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Twenty-one years and one day: That’s how long New Orleans rapper Mac Phipps was in prison for a crime he says he didn’t commit. In the first season of Louder Than A Riot, NPR Music’s podcast about rhyme and punishment in America, the team reported on Mac's rise and fall: from breakout star on Master P's No Limit Records to convicted felon.
After one denied appeal after another, Phipps has been granted a new hearing that could mean early — almost immediate — release. But what does justice look like when you've already spent half your life incarcerated? A new bonus episode of the podcast dives into the clemency hearing and how Phipps’ music career affects his image in the eyes of the law — including a conversation between Phipps and Louder Than A Riot co-host Rodney Carmichael. You can also read their conversation on our site.
Plus: Louder Than A Riot’s original episodes about Phipps explored how his lyrics were used against him in court. It’s a practice that’s been happening for decades to try to put rappers and their fans behind bars, from Mac Phipps and C Murder to Snoop Dogg and Drakeo The Ruler. Louder Than A Riot also put together a Lyrics on Trial playlist that features some of that music; you can stream it on Spotify or Apple Music. |
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| - This year, SXSW is going virtual — with tons of musical discoveries from around the world, panel discussions and even a Tiny Desk lineup featuring artists whose names will remain a surprise until the moment the show takes place. This week on All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson highlight some of their favorite SXSW finds.
- This week on New Music Friday from All Songs Considered: Selena Gomez’s first-ever Spanish-language record, a chopped and screwed collaboration from producer Blake Mills and bassist Pino Palladino, a beautifully enchanting new release from Valerie June and more great albums out March 12.
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- Amplify With Lara Downes, our series of intimate conversations with visionary Black musicians, is back for another season. The latest episode features Kris Bowers, the pianist and composer for the Oscar-winning film Green Book and the runaway hit series Bridgerton, who talks about busting through musical barriers and challenging cultural preconceptions. Plus, Downes spoke to Morning Edition about another new project, Rising Sun Music. She’ll release a mini-album every month to highlight overlooked and forgotten compositions by Black artists in the classical music tradition.
- Rapper Benny the Butcher came to prominence through the Buffalo, N.Y. crew Griselda. Now, he’s now stepping to the front with a label, sports agency and new album, Plugs I Met 2.
- Freddie Gibbs’ Alfredo is up for the Grammy for best rap album — a surprising feat, considering it’s far from a commercial project, both in reception and sound. The rapper’s decade-plus career has seen steady growth thanks to wise collaboration choices and an ability to rise to those occasions. Ahead of Sunday’s ceremony, he talked to writer David Ma about his origins, his religion, his art and more.
- Pianist Mahani Teave was building a promising international career when she decided to return to her home — Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island — to open a music school for children. A new documentary film, Song of Rapa Nui, tells the story of her journey.
- This week, Lou Ottens, who led the invention of the first cassette tape, died at age 94. “Next time you make that perfect playlist on Spotify or send a link to share a song, you can thank Lou Ottens," documentary filmmaker Zack Taylor told NPR.
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This week saw the release of a Tiny Desk (home) concert that was, by the numbers, unlike anything else we’ve ever done: Spanning six songs and four countries, Coming 2 America: Sounds of Zamunda is a pan-African celebration of sound, from South Africa to Cameroon.
We also shared something a little more sparse: With acoustic guitar and unadorned voice, Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold recorded his Tiny Desk (home) concert from a warm studio space, complete with a candle’s glow.
And for International Women’s Day, we published a new playlist of Tiny Desk concerts featuring women musicians from around the world, from Wu Man to Daymé Arocena. As Chloe x Halle put it: "Do it for the girls all across the world." |
| Sunday is, as the Recording Academy like to call it, Music’s Biggest Night: It’s the 63rd Grammy Awards! Whether you love the Grammys, hate them or are ambivalent about the pomp and circumstance, NPR Music will be watching a few key storylines — including the genre-fluid artists whose legacies can often confound the industry, like the late Chick Corea. And on Monday, we’ll be back in your inbox with a recap of the night’s biggest winners, and any noteworthy moments (and memes) that come out of the ceremony. |
| NPR asked listeners to send in their last “normal” photo of 2020, along with their first pandemic photo. Thousands responded. |
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