John Morrison is a writer, DJ, and sample-flipper from Philadelphia. As a writer, his work has appeared in NPR Music, Bandcamp Daily, Jazz Tokyo, Grammy.com, and more. He is also the host of Culture Cypher Radio, a hip-hop radio show on NPR member station WXPN.
Todd Rundgren Richard Creamer/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption
SZA performs onstage at the 60th annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 28, 2018, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS hide caption
Cracker Island, the latest from Gorillaz, is on our shortlist of the best new releases out on Feb. 24. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
American R&B group TLC poses at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, circa 1995. From left to right: Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas, Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins and Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. Archive Photos/Getty Images hide caption
Prince performs live at the Fabulous Forum on Feb. 19, 1985, in Inglewood, Calif. Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption
Paramore's first new album in six years, This Is Why, is on our shortlist of the best releases out on Feb. 10 Zachary Gray/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Curtis Mayfield Michael Ochs/Getty Images hide caption
Margo Price's Strays tops our shortlist of the best new albums out on Jan. 13. Alysse Gafkjen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Love Michael Ochs/Getty Images hide caption
DJ and producer Honey Dijon's album Black Girl Magic is on our shortlist of the best releases out on Nov. 18. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
The Atlanta duo Coco & Clair Clair's debut full-length SEXY makes our shortlist for the best new albums out this week. Shervin/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
St. Louis rapper Smino's new album, Luv 4 Rent, tops our shortlist of the best releases out on Oct. 28. Denita Turner/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
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Cody ChesnuTT poses backstage at the third annual Shortlist Concert at The Wiltern in October 2003. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images hide caption
Beth Orton's new record, Weather Alive, finds the singer taking control of her own sound. Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Psalm One's new collaboration with Custom Made is titled Bigg Perrm. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Peter Matthew Bauer Charlie Anastasis/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Bella Poarch's debut EP Dolls is on our shortlist of the best releases out on Aug. 12. Marcelo Cantu hide caption
Doechii's she / her / black bitch tops our shortlist of the best new releases out on Aug. 5. Chris Parsons/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
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Lizzo's Special leads our shortlist this week of the best new albums out on July 15. AB+DM!/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Angel Olsen's Big Time is on NPR Music's shortlist of the best albums out on June 3. Angela Ricciardi hide caption
The Jimi Hendrix Experience pose for a portrait in 1968. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty hide caption