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 R&B singer tells the (sometimes very messy) story of a love pursued, featuring a fantastic band and a guest spot from trumpeter Keyon Harrold. -
Leven Kali brings the funk in his new album LK99. The Netherlands-born artist shares his inspiration and drive with NPR's Adrian Ma.
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NPR's Scott Simon talks with musician James Blake about the relentlessness of modern life on his latest album Trying Times.
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The country singer-songwriter formerly known as Sturgill Simpson has a new album out under his current stage name, Johnny Blue Skies and the Dark Clouds.
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NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Michelle Buzz and Lance Shipp of the synthpop group Haute & Freddy about the release of their debut album, Big Disgrace.
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Prior to the 1979 revolution, the Iranian singer and actor was a pop superstar. But she was jailed by the Islamic Republic and forced to agree to never sing or perform in public.
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Bruno Mars is the most-listened to artist in the world on Spotify. He's won 16 Grammys. In case you thought there were no battles left for him to win, this week he unlocked another achievement. -
On new albums by viral sensation Yebba and studio whiz Pimmie, it's clear modern R&B has been clearing space for vastly different stripes of singer-songwriter. -
A group of teenagers that formed a rock band in the 1960s never released their music until now. -
The visual album and documentary Songs from the Hole tells the story of James Jacobs, the hip-hop artist JJ'88, as he reflects on his coming-of-age within California's state prison system.
