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White Rappers
Eminem’s latest album, "Curtain Call: The Hits," was certified double Platinum after selling more than two million copies in less than two months. Although the rapper retains a strong presence on the scene, his success has not given birth to a wave of new white rappers, as many predicted. We will talk about the failed effort by the music industry to launch new white hip hop stars with author Touré and with Jim Farber, Music critic for the New York Daily News. Also, celebrities like Madonna, and members of the Rapture and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have all taken turns playing DJ, but do they know how to spin? We hear about the phenomenon of celebrity DJs. And: Egyptian composer Sayyed Darweesh was champion of women's rights, an alleged cocaine addict, and he's known as the father of modern Arab music. We’ll hear the story and the music of Darweesh, as told by the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble.
Celebrity DJs
Tricia Romano of the Village Voice fills us in on celebrity DJs.
» Tricia Romano's article on Celebrity DJs
White Rappers
Music writers Touré and Jim Farber discuss the success of white rappers.
» Toure's website
The Father of Modern Arab Music
Hicham Chami and Karim Nagi perform with the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble, in a concert devoted to the music of Sayyed Darweesh.
» Symphony Space's website
» Hicham Chami's website
» Karim Nagi's website
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Go behind the scenes!
Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show. Plus, watch videos from in-studio performances.
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- Comments [8]
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- Comments [1]
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Sound Off
Soundcheck
Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.