Watch Ty Dolla $ign pay a special tribute to Mac Miller at the Tiny Desk.

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Aug. 8, 2019 | Bobby Carter -- Today, Aug. 8, marks the one-year anniversary of when NPR Music published the late Mac Miller's Tiny Desk. Last week, Ty Dolla $ign visited NPR headquarters to record a fantastic Tiny Desk concert of his own that will air in its entirety soon. But once we wrapped the taping, something special happened: I reminded Ty that he sat at the desk almost a year to the day that his friend, Mac, delivered what would be one of his final performances.

The band paused and huddled. They mulled over a few notes in a matter of seconds then gave me a signal that they were ready. The room was silenced and the cameras started rolling again.

Here's Ty performing a moving rendition of his 2016 collaboration with Mac, "Cinderella" from Mac's fourth studio album, The Divine Feminine. Ty's flanked by two close friends of Mac, Thundercat on bass and Justus West on guitar, both of whom played at the Tiny Desk with the Pittsburgh-born rapper a year ago.

SET LIST
"Cinderella"

MUSICIANS
Ty Dolla $ign: vocals; Thundercat: bass; Justus West: guitar; Cory Henry: keys; Aliandro Prawl: keys; Mike Moore: drums; Ant Clemons: vocals

CREDITS
Producers: Bobby Carter, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineers: Josh Rogosin, James Willetts; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Bronson Arcuri, CJ Riculan, Kara Frame; Production Assistant: Paul Georgoulis; Photo: Bob Boilen/NPR

This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk is giving the ladies their flowers. We’re releasing nine Tiny Desk concerts from Black women artists, from veterans who’ve paved the way for what we hear today in Black music, to those who are carving out their own paths.

Mitra I. Arthur | June 11, 2024
When the “Queen of Funk,” Chaka Khan, began to sing her hit “Sweet Thing” at the Tiny Desk, she seemed surprised at how the audience enthusiastically joined in. It’s just one example of how ingrained her work is in the fabric of music history. Since she emerged in the 1970s with the funk band Rufus, Khan has crafted a legacy that includes 22 albums, 10 Grammys, forays into jazz and theater and collaborations with Prince, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell and Quincy Jones. Her 50 years in the music industry recently culminated in a long overdue 2023 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The moment guitarist Rob Bacon opened the set on the talk box, with bassist Melvin Davis and drummer Jay Williams laying down the beat, it was clear we were about to get a lesson in some naaaasty funk with “Tell Me Something Good.” If the way our in-office audience was jamming to “What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me,” and “Ain’t Nobody” is any indication, be prepared to watch this show in a location where you can comfortably groove. “Sweet Thing” showcased vocalist Tiffany Smith killing the most iconic (and most vocally difficult) moment in the song, something that has humbled many a singer.

And what better way to close out this Tiny Desk during a month celebrating the contributions of Black women in music than with the anthem that has empowered woman-identified audiences for decades: the Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson penned “I’m Every Woman.”Throughout the set, I’m reminded that Khan’s unfathomably big and powerful voice is a glue that holds intergenerational music together.

SET LIST
“Tell Me Something Good”
“What Cha’ Gonna Do For Me”
“Stay”
“Sweet Thing”
“Through the Fire”
“Ain’t Nobody”
“I’m Every Woman”

MUSICIANS
Chaka Khan: lead vocals
Melvin Davis: bass, musical direction
Jesse Milliner: keys
Rob Bacon: guitar
Euro Zambrano: percussion
Jay Williams: drums
Audrey Wheeler-Downing: vocals
Tiffany Smith: vocals
Trina Broussard: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Bobby Carter, Mitra I. Arthur
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Alanté Serene
Audio Engineer: Hannah Gluvna
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Animation: Jackie Lay
Florist: Kelanda Edwards
Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #chakakhan

Sheldon Pearce | October 25, 2023
Before Nile Rodgers & CHIC set the Tiny Desk off, the icon established a sort of mission statement for the group's sound: "If we can funk in this, you know we can funk." They surely can. In stints since 1972, CHIC has assured its position as funk ambassadors — a position its members clearly relish — and no space is resistant to their grooves. When Rodgers asks singer Kimberly Davis to show the audience "how we do it in the CHIC organization," she launches into high-powered vocals that vaporize every note. And when he asks drummer Ralph Rolle to lead them to "maximum funkocity," Rolle ignites call-and-response with an electrified crowd. As the ringleader of the CHIC experience, Rodgers crams a lifetime's worth of nightlife into every strum of his guitar.

Rodgers' career is epic in both scope and impact. The 1979 CHIC album Risqué was a disco milestone that became a hip-hop cornerstone. Standing at inflection points for two different genres is enough to make a career, but Rodgers was far from done. An incomparable songwriter and session musician, his call sheet as a producer is emblematic of his immense range: David Bowie, Diana Ross, Madonna and Mick Jagger, just to name a few. His work is embedded in the very fabric of popular music, and he continues to add to his resume decades after first making changes to the sonic landscape. In 2014, Rodgers won the Grammy for record of the year with Daft Punk. This year, he amassed more honors for his work on Beyoncé's RENAISSANCE.

His wondrous set spans his massive catalog — songs he wrote for CHIC, songs he wrote with collaborators, songs he wrote for other stars and a surprise song he wrote for a classic movie. Throughout, Rodgers is the pulse for an ever-amplifying funk. The band's performance of "I'm Coming Out" builds to a rip-roaring sax solo. A rollicking performance of "We Are Family" breaks down in the middle before erupting to a triumphant finish. And atop the rippling bassline of "Good Times," Rodgers breaks into an impromptu version of "Rapper's Delight," which samples the song. It all leads to the maximum funkocity of Bowie's "Let's Dance," a tribute to the genre's reach and power.

SET LIST
"Le Freak"
"I'm Coming Out"
"We Are Family"
"Get Lucky"
"Good Times"
"Let's Dance"

MUSICIANS
Nile Rodgers: guitar, vocals
Russell Graham: keyboards, vocals
Jerry Barnes: bass, vocals
Ralph Rolle: drums, vocals
Richard Hilton: keyboards, vocals
Ken Gioffre: saxophone
Steve Jankowski: trumpet
Audrey Martells: vocals
Kimberly Davis: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Bobby Carter, Bob Boilen
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Joshua Bryant, Alanté Serene
Audio Assistant: Ted Mebane
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Grace Widyatmadja
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Hazel Cills
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#nilerodgers #chic #nprmusic #tinydesk

Ashley Pointer | April 12, 2023
"I'm a songwriter for a living, okay. I usually have all the words but I'm genuinely speechless." RAYE told the audience at her Tiny Desk. "All I've wanted is to be seen and respected as a musician."

The South London-bred singer-songwriter had finally made her way to NPR headquarters, her signature cherry-hued pin curls full of bounce and a radiant smile spread across her face. It was a long time coming, and in a re-arranged set of songs from her stunning debut album tailored to the Tiny Desk, RAYE exuded the confidence and abilities of a veteran vocal powerhouse.

In the game for over a decade, RAYE's debut album was 7 years in the making after being stuck in a major label deal that had her confined to recording mainstream pop and electronic records, and penning hits for other artists instead of executing her own creative vision. Now independent, she released the genre-busting My 21st Century Blues this year, an impressive and raw album that touches on some of the artist's most vulnerable life experiences. Over the course of her Tiny Desk, RAYE's musicianship shines as she displays a melange of jazz scats, gospel and blues inflections. Closing out her set with "Buss It Down.," she recruits the audience for some call and response action only after giving us a brief vocal lesson, 'cause that's just how particular she is. If this Tiny Desk concert is your introduction to RAYE, prepare to be enraptured.

SET LIST
"Worth It."
"Five Star Hotels."
"Mary Jane."
"Buss It Down."

MUSICIANS
RAYE: vocals
Matthew Brooks: drums
Liv Thompson: bass
Briana Washington: keys
Paul Murray: guitar
Michael Cordone: trumpet
Greg DeAngelis: trombone
DeSean Jones: saxophone

TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Bobby Carter, Ashley Pointer
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel, Alanté Serene
Audio Assistant: Neil Tevault
Production Assistant: Jill Britton
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Joshua Bryant, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Pilar Galván
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#tinydesk #nprmusic #raye

NPR Music's Tiny Desk series will celebrate Black History Month by featuring four weeks of Tiny Desk (home) concerts and playlists by Black artists spanning different genres and generations each week. The lineup includes both emerging and established artists who will be performing a Tiny Desk concert for the first time. This celebration highlights the beautiful cornucopia of Black music and our special way of presenting it. We hope you enjoy.

Bobby Carter | February 25, 2021
Kirk Franklin, set up with his band and choir in a corner of Uncle Jessie's Kitchen, makes a declaration. "I know you're at home right now, in your draws, listening to some Jesus music. It's ok. Jesus loves you in your draws!" The Arlington, Texas studio, named after a long time close friend, features a large photo of the iconic "I AM A MAN" protest signs from the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike on the wall. The jubilant energy that Franklin and company emit, juxtaposed with a visual reminder of the strife that Black people have endured is illustrative of the importance of gospel music in the Black community.

For nearly 30 years, Franklin has been widely regarded for revolutionizing gospel. He incorporated secular music, particularly hip-hop, while preserving the message and integrity of traditional gospel. Here, he and his powerhouse choir pace through a decades-long, sixteen Grammy award winning discography of faith, praise and encouragement while cracking plenty of jokes. I cannot recall a more moving Tiny Desk home performance.

All month long, we've presented artists that speak to the diversity and complexity of Black music--where we've been, where we are and where we're going. For the final show, we take it back to the spiritual roots and there's no one more fitting to cap things off than Mr. Kirk Franklin.

SET LIST
Love Theory
Silver and Gold
Melodies From Heaven
I Smile

MUSICIANS
Kirk Franklin: vocals, keys
Melodie Pace: vocals
Darian Elliot: vocals
Michael Bethany: vocals
Eboni Ellerson: vocals
Deon Yancey: vocals
Tia Rudd: vocals
Shaun Martin: keyboard
Matthew Ramsey: bass
Terry Baker: drums, percussion

CREDITS
Video: Clear Scope Media
Audio: Michael Havens Reese Brooks

TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Bobby Carter
Video Producer: Morgan Noelle Smith
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Art Director: CJ Riculan
Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Kara Frame, Maia Stern
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#nprmusic #kirkfranklin #gospel #tinydesk

Bobby Carter | July 21, 2026
Following the second song of his set, Vince Staples does a call out. "I just wanna see something. If you know who George Jackson is, in the crowd, raise your hand!" The Long Beach emcee goes on: "What about Bobby Hutton?" No one raises their hand. He continues saying the names of slain members of the Black Panther Party, also mentioning Larry Kimmons, who was shot and killed by a Pepperdine University security guard in 1969. The song "Go! Go! Gorilla," details the Black community's fear of law enforcement. It was a tense moment that carried throughout the entire Tiny Desk concert.

Staples' evolution has been remarkably rapid over the past decade. His wit and unintentional humor have made most of his interviews must-see TV. In 2024, he took that talent to real TV, launching The Vince Staples Show on Netflix.

Then there's the consistent album output. Each project showcases his ability to push boundaries; his two most recent albums, in particular, present a fully realized artist. The sonic shift is in no way shocking if you've been following along. The subject matter, too, has been broadened: He's now addressing the issues that have plagued his community, psyche and well-documented origin. Here, he's assembled a vibrant young group of musicians to play selections from this year's Cry Baby and a highlight from 2024's Dark Times.

SET LIST
"Blackberry Marmalade"
"Go! Go! Gorilla"
"White Flag"
"Shame on the Devil"
"Only in America"

MUSICIANS
Vince Staples: vocals
Jennifer Haack: guitar, background vocals
Mikaiah Lei: guitar, background vocals
Chloe Haack: bass, background vocals
Myles Martin: drums, background vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Engineer/Mix: Josephine Nyounai
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame
Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Tiny Desk Team: Josh Newell, Felix Contreras
Photographer: Alanté Serene
Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton

#nprmusic #tinydesk #vincestaples

Support for NPR Music comes from Capital One. Proud supporters of NPR Music and the Tiny Desk Contest. What's in your wallet? Learn more at Capital One dot com.

This year, NPR Music is celebrating Black Music Month with an array of brand new Tiny Desk concerts — both from home and from behind our beloved Desk. Together, these artists represent the past, present and future of Black music. This month of carefully curated shows is a celebration of Black artists expressing themselves in ways we've never seen before, and of the Tiny Desk's unique way of showcasing that talent.

Suraya Mohamed | June 23, 2022
Almost 30 musicians, choir members and staff of the contemporary worship music collective Maverick City Music entered the NPR lobby and crowded the security desk to undergo COVID protocols. Even through the dull process of checking vaccination cards and test results, there was a real feeling of excitement for what was about to happen.

Some of the choir members were eager not only for the upcoming Tiny Desk concert but for later that evening, when they were scheduled to perform at a sold-out 20,000-seat arena nearby. A few of them had only previously performed with Maverick City Music in small venues and couldn't wait to move from the Tiny Desk to a big stage. Once upstairs, the group's enthusiasm grew during the set up and sound check. Even the NPR production staff was buzzing because we had not recorded such a large ensemble in our office in more than two years.

Once the performance started, Maverick City Music did what it always does. The members of the group became one voice, sharing beautiful music and spreading the good word with messages of hope, change and love. The group describes itself as a megaphone for a community of creatives that has been pushed to the margins of the industry of church music. Even for those who aren't fans of gospel music or for those who don't believe, it is possible to still find appreciation in this music's comforting and uplifting sound.

Most of the songs performed here are from the collective's new album, Kingdom Book One, which was produced in collaboration with gospel legend Kirk Franklin. It was a blessing to watch him perform here alongside talented vocalists Naomi Raine and Chandler Moore on the last song, "Kingdom."

SET LIST
"Man of Your Word"
"Million Little Miracles"
"Jireh"
"Kingdom" (feat. Kirk Franklin)

MUSICIANS
Chandler Moore: vocals
Brandon Lake: vocals
Naomi Raine: vocals
Kirk Franklin: vocals, keys
Harold Brown: MD/drums
Sam Simon: keys
Matt Ramsey: bass
Elijah Kaiween: guitar
Jason McGee: vocals/choir director
Ashley Perry: vocals
Audrey Oquaye: vocals
Antonio Drakes: vocals
Cameron Williams: vocals
Jelani Caldwell: vocals
Maraya Stewart: vocals
Pierina Santa Maria: vocals
Tabitha Harris: vocals
Victoria Fitzgerald: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Audio Recording & Mix Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Director: Kara Frame
Editor: Josh Bryant
Series Creator: Bob Boilen
Videographers: Kara Frame, Josh Bryant, Michael Zamora, Pierre Kattar, Alanté Serene
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Jill Britton, Joby Tanseco, Maia Stern
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#tinydesk #BMM #maverickcitymusic

Anamaria Sayre | February 2, 2024
San Diego-based trio Thee Sacred Souls made its mark at the Tiny Desk with satin vocals and vintage melodies. Paying homage to southern California Latino culture meeting American soul roots, the group's sweet fusion melodies brought history and love into the space.

The trio opened the concert with "Will I See You Again?," which tells the tale of a confused, forlorn lover with soft, harmony-laden lyrics and bouncy guitar and bass. Lead singer Josh Lane then pauses to share a message of love, the kind the band is focused on consistently extending. "Love Is The Way" paints a picturesque image of a sweet, timeless love fit to be celebrated top-down out the back of a low-rider. "Easier Said than Done" brings more reflective energy atop floaty high harmonies from Tiny Desk veteran Astyn Turr. With a transition to a horns-adorned "Love Comes Easy," the band hits even more of a groove before ending with the easy-listening "Can I Call You Rose?" The band brought what it does best: great melodies, romantic lyrics and a vibe that fills any space it plays with light and tranquility, fit for any era.

SET LIST
"Will I See You Again?"
"Love Is The Way"
"Easier Said Than Done"
"Love Comes Easy"
"Can I Call You Rose?"

MUSICIANS
Josh Lane: lead vocals
Alejandro Garcia: drums
Salvador Samano: bass
Riley Dunn: keys
Shay Stulz: guitar
Astyn Turr: vocals
Viane Escobar: vocals
Nadav Nirenberg: trombone
Morgan Price: saxophone
Chris David: trumpet

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Anamaria Sayre
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Technical Director: Josh Rogosin
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Alanté Serene, Mitra I. Arthur
Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Hazel Cills, Kara Frame
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#nprmusic #tinydesk #theesacredsouls

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, NPR Music presents four very special Tiny Desk Home Concerts recorded especially for this week. This video from global superstar Ozuna is a world premiere.

Oct. 16, 2020 | Stefanie Fernández -- From a verdant room tucked away in Miami, Ozuna's Tiny Desk performance might allow you, as it did me, to forget for a moment that he's one of the most watched and listened-to artists on earth. For someone whose work often operates at galactic proportions, this performance of five songs makes room for Ozuna's sweet tenor to take center-desk in a love letter to the global communities that supported and streamed him to god tier status.

The Puerto Rican singer kicks it off with a breezy rendition of "Caramelo" that leads into a solo version of the sun-drenched "Del Mar" from ENOC, his fourth album that he's deemed a return to his roots. This pared-down performance makes good on that promise, reworking star-studded collaborations, like the ballad "Despeinada," as they should be sung: languorously and with intimacy. Even the pop smash "Taki Taki" sounds brand new, buoyed by his alchemical flow and energy.

Ozuna is a crown jewel in the global crest of Latin pop, a movement whose modern success in reggaeton and Latin trap is indebted to the Caribbean genres Ozuna heard growing up in Puerto Rico, sounds like old-school reggaeton and reggae en español, dembow, dancehall and more. From then to now, Ozuna's bare talent remains his greatest asset. It's rare to see a star of his magnitude brush the earth so closely, and when it does, it's even rarer for it to feel and sound like second nature.

SET LIST
"Caramelo"
"Del Mar"
"Despeinada"
"Taki Taki"
"Mamacita"

MUSICIANS
Ozuna: vocals
Freddie "YoFred" Lugo: bass
Elí Bonilla: drums
Carlos Mercader: guitar
Benson Pagán: guitar
Edgardo Santiago: keys
Hector Meléndez: piano
Erick "Yonell" Pachecho: DJ
José Aponte: vocals

CREDITS
Video By: Miguel Gonzalez "UnEnano"
Director: Nuno Gomes
Audio By: Jose Rivera, Raymond Perez
Producer: Bobby Carter
Associate Producer: Stefanie Fernández
Audio Mastering Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Video Producer: Morgan Noelle Smith
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

Josh Rogosin | November 11, 2022
Actors and musicians on Broadway have a grueling performance schedule: eight shows a week with only Mondays off. Yet the band and cast of The Lion King were ecstatic to spend their one free day traveling from New York to Washington, D.C. to celebrate 25 years of the iconic musical with a performance at NPR’s Tiny Desk.

Many of the songs written by Elton John and Tim Rice will be familiar — like the Oscar-winning “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Hakuna Matata.” But the cast also treated the enthusiastic Tiny Desk crowd to songs written just for the stage. “They Live In You” wasn’t in the original movie, but is sung in the show by Mufasa (L. Steven Taylor) to his cub Simba (Brandon A. McCall). The young lioness Nala sings “Shadowland'', another gem from the musical sung by Pearl Khwezi (the first South African cast in the role).

Infused throughout the music of The Lion King is spine-tingling African rhythm and language. It’s as captivating as the groundbreaking costume design by director, co-writer and artist Julie Taymor. The team at Disney Theatrical sent the masks of Simba and Nala in time to be prominently displayed on the desk during the concert. Examining their details up close gave me chills — just like the ones I felt watching the show at the New Amsterdam Theatre, way back in 1997 when the musical first debuted.


SET LIST
“Circle of Life”
“They Live in You”
“Can You Feel the Love Tonight”
“Hakuna Matata”
“Endless Night / Shadowland”
“Circle of Life” (Reprise)

MUSICIANS

CAST
L. Steven Taylor
Tshidi Manye
Brandon A. McCall
Pearl Khwezi
Lindiwe Dlamini
Mduduzi Madela
S’bu Ngema

MUSICIANS
Jim Abbott: keyboard, guitar
Anders Bostrom: flutes
David Kuhn: bass
Rolando Morales-Matos: percussion
Juan Carlito Mendoza: drums

Music Arrangements
Jim Abbott

The Lion King Broadway Resident Director
Rufus Bonds Jr.

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer/Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Sofia Seidel
Animator: Jackie Lay
Audio Assistant: Natasha Branch
Production Assistant: Jill Britton
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Ashley Pointer, Teresa Xie
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#tinydesk #nprmusic #thelionking

The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit — stripped-down sets, an intimate setting — just a different space.

Oct. 1, 2020 | Bobby Carter -- In this Tiny Desk (home) concert, R&B star Jhené Aiko coasts through an eight-song medley that plays like the ultimate nod to her legions of fans — fans who've been begging for a Tiny Desk for a long time.

The Los Angeles native's star status is a result of her music's versatility and vulnerability. Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo has carved out a space of her own over the past decade, despite a rapidly changing R&B landscape. As a songwriter, she leaves no stone unturned, explicitly expressing her struggle, joy and sexuality while always administering the vibe.

Her latest album, Chilombo, released just before the pandemic hit the U.S., doubled down and leaned into the therapeutic nature of her songs — and that same aesthetic fuels her Tiny Desk. Backed by an ensemble of masked players, Aiko bookends her set with a sound bath of singing bowls that's peace personified through sound.

SET LIST
"Lotus (Intro)"
"Stranger"
"Do Better Blues"
"To Love & Die"
"Born Tired"
"W.A.Y.S."
"Summer 2020"
"Eternal Sunshine"

MUSICIANS
Jhené Aiko: vocals
Julian Le: keys
Bubby: bass
Gracie Sprout: harp
Brain Warfield: percussion

CREDITS
Video By: Brandon Parker
Audio By: Gregg Rominiecki
Producer: Bobby Carter
Audio Mastering Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Video Producer: Morgan Noelle Smith
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

Bobby Carter | February 3, 2026
So much has happened in Miguel's world since we last saw him at NPR headquarters. Back in 2012, he was one of the very few R&B acts — including Raphael Saadiq, Bettye LaVette and Booker T. Jones — to play a Tiny Desk concert. And, much like the trajectory of this series, Miguel's music has taken some explosive twists and turns.

After performing "Sure Thing," his first song back at the Desk, Miguel says, "That one's come a long way." He reflects on that time in his life and what he's been able to do with it: "There's something about being able to wake up and do this every day, and then to come and perform it — to see the lyrics actually become a part of people's time and memories and space in this experience. I have to say I'm tremendously grateful." Miguel's clearly been on a journey of self-discovery, which we see in a medley of his hits backed by a flawless string section. And on the Spanish-sung "CAOS," he revisits his Mexican roots.

Between his 2017 album War & Leisure and last year's CAOS, the Los Angeles singer-songwriter has been relatively quiet. "I was putting my value in the wrong places, and it made it really hard to do this consistently," he says before the last song. "But, motherf*****, we back!"

SET LIST
"Sure Thing"
"New Martyrs (Ride 4 U)"
"Sky Walker"
"How Many Drinks?"
"Do You…"
"Quickie"
"CAOS"

MUSICIANS
Miguel: vocals
Ray Brady: guitar, music director
Julio Tavarez: bass
Lenny "The Ox" Reece: drums
Paul Cartwright: violin
Jess McJunkins: violin
Johnny Dinklage: viola
Rahel Lulseged: cello
Erika Nicole: background vocals
Ro James: background vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Engineer/Mix: Josephine Nyounai
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Kara Frame
Audio Engineer: Tiffany Vera Castro
Production Assistants: Dora Levite, Dhanika Pineda, Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Virgina Lozano
Tiny Desk Team: Josh Newell, Felix Contreras
Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton

#nprmusic #tinydesk #miguel

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Ashley Pointer | December 6, 2024
Doechii, known as the "Swamp Princess," arrived at NPR HQ radiating confidence. She moved with purpose, knowing exactly what she wanted and how to achieve it. Her declarative statement, "I'm everything," from "BOOM BAP" off her Grammy-nominated mixtape, ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL, was on full display in her Tiny Desk debut.

Backed by a full band, horns and two background singers, Doechii's performance was a masterclass in creativity. Sporting vintage academia looks, complete with matching cornrows and beads, Doechii delivers a freshly rearranged medley of cuts from ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL, tailored specifically for Tiny Desk. While hip-hop remained at the core, she truly gave us everything: a jazz arrangement of "BOOM BAP," heavy rock vibes on "CATFISH" and a Southern praise break outro on "NISSAN ALTIMA."

She closed her set with "Black Girl Memoir" from her debut album, Oh The Places You'll Go. Before performing, she shared, "I wrote this song specifically for Black women. As a dark-skinned woman, there's a very unique experience I'm trying to internalize … This is dedicated to all the beautiful Black women in the room." While her star has been steadily on the rise since her debut, 2024 is shaping up to be the year Doechii cements herself as a household name.

SET LIST
"BOOM BAP"
"BOILED PEANUTS"
"DENIAL IS A RIVER"
"CATFISH"
"NISSAN ALTIMA"
"BULLFROG"
"HIDE N SEEK"
"Black Girl Memoir"

MUSICIANS
Doechii: vocals
Tyler Victoria: guitar
Dee Simone: drums
Tatiana Tate: trumpeter, arrangement
Hammondgal: keyboards
DJ Miss Milan: vocals
BREN'NAE: background vocals
Emmani: background vocals
Keschia Potter : saxophone
Zuri Appleby: bassist
SlimWav: musical direction

TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Ashley Pointer, Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel, Wendy Li
Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
Production Assistant: Elle Mannion
Photographer: Alanté Serene
Tiny Desk Team: Maia Stern, Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #doechii

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and offering support in taking on everything life demands. With therapists available to communicate via video, chat, or phone. At BetterHelp.com/TinyDesk.

Watch Megan Thee Stallion play at the Tiny Desk Fest.

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This Tiny Desk concert was part of Tiny Desk Fest, a four-night series of extended concerts performed in front of a live audience and streamed live on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

Dec. 2, 2019 | Sidney Madden -- "I'm gonna get real comfortable with y'all, so I'm need y'all to get real comfortable with me," Megan Thee Stallion told the excited Tiny Desk Fest crowd as soon as she assumed her position behind the desk. After promptly switching out her patent leather heels for some fuzzy Louis Vuitton slippers, she let the room know, "Now, don't be scared to get ratchet."

From there, the Houston rapper wasted no time demonstrating why she's a superstar in the making. Megan exuded irresistible charisma, cracking jokes with the crowd and rattling off explicit bars from her award-winning mixtape, Fever, for the live audience watching on YouTube and social media.

From "Hot Girl Summer" to the platinum-selling "Cash S***," Hot Girl Meg's raunchy hits took on new life thanks to a live backing band, Brooklyn's Phony Ppl, who seamlessly blend jazz, R&B and hip-hop. Midway through the spirited set, Megan and Phony Ppl surprised the audience by premiering an unreleased collaboration, a bouncy banger titled "F***** Around." After the first verse/chorus, the adoring crowd was singing along as if they'd known the song for years.

It was the first time Megan performed with a live band in public, but then again, there's been a lot of firsts over the past year. This time last fall, Megan was rapping her heart out at local shows, balancing classes at Texas Southern University and occasionally dropping a fire freestyle video from a suburban cul-de-sac driveway. Since then, the brilliant and bodacious rapper ascended to major festival stages, became one of the most sought-after features on other stars' songs, and electrified late-night television audiences.

Though she's dubbed herself a stallion because of her tall and voluptuous frame (Meg stands 5 feet 10 inches without heels,) the 24-year-old rapper has proven herself to be a workhorse when it comes to consistency. Her viral 2019 freestyles shot her online exposure through the roof and whichever alter ego she chooses in the moment — Tina Snow, Hot Girl Meg, Stalli — she's maintained the spotlight all year thanks to a steady stream of new music, an engaging personality and her own viral social media campaign, Hot Girl Summer.

Though she's usually known for extensive twerking during her stage performances, at the Tiny Desk, Meg played up a different skill set: impeccable timing and lung capacity. "Yall talk about Meg's knees but sis breath control is pretty impressive too," one viewer tweeted out during the live video stream.

Megan's lyrical content lies in subverting established sexual dynamics and no matter the level of raunch she deploys, empowering women remains the artist's manifesto. Co-signs from all across hip-hop, from Q-Tip to Nicki Minaj to Chance the Rapper, have only bolstered her appeal and validated her bars in the eyes of the genre's cultural gatekeepers.

SET LIST
"Realer"
"Freak Nasty"
"Cash S***"
"Big Ole Freak"
"Hot Girl Summer"
"F****** Around"
"Money Good"

MUSICIANS
Megan Thee Stallion: vocals; Elbee Thrie: vocal, percussion; Elijah Rawk: guitar; Maffyuu: drums; Aja Grant: keys; Bari Bass: bass; Ebony Joi: vocals

CREDITS
Producers: Sidney Madden, Abby O'Neill, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineers: Josh Rogosin, James Willetts; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern, Kara Frame, CJ Riculan, Jack Corbett; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Production Assistant: Tsering Bista; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Laura Beltran Villamizar/NPR

More from NPR Music:
Tiny Desk Concerts: https://www.npr.org/tinydesk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nprmusic
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Dhanika Pineda | December 19, 2025
From the moment GIVĒON arrived at the Tiny Desk, there was much to celebrate: Beloved had just received a Grammy nomination for best R&B album, and Leon Thomas' performance of "Mutt" at the Tiny Desk was nominated for best R&B performance. Spirits were high, and GIVĒON brought all of that energy to this concert.

GIVĒON treats performance as therapy, pouring out his heart like a bottle of wine. "As much as I love having you guys here, these next couple songs are for me," he says. Even in his Tiny Desk (home) concert from 2021, the artist asked the virtual audience to just let him soak it all in.

The music in this set — really, across GIVĒON's entire catalogue — is nothing short of intense. From "RATHER BE," a modern ballad about staying in love regardless of flaws, to the heartache anthem "HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY," GIVĒON unabashedly pokes at all our vulnerabilities. Accompanied by an ensemble featuring strings and horns, GIVĒON delivers a Tiny Desk concert that celebrates all the complicated emotions that come with being human.

SET LIST
"RATHER BE"
"I CAN TELL"
"KEEPER"
"LIKE I WANT YOU"
"HEARTBREAK ANNIVERSARY"

MUSICIANS
GIVĒON: vocals
André Pinckney: bass, music director
Dennard Watson: keys
George "Spanky" McCurdy: drums
Nate Foley: guitar
Sherie Farris: violin
Cameron Johnson: trumpet
Kyla Moscovich: trumpet
Blake Cross: sax
Camry Jackson: background vocals
Raphael Smith: background vocals
Whitney Smith: background vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Bobby Carter, Dhanika Pineda
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Josephine Nyounai
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Alanté Serene, Mitra I. Arthur
Audio Engineer: Tiffany Vera Castro
Production Assistant: Dora Levite
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Team: Kara Frame, Josh Newell
Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton

#nprmusic #tinydesk #givēon

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This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk is giving the ladies their flowers. We’re releasing nine Tiny Desk concerts from Black women artists, from veterans who’ve paved the way for what we hear today in Black music, to those who are carving out their own paths.

Bobby Carter | June 28, 2024
We conclude 2024’s Black Music Month celebration at the Tiny Desk with the catalyst for the all-female lineup, SWV. Year after year, I’ve begged who I consider the greatest girl group ever to come play the Desk. Like the other Black women we’ve hosted this month, SWV has yet to receive the proper acknowledgment for its influence over the past three decades. There was a moment, similar to the sing-along portion of Chaka Khan’s show, when Coko, Taj and Lelee were taken aback while the audience kept the party going after the band stopped playing “I’m So Into You.”

Sisters With Voices originated in the church before the group started recording R&B music. It broke through in the 1990s, a decade that was the pinnacle of girl groups. In a landscape including En Vogue, TLC, Xscape and dozens more, SWV remained in front of the pack, topping the charts, amassing gold and platinum plaques and breaking new ground in music, style and sexual liberation. Before playing “You’re The One,” Lelee introduced the song, reminding us that they “kinda took a beating for the team because our music was a little risqué.”

As a new appreciation for ’90s R&B has emerged over the past several years, SWV has reigned supreme. Watching the audience sway and sing to songs like “Weak” and “Rain,” I’m reminded of the lasting quality of SWV that continues to connect us.

SET LIST
“I'm So Into You”
“Right Here (Human Nature Radio Mix)”
“You're the One”
“You're Always On My Mind”
“Rain”
“Weak”
“Anything (Old Skool Radio Version)”

MUSICIANS
Coko: vocals
Taj: vocals
Lelee: vocals
E. Will: keys, musical direction
Shago Elizondo: guitar
CJ Mercer: bass
Toussaint Lipton II: drums
Curtis Jones Jr.: trombone
Theljion Allen: trumpet
Brent Birckhead: saxophone
Anisa Stoot: vocals
Donisha Berryman: vocals
Jayye Michael: vocals
DaNell Daymon: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Josephine Nyounai
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Alanté Serene
Audio Engineer: Valentina Rodriguez Sanchez
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Estefania Mitre
Animation: Jackie Lay
Florist: Kelanda Edwards
Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #swv

Suraya Mohamed | February 24, 2026
Always inspirational, the music of saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins is also heavy and thought provoking. In the harmonic tension of his music you can hear sepia tones of the Black experience — an ancient and modern struggle told through melody and overlaid with hope. Complex time signatures swing and sway with spiritual incantations that instill reflection and peace.

We've had the good fortune to showcase works from across Wilkins' exceptional catalog. His Tiny Desk (home) concert features selections from his debut album, Omega. Here at the Desk, he opens with "AFTERLIFE RESIDENCE TIME" from his Grammy-nominated album, Blues Blood, a piece that traces Black trauma passed down by the generations through blood, which contains salt. Sodium has a long duration of residence, or time that a substance remains present, and this song is a portrait of that construct. "Fugitive Ritual, Selah," from The 7th Hand, is a hymn to the Black church and how its Sunday rituals provide the freedom to exalt, or Selah, and pause for the Holy Spirit. "THE BIG COUNTRY" is a new song from an upcoming three-volume project recorded live at The Village Vanguard. Wilkins tells me, "It's not a 'concept album,' so to speak, but rather it's about capturing the internal technologies and logics of the band as the theory."

His masterful band, with Micah Thomas on piano, bassist Ryoma Takenaga and drummer Kweku Sumbry, has a special synergy. "There's so much that happens through the music even outside of the normative realm of 'language' that I feel is important to capture in this new stage of this unit," Wilkins tells me. "I'm just always trying to push the band to new places, do something unique for myself and for the Tiny Desk audience. I thought it was important for us to attempt to bring the heat and keep it as hot as possible."

SET LIST
"AFTERLIFE RESIDENCE TIME"
"Fugitive Ritual, Selah"
"THE BIG COUNTRY"

MUSICIANS
Immanuel WIlkins: alto sax
Micah Thomas: piano
Ryoma Takenaga: bass
Kweku Sumbry: drums

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Director: Joshua Bryant
Audio Engineer/Mix: Josephine Nyounai
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Video Editor: Nikki Birch
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Maia Stern
Audio Engineer/Director: Josh Newell
Production Assistants: Dora Levite, Dhanika Pineda
Photographer: Alanté Serene
Tiny Desk Team: Ashley Pointer, Felix Contreras
Executive Director: Sonali Mehta
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson, Robin Hilton

#nprmusic #tinydesk #immanuelwilkins

Watch T-Pain play "Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')", "Up Down (Do This All Day)" and "Drankin' Patna" at the Tiny Desk.

Did you know you can watch new Tiny Desk Concerts on npr.org ONE WEEK before they go up on YouTube? Click here: https://www.npr.org/tinydesk

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T-Pain's fingerprints are all over pop and R&B and hip-hop. He wasn't the first musician to use Auto-Tune as an instrument — he noticed it on a Jennifer Lopez remix, and remembers "Deep" well — but it was, as he says, his style. For a while, in the mid-2000s, he lived at the top of the charts. He dominated that brief moment of our lives when ringtones were a thing. He was celebrated as an innovator, and he happily took his talents where he was invited, which was everywhere.

But somewhere along the way, somebody got it twisted. "People felt like I was using it to sound good," says T-Pain, in an interview that will air on All Things Considered. "But I was just using it to sound different.”

He just turned 30, but T-Pain has already done enough to drop a greatest hits album next week. We asked him if he'd grace the Tiny Desk without any embellishment or effects to show what's really made his career: his voice, and those songs.--FRANNIE KELLEY

SET LIST
"Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')"
"Up Down (Do This All Day)"
"Drankin' Patna"

CREDITS
Producers: Frannie Kelley, Maggie Starbard; Editor: Maggie Starbard; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Colin Marshall, Maggie Starbard; Production Assistant: Susan Hale Thomas; photo by Maggie Starbard/NPR

Watch Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals play "Come Down", "Heart Don't Stand A Chance", "Put Me Thru" and "Suede" at the Tiny Desk.

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August 15, 2016 by BOBBY CARTER • Good luck trying to classify Anderson .Paak and his band The Free Nationals. Much of their sound is layered atop a soulful hip-hop foundation; from there, your safest bet is to call it a hodgepodge of genres in the best way possible. Guitarist Jose Rios and bassist Kelsey Gonzalez inject a hard-rock edge into the Hi-Tek-produced "Come Down," this set's opening number. When you hear them play the first few jazz chords of "Heart Don't Stand A Chance," it's hard to simply call this R&B.

It's been a slow build for .Paak, who released a few mixtapes before his 2014 debut album Venice. This year has marked his official breakout with Malibu, on which he did what so many in his position fail to do: He capitalized. After bursting into the spotlight with his appearances on Dr. Dre's Compton LP, he immediately prepped the release of Malibu. The album sculpted an entirely new lane for Anderson .Paak. He can rhyme with best of 'em, and his vocal styling, reminiscent of '70s and '80s greats, is invigorating when set against today's tender R&B elite. Before all that, he's a drummer-slash-bandleader.

I've experienced three separate presentations of this band. First, there's the recorded version, on which .Paak collaborates with some of hip-hop's finest producers. Then, their tight stage show hits you in the chest with 90-plus minutes of pure energy. In the midst of a whirlwind tour, they stopped by the Tiny Desk and reworked three cuts from Malibu, along with an audience request that shocked even them. They stripped down and pulled back just enough to fill the room.

Malibu is available now:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/malibu/id1065681363?app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Malibu-Anderson-Paak/dp/B0192ZU8TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471013450&sr=8-1&keywords=Anderson+.Paak+malibu+Music

Set List:
"Come Down"
"Heart Don't Stand A Chance"
"Put Me Thru"
"Suede"

Credits:
Producers: Bobby Carter, Niki Walker, Abby O'Neill; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Claire Hannah Collins, Nickolai Hammar; Production Assistant: Sophie Kemp; Photo: Cameron Robert/NPR.

For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast: http://www.npr.org/podcasts/51....0292/tiny-desk-conce

Mitra I. Arthur | August 23, 2024
Have you ever been in a room where you can feel a palpable, collective swooning? Welcome to a Maxwell Tiny Desk. The crooner’s sensual falsetto and rooted baritone have seduced audiences since his debut album dropped in 1996. One of the leading voices in the resurgence of soul music during the late ’90s, Maxwell’s albums are full of tender songs recounting love, life and heartbreak that have resonated with generations of fans looking for ways to be vulnerable.

Clad in soothing neutrals, Maxwell charmingly admitted his nervousness at being at the Desk, stating that “This is where real music can’t lie. You cannot lie here.” The audience was there with encouragement — singing along, screaming in pure glee and adding the party vibe when needed. His set here featured “Sumthin' Sumthin'” complete with a funky bass solo from Darrell "Free" Freeman. “Lifetime” features impressive work from Travis Sayles on the keys and Shedrick “Shed” Mitchell on the Hammond B3 organ, an instrument I’m admittedly partial to. Maxwell presented his latest single during this set, a cover of the Al Green classic “Simply Beautiful,” breathing life into the song and paying homage to the soul singer. To end his set, Maxwell performed the song that launched his career, “Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder).” Percussionist Charles Haynes gave us a little D.C. go-go flavor as everyone partied.

SET LIST
“Sumthin' Sumthin'”
“Bad Habits”
“Lifetime”
“Pretty Wings”
“Simply Beautiful”
“Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)”

MUSICIANS
Maxwell: lead vocals
Shedrick "Shed" Mitchell: keys, musical director
Hod David: guitar
Travis Sayles: keys
Darryl "Lil Man" Howell: drums
Darrell "Free" Freeman: bass
LaTina Webb: vocals
Aaron Marcellus: vocals
Charles Haynes: percussion

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Technical Director: Josephine Nyounai
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Sofia Seidel, Zayrha Rodriguez
Audio Engineer: Ted Mebane
Photographer: Estefania Mitre
Tiny Desk Team: Kara Frame, Ashley Pointer, Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #maxwell