One of the iconic figures in popular music for the last 30 years, Sting (a.k.a Gordon Sumner), is now celebrating 25 years of going solo.

He had his first taste of international acclaim and success as the singer and bass player of The Police, which somehow combined lean, sophisticated rock music with reggae and hooks: no one can forget (Roooooooxanne! You don’t have to put on the red light!!).  But as they called it a day, Sting launched an even more successful solo career, with music that touched on Jazz, easy listening, New Age and other influences.

Fortress Around Your Heart is a track from the first solo album, Dream of the Blue Turtles, which came out in 1986.

Download the compilation or check out for his entire discography on iMesh

…are just some of the things we could think of that come in black & yellow.  Wiz Kahlifa’s biggest hit to date is also a strictly Black & Yellow affair.  It’s lifted from his album Rolling Paper, which came out earlier this year and is still available on iMesh

The Occupy Wall Street protests are gathering momentum, spreading across the U.S, while chiming in with similar movements around the world.  One of the bands that supported the causes of OWS, way before the movement was conceived, is Rage Against the Machine, who were, well, raging against the machine since the early 90′s.

This track is from 1999, from the album The Battle of Los Angeles and it sounds like a perfect anthem for the current wave of protest, 12 years later.

Grab the full album and other RATM tracks over at iMesh

Patrick Stump caught your attention for the first time as lead singer of pop punk trio, Fall Out Boy.  Since the band is on an indefinite break, it’s time for Stump to step out as a solo artist. His new album, Soul Punk, surely presents him more as a soul/r’n'b crooner than as punk.

This City sounds a lot like Hall and Oates, Starship, and other blue-eyed 80′s soul legends.  It also features Lupe Fiasco, which is generally always a good thing.

And while we’re at it, we’ve just published on iMesh a new playlist of songs, selected by Patrick Stump. check it out!

http://youtu.be/s0ujF8D6-5k

Former Disney Channel sensation and one-third of the Jonas Brothers teeny boppers, Joe Jonas is now trying to cross over to the grown up pop world, with his first solo album Fastlife.

Check out Just in Love, where Joe Jonas takes a trip to Europe and is dazzled by the beauty of the European female species.

A new Beyonce video is always a good reason for a party, let alone a new post on our blog.  This is Countdown, a dazzling combination of styles and sounds and proof that pop in 2011 can still be fun, challenging, full of surprises and yet insanely catchy.

And don’t forget, her album 4 is still available for download on iMesh

http://vimeo.com/30400929

Hip Hop’s elder stateman, Nas, is back with another observant slice of rap, aptly called Nasty.  With an old school beat, slightly updated to 2011, and images of him going back to the hood, Nas is still one of the best rappers around.

The new album from rapper Spank Rock has him collaborating musically with German techno maestro, Boysnoize.  He’s clearly aiming for the big league now, after the underground success of his debut album Yoyoyoyoyo.

Check out this sick video, for single #1 Hit, and grab the album on iMesh

DJ SHADOW – BORDER CROSSING from Dean Fernando on Vimeo.

DJ Shadow’s seminal work in the mid 90′s, secured him a place in music’s hall of fame.  His masterful Entroducing showed the world how to make music using solely other people’s records.

Now, the Shadow is back with his 4th album, which breaks 5 years of silence.  It’s an astonishing album, bringing together hip hop, electronica, rock and the voice of a unique talent.

This video- Border Crossing, is one of the more energized cuts in the album and addresses the issue of immigration policies on the US-Mexico border.

Get the full album on iMesh

.. and while we’re at it, here’s a new piece by Kutiman, which takes DJ Shadow’s ideas of sampling and implements them on youtube video clips.  His latest creation is called This Is Democracy, which features a slew of world leaders, past and present, set against demonstrating people.  Check it out!

Just like Eminem sampled English singer Dido in Stan, T-Pain attempts the same with Lily Allen in 5 O’clock.  The contrast between Allen’s fragile voice and English accent and T-Pain’s signature, heavily processed autotune voice is what gives this song a great sense of tension.