The founder of Motown Records was born in the city he helped make synonymous with soulfulness, Detroit, on November 28, 1929.
Mixing hip-hop with R&B, New Jack Swing dominated the US charts between 1989 and 1993, and its innovations have left an indelible influence on modern music.
Benefitting from a luminous, nostalgic sheen, ‘Pronounced Jah-Nay’ is a reminder that R&B duo Zhané were a unique voice in early 90s R&B.
Travelling with Chris Barber’s jazz band, Muddy Waters’ first UK tour found him playing “pure” and “uninhibited” blues to devoted crowds.
Ten records from the label and artists that helped define early rock’n’roll.
The rising UK soul singer’s release coincides with UK Black History Month celebrations.
With his third mixtape, ‘So Far Gone’, Drake edged ever closer to world domination, teaming up with Lil Wayne and Young Money Entertainment.
Chess Records laid the foundation for rock’n’roll, and its influence can still be felt today, as this guide to the 10 best Chess blues records shows.
The relationship between Motown and politics runs deep. At the heart of it was great music and a commitment to changing the world.
A seismic career shift and a bold new artistic direction brought an indelible classic.
The classically trained jazz pianist has always straddled the two worlds of jazz and hip-hop, most audibly on pathfinding albums the likes of ‘Black Radio’.
The Chess label more than held its own against the likes of Motown and Stax – as this run-down of the 10 best Chess soul records of all time shows.
For the ravenous Northern soul collector, one label consistently brought the goods: Chess Northern soul classics continue to epitomise the sound today.
Start your journey into one of the most influential labels in music with our list of the best Chess albums to own on vinyl.
In the way its music was presented and the universal themes its artists sang of, Motown broke racial barriers to move everyone, no matter their skin colour.
