Music & Culture

Music & Culture

'Fresh Air' celebrates 50 years of hip-hop: Outkast's André 3000

1:34pm September 01, 2023

by Terry Gross

André Benjamin spoke to Fresh Air in 2006 about his music and his Outkast persona: " André 3000 ... just goes there and has a ball; André Benjamin is the person that goes to Whole Foods."

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Big Boi (L) and Andre 3000 of Outkast perform onstage during day 3 of the Firefly Music Festival on June 21, 2014 in Dover, Delaware.

Music & Culture

"The South got something to say" — Outkast fulfills its prophecy on Aquemini

12:14pm September 01, 2023

by Phil Harrell

Hip-hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Commentator Kiana Fitzgerald is looking back at the albums that changed the game. Today, it's OutKast's album Aquemini.

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From stage to screen: A concert film of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour heads to theaters

8:48pm August 31, 2023

by Ayana Archie

Swift's tour has bolstered economies and crashed the Ticketmaster website. AMC said it has increased its online ticket server by more than five times its normal capacity to accommodate for the demand.

Music & Culture

'Fresh Air' celebrates 50 years of hip-hop: De La Soul's Trugoy the Dove and Maseo

1:22pm August 31, 2023

by Terry Gross

Two of De La Soul's founding members, David "Trugoy" Jolicoeur and Vincent "Maseo" Mason, spoke to Fresh Air in 2000 about their 1989 debut, 3 Feet High and Rising, and their ironic, playful style.

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Music & Culture

'Fresh Air' celebrates 50 years of hip-hop: Beastie Boys

1:22pm August 31, 2023

by Terry Gross

Beastie Boys Mike Diamond, Adam Horovitz and Adam Yauch — aka Mike D, Ad-Rock and MCA — started a punk band in New York City in the 1980s, before moving into hip-hop. Originally broadcast in 2006.

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Italian rapper Ghali aims to save migrants from drowning in the Mediterranean

5:12am August 31, 2023

In his home country of Italy, Ghali is a major star. His parents are Tunisian, and he's working with Tunisian refugees trying to enter Italy. NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Ghali about his mission.

Speedy Ortiz performs a Tiny Desk concert.

Music & Culture

Speedy Ortiz: Tiny Desk Concert

5:01am August 31, 2023

by Stephen Thompson

The clever rock band delivers a performance 10 years in the making.

In his work with Stars of the Lid, Brian McBride helped transform listeners' understanding of the potential of ambient music.

Music & Culture

Stars of the Lid co-founder Brian McBride has died at 53

4:40pm August 30, 2023

by Lars Gotrich

In his work alongside bandmate Adam Wiltzie, McBride warped and wondered at new pathways for ambient music.

Music & Culture

'Fresh Air' celebrates 50 years of hip-hop: Ice-T

1:26pm August 30, 2023

by Terry Gross

"I call it reality-based rap," Ice-T says of the gangster rap genre. His '92 hit "Cop Killer" was controversial; he later played a police detective in Law and Order: SVU. Originally broadcast in 1994.

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Juan Lastra unabashedly stood up, sang and filmed himself during one of Adele's concerts in Las Vegas. When security tried to get him to sit down, Adele told them to leave him alone.

Should you stand or sit at a concert? Adele fan ignites debate

11:21am August 30, 2023

by Elizabeth Blair

When security told Juan Lastra to sit down, Adele told them to leave him alone. The incident sparked a debate about concert etiquette. Stand when others are sitting? Tell a fan to sit down?

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