Kiana Fitzgerald
Kiana Fitzgerald is a freelance music journalist, cultural critic, and DJ. She writes for the world from deep in the heart of Texas.
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The rapper known as Gangsta Boo died this week at age 43. Born Lola Mitchell, she was known as one of the South's premier crunk emcees and she got her start in the group Three 6 Mafia.
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When the words in a song hit you in just the right way, they can stay with you. We're asking the folks at NPR Music: What lyrics did you hear in 2022 that you just couldn't shake? -
Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Andor, Aftersun, Southern Baptist Sissies and more.
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Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: the novel Thistlefoot, "Blessed" by GloRilla, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers and more.
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Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: the Netflix show Twentysomethings: Austin, a look back at 20 years of The Onion and more.
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"Black Parade," a call to action and a salve for a wounded nation, is the latest example of Beyoncé using her pop domination to put Black pride front and center.
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Andre Harrell, a record executive who shepherded the careers of Mary J. Blige and Sean "Diddy" Combs and combined the sounds of R&B and hip-hop with his label, Uptown Records, has died.
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The Brooklyn rapper-producer's latest instrumental album is evenly weighted from front to back. There's never an off moment — or even a precarious one.
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The R&B stalwart has long vibrated on a different wavelength than do his contemporaries; in a turbulent, bruising world, he's stayed rock-steady.
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Smith has a steady, well-trained swell of a voice and a knack for whipping in and out of his falsetto in a hairsbreadth. He doesn't feel the need to hide — certainly not by stifling his vocal skills.
