Rodney Carmichael

Rodney Carmichael, Nate Chinen, and Ann Powers discuss the best albums of 2023. They explore the association between intimacy and rawness in music, dissect an album with jazz influences, and highlight surprising departures by artists. The hosts also delve into Corin Bailey Ray's impactful album and a record with dirty southern sounds. The podcast concludes with reflections on the year and upcoming content.

NPR Music's critics discuss potential music stories of 2024. Could Usher's Super Bowl performance or Dua Lipa's new sound steal the spotlight? They explore the potential of Rihanna's success and speculate on upcoming breakthrough artists, including a London band with a gothic rock aesthetic and jazz singer Samara Joy. The rise of women in hip-hop, particularly underground rapper Rhapsody, is also discussed.

Rodney Carmichael, NPR Music correspondent, joins the discussion as they reflect on Kanye West's bold proclamation about George Bush during Hurricane Katrina's telethon. They unpack the profound racial and political implications of those words and their resonance today. The conversation explores the neglected narratives of the Black community, the evolution of celebrity activism, and the ongoing challenges in expressing Black political sentiments through music. Lastly, they assess the changes in race and culture over the last two decades, gauging progress and ongoing struggles.

NPR Music's hip-hop experts delve into 21 Savage's new album and his ICE arrest, discussing the shifting American Dream, the artist's expectations and challenges, the ambiguity in his immigration case, and his mysterious image in his music. The hosts also provide insights into various new music releases.

Rob looks back at Tag Team’s no. 2 charting single “Whoomp! (There It Is)” along with the controversy surrounding the song and 95 South’s release of “Whoot, There It Is.”This episode was originally produced as a Music and Talk show available exclusively on Spotify. Find the full song on Spotify or wherever you get your music.Host: Rob HarvillaGuest: Rodney CarmichaelProducers: Jonathan Kermah and Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices