Music

Music & Culture

Nigerian Drummer Tony Allen Revisits His Jazz Roots In A Salute To Art Blakey

4:19pm June 30, 2017

by Kevin Whitehead

Allen mixes African, European and American beats on his new album, A Tribute to Art Blakey. Critic Kevin Whitehead says the record showcases the way that musicians "bat ideas back and forth."

Queue Listen Now

Helado Negro performs a Tiny Desk Concert on May 22, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR)

Music & Culture

Helado Negro: Tiny Desk Concert

2:46pm June 30, 2017

by Felix Contreras

Helado Negro ditches his bank of electronics for alto and tenor saxophones, bringing his utterly unique style to a intense, perfectly balanced Tiny Desk Concert.

JAY-Z, shown performing at Barclays Center of Brooklyn Oct. 20, 2015, has released 4:44, his first album in four years.

Music & Culture

JAY-Z Bares His Soul On '4:44'

1:33pm June 30, 2017

by Rodney Carmichael

On his new album, the rapper and entrepreneur continues to push himself to the forefront of the genre, paving the way for the next generation of MCs to age gracefully on the mic.

Queue Listen Now

Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of Hamilton perform during the 70th Annual Tony Awards in 2016.

Music & Culture

Think You've Memorized 'Hamilton'? Get Ready To Prove It

1:07pm June 30, 2017

by Stephen Thompson

The latest offshoot from the Broadway sensation, The Hamilton Instrumentals, allows listeners to demonstrate just how well they've committed Lin-Manuel Miranda's words to memory.

Cuban vocalist Danay Suarez's latest album is Palabras Manuales.

Music & Culture

Danay Suarez's 'Preguntas' Video Weaves A Story Of Wonder

12:03pm June 30, 2017

by Felix Contreras

The Cuban rapper and vocalist's new video, for a song from her stunning second album, Palabras Manuales, is one of her strongest statements yet. The song features Cuban jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca.

Morning News Brief: GOP Continues Work On Health Care Bill, JAY-Z Releases New Album

10:26am June 30, 2017

Republican senators are working on revisions to their health care plan. Also, Hong Kong is marking 20 years under Chinese rule, and rapper JAY-Z has a new album.

Queue Listen Now

Singer and songwriter Gary DeCarlo in 2014 in Parsippany, N.J. DeCarlo died Wednesday at age 75.

Music & Culture

Gary DeCarlo, Singer Of 'Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye,' Dies At 75

10:10am June 30, 2017

Long unacknowledged as the voice behind the indelible stadium anthem, the singer and co-writer died on Wednesday at age 75.

Music & Culture

First Watch: Humble Fire, 'Builder'

10:00am June 30, 2017

by Bob Boilen

The D.C. band's new video, for the dreamy pop song "Builder," is about the ties that bind and also the ties that confine.

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: Hiss Golden Messenger, 'Standing In The Doorway'

9:39am June 30, 2017

by Laura Snapes

M.C. Taylor has a rueful, weary reediness that makes the tensions in his songs pull that much harder. In a beautiful outtake from Heart Like A Levee, dreaming and reality are at odds.

Kelly Jo Ramirez says her project Phat Lip is about "opening up all the listeners and exposing them to the Latin influence."

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: Phat Lip, 'Stranger's Love'

9:04am June 30, 2017

by Marisa Arbona-Ruiz

The new single from South Carolina musician Kelly Jo Ramirez's project is an infectious break-up song with Latin rhythms and pop harmonies. "I wanted to show the spectrum of Latino sound," she says.