Music & Culture

A drawing of composer William Dawson in 1935 by Aaron Douglas. Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony, long neglected, has received a new recording.

Music & Culture

Someone Finally Remembered William Dawson's 'Negro Folk Symphony'

4:13pm June 26, 2020

by Tom Huizenga

Broadcast nationwide in 1934 and praised by listeners and critics alike, a masterful symphony soon fell silent. A new recording hopes to help revive an American treasure.

Rapper Huey attends a party held at 40/40 club on May 6, 2007 in New York City.

Music & Culture

Huey, The Rapper Behind 'Pop, Lock & Drop It,' Killed In St. Louis Shooting

3:47pm June 26, 2020

by Andrew Limbong

The Kinloch, Mo., native was shot Thursday night in his hometown, according to St. Louis County Police. He was 32 years old.

Lil Baby performs during a Juneteenth voter registration rally on June 19, 2020 at Murphy Park Fairgrounds in Atlanta, Ga. One week earlier, he released "The Bigger Picture," a song protesting police brutality.

Music & Culture

We Insist: A Century Of Black Music Against State Violence

11:40am June 26, 2020

These songs take on some of the ugliest stories in our history and reflect the commitment of Black musicians to telling the truth of how Black people have been wronged, and survived, and fought back.

Music & Culture

BEAM: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

7:39am June 26, 2020

by Abby O'Neill

The Miami-based reggae singer brings a green screen to his Tiny Desk quarantine concert.

Backxwash's song "Into the Void" is featured on Sasha Geffen's Pride playlist.

Music & Culture

A Different Kind Of Pride: Perspectives On 50 Years Of Celebration, Part 5

6:51am June 26, 2020

by Sasha Geffen

We asked writers in the LGBTQ+ community to reflect on the relationship between celebration, protest, music and LGBTQ+ activism. Sasha Geffen reflects on a Pride that feels "fed up with symbolism."

Members of the Dixie Chicks — now known simply as The Chicks — perform at the Grammy Awards in New York in 2003.

Dixie Chicks Change Band Name To The Chicks

7:57pm June 25, 2020

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The country trio has changed the band's name to The Chicks in an apparent distancing from its association with racism in the South. The move was accompanied by a new song, "March March."

Music & Culture

Americana Singer Amy Helm Offers Curbside Delivery Of Songs

6:23pm June 25, 2020

by Karen Michel

Amy Helm, an acclaimed Americana singer and the daughter of famed drummer and singer Levon Helm of The Band, has decided during the lockdown to do a kind of curbside delivery of her own — songs.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

Watch Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf Episode 3 Featuring Raina Douris Of World Cafe

5:33pm June 25, 2020

by Elle Mannion

Live on YouTube, Bob Boilen and Raina Douris watched their favorites entries to the 2020 Contest and discussed what made them stand out from the thousands we saw this year.

A still from the music video for "I'm So Happy I Cry"

Music & Culture

Hear 'I'm So Happy I Cry,' Fantastic Negrito's New Song With Tarriona 'Tank' Ball

1:06pm June 25, 2020

by Elle Mannion

The first-ever song to feature two Tiny Desk Contest winners comes from Fantastic Negrito's forthcoming album, Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?, out in August.

M. Ward plays a Tiny Desk (Home) concert.

Music & Culture

M. Ward: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

9:32am June 25, 2020

by Bob Boilen

The acclaimed guitarist (and masculine half of She & Him) performed seven songs in his Tiny Desk quarantine concert.