A closer look behind the scenes of New Orleans' annual Jazz Fest
Jazz fest starts this weekend in New Orleans and one of its headliners is rapper Lil' Wayne who made it to the main stage with the Roots.
Arts
Why the box office hit 'Sinners' is making waves in Hollywood
The supernatural movie Sinners has become a hit at the box office -- and caused a stir about director Ryan Cooger's deal with Warner Bros.
A Jewish baking tradition rises in the age of Instagram
Shlissel challah is a special loaf baked the first sabbath after Passover. We trace the modern route by which the bread has spread beyond the ultra-orthodox world to everyday Jewish bakers.
Carolina to 'Cowboy Carter' and back: A celebration of Black roots music finds a home
For musicians like Rhiannon Giddens and Rissi Palmer, trying to break down doors in the folk and country music scenes has been a long road. A festival in Durham this weekend aims to remedy that.
The Swell Season to release their first album in 16 years
The Irish folk rock duo talk about their forthcoming record, Forward, plus they perform live in the studio.
'The Shrouds' introduces a new stage of grief: Watching your loved one decompose
David Cronenberg's thriller centers on an unusual technology that allows people to watch their loved ones decompose in real time. The Shrouds is both deeply morbid and disarmingly funny.
Dear Life Kit: I'm not sure about her sexuality. Should I try to kiss her anyway?
An NPR listener writes: "We've briefly discussed sexuality, but I have no idea how fluid she may be, if at all. " Plus: A woman wants to marry her partner, but his family constantly belittles her. Is the relationship doomed?
2 recent releases celebrate the music and legacy of bass-baritone Paul Robeson
On Robeson, opera singer Davóne Tines pays tribute to the musician often remembered for singing "Ol' Man River." Tines' album pairs well with the 14-CD album Paul Robeson: Voice of Freedom.
Yola's simple, radical act of walking through her life
The big-voiced, unapologetically frank singer-songwriter refuses to be boxed in by genres, and finds joy in the full expression of self.
Tina Knowles, mother of Beyoncé and Solange, knows how to be a 'Matriarch'
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Tina Knowles, the mother of artists Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Solange Knowles, about her new memoir, "Matriarch."