On stage at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds at Soundset 2016, Sway Calloway shared some words on hip-hop culture: “It’s multifaceted and multidimensional.” The Sway in the Morning host was introducing legendary hip-hop crew (and Jimmy Fallon house band) the Roots, who proved his point in one neo-soul-to-swing-to-beatboxing set. But all day long, Soundset brought together disparate artists…

Minnesota loves a good sequel song, an earnest young musician, and the Vik…okay, well, maybe the Vikings could use a little more love. They’re getting it from six-year-old Obadiah Gamble, who invited quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to his birthday party with a song and video, “Hey Teddy.” The video went viral — it currently has over…

I Self Devine & Muja Messiah, “Midnight On Jupiter (feat. Lady Midnight)” I Self Devine and Muja Messiah released 9th House late last year, and Lady Midnight has two lovely, powerful features on the album. This video, directed by Mychal “Myk” Fisher, takes the first of those two songs through space and sky. If you enjoy this video,…

ZULUZULUU — Greg Grease, DJ Just Nine, MYK, “Proper-T,” Captain Big Bounce, Trelly Mo — are sonic adventurers who defy categorization. Are they hip-hop? Are they funk? Are they soul? Are they Afrobeat? Are they the music of the spheres? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. The band have announced a new album, What’s the Price (Sound Verite Records/RVL),…

On the first episode of his new Sirius XMU show, Julian Casablancas premiered a new Strokes song, “OBLIVIUS,” and announced that a new EP — Future Present Past — will be released June 3. The EP’s two other songs, “Drag Queen” and “Threat of Joy,” later premiered on Beats 1 and BBC Radio 1 respectively, and all three are…

Soundset 2016 kicks off this weekend, and it’s been a long time since I was this excited for a festival. Typically, I start off festivals with a few favorite artists on the lineup, and I discover lots of new music just by catching bits of sets. At Eaux Claires, I found Elliot Moss; at TFBSE,…

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater stopped by to wish happy seventh birthday to Obadiah Gamble after the local youngster made a music video inviting Bridgewater to his party, and the video went viral. (City Pages) Fatal violence erupts at T.I. show Three were shot, one fatally, at a Wednesday night T.I. concert in New York. Just before the Atlanta…

There has always been something very comforting to me about listening to the Jayhawks, even when their songs speak to sadness and loneliness. And there has always been something about Gary Louris’s voice that hints at something deeper and lonelier than we could ever imagine. His voice has a vulnerability at its core that makes…

Gord Downie, frontman of The Tragically Hip, has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. In a statement, the band say Downie, 52, has “endured a lot of difficult times, and has been fighting hard.” Nonetheless, a tour is being planned for this summer, and the Kingston, Ontario band say it will be their best yet. (Billboard) Update:…

Bringing It All Back To Duluth Does Dylan Tonight at the Rex Bar, a big tribute concert will celebrate the man born Robert Zimmerman in the Zenith City 75 years ago today. It’s also the release party for the fourth installment in the Duluth Does Dylan series: a crowdfunded album featuring covers of Bob’s classics by artists including…