R&B/Soul : NPR

Tank And The Bangas Release The Band's Major Label Debut

Tank and the Bangas Gus Bennett/Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Gus Bennett/Courtesy of the Artist

All Songs Considered

Tank And The Bangas Release The Band's Major Label Debut

April 19, 2018 • Last year's Tiny Desk Contest winner releases its first major label single, "Smoke.Netflix.Chill," a song about a friendship that's falling apart.

Liz Brasher's debut EP Outcast is out April 27 on Fat Possum. Stacie Huckeba/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Stacie Huckeba/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

First Listen: Liz Brasher, 'Outcast'

WMOT

April 19, 2018 • Stream the debut EP by one of our favorite new artists of 2018.

Outcast

18:27

Beyoncé Marks Her Homecoming With Headlining Coachella Performance

Beyoncé headlines 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival Weekend 1 on Saturday, in Indio, Calif. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Coachella hide caption

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Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Coachella

All Songs Considered

Beyoncé Marks Her Homecoming With Headlining Coachella Performance

April 15, 2018 • With a brigade of over 100 dancers and guest appearances from Destiny's Child, Jay-Z and Solange, Queen Bey kept her headlining Coachella set all in the family — and set the tone for her return.

Tinashe's Joyride is one of the standout albums being released on April 13. Dennis Leupold/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dennis Leupold/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: April 13

April 13, 2018 • A run through some of the week's best new albums, including Korean surf-rock band Say Sue Me, singer Juliana Hatfield's surprisingly emotional tribute to Olivia Newton-John, Tinashe and more.

New Music Friday: April 13

Listen · 18:53 18:53

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Guest DJ Kali Uchis On How Astrud Gilberto And N.E.R.D. Inspired Her Debut Album

Kali Uchis' latest album Isolation draws from the Colombian-American singer's love for bossa nova, funk, pop and more. Felipe Q Noguiera/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Felipe Q Noguiera/Courtesy of the artist

Alt.Latino

Guest DJ Kali Uchis On How Astrud Gilberto And N.E.R.D. Inspired Her Debut Album

April 12, 2018 • The Colombian-American singer recalls her favorite childhood memories tied to music and plays some of the songs that inspired her debut album Isolation.

Guest DJ Kali Uchis On How Astrud Gilberto And N.E.R.D. Inspired Her Debut Album

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Yvonne Staples, Of The Renowned Staple Singers, Dead At 80

The Staple Singers performing in 1986 in their hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Yvonne, right, died April 10, 2018 at the age of 80. Paul Natkin/WireImage hide caption

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Paul Natkin/WireImage

The Record

Yvonne Staples, Of The Renowned Staple Singers, Dead At 80

April 11, 2018 • The singer joined her sisters and father in The Staple Singers just as the group rocketed to fame in the early '70s, and was a steady hand behind the scenes for most of her life.

In Cautious Clay's 'Stolen Moments,' A Lament Crooned Too Late

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Dean Luis/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

In Cautious Clay's 'Stolen Moments,' A Lament Crooned Too Late

April 11, 2018 • Over a hazy reflection pool of guitar plucking and blue saxophone hits, the Brooklyn R&B multi-instrumentalist shares a lovers' quarrel.

Kylie Minogue's Golden is among the best new albums out on Apr. 6. Simon Emmett/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Simon Emmett/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: April 6

April 6, 2018 • Hear a quick run thru some of the best full-albums out today, including the scorching punk of Dark Times, rap phenom Cardi B, pop singer Kylie Minogue's country turn, Hop Along, Wye Oak and more.

New Music Friday: April 6

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Tunde Olaniran Gets 'Vulnerable,' Announces A New Album Due This Summer

Tunde Olaniran's new album, Stranger, comes out this summer. Landon Speers/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Landon Speers/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Tunde Olaniran Gets 'Vulnerable,' Announces A New Album Due This Summer

April 5, 2018 • For Olaniran, art is about big ambitions, bigger ideas and the relentless pursuit of joy and comfort within his own skin.

April 4, 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The week he died, American soul and R&B were at a high-water mark. AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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AFP/Getty Images

The Record

Memphis Blues

April 4, 2018 • Topped by Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay," the R&B Top 20 from the week of March 30, 1968 shows American soul flourishing in all directions.

Cuco Is The Cariño Of Young Latinos Who Keep Dreaming

Cuco's music has reached far beyond his bedroom studio thanks to an explosion of interest on Twitter and other social platforms. Abraham Recio/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Abraham Recio/Courtesy of the artist

Alt.Latino

Cuco Is The Cariño Of Young Latinos Who Keep Dreaming

April 4, 2018 • At 19, the producer and singer born Omar Banos has built a following for his infectious dream pop — and begun testing it as a tool to help immigrant families like his own.

Cuco Is The Cariño Of Young Latinos Who Keep Dreaming

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Sabrina Claudio's 'Don't Let Me Down' Is A Rum Shot Of Passion

Sabrina Claudio on the cover of her new single, "Don't Let Me Down." Fouad/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Fouad/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Songs We Love

Sabrina Claudio's 'Don't Let Me Down' Is A Rum Shot Of Passion

April 4, 2018 • The Miami-hailing talent is shaping up to be one of R&B's new leaders. Claudio enlists Khalid for the new tropical track that goes down like a shot of coconut rum.

Gallant Makes 'The Decision To Be Vulnerable' In Slow-Burning 'Gentleman' Video

Gallant pairs angelic vocals with a powerful, almost-sinister, sexual energy for his "Gentleman" video. Sasha Samsonova /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sasha Samsonova /Courtesy of the artist