With DreamDoll gracing the cover this month, MC has taken the opportunity to speak to five up-and-coming rappers about the state of the genre in 2026, and much more besides. Hear from H3adband, Star Bandz, TK the Legend, Zeddy Will, and YoDogg. www.musicconnection.com/hip-hop-roun...

Music journalists are introduced to a life of intrigue and magic; it can feel like we’re Charlie Bucket in the presence of Wonka’s infinite delights. And Cullman’s new book is a blast. www.musicconnection.com/how-to-prepa...

Iranian-born, California-based singer Bahar Movahed told us about her love for a gem from Mohammad Reza Shajarian and Kayhan Kalhor. www.musicconnection.com/my-favorite-...

Singer-songwriter Ellie Rollins performs at the Cinema Bar this week, so the artist told the News about what she has in store for Culver City. www.culvercitynews.org/ellie-rollin...

Kismet Rotisserie is located at 10000 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232. www.culvercitynews.org/kismet-rotis...

Staff Picks with The Jellys. Wildhearts guitarist CJ and drummer Stidi formed The Jellys with Wolfsbane man Jeff Hateley as the new millennium was dawning, and this is one of their sugary-sweet, melodically infectious gems. www.musicconnection.com/staff-picks-...

Shel Shock, bassist and vocalist with Canadian sleaze-rock troublemakers Powerlöad, told us about his love for a Lemmy line. www.musicconnection.com/the-bass-lin...

Coco Kinnon, multi-instrumentalist and frontwoman with rising punks Winona Fighter, told us about her love for her SE Electronics V7 Dynamic Microphone. www.musicconnection.com/winona-fight...

Liverpool singer-songwriter Jamie Webster told us about his Macca experience. www.musicconnection.com/the-best-gig...

Video of the Week: Rap-pop-punk-alt duo Flyana Boss celebrated both Juneteenth and Pride Month with the release of new EP Under the Influence. That coincides with new single and video "In Motion." www.musicconnection.com/video-of-the...

Hit the Decks! It's melodic hardcore artist Kirsty. www.musicconnection.com/hit-the-deck...

Australian singer-songwriter ILUKA told us about her love for a Kate Bush classic. www.musicconnection.com/my-favorite-...

Latin-funk-rock artist Mardez performs at the Cinema Bar this week, so the man himself told the News about what he has in store for Culver City. www.culvercitynews.org/mardez-to-ge...

Ono Hawaiian BBQ is located at 10814 Jefferson Blvd. M, Culver City 90230. www.culvercitynews.org/a-taste-of-h...

Ike’s Love & Sandwiches is located at 3895 Overland Ave., Culver City 90232. gardenavalleynews.org/ikes-love-sa...

Staff Picks with The Lightning Seeds. The World Cup is up and running! www.musicconnection.com/staff-picks-...

Dan Elektro, drummer with veteran garage rockers The Woggles, told us about his love for a classic Ringo beat. www.musicconnection.com/the-drum-bea...

Sitar maestro Purbayan Chatterjee, and Mark Lettieri of Snarky Puppy, collaboratively told us about their sitar/guitar loves. www.musicconnection.com/purbayan-cha...

Mandy Lee, the brains behind solo project Cherry Bomb (and a member of MisterWives) told us about her LCD Soundsystem experience. www.musicconnection.com/the-best-gig...

Video of the Week: Brooklyn rapper and producer Erick the Architect, a founding member of the Flatbush Zombies, has released new single and video "No Doubt (I'm In Love)," and it's a super-sweet summer throwback anthem. www.musicconnection.com/video-of-the...

Hit the Decks! It's U.K. house artist Sam Divine. www.musicconnection.com/hit-the-deck...

The fact that she was raised in Belfast and has been based in Austin, TX since 2014 makes a lot of sense when listening to Andrea Magee’s new album Wild Woman. www.musicconnection.com/new-music-cr...

King Coffey of art-punks the Butthole Surfers told us about his love for a Cramps classic. www.musicconnection.com/my-favorite-...

British guitarist Clive Carroll blends roots genres into an intoxicating mix, and is a captivating performer. He plays Boulevard Music again on Friday, and he told the News about what he has in store for Culver City. www.culvercitynews.org/clive-carrol...

Copenhagen Pastry is located at 11113 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232. www.culvercitynews.org/a-warm-welco...

Betty Moon is apparently keen for her music to be licensed for film and TV, though she has already had songs featured on shows as successful as Californication, Dexter and, umm, Teen Mom. www.musicconnection.com/new-music-cr...

Staff Picks, with Pansy Division. Happy Pride! www.musicconnection.com/staff-picks-...

There’s a warm authenticity about Levi Petree’s Americana-roots songwriting and delivery, that is actually quite refreshing. www.musicconnection.com/new-music-cr...

Matt Miller of alt-rock vets Sparta told us about his love for a Cure bass lick. www.musicconnection.com/the-bass-lin...

Daniel Hunt of electronic pop icons Ladytron told us about his love for his Kawai K1ii synth. www.musicconnection.com/ladytron-can...

Falstaff tells the story of the bumbling knight that gives the opera its name. Falstaff, as the rest of the characters often tell us, is an overweight, slovenly, narcissistic buffoon of a man. www.musicconnection.com/falstaff-la-...

Straight away, when listening to the songs “How Do You” and “Are You Lonely,” it’s clear that Detroit artist Angie Hartley has the potential to bring in a mainstream audience. www.musicconnection.com/new-music-cr...

Australian singer-songwriter Emma Louise told us about her Adele experience. www.musicconnection.com/the-best-gig...

Vallejo-born singer, rapper, and songwriter Mai Mai has released new single and video "Why Me?," her Warner debut, and it's chill soul number that serves as the perfect summer kick-off. www.musicconnection.com/video-of-the...

Reviewing a GWAR performance as if it’s just a regular gig is practically impossible. GWAR is many things: theater, satire, slapstick, puppetry, and, yes, a great metal band too. www.musicconnection.com/gwar-at-the-...

Who are the New Music Sculptors? “A group of sonic sculptors with over a century of combined musical wherewithal,” is what they say. www.musicconnection.com/new-music-cr...

Hit the Decks! It's techno artist AD7USTMENT. www.musicconnection.com/hit-the-deck...

Hard rocker, author and wine maker Lisa Dominique told us about her love for a Carly Simon classic. www.musicconnection.com/my-favorite-...

The noise surrounding Lily Allen’s incredible 2025 comeback album West End Girl has been close to deafening. Justifiably so, because this is so much more than a regular album. www.musicconnection.com/lily-allen-a...

In her online bio, singer-songwriter, artist, and teacher Adrienne Leska describes her folk-pop as having a “deep and whimsical twist.” www.musicconnection.com/new-music-cr...

Americana artist Harry Hochman performs at the Cinema Bar this week, so Hochman himself told the News about what he has in store for Culver City. www.culvercitynews.org/harry-hochma...

Wildbird is located at 10601 Washington Blvd., Unit 103, Culver City 90232. www.culvercitynews.org/the-wildest-...

Slayyyter's third album, Worst Girl in America, is a start-to-finish riotous, debauched, genre-defying beast of a record. www.musicconnection.com/worst-girl-i...

Former Soft Boys man Robyn Hitchcock remains a force. Catch him live anywhere around the globe and you’ll see a show that seamlessly blends paisley hippiness with new wave quirk. www.musicconnection.com/stranded-in-...

Back in 1995, The Orb was one of the groups that introduced this rock kid to electronic music, solidified by an electrifying performance at the Phoenix Festival 1995. "Little Fluffy Clouds" is one of their hypnotic best. www.musicconnection.com/staff-picks-...

The end of July will see Family Stereo, AKA singer-songwriter Blake Watt, release his debut album The Thread, a fact that was announced recently by the label which is his new home, Bella Union. www.musicconnection.com/family-stere...

As the frontman and guitarist with hardcore band Heart Attack, and rash-punks D-Generation, as well as an accomplished solo artist, New Yorker Jesse Malin has lived a life. www.musicconnection.com/almost-grown...

Boston shoegazers Gollylagging told us about the riff, beat and bassline that floats their boat. www.musicconnection.com/the-riff-bea...

Sean Elliott of punk vets Professor & the Madman told us about his ECHOBRAIN love. www.musicconnection.com/professor-th...

After making his name as a member of the bands Kamikaze Palm Tree and Sharpie Smile, Cole Berliner has gone solo and The Black Door is his debut solo full-lengther. www.musicconnection.com/cole-berline...