Music

Milford Graves, the pioneering jazz drummer, professor, inventor, herbalist, visual and martial artist, has died, as NPR’s Lars Gotrich reports. He was 79. In 2018, Graves had been diagnosed with amyloid cardiomyopathy—colloquially known as stiff heart syndrome—and told he had six months to live. Born in Queens in 1941, Graves was a pioneer of free

Nigerian singer-songwriter Fireboy DML was the musical guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night (February 12). For his U.S. late-night debut, Fireboy performed a medley of “Champion,” from his latest studio album Apollo, and his 2019 track “Vibration” from Laughter, Tears and Goosebumps. He was joined by a full band and a

Legendary audio engineer, recording equipment inventor, and entrepreneur Rupert Neve has died, according to a statement posted to his official website. An obituary shared by representatives reveals that the cause of death was “non-Covid pneumonia and heart failure.” He was 94 years old. Born in Newton Abbott, England, in 1926, Neve volunteered in the British

Justin Timberlake has issued an apology to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson in a new statement posted to his Instagram account. The statement follows the singer’s recent appearance in Framing Britney Spears, a New York Times documentary on Spears’ career and conservatorship battle that outlined Timberlake’s role in damaging the public perception of Spears, following

Donald Glover and Phoebe Waller-Bridge have signed up to play the titular roles in an Amazon Studios TV adaptation of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, a 2005 film starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as married suburban assassins. Variety reports that Glover and Waller-Bridge will also serve as executive producers on the series. Guava Island, Glover’s

Last month, social media personality and “unofficial talent scout of New York City” Nicolas Heller (better known as New York Nico) announced that he had partnered with New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority to curate new subway announcements about COVID-19, recorded by various famous New Yorkers. The announcements include reminders to wear masks and practice

Rowdy Rebel and Nav have teamed up for a new song referencing the legendary Olympic athlete and gold medalist Jesse Owens. The track, also called “Jesse Owens,” is out now. Hear it below. Rowdy Rebel posted a teaser for “Jesse Owens” earlier this week. Last month, Rowdy Rebel released a new track called “Re-Route” along

Run the Jewels and GZA were invoked in Washington, D.C. this week during impeachment proceedings against former president Donald Trump. Rep. Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, pulled lines from Run the Jewels’ “Early” and GZA’s “Breaker, Breaker” in her remarks on Wednesday (February 10).  She confirmed her nods to the artists

Last year, Rick Rubin was cited for violating quarantine in Hawaii. The producer is said to have walked along an empty area of Anini Beach, near his lodging location in Princeville on the island of Kauai, in violation of the island’s mandatory two-week quarantine period for off-island visitors. Rubin has now paid a $1,000 fine

Taylor Swift. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV) Taylor Swift is dropping “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)”, a re-recorded take on her hit single, before an update to her 2008 album Fearless. Swift appeared on Good Morning America to make a special announcement Thursday (11 February), announcing that the new “Love Story” would be released at midnight that same

Janet Weiss appeared on the latest episode of the The Line, a new podcast by Screen Radar. During the interview, Weiss talks about working as a location scout and manager on Kelly Reichardt’s latest film First Cow. Weiss and producer Neil Kopp recall finding the right cow meadows and trees for the scenic movie. Listen

The Roots have announced a deluxe reissue of their 1995 sophomore studio album Do You Want More?!!!??! The new, extended version arrives March 12 via Geffen/Ume. Find reworked versions of “Silent Treatment” and “Lazy Afternoon” below. Do You Want More?!!!??! was originally released on January 17, 1995. The deluxe version of the album will be

FINNEAS, Billie Eilish’s older brother and primary collaborator, is scoring the forthcoming movie The Fallout, Variety reports and his representatives confirmed to Pitchfork. The movie, directed by Megan Park, stars Jenna Ortega as Vada, a teenager who “navigates the emotional fallout she experiences in the wake of a school tragedy.” Peymon Maskan, the film’s music

Liz Phair has released her first new song in two years. “Hey Lou” is an homage to Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson, and its accompanying music video stars puppet versions of the iconic artists. The single makes reference to Anderson’s classic track “O Superman,” Andy Warhol, and more. Check it out below. “Hey Lou” is

Elliot Mazer—the prolific engineer and producer who worked on records by Neil Young, the Band, Linda Ronstadt, and more—has died, Rolling Stone reports. He died at his San Francisco home on Sunday (February 7) of a heart attack, Mazer’s daughter Allison confirmed to RS. She added that her father had been battling dementia for years.

London’s Dry Cleaning have announced that their debut album is on the way: New Long Leg is out April 2 via 4AD. The follow-up to their 2019 EPs Sweet Princess and Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks features the new song “Strong Feelings.” Watch its video below. Dry Cleaning recorded the album during the pandemic, with