Bad Bunny performs at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland on Sept. 14, 2022. Matt Pang/STAFF OAKLAND — How can you tell if someone is the biggest music act in the world? If you bring your 80-person-strong traveling party to a local restaurant and have the manager say that, yeah, Carlos…

Electronic dance trio Major Lazer—comprised of Diplo, Walshy Fire and Ape Drums—have returned with the highly anticipated follow-up to 2015’s critical darling Peace Is The Mission. Unfortunately, Music Is The Weapon feels somewhat lackluster as it caters to musical trends that felt played-out in 2017. While a few moments on…

The depressive R&B of 2017’s In Tongues EP and 2018’s Ballads 1 established Joji with his own unique feel. However, with the notable exception of “Slow Dancing In The Dark,” much of it amounted to potential rather than a definitive well-rounded statement. Then again, Joji’s demure, unfiltered persona seemed to…

It may have surprised you to hear that Diplo, best known as an EDM DJ, was releasing a country album. Well… it turns out he didn’t; not really. Diplo Presents: Thomas Wesley. Chapter 1: Snake Oil Diplo Mad Decent, May 29 As the controversy surrounding the removal of Lil…

Dexter Tortoriello of Houses photographed before a show at the Fox Theater in Oakland on March 5, 2019. Photos: Joaquin Cabello. OAKLAND — After five years in Los Angeles, Dexter Tortoriello was ready to get out. The songwriter, musician and producer, best known for the ambient electronica project Houses, had realized…

A$AP Rocky performs at Treasure Island Music Festival at Middle Harbor Shoreline Park in Oakland on Oct. 13, 2018. Photos: Chloe Catajan OAKLAND — Perhaps JPEGMAFIA really did lose his cell phone Saturday morning. But maybe the industrial and noise hip-hop and experimental trap artist was upset that the…