is not impossible -- it is inevitable.

Jon Chattman, 01.11.2012

Published Author, thecheappop.com/asidesmusic.com founder, Blogger

Having a child shouldn't mean your musical taste should lose its flavor. You shouldn't have to subject yourself and your baby to listening solely to Raffi, Barney and Disney tracks 24/7.

Rahilla Zafar, 12.29.2011

Writer/Adventurer, ARZU Ambassador

The right New Year's song captures the spirit of the passing year, celebrates the one to come ... it compels you to dance and kind of makes you want to cry (in a good way).

Kristi York Wooten, 02.12.2012

Founder of SustenanceGroup.org, Music and Culture Critic, Women's Activist

Grab your ear buds (or better yet, noise-reducing headphones), and get ready for a ride through the year's best songs.

Jeff Pollack, 01.30.2012

Founder, Pollack Media Group - Experts in Music and Media

Everyone is about to release their picks for 2011 and looking back I'd like to say it was a good year for new music, but it really wasn't. There were,...

Lucas Kavner, 01.28.2012

Culture Reporter, Huffington Post

Music, in general, might be missing its lyrical heroes. Who are our real poets in 2011? With Occupy Wall Street and the recession and the slipping middle class, it seems like the right time for a new icon to emerge. One that speaks more directly to us, without hiding.

Keli Goff, 01.15.2012

Author, Commentator and Contributing Editor, TheLoop21.com

I know not every woman is a gold digger. I just wish so many women out there would stop perpetuating the stereotype that most of us are.

Kia Makarechi, 01.08.2012

Entertainment Editor, The Huffington Post

Yes, they play "N****s in Paris" three times. Yes, they rap on top of giant, moving risers with LCD side panels. And yes, Kanye wears a leather skirt. But Kanye West and Jay-Z's joint concert is not an act ready made for tweets and text messages.

Mark Anthony Neal, 12.31.2011

Professor of Black Popular Culture in the Department of African and African American Studies at Duke University

Left of Black S:2 E:1 w/ Michael Eric Dyson September 12, 2011 Host Mark Anthony Neal, is joined by Georgetown professor and public intellectual Mi...

Marjon Rebecca Carlos, 12.07.2011

Freelance Personal Shopper, Culture Critic, Blogger

In the wake of Mr. West's rather lopsided first showing of his womenswear line, DW by Kanye West, at Paris Fashion Week and its rather tumultuous aftereffect, it would perhaps serve the rapper well to understand that a designer's career is not a monologue.

Malcolm Harris, 12.02.2011

Curator of Cool; Founder of One Dress Project

Kanye West, you are a musical and lyrical genius. Kanye, you are a beacon of hope and light in the music industry as well as a man of great style and substance. But this path you have chosen as a burgeoning fashion designer must come to a full-stop.

David Wild, 12.02.2011

TV Writer; Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone; Co-Author, 'Diary of a Player"'

Despite some rumors flying through the Twitter-verse last week, Radiohead didn't actually play "Occupy Wall Street." That's a shame because there are a few folks on Wall Street for whom "Creep" really ought to be their theme song.

Shira Lazar, 11.22.2011

Host/EP, WhatsTrending.com

From his new book One Day It Will All Make Sense to his reaction to all the bad press around his White House invite, the "influencer" candidly spoke to me about his spin on things.

Mark R. Collins, 11.21.2011

Third generation newspaper man

My father told me not to be a journalist. He told me I'd work long hours, never make any money and experience hopelessness in general. And he was co...

Victoria Coats, 11.20.2011

Writer, DJ and Contributor to PostBourgie.com

I was riding on a wave of pride -- in the rappers' boldness and the content of their message -- when I came to a disappointing halt in my enjoyment of the track. What started out as valiant social commentary has declined into a drab, somewhat sulky exaltation of "the new black elite."