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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NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with the musician Dua Saleh about how they channeled the trauma and grief of their childhood in East Africa into music, for their new album Of Earth & Wires.
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FIFA's official 2026 World Cup song is "Dai Dai" from Shakira and Burna Boy. There are a number of factors that shape which songs define a tournament — and endure beyond it. -
The tight and powerful group breathes fire into a Grateful Dead classic and smolders on a Hank Williams song. -
Glitter, vocal gymnastics, on-stage flames — the show goes on on the Eurovision stage in Vienna, even though five countries are boycotting this year's contest due to Israel's participation. -
Weezer, Beyoncé, The Go-Go's and music from the video game Doom join the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.
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Shakira has a new World Cup song being released Thursday. What are the elements of a good World Cup anthem — and why has Shakira been so successful at it?
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The commercial impact of the Michael Jackson biopic Michael is reaching well beyond the global box office. -
For the first time ever, the final match will feature a halftime performance of three acts capturing this year's global spotlight. -
The album pays tribute to former U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo's Musogee heritage and her musician mom. -
We sit down with the audio engineers who shape and sculpt the sound of Tiny Desk. Look for Tiny Desk Radio on your local NPR station.
