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Soundcheck / July 18, 2008

Soundcheck

Friday, July 18, 2008
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  • Del's

    The Future of Hip Hop

    For years, DJs and MCs fended off declarations of hip hop’s demise with innovative beats and chart-busting albums. But these days, hip hop is stuck in a deep funk. Today on Soundcheck, we look at hip hop’s soul-searching journey into the future. And later: West African Lionel Loueke mixes the giants of jazz with African traditions. He talks about his turn on Herbie Hancock's Grammy winning album and plays in our studio. This is an encore edition of Soundcheck.

Hip Hop's Haters at the Gates

Music industry watchers have been obsessed with the future of hip hop practically since the moment rap was born 30 years ago. But sales were down 30% in 2007 and superstars like 50 Cent have lost their luster. We talk about hip-hop's soul-searching journey into the future, and longtime MC Del tha Funkee Homosapien talks about his new album, "Eleventh Hour," and his experiences on major and independent labels.

Our blog: John Schaefer on the future of hip hop.

Lionel Loueke

West African Lionel Loueke is the guitarist on Herbie Hancock’s "River: The Joni Letters," which just won a Grammy for best album of 2007. He is now releasing his Blue Note debut, Karibu, which includes appearances by Hancock himself and saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Lionel Loueke joins us to talk about mixing jazz giants with African traditions. And, he performs in the studio.

Introducing our Video Contest

Soundcheck

John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.

In Studio: Matisyahu

Soundcheck

Hasidic star Matisyahu joins Soundcheck to play "One Day" live in studio.

In Studio: Los Amigos Invisibles

Soundcheck

The Venezuelan funk-rock band "Los Amigos Invisibles" was discovered by David Byrne in a Manhattan record shop. They perform live on Soundcheck.

In Studio: Angel Deradoorian

Soundcheck

The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.

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.

The Decemberists

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.

headphone

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.