Music

Music & Culture

Announcing The Winner Of The 2020 Tiny Desk Contest

9:59am August 04, 2020

by Bob Boilen

This year's Tiny Desk Contest was truly like no other. Our winner stood out from the over 6,000 entries with a song about slowing down and enjoying life that captivated our judges.

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Tenor Jonas Kaufmann, with pianist Helmut Deutsch, in recital at a Baroque abbey in Bavaria. The performance was part of the Metropolitan Opera's new live streaming series.

Music & Culture

The Met Opera's Live Streaming Series Sticks To Old Trappings

9:43am August 04, 2020

by Tom Huizenga

While a valiant endeavor, the Metropolitan Opera's new series of steaming concerts can't seem to shake off opera's fusty, aristocratic traditions.

Kate Davis plays a Tiny Desk (home) concert.

Music & Culture

Kate Davis: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

8:17am August 04, 2020

by Bob Boilen

One of our favorite indie rock lyricists performs a four-song concert for our Tiny Desk quarantine series.

Music & Culture

The South Is Rap's Past, Present And Future

5:31pm August 03, 2020

by Briana Younger

Southern rappers' contributions to the genre have long been underestimated in favor of coastal hegemony – but the region has long steered the sound of hip-hop and deserves its story told in full.

Music & Culture

The South Got Something To Say: A Celebration Of Southern Rap (2000-2004)

4:20pm August 03, 2020

Our list of the best songs, albums and mixtapes by Southern rappers is a celebration that recenters the South as a creative center of hip-hop and honors the region for all that it has given to us.

Lil Wayne, shown performing at Coachella in 2016, is one of the artists featuring in NPR Music's Southern rap canon.

Music & Culture

Stream NPR Music's Southern Rap Canon Playlist

3:21pm August 03, 2020

by Marissa Lorusso

Stream the songs, plus selected tracks from the albums and mixtapes, that comprise our list of the 130 greatest releases in Southern rap history.

Music & Culture

The South Got Something To Say: A Celebration Of Southern Rap (2005-2009)

3:01pm August 03, 2020

Our list of the best songs, albums and mixtapes by Southern rappers is a celebration that recenters the South as a creative center of hip-hop and presents the region for all that it has given to us.

Music & Culture

The South Got Something To Say: A Celebration Of Southern Rap (2010-2014)

3:01pm August 03, 2020

Our list of the best songs, albums and mixtapes by Southern rappers is a celebration that recenters the South as a creative center of hip-hop and honors the region for all that it has given to us.

Music & Culture

The South Got Something To Say: A Celebration Of Southern Rap (2015-2019)

3:00pm August 03, 2020

Our list of the best songs, albums and mixtapes by Southern rappers is a celebration that recenters the South as a creative center of hip-hop and honors the region for all that it has given to us.

Music & Culture

The South Got Something To Say: A Celebration Of Southern Rap (1995-1999)

2:59pm August 03, 2020

Our list of the best songs, albums and mixtapes by Southern rappers is a celebration that recenters the South as a creative center of hip-hop and honors the region for all that it has given to us.