Fancy a socio-cultural debate on the role of hip hop? Initially sparked by TV icon Oprah Winfrey (as shown in the video below), the conversation continues with poetry slammer Saul Williams’ eloquently written open letter. Hip-Hop Townhall Meeting On Oprah

The world’s favorite online retailer, Amazon.com has embraced indie (and not just indie rock) artists and labels, opening a brand new section called Go Indie . Despite partnering with just over 30 labels, Amazon won’t necessarily carry a more diverse range of titles – it already has a fairly deep selection. However, it is a fantastic excuse to promote 150 indie albums for $9.99 each and get the word out by featuring select artists like Air, Bebel Gilberto, and...

Lily Allen’s canceled 10 dates in May and June on her American tour to spend time in the studio writing her new album. As blogged on her MySpace, the popstar reported, "I am not falling apart at the seams, I am not suffering with exhaustion, I am not pregnant, and I am not going to rehab. I will be here in America, promoting the album and also starting to write the second album, which I am beyond excited about." So the news she...

Beginning at the end of this month, Amy Winehouse will be touring the US alongside avant-garde indie artist Patrick Wolf. It makes sense, right? They’re both young, British, stylish, and extremely talented individuals with white-hot records. (Mr. Wolf’s The Magic Position is due out the first of May on Low Altitude/Universal ). You will want to get your tickets as soon as you can and pray that Amy keeps her end of the bargain. TOUR DATES: ...

Need we say more than restate the title? But of course! The Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival and Brooklyn Bodega will be celebrating 50 years of the legendary Stax Records, Magnum Photography, Music Under The Stars, and Wild Style for their 3rd Annual Hip Hop Festival. Already on the bill for the 5 day event are headliner Ghostface, Skillz, Consequence, and Tanya Morgan with more to come - take a glance...

Longtime deviant indie-rock instrumentalist group Tortoise has mutated to become a new band Bumps in '07, releasing a beat heavy self-titled LP out on Stones Throw Records June 19th. That might sound odd on paper, but it all makes sense when you hear track 21, "Tryplmeade Gorsmatch," a dubstep experiment in hypnosis. Careful, it's a banger. Bumps’ ...

SA-RA is bringing The Hollywood Recordings (out Apr. 24th on Babygrande Records ) to a US venue near you this month, commencing tonight in San Francisco, CA. Out of the dozen listening parties, DJ Shafiq of the progressive hip hop trio will be making guest appearances in LA, SF, and NYC for the official album release party. Anything to hear "Glorious" again on a big system, right? And with 17 new tracks, do make sure to listen for SA-RA's soulful...

Will.i.am , famed frontman for the Black Eyed Peas , has a new concept LP titled, "Songs About Girls" coming out this summer on will.i.am music/A&M . And although he's released albums in 2001 and 2003 ( Lost Change and Must B 21 , respectively), he thinks of his forthcoming album as his debut effort – perhaps, because contrary to hip hop standards, he's decided against relying on the creative crutch of guest artists. Or maybe, it's...

We'll refrain from prefacing these videos with claims to their validity. Suffice it to say they could be snippets of Björk's new album Volta and single "Earth Intruders" (released today via iTunes). Either way they're awfully intriguing and enjoyable to watch.

Pharoahe Monch just pushed the launch date of his album Desire (on SRC Records ) back from May 1st to June 25th. Though Monch makes us wait another 2 months – what’s another 2 months after 8 years, really – he still has plenty to offer fans in the meantime: a pre-release tour, a couple streaming singles from the