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First Listen: Cody ChesnuTT, 'My Love Divine Degree'

Cody ChesnuTT's new album, My Love Divine Degree, is out June 2. Sheree R. Swann/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sheree R. Swann/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Cody ChesnuTT, 'My Love Divine Degree'

A studio session with Kanye led to a new album that finds the soul eccentric extending his fatherly compassion, and a helping of funk, to the world at large.

My Love Divine Degree

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    Song
    My Love Divine Degree
    Album
    My Love Divine Degree
    Artist
    Cody ChesnuTT
    Label
    Handwritten Records
    Released
    2017

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First Listen: Benjamin Booker, 'Witness'

Benjamin Booker's new album, Witness, is out June 2. Neil Krug hide caption

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Neil Krug

First Listen

First Listen: Benjamin Booker, 'Witness'

Booker's second studio album is inspired by a society that disproportionately harms black bodies, and what he saw as his own lack of effort to do anything about it.

Witness

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  • Buy Featured Music

    Song
    Witness
    Album
    Witness
    Artist
    Benjamin Booker
    Label
    ATO Records
    Released
    1969

    Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?

Otis Redding's 'Unfinished Life' Still Resonates

Otis Redding performs on the TV show Ready Steady Go in 1966. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The Week's Best Stories From NPR Books

Otis Redding's 'Unfinished Life' Still Resonates

Nearly 50 years after his untimely death, Redding's influence as a spirit of soul music remains. Jonathan Gould, author of a new biography of the singer, explains why.

Otis Redding's 'Unfinished Life' Still Resonates

Listen · 9:30
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Francine Thirteen Aims To Empower In 'Lust Heals, Give Me My Sin Again'

"It's a reclaiming of female power as it relates to sexuality and knowledge of self," Francine Thirteen says of her new song "Lust Heals, Give Me My Sin Again." Justina X/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Justina X/Courtesy of the artist

Songs We Love

Francine Thirteen Aims To Empower In 'Lust Heals, Give Me My Sin Again'

In a meditative take on the Bible's creation story, the self-described "ritual pop" singer seeks a feminine-based understanding of the divine — the hidden female face of God.

'I'm Not Going To Be Broken': Mary J. Blige On 'Strength Of A Woman'

"It's a responsibility being Mary J. Blige," the singer says. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

'I'm Not Going To Be Broken': Mary J. Blige On 'Strength Of A Woman'

"It's a responsibility being Mary J. Blige," the singer says. She speaks with NPR's Rachel Martin about finding catharsis through music — and says that even she works out to her songs.

'I'm Not Going To Be Broken': Mary J. Blige On 'Strength Of A Woman'

Listen · 7:19
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Trombone Shorty Pushes Tradition Forward

Trombone Shorty's new album, Parking Lot Symphony, comes out April 28. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Trombone Shorty Pushes Tradition Forward

On his new album, Parking Lot Symphony, Troy Andrews keeps New Orleans' brass-band sound up-to-date. Thanks to a new generation of musicians, he says, "the future of the music is in good hands."

Trombone Shorty Pushes Tradition Forward

Listen · 5:56
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George Clinton And Killer Mike: Talking (Barber) Shop

Killer Mike (left) and George Clinton met up in The SWAG Shop, the barbershop Killer Mike owns in Atlanta. Cameron Robert/NPR hide caption

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Cameron Robert/NPR

Music Interviews

George Clinton And Killer Mike: Talking (Barber) Shop

One founded a funk empire, the other sells out shows as half of Run the Jewels — and both have owned barbershops. They sit down together to discuss music, mentorship and the philosophy of barbering.

George Clinton And Killer Mike: Talking (Barber) Shop

Listen · 7:20
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Black Joe Lewis On A Changing Austin

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears in the World Cafe performance studio. Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

World Cafe

Black Joe Lewis On A Changing Austin

XPN

In a World Cafe session with David Dye, the Austin singer and guitarist showcases his band's soulful sound and chats about the recent changes he's seen in his hometown music scene.

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears On World Cafe

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Lettuce Founder Eric Krasno Steps To The Mic

Eric Krasno performs live at WXPN's Free At Noon concert. Tiana Timmerberg/WXPN hide caption

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Tiana Timmerberg/WXPN

World Cafe

Lettuce Founder Eric Krasno Steps To The Mic

XPN

Somewhere in your music-listening life, you've probably heard something the Grammy-winning guitarist and producer has touched. Now, he's singing his own songs for the first time.

Eric Krasno On World Cafe

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Gabriel Garzón-Montano: On Heckling Philip Glass

Gabriel Garzón-Montano's latest album is Jardín. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Gabriel Garzón-Montano: On Heckling Philip Glass

XPN

The R&B singer's new record is intricate and organic. It's the sum of his many influences, including pop, cumbia and childhood days spent interrupting Philip Glass' practice sessions.

Gabriel Garzón-Montano On World Cafe

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Orgone Gives 'I Sold My Heart To The Junkman' The Funk Cover It Deserves

Orgone's new single, I Sold My Heart To The Junkman, comes out April 21. Ryan Chin/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ryan Chin/Courtesy of the artist

Songs We Love

Orgone Gives 'I Sold My Heart To The Junkman' The Funk Cover It Deserves

A Los Angeles funk band and a New Orleans icon transform a jazz ballad turned girl-group number into an irresistibly boogieable groove — on a soul label out of suburban Ohio. Yeah, sure.

Orgone, 'I Sold My Heart To The Junkman'

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