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Dropping references to "8-balling," "jonesing" and "feeling like a junkie," Amp Fiddler's intoxicating "Dope" captures the euphoria and entropy of letting love take over to dangerous extremes. Fiddler rouses the otherwise comely melody with dissonant wails, shrill sighs and cracked notes.

As Stephanie McKay belts out harrowing scenes of teen pregnancy and black-on-black gun violence, she sounds like a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Yet as incendiary and forceful as her gripping voice remains, her wails and cries never overheat into a melismatic mess.

The blues and gospel singer made her biggest hits with Sister Rosetta Tharpe more than 60 years ago. Her storied career continues: She recently released her first album in a quarter-century. Hear the New York-based minister perform live.

Malian husband-and-wife duo Amadou and Mariam began recording together in the 1980s, and soon flourished by adding Syrian violins, Cuban trumpets and Indian tablas to their infectious African blues-rock, Western pop and funk. On their new album, Welcome to Mali, the pair sings in English and French instead of their native Bambara.

NPR's Scott Simon talks with Jim Gladstone, author of Games to Go, a new collection of games and puzzles that require little or no equipment -- perfect for the kids in the back seat on a summer holiday road trip.

Kathy McDonough of Clarksville, Tenn., plays this week's puzzle with NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro and Will Shortz, The New York Times crossword editor and Weekend Edition puzzlemaster.

The U.S. Sentencing Commission voted Tuesday to retroactively reduce sentences for crack cocaine offenders. As many as 19,500 prison inmates could be affected by the new guidelines. In the past, crack cocaine offenders were typically sentenced to 50 percent more jail time than powder cocaine offenders.

Abena Christine Jon'el took to the catwalk this winter at the latest annual Rhythms On Da Runway fashion show in Ghana, one of Africa's top fashion and music showcases.

Look for Tiny Desk Radio on your local NPR station.

Actress and producer Lena Waithe picks her five favorite Tiny Desk concerts.

The spread of the coronavirus is affecting the global economy and some economists are even bringing up the possibility of the "R" word — recession.…

The State newspaper in Columbia, SC., has obtained emails and letters that show how Gov. Nikki Haley and her staff were trying to spin a story about her…

Former Crooked Still member Aoife O'Donovan's latest album, the lovely folk-pop Fossils, established her as a formidable solo artist. She performed at the Newport Folk Festival on Saturday, July 26.

Bettye LaVette began her career in the soul-intensive climate of 1960s Detroit, and recent albums have helped her find a huge new audience. Here, she performs a set with her backing band.

Sarah Jarosz was still in high school when she signed her record deal, and she released her debut album shortly thereafter, but the versatile bluegrass star seemed to emerge fully formed in her music.

The band's rugged soul sound will have listeners swearing they can hear the clink of pint glasses and barroom chatter underneath the dark horns and driving bass.

Watkins' new album, Sun Midnight Sun, is a smart, surprising collection of sweetly hooky songs that rest within pop, country and folk on the Venn diagram of musical genres.

Blitzen Trapper's sixth album finds the group settling further into a breezy classic-rock vibe. But sharp edges poke out, as the Portland, Ore., band finds ways to indulge its gift for psychedelia.

The singer-songwriter's attempts to re-create the legendary rock sound of Chess Records resulted in his debut album, Signs and Signifiers. McPherson's set is followed by Julie Adams.

Merritt got her start as a country singer, but the North Carolina native has spent the years since wandering down far-flung side roads. Hear her perform as part of the 2013 Newport Folk Festival.