Bobby Carter : NPR

Bobby Carter Bobby Carter is the host and series producer for NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts.

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Bobby Carter

Thursday January 18, 2018

Common, Karriem Riggins, Robert Glasper And Brandy Unite On 'Optimistic'

Robert Glasper, Common and Karriem Riggins will release their debut album as August Greene this March. B+/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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B+/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Songs We Love

Common, Karriem Riggins, Robert Glasper And Brandy Unite On 'Optimistic'

January 18, 2018 • Common, Karriem Riggins and Robert Glasper form August Greene and share its first single as a trio.

Thursday December 28, 2017

The Essential R&B Albums You Slept On In 2017

Tiger Tiger/Courtesy of the artist

Best Music Of 2017

The Essential R&B Albums You Slept On In 2017

December 28, 2017 • From PJ Morton to Moonchild, these projects didn't get enough shine this year but were exceptional nonetheless.

Monday December 18, 2017

Courtesy of the artist

Best Music Of 2017

The 10 Best R&B Albums Of 2017

December 18, 2017 • This is not your mom and pop's rhythm and blues. Artists pushed the boundaries, story lines and expectations of R&B more than ever in 2017.

Monday November 6, 2017

Wyclef Jean performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Oct. 11, 2017. (Christina Ascani/NPR) Christina Ascani/NPR hide caption

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Christina Ascani/NPR

Tiny Desk

Wyclef Jean: Tiny Desk Concert

November 6, 2017 • The hip-hop statesman walked through our doors greeting and charming anyone within arm's reach. Once in front of an audience, he was in attack mode, including a unique rendition of his signature hit.

Wednesday October 18, 2017

Thundercat performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Sept. 29, 2017. (Jennifer Kerrigan/NPR) Jennifer Kerrigan/NPR hide caption

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Jennifer Kerrigan/NPR

Tiny Desk

Thundercat: Tiny Desk Concert

October 18, 2017 • Thundercat is willing and able to shape-shift to fit into just about any box you show him, but he won't stay in there for long.

Tuesday September 5, 2017

Jidenna performs a Tiny Desk Concert on July 6, 2017. (Photo: Liam James Doyle/NPR) Liam James Doyle/NPR hide caption

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Liam James Doyle/NPR

Tiny Desk

Jidenna: Tiny Desk Concert

September 5, 2017 • The Nigerian-American MC and his band perform three reworked selections from Jidenna's impeccable debut album, The Chief.

Monday July 17, 2017

Tuxedo performs a Tiny Desk Concert on May 20th, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR) Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Tiny Desk

Tuxedo: Tiny Desk Concert

July 17, 2017 • Tuxedo, the unlikely-on-paper funk-soul duo of Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One, brought a left-of-center sonic approach and a sharp sense of style to their Tiny Desk Concert.

Tuesday May 30, 2017

New Zealand's Ladi6 Turns A Dancehall Groove Psychedelic On 'Royal Blue'

Ladi6's Royal Blue 3000 EP comes out June 2. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Review

Songs We Love

New Zealand's Ladi6 Turns A Dancehall Groove Psychedelic On 'Royal Blue'

May 30, 2017 • Ladi6 takes everything that was great about '90s soul music and updates it, sprinkling cosmic effects and big synths throughout.

Friday May 26, 2017

Gabriel Garzón-Montano: Tiny Desk Concert

Gabriel Garzon-Montano performs a Tiny Desk Concert on May 3, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR) Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Tiny Desk

Gabriel Garzón-Montano: Tiny Desk Concert

May 26, 2017 • Gabriel Garzón-Montano spent three years writing and recording his beautiful, dense album Jardin -- but for his Tiny Desk visit, he stripped it all down to two elements, the piano and his voice.

Monday April 3, 2017

Noname performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Feb. 28, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR) Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Tiny Desk

Noname: Tiny Desk Concert

April 3, 2017 • The power of language to penetrate a difficult subject, and the power of performance to share that language, are the gifts Noname brought to the Tiny Desk.

Tuesday March 21, 2017

Sampha performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Feb. 7, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR) Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Tiny Desk

Sampha: Tiny Desk Concert

March 21, 2017 • A Tiny Desk Concert as intimate as it gets (that's saying something). Just Sampha, a piano and three heart-wrenching songs that seem to double as coping mechanisms.

Wednesday February 1, 2017

D.R.A.M. performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Jan. 4, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR) Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Tiny Desk

D.R.A.M.: Tiny Desk Concert

February 1, 2017 • The rapper/singer storms the NPR Music offices, activating his signature smile and bouncing through five highlights from his catalog — including the smash single "Broccoli."

Monday January 23, 2017

BADBADNOTGOOD performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Jan. 4, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR) Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Tiny Desk

BADBADNOTGOOD: Tiny Desk Concert

January 23, 2017 • The jazz band, known for its soulful interpretations of songs by Nas and Ol' Dirty Bastard, plays its own new material live in the NPR Music offices.

Saturday December 17, 2016

5 Essential R&B Albums You Slept On In 2016

SiR's album Seven Sundays deserved more love in 2016. Dana Washington/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Dana Washington/Courtesy of the artist

Best Music Of 2016

5 Essential R&B Albums You Slept On In 2016

December 17, 2016 • While you were watching Frank Ocean build a staircase, NPR Music contributors Bobby Carter and Kiana Fitzgerald were listening to these records.

5 Essential Hip-Hop Albums You Slept On In 2016

Saba's Bucket List Project should have been on more lists. Bryan Allen Lamb/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Bryan Allen Lamb/Courtesy of the artist

Best Music Of 2016

5 Essential Hip-Hop Albums You Slept On In 2016

December 17, 2016 • Chance the Rapper and A Tribe Called Quest received deserved accolades, but there were many more rap records worthy of celebration this year.