First Listen: Quelle Chris, 'Guns'
With both eyes trained on the absurd, the underrated veteran rapper parses ideologies that drive so much animus around the world.
Music & Culture
First Listen: Grupo Fantasma, 'American Music Vol. VII'
The nine-piece Latin funk band's new album is a perfectly executed bi-cultural statement, made for the millions of people who love mariachi as much as James Brown.
Jay-Z, 'Super Fly,' 'La Bamba' Added To National Recording Registry
As it has annually since 2002, the Library of Congress announced a wide variety of recordings it has selected as culturally significant and worthy of preservation.
Salif Keita Gives His Blessing And Takes A Final Bow With 'Un Autre Blanc'
Salif Keita is among the best African singers of the past century. But, after some 25 albums over a 40-year career, Keita says he's retiring from recording.
Tiny Desk Family Hour: Fragile Rock
Fragile Rock's rowdy emo songs are performed by bickering puppets. Onstage at a church in Austin, the band savages the patriarchy in "Smile More."
Can Woodstock 50 'Recreate The Magic' Of The Original Festival?
The bill for Woodstock 50 has been announced featuring acts like Imagine Dragons, Jay-Z and Miley Cyrus. The lineup is prompting conversation online. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson weighs in.
Lizzo And Missy Elliott Trade Off On The Scorching-Hot 'Tempo'
With a nod to Prince and starring two of music's most charismatic women, "Tempo" fully delivers on its dreamed-of collaboration.
Tiny Desk Family Hour: Gina Chavez
In this performance of "The Sweet Sound Of Your Name," a song of devotion from 2014, the Austin singer-songwriter finds magic in the intimacy of a communal setting.
Pianists Born 100 Years Ago Prove: There's No One Way To Play Jazz
Both Lennie Tristano and Herbie Nichols were active on the New York scene in the 1950s. Though worlds apart stylistically, their music demonstrates how the piano accommodates myriad personalities.
The 'Search' For New Music Continues: Our Favorite Latin Songs This Week
This week's Alt.Latino roundup includes a flute-looped reggaeton dance between Sean Paul and J Balvin, Mula's lush production and a Santana jam produced by the legendary Rick Rubin.