Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Canadian University Course Will Take A Deep Dive Into Drake's Lyrics

5:45am September 27, 2021

Besides Canadian rapper Drake, the course at Ryerson University in Toronto will also focus on Toronto-native The Weeknd. Music professor Dalton Higgins hopes the course will inspire young artists.

It seemed as if the 2005 album by Kenneth Kaunda, We Shall Fight HIV/AIDS, had vanished. But then ... it was found! Here's what could be the sole surviving copy, now being remastered for re-release this year.

They Found It! The Long-Lost Album By Zambia's President: 'We Shall Fight HIV/AIDS'

10:48am September 26, 2021

by Aaron Cohen

Kenneth Kaunda spoke out about HIV when African leaders would not even acknowledge its existence. He sang about it, too, in a 2005 album that made a splash, then vanished. And so a search began.

Tiny Desk Teams Up With Alt.Latino This Month

7:54am September 26, 2021

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre about their Alt.Latino Tiny Desk takeover for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Music & Culture

Cynthia Erivo Sings Her Own Words In 1st Solo Album

5:26pm September 25, 2021

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with actress and singer Cynthia Erivo about her debut solo album, Ch. 1 Vs. 1.

Music & Culture

Little Simz On Maturity In Latest Album

5:26pm September 25, 2021

Rapper Little Simz talks about her latest album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.

Rapper Gunna and Goodr CEO Jasmine Crowe stop by the Goodr grocery store, at the Atlanta middle school he formerly attended.

A Free In-School Grocery Store Is Tackling Child Hunger, One Family At A Time

12:35pm September 25, 2021

by Sharon Pruitt-Young

The free store in an Atlanta middle school offers not only food, but also household items, toiletries, clothing and shoes. Social entrepreneur Jasmine Crowe hopes to open more.

Music & Culture

Grammy Winning Bluegrass Artist Billy Strings Has A New Album

8:56am September 25, 2021

Bluegrass phenom Billy Strings talks about his new album, Renewal.

Music & Culture

'What Do You Need A Song For?': Esperanza Spalding's Search For The Answer

5:46pm September 24, 2021

At the heart of Esperanza Spalding's new album is the question "What do you need a song for?" NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with the Grammy-winning musician about her album, Songwrights Apothecary Lab.

A courtroom sketch shows R. Kelly telling Judge Ann M. Donnelly he won't take the stand in his own defense.

R. Kelly's Federal Trial Is In The Hands Of The Jury

4:21pm September 24, 2021

After six weeks of emotionally charged testimony, jury deliberation begins in the New York federal trial of disgraced R&B superstar R. Kelly. If convicted, he could spend 10 years to life in prison.

Country singer Mickey Guyton released her latest album, Remember Her Name, on Sept. 24.

Music & Culture

On Debut Album, Mickey Guyton Remembers Her Name

2:54pm September 24, 2021

Over the last decade, singer-songwriter Mickey Guyton has been trying to convince the country music industry that she is country. NPR's Noel King talks her about the highs and lows she's experienced.