Music Features

"I remember any time I traveled to Mexico and other countries in the continent, I felt like, 'I'm Latina, but I'm not exactly like the people here,' Arocena tells NPR. "When I came to Puerto Rico, it was like, 'okay, now I understand.' "

How Daymé Arocena left Cuba and found a freeing new sound in Afro-Caribbean pop

6:17am March 01, 2024

by Isabella Gomez Sarmiento

The Cuban jazz artist says she's never felt welcome in Latin pop. That is, until she came to Puerto Rico to record her new album, Alkemi, which expands her sound into R&B, bossa nova and neo-soul.

Jackie McLean performing in New York City, 2003.

Music & Culture

McLean's Scene: How Jackie McLean made Hartford a destination for jazz

5:43pm February 29, 2024

by Trevor Smith

At a time when jazz was not widely seen in higher education, the alto saxophonist brought the wisdom learned on the bandstand to the classroom.

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Bad Boy Records founder Sean "Diddy" Combs has been accused of sexual misconduct by five different people since November 2023.

Music & Culture

A timeline of allegations against Sean Combs

4:24pm February 29, 2024

The rap mogul has been accused of sexual misconduct in five different civil suits since November 2023, dating back to the beginning of one of hip-hop's most influential careers.

Music & Culture

Something magical happened when Britti stopped doubting herself

3:54pm February 29, 2024

by Miguel Perez

The New Orleans singer-songwriter makes a striking debut, with an assist from The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach.

Four years after the death of frontman Riley Gale, Power Trip surprised fans onstage at Mohawk in Austin, featuring a new vocalist.

Music & Culture

Power Trip returns, reshaped by loss

2:27pm February 28, 2024

by Evan Minsker

The 2020 death of Riley Gale, the thrash metal outfit's captivating frontman, left his community shocked and grieving. Four years later, the band is finding catharsis in a familiar place.

Inside Long Island's UBS Arena on Feb. 9, Ye commands the crowd at a massive listening event for Vultures 1. His new collab with Ty Dolla $ign is now a No. 1. album.

Music & Culture

At Ye's listening events, true believers rally around a chaotic idol

1:03pm February 19, 2024

by Mano Sundaresan

Kanye West has made stumbling rollouts, toxic comments and blown deals his calling card. But at the launch for his new album Vultures 1, it's clear there's one place where his magnetism hasn't faded.

The cover photo from "Texas Hold 'Em," one of two new country singles by Beyoncé that debuted during Super Bowl LVIII.

Music & Culture

Beyoncé is getting played on country radio. Could her success help other Black women?

11:29am February 17, 2024

by Amanda Marie Martínez

An Oklahoma country station made news this week when it briefly refused to play a Beyoncé song. It's a resonant tale for the Black and women musicians who have tried to crack the format for decades.

Jennifer Lopez, from her film This Is Me...Now © Amazon Content Services LLC

Jennifer Lopez: Then and now

7:29am February 16, 2024

Jennifer Lopez offers a companion to her 2002 album This Is Me...Then. On This Is Me...Now she is once again inspired by falling in love with Ben Affleck.

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Music & Culture

Black Futures: Nailah Hunter forges her own dark fantasy on 'Lovegaze'

5:04pm February 15, 2024

by Miguel Perez

The Los Angeles-based harpist and composer talks about approaching her instrument in new ways on her debut album.

Ayra Starr, the Beninese-Nigerian singer whose hit "Rush" was among the nominees for the first ever best African music performance Grammy this year, says she grew up not seeing any pop stars that looked like her. "I want to show African girls that we can do this, too. And I'm doing that," she says.

Music & Culture

More breakthroughs, less crossover: Afrobeats is here to stay, on its own terms

4:23pm February 14, 2024

by Sidney Madden

Something's different about the arrival of the latest African pop stars on the international scene. They are finding success as a wave without compromising or catering to the American music industry.