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

Wednesday

Music

NPR's Bobby Carter on why a 2020 song should be included on 2021's best music lists

One of the biggest songs of 2021 was technically released in 2020 — so it can't be included on lists of the year's best music. NPR's Bobby Carter shouts out the song "Essence" by Wizkid.

NPR's Bobby Carter on why a 2020 song should be included on 2021's best music lists

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Friday

Legacy, Okay?! For Black musicians, 'Insecure' created a new world of possibilities

HBO's Insecure not only identified a shift in Black music over the last five years, it helped distinguish it. Glen Wilson/HBO hide caption

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Glen Wilson/HBO

All Songs Considered

Legacy, Okay?! For Black musicians, 'Insecure' created a new world of possibilities

The groundbreaking HBO series, which just ended a five-year run, provided a platform for showcasing great, unknown Black artists and recast expectations for what R&B, rap and hip-hop can be.

Legacy, Okay?! For Black musicians, 'Insecure' created a new world of possibilities

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Friday

New Music Friday: The top 6 albums out on Nov. 12

Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars, together as Silk Sonic. Their debut, An Evening with Silk Sonic, tops our shortlist of the week's best new albums. John Esparza/Silk Sonic hide caption

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John Esparza/Silk Sonic

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The top 6 albums out on Nov. 12

The Bruno Mars-Anderson .Paak collab as Silk Sonic tops NPR Music's shortlist of the best albums out this week, along with new ones from Courtney Barnett, Aesop Rock, Jon Hopkins and more.

New Music Friday: The top 6 albums out on Nov. 12

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Thursday

Tuesday

Friday

New Music Friday: The Top 11 Albums Out On Sept. 10

J Balvin's JOSE is on our shortlist for the best albums out on Sept. 10. VIVIIMAGE/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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VIVIIMAGE/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 11 Albums Out On Sept. 10

It's a packed release day, with new albums from the prince of reggaeton J Balvin, Kendrick Lamar collaborator and rising rapper Baby Keem, Kacey Musgraves, Andrew W.K. and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 11 Albums Out On Sept. 10

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Wednesday

Tuesday

Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

Monday

Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf: Our Favorite 2021 Entries, Episode 4

Jesus Gonzalez entered the song "I Dreamt Of You Again" in the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest. NPR hide caption

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NPR

All Songs Considered

Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf: Our Favorite 2021 Entries, Episode 4

Before we announce this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner, we're asking our judges to share their favorite entries in a weekly livestreamed series. In this episode, John Morrison shares his picks.

Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf: Our Favorite 2021 Entries, Episode 4

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Monday

Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf: Our Favorite 2021 Entries, Episode 3

Xella entered the song "ON" to the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest YouTube/NPR hide caption

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YouTube/NPR

Tiny Desk Contest

Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf: Our Favorite 2021 Entries, Episode 3

Before we announce this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner, we're asking our judges to share their favorite entries in a weekly livestreamed series. In this episode, Tobe Nwigwe shares his picks.

Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf: Our Favorite 2021 Entries, Episode 3

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Tuesday

The Best Music Of July: NPR Staff Picks

Top left, clockwise: Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine, Canary Room, Billy Bragg, William Parker, IDK, WILLOW. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

The Best Music Of July: NPR Staff Picks

In July, we found solace in veterans (Billy Bragg) and newcomers (Canary Room), witnessed personal transformations from IDK and WILLOW, hit funky grooves with William Parker and heard angels become mortal in a collaboration between Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine.

The Best Music Of July: NPR Staff Picks

Listen · 28:17
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