John Legend’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert; Celebrating Southern Rap

Plus, new music from Bon Iver.

by Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Joelle Avelino for NPR In the Trump era — and particularly in an election year — any mention of “coastal elites” can feel particularly loaded. But “the lack of acknowledgement of the ways in which life differs outside the progressive East and West corridors,” writes critic Briana Younger, “is real.” And that’s true of music from the South, too — especially Southern rap, which has often been sidelined in conversations about hip-hop history in favor of a focus on the coasts. So this week, we launched a project called The South Got Something To Say: A Celebration Of Southern Rap. Our project, led by Younger and created by a team of writers, critics and scholars from across the South, is an enthusiastic deep-dive into Southern rap that recenters the region as a creative center in hip-hop and acknowledges its wide-ranging contributions to the genre. The project includes a canon of the best albums, songs and mixtapes by Southern rappers, plus essays on the impact of dance on the sound of Southern hip-hop and the way disparate styles and scenes across the South came to be seen as belonging to a united region. If you want to hear the music from our canon, you can stream the songs and selections from the albums and mixtapes; plus, watch Tiny Desk performances from artists whose music was featured on our list. Soulja Boy tell ’em, Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Newsletter continues after sponsor message New Music This week on New Music Friday from All Songs Considered: a new album from Portland rapper (and Tiny Desk alum) Aminé, a posthumous release from the late artist Jason Molina, vibrant indie pop from Loyal Lobos and more. Plus, if you want to catch up on more new music, hear members of our team talk about their favorite albums from July. This week, Bon Iver dropped another free-standing single, this time featuring a throng of singers, including Elsa Jensen, Jenny Lewis, Jenn Wasner and — to the delight of the NPR Music team — Bruce Springsteen. Phil Elverum has built and battled entire universes. On Microphones in 2020, a 45-minute track out this week, he acts not as a nostalgist but as a time traveler, referencing his past work through thematic motifs.  Featuring The Go-Go’s Beauty and the Beat was revolutionary: It was a harbinger of rock to come, a bridge between pop and punk and a certifiable, chart-topping success story. It was, in short, the full Go-Go’s package. For our Turning the Tables series, NPR contributor Hilary Hughes spoke to the band plus peers and collaborators from the L.A. scene to recount how it all happened.  New York’s Metropolitan Opera’s new home-streaming series, Met Stars Live in Concert, brings top singers directly to your home (for a price). And while it’s a valiant effort, the Met’s attempt still can't seem to shake off opera’s aristocratic trappings, Tom Huizenga writes.  Black Is King, Beyoncé’s latest visual project, marries the mundane and divine, centering on Black belonging and regality to reconnect the forgotten ancestry of those across the African diaspora. You can hear a roundtable on the film, which also features music from last year’s The Lion King: The Gift, on this week’s Pop Culture Happy Hour.  The trombonist Helen Jones Woods, who played with the history-making all-woman band International Sweethearts of Rhythm — an interracial band in the era of Jim Crow that toured widely during World War II — died of COVID-19 on July 25. She was 96. Tiny Desk NPR Though John Legend didn’t film his Tiny Desk (home) concert at home – he recorded from the Los Angeles office of his management company, Friends At Work, instead – he still brought the Tiny Desk spirit to his performance, even lovingly calling his piano his own “tiny desk.” His uplifting set is a must-watch if you’re feeling down – it’s a celebration of joy, resiliency and the power of love. ICYMI We announced the winner of the 2020 Tiny Desk Contest this week! Linda Diaz is a singer-songwriter — and former scholastic chess champion — with a sparkling stage presence whose song of self-care won over our team of judges. One More Thing Neil Young says no more “Rockin’ in the Free World” for President Trump. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy