In 2016 Chicago rapper Noname (Fatimah Warner) stepped out of the shadows of her collaborators to deliver Telefone, one of the best albums of 2016, and easily one of the best hip-hop debuts in recent memory. One move to L.A. and a good bit of growing up later, Noname is BACK with her first “official” album, Room 25. Self-produced and self-released, Room 25 is an ambitious step forward for one of music’s brightest talents, and we’re joined by special guest Philip Basnight (Broke Royals) to discuss what makes it so great, and what we’re looking forward to from Noname in the future.

Plus! Washington, D.C.’s very own Dupont Brass is back with a new EP Halftime that’s all about enjoying yourself, and we’re spinning its first single.

Even in the darkest of timelines, Janelle Monáe has always been the most triumphant of superstars, and five long years, Janelle Monáe is finally returning to music to claim her throne.. Featuring the likes of Grimes, Brian Wilson, and everyone in between, Dirty Computer lets its freak flag fly higher than fuck, and the results represent a landmark achievement in pop, hip-hop, funk, and whatever the hell else Monáe feels like proving she's better than the rest of us at. 

PLUS! The Australian psych scene is on the rise again and Turtle Skull may be leading the charge. Check out a dank new track "Eden" from their upcoming self-titled EP. 

Known to most of the world as a political playground, Washington, D.C. is a city where decisions that shape the course of, not just American, but HUMAN history, are made every day. More than that though, D.C. is a city where cultures collide resulting in a creative class that produces some of the most compelling and diverse art in the world. Built on the legacy of jazz and go-go, D.C. is on the cusp of a creative explosion and bringing everything from hip-hop to indie rock into the fold.

In part four of our Sounds of Washington, DC series, we're dipping our toes into the DIY space, traveling back in time for some homegrown jazz/funk, and getting serious about what needs to be done to protect and revive this city's native culture for not just a day, but all year long. 

Kendrick Lamar may well be the "best rapper alive" but beyond all the hype, he's an artist who wears his vulnerability on his sleeve. On DAMN., his follow-up-proper to 2015's landmark LP To Pimp A Butterfly, the Compton native takes listener on a journey through his often tortured psyche, the community he comes from, and what it means to have faith in faithless times. 

Come hang with Kevin, Marcus Dowling (Decades, Bandcamp), Ian Taronji (The Lucky So & So's), and Marcus J. Moore (Senior Editor, Bandcamp) as we dive deep into this complex statement from one of today's biggest, and most important stars. 

PLUS! We've got your first taste of the DC-based cosmic collective Nag Champa's upcoming EP for you to sink your MIND into. Buy the ticket. Take the ride...

In 2012 rapper/producer El-P and rapper Killer Mike met and discovered that not only did they bring out the best in each other's art, all signs pointed towards them being world's first motherf@#@ing rap superheroes. 

With the release of their third collaboration as Run The Jewels, all signs point to the prophecy being true.

Join us as we we kick off our 2017 coverage diving into their latest masterpiece to try and figure out what makes this dynamic duo tick, why they may be the most powerful rap duo of all time, and more.