NPR Music critics reflect on the lyrics that captured the year's mood, sparked emotions and stayed with them long after the music stopped.
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Rodney Carmichael
Rodney Carmichael is a storyteller, journalist and cultural critic, covering hip-hop at NPR Music. After diving headfirst into a career that took him from the God-fearing backwoods of Texas, where he covered religion at the Waco Tribune-Herald, to the red carpets of Black Hollywood, where he covered celebrities at the run-and-gun urban weekly rolling out, the prodigal son returned home. Back in Atlanta, he spent a decade documenting the city's rise as rap's reigning capital while serving on staff as music editor, culture writer and senior writer for the alt-weekly Creative Loafing.
Robin Hilton
Robin Hilton is a host and senior producer for the All Songs Considered podcast and Tiny Desk, a series he helped create -- and named -- in 2008. He’s since produced performances at the Desk by Harry Styles, Chance The Rapper, Alana Springsteen, Steve Martin, and more.