Music & Culture

Denzel Curry, City Girls, 2 Live Crew and Trina. Collage by Jackie Lay / NPR.

Music & Culture

How Miami rap made overindulgence the new baseline

1:59pm August 05, 2023

by Sheldon Pearce

The 305's hedonistic reputation is not unearned, but there is artistry in its debauchery, and a young generation reinvesting the rewards of their predecessors' battles against censorship.

Travis Scott escapes criminal charges for the deadly crowd surge at his concert

8:06am August 05, 2023

by Scott Simon

A grand jury in Texas declined to indict rapper Travis Scott for a deadly crowd surge at his concert in 2021. NPR's Scott Simon talks with the Houston Chronicle's Joey Guerra about the incident.

David Daniels performs in the title role of Handel's Giulio Cesare at the Metropolitan Opera in 2007.

Opera singer David Daniels pleads guilty in sexual assault trial

8:38pm August 04, 2023

by Chloe Veltman

The world-renowned countertenor and his husband were accused of drugging and raping a young singer in 2010.

Music & Culture

Ariana Delawari talks new album, 'I Will Remember'

4:42pm August 04, 2023

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks to Afghan-American artist Ariana Delawari about her latest album, I Will Remember.

Master P, Curren$y, Lil Wayne and Big Freedia. Collage by Jackie Lay / NPR.

Music & Culture

How New Orleans soldiered through struggle and gave rap its bounce

4:21pm August 04, 2023

by Stephen Kearse

Even before a pair of hometown labels pushed past gatekeepers, NOLA mastered a reliable alchemy: no sound so straight you couldn't swing it, no hurdle so high you couldn't dance over it.

Eric B. & Rakim change the flow of rap with 'Paid in Full'

11:39am August 04, 2023

by Phil Harrell

With their 1987 debut album Paid in Full, Eric B. & Rakim introduced internal rhyme schemes to rap, and changed the flow of hip-hop forever.

Queue Listen Now

JD Samson, Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman recently reformed as Le Tigre for a European and North American tour.

Music & Culture

Le Tigre's feminist rage has always been fun

9:02am August 04, 2023

The synth-pop band just finished its first tour in nearly 20 years. After a recent show in Brooklyn, two longtime fans reflect on why this music still hasn't lost its power.

Gregorio Uribe performs a Tiny Desk concert.

Music & Culture

Gregorio Uribe: Tiny Desk Concert

6:42am August 04, 2023

by Felix Contreras

In the hands of Colombian musician, the accordion is both a melodic and rhythmic wonder.

Five years after its release, Mac Miller's Tiny Desk Concert still resonates

5:16pm August 03, 2023

Five years ago, the late musician and rapper Mac Miller played his iconic Tiny Desk Concert. NPR's Bobby Carter remembers what made that performance so special.

Lizzo performs at the Governors Ball Music Festival in the Queens borough of New York in June.

Lizzo says hostile work environment allegations against her are 'unbelievable'

5:07pm August 03, 2023

by Dustin Jones

The four-time Grammy winning artist known for championing women and body positivity, denies allegations a lawsuit by former employees that they experienced weight-shaming and other troubling demands.