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How niche rap stars quietly conquered 2022

YoungBoy Never Broke Again (aka NBA YoungBoy) is among a handful of rappers who achieved massive streaming numbers in 2022 while remaining nearly invisible to the pop establishment. Simone Noronha for NPR hide caption

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Simone Noronha for NPR

Best Music of 2022

How niche rap stars quietly conquered 2022

December 17, 2022 • Artists like NBA YoungBoy, Rod Wave and a resurgent Kodak Black pulled in massive streaming numbers this year (and, at times, outran controversy) while barely registering on mainstream pop's radar.

Rod Wave performs a Tiny Desk (home) concert. NPR hide caption

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NPR

Tiny Desk

Rod Wave: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

April 29, 2021 • The ascending rap singer performs four songs, including "Street Runner" and "Rags2Riches," in his Tiny Desk quarantine set.

Empress Of's "Void" feels like a euphoric cross-genre culture clash, a dance party in a summer storm. Dorian Lopez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dorian Lopez/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Heat Check: I Feel Void

April 6, 2020 • There's still room for surprises in the void of time. Kalisway, Empress Of, Rod Wave and more release new heat.

Michael Kiwanuka's KIWANUKA is one of NPR Music's top 10 albums of the month. Olivia Rose/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Olivia Rose/Courtesy of the artist

Best Music Of 2019

NPR Music's Top 10 Albums Of November

December 2, 2019 • It's truly been a great year for music, right up to the final months. November gifted us new albums by FKA twigs, Michael Kiwanuka and Mount Eerie.