NPR Music: Tiny Desk, New Music and Music News : NPR

'Louder Than A Riot' confronts hip-hop's scarcity rule — and says bye for now

Amanda Howell Whitehurst for NPR

'Louder Than A Riot' confronts hip-hop's scarcity rule — and says bye for now

June 1, 2023 • The unwritten rules of rap unpacked in Louder's second season are held together by a scarcity principle that came to define the show itself. As it draws to a close, the team reflects on its mission.

Latest Stories From NPR Music

He was expelled after he refused to cut his afro. 57 years later, he got his degree 22 hours ago

John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy's fearless experiment sets a new album ablaze 1 day ago

NIKI: Tiny Desk Concert 2 days ago

#NowPlaying: Bill Orcutt, Annie Bartholomew, Dua Lipa 1 day ago

Playlists

Hand-picked songs curated by the NPR Music staff

Comic book artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Murder Falcon, Extremity) illustrates the music of Viking's Choice. Horns up! Daniel Warren Johnson hide caption

toggle caption

Daniel Warren Johnson

Viking's Choice

This week: Horrendous' Philthy death metal, Beverly Glenn-Copeland's rhythmic meditation, Kieran Hebden & William Tyler's unexpected jam, Spencer Zahn's ambient-jazz take on Harry Styles.

Chris Sharron

Sample this outpouring of fresh, new releases by a wide swath of composers, from Thomas Adès, Anna Meredith and Eric Whitacre to Cécile Chaminade, Žibuoklė Martinaitytė and Roberto Sierra. Plus, Beethoven in slow motion.

Stream the month's best new jazz, picked by Jazz Night in America

Amna Ijaz/NPR

Jazz Night in America: On the List

Our favorite jazz releases of the month — from traditional tunes to avant-garde adventures to electronic experiments — picked by the Jazz Night in America staff.

NPR

#NowPlaying: Essential New Music Playlist

NPR Music staff and NPR Member stations share today's essential new music that makes us dance, smile and weep.

More playlists

Editors' picks

Essential stories and videos from npr music

How composer Nicholas Britell created the sound of 'Succession'

Actors Jeremy Strong (from left), Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin are pictured in an episode of Succession, which ends on Sunday. Claudette Barius/HBO hide caption

toggle caption

Claudette Barius/HBO

How composer Nicholas Britell created the sound of 'Succession'

Sunday's finale marks the end of Succession and its iconic opening theme. Composer Nicholas Britell reflects on shaping the show's signature sound over four seasons — and what he might do next.

Structural integrity: Anna Thorvaldsdottir's rigorous, regenerative music

Anna Thorvaldsdottir begins her composing process by drawing shapes and writing words to help store musical information. Her scores themselves are finely detailed. Hrafn Asgeirsson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Hrafn Asgeirsson/Courtesy of the artist