Preceded by a crew of gymnasts who shot fire — and themselves — high in the air, Black Sherif earned a hero’s welcome when he took the stage at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra, Ghana, to headline the AfroFuture festival last December. The event, which has become one of the …
Read More »Veeze's Greatness Speaks for Itself — One Croaky Bar at a Time
Veeze has joked that 2022 was his “rap internship” as he prepped his debut LP, Ganger, and spent time around rap stars like Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, and Babyface Ray, observing them and learning rap-star decorum. Now, with the album out to much acclaim, the 28-year-old Detroit native is on …
Read More »Saiko Is Making a Concept Album About a Galaxy. He Says Fame Was Written in the Stars
A couple of years ago, the Spanish reggaetón star Saiko was talking with his friend’s stepdad, Walter, known for his spiritual wisdom and for being in touch with the metaphysical. “He told me, ‘You have to name a song ‘San Walter,’ and I told him, ‘What are you talking about?’” …
Read More »Omah Lay: Afrobeats' Brooding New Visionary
Omah Lay recoils hard when he sees the snow piling up outside of my window over Zoom. “I cannot deal with snow,” says the 26 year-old Nigerian star. “Bro, I can’t even deal with the weather in London.” Lately, when he’s not in Lagos, he’s been spending a lot of …
Read More »Scowl Are Playing To Win
When Scowl toured the country last year, they were obsessed with a simple game: Take a die, roll it, and whoever gets a six can chuck it at the nearest band member. “There were dice flying everywhere!” frontperson Kat Moss says. “It was the most obnoxious game,” adds guitarist Mikey …
Read More »From Street Busking to International Stardom: The Rise of Ryan Castro
Ryan Castro has always been a go-getter. When the Colombian reggaeton singer was 17, he started busking in the streets and on the buses in Medellín. He’d carry a small stereo and jointhe throngs of vendors and performers that lined the tourist hub. A charismatic teenager with a bold timbre …
Read More »The High-Femme Rebellion of the Last Dinner Party
Any shame had been left squarely on the street outside the Bowery Ballroom last fall as the Last Dinner Party frontwoman Abigail Morris whirled around the stage like a cheeky toddler at a wedding reception, the frills of her frock trying their best to follow along as she dizzied herself. …
Read More »Peso Pluma Reveals His Five Picks for Rolling Stone's Future 25
As the cover star of this year’s Future of Music issue, Peso Pluma helped Rolling Stone curate its Future 25 — a comprehensive list of artists who have us and him excited about what’s to come in music. In a new interview, the superstar breaks down why he chose artists …
Read More »Masicka Has Big Dreams for Dancehall's Future
The first sign that Masicka doesn’t stick to any preconceived path arrives when the new-generation Jamaican dancehall artist talks about some of his favorite musicians, like Bob Marley, Shabba Ranks — and Lukas Graham, the sensitive Danish pop band that scored a string of hits in the 2010s? “I like …
Read More »John Summit Is Making Dance Music's Biggest Hits in Bed
How does dance music sensation John Summit pregame his set at one of Las Vegas’ most popular nightclubs the Friday before the Super Bowl? Laying in bed, eating an airport sandwich. But just because he’s horizontal doesn’t mean he’s unproductive. In fact, he’s spending his time cooking up something new …
Read More »