Neneh Cherry was born on March 10, 1964, in Stockholm, Sweden, and grew up in a vibrant, multicultural family of artists and musicians. The stepdaughter of legendary jazz musician Don Cherry, she was immersed in experimental sounds from an early age, moving between Sweden and England during her youth. By her teenage years, she had settled in London and was actively involved in the city’s nascent punk and post-punk scenes, performing with groups such as Rip Rig + Panic, where her boundary-pushing presence quickly established her as a creative force.
Cherry burst onto the international stage in 1989 with her debut solo album *Raw Like Sushi*, blending hip-hop, pop, and electronic elements with incisive, personal lyrics. The album’s iconic lead single “Buffalo Stance” became a worldwide hit and earned her considerable acclaim. Her fearless experimentation with genres and her outspoken stance on social issues marked Cherry as a distinct and influential voice in contemporary music.
Following her debut, Cherry continued to break ground with albums like *Homebrew* (1992) and *Man* (1996), each project reinforcing her reputation as a forward-thinking artist unafraid to collaborate across styles and cultures. She has worked with artists including Massive Attack, Youssou N’Dour, and her brother Eagle-Eye Cherry, maintaining a strong presence not only as a performer but also as a songwriter and producer. In addition to her work as a solo artist, Cherry has turned to DJing, bringing her encyclopedic knowledge of music and fearless eclecticism to international club and festival stages.
In the booth, she draws on decades of music discovery, spinning everything from hip-hop and house to afrobeat and future soul, always pushing the energy of the dancefloor while introducing new sounds to her audience. Cherry’s career is defined by a restless creative spirit, a resistance to boundaries, and a commitment to inclusivity, making her an enduring influence on generations of musicians and fans worldwide.
TripHop - AlternativeHipHop - HipHop - DancePop - Electronica - PostPunk - Soul - Pop - R&B