Music

Grime artist Skepta accepts his award after being announced the winner of the Mercury Prize on September 15, 2016 in London, England.

Music & Culture

Grime Artist Skepta Overtakes David Bowie In Stunning Mercury Prize Upset

5:59pm September 15, 2016

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The 33-year-old independent artist grabbed the U.K.'s most prestigious recording award for his album Konnichiwa — knocking out the late David Bowie, who was widely anticipated to be feted.

Fans Stream 'Hot In Herre' On Repeat To Save Nelly From Tax Debt

4:31pm September 15, 2016

Nelly, who had a Billboard No. 1 hit with "Hot in Herre," has been hit with a federal tax lien of nearly $2.5 million, according to TMZ. Now, fans are streaming the song on repeat to help ease Nelly's tax burden. A writer for Spin magazine estimated fans would have to stream "Hot in Herre" at least 287 million times to cover the lien.

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Blind Pilot performs live for KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Music & Culture

Watch Blind Pilot Play 'Packed Powder' Live In The Studio

3:39pm September 15, 2016

by Jason Bentley

The Portland, Ore., folk-rock band performs an anthem from its new album, And Then Like Lions, live for KCRW.

Music & Culture

Jim Black's Trio Comes Into Its Own With A Lovely, 'Constant' Album

2:07pm September 15, 2016

by Kevin Whitehead

Drummer Jim Black slips rock-ish beats beats under a jazz groove on his trio's new album. Critic Kevin Whitehead says the sound on The Constant has a distinctive edge that "pops out of the speakers."

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Katie Crutchfield of P.S. Eliot plays live in the WXPN studios.

Music & Culture

Watch P.S. Eliot Play 'Cry Uncle' And 'Bear Named Otis' Live In The Studio

1:00pm September 15, 2016

by Eric Schuman

Sisters Katie and Allison Crutchfield (of Waxahatchee and Swearin', respectively) have resurrected their old band for an upcoming string of reunion shows. Watch them play live in WXPN's studios.

Danny Brown's fourth album, Atrocity Exhibition, will be released this fall.

Music & Culture

All Songs +1: Danny Brown Shares New Song, Talks Nas And New Album

12:50pm September 15, 2016

by Timmhotep Aku

On this week's +1 podcast, Timmhotep Aku premieres "Rolling Stone," a new song from Danny Brown, and talks with the Detroit rapper about his upcoming album, Atrocity Exhibition.

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Tim Page, former music critic for The Washington Post, is rebuilding his life after a traumatic brain injury in July 2015.

Life After A Brain Injury: 'I'm Not Terrified Of Death Anymore'

12:08pm September 15, 2016

by Tom Huizenga

Pulitzer-winning music critic Tim Page had been good at pretty much everything, until he had a life-threatening traumatic brain injury. He talks with NPR about piecing together a new life.

Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam's new album, I Had A Dream That You Were Mine, comes out Sept. 23.

Music & Culture

First Listen: Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam, 'I Had A Dream That You Were Mine'

11:54am September 15, 2016

by Stephen Thompson

The former Walkmen frontman records an album with the help of Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij. Throughout, the two surround the singer's voice with surprising, sometimes old-fashioned sounds.

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and celebrated critic Virgil Thomson, photographed in 1972. The Library of America has brought out a second volume of his writings on music.

Music & Culture

Critical Condition: Revisiting Composer Virgil Thomson's Masterful Prose

11:46am September 15, 2016

by Tom Huizenga

A remarkable American composer was also one of the country's finest critics. Another leading critic reflects on both his predecessor's work and music journalism today.

BANKS' second album, The Altar, comes out Sept. 30.

Music & Culture

'I Feel More Comfortable Being Confrontational': BANKS Comes Into Her Own

9:04am September 15, 2016

As she prepares to release her second album, The Altar, the singer talks about overcoming stage fright, embracing the power of her femininity and the importance of her grandmother's house.