Music Features

Bad Bunny has a preternatural gift for realness, one that he wields with fluidity, because that is what Caribbeanness demands. It makes his fame feel delightful and deviant.

Music & Culture

In 2022, Bad Bunny made pop stardom a subversive act

6:01am December 15, 2022

by Isabelia Herrera

An irrepressible global pop star and political provocateur, Bad Bunny collects streaming accolades with ease, but refuses to temper his idiosyncrasies or move to U.S. pop's center.

Julius Rodriguez, whose album Let Sound Tell All was a through line this year for journalist and author Marcus J. Moore.

Julius Rodriguez, a young pianist fusing (all) the music from inside-out

9:52am December 14, 2022

by Marcus J. Moore

Marcus J. Moore reflects on the studio debut of pianist Julius Rodriguez, an artist seamlessly commingling jazz with more pop forms.

Immanuel Wilkins in a performance for Jazz Night in America at PhilaMOCA in January 2022.

Music & Culture

A return to venues, guided by 'The 7th Hand'

4:25pm December 13, 2022

by Nate Chinen

WRTI editorial director Nate Chinen returned to live music with fervor this year — and one artist in particular, the young saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, emerged as a constant presence.

With RENAISSANCE, Beyoncé has given us her Sistine Chapel: a star-filled imaginary sky and an origin myth that comes to life through its brilliant brush strokes.

Music & Culture

Beyoncé's 'RENAISSANCE' is the No. 1 Album of 2022

3:54pm December 12, 2022

by Ann Powers

Her album-as-Sistine Chapel: awe-inspiring from a distance and glittering with detail, a star-filled imaginary sky and an origin myth that comes to life through its brilliant brush strokes.