Music

Music & Culture

Carsie Blanton's Open-Hearted Protest Album Is Equal Parts 'Love & Rage'

3:57pm April 26, 2021

by Ken Tucker

Blanton describes many of the songs on her new album as "anti-fascist anthems." Critic Ken Tucker says Love & Rage doesn't sound like typical protest music — which makes it all the more effective.

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Music & Culture

Dawn Richard Will Join NPR Music's Listening Party For 'Second Line'

11:16am April 26, 2021

by Lars Gotrich

Join us in an online listening party for Dawn Richard's Second Line. Hosted by WNXP's Jewly Hight, the event will feature a live conversation with Richard herself — along with Dawn's mom, Debbie.

ChocQuibTown performs a Tiny Desk (home) concert.

Music & Culture

Tiny Desk Meets AFROPUNK: ChocQuibTown

10:26am April 25, 2021

by LaTesha Harris

The Colombian hip-hop trio was part of a four-act showcase that highlighted outstanding Afro-Latin and Afro-Caribbean musicians.

Music & Culture

Driessen's Latest Project Results From His Experiences Around The World

8:43am April 25, 2021

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with musician Casey Driessen about his latest project Otherlands: A Global Music Exploration. Besides recordings, his project includes short films and essays.

Lara Downes talks with Esperanza Spalding.

Music & Culture

Busting Myths And Building Resiliency: Esperanza Spalding Talks With Lara Downes

5:00am April 24, 2021

by Lara Downes

The self-described "athletically creative" bassist, vocalist and composer searches for origins and originality while writing an opera with jazz giant Wayne Shorter.

Music & Culture

Digital Underground's Shock G, Legend Behind 'The Humpty Dance' Dead At 57

12:10am April 24, 2021

Shock G, the frontman for the hip-hop group Digital Underground, died yesterday at 57. He was best known for the song "The Humpty Dance," and helped launch the career of Tupac Shakur.

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Digital Underground, led by Shock G, shown here in 1990, was one of the early rap groups to follow the example — in sound and energy — set by George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic.

Music & Culture

Shock G, Leader Of Hip-Hop's Digital Underground, Dies At 57

9:10pm April 23, 2021

by Rodney Carmichael

The rapper and producer who animated the Bay Area crew had a huge hit in 1990 with "The Humpty Dance," introduced the world to Tupac Shakur and was a foundational figure in West Coast hip-hop.