Rapper YAS is Iran's Persian hip hop laureate. A disciple of Tupac and Rumi, YAS uses uplifting poetic imagery delivered through an impassioned, at times ferocious, flow to communicate uplifting rhymes about his culture and people.

Apartheid may be officially over, but South Africa is far from seamless unity. In the space created by the Black/White divide, however, in the frisson of classes and cultures grating against each other, young Zulu and Afrikaaner (and Sotho and Xhosa) kids are making music.

His American breakout moment came earlier this year when he tore up the 2011 Coachella festival, in a high-intensity electronic set backed by a full live rock band and a visual show that had breathless bloggers and reviewers proclaiming it the festival’s high point. But in Europe Anders

Afrofuturist Spoek Mathambo isn't known for nostalgia. The closest he's come so far to messing with the past is "Control" his decidedly updated versioning of a Joy Division song. But his latest project is downright curatorial. On Nombolo One the South African post-hip hop polymath reimagined 12

On December 10, Big Bang‘s Taeyang uploaded an unplugged, keyboard cover of Beyonce’s “I Miss You” to his brand new Youtube channel. The YG Entertainment artist wrote in the video’s description, “I put this video up …

Due to G-Dragon’s unfortunate marijuana ordeal, Japanese debut plans for Big Bang sub-unit duo GD&TOP had been canceled indefinitely. But have no fear — YG Entertainment shall come through for its fans! Originally slated for a …

Due to G-Dragon’s unfortunate marijuana ordeal, Japanese debut plans for Big Bang sub-unit duo GD&TOP had been canceled indefinitely. But have no fear — YG Entertainment shall come through for its fans! Originally slated for a …

After teasing fans with a dramatic one-minute long MV preview, A Cube Entertainment has revealed the full music video for vocal extraordinaire Huh Gak’s new single, “I Told You I Want to Die.” “I Told …

Dressed in cozy Christmas sweaters, fluffy hats, and knitted scarves, the boys of MBLAQ smiled big in an autographed teaser photo for their upcoming digital single, “White Forever.” The music video for the Christmas themed …

Big Bang‘s upcoming Japanese tour, Love & Pain, was supposed to be their long awaited return to the J-Pop scene but it’s now facing opposition from fans. The seven-concert tour is currently scheduled to begin …

2PM’s resident teddy bear, Nichkhun, landed on the cover of popular Japanese magazine, Fine, whose demographic consists of hormonal raging females. Dressed in a wool vest, layered with a flannel button down, Nichkhun looks like …

K-pop’s most adorable soloist IU is gearing up for Japan, folks! Signing with EMI Music Japan, home to fellow Korean artists, SHINee and T-ara, IU will release her very first Japanese album next month. The album will …

Paris-based Nigerian singer-songwriter Asa fascinates us with her quiet, mysterious charisma and deep, colorful voice. We reviewed her concert at The Rockwood and took photos for a slideshow, were simply wowed as she cast a spell over the audience with hits like "Be My Man" from her sophomore album

UK summery grunge band Male Bonding gets totally groovy in their 2010 video for "Weird Feelings" off their debut album Sub Pop. When they came out, we quickly deemed them "punk for the 21st century,"but they actually lay the psychedelia on thick in this vid, which features colorful stones and lava

Tunde Olaniran opened up the Rap Rocks! showcase at The Studio at Webster Hall, bringing his post-modern soul to New York all the way from Flint, Michigan. He put on an inspired and dramatic performance, including back-up dancers and a light show, with scrappy DIY skills.

Bad news.... And ... weird news. Bad news first: MIA's album, which we reported enjoyed a listening party last week and was slated to drop in June, could come out as late as July according to producer / collaborator Diplo. MTV News caught up with Diplo at SXSW, where he told the crew that the

Something that looks cute/pretty but also weird and grotesque is said to be "kimo kawaii" in Japanese slang. "Kimo" (from "Kimochi warui") means disgusting; "kawaii" means cute or pretty. For example, this coin bank, "Face Bank," eats coins when you put them in his mouth. It is kimo kawaii.

For those who imagine South Africa’s music scene to be all tinkly guitar pop and Ladysmith Black Mambazzo: guess again. In South Africa, there’s one sound that blasts loudest from township stereo systems and taxi radios, and it’s House music. House is the most popular music in South Africa, period.

We have to give it up to Peelander-Z. Nobody does it quite like they do. In fact no one on this planet is even trying. The New York City-based quintet will tell you that they are an action comic punk band from Z Area on P-Planet. And, while you could also trace their origins...

Finland's Zebra & Snake gained cred as most online bands do these days -- with a string of remixes. But their latest -- of Phoenix's "1901" -- they remixed "just for fun," they wrote on their blog. Because unlike the others, it wasn't working them up the ladder as these days, they're already

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The wait is almost over! In little more than a week, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" will be yours to own on Blu-ray and DVD, meaning you can hit repeat on all those awkward wedding toasts over and over again. (Or, y'know, one of the steamy sex scenes. If that's your thing.