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Priscilla Renea Refuses To Be Quiet About Racism In Country Music

"The essence of country music is talking about your experiences," Priscilla Renea says. Kyle Goldberg/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Kyle Goldberg/Courtesy of the artist

Priscilla Renea Refuses To Be Quiet About Racism In Country Music

Dolly Parton, one of Renea's favorite singers, says you have to stay quiet to make it in show business. But Renea refuses to downplay her experiences as a black woman in country music.

Priscilla Renea Refuses To Be Quiet About Racism In Country Music

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Why The Contradictions Of XXXTentacion Are 'Difficult To Square'

XXXTentacion performs during Rolling Loud Festival in Miami in 2017. The rapper was shot and killed on June 18, 2018. Miami Herald via Getty Images hide caption

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Miami Herald via Getty Images

Why The Contradictions Of XXXTentacion Are 'Difficult To Square'

Music critic Lindsay Zoladz explains how and why music fans are grappling with art and violent life of Florida rapper XXXTentacion, following his murder.

Why The Contradictions Of XXXTentacion Are 'Difficult To Square'

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Jill Barber Goes Pop, Minus Some Sweetness

Jill Barber's new album Metaphora means "to transfer meaning" in Greek. "It captures a lot of what this album is about, which is my experience in the world as a woman," she says. Ivan Otis /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ivan Otis /Courtesy of the artist

Jill Barber Goes Pop, Minus Some Sweetness

The Canadian singer known for folk and jazz switches genres, this time to write an album about the place of women in modern times.

Jill Barber Goes Pop, Minus Some Sweetness

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John Coltrane's Lost Album A 'Buried Treasure' For Jazz Fans

John Coltrane and his band recording at Van Gelder Studios in 1963. Jim Marshall Photography LLC hide caption

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Jim Marshall Photography LLC

Review

John Coltrane's Lost Album A 'Buried Treasure' For Jazz Fans

Never-before-heard John Coltrane recordings from a 1963 session are being released as a new album. John Coltrane's son, Ravi Coltrane, discusses 'Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album.'

John Coltrane's Lost Album A 'Buried Treasure' For Jazz Fans

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Kississippi On World Cafe

Zoe Reynolds, also known as Kississippi. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Kississippi On World Cafe

XPN

After some ups and downs, Zoe Reynolds persisted and independently released her debut album. Hear a live performance.

Kississippi on World Cafe

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Kamasi Washington's Heaven Exists In His Mind

"I feel like we're in that turning point right now," Kamasi Washington says. Durmiel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Durmiel/Courtesy of the artist

Kamasi Washington's Heaven Exists In His Mind

The jazz torchbearer's new record Heaven and Earth represents the relationship between his inner world and outward reality.

Kamasi Washington's Heaven Exists In His Mind

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Pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa Is Part Of A Long Line of 'Amazing'
Gabriel G. Bianchini/Courtesy of the Artist

Alt.Latino

Pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa Is Part Of A Long Line of 'Amazing'

The pianist's new album is a lesson on contemporary Cuban piano, performed with a trio with strong familial ties.

Pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa Is Part Of A Long Line of 'Amazing'

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Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls Strikes Out On His Own And Talks About Getting Old

Derek Smalls. Rob Shanahan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Rob Shanahan/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls Strikes Out On His Own And Talks About Getting Old

Spinal Tap's legendary bassist drops by with a few songs from his new reflective solo record, Smalls Change (Meditations Upon Ageing).

Derek Smalls On World Cafe

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Bettye LaVette On World Cafe

Bettye LaVette. Mark Seliger/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Mark Seliger/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Bettye LaVette On World Cafe

XPN

At 72 years old, LaVette is back with a deep dive into Bob Dylan's songbook for her latest record Things Have Changed.

Bettye LaVette On World Cafe

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Bermuda Triangle Visit Wolrd Cafe, Share New Song 'Till The End Of Days'

From left, Jesse Lafser, Brittany Howard and Becca Mancari of Bermuda Triangle. Harvey Hale/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Harvey Hale/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Bermuda Triangle Visit Wolrd Cafe, Share New Song 'Till The End Of Days'

XPN

Jesse Lafser, Brittany Howard and Becca Mancari all maintain their own brilliant careers. What brings them together as Bermuda Triangle is friendship, pure and simple.

World Cafe Nashville: Bermuda Triangle

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Jay-Z and Beyoncé's 'Everything Is Love' Shakes Up Summer Music

Jay-Z and Beyoncé shook up the music world with past weekend with a surprise release of their first collaborative album Everything Is Love. Christopher Polk/Getty Images hide caption

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Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Review

Jay-Z and Beyoncé's 'Everything Is Love' Shakes Up Summer Music

A season full of high-profile hip-hop releases just got hotter. NPR Music's Ann Powers and Rodney Carmichael break down the surprise release of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's collaborative album.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé's 'Everything Is Love' Shakes Up Summer Music

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John Prine On Music, Cancer And Why He Never Thought He'd Be A Recording Artist

Fresh Air

The singer, songwriter and guitarist underwent surgeries in 1996 and 2013 that affected his throat and voice. He likes his voice better now: "It dropped down lower and feels friendlier."

John Prine On Music, Cancer And Why He Never Thought He'd Be A Recording Artist

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serpentwithfeet Crafts His Own Language For Queer Life

serpentwithfeet's debut album, soil, is available now. Ash Kingston/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ash Kingston/Courtesy of the artist

serpentwithfeet Crafts His Own Language For Queer Life

Growing up, Josiah Wise says, he was closeted because he didn't have the language to express himself. His new album is intended to put words to his identity that go beyond sex and attraction.

serpentwithfeet Crafts His Own Language For Queer Life

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Contemporary Mexican Music: Not Your Abuelita's Mariachi

Carla Morrison is one of the artists featured this week by Alt.Latino. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Review

Alt.Latino

Contemporary Mexican Music: Not Your Abuelita's Mariachi

NPR Music's Felix Contreras creates a round up of the sounds of modern Mexico.

Contemporary Mexican Music: Not Your Abuelita's Mariachi

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These Tiny Desk Contestants Set Stories Of The Asian-American Experience To Music

Julian Saporiti and Erin Aoyama of No-No Boy. Diego Javier Luis/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Diego Javier Luis/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

These Tiny Desk Contestants Set Stories Of The Asian-American Experience To Music

Brown University doctoral students Julian Saporiti and Erin Aoyama submitted an outstanding entry to the 2018 Tiny Desk Contest. Together, the duo presents the Asian-American experience through song.

These Tiny Desk Contestants Set Stories Of The Asian-American Experience To Music

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Summer Music Preview: 'The War And Treaty' Debuts 'Healing Tide'

Husband and wife duo Michael Trotter, Jr. and Tanya Blount Trotter, also known as "The War And Treaty," talk with NPR's Michel Martin about their upcoming album, Healing Tide.

Summer Music Preview: 'The War And Treaty' Debuts 'Healing Tide'

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Jermaine Dupri Is A Songwriters Hall Of Famer And We Have The Playlist To Prove It

Inductee Jermaine Dupri at the Songwriters Hall of Fame 49th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner on June 14, 2018 in New York City. Gary Gershoff/Getty Images hide caption

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Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

Jermaine Dupri Is A Songwriters Hall Of Famer And We Have The Playlist To Prove It

Dupri's songs have sold millions of copies and helped launch the careers of Usher, Mariah Carey and many others. Now, he's been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Jermaine Dupri Is A Songwriters Hall Of Famer And We Have The Playlist To Prove It

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Paul Beaubrun Shares His Love For Haiti In Song: 'Our Message Is Still Strong'

"Ayibobo means blessings or welcome," Paul Beaubrun explains. Hugue-Robert Marsan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Hugue-Robert Marsan/Courtesy of the artist

Paul Beaubrun Shares His Love For Haiti In Song: 'Our Message Is Still Strong'

The Creole word ayibobo can mean blessings, among other definitions. For Haitian singer Paul Beaubrun, it's also the name of his latest album.

Paul Beaubrun Shares His Love For Haiti In Song: 'Our Message Is Still Strong'

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Welles On World Cafe

Welles and his band inside the World Cafe Performance Studio. Galea McGregor/WXPN hide caption

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Galea McGregor/WXPN

World Cafe

Welles On World Cafe

XPN

Jeh-Sea Welles has the look, the voice, the licks, the hooks and the attitude of a real rock star.

Welles on World Cafe

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Natalie Prass On World Cafe

Natalie Prass inside the World Cafe Performance Studio. John Evin Groome/WXPN hide caption

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John Evin Groome/WXPN

World Cafe

Natalie Prass On World Cafe

XPN

Rather than taking on an acid tongue, Prass digs into the sweeter possibilities — that tough times can make people stick together, stand up and be counted and even dance.

Natalie Prass On World Cafe

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Finding Foundation: How Bobby McFerrin And His Daughter Make Music A Family Affair

Bobby McFerrin with his daughter Madison McFerrin at Monterey Jazz Festival in 2014. Craig Lovell/Courtesy of Monterey Jazz Festival hide caption

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Craig Lovell/Courtesy of Monterey Jazz Festival

Finding Foundation: How Bobby McFerrin And His Daughter Make Music A Family Affair

Bobby McFerrin is best known for his feelgood 1988 hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Now, his daughter Madison is a singer-songwriter on the rise.

Finding Foundation: How Bobby McFerrin And His Daughter Make Music A Family Affair

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