npr Archives

Kendrick Lamar Witnessed His First Murder When He Was 5 Years Old (Audio)

Kendrick Lamar recently spoke, at length, with NPR. While fans of Kendrick likely have heard bits and pieces of a number of the subjects Kendrick addressed in the interview, he reflected on a number of deeply personal topics in greater detail than he often does, outside of his most introspective... Read more

December 29, 2015 Audio

Affirmative Action in Education is Eliciting Heated Debate by the Supreme Court (Audio)

Earlier today, the Supreme Court presided over a discussion about affirmative action within the jurisdiction of higher education. For many years, the issue of race has played a large role in the process of college and university admissions, and as any Heads who have applied to such a school can... Read more

December 10, 2015 Lifestyle

Pharrell’s NYU Conversation Dissects “Geek Chic” & Native Tongues’ Inspiration (Video)

Earlier this week, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts hosted Pharrell Williams, after naming him their Artist in Residence as part of the school's 50th anniversary. As part of his residency, P visited Tisch for an in-depth talk with host Jason King a part of NPR's "In Conversation"... Read more

October 30, 2015 Video

The Internet’s Live Show Sets Them Apart From All…Even From A Tiny Desk (Video)

As much as a crew mentality can help a family tree of talent get on (see: Wu-Tang Clan, N.W.A., or Diggin' In The Crates), sometimes an entity supersedes an affiliation. In the case of The Internet, Syd tha Kyd, Matt Martians and company played a background in OFWGKTA's 2011 breakthrough.... Read more

September 29, 2015 Video

A Violinist & Violist Are Combining Hip-Hop & Classical in Amazing Ways (Audio)

Throughout history, musical worlds have always collided as cultures and influences blend together to form new and exciting sounds. Now, with the digital era, the bridging of worlds has become far more frequent, and the resulting amalgamations continue to impress with ingenuity and creativity abounding. Violinist Kevin Sylvester and violist... Read more

September 17, 2015 Audio

‘GO:OD AM’ Aims to Wake Up Anybody Still Sleeping on Mac Miller (Album Stream)

Since breaking onto the Hip-Hop scene with the mixtape K.I.D.S. in 2010, Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller has dealt with his share of detractors, many relegating him to the genres of "frat boy" or "pop rap," but his fans have maintained their strident loyalty and his latest album is proof that... Read more

September 14, 2015 Audio

Check Out the Big Brain on Brett: Here’s How Sounds Evolved It (Audio)

Earlier today, NPR aired a segment on its Health program "Shots" during today's "Morning Edition" that explored the role of auditory experiences on the development and evolution of the animal brain. In fact, there is an entire school of scientists devoted to the field, and they are called "acoustic biologists."... Read more

September 10, 2015 Audio

The Politics of Rap: Political Hip-Hop’s Long & Outspoken History Didn’t Begin or End with N.W.A. (Audio)

The marriage of political engagement and Hip-Hop culture has been a permanent fixture ever since artists began using the mic as a means of delivering dispatches from inner-city life, where systemic problems of economic disparity, educational inequality, poverty, and racism remain far too common for far too many. For many,... Read more

August 21, 2015 Audio

Bye Felicia: How ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Is Initiating a Conversation About Misogyny (Audio)

In the 1995 film Friday, the F. Gary Gray comedy starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, there is perhaps no more regularly quoted line than "Bye, Felicia," a phrase that has experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to today's Internet culture. Common in hashtag form, the pop-culture reference is a... Read more

August 18, 2015 Audio

Large Professor Chats with Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Teaches Hip-Hop History Lesson (Audio)

In 2014, Large Professor - the legendary Queens, New York producer who has worked with Eric B. & Rakim (while he was still in high school, no less), Nas, Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz, Public Enemy, and dozens more - visited hosts Frannie Kelly and A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed... Read more

August 3, 2015 Audio

New Driverless Cars Will Allow For Ghostridin’ The Whips…Someday (Audio)

The proliferation of technology into all aspects of life is not a new concept by any stretch of the imagination. Companies investing in "smart home" technologies are making it easier for people to turn off their ovens remotely or to turn on their central air while on their commute home.... Read more

July 31, 2015 Lifestyle

Mo Money, Mo Problems: A Woman Will Adorn New Currency, But Only Slightly (Audio)

2020 will mark the centennial anniversary of women's suffrage, and while the idea of possibly having a female president during the landmark year seems to be growing more and more plausible by the day, there are other, more certain endeavors being undertaken to acknowledge the milestone. On today's Morning Edition... Read more

June 18, 2015 Lifestyle

The P-Funk Godfather George Clinton Flashes Back On Some Of His Finest Grooves (Video)

Front man for Parliament, Funkadelic, and his own amazing solo career, George Clinton just published his memoir, Brothas Be, Yo Like George, Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard on You?. The Plainfield, New Jersey native has been anything but plain in his six decades of making music. The barber-turned-Doo Wop singer-turned... Read more

November 7, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Andre 3000 Holds an Extended Conversation with Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Frannie Kelley (Audio)

Andre 3000 talks working with Aretha Franklin, being among the first Hip-Hop acts to represent Atlanta, the influence of Souls of Mischief on OutKast and more with A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Frannie Kelley. Check it out. Related: A Tribe Called Kast: A Mashup of Rhymes From... Read more

September 28, 2014 Audio

No Matter How Much You Know About Biggie, You Will Learn Something From This Discussion (Video)

As a part of last week's 20th anniversary coverage of The Notorious B.I.G's Ready To Die album, NPR "Microphone Check" assembled a panel in Brooklyn. Hosts Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest) and Frannie Kelley were joined by dream hampton (author, The Source), Matty C. (The Source, A&R), Biggie... Read more

September 23, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Here’s an Amazing Stripped Down Concert Session From The Foreign Exchange (Video)

Though Phonte was introduced to the world as part of the iconic underground group Little Brother, 2014 marks his 10th year as a part of The Foreign Exchange, which also includes Nicolay and now Zo! The Foreign Exchange trio gave an amazing stripped down performance of "On A Day Like... Read more

July 9, 2014 Video

Pete Rock Talks Marley Marl, “T.R.O.Y.” & James Brown On NPR (Audio)

Growing up in a large, musically adept Jamaican family, Pete Rock has been groomed to become "passionately in love with music" from his earliest beginnings. The man who's known for creating "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)", sits down with A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Frannie Kelley of... Read more

July 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

Ab-Soul Talks “These Days” On NPR Before Tomorrow’s Release (Audio)

In anticipation of the release of his third album, These Days (6/24), Top Dawg Entertainment’s Ab-Soul sits down with Frannie Kelley and Ali Shaheed Muhammad from NPR’s Microphone Check series to discuss nuances of the album, his career, and his art as a whole. Ab delves into a particularly captivating... Read more

June 23, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Miguel performs on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series (Video)

Miguel CRUSHES a stripped down set for NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. Check out his acoustic performances of Do You, The Thrill and Adorn. Chills. Related: Miguel - All I Want is You ft J. Cole (Video)... Read more

January 3, 2013 Video

The Making of Nas’ It Ain’t Hard to Tell Video as told by Video Music Box’s Ralph McDaniels

Here's an incredible article on the making of Nas' It Ain't Hard to Tell video. It features in-depth input from Ralph McDaniels, founder and host of NYC's Video Music Box, who produced and directed the video. Below is an excerpt from the article and you can read the whole article... Read more

March 4, 2012 Food for Thought

Russell Simmons & Rick Rubin – Def Jam’s First 25 Years (Audio Interview)

Here's an interview of Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin on the founding and legacy of Def Jam. The intro is a bit stiff (the interview is from NPR...) but it's very cool to hear the story of Def Jam from the voices of the founders, themselves. Click here to hear... Read more

October 9, 2011 Audio, Food for Thought