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The Best Jazz of 2018

The definition of "jazz" has never been broader, and the music has never been brighter. Two PopMatters critics pick their favorites in four modern jazz categories.

Justin Cober-Lake and Will Layman

Music

David Murray Teams with Saul Williams on Blues for Memo and Makes His Best Record in Many Years

Elite saxophonist David Murray teams with poet Saul Williams to create his most thrilling recording in decades—a proto or progressive hip-hop grounded in soulful jazz.

Music

Saul Williams Commands Attention at Summerstage (Photos + Video)

Saul Williams played a free, powerful Summerstage show ahead of his appearance at Afropunk this weekend.

Music

Laying the Groundwork: An Interview With Saul Williams

Poet/musician/auteur Saul Williams discusses the influence of Haitian post-apocalyptic art on his music, artist and listener responsibility, and more.

Interviews

Saul Williams - "The Noise Came From Here" (Singles Going Steady)

Ferguson needs protest anthems, and this is a terrific one.

Music

Afropunk Fest: 24 August 2013 - Brooklyn, NY (Day 1 Photos)

Pictures from Afropunk Fest Day 1, including ones of Saul Williams and the kids of Unlocking the Truth, are here.

Events

Saul Williams: Volcanic Sunlight

Williams actually seems to be moving away from the righteous fury that informed his earliest albums, and has admitted that he set out to make a pop album this time around.

Music

CMJ 2009: Day 2 - Javelin + The xx + Saul Williams/Afro-Punk Tour

The CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival invades New York City this week. Here's the latest from PopMatters' writers on the beat. Words and Pictures by Stephen Stirling

Stephen Stirling

Music

"The Real is Just as Magical as the Fictitious": An Intimate Talk with Saul Williams

Few people would give their new album away for free online. Fewer would stop a prison brawl by reciting a poem. Fewer still do all this while making a powerful statement about the issue of race in our country today. Saul Williams does all these things.

Music

The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop by Saul Williams

Certain things never change: s'mores are still delicious, rainbows are still happy, calculus is still confusing, and Saul Williams is still angry at mainstream hip-hop culture.

Michael Frauenhofer

Reviews

Pop Ten

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The 25 Best Classic Progressive Rock Albums

The 15 Best R&B/Soul Albums of 2019

The 100 Greatest Alternative Singles of the '80s: Part 1: 100 - 81

The 50 Best Albums of 2019 So Far

Jackie Chan's 10 Best Films

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Mixed Media

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PM Picks

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David Murray Teams with Saul Williams on Blues for Memo and Makes His Best Record in Many Years

Elite saxophonist David Murray teams with poet Saul Williams to create his most thrilling recording in decades—a proto or progressive hip-hop grounded in soulful jazz.

Saul Williams Commands Attention at Summerstage (Photos + Video)

Saul Williams played a free, powerful Summerstage show ahead of his appearance at Afropunk this weekend.

Laying the Groundwork: An Interview With Saul Williams

Poet/musician/auteur Saul Williams discusses the influence of Haitian post-apocalyptic art on his music, artist and listener responsibility, and more.

Saul Williams - "The Noise Came From Here" (Singles Going Steady)

Ferguson needs protest anthems, and this is a terrific one.

Afropunk Fest: 24 August 2013 - Brooklyn, NY (Day 1 Photos)

Pictures from Afropunk Fest Day 1, including ones of Saul Williams and the kids of Unlocking the Truth, are here.

Saul Williams: Volcanic Sunlight

Williams actually seems to be moving away from the righteous fury that informed his earliest albums, and has admitted that he set out to make a pop album this time around.

Saul Williams + Afro-Punk Tour: 27 October 2009 - Double Door, Chicago

Words by Chris Catania. Pictures by Colleen Catania

CMJ 2009: Day 2 - Javelin + The xx + Saul Williams/Afro-Punk Tour

The CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival invades New York City this week. Here's the latest from PopMatters' writers on the beat. Words and Pictures by Stephen Stirling

Mercury Rev, Clinic, PAS/CAL...

"The Real is Just as Magical as the Fictitious": An Intimate Talk with Saul Williams

Few people would give their new album away for free online. Fewer would stop a prison brawl by reciting a poem. Fewer still do all this while making a powerful statement about the issue of race in our country today. Saul Williams does all these things.

The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop by Saul Williams

Certain things never change: s'mores are still delicious, rainbows are still happy, calculus is still confusing, and Saul Williams is still angry at mainstream hip-hop culture.

Saul Williams: self-titled

Saul Williams: Amethyst Rock Star

Friend Within Brings Sunshine to the Dancefloor on "Space Jam" (premiere)

With "Santa Baby", Emergency Tiara Updates a Classic Just in Time for the Holidays (premiere)

Tyler Boone Dodges Cliches With "Jealousy" (premiere + interview)

The Pedaljets Celebrate Contentment With "Sleepy Girl" (premiere + interview)

Aiming for Enrike's Minimalistic Dance Is on Full Display With "Flat Beats" (premiere)

Dankrupt Explore Romance's Darker Side With "Drowning" (premiere)

Andrew Deadman Faces Himself Down in "Silent Scream" (premiere)

Lady Lazarus' "I Recall July" Is a Bittersweet Look Back on Love (premiere)

Banjolectric's "Another Thing For Pain" Is a Raw Reflection on Substance Abuse (premiere)