David Ma is a Recording Academy/GRAMMY.com contributor.
Radical songs that exploded from Southeast Asia in the '60s and '70s weren't made because of heartbreak and destruction — they were made in spite of it. These audacious recordings emerged amid the darkest of times when political turmoil in the 11-country region was a collective nightmare. Vietnam's history is defined by war (both against imperialism and within itself), as…
The handful of rap songs released in the 1970s opened doors for the onslaught of creative variation that marked rap albums of the 1980s. Diss tracks, party anthems, socially minded material and gangsta rap all had a place in this era, defined by groups and solo efforts that strove to differentiate themselves from one another. Debuts from the likes of…
By the time Sugar Hill Gang’s "Rapper’s Delight" hit radio in 1979, early adopters of burgeoning hip-hop culture dismissed it as novelty — an easy cash grab capitalizing on organic artistry they lived and created. The culture's originators were youngsters who saw graffiti and breakdancing be both vilified and celebrated, all within a decade. But "Rappers’ Delight," not only charted…
Silent partners are often obscured by overt counterparts — even more so when you’re in groups with Pharrell Williams. Producer and songwriter Chad Hugo actively chose the background. As one-half of production crew the Neptunes and one third of hip-hop/rock group N.E.R.D., Hugo at times receded from public view during waves of massive success. The Virginia Beach-based musician would resurface…
Artists who’ve stretched their careers past the unimaginable often come full circle; at no point do they ever really lose the foundations that moved them to begin with. Robert Diggs — known as the RZA — is having one of those full-circle moments. After founding a record label and clothing brand, creating comic books and soundtracking Hollywood hits, today he…
