Music — PANACHES Culture

A Tribe Called Quest

Formed in New York in the late 1980s, A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip-hop group featuring Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi White. A key member of the Native Tongues collective, the group became known for its warm and inventive sound, blending hip-hop with jazz, funk and soul, alongside lyrics that could be relaxed, introspective and socially conscious. With landmark albums such as The Low E…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

AC/DC

AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band formed in Sydney in the early 1970s around brothers Angus Young and Malcolm Young. The group became known for a direct and powerful sound built on instantly recognizable guitar riffs, tight rhythms and an iconic live energy. With albums such as Highway to Hell, Back in Black and The Razors Edge, AC/DC became one of the most important and popular bands in hard rock history.

• Hard-rock

Aesop Rock

Aesop Rock, born Ian Matthias Bavitz, is an American rapper and producer known for his dense, highly visual writing and unusually rich vocabulary. Active since the late 1990s, he has become a major figure in independent hip-hop through abstract, introspective lyrics often touched by dark humor and backed by experimental production. With albums such as Labor Days, None Shall Pass and The Impossible Kid, Aesop Rock ha…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Against Me!

Against Me! is an American punk rock band formed in Florida in the late 1990s around Laura Jane Grace. Initially rooted in a raw, independent folk-punk approach, the band gradually developed a broader sound blending punk, alternative rock and post-hardcore influences. Through albums such as Reinventing Axl Rose, New Wave and Transgender Dysphoria Blues, Against Me! became known for direct, political and deeply perso…

• Punk-rock
• Rock-alternatif
• Post-hardcore

Alpha Blondy

Alpha Blondy, born Seydou Koné, is an Ivorian singer and songwriter who became one of the leading figures of African reggae. His music blends roots reggae with African influences and lyrics performed notably in French, English and Dioula, addressing peace, religion, politics, unity and the social realities of the African continent. With albums such as Jah Glory, Cocody Rock!!! and Jerusalem, Alpha Blondy played a ma…

• Reggae

Alt‐J

Alt-J is a British indie rock band formed in Leeds in the late 2000s around Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton and Thom Sonny Green. The group developed a distinctive sound blending indie rock, art rock, folk, electronic music and rhythmic experimentation, driven by Newman’s unusual vocals and often minimalist, atmospheric arrangements. With albums such as An Awesome Wave, This Is All Yours and Relaxer, alt-J became one…

• Rock

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse was a British singer-songwriter from London, known for her deep, expressive voice and a style blending soul, jazz, rhythm and blues and pop. Rising to prominence in the early 2000s, she stood out for intimate, direct and often autobiographical songwriting, supported by arrangements inspired by 1960s soul. With the albums Frank and Back to Black, Amy Winehouse became one of the defining artists of her g…

• Jazz
• Soul
• rhythm-and-blues

Anti‐Flag

Anti-Flag was an American punk rock band formed in Pittsburgh in the late 1980s around Justin Sane and Pat Thetic. Their music blended punk rock, melodic hardcore and street punk influences, with strongly political lyrics focused on anti-war themes, social inequality, human rights and political criticism. With albums such as A New Kind of Army, The Terror State and For Blood and Empire, Anti-Flag became one of the m…

• Punk-rock

Apathy

Apathy, born Chad Aaron Bromley, is an American rapper and producer from Connecticut who has been active since the 1990s. A prominent figure in East Coast underground hip-hop, he is known for his technical, sharp and reference-heavy lyricism, backed by production deeply rooted in the boom bap tradition. A member of Demigodz and Army of the Pharaohs, he has also built an extensive solo career with albums such as East…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys is a British rock band formed in Sheffield in the early 2000s around Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Nick O’Malley and Matt Helders. Initially known for sharp, energetic and highly observational rock, the group gradually expanded its sound toward garage rock, alternative rock, psychedelic pop and more sophisticated arrangements. With albums such as Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, Favourite Wor…

• Rock

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, widely regarded as one of the defining voices of soul and rhythm and blues. Rising to prominence in the 1960s, she became known for a powerful gospel-rooted delivery, remarkable vocal control and songs that became enduring symbols of empowerment and pride. With tracks such as Respect, Think and Chain of Fools, along with albums including I Never Loved a…

• Soul
• rhythm-and-blues

At the Drive‐In

At the Drive-In is an American post-hardcore band formed in El Paso, Texas, in the mid-1990s around Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Omar Rodríguez-López, Jim Ward, Paul Hinojos and Tony Hajjar. The group became known for a tense and explosive sound blending post-hardcore, punk, alternative rock and experimentation, driven by frantic rhythms, angular guitars and intense live performances. With albums such as In/Casino/Out and …

• Punk
• Rock-alternatif
• Post-hardcore

Atmosphere

Atmosphere is an American hip-hop group from Minneapolis, built around rapper Slug and producer Ant. Active since the 1990s, the duo has become one of the defining acts of independent rap through introspective, personal and often melancholic lyrics, backed by warm production blending boom bap, soul and alternative influences. With albums such as God Loves Ugly, Seven’s Travels and You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’r…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Bad Religion

Bad Religion is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s around Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz and Jay Bentley. Their music blends melodic punk, hardcore punk and distinctive vocal harmonies, with lyrics often focused on religion, politics, science, inequality and contemporary society. With albums such as Suffer, No Control and Against the Grain, Bad Religion became one of the most influenti…

• Punk-rock

Barrington Levy

Barrington Levy is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall singer who became one of the leading voices of the Jamaican scene from the late 1970s onward. Known for his high-pitched voice and highly melodic phrasing, he developed a style blending roots reggae, rub-a-dub and dancehall, helping bridge traditional reggae and the newer forms of the genre that emerged in the 1980s. With songs such as Here I Come, Under Mi Sensi an…

• Dancehall
• Reggae

Beastie Boys

Formed in New York in the early 1980s, Beastie Boys was an American group made up of Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock. Originally part of the hardcore punk scene, the trio soon turned toward hip-hop and developed a distinctive sound blending rap, rock, punk, funk and sampling. With landmark albums such as Licensed to Ill, Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head and Ill Communication, Beastie Boys became one of the most influential …

• Rock
• Punk
• Hip-hop

Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman was an American clarinetist and bandleader who became one of the defining figures of jazz and swing in the 1930s and 1940s. Nicknamed the “King of Swing,” he helped bring big-band jazz to a mass audience while also contributing to racial integration in American music by performing with racially mixed ensembles. Through iconic recordings and performances, including Sing, Sing, Sing and his celebrated 19…

• Jazz

Big Boi

Big Boi, born Antwan André Patton, is an American rapper, songwriter and producer from Atlanta. A founding member of Outkast alongside André 3000, he helped bring Southern hip-hop to international prominence with a precise, energetic flow deeply rooted in funk. Alongside his work with the duo, he has built a successful solo career with albums such as Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty and Boomiverse, cont…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday, nicknamed Lady Day, was an American singer who became one of the most important voices in twentieth-century vocal jazz. Her performances were defined by highly personal phrasing, deep emotional expression and a unique way of shaping rhythm and melody, giving jazz standards and ballads an unmistakable intensity. With songs such as Strange Fruit, God Bless the Child and Lover Man, Billie Holiday profou…

• Jazz

Blink‐182

blink-182 is an American pop-punk band formed in California in the early 1990s around Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker. The group became known for a fast, melodic and highly accessible sound blending punk rock, pop and adolescent humor, before gradually moving toward more introspective and ambitious songwriting. With albums such as Enema of the State, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket and blink-182, the band …

• Punk-rock

Blur

Blur is a British rock band formed in London in the late 1980s around Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree. A defining act of Britpop, the group became known for blending alternative rock, British pop, art rock and experimentation, often paired with ironic observations of society and everyday life. With albums such as Parklife, The Great Escape, Blur and 13, Blur became one of the most important …

• Rock

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is an American singer, songwriter, musician and writer who became one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century popular music. Initially associated with folk and socially conscious songs in the early 1960s, he gradually expanded his style into folk rock, blues, country and rock, combining them with dense poetic writing about society, politics, love and the human experience. With albums such as T…

• Rock
• Blues
• Country

Bob Marley & The Wailers

Bob Marley & The Wailers was a Jamaican reggae group built around Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, emerging from Kingston’s ska and rocksteady scene in the 1960s. Their music blended reggae, roots reggae, ska and soul, driven by syncopated rhythms, vocal harmonies and lyrics focused on spirituality, social justice, freedom and unity. With albums such as Catch a Fire, Burnin’, Natty Dread and Exodus, Bob Marl…

• Reggae
• Ska
• Rocksteady

Boogie Belgique

Boogie Belgique is a Belgian music project founded in 2012 by producer Oswald Cromheecke, which gradually evolved into a full band. Its music blends trip-hop, instrumental hip-hop, nu jazz, electro swing and vintage sounds, with a strong use of samples, brass and atmospheres inspired by the 1930s to 1950s. With albums such as Blueberry Hill, Nightwalker, Volta and Machine, Boogie Belgique has developed an elegant, n…

• Trip-hop
• Electro
• Jazz

Burning Spear

Burning Spear, born Winston Rodney, is a Jamaican singer and songwriter who became one of the major figures of roots reggae from the 1970s onward. His music is defined by deep rhythms, a strong spiritual dimension and lyrics focused on African history, Black identity, Rastafarianism and the legacy of Marcus Garvey. With albums such as Marcus Garvey, Man in the Hills and Social Living, Burning Spear became one of the…

• Reggae

Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes is an American rapper, songwriter and actor from New York, first gaining attention in the early 1990s with Leaders of the New School before launching a solo career. He is known for his extremely fast flow, explosive delivery, commanding stage presence and a style blending East Coast hip-hop, hardcore rap and often flamboyant production. With albums such as The Coming, When Disaster Strikes... and Extinc…

• Hip-hop

Calle 13

Calle 13 is a Puerto Rican group formed in the mid-2000s around Residente and Visitante, later joined notably by iLe. The collective became known for a sound that resists easy classification, blending hip-hop, reggaeton, Latin music, rock, electronic elements and traditional influences from across Latin America. Driven by lyrics that are often satirical, political and socially conscious, Calle 13 became one of the m…

• Hip-hop
• Folk

Celph Titled

Celph Titled, born Victor Mercer, is an American rapper and producer from Florida who has been active since the 1990s. A prominent figure in underground hip-hop, he is known for his aggressive flow, sharp punchlines and a style deeply rooted in hardcore rap and boom bap. A member of Demigodz and Army of the Pharaohs, he has also built a solo and collaborative career, notably working with producer Buckwild on Ninetee…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus was an American bassist, composer, pianist and bandleader, widely regarded as one of the major figures in twentieth-century jazz. His music blended bebop, blues, gospel, swing, free jazz and ambitious orchestral writing, with a powerful style often shaped by tension, collective improvisation and strong social themes. With albums such as Mingus Ah Um, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady and Blues & Roo…

• Jazz
• Blues

Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker, nicknamed Bird, was an American alto saxophonist and composer who became one of the founding figures of bebop and modern jazz. In the 1940s, he revolutionized improvisation through complex harmony, fast tempos and highly virtuosic phrasing, notably alongside Dizzy Gillespie. With pieces such as Ornithology, Ko-Ko and Now’s the Time, Charlie Parker profoundly transformed the language of jazz and influ…

• Jazz

Charly Fiasco

Charly Fiasco is a French punk rock band formed in 2005 in the Toulouse area. Deeply rooted in DIY culture, the group developed a direct, energetic and melodic punk sound, paired with French-language lyrics blending social observation, disillusionment, humor and political engagement. With albums such as Petits Excès de Folie Ordinaire, Un brin d’essence dans la déroute and Chroniques d’un temps détourné, along with …

• Punk-rock

Chet Baker

Chet Baker was an American trumpeter and singer who became one of the defining figures of cool jazz and West Coast jazz in the 1950s. His style was characterized by a soft, lyrical and restrained trumpet sound, along with a fragile, intimate singing voice that gave a distinctive character to the standards he performed. With recordings such as Chet Baker Sings, Chet and songs including My Funny Valentine, Chet Baker …

• Jazz

Children Collide

Children Collide is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in the mid-2000s around Johnny Mackay, Heath Crawley and Ryan Caesar. The group developed a sharp sound blending indie rock, garage rock, alternative rock and grunge influences, driven by abrasive guitars and a direct, energetic approach. With albums such as The Long Now, Theory of Everything and Monument, Children Collide became a notable act in the Au…

• Rock

Chinese Man

Chinese Man is a French trio formed in 2004 by High Ku, Matteo and Sly. Originating from southern France and closely tied from the beginning to the independent label Chinese Man Records, the group developed a hybrid sound blending hip-hop, trip-hop, dub, electronic music, reggae and influences from around the world. With albums such as Racing with the Sun, Shikantaza and We’ve Been Here Before, Chinese Man became on…

• Trip-hop
• Electro
• Hip-hop

Clowns

Clowns is an Australian hardcore punk band formed in Melbourne in 2009. The group has developed an explosive sound blending hardcore punk, punk rock, garage, rock’n’roll and psychedelic touches, with fast, abrasive songs built for high-energy live performances. Through albums such as Bad Blood, Lucid Again, Nature/Nurture and ENDLESS, Clowns has become one of the most energetic acts in Australia’s contemporary punk …

• Rock
• Punk-rock
• Hardcore

Codefendants

• Hip-hop
• Hardcore
• Folk

Comeback Kid

Comeback Kid is a Canadian hardcore punk band formed in Winnipeg in the early 2000s around Andrew Neufeld and Jeremy Hiebert. Their music blends melodic hardcore, punk rock and metal influences, driven by fast rhythms, anthemic choruses and intense live performances. With albums such as Turn It Around, Wake the Dead and Broadcasting..., Comeback Kid became one of the leading bands in contemporary melodic hardcore.

• Punk-rock
• Hardcore

Condkoï

Condkoï is a French hardcore punk band originally from Luçon, Vendée, formed in the 1990s before relocating to southwestern France. The group developed an energetic sound blending punk, hardcore, reggae and more melodic elements, driven by two vocalists and lyrics in both French and English. With albums such as Evilution, Still Ready and Quinte Flush Royale, Condkoï built a distinctive identity within the French ind…

• Punk
• Hardcore

Coolio

Coolio, born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., was an American rapper from California who became one of the most recognizable figures in 1990s hip-hop. His style blended West Coast rap, funk and accessible melodies, with lyrics ranging from street narratives and humor to social observation. He achieved worldwide success with Gangsta’s Paradise while building a broader discography through albums such as It Takes a Thief and Gangs…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Count Basie

Count Basie was an American pianist, composer and bandleader who became one of the major figures of swing and jazz from the 1930s through the 1950s. Leading the Count Basie Orchestra, he developed a style built on a powerful yet relaxed rhythm section, precise arrangements, minimalist piano playing and generous space for soloists. With pieces such as One O’Clock Jump, Jumpin’ at the Woodside and April in Paris, Coun…

• Jazz

CunninLynguists

CunninLynguists is an American hip-hop group formed in Lexington, Kentucky, in 2000 around Kno and Deacon the Villain, later joined notably by Natti. Their music blends underground hip-hop, alternative rap and Southern rap influences, with often soulful, melancholic and cinematic production supporting introspective, narrative and socially conscious lyrics. With albums such as Will Rap for Food, A Piece of Strange an…

• Hip-hop

Cypress Hill

Cypress Hill is an American hip-hop group formed in Los Angeles in the late 1980s around B-Real, Sen Dog, DJ Muggs and, later, Eric Bobo. The group became known for a dark and instantly recognizable sound blending West Coast rap, funk, rock and Latin influences, driven by B-Real’s distinctive nasal delivery and DJ Muggs’ heavy production. With albums such as Cypress Hill, Black Sunday and III: Temples of Boom, Cypre…

• Rock
• Hip-hop
• Rap

DJ Shadow

DJ Shadow, born Joshua Davis, is an American producer, DJ and composer from California who became a major figure in instrumental hip-hop and turntablism. His music is built around meticulous sampling, blending hip-hop, funk, soul, jazz, rock and electronic textures into often atmospheric and cinematic compositions. With albums such as Endtroducing....., The Private Press and Our Pathetic Age, DJ Shadow became one of…

• Electro
• Hip-hop
• Funk

Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley

Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley is a Jamaican singer, songwriter and musician, and the son of Bob Marley and Cindy Breakspeare. His music blends reggae, roots reggae, dancehall and hip-hop, combining a powerful rhythmic vocal style with lyrics exploring social realities, spirituality and Jamaican identity. With albums such as Halfway Tree, Welcome to Jamrock and Stony Hill, Damian Marley became one of the leading figures i…

• Dancehall
• Hip-hop
• Reggae

De La Soul

De La Soul is an American hip-hop group formed in Long Island, New York, in the late 1980s around Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove and Maseo. Their music stands out for inventive and often playful rapping, eclectic sampling and a more experimental and introspective approach than much of the hip-hop of their era. With albums such as 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul Is Dead and Buhloone Mindstate, De La Soul became one of …

• Hip-hop

Dead Kennedys

Dead Kennedys is an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco in the late 1970s around Jello Biafra, East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride and D.H. Peligro. Their music blends hardcore punk, surf rock and garage rock, with a tense, abrasive sound and satirical lyrics focused on politics, consumerism, authoritarianism and the contradictions of American society. With albums such as Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, Pla…

• Rock
• Punk-rock

Deftones

Deftones is an American rock band formed in Sacramento, California, in the late 1980s around Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, Abe Cunningham and Chi Cheng. The group developed a distinctive sound blending alternative metal, nu metal, shoegaze, post-hardcore and atmospheric textures, with a strong emphasis on contrasts between heaviness, tension and melody. With albums such as Around the Fur, White Pony and Diamond E…

• Metal
• Post-hardcore

Del the Funky Homosapien

Del the Funky Homosapien, born Teren Delvon Jones, is an American rapper and producer from Oakland, California. Active since the early 1990s, he has become a distinctive figure in alternative hip-hop through a style that is technical, eccentric and highly inventive, often shaped by humor, science fiction and funk-driven production. A founding member of the Hieroglyphics collective and a contributor to projects such …

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Delinquent Habits

Delinquent Habits is an American hip-hop group from Los Angeles, formed in the early 1990s around Ives Irie, Kemo the Blaxican and O.G. Style. The group became known for an energetic sound blending Chicano influences, funk, Latin hip-hop and West Coast rap, with a strong presence of rhythms and elements drawn from Latino culture. With tracks such as Tres Delinquentes and albums including Delinquent Habits and Here C…

• Hip-hop
• Funk

Descendents

Descendents is an American punk rock band formed in California in the late 1970s around Milo Aukerman, Bill Stevenson, Tony Lombardo and Frank Navetta. Their music blends hardcore punk, melodic punk and pop punk, with short, fast and highly melodic songs often focused on relationships, adolescence, frustration and everyday life. With albums such as Milo Goes to College, I Don’t Want to Grow Up and Everything Sucks, …

• Punk
• Punk-rock

Dilated Peoples

Dilated Peoples is an American hip-hop group from Los Angeles formed by Evidence, Rakaa Iriscience and DJ Babu. Active since the 1990s, the trio became a major name in West Coast underground rap through a style deeply influenced by boom bap, turntablism and technical lyricism focused on precise rhymes and energetic performances. With albums such as The Platform, Expansion Team and 20/20, Dilated Peoples helped prese…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Dirty Pretty Things

Dirty Pretty Things was a British rock band formed in London in the mid-2000s around Carl Barât, Gary Powell, Didz Hammond and Anthony Rossomando. Emerging in the wake of The Libertines, the group developed a sound blending indie rock, garage rock and post-punk revival, driven by sharp guitars, direct melodies and a distinctly British energy. With albums such as Waterloo to Anywhere and Romance at Short Notice, Dirt…

• Rock

Dizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie was an American trumpeter, composer and bandleader who became one of the founding figures of bebop and modern jazz. In the 1940s, notably alongside Charlie Parker, he developed a virtuosic style built on complex harmonies, fast tempos and great improvisational freedom, while gradually introducing Afro-Cuban influences into jazz. With pieces such as A Night in Tunisia, Groovin’ High and Manteca, Dizzy…

• Jazz

Django Reinhardt

Django Reinhardt was a jazz guitarist and composer born in Belgium and active mainly in France, who became the founding figure of Gypsy jazz. In the 1930s, notably with the Quintette du Hot Club de France alongside Stéphane Grappelli, he developed a virtuosic style blending swing, improvisation and European influences, despite a left-hand injury that led him to create a highly personal technique. With pieces such as…

• Jazz

Doomtree

Doomtree is an American hip-hop collective from Minneapolis, built around rappers and producers including P.O.S, Dessa, Sims, Mike Mictlan, Cecil Otter, Lazerbeak and Paper Tiger. Active since the 2000s, the group has stood out for its independent approach blending alternative rap, abrasive production, electronic influences and highly personal songwriting. With projects such as Doomtree, No Kings and All Hands, the …

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre, born Andre Romell Young, is an American rapper, producer and entrepreneur from California and one of the defining figures of West Coast hip-hop. First gaining prominence with N.W.A, he later played a major role in shaping the G-funk sound, known for its deep basslines, melodic synthesizers and funk-inspired rhythms. With albums such as The Chronic and 2001, along with his work with artists including Snoop D…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Dropkick Murphys

Dropkick Murphys is an American band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts, in the late 1990s. Their music blends punk rock, hardcore and traditional Irish influences, with a strong presence of bagpipes, mandolin and group vocals. Driven by themes of working-class life, solidarity, Irish-American identity and community, the band became one of the leading names in Celtic punk through albums such as The Gang’s All Here, Bla…

• Punk-rock
• Hardcore

Dub Inc

Dub Inc is a French reggae band formed in Saint-Étienne in the late 1990s, notably around Hakim “Bouchkour” Meridja and Aurélien “Komlan” Zohou. Their music blends reggae, dub, dancehall and world influences, with lyrics in French, English and Kabyle addressing identity, solidarity, inequality and social issues. With albums such as Diversité, Afrikya and Paradise, Dub Inc became one of the leading bands in contempor…

• Reggae

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington was an American pianist, composer and bandleader who became one of the major figures of twentieth-century jazz. Leading his orchestra for several decades, he developed a sophisticated style blending swing, blues, orchestral jazz and ambitious composition, with particular attention to tone color and the individual strengths of his musicians. With works such as Mood Indigo, It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It …

• Jazz
• Blues

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald was an American singer widely regarded as one of the greatest voices in twentieth-century jazz. Nicknamed the First Lady of Song, she was known for her exceptional vocal technique, rhythmic precision and remarkable mastery of scat singing, moving effortlessly between swing, bebop and standards from the Great American Songbook. With albums such as Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book, Ella …

• Jazz

Emancipator

Emancipator, born Douglas Appling, is an American producer and composer from Portland, Oregon. Active since the 2000s, he has developed an atmospheric instrumental sound blending downtempo, trip-hop, instrumental hip-hop, electronic music and acoustic influences. With albums such as Soon It Will Be Cold Enough, Safe in the Steep Cliffs and Dusk to Dawn, Emancipator has built a distinctive melodic and contemplative u…

• Trip-hop
• Electro

Eminem

Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, songwriter and producer from Detroit. Rising to prominence in the late 1990s, he became known for his technical, provocative and deeply personal writing, blending dark humor, autobiographical storytelling, satire and verbal virtuosity. With landmark albums such as The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show, along with his close colla…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Eyedea

Eyedea, born Micheal Larsen, was an American rapper from Minnesota known for his introspective, philosophical and highly technical lyricism. After gaining recognition through freestyle battles in the late 1990s, he became an important figure in independent hip-hop alongside DJ Abilities in the duo Eyedea & Abilities. Blending alternative rap, experimentation and reflections on identity, human relationships and exist…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters is an American rock band formed in Seattle in the mid-1990s by Dave Grohl, following the end of Nirvana. Initially conceived as a personal project, the band quickly evolved into a full group blending alternative rock, post-grunge, hard rock and power pop, driven by powerful guitars, anthemic choruses and strong live energy. With albums such as The Colour and the Shape, There Is Nothing Left to Lose and …

• Rock
• Rock-alternatif
• Hard-rock

Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra was an American singer and actor who became one of the defining figures of twentieth-century popular song and vocal jazz. Rising to prominence in the 1940s, he was known for his fluid phrasing, strong rhythmic control and elegant interpretations of standards, swing and orchestral ballads. With albums such as In the Wee Small Hours, Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! and Come Fly with Me, Frank Sinatra left a l…

• Jazz

Frank Turner

Frank Turner is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist from England, first known as a member of the post-hardcore band Million Dead before launching his solo career in the mid-2000s. His music blends folk, punk rock, folk punk and indie rock, driven by direct and personal songwriting about everyday life, relationships, doubt, freedom and the passage of time. With albums such as Love Ire & Song, England Keep My Bo…

• Rock
• Punk-rock
• Rock-alternatif

Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand is a Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in the early 2000s around Alex Kapranos, Bob Hardy, Nick McCarthy and Paul Thomson. The group became known for a sharp, danceable sound blending indie rock, post-punk revival, pop and new-wave influences, driven by angular guitars and instantly catchy choruses. With albums such as Franz Ferdinand, You Could Have It So Much Better and Tonight: Franz Ferdinand,…

• Rock

Fugazi

Fugazi is an American post-hardcore band formed in Washington, D.C., in the late 1980s around Ian MacKaye, Guy Picciotto, Joe Lally and Brendan Canty. Their music blends hardcore punk, post-punk, dub and experimental rock, with tense rhythmic structures, angular guitars and a deeply independent approach to production and distribution. With albums such as Repeater, In on the Kill Taker and The Argument, Fugazi became…

• Punk-rock
• Hardcore

Fugees

Fugees is an American hip-hop group from New Jersey formed by Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel. Active mainly during the 1990s, the trio became known for blending rap, soul, reggae, R&B and Caribbean influences, combining melodic performances with socially conscious and accessible songwriting. With the album The Score and iconic tracks such as Killing Me Softly and Ready or Not, Fugees became one of the defi…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Gramatik

Gramatik, born Denis Jašarević, is a Slovenian producer and musician known for an instrumental sound blending hip-hop, funk, soul, jazz, electronic music and glitch. Active since the 2000s, he gained recognition through sample-heavy productions built around grooves, layered textures and a style that can be both danceable and cinematic. With projects such as Street Bangerz, Beatz & Pieces Vol. 1 and The Age of Reason…

• Electro
• Hip-hop
• Funk

Green Day

Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in California in the late 1980s around Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and, later, Tré Cool. The band became known for melodic, energetic and often ironic songwriting that blends punk, pop and alternative rock, with lyrics about adolescence, boredom, relationships, society and politics. With landmark albums such as Dookie, Nimrod and American Idiot, Green Day became on…

• Punk-rock

Groundation

Groundation is an American reggae band formed in California in the late 1990s around Harrison Stafford. Their music blends roots reggae, dub, jazz and African influences, with a strong emphasis on improvisation, brass arrangements and long, organic compositions. With albums such as Hebron Gate, We Free Again and Upon the Bridge, Groundation became one of the most distinctive bands in contemporary reggae.

• Dub
• Jazz
• Reggae

Guerilla Poubelle

Guerilla Poubelle is a French punk rock band formed in Paris in the early 2000s around Till Lemoine. The group became known for fast, direct and abrasive punk driven by politically engaged, ironic and often disillusioned lyrics dealing with society, politics, work and the contradictions of everyday life. With albums such as Il faut repeindre le monde... en noir, Punk = Existentialisme and Amor Fati, Guerilla Poubell…

• Punk-rock

Guns N’ Roses

Guns N’ Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s around Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin and Steven Adler. The group became known for a sound blending hard rock, blues rock, punk and sleaze-rock influences, driven by powerful riffs, a provocative attitude and Axl Rose’s instantly recognizable voice. With albums such as Appetite for Destruction, Use Your Illusion I and Us…

• Hard-rock

Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock is an American pianist, keyboardist, composer and producer who became one of the major figures of modern jazz. After beginning in hard bop and joining Miles Davis’ quintet in the 1960s, he explored jazz fusion, funk, electronic music and new technologies while maintaining a strong foundation in improvisation. With albums such as Maiden Voyage, Head Hunters and Future Shock, Herbie Hancock played a maj…

• Jazz

Hugo Kant

Hugo Kant, born Quentin Le Roux, is a French composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Marseille. Active since the 2010s, he has developed an instrumental sound blending trip-hop, downtempo, jazz, hip-hop, electronic music and cinematic influences, often enriched by flute, keyboards and organic arrangements. With albums such as I Don’t Want to Be an Emperor, The Point of No Return and Out of Time, Hugo Kant …

• Trip-hop
• Electro
• Hip-hop

Ice Cube

Ice Cube is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and producer from Los Angeles, first known as a member of N.W.A before developing a solo career in the early 1990s. His style blends gangsta rap, West Coast hip-hop and hardcore rap, with direct and incisive writing focused on social tensions, racism, urban violence and life in Los Angeles neighborhoods. With albums such as AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, Death Certificate …

• Biography
• Hip-hop

Immortal Technique

Immortal Technique, born Felipe Andres Coronel, is an American rapper and activist of Peruvian origin based in New York. Active since the early 2000s, he became a prominent figure in underground hip-hop through dense, political and socially conscious lyricism addressing issues such as inequality, war, imperialism, poverty and power structures. With projects including Revolutionary Vol. 1, Revolutionary Vol. 2 and Th…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Incubus

Incubus is an American rock band formed in California in the early 1990s around Brandon Boyd, Mike Einziger and José Pasillas. The group developed an eclectic sound blending alternative rock, funk metal, nu metal, post-grunge and electronic influences, gradually moving toward more melodic and atmospheric songwriting. With albums such as S.C.I.E.N.C.E., Make Yourself and Morning View, Incubus became one of the leadin…

• Metal
• Rock-alternatif

JAŸ-Z

JAY-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter, is an American rapper, songwriter, producer and entrepreneur from Brooklyn, New York. Active since the 1990s, he became one of hip-hop’s defining figures through precise lyricism blending street narratives, ambition, success, introspection and social observation. From Reasonable Doubt to The Blueprint, The Black Album and 4:44, JAY-Z has built a landmark discography while playing an i…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

James Brown

James Brown was an American singer, songwriter, dancer and bandleader, widely regarded as one of the founding figures of funk. Emerging from rhythm and blues and soul, he developed a rhythm-driven style during the 1960s built around brass, bass lines and an intensely energetic vocal performance, profoundly influencing funk, hip-hop and many forms of popular music. With songs such as Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, I Got…

• Funk
• Blues
• Soul

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin was an American singer who became one of the defining voices of rock and blues in the late 1960s. Rising to prominence with Big Brother and the Holding Company before pursuing a solo career, she stood out for her raw, intense and deeply expressive voice, rooted in blues, soul and psychedelic rock. With songs such as Piece of My Heart, Cry Baby and Me and Bobby McGee, along with the album Pearl, Janis Jo…

• Rock
• Blues
• Soul

Jedi Mind Tricks

Jedi Mind Tricks is an American hip-hop group from Philadelphia built around rapper Vinnie Paz and producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind. Active since the 1990s, the group became a major force in underground rap through a dark, heavy sound shaped by boom bap, cinematic samples and dense lyricism dealing with violence, religion, politics, history and inner conflict. With albums such as Violent by Design, Legacy of Blo…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Jehst

Jehst, born William G. Shields, is a British rapper and producer regarded as one of the major figures in independent UK hip-hop. Active since the late 1990s, he is known for dense, vivid and introspective lyricism blending social observation, urban imagery and intricate wordplay. With projects such as The Return of the Drifter, Falling Down and The Dragon of an Ordinary Family, along with his role in the development…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Jet

Jet is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in the early 2000s around Nic Cester, Chris Cester, Cameron Muncey and Mark Wilson. The group became known for a direct and energetic sound heavily influenced by 1960s and 1970s rock, blending garage rock, hard rock and blues rock. With albums such as Get Born, Shine On and Shaka Rock, Jet became one of the most prominent bands of the Australian rock revival of the …

• Rock

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix, born James Marshall Hendrix, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter who became one of the most influential figures in rock history. Rising to prominence in the second half of the 1960s, he profoundly transformed the use of the electric guitar through a style blending blues, psychedelic rock, hard rock, soul and sonic experimentation. With albums such as Are You Experienced, Axis: Bold as Love…

• Rock

Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff is a Jamaican singer, songwriter and actor who became one of the major international figures of ska, rocksteady and reggae. Rising to prominence in the 1960s, he became known for his clear, expressive voice, highly accessible melodies and lyrics about hope, freedom, social hardship and resilience. With songs such as Many Rivers to Cross, You Can Get It If You Really Want and The Harder They Come, Jimmy C…

• Reggae
• Ska
• Rocksteady

John Coltrane

John Coltrane was an American saxophonist and composer who became one of the major figures of modern jazz. After performing notably with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, he developed an increasingly personal language blending hard bop, modal jazz, avant-garde and spiritual exploration, with intensely expressive playing and a deeply innovative harmonic approach. With albums such as Giant Steps, My Favorite Things and…

• Jazz

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who became one of the defining figures of twentieth-century country music. Recognizable for his deep voice and stripped-down style, he blended country, folk, gospel, rockabilly and blues in songs exploring faith, love, guilt, prison life and people living on the margins of society. With songs such as I Walk the Line, Ring of Fire and Folsom Prison Blues, a…

• Blues
• Folk
• Country

Jurassic 5

Jurassic 5 is an American hip-hop group from Los Angeles formed by Chali 2na, Akil, Zaakir, Marc 7, DJ Nu-Mark and Cut Chemist. Active since the 1990s, the collective became known for its warm, collaborative sound built around vocal harmonies, turntablism and strong influences from old-school hip-hop, funk and soul. With albums such as Quality Control and Power in Numbers, Jurassic 5 became one of the most distincti…

• Hip-hop
• Funk

Justin(e)

Justin(e) is a French punk rock band formed in 2002 in Treillières, near Nantes. Influenced by American melodic punk bands such as NOFX and Rancid, the group developed a fast and direct sound paired with French-language lyrics that are often ironic, socially conscious and political, blending disillusionment, dark humor and observations of everyday life. With albums such as Du Pareil au Même, Accident n°7, Treillière…

• Punk-rock

KRS‐One

KRS-One, born Lawrence Parker, is an American rapper, producer and writer from New York, first known as a founding member of Boogie Down Productions in the 1980s. His style blends East Coast hip-hop, hardcore rap and conscious rap, with lyrics focused on education, hip-hop culture, social inequality, politics and media criticism. With albums such as Criminal Minded with Boogie Down Productions, followed by solo reco…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Kaleo

KALEO is an Icelandic rock band formed in the early 2010s around singer and guitarist JJ Julius Son. Their music blends blues rock, folk, alternative rock and soul influences, with a strong focus on guitars, stripped-back atmospheres and a deep, expressive vocal style. With albums such as A/B and Surface Sounds, along with songs like Way Down We Go and No Good, KALEO became one of the most internationally recognized…

• Rock

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is an American rapper, songwriter and producer from Compton, California, who became one of the defining figures of contemporary hip-hop. His work blends West Coast rap, alternative hip-hop, jazz, funk and soul, with dense writing exploring identity, violence, faith, success, inequality and the African American experience. With albums such as good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly and DAMN., Kendr…

• Hip-hop

Kognitif

Kognitif, born Cyril Capra, is a French beatmaker and producer from Poitiers. He creates instrumental music blending trip-hop, abstract hip-hop, downtempo, soul, jazz and electronic textures, built around sampling and atmospheres that are often warm and contemplative. With albums such as My Space World, Soul Food, Soul Food 2 and Soul Food 3, Kognitif has developed a distinctive sound combining groove, cinematic mel…

• Trip-hop
• Electro
• Jazz

Korn

Korn is an American metal band formed in Bakersfield, California, in the early 1990s around Jonathan Davis, James “Munky” Shaffer, Brian “Head” Welch, Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu and David Silveria. The group developed a dark, heavy sound blending alternative metal, funk metal, hip-hop and dissonant textures, driven by heavily downtuned guitars and Jonathan Davis’ highly expressive vocals. With albums such as Korn, Lif…

• Metal

La Ruda

La Ruda, formerly known as La Ruda Salska, is a French rock band formed in Saumur in the early 1990s. The group developed an energetic sound blending ska, punk rock, alternative rock and prominent brass arrangements, driven by French-language lyrics and a strong live identity. With albums such as Le Prix du silence, L’Art de la joie, Passager du réel and 24 images/seconde, La Ruda became one of the defining bands of…

• Rock
• Ska-punk

Lagwagon

Lagwagon is an American punk rock band formed in California in the early 1990s around singer Joey Cape. Closely associated with the skate-punk scene and Fat Wreck Chords, the band became known for a fast, melodic and energetic sound built on sharp guitars, catchy choruses and lyrics that are often introspective or disillusioned. With albums such as Trashed, Hoss and Let’s Talk About Feelings, Lagwagon became one of …

• Punk-rock

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was a British rock band formed in London in the late 1960s around Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. The group developed a powerful sound blending hard rock, blues, folk and psychedelic rock, defined by Jimmy Page’s guitar riffs, Robert Plant’s vocals and an exceptionally strong rhythm section. With albums such as Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin IV and Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppel…

• Rock
• Hardcore
• Blues

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong was an American trumpeter, singer and bandleader widely regarded as one of the founding figures of modern jazz. Active from the 1920s onward, he profoundly transformed the role of the soloist through his powerful trumpet playing, sense of swing and innovative approach to improvisation, while also popularizing scat singing and a uniquely recognizable vocal style. With songs such as West End Blues, Wha…

• Jazz

L’Entourloop

L’Entourloop is a French collective built around Sir James and King Johnny, blending hip-hop, reggae, dub, dancehall and sound system culture. The project has developed a distinctive identity by combining beatmaking techniques with Jamaican influences, using sample-heavy production, powerful basslines and numerous international vocal collaborations. With albums such as Chickens in Your Town, Le Savoir Faire and La C…

• Dub
• Hip-hop
• Reggae

Mac Miller

Mac Miller, born Malcolm James McCormick, was an American rapper, singer and producer from Pittsburgh. Rising to prominence in the early 2010s, he gradually moved from light, melodic rap toward a more introspective, sensitive and experimental sound blending hip-hop, soul, jazz and R&B. With albums such as Watching Movies with the Sound Off, The Divine Feminine, Swimming and Circles, Mac Miller built a deeply persona…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Mad Caddies

Mad Caddies is an American band formed in California in the mid-1990s, known for a highly distinctive blend of ska punk, punk rock, reggae, Dixieland, swing and Latin influences. Led by singer Chuck Robertson, the group stands out through its brass-heavy arrangements, lively rhythms and songwriting that shifts between energy, humor and melancholy. With albums such as Duck and Cover, Rock the Plank and Just One More,…

• Punk-rock
• Ska-punk

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was an American singer, songwriter and producer who became one of the defining figures of soul and rhythm and blues. Initially associated with the Motown sound of the 1960s, he gradually moved toward more personal, sensual and socially conscious music, blending soul, funk and social commentary. With albums such as What’s Going On, Let’s Get It On and I Want You, Marvin Gaye profoundly influenced popular …

• Soul
• rhythm-and-blues

Massive Attack

Massive Attack is a British group formed in Bristol in the late 1980s around Robert “3D” Del Naja, Grant “Daddy G” Marshall and Andrew “Mushroom” Vowles. Their music blends hip-hop, dub, soul, electronic music and ambient, with slow rhythms, deep bass and dark atmospheres that helped define the trip-hop sound. With albums such as Blue Lines, Protection and Mezzanine, Massive Attack became one of the most influential…

• Trip-hop
• Electro
• Dub

Max Romeo

Max Romeo was a Jamaican singer and songwriter who became an important figure in 1970s roots reggae. After early work influenced by ska and rocksteady, he developed a more socially and politically conscious style shaped by Rastafarian spirituality and deep reggae rhythms. With songs such as Wet Dream and Chase the Devil, along with the album War Ina Babylon, Max Romeo became one of the distinctive voices of Jamaican…

• Ska-punk
• Reggae
• Rocksteady

Metallica

Metallica is an American metal band formed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s around James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, later joined notably by Kirk Hammett and Cliff Burton. The group became known for a powerful sound blending thrash metal, heavy metal and increasingly ambitious compositions, driven by sharp riffs, precise rhythms and often dark songwriting. With albums such as Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, ..…

• Metal

Method Man

Method Man, born Clifford Smith Jr., is an American rapper and actor from Staten Island, New York, best known as a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. His style blends East Coast rap, hardcore rap and dark hip-hop, driven by an instantly recognizable deep voice, a fluid flow and a strong sense of punchline and phrasing. With albums such as Tical, Tical 2000: Judgement Day and his collaborations with Redman, Method Man becam…

• Hip-hop

Miles Davis

Miles Davis was an American trumpeter, composer and bandleader widely regarded as one of the major figures in jazz history. Active from the 1940s through the 1990s, he played a crucial role in the development of bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz and jazz fusion, constantly reinventing his musical language and ensembles. With albums such as Birth of the Cool, Kind of Blue, Sketches of Spain and Bitches Brew, Mil…

• Jazz

Millencolin

Millencolin is a Swedish punk rock band formed in Örebro in the early 1990s around Nikola Šarčević, Mathias Färm, Erik Ohlsson and Fredrik Larzon. Their music blends skate punk, melodic punk and pop punk, driven by fast rhythms, catchy melodies and a sound strongly associated with the 1990s punk scene. With albums such as Life on a Plate, For Monkeys and Pennybridge Pioneers, Millencolin became one of the most iconi…

• Punk-rock

Minor Threat

Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in the early 1980s around Ian MacKaye, Lyle Preslar, Brian Baker and Jeff Nelson. Their music was defined by very short, fast and incisive songs, closely associated with a DIY ethic and lyrics dealing with independence, social pressure, identity and the rejection of certain norms within punk culture. Despite a brief career, with releases suc…

• Punk

Mobb Deep

Mobb Deep was an American hip-hop duo from Queensbridge, New York, formed by Prodigy and Havoc. Active from the early 1990s, the group became one of the defining acts of East Coast hardcore rap through a dark atmosphere, minimal and menacing production, and lyrics focused on street life, survival, violence and urban paranoia. With landmark albums such as The Infamous and Hell on Earth, Mobb Deep had a lasting impact…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Moby

Moby, born Richard Melville Hall, is an American musician, producer, composer and DJ who became one of the major figures in electronic music during the 1990s and 2000s. His music blends techno, ambient, house, alternative rock, gospel, blues and pop, with an often melancholic and cinematic approach built around both electronic textures and sampling. With albums such as Everything Is Wrong, Play and 18, Moby became o…

• Electro
• Rock-alternatif
• Ambient

Moose Blood

Moose Blood is a British folk and pop-rock band formed in Canterbury in 2012 around Eddy Brewerton, Mark Osborne, Kyle Todd and Glenn Harvey. Influenced by the emo music of the 1990s and 2000s, the group developed a melodic and emotional sound built around clean guitars, catchy choruses and lyrics exploring relationships, memories, doubt and vulnerability. With albums such as I’ll Keep You in Mind, From Time to Time…

• Rock
• Folk

Morcheeba

Morcheeba is a British group formed in London in the mid-1990s around Skye Edwards and brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey. Their music blends trip-hop, downtempo, soul, pop and electronic influences, with slow rhythms, atmospheric arrangements and Skye Edwards’ soft, instantly recognizable voice. With albums such as Who Can You Trust?, Big Calm and Fragments of Freedom, Morcheeba became one of the defining groups of Bri…

• Trip-hop
• Soul

Mos Def

Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, is an American rapper, singer and actor from Brooklyn, New York. His style blends conscious hip-hop, alternative rap, soul, jazz and spoken word, with writing focused on identity, society, politics, culture and the African American experience. With projects such as Black Star alongside Talib Kweli, followed by albums including Black on Both Sides and The Ecstatic, Yasiin Bey be…

• Hip-hop

Muse

Muse is a British rock band formed in Teignmouth, Devon, in the mid-1990s around Matthew Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard. The trio developed a dramatic and expansive sound blending alternative rock, progressive rock, electronic music, classical influences and symphonic elements, matched by ambitious live performances. With albums such as Origin of Symmetry, Absolution, Black Holes and Revelations and …

• Rock

N.W.A

N.W.A was an American hip-hop group formed in Compton, California, around figures including Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella. In the late 1980s, the group established a confrontational and provocative style of rap depicting violence, social tensions, relations with law enforcement and everyday life in disadvantaged areas of Los Angeles. With albums such as Straight Outta Compton and Niggaz4Life, N.W.A …

• Hip-hop
• Rap

NOFX

NOFX is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s around Fat Mike, Eric Melvin and Erik Sandin. A major force in skate punk and melodic punk, the band became known for its fast, sarcastic and highly energetic sound, blending dark humor, social criticism, politics and self-deprecation. With albums such as Punk in Drublic, So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes and The War on Errorism, NOFX bec…

• Punk-rock

Nas

Nas, born Nasir Jones, is an American rapper, songwriter and entrepreneur from Queens, New York. His style is rooted in dense, narrative East Coast rap, defined by precise writing about urban life, inequality, ambition, violence and personal experience. With albums such as Illmatic, It Was Written and Stillmatic, Nas became one of the most respected and influential lyricists in hip-hop history.

• Hip-hop

Neil Young

Neil Young is a Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist and musician who became one of the defining figures of North American folk rock and rock music. After his early work with Buffalo Springfield and later Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, he developed a highly personal solo career moving between acoustic folk, country rock, electric rock and more experimental sounds, often accompanied by Crazy Horse. With albums such …

• Rock
• Folk
• Country

Nickelback

Nickelback is a Canadian rock band formed in Alberta in the mid-1990s around Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and, later, Daniel Adair. The group developed a sound blending post-grunge, hard rock and alternative rock, driven by powerful guitars, highly melodic choruses and polished, accessible production. With albums such as Silver Side Up, The Long Road and All the Right Reasons, Nickelback became one of the …

• Rock

Nina Simone

Nina Simone was an American singer, pianist, composer and activist who became one of the most distinctive voices in twentieth-century music. Classically trained on piano, she developed a style blending jazz, blues, gospel, folk, soul and classical music, driven by a deep, expressive voice and lyrics often shaped by the struggle for civil rights and human dignity. With songs such as I Put a Spell on You, Sinnerman an…

• Jazz
• Folk
• Soul

Nirvana

Nirvana was an American rock band formed in Washington State in the late 1980s around Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and, later, Dave Grohl. The group became known for a sound blending grunge, punk rock, noise rock and pop melodies, driven by abrasive guitars, strong dynamic contrasts and Cobain’s vulnerable songwriting. With albums such as Bleach, Nevermind and In Utero, Nirvana became one of the most influential ban…

• Rock
• Punk-rock
• Grunge

No Use for a Name

No Use for a Name was an American punk rock band formed in San Jose, California, in the late 1980s, notably around Tony Sly. Their music blended skate punk, melodic punk and pop punk, with fast rhythms, strong melodies and lyrics that were often more introspective and personal than those of many bands in the scene. With albums such as Leche Con Carne, Making Friends and Hard Rock Bottom, No Use for a Name became one…

• Punk-rock

Noir Désir

Noir Désir was a French rock band formed in Bordeaux in the early 1980s around Bertrand Cantat, Serge Teyssot-Gay, Denis Barthe and Frédéric Vidalenc. Their music blended alternative rock, post-punk, blues and punk influences, driven by an intense sound and French-language lyrics that were often poetic, dark and socially conscious. With albums such as Veuillez rendre l’âme (à qui elle appartient), Tostaky and Des vi…

• Rock

Oliver Hart

Oliver Hart is one of the aliases used by American rapper Micheal Larsen, better known as Eyedea. Under this identity, he explored a more intimate, experimental and introspective side of his writing, focusing on doubt, human relationships, self-perception and the contradictions of existence. The album The Many Faces of Oliver Hart: Or How Eye One the Write Too Think stands at the center of the project and reveals an…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Operation Ivy

Operation Ivy was an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California, in the late 1980s around Jesse Michaels, Tim Armstrong, Matt Freeman and Dave Mello. Their music blended hardcore punk, ska and reggae, with fast, melodic and socially conscious songs that helped define American ska punk. Despite a very short career, with the Hectic EP and the album Energy, Operation Ivy became one of the most influential b…

• Punk-rock
• Ska-punk

Otis Redding

Otis Redding was an American singer and songwriter who became one of the defining voices of 1960s soul music. Rooted in gospel and rhythm and blues, he stood out for an intense and deeply expressive voice, moving effortlessly between poignant ballads and more energetic songs driven by brass and the groove of Southern soul. With tracks such as Try a Little Tenderness, These Arms of Mine and (Sittin’ On) The Dock of t…

• R&B / Soul
• rhythm-and-blues

Ours Samplus

Ours Samplus is a French producer and beatmaker known for instrumental music blending hip-hop, trip-hop, downtempo, soul, jazz and cinematic textures. His sound relies heavily on sampling, melodic loops and laid-back rhythms, creating an atmosphere that is often warm, nostalgic and contemplative. Through projects such as Bepolar, Orphan Loops and Spell on You, Ours Samplus has developed a distinctive identity within…

• Trip-hop
• Downtempo
• Hip-hop

OutKast

OutKast is an American hip-hop duo formed in Atlanta in the early 1990s by André 3000 and Big Boi. Their music blends Southern hip-hop, funk, soul, jazz, rock and electronic experimentation, driven by inventive songwriting and two complementary personalities that helped expand the boundaries of Southern rap. With albums such as ATLiens, Aquemini, Stankonia and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, OutKast became one of the m…

• Hip-hop
• Funk
• Soul

Outlawz

Outlawz is an American hip-hop group formed in the 1990s around close collaborators of 2Pac, including E.D.I. Mean, Young Noble, Hussein Fatal, Kastro and Napoleon. Associated with the West Coast and hardcore rap scenes, the collective became known for lyrics focused on loyalty, survival, conflict, street life and the bonds between its members. Frequently featured alongside 2Pac on numerous songs and projects, Outla…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

PUP

PUP is a Canadian punk rock band formed in Toronto in the early 2010s around Stefan Babcock, Nestor Chumak, Steve Sladkowski and Zack Mykula. The group developed a sharp, melodic sound blending punk rock, pop punk, indie rock and post-hardcore, driven by explosive choruses and lyrics that are often sarcastic, anxious and self-deprecating. With albums such as PUP, The Dream Is Over and Morbid Stuff, the band became o…

• Punk-rock
• Post-hardcore

Pennywise

Pennywise is an American punk rock band formed in Hermosa Beach, California, in the late 1980s around Jim Lindberg, Fletcher Dragge, Jason Thirsk and Byron McMackin. Their music blends skate punk, hardcore punk and melodic punk, driven by fast rhythms, anthemic choruses and lyrics dealing with freedom, personal responsibility, society and self-improvement. With albums such as Pennywise, Unknown Road and Full Circle,…

• Punk
• Punk-rock

Pete Rock

Pete Rock, born Peter Phillips, is an American producer, DJ and rapper from New York who became one of the defining figures of 1990s East Coast hip-hop. First known as part of the duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth, he developed a production style built around soul and jazz samples, warm bass lines and precise rhythms that helped shape the boom bap sound. With projects such as Mecca and the Soul Brother, The Main Ingredient …

• Hip-hop

Peter Tosh

Peter Tosh was a Jamaican singer, guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of the Wailers alongside Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer before pursuing a solo career. His music blended roots reggae, ska and rocksteady, with strongly political lyrics focused on social justice, civil rights, Pan-Africanism and cannabis legalization. With albums such as Legalize It, Equal Rights and Mystic Man, Peter Tosh became one of …

• Reggae
• Ska
• Rocksteady

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd was a British rock band formed in London in the mid-1960s around Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason, later joined by David Gilmour. Initially associated with psychedelic rock, the group gradually developed a broader sound blending progressive rock, sonic experimentation and atmospheric compositions, with themes exploring alienation, time, war and modern society. With albums such as T…

• Rock

Poison the Well

Poison the Well is an American metalcore band formed in Florida in the late 1990s. The group became known for an intense blend of hardcore, metal and melodic passages, with songs that move between rhythmic aggression, emotional tension and more fragile atmospheres. With albums such as The Opposite of December... A Season of Separation, Tear from the Red and You Come Before You, Poison the Well became one of the most…

• Metal
• Hardcore

Portishead

Portishead is a British group formed in Bristol in the early 1990s around Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley. Their music blends trip-hop, electronic music, hip-hop, jazz and cinematic influences, with slow rhythms, dark samples, atmospheric guitars and Beth Gibbons’ fragile, expressive voice. With albums such as Dummy, Portishead and Third, the group became one of the most iconic and influential acts in Br…

• Trip-hop
• Electro
• Jazz

Propagandhi

Propagandhi is a Canadian punk rock band formed in Winnipeg in the mid-1980s around Chris Hannah and Jord Samolesky. Their music blends hardcore punk, skate punk, thrash metal and melodic punk, with strongly political writing focused on anti-capitalism, anti-war themes, animal rights, inequality and systems of power. With albums such as How to Clean Everything, Less Talk, More Rock and Supporting Caste, Propagandhi …

• Punk
• Punk-rock

Public Enemy

Public Enemy is an American hip-hop group formed in Long Island, New York, around Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff and the production team The Bomb Squad. Active since the 1980s, the group became known for politically charged, forceful rap driven by abrasive production and lyrics addressing racism, inequality, media representation and power structures in the United States. With landmark albums such as It Takes …

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Queen

Queen is a British rock band formed in London in the early 1970s around Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. The group became known for a spectacular approach blending rock, hard rock, glam, pop, opera and experimentation, driven by elaborate vocal harmonies, instantly recognizable guitars and a strong theatrical dimension. With albums such as A Night at the Opera, News of the World and The Game…

• Rock

Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band formed in California in the late 1990s around Josh Homme. Emerging from the desert-rock scene, the group developed a heavy, hypnotic and groove-driven sound blending stoner rock, hard rock, alternative rock, garage and psychedelic influences. With albums such as Rated R, Songs for the Deaf, ...Like Clockwork and In Times New Roman..., Queens of the Stone Age became on…

• Rock
• Rock-alternatif
• Hard-rock

RJD2

RJD2, born Ramble Jon Krohn, is an American producer, DJ and composer who became an important figure in instrumental hip-hop and the 2000s beatmaking scene. His music blends hip-hop, soul, funk, rock, electronic music and sampling, with often cinematic compositions and a highly melodic approach to production. With albums such as Deadringer, Since We Last Spoke and The Third Hand, RJD2 became one of the most distinct…

• Electro
• Rock
• Hip-hop

Radiohead

Radiohead is a British rock band formed in Oxford in the late 1980s around Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien and Philip Selway. Initially associated with alternative rock, the group quickly expanded its sound toward more experimental forms blending art rock, electronic music, ambient, krautrock and atmospheric compositions, with lyrics often shaped by alienation, anxiety, technology and contem…

• Rock

Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in the early 1990s around Zack de la Rocha, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk. The group became known for an explosive sound blending rap, metal, funk, punk and alternative rock, driven by Tom Morello’s inventive guitar work and Zack de la Rocha’s forceful vocals. With albums such as Rage Against the Machine, Evil Empire and The Battle o…

• Rock
• Metal
• Punk

Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Rainbow Kitten Surprise is an American indie rock band formed in North Carolina in the early 2010s. Their music blends indie rock, folk, alternative pop and soul influences, with a strong focus on vocal harmonies, shifting dynamics and intimate songwriting. With albums such as RKS, How to: Friend, Love, Freefall and Love Hate Music Box, the band has developed a distinctive emotional and melodic identity within the A…

• Rock

Ramones

Ramones was an American punk rock band formed in New York in the mid-1970s around Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone and Tommy Ramone. Their music was built around short, fast and minimalist songs blending rock ’n’ roll, garage rock, surf music and pop, with simple melodies, distorted guitars and raw energy. With albums such as Ramones, Rocket to Russia and Road to Ruin, the band became one of the founding a…

• Punk-rock

Rancid

Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California, in the early 1990s around Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, later joined notably by Lars Frederiksen. Rooted in California’s punk and ska scenes, the band developed an energetic sound blending punk rock, ska, reggae and street-punk influences, driven by anthemic choruses and instantly recognizable vocals. With albums such as Let’s Go, ...And Out Come…

• Punk-rock
• Ska-punk

Ray Charles

Ray Charles was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, widely regarded as one of the founding figures of soul music. From the 1950s onward, he developed a distinctive style blending gospel, rhythm and blues, jazz, blues and country, driven by an instantly recognizable voice and highly expressive piano playing. With songs such as What’d I Say, Hit the Road Jack and Georgia on My Mind, Ray Charles profoundly infl…

• Jazz
• Blues
• Country

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s around Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons. The group developed an instantly recognizable sound blending funk rock, alternative rock, punk and psychedelic influences, driven by Flea’s expressive bass playing and a powerful live energy. With albums such as Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication and By the Way, Red H…

• Rock

Redman

Redman, born Reginald Noble, is an American rapper, producer and actor from New Jersey who emerged in the early 1990s through his association with EPMD. His style blends East Coast hip-hop, hardcore rap, funk and irreverent humor, driven by an energetic flow, a raspy voice and an offbeat lyrical approach. With albums such as Whut? Thee Album, Dare Iz a Darkside and Muddy Waters, along with his many collaborations wi…

• Hip-hop

Refused

Refused is a Swedish hardcore punk band formed in Umeå in the early 1990s around Dennis Lyxzén, Kristofer Steen, David Sandström and Magnus Flagge. Their music blends hardcore, post-hardcore, punk and experimentation drawing from alternative rock and electronic music, with tense structures, strong rhythmic intensity and political lyrics. With albums such as Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent and especially The Sh…

• Punk
• Hardcore
• Post-hardcore

Reignwolf

Reignwolf is a Canadian rock project led by singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Jordan Cook, formed in Seattle in the early 2010s. Its music blends blues rock, garage rock, hard rock and soul influences, driven by heavy riffs, powerful vocals and an especially raw live energy. With tracks such as Are You Satisfied?, In the Dark and Hardcore, followed by the album Hear Me Out, Reignwolf has developed an inten…

• Rock-alternatif

Rise Against

Rise Against is an American punk rock band formed in Chicago in the late 1990s around Tim McIlrath, Joe Principe, Zach Blair and Brandon Barnes. The band became known for an energetic melodic-punk sound shaped by hardcore, alternative rock and powerful choruses, with lyrics often focused on social injustice, human rights, politics and personal conflict. With albums such as Siren Song of the Counter Culture, The Suff…

• Punk-rock
• Hardcore

Ron Gallo

Ron Gallo is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Philadelphia, known for a sharp sound blending garage rock, punk, indie rock and psychedelic influences. His songwriting combines dark humor, absurdity, social criticism and introspection, delivered through a deliberately raw and unpredictable approach. With albums such as Heavy Meta, Stardust Birthday Party and FOREGROUND MUSIC, Ron Gallo has built a dis…

• Rock

Run‐D.M.C.

Run-D.M.C. was an American hip-hop group formed in Queens, New York, in the early 1980s by Run, D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay. Their music stood out for stripped-down beats, direct and powerful flows and a pioneering fusion of rap and rock that helped bring hip-hop into global popular culture. With albums such as Run-D.M.C., King of Rock and Raising Hell, along with the success of Walk This Way with Aerosmith, Run-D.M.C…

• Hip-hop

Sarah Vaughan

Sarah Vaughan was an American singer widely regarded as one of the great voices of twentieth-century vocal jazz. Gifted with an exceptional vocal range, she was known for her rich tone, melodic flexibility and remarkable command of phrasing and harmony, moving effortlessly between bebop, swing, ballads and popular standards. With recordings such as Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown, At Mister Kelly’s and iconic inte…

• Jazz

Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols was a British punk rock band formed in London in the mid-1970s around Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock, later replaced by Sid Vicious. Their music was built on raw, direct and provocative punk, driven by aggressive guitars, an anti-establishment attitude and lyrics attacking institutions, the monarchy and social conformity. With the album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pist…

• Punk

Sidney Bechet

Sidney Bechet was an American clarinetist and soprano saxophonist, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of New Orleans jazz and traditional jazz. Active from the 1910s onward, he stood out for his powerful tone, highly expressive vibrato and great improvisational freedom, helping establish the soloist as a central figure in jazz. Spending part of his life in France, he also achieved major success in Europe with pi…

• Jazz

Slipknot

Slipknot is an American metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in the mid-1990s. The group became known for an extremely intense sound blending nu metal, alternative metal, groove metal and hardcore influences, driven by massive percussion, heavy guitars and an instantly recognizable visual identity built around masks and matching outfits. With albums such as Slipknot, Iowa and Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses), Slipk…

• Metal

Smokey Joe & The Kid

Smokey Joe & The Kid is a French producer and beatmaking duo from Bordeaux, known for a sound blending hip-hop, swing, jazz, funk, electronic music and vintage influences. Their music combines samples, brass, scratches and modern rhythms in an energetic, cinematic style often inspired by the aesthetics of the 1920s to 1950s. With projects such as Nasty Tricks, Running to the Moon and War Is Over, Smokey Joe & The Ki…

• Electro
• Hip-hop
• Funk

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg, born Calvin Broadus Jr., is an American rapper, songwriter, producer and actor from Long Beach, California, who rose to prominence in the early 1990s alongside Dr. Dre. His style blends West Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap and G-funk, with an instantly recognizable laid-back flow, funk-driven production and a strong Californian identity. With albums such as Doggystyle, Tha Doggfather and R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta…

• Hip-hop

Snot

Snot is an American band formed in Santa Barbara, California, in the mid-1990s around singer Lynn Strait. Their music blends alternative metal, hardcore punk, funk metal and hip-hop influences, with an aggressive, energetic and highly rhythmic sound. Driven by the album Get Some, which gained cult status after Strait’s death in 1998, Snot left a lasting mark on the late-1990s alternative metal and nu-metal scenes.

• Metal
• Punk
• Hip-hop

Social Distortion

Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in California in the late 1970s around Mike Ness. Their music blends punk rock, rockabilly, country and rock ’n’ roll, with a more melodic and roots-oriented sound than many punk bands of the same era, along with lyrics focused on loneliness, mistakes, relationships and redemption. With albums such as Mommy’s Little Monster, Social Distortion and White Light, Wh…

• Rock
• Punk-rock

Sonic Youth

Sonic Youth was an American experimental rock band formed in New York in the early 1980s around Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon, Lee Ranaldo and, later, Steve Shelley. The group became known for a radical approach to guitar music, combining alternate tunings, dissonance, feedback and noisy textures with structures drawn from punk, indie rock and the avant-garde. With albums such as Daydream Nation, Goo and Dirty, Sonic Y…

• Rock
• Rock-alternatif

Sonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins is an American tenor saxophonist and composer widely regarded as one of the major figures of modern jazz. Active since the 1950s, he developed a style built on highly flexible improvisation, remarkable rhythmic control and an ability to transform simple melodic ideas into long, inventive structures, particularly within hard bop. With albums such as Saxophone Colossus, Way Out West and The Bridge, Sonny…

• Jazz

Spook & the Guay

Spook & the Guay was a French band formed in Toulouse in 1990, blending alternative rock, ska, reggae, ragga and Latin influences. Driven by brass, Jamaican rhythms and a strong live energy, the group performed songs in French, English, Spanish and Jamaican Creole, moving between socially conscious lyrics and more festive material. With albums such as Mi Tierra, Ocho Rios and La Vida Sonora, Spook & the Guay became …

• Rock-alternatif
• Reggae

Sublime

Sublime was an American band formed in Long Beach, California, in the late 1980s around Bradley Nowell, Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh. Their music blended ska punk, reggae, dub, punk rock and hip-hop, with a laid-back yet energetic sound, strong Jamaican influences and lyrics often focused on everyday life, excess and California culture. With albums such as 40oz. to Freedom, Robbin’ the Hood and Sublime, the band became…

• Punk-rock
• Ska-punk
• Reggae

System of a Down

System of a Down is an American alternative metal band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1990s around Serj Tankian, Daron Malakian, Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan. The group is known for an explosive sound blending metal, punk, alternative rock, Armenian influences and deliberately unpredictable passages, driven by abrupt rhythmic shifts and a highly distinctive vocal identity. With albums such as Toxicity, Steal T…

• Metal
• Punk
• Rock-alternatif

The Animals

The Animals was a British rock band formed in Newcastle in the early 1960s around Eric Burdon, Alan Price, Chas Chandler, Hilton Valentine and John Steel. The group became known for a dark, powerful sound blending rock, blues, rhythm and blues and soul influences, driven by Eric Burdon’s intense voice and highly expressive performances. With iconic songs such as The House of the Rising Sun, We Gotta Get Out of This …

• Rock

The Architect

The Architect is a French producer, beatmaker and DJ whose music blends hip-hop, trip-hop, jazz, soul, funk and electronic music. A passionate vinyl collector and sampler, he builds productions rich in grooves, cinematic textures and influences drawn from a wide range of musical traditions. Also involved in projects such as L’Entourloop and Bloc, he developed a warm, travel-inspired musical identity through Foundati…

• Trip-hop
• Electro
• Hip-hop

The Beatles

The Beatles was a British rock band formed in Liverpool in the early 1960s around John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Initially associated with rock ’n’ roll and pop, the group quickly expanded its musical language toward folk, psychedelia, experimental rock and increasingly ambitious arrangements. With albums such as Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Ro…

• Rock

The Black Keys

The Black Keys is an American rock duo formed in Akron, Ohio, in the early 2000s by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney. Their music blends blues rock, garage rock, soul and alternative rock, built around gritty guitars, tight rhythms and production that often keeps a deliberately raw character. With albums such as Brothers, El Camino and Turn Blue, The Black Keys became one of the leading acts of the blues-rock revival…

• Rock

The Bled

The Bled is an American post-hardcore band formed in Tucson, Arizona, in the early 2000s. The group is known for an intense sound blending hardcore, metalcore, punk and more atmospheric passages, with songs that are aggressive, unpredictable and highly emotional. With albums such as Pass the Flask, Found in the Flood and Silent Treatment, The Bled became one of the notable bands of the American post-hardcore scene o…

• Post-hardcore

The Blue Stones

The Blue Stones is a Canadian rock duo formed in Windsor, Ontario, around Tarek Jafar and Justin Tessier. Their music blends blues rock, garage rock, alternative rock and more modern influences, driven by heavy riffs, powerful rhythms and a direct, energetic approach. With albums such as Black Holes, Hidden Gems and Pretty Monster, The Blue Stones has become one of the notable duos of the contemporary Canadian rock …

• Rock

The Clash

The Clash was a British punk rock band formed in London in the mid-1970s around Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon. Their music quickly moved beyond punk by incorporating reggae, ska, dub, rockabilly, funk and rock, while their lyrics addressed politics, social inequality, racism and urban tensions. With albums such as The Clash, London Calling and Sandinista!, the band became one of the most i…

• Cyberpunk

The Doors

The Doors was an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s around Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore. The group became known for a dark, hypnotic sound blending psychedelic rock, blues, jazz and experimental influences, driven by Manzarek’s organ and Morrison’s theatrical voice. With albums such as The Doors, Strange Days and L.A. Woman, The Doors became one of the most iconi…

• Rock

The Flatliners

The Flatliners is a Canadian punk rock band formed in Toronto in the early 2000s. Led by Chris Cresswell, the band developed a sound blending melodic punk, hardcore and ska influences, with songwriting that is both energetic, dark and introspective. With albums such as Destroy to Create, The Great Awake and Cavalcade, The Flatliners became one of the notable bands in the contemporary Canadian punk scene.

• Punk-rock

The Herbaliser

The Herbaliser is a British group formed in London in the early 1990s around Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba. Closely associated with Ninja Tune, the duo developed a sound blending instrumental hip-hop, trip-hop, jazz, funk and turntablism, initially built around sampling and later expanded through live instrumentation. With albums such as Remedies, Very Mercenary and Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Herbaliser beca…

• Trip-hop
• Funk
• Jazz

The Interrupters

The Interrupters is an American ska-punk band formed in Los Angeles in the early 2010s around Aimee Interrupter and brothers Kevin, Justin and Jesse Bivona. The band developed an energetic sound blending ska, punk rock, reggae and 2 Tone influences, driven by anthemic choruses and a strong rhythmic foundation. With albums such as Say It Out Loud, Fight the Good Fight and In the Wild, The Interrupters became one of t…

• Punk-rock
• Ska-punk

The Killers

The Killers is an American rock band formed in Las Vegas in the early 2000s around Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. The group became known for a sound blending alternative rock, post-punk revival, new wave and pop rock, driven by prominent synthesizers, anthemic choruses and a strong melodic identity. With albums such as Hot Fuss, Sam’s Town and Day & Age, The Killers became one o…

• Rock

The Kills

The Kills is an Anglo-American rock duo formed in the early 2000s by Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince. Their music blends garage rock, blues rock, indie rock and minimalist textures, driven by abrasive guitars, dry rhythms and a dark, sensual atmosphere. With albums such as No Wow, Midnight Boom and Blood Pressures, The Kills became one of the most distinctive duos of the 2000s indie rock scene.

• Rock

The Kinks

The Kinks was a British rock band formed in London in the early 1960s around brothers Ray Davies and Dave Davies, alongside musicians including Pete Quaife and Mick Avory. Initially associated with the energetic British rock of the British Invasion, the group quickly developed a more distinctive style blending rock, pop, folk and music-hall influences, often shaped by Ray Davies’ ironic and deeply British observatio…

• Rock

The Mowgli’s

The Mowgli’s is an American indie-pop and alternative-rock band formed in California in the early 2010s. The group developed a bright, communal sound blending pop, folk, indie rock and layered vocal harmonies, driven by anthemic choruses and a strong sense of collective energy. With songs such as San Francisco and albums including Waiting for the Dawn and Kids in Love, The Mowgli’s built a distinctly upbeat and melo…

• Pop
• Rock-alternatif

The Notorious B.I.G.

The Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher George Latore Wallace, was an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York, regarded as one of the defining figures of 1990s hip-hop. His style stood out for its smooth, precise flow, vivid storytelling and lyrics blending street narratives, ambition, dark humor and introspection. With albums such as Ready to Die and Life After Death, he became one of the most influential artists in…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

The Offspring

The Offspring is an American punk rock band formed in California in the mid-1980s around Dexter Holland and Noodles. The band became known for a fast, melodic and catchy sound blending punk rock, skate punk and alternative rock, with lyrics often marked by irony and focused on relationships, society and everyday frustrations. With albums such as Smash, Ixnay on the Hombre and Americana, The Offspring became one of t…

• Punk-rock

The Pharcyde

The Pharcyde is an American hip-hop group formed in Los Angeles in the early 1990s around Imani, Slimkid3, Bootie Brown and Fatlip. Their music stands out for an offbeat, humorous and introspective style of alternative rap, driven by fluid flows, jazzy and funky production and an approach very different from the gangsta rap dominating the West Coast at the time. With albums such as Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde and L…

• Hip-hop

The Police

The Police was a British rock band formed in London in the late 1970s around Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland. Their music blended rock, new wave, reggae, punk and pop, with a distinctive rhythmic identity, sparse guitar work and songwriting that was often both melodic and tense. With albums such as Reggatta de Blanc, Zenyatta Mondatta and Synchronicity, The Police became one of the most popular and influent…

• Rock

The Raconteurs

The Raconteurs is an American rock band formed in the mid-2000s around Jack White, Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler. Their music blends garage rock, blues rock, alternative rock and influences from 1960s and 1970s rock, with a strong focus on guitars, vocal harmonies and organic arrangements. With albums such as Broken Boy Soldiers, Consolers of the Lonely and Help Us Stranger, The Raconteurs became …

• Rock

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones is a British rock band formed in London in the early 1960s around Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman. Deeply influenced by American blues and rhythm and blues, the group developed a sound blending rock, blues rock, country and soul influences, driven by Keith Richards’ guitar riffs and Mick Jagger’s distinctive stage presence. With albums such as Beggars Banquet…

• Rock

The Roots

The Roots is an American hip-hop group formed in Philadelphia in the late 1980s around Black Thought and Questlove. Unlike much of the rap of their era, they developed a sound largely performed with live instruments, blending hip-hop, soul, jazz, funk and rock influences, with a strong emphasis on groove and live performance. With albums such as Do You Want More?!!!??!, Things Fall Apart and Game Theory, The Roots b…

• Hip-hop
• Jazz
• Soul

The Skatalites

The Skatalites is a Jamaican band formed in Kingston in 1964 around musicians such as Don Drummond, Tommy McCook, Roland Alphonso, Jackie Mittoo, Lloyd Brevett and Lloyd Knibb. Their music blends ska, jazz, mento and rhythm and blues, with a strong emphasis on brass and instrumental compositions that helped define the Jamaican sound of the 1960s. With tracks such as Guns of Navarone, Eastern Standard Time and Phoeni…

• Jazz
• Ska
• rhythm-and-blues

The Slackers

The Slackers is an American band formed in New York in the early 1990s, led notably by Vic Ruggiero. Their music blends ska, rocksteady, reggae, soul, jazz and rhythm and blues, with a warmer and more organic approach than much of the ska-punk scene of the same era. Driven by prominent keyboards, brass and songwriting marked by melancholy, humor and everyday observation, The Slackers became one of the defining bands…

• Ska-punk
• Jazz
• Reggae

The Specials

The Specials are a British band formed in Coventry in the late 1970s around Jerry Dammers, Terry Hall, Lynval Golding, Neville Staple, Roddy Radiation, Horace Panter and John Bradbury. Their music blends ska, reggae, punk and new wave, with an energetic, danceable sound closely associated with the 2 Tone movement, along with lyrics focused on social tensions, racism, unemployment and British urban life. With albums …

• Punk
• Reggae
• Ska

The Strokes

The Strokes is an American rock band formed in New York in the late 1990s around Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti. The group became known for a sharp, direct and stylish sound blending garage rock, indie rock, post-punk and new-wave influences, driven by interlocking guitars and instantly recognizable vocals. With albums such as Is This It, Room on Fire and …

• Rock

The Troggs

The Troggs was a British rock band formed in Andover in the mid-1960s around Reg Presley, Chris Britton, Pete Staples and Ronnie Bond. The group became known for a simple, raw and direct sound blending garage rock, beat, rhythm and blues and pop, driven by catchy riffs and an immediate sense of energy. With iconic songs such as Wild Thing, With a Girl Like You and Love Is All Around, The Troggs became one of the not…

• Rock

The White Stripes

The White Stripes was an American rock duo formed in Detroit in the late 1990s by Jack White and Meg White. Their music was built around a deliberately minimalist approach blending garage rock, blues, punk and alternative rock, driven by raw guitar riffs, stripped-down drumming and a strong visual identity based on red, white and black. With albums such as White Blood Cells, Elephant and Get Behind Me Satan, The Whi…

• Rock

Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk was an American pianist and composer who became one of the major figures of bebop and modern jazz. His playing was defined by angular chords, expressive silences, unpredictable rhythms and a highly personal harmonic language, giving his compositions an instantly recognizable identity. With pieces such as ’Round Midnight, Straight, No Chaser and Blue Monk, Thelonious Monk profoundly influenced the dev…

• Jazz

Toots & The Maytals

Toots & The Maytals was a Jamaican group formed in the 1960s around singer Frederick “Toots” Hibbert. Their music blended ska, rocksteady, reggae, soul and gospel, driven by a powerful voice, warm vocal harmonies and an energy strongly rooted in rhythm and blues. With songs such as 54-46 That’s My Number, Pressure Drop and Do the Reggay, Toots & The Maytals became one of the founding groups of reggae and played a ma…

• Ska
• Rocksteady

Tupac

2Pac, born Tupac Amaru Shakur, was an American rapper, actor and writer who became one of the defining figures of 1990s hip-hop. Through an intense style of writing that blended anger, vulnerability, social criticism and street narratives, he explored themes such as inequality, violence, poverty and the contradictions of American society. Driven by landmark albums including Me Against the World and All Eyez on Me, 2…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

U2

U2 is an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in the late 1970s around Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. Their music blends alternative rock, post-punk, pop rock and electronic influences, driven by Bono’s expressive vocals, The Edge’s distinctive guitar textures and lyrics exploring faith, human relationships, conflict and social and political issues. With albums such as War, The Joshua Tree and Achtung…

• Rock

Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend is an American indie-rock band formed in New York in the mid-2000s around Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio, Chris Tomson and, originally, Rostam Batmanglij. The group became known for a bright and sophisticated sound blending indie rock, pop, African influences, classical music and highly melodic arrangements. With albums such as Vampire Weekend, Contra, Modern Vampires of the City and Father of the Bride, th…

• Rock

Van Morrison

Van Morrison, born George Ivan Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer, songwriter and musician from Belfast. He first gained recognition in the 1960s with the band Them, before developing a solo career blending rock, folk, soul, blues, jazz and rhythm and blues, driven by his instantly recognizable voice and deeply personal songwriting. With albums such as Astral Weeks, Moondance and Veedon Fleece, Van Morrison became…

• Rock
• Blues
• Folk

Vinnie Paz

Vinnie Paz, born Vincenzo Luvineri, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, best known as a founding member of Jedi Mind Tricks and the Army of the Pharaohs collective. Active since the 1990s, he became known for his powerful voice, aggressive flow and dense lyricism blending violence, religion, politics, history, inner conflict and cultural references. Alongside his group work, he built a solo career with albums s…

• Hip-hop
• Rap

Wax Tailor

Wax Tailor, born Jean-Christophe Le Saoût, is a French producer, composer and DJ whose music blends instrumental hip-hop, trip-hop, soul, jazz and cinematic influences. Active since the 2000s, he builds his tracks around sampling, film dialogue and vocal collaborations, with a highly narrative and atmospheric approach. With albums such as Tales of the Forgotten Melodies, Hope & Sorrow and In the Mood for Life, Wax T…

• Trip-hop
• Electro
• Hip-hop

Wolfmother

Wolfmother is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in the early 2000s around singer and guitarist Andrew Stockdale. Their music draws heavily from the hard rock, psychedelic rock and blues rock of the 1960s and 1970s, with powerful riffs, high-pitched vocals and arrangements strongly shaped by a vintage aesthetic. With albums such as Wolfmother, Cosmic Egg and Victorious, the band became one of the leading acts …

• Rock

Wu‐Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip-hop collective from Staten Island, New York, built around rappers including RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Active since the early 1990s, the group became known for a dark, raw sound shaped by sampling, martial arts cinema and dense lyricism filled with street imagery, references and distinctive characters. Wit…

• Hip-hop
• Rap