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Music Features

Thursday

Wednesday

A New Hip-Hop Recipe With A Familiar Sound

Black Hippy are (from left) Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock and Ab-Soul. Courtesy of Top Dawg Entertainment hide caption

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Courtesy of Top Dawg Entertainment

The Record

A New Hip-Hop Recipe With A Familiar Sound

Solo rappers might be the norm, but one Los Angeles management company is hitting with a group.

A New Hip-Hop Recipe With A Familiar Sound

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Tuesday

Doc Watson, Folk Music Icon, Dies At 89

Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson in the 1960s. John Cohen/Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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John Cohen/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Record

Doc Watson, Folk Music Icon, Dies At 89

The blind folk musician from North Carolina revolutionized not just how people play guitar but the way people around the world think about mountain music. He was 89 years old.

Doc Watson, Folk Music Icon, Dies At 89

Listen · 7:49
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Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

It's The End Of 'Idol' (And I Feel Fine)

American Idol finalists Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez on stage with host Ryan Seacrest on the Fox TV show Tuesday night. Michael Becker/Fox hide caption

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Michael Becker/Fox

The Record

It's The End Of 'Idol' (And I Feel Fine)

Once, American Idol helped establish a new pop songbook and distilled the essence of contemporary stardom. NPR Music's critic, Ann Powers, says those days are gone.

It's The End Of 'Idol' (And I Feel Fine)

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Sunday

Thursday

The Many Voices Of Donna Summer

"Queen of Disco" Donna Summer performs in 1979. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The Record

The Many Voices Of Donna Summer

Summer, who died on Thursday at 63, created dozens of hits, including "Love To Love You Baby" and "Bad Girls." Over five decades, she combined a light touch, pop theatricality, innovative sounds and an attention to detail that made her into one of pop's best performers.

The Many Voices Of Donna Summer

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Wednesday

Remembering Go-Go Legend Chuck Brown

Chuck Brown, known as the "Godfather of Go-Go," shown in 1987. David Corio/Redferns hide caption

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David Corio/Redferns

The Record

Remembering Go-Go Legend Chuck Brown

James Brown's biographer calls D.C. legend Chuck Brown "the square root of funk."

Remembering Go-Go Legend Chuck Brown

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Monday

Stax Bassist Duck Dunn Remembered In Memphis

Donald "Duck" Dunn onstage about 1990. David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images hide caption

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David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images

The Record

Stax Bassist Duck Dunn Remembered In Memphis

As one fourth of Booker T. and the MGs, Dunn helped lay the foundation of Memphis soul.

Stax Bassist Duck Dunn Remembered In Memphis

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Thursday

Wednesday

Tuesday

On 'Mad Men,' Beatles Tune Misses The Mark

Don Draper (Jon Hamm) tries to relax as The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" plays on the stereo at the end of the latest episode of Mad Men. Courtesy of AMC hide caption

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Courtesy of AMC

The Record

On 'Mad Men,' Beatles Tune Misses The Mark

This week's episode prominently featured a rarely licensed (and expensive) Beatles tune that underlined Don Draper's disconnection from the rapidly changing youth culture of the '60s. It was beautifully integrated into the show, but turned Don into a man we don't know.

Sunday

The Beastie Boys Gave Me My Start: Memories Of Adam Yauch

Adam Yauch speaks at a press conference before the 1998 edition of the Tibetan Freedom Concert in Washington, D.C. Stephen Jaffe/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Stephen Jaffe/AFP/Getty Images

The Record

The Beastie Boys Gave Me My Start: Memories Of Adam Yauch

Within the Beastie Boys and elsewhere — including his film company and humanitarian efforts — Adam Yauch often worked with friends or people who became close. Here, some of them remember the man and his influence.