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 3, 2024
To hear Tems tell the audience that she was shy came as a surprise to me. As a performer, she captivates us with such ease and exudes confidence when she’s not, so to see her blushing as the crowd roared was sweet to witness. Unlike most artists who’ve performed at the Desk, the Nigerian singer-songwriter took a chance by playing a set filled with songs from her forthcoming debut album, Born in the Wild.

A lot has happened in Tems’ world since her Tiny Desk (home) concert a couple of years ago. She’s won dozens of awards including a Grammy, worked with Beyoncé and written for Rihanna, all of which helped to keep her name on our minds and music in the clubs. These new songs indicate time well spent between her breakout moment a few years ago and now. “Unfortunate” is less Afrobeats and more straightforward R&B, flexing her development as a writer. “Forever” is powerful in the way she reaches a vocal range I had no idea she could, while “Love Me JeJe” was the hands-down standout. At the time of the taping, the song had yet to be released, but the rhythm pierced the room and had us all in line for the call and response.

SET LIST
“Me & U”
“Ice T”
“Unfortunate”
“Forever”
“Love Me JeJe”

MUSICIANS
Tems: lead vocals
Daniel Crawford: keys, music direction
Brett Baker: percussion
Erick Walls: guitar
Eric Ingram: bass
Robert Johnson: drums
Olivia Williams: vocals
Ashly Williams: vocals
Kadeem Nichols: vocals

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

#tinydesk #nprmusic #tems

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Official Video by Larry June - " Private Valet" © 2022 The Freeminded Records / EMPIRE

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Feels so Right · Larry June · DeJ Loaf

Numbers

℗ 2020 The Freeminded Records

Released on: 2020-12-20

Producer: Streetrunner
Producer: Tarik Azzouz

Auto-generated by YouTube.

Provided to YouTube by EMPIRE Distribution

Orange Pineapple · Larry June

Very Peaceful

℗ 2018 The Freeminded Records

Released on: 2018-11-29

Auto-generated by YouTube.

Provided to YouTube by EMPIRE Distribution

Clocked In · Larry June · Cardo

The Night Shift

℗ 2023 The Freeminded Records / Cardo / EMPIRE

Released on: 2023-11-10

Auto-generated by YouTube.

Bobby Carter | April 9, 2026
Tiny Desk has featured some of the best music across various genres throughout our 18-year history; however, Lecrae is the first Christian rapper to perform at NPR headquarters. I felt guilty when I mentioned this to the Houston-born emcee, only because it's taken so long. If we're putting a spotlight on faith-based hip-hop, we had to start with Lecrae.

Hip-hop originated in the streets; its growth has been slow and steady, with faith often appearing as a caveat in the music. It felt acceptable to mention God without getting too preachy, but if you went past that line, an obsession over authenticity stigmatized Christian rappers. And then Lecrae cracked the code: His devotion is unapologetic and consistent through the lyrics, but everything else, from the production to delivery, feels real and earned.

For his set, Lecrae aptly kicked things off with "Coming in Hot," and breezed through seven more tracks from his catalog, including 2024's "Die for the Party," a song inspired by Kendrick Lamar's "Watch the Party Die," in which Lamar reflects, "Sometimes I wonder what Lecrae would do."

SET LIST
"Coming in Hot"
"Spread the Opps"
"I'm Turnt"
"H20"
"Die for the Party"
"Bless You"
"Tell the World"
"I'll Find You"

MUSICIANS
Lecrae: vocals
Lawrence Swoope: keys
Reshard Baham: keys
Joshua Dunham: bass
Nate Robinson: drums
DJ Mykael V: DJ
Joe Williams: trumpet
Madicin: background vocals
Liz Vaughn: background vocals

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

#nprmusic #tinydesk #lecrae

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Oct. 18, 2017 | Bobby Carter -- Thundercat, born Stephen Bruner, is willing and able to shape-shift to fit into just about any box you show him — he just won't stay in there for long. Whether fusing his talent for jazz while a bassist with punk legacy act Suicidal Tendencies or as a member of Snoop Dogg's band — maybe running a little too far with a solo here and there — the focus seems to eventually drift his way.

After releasing two brilliant solo albums, he was plucked to work on what eventually became one of the most important works of art released this decade: Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly. Capitalizing off of the new exposure, he quickly released the EP The Beyond/Where the Giants Roam. That was followed about two years later by Drunk, his most solid project to date.

I didn't know what to expect in the days leading to the performance, but I was hoping to get what I thought a Thundercat experience would be like. All boxes ended up checked: He arrived wearing a neon pink hoodie with his signature logo plastered about, kickboxing shorts, white chancletas, playing a Nintendo portable gaming console. He and his bandmates Dennis Hamm, Justin Brown and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, all master musicians in their own right, polished off some bacon croissant sandwiches and proceeded to give us three of the best of what Drunk has to offer.

Set List

"Lava Lamp"
"Friend Zone"
"Them Changes"

MUSICIANS

Steven Bruner (vocals, bass); Dennis Hamm (keys); Justin Brown (drums); Miguel Atwood Ferguson (violin)

CREDITS

Producers: Bobby Carter, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern, Alyse young; Production Assistant: CJ Riculan; Photo: Jennifer Kerrigan/NPR.

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

Provided to YouTube by EMPIRE Distribution

Organic Motion (feat. DJ.Fresh) · Larry June · DJ.Fresh · DJ.Fresh

Organic Motion (feat. DJ.Fresh)

℗ 2026 The Freeminded Records / EMPIRE

Released on: 2026-06-30

Producer: DJ.Fresh
Composer: Larry Eugene Hendricks III
Composer: Marqus A Brown

Auto-generated by YouTube.

June 30, 2016 by FELIX CONTRERAS • Sometimes it's necessary to get back to basics. In the case of Los Hacheros, that means returning to the deep groove of Afro-Caribbean music that provides the source material for modern salsa and all of its permutations.

As you'll see in this video, the band's dedication to authenticity is masterfully executed with a serious dose of sabor. In fact, the band was so swinging, it was impossible to sit on the sidelines and pass up my own chance to jump in during "Bambulaye" and perform with the band myself. So clear out the furniture and turn up the sound on this video to create your own dance party.

Bambulaye is available now:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/al....bum/bambulaye/id1083
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bambula....ye-LOS-HACHEROS/dp/B

Set List:
"Baila Con Los Hacheros"
"Papote's Guajira"
"Bambulaye"

Credits:
Producers: Felix Contreras, Niki Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Kara Frame, Colin Marshall; Production Assistant: Jackson Sinnenberg; Photo: NPR.

For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast.

This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture.

Alanté Serene | June 6, 2025
When Amerie arrived at the Tiny Desk, her enthusiastic energy and bright smile was an instant mood boost. The warm entrance felt fitting for an artist whose music embodies the soul of summer: bold percussion, breezy vocals and the feeling of endless possibilities.

When her sophomore album Touch dropped in 2005, it introduced a national audience to the infectious rhythms of go-go. Rooted in Washington, D.C., go-go is known for its layered percussion, funky basslines and live instrumentation made to hype the crowd. These sounds pulse through Amerie's music and helped to make "1 Thing" a standout in a year overflowing with R&B hits.

Amerie, who once lived in Washington, D.C. for several years, returns to the city with a reimagined set accompanied by go-go legends Backyard Band. Together, they open the show with songs from her debut album All I Have, including "Talkin' to Me" and the quintessential summer anthem "Why Don't We Fall in Love." She eases into her latest single, "Mine," and delivers a fan-favorite "I Just Died," before introducing a new rendition of "Rolling Down My Face" that you'll want to hear all the time from now on. By the time "Talkin' About" kicks in, Amerie is in full dance mode. When "1 Thing" closes out the set, she steps from behind the Desk to join the dance party, turning the performance into a celebration.

SET LIST
"Talkin' to Me"
"Why Don't We Fall in Love"
"Mine"
"I Just Died"
"Rolling Down My Face"
"Talkin' About"
"1 Thing"

MUSICIANS
Amerie: vocals
Warren Jones: keys
Michael Dunklin: keys
Eric Britt: keys
Bobby Terry: guitar
Eugene Chapman: alto saxophone
Nathaniel Fields: bass
Paul Edwards: drums
Keith Robinson: percussion
Tanesia Mack: background vocals
Tonaee' Burgess: background vocals
Zay'Marie: background vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Alanté Serene
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Elizabeth Gillis
Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
Production Assistants: Dora Levite, Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Grace Raver
Tiny Desk Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #amerie

Ashley Pointer | February 28, 2025
The morning that Bishop Marvin Sapp came to NPR, he told me that it was his kids who really emphasized how important it was for him to accept our invitation to perform: "They told me, 'Dad, Tiny Desk is for the culture.' "

Backed by a four-piece band and a six-piece choir, Sapp transforms our office into a sanctuary, performing an 11-song medley of praise and worship hits that span more than three decades in music and ministry. From the moment his set begins, the spirit moves through the room, filling every corner with raw emotion, joy and reverence.

From Sapp's early days with the trailblazing '90s gospel group Commissioned to penning anthems like "Never Would Have Made It" — a song that transcends church walls — his impact is woven into the fabric of Black culture. "What's funny is, I saw some of y'all singing these songs, and y'all weren't even born when I recorded them," Sapp jokes, underscoring his intergenerational influence. Yet, despite his legendary status, Sapp took time after the performance to speak and pray with members of our audience, choosing ministry first, above all else.

SET LIST
"I Believe"
"Not the Time, Not the Place"
"Grace and Mercy"
"Perfect Peace"
"Shout Unto God"
"Here I Am"
"Praise Him in Advance"
"You Are God Alone"
"He Has His Hands on You"
"My Testimony"
"The Best in Me"
"Never Would Have Made It"

MUSICIANS
Bishop Marvin Sapp: vocals
Curtis Lindsey: keys, music director
Thaddeus Johnson: bass
Tavarius "Varo" Johnson: drums
Sam Mitchem: guitar
Christina Michelle: background vocals
Gus Lacy: background vocals
Shaki Wilson: background vocals
Jarmone: background vocals
A. D. Gillispie: background vocals
Melissa Lee: background vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producers: Bobby Carter, Ashley Pointer
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Mitra I. Arthur
Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
Production Assistant: Dora Levite
Photographer: Michael Zamora
Tiny Desk Copy Editor: Lars Gotrich
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #marvinsapp

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#LarryJune #TheNightShift #Cardo



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Official Visualizers by Larry June & Cardo from "The Night Shift" © 2023 The Freeminded Records / Cardo / EMPIRE

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Official Video by Larry June, 2 Chainz & The Alchemist - "Munyon Canyon" © 2025 The Freeminded Records / 2 Chainz / ALC / EMPIRE

Bob Boilen | March 10, 2017 — Out of over 6,000 entries — more submissions than we've ever received — Tank And The Bangas won, unanimously, this year's Tiny Desk Contest. I fully expected their victory performance here at NPR headquarters in D.C. to be celebratory. I didn't know we'd all end up in tears.

This band combines R&B with hip-hop's poetry and rollercoaster storytelling, with a flair and alchemy that could only come from New Orleans. Their winning song, "Quick," mixes liquor and revenge — a sort of modern day take on a great folk tale, but peppered with their own idiosyncratic flair and humor. What I couldn't see, until they took over my desk, was the depth of their lyricism and the versatility of their players. At one moment fun-filled funk, the next laid-back jazz, rhythm-driven blues — and it all flows seamlessly. And it's fun to watch: There's a magic kinship between Tarriona "Tank" Ball and Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph as they share singing roles, like two best friends finishing one another's sentences.

This is the third year that NPR Music has put out a call in hopes of finding a shining star. I'm still amazed how, after sifting through thousands of videos from abundantly talented musicians, we can find a common winner amongst a range of judges with such different musical backgrounds. But in the end, my All Songs Considered co-host Robin Hilton, Trey Anastasio (Phish), Miguel, Anthony Hamilton, Ben Hopkins (PWR BTTM), BANKS, and folks who listen to an awful lot of music — NPR member station hosts Rita Houston (WFUV), Talia Schlanger (WXPN), Stas THEE Boss (KEXP) — and myself were all equally charmed, delighted and captivated.

And so here it is, a chance to see an artist truly blossoming. It's just the beginning: A few years ago, for our first Contest, Fantastic Negrito won our hearts. This year he won a Grammy. Last year Gaelynn Lea, an unknown violinist, teacher and singer sent a video captured on a phone and won our affection and souls. A few weeks ago, her Tiny Desk Concert had been seen more than a million times. These days she's taken to the road, touring the world.

Tank And The Bangas will be hitting the road in April with NPR Music to find their new audience — I'll be along for the ride — visiting many of our member stations with help from those music-loving beer brewers at Lagunitas. I can't wait to see the reaction in these crowds' eyes, as they fill with wonder and tears like ours did, experiencing this band for the first time.

Set List
"Boxes And Squares"
"Quick"
"Rollercoasters"

Musicians
Tarriona Tank Ball (vocals); Jelly Joseph (vocals); Merell Burkett Jr. (keys); Norman Spence II (keys); Joshua Johnson (drums); Jonathan Johnson (bass); Albert Allenback (saxophone)

Credits
Producers: Bob Boilen, Niki Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Nick Michael, Bronson Arcuri, Morgan Noelle Smith; Production Assistants: A Noah Harrison, Ameeta Ganatra; Photo: Niki Walker/NPR.

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

Oct. 18, 2017 | Bobby Carter -- Thundercat, born Stephen Bruner, is willing and able to shape-shift to fit into just about any box you show him — he just won't stay in there for long. Whether fusing his talent for jazz while a bassist with punk legacy act Suicidal Tendencies or as a member of Snoop Dogg's band — maybe running a little too far with a solo here and there — the focus seems to eventually drift his way.

After releasing two brilliant solo albums, he was plucked to work on what eventually became one of the most important works of art released this decade: Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly. Capitalizing off of the new exposure, he quickly released the EP The Beyond/Where the Giants Roam. That was followed about two years later by Drunk, his most solid project to date.

I didn't know what to expect in the days leading to the performance, but I was hoping to get what I thought a Thundercat experience would be like. All boxes ended up checked: He arrived wearing a neon pink hoodie with his signature logo plastered about, kickboxing shorts, white chancletas, playing a Nintendo portable gaming console. He and his bandmates Dennis Hamm, Justin Brown and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, all master musicians in their own right, polished off some bacon croissant sandwiches and proceeded to give us three of the best of what Drunk has to offer.

Set List

"Lava Lamp"
"Friend Zone"
"Them Changes"

MUSICIANS

Steven Bruner (vocals, bass); Dennis Hamm (keys); Justin Brown (drums); Miguel Atwood Ferguson (violin)

CREDITS

Producers: Bobby Carter, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern, Alyse young; Production Assistant: CJ Riculan; Photo: Jennifer Kerrigan/NPR.

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

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Shad Gee & The Mekanix - Stack Somethin Ft. Larry June (Official Music Video)

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June 30, 2016 by FELIX CONTRERAS • Sometimes it's necessary to get back to basics. In the case of Los Hacheros, that means returning to the deep groove of Afro-Caribbean music that provides the source material for modern salsa and all of its permutations.

As you'll see in this video, the band's dedication to authenticity is masterfully executed with a serious dose of sabor. In fact, the band was so swinging, it was impossible to sit on the sidelines and pass up my own chance to jump in during "Bambulaye" and perform with the band myself. So clear out the furniture and turn up the sound on this video to create your own dance party.

Bambulaye is available now:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/al....bum/bambulaye/id1083
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bambula....ye-LOS-HACHEROS/dp/B

Set List:
"Baila Con Los Hacheros"
"Papote's Guajira"
"Bambulaye"

Credits:
Producers: Felix Contreras, Niki Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Niki Walker, Kara Frame, Colin Marshall; Production Assistant: Jackson Sinnenberg; Photo: NPR.

For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast.

Thanks for watching the video! Please leave a like, subscribe, share and check out some other videos on my channel! Help me reach my goal of 2,500 subscribers!

Larry June feat. Money Man
Album: Orange Print
Year: 2021

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Official Audio by Larry June, Curren$y & The Alchemist from "Spiral Staircases'" © 2026 The Freeminded Records / EMPIRE