Michael Kiwanuka, “Small Changes.” His album may be called Small Changes, but it was actually some fairly significant ones that informed singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka’s fourth album. The Mercury-Prize-winning artist, whose song “Cold Little Heart” was made the opening theme for HBO’s “Big Little Liars,” became a parent of two and moved…

Danger Mouse and Black Thought, “Cheat Codes.” The last time audiences were graced with an official collaboration between renowned producer Danger Mouse and a prominent hip-hop artist was in 2005 with MF DOOM (as DANGERDOOM). The wait is finally over, as Black Thought joins forces with Brian Burton and takes center stage…

Chance the Rapper. Matt De Mello/STAFF. The other day I wrote an column on where we, not just as a country, but as a world, go from here. That piece was unique for RIFF. Ours is not a political publication. However, some events transcend politics. Many of us are nervous, some…

Mumford and Sons perform at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on May 30, 2013. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. BERKELEY — “How many of you are students?” Marcus Mumford surveyed the packed crowd at UC Berkeley’s Greek Theatre Thursday night, the second of three consecutive sell-outs for London folk-rockers Mumford & Sons. “How…