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NEA Heritage Fellow Suni Paz Sings For Children And The Have-Nots

Argentinean singer-songwriter Suni Paz has been selected for the 2020 class of NEA Heritage Fellows. Ramiro Fauve/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ramiro Fauve/Courtesy of the artist

NEA Heritage Fellow Suni Paz Sings For Children And The Have-Nots

One of the first artists to introduce North American audiences to her style of Latin American music, the folk singer was named a 2020 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow.

NEA Heritage Fellow Suni Paz Sings For Children And The Have-Nots

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A Tense New Classical Work Bottles The Feeling Of A Police Stop

Anthony McGill performs You Have the Right to Remain Silent with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Courtesy of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra hide caption

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Courtesy of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Deceptive Cadence

A Tense New Classical Work Bottles The Feeling Of A Police Stop

Pulitzer-winning composer Anthony Davis based You Have The Right To Remain Silent, released this week as a virtual performance, on his own experience with police.

A Tense New Classical Work Bottles The Feeling Of A Police Stop

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'The Last Shall Be First': A Lost Chapter Of Gospel, Saved From Extinction

Pastor Juan D. Shipp is the radio personality responsible for The Last Shall Be First: The JCR Records Story, Vol. 1, a new collection of old gospel songs. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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'The Last Shall Be First': A Lost Chapter Of Gospel, Saved From Extinction

The Last Shall Be First: The JCR Records Story, Vol. 1 is a collection of gospel music first recorded in 1970s Memphis and released for the first time after years spent tracking down master tapes.

'The Last Shall Be First': A Lost Chapter Of Gospel, Saved From Extinction

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Musicians Turn To New Software To Play Together Online

The members of New York-based brass quartet The Westerlies are rehearsing together thousands of miles apart, thanks to Audio Movers. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Musicians Turn To New Software To Play Together Online

KUOW

Since the pandemic started, musicians have been trying to find ways to play together in real time online. Two platforms — Audio Movers and Jack Trip — offer promise.

Musicians Turn To New Software To Play Together Online

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Latin Grammys 2020: Natalia Lafourcade, Residente Among Big Winners

Víctor Manuelle, performing onstage during the 21st Annual Latin Grammy Awards at American Airlines Arena on Nov. 19, 2020 in Miami. Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for The Latin Recor hide caption

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Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for The Latin Recor

Latin Grammys 2020: Natalia Lafourcade, Residente Among Big Winners

In a ceremony that, like many this year, lacked some momentum, the Latin Grammys were able to find their way towards recognizing the promise of the present.

My Brother's Keeper: Bobby Shmurda (Pt 3)

Bobby Shmurda. Dale Edwin Murray for NPR hide caption

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Dale Edwin Murray for NPR

Louder Than A Riot

My Brother's Keeper: Bobby Shmurda (Pt 3)

Six years after his arrest, Bobby Shmurda's fans are still anxiously awaiting his return. The rapper ultimately stayed loyal to his crew in court, but the chokehold of conspiracy law also left him with few other options. In our final chapter of Bobby's story, we follow his legal drama: cycling through defense lawyers, being strong-armed by prosecutors and making last-ditch outbursts in court. Finally, we sit down with Bobby in prison as he looks to his future on the other side of his cell.

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The 'Sonic Genius' Behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Has Died

Bruce Swedien and Quincy Jones onstage together, speaking at the Pensado Awards for audio engineering in Culver City, Calif. in 2015. Maury Phillips/Getty Images hide caption

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Maury Phillips/Getty Images

The 'Sonic Genius' Behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Has Died

Audio engineer Bruce Swedien, who shaped the sound of several albums with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, died Monday at age 86. He also collaborated with artists from B.B. King to Jennifer Lopez.

'Hitman' Bang Si-hyuk, The Brand-New Billionaire Behind BTS

Chairman and CEO Bang Si-hyuk, center, photographed Oct. 15, 2020, the day his company, Big Hit Entertainment, debuted on the Korea Exchange in Seoul. To his left, Jiwon Park, Big Hit CEO of HQ & Management; right, Lenzo Yoon Big CEO of Global & Business. Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Music Features

'Hitman' Bang Si-hyuk, The Brand-New Billionaire Behind BTS

Formerly a producer and songwriter for K-pop's nascent idols, Si-hyuk's own label, Big Hit Entertainment, recently became larger than the other top labels in Seoul combined.

'Stay In The House': Bobby Shmurda (Pt 2)

The corner of East 96th Street and Church Avenue in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, N.Y. Dale Edwin Murray for NPR hide caption

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Dale Edwin Murray for NPR

Louder Than A Riot

'Stay In The House': Bobby Shmurda (Pt 2)

Two young men grow up just blocks apart, each with aspirations to make it big. But while Bobby Shmurda sees his dreams come true, Bryan Antoine is killed by members of Bobby's crew. This is the story that lingers between the lyrics of Bobby's viral hit, "Hot N****." We talk to the family grieving Bryan's loss and review hours of incriminating GS9 phone calls. How does the true story behind the song complicate stereotypes about gang affiliation? And what does the pursuit of justice mean in a neighborhood where labels like "victim" and "perpetrator" can be interchangeable?

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Hip-Hop In Nashville Is Making Its Own Way

Nashville's music industry has never given homegrown hip-hop the support it deserves, so the city's artists and entrepreneurs are creating their own institutions. ilbusca/Getty Images hide caption

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Editors' Picks

Hip-Hop In Nashville Is Making Its Own Way

Rap from Nashville isn't new, nor is the city's tendency to overlook the creators and entrepreneurs behind that music – despite country artists borrowing liberally from the genre over the past decade.

Hip-Hop In Nashville Is Making Its Own Way

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The Badder, The Better: Bobby Shmurda (Pt 1)

Bobby Shmurda. Dale Edwin Murray for NPR hide caption

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Dale Edwin Murray for NPR

Louder Than A Riot

The Badder, The Better: Bobby Shmurda (Pt 1)

Just like his legendary disappearing hat, Brooklyn rapper Bobby Shmurda's career was on the rise in 2014. But so was the evidence in a murder case against his crew, GS9. In the first of three episodes exploring Bobby's story, we look at his come-up through the eyes of former Epic Records exec Sha Money XL, who guided Bobby on his tightrope walk from the streets to superstardom. What happens when the industry capitalizes on a criminal persona? And do record execs have the juice to back Bobby up when things get too hot?

The Badder, The Better: Bobby Shmurda (Pt 1)

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Stevie Nicks On TikTok, Tom Petty And Claiming What's Yours

Stevie Nicks' new 24 Karat Gold concert film foregrounds songs the artist says never got their due. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Editors' Picks

Stevie Nicks On TikTok, Tom Petty And Claiming What's Yours

An audacious concert film, an unwitting viral hit and a second Rock Hall induction: That's just the past two years for Nicks, who says that at 72 she's finally comfortable doing everything she wants.

Stevie Nicks On TikTok, Tom Petty And Claiming What's Yours

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