2NE1: Missing You

This week MTV Iggy picks five acts to watch, from South Korea's 2NE1 to Ghanaian rapper Bryte to Paris-based producer Myth Syzer

A dreamy mix of Balearic beats, Scandinavian pop, Greek nonchalance and a touch of Sade make the aptly named duo Keep Shelly in Athens a melodic wonder. “Oostende” brings their yearning to life in a video teeming with shooting stars and missed connections, compounded by soft vocals and a strong emotional pull. Originally signed to Gorilla vs Bear’s Forest Family Records and now on Cascine, …

School of Seven Bells: Painting a Memory

Remembering Benjamin Curtis and Phil Everly, White Lies' album art, Afrika Bambaataa and more in music this week

2014 started off with the sad news of musician Benjamin Curtis passing at the young age of 35 after a battle with cancer. The distinctly talented artist began as a drummer in Dallas-based bands UFOFU and Tripping Daisy before becoming the rocking guitarist in Secret Machines and ultimately the multi-instrumentalist in NYC’s beloved indie rock band School of Seven Bells, with Alejandra Deheza. While their …

Afrika Bambaataa: Looking For The Perfect Beat

Remembering Benjamin Curtis and Phil Everly, White Lies' album art, Afrika Bambaataa and more in music this week

The grandfather of hip hop, the father of electro funk and the godfather of early techno, NYC-bred Afrika Bambaataa was an early proponent of incorporating drum machines and samples, breaking down genre walls to literally spin them together. We jammed to the 1983 hit “Looking For The Perfect Beat” this week to prep for a DJ set fr om Bam at the intimate Le Poisson …