Music

Jason Aldean's 'Small Town' is part of a long legacy with a very dark side

Amanda Marie Martínez

The 'anti-city' country song is a well-worn trope, one that pits idyllic country life against the corruption of the city. But Aldean's controversial song reveals the dark heart of the tradition.
Racial Justice and Social Equity

The artists shaking up the industry at the Latin Alternative Music Conference

Isabella Gomez Sarmiento

The Latin Alternative Music Conference just wrapped its 24th edition. Colombian hip-hop duo Dawer x Damper and Argentinian rock band Usted Señalemelo received this year's Discovery Awards.
International

After snub by Taylor Swift, Filipino 'Swifties' find solace in another Taylor

Ashley Westerman

Taylor Sheesh, the Philippines' top Taylor Swift impersonator, has set out on her own tour across the country in a bid to get the global superstar's attention.
How Memphis rap charted a passage from Delta blues

Zandria F. Robinson

The "most known unknown" rap city found its voice by embracing the dark and light sides of its history equally: the horror stories and church hymns, the field hollers and Stax stacks.
National

Tony Bennett, king of the American Songbook, dead at 96

Walter Ray Watson

The beloved singer and interpreter of pop standards won 20 Grammy awards over a career that touched eight decades.
Arts & Culture

In search of tunes for your 'Barbenheimer' pregame? Look no further

Miguel Perez

Bruce Warren

Whether you're heading to the cinema to watch Barbie, Oppenheimer or both back-to-back, these themed playlists will set the mood.
Racial Justice and Social Equity

How Jason Aldean's 'Try That in a Small Town' became a political controversy

Emily Olson

The country music star is known for his songs about rural life, but critics, especially those on the left of the political spectrum, say his latest music video takes the nostalgic themes too far.
Cypress Hill: Tiny Desk Concert

Bobby Carter

The pioneering hip-hop group rolled into NPR headquarters with a horn section to play five funky tracks.
Blur's 'Ballad' to bittersweet midlife

Matthew Perpetua

On The Ballad of Darren, the band's ninth album (and a surprise after years away), Damon Albarn and company understand the key to aging gracefully is noticing the things your younger self never could.
National

Las Vegas police investigating Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder have searched a Nevada home

Emily Olson

Jonathan Franklin

A decades-long investigation into the murder of the rapper appeared to take another turn this week after Las Vegas police searched a home in Henderson, Nev.