Neil Kulkarni, a music critic, writer, and author, has passed away at the age of 51. Kulkarni was born in Coventry, and his death was confirmed by his band, Moonbears, in a Facebook post on January 22. The post describes Kulkarni as a “dedicated husband and father” and a “gifted” journalist who prioritized his loved ones above everything else. The announcement left his fans and colleagues in shock and grief.
Kulkarni began his career in journalism in the early ‘90s, contributing to Melody Maker. Later, he wrote for Vox, Kerrang!, The Quietus, The Wire, and The Guardian before becoming hip hop editor for DJ Mag. His bandmates paid tribute to his sharp wit and talent as a journalist in the Facebook post, noting that his record collection was scattered throughout a carrier bag and describing the best music he curated despite skipping songs.
Kulkarni was also a course leader of music journalism at Birmingham’s BIMM Music Institute. He was committed to promoting Black artists and called out Melody Maker’s lack of coverage, decrying their complicity in a “racism entrenched in white music criticism”. BBC reports that his Melody Maker colleague, David Stubbs, praised Kulkarni for identifying the magazine’s shortfall and filling it beautifully.
In addition to his journalism, Kulkarni authored several books on hip-hop, including The Periodic Table of HIP HOP, which detailed the history of the genre’s MCs, rappers, and producers. He also wrote about his experiences as a second-generation Indian immigrant in the UK, with a look at India’s musical history in Eastern Spring: A 2nd Gen Memoir, published by Zer0 Books in 2012. A fundraiser has been created to support Kulkarni’s family.
The Wire Magazine expressed condolences, sharing a tribute on Twitter: “Neil Kulkarni RIP”. The industry continues to mourn the loss of a legendary critic and personality.
[Sources: RA, BBC]
Read the full article from Mixmag here: Read More