Smino : NPR

Jibbs, Nelly, Smino & Chingy. Collage by Jackie Lay / NPR. Evan Agostini / Scott Gries / Suzanne Cordeiro / Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Evan Agostini / Scott Gries / Suzanne Cordeiro / Kevin Winter/Getty Images

How St. Louis recalibrated rap radio

July 28, 2023 • Call the melodic, countrified swing that took over early 2000s radio an overnight sensation if you like, but it didn't come from nowhere — just a city many considered to be nowhere.

Pusha T's It's Almost Dry is one of NPR Music's top 20 hip-hop albums of 2022. Photo Illustration: Jackie Lay/NPR/Derek White/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption

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Photo Illustration: Jackie Lay/NPR/Derek White/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2022

December 9, 2022 • The rap of 2022 reunited and revitalized old partnerships, revisited and critiqued old haunts, unearthed powerful new voices and even helped plug a new Minions movie.

New Music Friday: The best releases out on Oct. 28

St. Louis rapper Smino's new album, Luv 4 Rent, tops our shortlist of the best releases out on Oct. 28. Denita Turner/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Denita Turner/Courtesy of the artist

New Music Friday: The best releases out on Oct. 28

October 28, 2022 • The best albums out this week include Smino's Luv 4 Rent, Icelandic singer Ásgeir's Time On My Hands, a staggering new work from Benjamin Clementine and more.

New Music Friday: The best releases out on Oct. 28

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Heat Check Roundup: Smino, Ayra Starr, Ghais Guevara and more

October 6, 2022 • This week's Heat Check selects come largely from iconoclasts who have already zeroed in on their individual aesthetics: a singsong rap soulman, an alté sensation a noise-rap radical and more.

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Smino, 'Rice & Gravy'

May 18, 2021 • "Rice & Gravy" sticks to the ribs because it's slightly more settled, while still sounding like nothing and no one in hip-hop right now.

In The Wide World Of Hip-Hop, There's A Style For Everyone

Rico Nasty is one of the leading voices in the current style of hip-hop that adopts elements from hardcore and punk rock. Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella hide caption

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Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella

In The Wide World Of Hip-Hop, There's A Style For Everyone

February 2, 2020 • Weekend Edition's final music starter kit surveys the modern landscape of hip-hop, from the energetic bars of DaBaby and Rico Nasty to the spoken word-influenced Saba and Noname.

In The Wide World Of Hip-Hop, There's A Style For Everyone

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From Dixie Chicks To Rihanna: Our Music Predictions For 2020

Rihanna performs with Pharrell Williams at her fifth annual Diamond Ball on Sept. 12, 2019. This January marks four years since her last full-length release. Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images hide caption

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New Music

From Dixie Chicks To Rihanna: Our Music Predictions For 2020

January 6, 2020 • NPR Music's Ann Powers and Rodney Carmichael discuss albums they're looking forward to, as well as the artists they're begging to come back.

From Dixie Chicks To Rihanna: Our Music Predictions For 2020

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