Arts & Entertainment: Music, film, TV, and everything else that distracts us
Iraq ’n’ Roll
Life was hard for the Arab world's best-known metal heads. Then they came to America.
And the Cat Came Back
Yusuf Islam ditched music, fame and his name: Cat Stevens. Now he's emerging from his moon shadow.
M.I.A.: With a Rebel Yell
Maya Arulpragasam might not be a name on everyone's lips, but with "Paper Planes" now a breakout smash, pop's artful revolutionary mouths off about becoming a mother, "polluting" the mainstream, and her surprising new family ties.
A Cure For The Long-Gone Lonesome Blues
Jett Williams never met her father, Hank. Then she came across his lost recordings, and she heard him laugh at last.
The True Believers
Why would anyone still be devoted to Michael Jackson? He’s on trial for child molestation. He hasn’t had a #1 hit for a decade. Look at the face. Look at the life. These hard-core fans people call Jacko’s Wackos—what are they thinking?
Blowing in the Wind
The film adaptation of ‘The Kite Runner’ is a model of cross-cultural collaboration.
Mining the Middle East for Laughs
"The Watch List," Comedy Central’s online show, features (very funny) Americans of Middle-Eastern descent.
Pearl Jam Comes Alive
The reluctant rockers return with a new CD that might just bring back the fame they love to hate.
Welcome To The Occupation
A skeptical, satirical new comedy, straight outta Palestine.
The Tunes You Can’t Refuse
From a secret place in Southern Italy, where old world Mafia songs were born, comes a CD that celebrates the romance and violence of Malavita.
‘G’ Hits The Funny Spot
Wazzup wit dis Ali G? Why he asks old dudes dem wack questions? And he a Cambridge man, why he talk like dis?
Satisfaction Guaranteed
They’re not exactly a boy band, but there’s no denying the bad-boy appeal of the Rolling Stones. Now they’re back — again — with a new CD and tour.
The Coolest Mogul
Multimillionaire business exec Shawn Carter–Jay-Z to you–is 36 and still hasn’t lost his street cred. How’d he manage that?
The Prince Interview
Prince is back—with new music and a newfound faith. Sure, he's changed, but he's still the man.
Girls Don’t Cry
Four years after her Oscar win, Hilary Swank returns with the second role of a lifetime, "Million Dollar Baby."
Worlds Away
As Hollywood starts getting heavy again, the intense, globe-trotting ‘Babel’ tries making art out of tears and fears.
Living Legend
Singer John Legend prepares to release a gorgeous, uplifting sophomore CD. Pop music can use the inspiration.
The Way They Move
After more than a decade together, working apart, Andre 3000 and Big Boi return with a crackling OutKast musical, Idlewild.’
Red Hot Blue
With a retro look and a retro album, Christina Aguilera–seriously–has grown up. The ‘Dirrty’ girl comes clean.
He’s Jack of All Trades
The versatile White Striper moonlights yet again.
Music: Sounding Off on Bush
Musical ire against the White House.
The Kiss of Death
The Flaming Lips meet the Grim Reaper.
The Kid Stayed in the Picture
And now he has to explain why to his kid. Kid Rock talks about his new album, his new new album and his notorious sex tape.
Cashing In on a Legend
The Man in Black comes to the Great White Way.
Music: Where the Indies Are
Music festivals
The Artists: It’s The Music, Stupid
The industry has a much bigger problem than file sharing.
Married to the Mobs
Celebrity hubby Kevin Federline launches a rap career.
The Wandering Soul
Anthony Hamilton’s rural sound confounded music execs. But a rap mogul saw the diamond in the rough.
Diamond in the Rough
At 64, Neil Diamond is a comeback kid, with a hot-ticket summer tour and a stripped-down new album.
The ‘ Boomerang’ Effect
Three rappers from Senegal, bringing it all back home.
White Hot Stripes
Call them weird experimentalists or rootsy retro-rockers, garage-band revivalists or postmodern minimalists — the White Stripes color outside the lines. But a funny thing happened on their way to obscurity.
Like Peas in a Pod New Window
Two years after it took the world by storm, the collective known as the Black Eyed Peas returns with another high-energy party.
Oooh, Yeah, Oooh-ooh, Yeah
Robert Plant could have easily phoned it in at this point. He was, after all, the premier rock god of the '70s.
Latin Hip-hop
Daddy Yankee is the kingpin of the newest phenomenon in american hip-hop–reggaeton. How this music from the streets is taking the Americas by storm.
Hayder Daffar
Iraqi mission accomplished.
L.A.’S Armenian Idols
Meet System of a Down, Hard Rock’s unlikely poster boys.
Emancipation Proclamation
Mariah Carey vocalizes with critic Lorraine Ali about the high (and low) notes on her new CD.
Chasing Fiona’s Tracks All Over the Internet
The strange case of Ms Apple's much-leaked new CD.
The Films of SXSW
Some surprisingly good indie movies are beinig show at, of all places, a festival known for showcasing new music.
Barry Hot
At long last, Manilow plays Vegas. Isn't it time we gave the man some respect?
Brown Is the New Gold
He sings. He dances. He’s in a new movie. Why an 18-year-old kid named Chris Brown may be pop music’s last great hope.
Common
He brought soul and spirituality back to hip-hop. Is there anything he can't do?
The Mouths That Roared
Forget about sales, forget about hype, forget about controversy. Check out 2004's true Top 10.
Totally Ludacris
The rapper tries breking new ground—and asks Newsweek's Lorraine Ali if he's hit paydirt.
Don’t Push Me ‘Cause I’m Close to the Edge
The Fake Slim Shady
Will the real Eminem please stand up again?
It’s My Life
Interview with Gwen Stefani
The Little Band That Could
Interview with Velvet Revolver
Movies: Al-Jazeera from Inside
Get Back Home, Loretta
Lorretta Lynn: A country legend inspired by a rocking White Stripe.
Nobody’s Fool
Avril Lavigne sold 6 million CDs, and became an icon for kicking butt, not baring it. Her first interview as she prepares to go another round.
Hip Hop Big Top
Welcome to the one and only universoul circus, the coolest how on Earth. Disco elephants? Got 'em.
Review: Jonesing For Home
Review Norah Jones
Alchemizing Pop
The Neptunes: Producers Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo already reinvented Britney. Tomorrow, the world.
Avril Lavigne: This Girl Rocks
She is an artist with attitude—and her fans love her for it.
Does The Kid Know How To Rock?
The artist formerly known as Bob Ritchie spars with Newsweek’s Lorraine Ali.
Fast Chat: All You’d Ever Want
Interview with Tom Jones
Gotta Jet
These young Aussies doubt they’re really rock’s new hope. We beg to differ.
Bringing Up Britney
Sex Appeal, Far More Than Music, Is What Sells Spears. Does She Know It, Does She Like It–And How Far Will She Take It, Now That She’s Not A Kid Anymore?
Another Party Gets Started With Pink
An Angel On His Shoulder
Singer Ibrahim Ferrer’s got highly placed friends.
Gooooooal!
The irresistible underdog ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ becomes a word-of-mouth hit.
The Second Coming
The White Stripes won’t save rock, but they’re on a roll.
Love Makes Me Go Haywire’
Lisa Marie Presley talks frankly about music, marriage—and suspicious minds.
Music: Caught Between Rock And A Hard Place
Anarchy On Mtv? Tough Gals, Rejoice.
Scrappy skater Avril Lavigne leads the anti-Britney revolution.
Cries From The Heart
It’s Nirvana’s moment again with a ‘new’ hit—and a raw, revealing book of the late Kurt Cobain’s diaries.
Hip-Hop’s Hope
While much of the urban genre now focuses on materialism and sex, Jurassic 5 is a return to rap’s roots.
All About Eve
Hip-Hop’s pit bull in a skirt has a new CD—and is poised To become a Hollywood mover and shaker. Can Eve play to Middle America and keep her street cred?
Daybreak In A Concrete Sky
The melancholy Beth Orton shows us her sunny side.
The Skittish Are Coming
Cool, loud, jittery garage bands like The Hives, The Vines and The Strokes are getting rock back on a roll.
Sing Like An Egyptian
Even now, singers Khaled and Hakim are two Arabs who America is welcoming with open arms, and ears.
Wilco: The Little Band That Could
Music: Singing Outside The Box
Great White Male
Moby is pop’s accidental superstar. He sold 10 million copies of his last CD, and now the bald, vegan master of electronica ss back with ‘18.’
About A (Brilliant) Boy
The new Hugh Grant film is great. But its soundtrack, created by artist Badly Drawn Boy, is a masterpiece.
The Crow Must Go On
Sheryl Crow
Alan Jackson In The Driver’s Seat
A Passage For India
Grammy comes knocking.
A Record Year
Apparently, Grammy voters actually listened to the new releases in 2001—and chose wisely.