Music & Culture

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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Christian McBride's New Jawn performs a Tiny Desk.

Music & Culture

Christian McBride's New Jawn: Tiny Desk Concert

5:00am August 30, 2023

by Suraya Mohamed

This unpredictable, funky set showcases the distinctive creative interplay between each player's personality.

When concert security told a fan to sit down, Adele told them to leave him alone

6:28pm August 29, 2023

by Elizabeth Blair

A fan at an Adele concert stood, sang and filmed himself during her show, even though many of the people in his section were seated. A security guard — and Adele herself — got involved.

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How K-pop took over the world — as told by one fan who rode the wave

5:11pm August 29, 2023

by Manuela López Restrepo

In a new podcast, Vivian Yoon dissects her personal stake in K-pop, and how her obscure childhood passion has evolved into a billion-dollar industry.

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Before (left to right) Justin Vernon, Joe Westerlund, Phil Cook and Brad Cook started Bon Iver and Megafaun, they made music together as DeYarmond Edison.

Music & Culture

Bon Iver wasn't born in a vacuum — it took an 'Epoch' to form

2:50pm August 29, 2023

by Stephen Thompson

DeYarmond Edison's Epoch revels in the early alchemic triumphs of Bon Iver and Megafaun members. But the box set also reminds us that no moment of creative inspiration takes place spontaneously.

Music & Culture

'Fresh Air' celebrates 50 years of hip-hop: Run-D.M.C.'s Darryl McDaniels

2:12pm August 29, 2023

by Terry Gross

McDaniels co-founded Run-D.M.C., the first rap group to have their videos played on MTV, to earn a platinum record and to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Originally broadcast in 1997.

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Music & Culture

'Fresh Air' celebrates 50 years of hip-hop: LL Cool J

2:12pm August 29, 2023

by Terry Gross

LL Cool J made his recording debut in 1984 when he was 16. He's then, since won two Grammys, had several platinum recordings and starred in NCIS: Los Angeles. Originally broadcast in 1997.

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Music & Culture

'Fresh Air' celebrates 50 years of hip-hop: Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers

2:12pm August 29, 2023

by Terry Gross

Rodgers' "Good Times" guitar groove was later sampled in the Sugar Hill Gang's 1979 hit "Rapper's Delight," widely considered the first crossover hip-hop song. Originally broadcast in 1996.

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Music & Culture

Remembering classical music commentator Miles Hoffman who died at 71

5:12am August 29, 2023

Miles Hoffman, who died earlier this month, had an infectious love of classical music. He will be remembered for taking the starch out of the seemingly stiff world of classical music.