Blog: We Listen For You

HANK ALTOGETHER: When Paul Simon released Graceland in 1986, it not only became an overnight sensation, the record landed Simon in a heap of political turmoil as well. Simon violated the UN cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa by not only recording there, but using mbaqanga a genre of South African pop to craft the majority of the sound on the album. Simon's usage and adaptation of mbaqanga touched a nerve. [...]