Music & Culture

According to a new federal lawsuit, Sean Combs is accused of sexually abusing and trafficking his former partner Cassandra Ventura.

Hip-Hop mogul Sean Combs accused of trafficking, sexual assault and abuse in lawsuit

7:37pm November 16, 2023

by Andrew Limbong

Combs' former partner, the singer Cassie, filed the federal lawsuit in Manhattan on Thursday. In it, she describes being drugged, raped, and forced to perform sexual acts with male sex workers.

Sufjan Stevens performs on his piano during a 2006 concert at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, California.

Music & Culture

What song hit you hard in 2023?

6:01pm November 16, 2023

by Robin Hilton

Tell us about a song that hit you particularly hard in 2023 — maybe one you listened to on repeat, ugly cried to, or one that just made you connected with you more than any other song this year.

Music & Culture

Shirt once worn by Prince is expected to sell at auction for thousands of dollars

10:40am November 16, 2023

While bidders might not find a raspberry beret from a secondhand store, there will be the white, ruffled silk shirt he wore at the 1985 American Music Awards performing "Purple Rain."

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

The Chili's baby back ribs jingle got a makeover with the help of Boyz II Men

7:41am November 16, 2023

The 90s R&B group said that the collaboration was a perfect fit because when the earworm first came out 25 years ago, people often thought they sang jingle anyway.

Queue Listen Now

New film dramatizes Diana Nyad's 2013 feat: swimming from Cuba to Florida

7:41am November 16, 2023

The biopic chronicles the life of long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, who swam from Cuba to Miami at the age of 64. NPR's Michel Martin talks to Nyad director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi.

Queue Listen Now

Pink gives away 2,000 banned books at Florida concerts

6:25am November 16, 2023

The pop music icon is taking a stand against the libraries and classrooms around the U.S. that have removed books due to claims of inappropriate content related to sexuality, gender identity and race.

Lara Downes speaks with Christian McBride

Music & Culture

The curious mind — and hard work — of bassist Christian McBride

5:01am November 16, 2023

by Lara Downes

The Grammy-winning bassist, bandleader and broadcaster talks about his love for music, family ties in the jazz world, and the thrill of sitting in with Wynton Marsalis as a teenager.

Silvana Estrada performs onstage at 2022 Best New Artist Showcase during the 23rd annual Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas.

Silvana Estrada moves from fear to defiance in Latin Grammy-nominated 'Si Me Matan'

5:01am November 16, 2023

by James Fredrick

The Mexican singer's song, whose title means "If They Kill Me," is nominated for best singer-songwriter song at the 2023 Latin Grammys, which takes place Thursday in Seville, Spain.

Queue Listen Now

But the debates unfolding now about what it means for Spain to host the Latin Grammys hint at much larger questions about how the Academy decides what constitutes Latin music.

Music & Culture

The Latin Grammys are in Spain this year. So what?

5:00pm November 15, 2023

by Isabella Gomez Sarmiento

This year, the Latin Grammys will be held outside the U.S., in Seville, Spain. The location raises larger questions about how the awards perpetuate inequalities related to race, class and colonialism.

Beirut's Zach Condon on drawing inspiration from the dark winters of Norway

4:19pm November 15, 2023

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to Zach Condon, the creative force behind the band Beirut, about his new album Hadsel, and drawing inspiration from the dark winter of arctic Norway.