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.

Abby O'Neill | February 16, 2021
Rick Ross’ Tiny Desk takes place in the gallery space of Miami artist Rich B Caliente, The Boss’ longtime collaborator and friend. Even though the MIA street dignitary is now living in Atlanta, Ross insisted that his Tiny Desk (home) concert get captured in the city where his roots are anchored and where he rose to rap stardom.

This Tiny Desk marks just the second time Ross has performed with a live band. On "Super High," from his Teflon Don album, drummer Rashid Williams and bassist Thaddaeus Tribbett lay down the foundation for Ross’ smooth cadence and signature nonchalance. Background singer and Ne-Yo protege Troy Tyler projects the lead vocal lines originally sung by his mentor.

Next, vocalist Elijah Blake steps up on Ross' smash hit "B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast) and “Aston Martin Music.” On the latter, Monty Reynolds drops in with the sparse, yet catchy key melody that made it the contagious hit single it was in 2010.

At one point, Ross pauses between songs to speak on his inspirations. "So many inspired the Boss,” he says. “I could look at any brother on the street and get some inspiration from them, regardless of how many followers you got on social media, regardless of what you're riding in. I could learn something from you. I ain't scared to. Let's make sure we keep building."

SET LIST
"Super High"
"B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)"
"Aston Martin Music"
"I'm Not A Star"
"F*ckwithmeyouknowigotit"
"Tears of Joy"

MUSICIANS
DJ Sam Sneak: DJ, vocals
Thaddaeus Tribbett: bass
Monty Reynolds: keys
Elijah Blake: vocals
Troy Tyler: vocals
Rashid Williams: drums

CREDITS
Video: Bob Metelus, Antwan Reid, Webber Charles, William Graydon, Andres Ramirez, Laz Mendez, Edward Burke, Jorge Torres, Ron Gesualdo, Rich B Caliente
Audio: Joe Liederman, Glenn Wexo, ITLLC
General Manager: Yvette Dávila for Maybach Music Group

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

Today features discussion on Marianne Williamson's policy ideas, Uganda outlawing increasing same-sex relationship penalties, and another suspect arrested in Jam Master Jay's murder.

This is AmeriKKKa is a daily news show for the Black collective, chronicling daily news, centering Black stories and summarizing politics. Live from the Unmuted Newsroom studios in New York and Atlanta and hosted by Alex Haynes and Tiffanie Lanelle.
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Aug. 15, 2018 | Felix Contreras -- Some folks around the NPR Music office said they felt an almost spiritual connection to Erykah Badu during her visit to the Tiny Desk. And that was before she and her band even played a single note. It came from the waft of earthly scents that followed in her wake, to the flowing dreads and clothes that hung on her like robes.

After her self-introduction, which included a rundown of her spiritual and creative aliases, Badu rolled into one of her earliest musical calling cards, "Rimshot." It's an ode to the sound the percussionist makes when a drumstick is struck against the metal edge of the snare drum. On this performance, as on her 1997 album Baduizm, it becomes a device to play with time — stretching it, stopping it, suspending it. Propelled by jazz chords on the piano and the steady pulse of the acoustic bass, the playful performance unfolded in the tradition of the best bebop.

But the panoramic song "Green Eyes" is the centerpiece of Badu's Tiny Desk performance. It's wide-ranging in scope and musical arrangement and brilliantly executed by the jazz and hip-hop musicians in her backing band. The story of heartbreak is striking enough, but her interpretation showcases her formidable vocal skills. By the time it was over, we were all just as emotionally and spiritually spent as she was from the experience.

Erykah Badu is an artist for the ages. To old-school jazz fans like myself, names like Nina Simone, Betty Carter and Shirley Horn come to mind as much as Billie Holiday because of Badu's singular approach to a lyric. They all cut their own creative path and left behind a legacy that you can identify with just one note. Erykah Badu is on that same path, and one day her name will be mentioned along with the other Elders who share her spirit of musical adventure.

Set List
"Rimshot"
"Green Eyes"

Musicians
Erykah Badu (lead vocals), RC Williams (Keys), Braylon Lacy (bass), Cleon Edwards (Drums), Frank Moka (Percussion), Kenneth Whalum (Sax), Keyon Harrold (Trumpet), Dwayne Kerr (Flute)

Credits
Producers: Abby O'Neill, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Khun Minn Ohn, CJ Riculan; Production Assistants: Catherine Zhang, Téa Mottolese; Photo: Morgan Noelle Smith/NPR.

Today features discussion on Marianne Williamson's policy ideas, Uganda outlawing increasing same-sex relationship penalties, and another suspect arrested in Jam Master Jay's murder.

This is AmeriKKKa is a daily news show for the Black collective, chronicling daily news, centering Black stories and summarizing politics. Live from the Unmuted Newsroom studios in New York and Atlanta and hosted by Alex Haynes and Tiffanie Lanelle.
#politics #BlackNews #ThisIsAmeriKKKa #LGBTQ

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