SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST:

The rapper Juvenile requested this query – WTF is a Tiny Desk? He is behind hits like “Again That Thang Up” and “Sluggish Movement.” And on Twitter, a fan had been begging him to seem on the NPR Music video efficiency collection, which apparently he had not heard about. That was in mid-April. By late June…

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JUVENILE: (Rapping) You already know what it’s to make nothing out of one thing. You deal with your biz. And do not be crying and struggling.

(CHEERING)

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

He performed a few of his best hits in a stripped-down efficiency right here at NPR headquarters. And I acquired to inform you, from my spot within the crowd, it was unimaginable. For the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop this month, NPR Music is pulling collectively all of its hip-hop Tiny Desk Live shows. And NPR Music’s Bobby Carter is the senior producer behind quite a lot of them. Hey, Bobby.

BOBBY CARTER, BYLINE: What up, Juana?

SUMMERS: OK. So I understand that I’m asking you a query that is kind of like asking you to choose your favourite baby, however I’ll do it anyway. Give us just a few of your favourite hip-hop Tiny Desks.

SUMMERS: It’s like choosing a toddler. However I at all times like to separate them into two. So a few of my favorites, clearly, are those which are the undeniables (ph) – proper? – like Meg Thee Stallion.

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MEGAN THEE STALLION: (Rapping) Do not ask questions if we simply sexting. I acquired conditions, no confirmations. Everyone wish to know who Megan dated. That is dependent upon regardless of the date is.

CARTER: And Mac Miller. Tyler, The Creator.

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TYLER, THE CREATOR: (Rapping) I mentioned OK, OK, OK, OK, OK-dokey (ph) my infatuation is translating to a different type of – what you name it?

CARTER: However then there are these, you recognize, a few of my favorites that are not talked about as typically, like Freddie Gibbs. Freddie Gibbs’ Tiny Desk – Freddie Gibbs with Madlib – that is my favourite Tiny Desk by way of hip-hop, like, of all time. It will get no higher than that to me.

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FREDDIE GIBBS: (Rapping) Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SUMMERS: What made it so particular?

CARTER: The best way the band took these samples that Madlib chopped and introduced out all the particular little intricacies and simply made them fully new data. Like, you heard these songs that Freddie Gibbs spit on in a very new approach. It is simply lovely. It is simply lovely.

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FREDDIE GIBBS: (Rapping) It is when this music began transferring, mayne (ph), however I nonetheless obtain the move-them-thangs (ph).

SUMMERS: I imply, I do know, for me, certainly one of my favourite days of working right here is anytime there’s a Tiny Desk efficiency in the home. And this stuff break the web. However I am curious. Are there any sleeper reveals that come to thoughts when you consider the hip-hop catalog, ones that possibly acquired rather less love?

CARTER: Yeah. To me, these are the reveals that basically kind of validate us as an genuine supply for hip-hop. Like, we have had Rakim on the Tiny Desk, proper? We have had Rapsody.

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RAPSODY: (Rapping) It is once you step out on religion, select to do it, really feel proper and let everybody else hint. What we chase Ain’t the identical. I am nonetheless that rapper that your favourite rapper scared to rap after. Typically it is arduous to relax. I select to kill, kill, kill, kill.

CARTER: Massive Okay.R.I.T., Widespread, Wu-Tang. Saba is certainly one of my favourite Tiny Desks. And, you recognize, folks love them. However we’ve got some which are so big that at instances we overlook in regards to the ones which are simply as nice. And people are those I like essentially the most.

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SABA: (Singing) No, I can not really feel your ache, however I can see the celebs. No, I ain’t even useless, however I do know we with God. There’s heaven throughout me. There’s heaven throughout me.

SUMMERS: So the Tiny Desk is that this actually intimate venue, if we are able to even name it a venue. However, Bobby, what does it convey out in hip-hop artists? What do these performances present us that folks won’t choose up by seeing these artists at a giant live performance and even watching a music video?

CARTER: Yeah. I feel hip-hop on the Tiny Desk proves that hip-hop will be as musically refined as another style on the market. You already know, once you return and also you watch Anderson .Paak behind the drum equipment, rapping…

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ANDERSON PAAK: Let me get down. D.C., what’s taking place? (Singing) You may by no means ever come down. It took too lengthy to get this excessive off the bottom. Do not run. Simply keep…

CARTER: I imply, that is such a novel expertise. And it brings out the musicality of all of those data, proper? It is refined. You already know, the opulence of those stay variations on the desk are fully completely different from what you hear on document. And I feel one other factor that is essential is that, you recognize, when you’ve MCs and rappers coming to NPR, it is essential to allow them to know that they are ready they usually’re free to be their genuine selves behind the desk as a result of, you recognize, there is a stage of respect that folks have for NPR. And, you recognize, no one’s cussing on NPR, however I allow them to know, look – you will be your self. When you’re behind the desk, you aren’t censored. You possibly can current your artwork precisely the best way you needed to current it.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC, APPLAUSE)

SUMMERS: OK. So I discussed that you simply have been pulling collectively all of those unimaginable hip-hop Tiny Desks in a single place. So the place can we discover them?

CARTER: You possibly can go to npr.org/tinydesk. And there, you will see our lovely array of hip-hop reveals from the years. So scroll by way of, and have some enjoyable.

SUMMERS: Oh, belief me. I’ll. That’s Bobby Carter, one of many producers of NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Live shows. Thanks, Bobby.

CARTER: Thanks, Juana.

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