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Hip-Hop's Ice Age
The documentary Bling: A Planet Rock explores the correlation between hip-hop’s obsession with diamonds – “bling” — and 10 years of civil war in Sierra Leone. The film follows rappers Paul Wall and Raekwon and Reggaetón king Tego Calderón to Freetown, where they meet perpetrators and victims of a conflict tied to diamond mines. Also: Montreal-based band Patrick Watson earned nominations this year for some of Canada's biggest music prizes. As they invade the U.S., the group stops to perform in our studio. Plus: the battle over illegal downloading on campuses heats up.
Blood and Bling
Even before Run DMC donned gold-rope chains, hip-hop culture embraced outrageous jewelry. In the documentary Bling: A Planet Rock, hip-hop figures from superstar producer Kanye West to be-grilled rapper Paul Wall explore the link between hip-hop, diamonds, and the civil war that devastated Sierra Leone. We talk with the film's producer, Raquel Cepeda.
Patrick Watson
Canadian art-rock group Patrick Watson is led by, yes, a man named Patrick Watson. But judging from their sound, you might think Phillip Glass was at the helm. After collecting multiple award nods in their native land, the group plays songs from their new album, Close to Paradise, live in the Soundcheck studio.
A Higher Education in Piracy
With college students back to school this week, campus officials are stepping up efforts to warn students about the consequences of illegal downloading. But is anybody listening? We talk with the Boston Globe's Javier C. Hernandez.
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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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Introducing our Video Contest
Soundcheck
John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.
In Studio: Angel Deradoorian
Soundcheck
The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.
- Comments [7]
Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico
Soundcheck
Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.
- Comments [1]
In Studio: Stephanie McKay
Soundcheck
The local singer-songwriter performs "Jackson Avenue," a nostalgic toast to her childhood in the South Bronx.
- Comments [3]
In Studio: The Decemberists
The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.
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.
