Neneh Cherry

Neneh Cherry doesn’t sound like a genre, but like a blend that refuses to stay still. Her voice, straddling rap and singing, moves between layers of samples, African percussion, and guitars that seem to float. It’s not music from one place: it’s the result of growing up between Sweden, Sierra Leone, and the United States, and absorbing it all without filtering. In the 80s, when punk and post-punk were still breathing in London, she was already there—but not as just another face. She was someone who crossed borders without asking for permission.

In 1989, with Raw Like Sushi, she achieved something few did at the time: an album that sounded modern without sounding like a passing trend. Success didn’t come by chance. "Buffalo Stance" wasn’t just another song: it was a hypnotic loop where the bass, drums, and her voice tangled in a rhythm that didn’t fit into any box. The track climbed to number two on the UK Albums Chart, and along the way, it gave Cherry a place in the conversation of what was to come. But she didn’t stop there. In 1992, Homebrew revealed another side: fewer samples, more acoustic guitars, and lyrics that played with intimacy. She wasn’t looking to repeat formulas, but to explore.