Amplifier Podcast
Photo courtesy of the artist
This has been a historic year for women in rap and hip-hop, all the way to the 2021 Grammy Awards when Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé broke records as the first pair of women to win in the best rap performance category. As NPR Music put it, “To know what tomorrow sounds like, one need only listen to the women in rap today.” And to know what the future of Charlotte hip-hop is, one need only turn to rhythmic lyricist ReeCee Raps.
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The English artist made her name with thoughtful pop-R&B. On What Are the Odds, she pulls her dancier roots to the surface. -
At a pair of surprise shows at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, the beloved indie group was accompanied by an all-star crew of collaborators to preview a forthcoming triple album, Horsepower. -
Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor Andris Nelsons was let go without much input from the musicians of the orchestra, many of whom loved him.
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NPR critics remember some of their favorite Dolly performances — including a duet with Kermit the Frog and the twinkle in Dolly's eye singing with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. -
A lawsuit seeks to block President Trump's name from going back on the center. The center's board warns that if renovation plans don't go forward, it may be demolished. -
E.U. is an OG of go-go music, a heavily syncopated funk that features a slow and steady groove. Naturally, we celebrate 50 years of the native D.C. music with an office party. -
As parts of west Charlotte continue to change, a small, nearly century-old house in the Enderly Park neighborhood serves as both a community gathering place and the backdrop for a new immersive play centered on Black joy, belonging and resilience. -
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Hayley Williams, lead singer of the band Paramore, about the influence Dolly Parton had on her musically and personally.
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Even in an era of great young vocalists, McLorin Salvant stands apart. With Every Breath I Take showcases her unique vocal style and talent as a storyteller.
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"I've always believed that a part of my magic, if there was any, was the fact that I look so artificial — but I am so totally real," Parton said in 2001.
