Chappell Roan, performing during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 11, 2024, is up for six Grammy Awards, which will be handed out Feb. 2 in Los Angeles. Roan, along with Sabrina Carpenter, is nominated for album, song and record of the year, as well as best new artist. Noam Galai/Getty Images hide caption
GloRilla, performing in Los Angeles in June, was one of three Southern women who conquered hip-hop in 2024. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption
Shabaka's album Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace begins with the song "End Of Innocence," one among many pieces of music that managed to be both haunting and comforting in 2024. atibaphoto/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Kendrick Lamar, performing in Los Angeles in June, was among the most important and inescapable voices in any genre of music in 2024. Timothy Norris/Getty Images hide caption
Doechii performs a Tiny Desk concert. Alanté Serene/NPR hide caption
Doechii channels a panoramic relationship to her own thoughts and voice on the new mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal. John Jay hide caption
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' epic new album, Wild God, is among the most exciting new albums out August 30. Megan Cullen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Pharrell performs on Solar stage at Something In The Water festival. Darrius Cook/NPR hide caption
DreamDoll, Doechii and Baby Tate Amanda Howell Whitehurst for NPR hide caption
Rapper Doechii planned for the song "Crazy" to be her industry coming-out party — but the music video, with its focus on Black femme bodies, ran afoul of an unspoken rule. Amanda Howell Whitehurst for NPR hide caption
