NEWS
The NPR Tiny Desk has served as a unqiue stage for many rappers and singers to show off their skills. Artists like Tyler, The Creator, Mac Miller, and Anderson .Paak have all made memorable appearances behind the titular desk. There's been an extremely impressive roster of bands and artists to play behind the desk over the years. During the COVID-19 pandemic they even creatively shifted the series to memorable at-home additions from artists like Young Thug and Clipping. Now, R&B darling Willow is the latest to take the iconic stage.
For her performance she dipped back into her discography and delivered a career-spanning set. She played a trio of songs set to land on her upcoming album including "Symptom Of Life," "Run," and "Big Feelings." In between, she dipped into her 2022 album COPINGMECHANISM for the song "Split." After that she went all the way back to her 2015 debut album ARDIPITHECUS for a special performance of the fan-favorite "Wait A Minute." She did it all with the help of a lively four piece band. The video is already racking up hundreds of thousands of views and is currently trending on YouTube.
Willow is gearing up to release a new album later this year. "symptom of life" isn't the only song she's shared from the project so far. Last year she dropped "alone" back in November which has racked up more than 3 million streams on Spotify. Just last month she dropped "b i g f e e l i n g s" which is well on its way to matching those numbers with nearly 1.5 million streams in less than a month.
2023 was the first year since 2018 that Willow didn't drop a new studio album following three solo releases and her collaborative project THE ANXIETY. What do you think of Willow's newly released Tiny Desk Concert? Did you expect her to pull songs from so far back in her discography to perform? Let us know in the comment section below.
Busta Rhymes is honoring his late friend D’Angelo in a truly moving way. The rapper released a heartfelt tribute track titled “Magic,” marking one of his most emotional releases in years. The song celebrates the neo-soul legend D’Angelo, who sadly passed away earlier this month after a private battle with cancer. Over the smooth, soulful backdrop of D’Angelo’s “One Mo’ Gin” from his 2000 classic Voodoo, Busta reflects deeply, sharing raw and powerful emotions through his storytelling.
Throughout the seven-minute piece, Busta takes listeners on a journey through his 34-year friendship with D’Angelo. He recalls their early sessions with A Tribe Called Quest and describes the lasting connection they built over the decades. Instead of simply celebrating the music, Busta pays homage to the person behind it. He describes D’Angelo as a rare, once-in-a-generation artist who “never needed a co-sign” and “touched the souls of the people and everything between.”
During an interview with Okayplayer, Busta called D’Angelo “a godsend,” reflecting on his influence across R&B and hip-hop. “The Earth shifted when D came to do music,” he said, a statement that perfectly sums up D’Angelo’s impact. Anyone familiar with Brown Sugar, Voodoo, or Black Messiah knows his legacy speaks volumes.
“Magic” feels like a conversation between two lifelong friends. Busta Rhymes gives fans an intimate look at a bond that helped shape decades of soul-infused hip-hop. The tributes pouring in since D’Angelo’s passing highlight not only his extraordinary artistry but also the love and respect he inspired among peers. Lauryn Hill expressed it beautifully, writing, “Thank you for being a beacon of light to a generation and beyond who had no remembrance of the legacy that preceded us.”
