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Stephen Thompson Stephen Thompson is a host, writer and reviewer for NPR Music and Pop Culture Happy Hour. He appears frequently on All Songs Considered and NPR newsmagazines.
Washington, DC - May 03, 2016: Stephen Thompson CREDIT: Matt Roth
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Stephen Thompson

Thursday

The 2010s: The Globalization Of Music

The K-Pop Group BTS visits The Empire State Building on May 21, 2019 Steven Ferdman/Getty Images for ESB hide caption

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Steven Ferdman/Getty Images for ESB

All Songs Considered

The 2010s: The Globalization Of Music

Our look back at the past decade in music continues as we examine the ways musical borders have fallen and why global sounds are more prevalent and popular than ever.

The 2010s: The Globalization Of Music

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Wednesday

My Name Is Dolemite: We Dig It

Eddie Murphy, Mike Epps, Craig Robinson, Tituss Burgess, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph in Dolemite Is My Name. François Duhamel/Netflix/Courtesy of NETFLIX hide caption

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François Duhamel/Netflix/Courtesy of NETFLIX

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

My Name Is Dolemite: We Dig It

Dolemite Is My Name is a new Netflix biopic about comedian Rudy Ray Moore, who created a flamboyant alter ego and became a blaxploitation legend in the 1970s. The film stars Eddie Murphy, who's joined by a fantastic cast that includes Keegan-Michael Key, Tituss Burgess, Craig Robinson, Mike Epps and Wesley Snipes. It's a behind the scenes look at the making of the 1975 cult hit film Dolemite.

My Name Is Dolemite: We Dig It

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Monday

Friday

New Music Friday: Our Top 8 Albums Out On Oct. 25

Rex Orange County is otherwise known as Alex O'Connor. His third full-length, Pony, is on our shortlist of the best new albums out on Oct. 25. Alexandra Waespi hide caption

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Alexandra Waespi

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: Our Top 8 Albums Out On Oct. 25

The fourth-quarter deluge continues this week with new releases from Rex Orange County, King Princess, Gallant and more, including the first new album in seven years from Neil Young & Crazy Horse.

New Music Friday: Our Top 8 Albums Out On Oct. 25

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'Jojo Rabbit': Should You Go, Or Waititi To See It?

Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) has dinner with his imaginary friend Adolf (Taika Waititi), and his mother, Rosie (Scarlet Johansson). Kimberley French/Twentieth Century Fox/Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation hide caption

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Kimberley French/Twentieth Century Fox/Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Jojo Rabbit': Should You Go, Or Waititi To See It?

Jojo Rabbit is already an Oscar favorite. The dark comedy from director Taika Waititi won the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival. That's preceded a best picture nomination in 10 out of the last 11 years. Based on a 2004 novel by Christine Leunens, the film follows Jojo, a German boy who remains loyal to Adolf Hitler as World War II winds down. In fact, he envisions the leader as his imaginary friend.

'Jojo Rabbit': Should You Go, Or Waititi To See It?

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Wednesday

'Parasite' Is A Genre-Bending Look At Capitalism

So-dam Park and Woo-sik Choi in Parasite Courtesy of NEON CJ Entertainment hide caption

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Courtesy of NEON CJ Entertainment

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Parasite' Is A Genre-Bending Look At Capitalism

Even if you've seen a lot of movies about class struggle, you can bet you've never seen one like Parasite. From director Bong Joon-ho, it tells the story of two families, one with a lot of money and one that's just struggling to get by. Parasite won the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at this year's Cannes Film Festival, and it's South Korea's entry into this year's Oscars race.

'Parasite' Is A Genre-Bending Look At Capitalism

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Friday

New Music Friday: Our Top 10 Albums Out On Oct. 18

Caroline Polachek. Her new solo album, Pang is on our shortlist for the best new releases out on Oct. 18. Nedda Afsari hide caption

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Nedda Afsari

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: Our Top 10 Albums Out On Oct. 18

It's a packed release week, with new albums from Chairlift's Caroline Polachek, the rapper Gucci Mane, warped hip-hop from clipping., the electronic artist Floating Points and more.

New Music Friday: Our Top 10 Albums Out On Oct. 18

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'El Camino' Continues The 'Breaking Bad' Story

Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie Ben Rothstein/Netflix hide caption

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Ben Rothstein/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'El Camino' Continues The 'Breaking Bad' Story

The Emmy-award winning series Breaking Bad chronicled the transformation of Walter White, a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher played by Bryan Cranston, into a ruthless and deadly crystal meth kingpin. It ended in 2013, after six seasons. The show also starred Aaron Paul as Cranston's punching-bag of partner-in-crime, Jesse Pinkman. Now, series creator Vince Gillgan has written and directed a new Netflix movie that explores what happens to Jesse in the immediate aftermath of Breaking Bad's finale.

'El Camino' Continues The 'Breaking Bad' Story

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Thursday

Phoebe Bridgers And The National's Matt Berninger Team Up For 'Walking On A String'

Phoebe Bridgers (center) and Matt Berninger (second from right) have teamed up to record a new song together, titled "Walking on a String." Chloe Brewer/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Chloe Brewer/Courtesy of the artist

Music

Phoebe Bridgers And The National's Matt Berninger Team Up For 'Walking On A String'

Recorded for the soundtrack to Netflix's Between Two Ferns: The Movie, "Walking on a String" is a gorgeous vehicle for two voices that pair up perfectly.

The 2010s: Social Media And The Birth Of Stan Culture

Drake performing at the 2015 OVO Festival at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada. His now legendary beef that year with the rapper Meek Mill was waged over social media, fed in part by memes made by super fans or stans. George Pimentel/Getty Images hide caption

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George Pimentel/Getty Images

All Songs Considered

The 2010s: Social Media And The Birth Of Stan Culture

Our series looking back at the past decade in music continues with a conversation about social media and how it's allowed (for better or worse) the rise of super fans, otherwise known as stans.

The 2010s: Social Media And The Birth Of Stan Culture

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Monday

Billie Eilish: 'All I Can Say Is, Be Patient'

Billie Eilish greets fans at Austin's ACL Music Festival Roger Ho/Courtesy ACL Music Festival hide caption

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Roger Ho/Courtesy ACL Music Festival

All Songs Considered

Billie Eilish: 'All I Can Say Is, Be Patient'

The 17-year-old pop star talks NPR Music's Stephen Thompson about getting through her teenaged years, directing her own videos, experiencing art with synesthesia and more in this interview, recorded live on stage at Austin's ACL Music Festival.

Billie Eilish: 'All I Can Say Is, Be Patient'

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