Sonia Poulton
Sonia Poulton is a journalist and broadcaster. Some people call her a "Social Commentator" – which she likes.
She was raised in a musical family but only mastered the spoons. Living the notion that "those who can, do, and those who can't, teach", Sonia gravitated towards music journalism, primarily black music – including the beginning of hip hop – which she covered from 1987 to 1997.
She contributed to many titles including Echoes, Q Magazine, Muzik, the Guardian Guide, The BRITS Magazine and the London Evening Standard. She was the sole contributor to the "Street Knowledge" spot on Kiss-FM from 1990 to 1995.
She was one of the last journalists to interview hip hop artist the Notorious B.I.G. before his murder in 1997. He told her he had many enemies and didn't expect to live a long life. She gained a decent reputation among artists for her forthright, no-nonsense manner. At one point, she was the only UK journalist granted an interview with Mary J. Blige, who had a notoriously tricky relationship with the press.
Sonia was invited to the US homes of Chuck D and Ice Cube as well as an eventful US Anniversary Tour for Def Jam Records, which featured an excitable Wu Tang Clan and an incident involving mace! The 2LiveCrew once wrote a song about her although it had no basis in fact! Producer Quincy Jones cited one of her pieces at Edinburgh Festival as an example of "decent, non-stereotypical reporting".
Since 1997 – and the birth of her daughter – her journalistic horizons expanded and she now comments on a variety of issues, mostly with a strong social conscience, and across national and international mainstream media.
She was also responsible for media-tutoring a number of artists, including the Spice Girls (and was responsible for the creation of their iconic nicknames). She still loves real hip hop and misses "the glory days of Public Enemy and NWA".
14 articles
List of articles in the library
Raekwon, RZA, Wu-Tang Clan: Wu-Tang Clan: Clan O'War
Interview by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, September 1995
Staten Island's WU-TANG CLAN are the most notorious hip hop crew of the Nineties. And the biggest-selling. Here, RZA and Raekwon give a rare insight ...
KRS-One: KRS–1: 1 From The Heart
Interview by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, November 1995
KRS-1 the grand daddy of hip hop takes to the soap box for a speech on record labels, street cred and 'The Goddess Theory'. Listen ...
Report by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, December 1995
Following the release of Mike Tyson and the acquittal of DJ Simpson the media circus is now focussing its attention on the spate of R&B ...
Everything But The Girl: Walking Wounded (Virgin)
Review by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, June 1996
HOW ON earth did they get here? One minute Everything But The Girl are the icons of suburban depressives, idealistic students and all-round sad people, ...
Coolio, Junior M.A.F.I.A., The Notorious B.I.G.: Notorious B.I.G.: B.I.G. Trouble
Report by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, October 1996
When the US hip hop elite hits the road, you expect sparks, right? When you put together names from the East and West Coast on ...
Interview by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, November 1996
Chopper fanatic, sound system supremo, founder member of Kiss FM, former Talkin' Loud A&R guru, all-round celebrity and man of the people... What more do ...
Obituary by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, November 1996
At the age of 25, TUPAC SHAKUR was gunned down and died six days later in a Las Vegas hospital. His death was inevitable, but ...
Ghostface Killah, Wu-Tang Clan: Ghostface Killer: The Grim Rapper
Profile and Interview by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, December 1996
GHOSTFACE KILLER'S debut long-player, Ironman, is yet another exceptional release from Staten Island's favourite sons. But this outing is a little different. Bringing lightness to ...
Interview by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, December 1996
The death of Tupac has left the hip hop bad boy vacancy wide open. MOBB DEEP'S Havoc and Prodigy have already more than filled his ...
Interview by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, December 1996
Lyrics with depth and a smooth-sung flow? Hip hop with real instrumentation? Attitude? Humour? Great songs? You need OUTKAST. ...
Puff Daddy: Sean 'Puffy' Combs: Multi-Million Dollar Man
Profile and Interview by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, January 1997
At 26, SEAN 'PUFFY' COMBS is reputed to be worth some $170 million. But that's not all the East Coast hip hop mogul has a ...
Report and Interview by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, January 1997
From healthy US hip hop act to global superstars in under twelve months, you could say 1996 has been a remarkable year for the FUGEES. ...
Cypress Hill, DJ Muggs: DJ Muggs: Mugg Shot
Profile and Interview by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, April 1997
One third of the multi-million-selling Cypress Hill, DJ MUGGS has earmarked 1997 as his year. Taking a step back from the Hill, his first foray ...
Interview by Sonia Poulton, Muzik, July 1997
The sassy, free-thinking BROWNSTONE make their return this month with a second album, Still Climbing. In the words of their 1995 smash, 'If You Love ...
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