Music

Macklemore, in a scene from his new video for the song "Drug Dealer."

Music & Culture

Watch Macklemore's Powerful New Video For 'Drug Dealer'

2:46pm October 25, 2016

by Robin Hilton

The Seattle rapper's newest single is an emotional, sometimes unsettling takedown of what he sees as a pandemic of drug addictions driven by doctors who overprescribe medicine.

Andrew Bird and The National's Matt Berninger perform together in Bird's living room.

Music & Culture

Watch Andrew Bird And The National's Matt Berninger Cover Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day'

1:54pm October 25, 2016

by Robin Hilton

The intimate, completely unadorned performance was recorded live in Andrew Bird's living room as part of his ongoing "Live From The Great Room" home recording series.

Clockwise from upper left: Laura Burhenn, Run The Jewels, The Flaming Lips, Sadie Dupuis of Sad13, John Prine

Music & Culture

New Mix: Run The Jewels, Flaming Lips, John Prine, More

1:27pm October 25, 2016

This week's show features new music from Run The Jewels, The Flaming Lips, a funny tune from John Prine, and more.

Queue Listen Now

A still from Kero Kero Bonito's "Trampoline" video.

Music & Culture

Is Life A Total Bore? Jump On Kero Kero Bonito's 'Trampoline'

11:30am October 25, 2016

by Lars Gotrich

Kero Kero Bonito is a glitter cannon to the heart. With the "Trampoline" video, the U.K. pop trio is here to make the world a little less drab.

Close Talker has a new album coming out in 2017.

Music & Culture

Songs We Love: Close Talker, 'Afterthought'

11:27am October 25, 2016

by Talia Schlanger

Despite its name, the Saskatoon trio gives you plenty of space to breathe. You can hear the simplicity and vastness of the Canadian prairies in its new single.

A still from Bellows' "Thick Skin" video.

Music & Culture

Watch Bellows' Playful Pop Video For 'Thick Skin'

9:52am October 25, 2016

by Bob Boilen

This song and video from Oliver Kalb's eerie pop project have a playful sense of purpose. "Thick Skin" espouses the notion that the most freeing part of life is the search, not the arrival.

Walker Lukens is this week's World Cafe Next artist.

Music & Culture

World Cafe Next: Walker Lukens

4:17pm October 24, 2016

The Austin artist's inventive new EP, Never Understood, was produced by Spoon drummer Jim Eno. Hear two songs.

Tiny Desk Concert with Drive-By Truckers.

Music & Culture

Drive-By Truckers: Tiny Desk Concert

4:11pm October 24, 2016

by Lars Gotrich

The long-running rock band holds a mirror to the hard realities of America right now on American Band. Watch Drive-By Truckers' emotional performance at the NPR Music office.

Lil Wayne performing in Las Vegas in 2015. His memoir, Gone 'Til November, is out now.

Music & Culture

Lil Wayne's Rikers Island Memoir Only Tells Half The Story

1:46pm October 24, 2016

by Alison Fensterstock

Gone 'Til November, transcribed from the journal he kept while at Rikers, isn't particularly revealing, but it offers a chance to stop and take stock of where the rapper has been since.

Whitney performs at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, Pa.

Music & Culture

Whitney On World Cafe

1:42pm October 24, 2016

Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek's new band has won over music lovers with its warm, woozy sound. Hear Whitney play songs from Light Upon The Lake live in Philadelphia.