5 NPR Tiny Desk Concerts to Celebrate Black Artistry
Slip on your comfiest headphones and listen to these Black artists sing about love, regret, and every emotion in between.
Written by Srija Reddy
Photo courtesy of NPR
When thinking of a standard workplace, dreary images of black and grey cubicles litter a nine to five world — good thing NPR’s Tiny Desk is not the standard workplace. What started as a frustration from not being able to hear a band over the crowd has now, 12 years later, morphed into a strategically cluttered space where all that lies between the artist and the audience is a (not so) tiny desk.
Beyond its stripped down quality, Tiny Desk is also a platform to gain much needed traction for underrepresented artists. Below are just a few of the many amazing Black artists showcased.
BABY ROSE
Baby Rose is proof that good things can come out of breakups. To Myself, Baby Rose’s debut album, was born out of a necessity to heal emotionally. In this concert, Baby Rose sings five songs off this LP while showcasing a smokey, jazzy voice only comparable to Nina Simone. If you want to dive deep into a sentimental R&B hole or, as stated in the video, understand “what real love sounds like,” start with Baby Rose (and if you find yourself craving more, watch her recently released, at-home Tiny Desk concert).
LEIKELI47
At first glance, it appears Leikeli47 foresaw the need to serve us the ultimate face mask look before quarantine was on our radar. However, Leikeli47’s personal style is meant to free her of rap’s confining power structures, allowing her to bare her soul. Backed by a band dressed as TSA agents, Leikeli47’s gender-bending lyrics actively snub convention to innovate the predominantly-male genre. And since marijuana is essentially decriminalized in Austin, I urge you to roll one and bop to the song that spurred her meteoric rise, “Girl Blunt.”
BRITTANY HOWARd
Captivating — that’s the only way to describe this Tiny Desk concert. In just 15 minutes, Brittany Howard walks us through stories of her past as a mixed-race queer woman and fosters a deep-rooted connection with the audience through her soulful softness. “I’ve always wanted to write songs like these,” she says after singing “Georgia,” a lighthearted nod to the devastating feeling of an unrequited crush. This Tiny Desk concert is a reminder that life is full of highs and lows. Amidst the pain and suffering, there will always be those days where, “everything is everything, and everything is beautiful.”
CimafunK
Hailing from Havana, Cuba, Cimafunk’s Afro-Cuban funk will have you itching to learn some bolero moves. Formally known as Erik Iglesias Rodríguez, his stage name is an ode to both his heritage and the unpredictable quality of his uniquely blended music. Cimafunk is electrifying, and a nostalgic nod to care free times. If you’re looking for a song that will never fail to liven a party (assuming we will be able to one day), then add “Me Voy” to your playlist.
Tobe Nwigwe
If you are an “H-Town, Hold it Down” enthusiast, then “Houston Tribute” should be your new anthem. Backed by a trio of harmonies, Tobe Nwigwe’s verses blend into a hypnotic sound. With heartfelt lyrics like, “And though they shade you / You sound like the sun,” Nwigwe urges listeners to persist in the face of hardship. Tobe brings a nuanced perspective to his Black experience as a first generation Nigerian American straddled between two worlds. His confidently cool words create a gritty exploration of the Black diaspora in America, leading him to attract a huge following. And if you need another reason to listen, Tobe Nwigwe’s final track, “I’m Dope,” is featured on Michelle Obama’s workout playlist.
This list is only a snippet of the Black artistry showcased on NPR’s Tiny Desk series. So slip on your headphones, sit back, and use the Tiny Desk archives as an opportunity to discover new and noteworthy artists at their most simplified state.