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NPR Tiny Desk Concerts
Season 16 • Episode 23 • Ab-Soul
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NPR Tiny Desk Concerts Season 16, Episode 23: Ab-Soul
Ab-Soul's career is a prime example of how rap has grown over the past 50 years. For his Tiny Desk set, he hand-picked a live band and gave a display of raw honesty and next-level lyricism. Watch NPR Tiny Desk Concerts Season 16, Episode 23 Ab-Soul in HD free online. Enjoy high-quality streaming of NPR Tiny Desk Concerts Season 16, Episode 23 and share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Episodes
128 episodes
The Smile
The band creates a surreal atmosphere at the Tiny Desk, reimagining the sonically adventurous sounds of A Light for Attracting Attention.
15 min
Jake Blount
The young proponent of traditional music brought a talented band, his astonishing imagination and a selection of what he calls "Black folk music from the future" to the Tiny Desk.
20 min
dodie
The English singer-songwriter and her band give a cathartic, playful performance at the Tiny Desk.
16 min
Marc-André Hamelin
Watch the pianist, who's been called "a performer of near-superhuman prowess," play a smart set that spans six centuries.
19 min
Soccer Mommy
Sophie Allison and crew finally, after a three-year delay, make their Tiny Desk debut in a lovingly performed set.
20 min
Dakh Daughters: Tiny Desk Meets globalFEST 2023
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
14 min
Khadija El Warzazia's Bnat el Houariyat & Esraa Warda: Tiny Desk Meets globalFEST 2023
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
17 min
Cui Jian: Tiny Desk meets globalFEST 2023
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
19 min
Septeto Santiaguero: Tiny Desk meets globalFEST 2023
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
14 min
Bia Ferreira: Tiny Desk meets globalFEST 2023
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
19 min
Moonlight Benjamin: Tiny Desk meets globalFEST 2023
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
16 min
Taraf de Caliu: Tiny Desk meets globalFEST 2023
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
11 min
Noura Mint Seymali: Tiny Desk meets globalFEST 2023
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
17 min
Justin Adams & Mauro Durante: Tiny Desk meets globalFEST 2023
For the third year, Tiny Desk concerts team up with globalFEST for a thrilling online music festival — Tiny Desk meets globalFEST.
15 min
Hermanos Gutiérrez
The brothers' Tiny Desk performance is the perfect, slow-burning introduction to their music.
17 min
Lady Wray
NPR Music's Tiny Desk series kicks off a celebration of Black History Month with this stunning performance from Lady Wray.
21 min
Indigo Girls
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have been offering life lessons to their fervent fans for nearly four decades; here, they play a set of stone-cold classics, including "Closer to Fine."
23 min
Lee Fields
NPR Music's Tiny Desk series continues a celebration of Black History Month with this set from Lee Fields.
23 min
Kenny Beats
One of the most sought after producers in music brings a trio of familiar voices to the Tiny Desk.
11 min
Fousheé
Britanny Fousheé is not an artist who can be boxed in. In her Tiny Desk set, she flexes her eclectic artistry and vocal — and emotional — range.
17 min
Theo Croker
The trumpeter brings his unmistakably chill attitude and determination to expand the sound of jazz to this stripped-down Tiny Desk set.
18 min
Tamela Mann
It's impossible to tell the history of Black people in America without the gospel, and Tamela Mann represented at NPR headquarters.
21 min
Ab-Soul
Ab-Soul's career is a prime example of how rap has grown over the past 50 years. For his Tiny Desk set, he hand-picked a live band and gave a display of raw honesty and next-level lyricism.
20 min
Charley Crockett
In his vintage Stetson, the Texas troubadour performed a set of songs that find new meaning in familiar country, folk and blues forms.
17 min
Omah Lay
The singer and songwriter made a special trip from Nigeria to the Tiny Desk for a performance of his Afro-fusion hits.
18 min
Antonio Sánchez & Bad Hombre
Sánchez observes the world with a drummer's sensibilities. Here, he and his pals in Bad Hombre explore the rhythm of language in a set of tracks from Sánchez's latest album.
26 min
Jorge Glem and Sam Reider
Two musical cultures come together to create something that didn't exist before in this Tiny Desk performance.
19 min
Mama's Broke
The duo performs a set of dark yet hopeful songs filled with haunting harmonies and unique rhythms.
17 min
Selina Moon
The singer-songwriter has impressed us with her Tiny Desk Contest entries over the last few years; at the Desk, she brought confidence, a sense of belonging and a brilliant set of songs.
16 min
Andrew Combs
Watch the restless singer-songwriter in a set of penetrating new tunes, capped with a breathtaking love song.
16 min
Bono and The Edge
It's hard to overstate the kindness and good-natured humor the U2 singer and guitarist brought to this set, where they performed reimagined songs from All That You Can't Leave Behind.
21 min
Tye Tribbett
Tye Tribbett brings his high energy praise music to the Tiny Desk in a set of six inspiring songs.
19 min
Ingrid Andress
Andress writes songs that have a way of digging up clear-headed truths; here, she performs three tracks from across her catalog.
16 min
The Bad Ends (Home) Concert
This magical, four-song set is an Athens, Ga., insider's dream.
18 min
The Beths
The New Zealand band writes sparkling indie pop underpinned by empathy. At the Tiny Desk, you can hear that support and camaraderie in the band's stripped-down arrangements and dry banter.
22 min
Durand Bernarr
Before his eclectic, high-energy performance, the singer and showman told the Tiny Desk team: "I'm not meant to be understood; I'm meant to be experienced."
22 min
Kassa Overall
The drummer, singer and producer gives a virtuosic display of musicianship, lyricism and artistic innovation at the Tiny Desk.
21 min
Trina
The rap icon treated fans to an epic set featuring the best of her sprawling discography.
15 min
Fred again..
The electronic producer and songwriter moves seamlessly in this jam-packed Tiny Desk.
27 min
RAYE
A long time coming, the South London-bred singer-songwriter performs at the Desk with the confidence of a veteran vocal powerhouse.
21 min
Claudia Acuña
The Chilean jazz vocalist makes a lasting impression at the Tiny Desk.
17 min
Lara Downes
With a piano draped in spring flowers, Lara Downes plays a smart set of music, new and old, that offers the power of renewal.
19 min
Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet
With a who's who of forward-thinking guitarists, Bill Orcutt brings his ecstatic minimalism to the Tiny Desk.
12 min
Cuco
Slow-rolling through four tracks, Cuco seamlessly blends the soul of chicano ballads and the smooth energy of soft rock.
16 min
Kenny Garrett and Sounds From The Ancestors
The distinguished saxophonist pushes the boundaries of modern jazz in his expressive Tiny Desk performance.
17 min
caroline
The minimalist English octet stresses a communal spirit in its Tiny Desk performance.
25 min
Sid Siriam
The India-born, California-raised musician melds Carnatic music, R&B and soul in his Tiny Desk set.
24 min
Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Shahzad Ismaily
In its Tiny Desk performance, the trio makes music strictly for the moment — creating a shared language in real time.
17 min
Karol G
The Colombian singer and global superstar shines brighter than ever in this surprising Tiny Desk performance from last May.
17 min
Lewis Capaldi
If you didn't know anything about Capaldi before this Tiny Desk, the self-deprecating humor mixed in between gut-wrenching ballads will quickly catch you up to speed.
19 min
Kimberley Akimbo
The Broadway cast, band and composer assemble behind the Tiny Desk to share four songs from the touching new musical, which is nominated for eight Tony Awards.
21 min
Anna Tivel
In her Tiny Desk, Tivel's empathy elevates her folk-based, jazz-touched compositions from mere stories to secular prayers.
21 min
Jay Park (Home) Concert
The singer and rapper displays the subtle breadth of his music in this Tiny Desk (home) concert.
17 min
Little Moon: 2023 Tiny Desk Contest Winner
2023's Tiny Desk Contest unique, winning band performs a range of emotional and creative songs.
18 min
NIKI
The Indonesian artist Nicole Zefanya brings a tiny toy piano and sleek songs to this Tiny Desk debut.
19 min
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
The band's Tiny Desk performance featured songs that leaned right into its incalculability.
17 min
Charlie Wilson
The old-school funk and R&B artist tells a tale of "two Charlies" in his Tiny Desk performance.
30 min
Babyface
The singer, songwriter and producer brought his timeless love songs to the Tiny Desk.
30 min
Tank
The veteran R&B scholar turns NPR's modest venue into "the big, nasty Desk" in his performance.
18 min
Adam Blackstone
The producer, songwriter and musical director to the stars performed a multi-genre celebration of Black music.
25 min
Ambré
Everything in this Tiny Desk performance is unapologetically New Orleans.
18 min
Amaarae
The artist's Tiny Desk proves how far the sounds of West Africa have influenced the U.S. and, more implicitly, just how much the music defies catch-all labels like 'Afrobeats.'
22 min
MUNA
At the Tiny Desk, the pop trio preached the importance of joyful revolution.
16 min
Wild Up
The 14-piece Los Angeles-based ensemble's performance of music by Julius Eastman is nothing less than an exuberant house party unto itself.
17 min
Brandee Younger
In her stunning Tiny Desk, the artist demonstrates her ability to showcase all sides of the harp, from an instrument in classical music to contemporary pop.
20 min
Juvenile
The viral tweets were real — it's finally here: one of the most rambunctious experiences at the Tiny Desk.
28 min
Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita, SUBA Trio
With members hailing from Cuba, Senegal and Venezuela, this Tiny Desk is a truly international musical experience.
22 min
Meridian Brothers
The eccentric, fictional salsa band pulls the Tiny Desk audience into the realm of the imaginary.
18 min
Lisa O'Neill
The Irish singer brings a plaintive, pensive atmosphere to the Tiny Desk.
21 min
MARO
The Portuguese guitarist brings listeners into her journey of heartbreak.
19 min
Alice Sara Ott
The widely acclaimed pianist serves up nearly 200-year-old music by Chopin mixed with a contemporary work that looks back in time.
18 min
GWAR
For nearly four decades, the band has terrorized planet Earth with its raucous stage shows, raunchy metal songs and grotesque satire. GWAR finally came to destroy the Tiny Desk, once and for all.
20 min
Sparks
The duo bring their twisted musical sense of humor, honed for over 50 years, to the Tiny Desk.
17 min
Cypress Hill
The pioneering hip-hop group rolled into NPR headquarters with a horn section to play five funky tracks.
30 min
Kany Garcia
The Puerto Rican vocalist brings her distinctive songs of desire and longing to the Tiny Desk.
17 min
Peter One
Shifting from English to French to Guro, Peter One brings his passion-filled songs about his storied past to the Tiny Desk.
16 min
Obongjayar
The Nigerian-born, London-based artist gave us everything at his Tiny Desk.
19 min
Gregorio Uribe
In the hands of Colombian musician, the accordion is both a melodic and rhythmic wonder.
19 min
Action Bronson
The artist, whose world encompasses rap, clothing, fitness, food and more, performs funky, reinterpreted highlights from his discography in his Tiny Desk.
28 min
Little Dragon
The boundary-pushing dance pop group delivers a performance awash in upbeat and optimistic melody.
15 min
Post Malone
One of the world's biggest stars performs a few of the world's biggest songs at the Tiny Desk.
18 min
Omar Montes
The Spanish artist dances along the border of tradition and modernity in his Tiny Desk performance.
15 min
Sarah Cahill
The intrepid champion of new music turns her attention to female composers, offering a sampler of works by women across four centuries, including a favorite of Louis XIV and an Ethiopian nun.
20 min
Yahritza y Su Esencia
The family trio belt out songs of lost love and longing in their Tiny Desk performance.
18 min
Christian McBride's New Jawn
This unpredictable, funky set showcases the distinctive creative interplay between each player's personality.
20 min
Speedy Ortiz
The clever rock band delivers a performance 10 years in the making.
17 min
Chlöe
In her Tiny Desk performance, the singer filled the room with a stunning vocal performance, her positive spirit and light radiating throughout the entire room.
19 min
Anne Akiko Meyers
The thoughtful violinist makes a set of contemplative music, including a piece by Philip Glass, sing sweetly on her $16 million instrument.
19 min
Hiromi
The Japanese composer delivers a highly energetic and joyful Tiny Desk set.
23 min
Indigo De Souza
The singer-songwriter's vocals soar in this beautifully simple Tiny Desk performance.
23 min
Tiny Desk Korea: V of BTS
The K-pop superstar and BTS member performs three love songs from his new album.
11 min
Rawayana
The Venezuelan group brings its infectious energy and beach-infused sound to the Tiny Desk.
21 min
Wicked
Broadway stars Alyssa Fox and McKenzie Kurtz defy gravity, accompanied by composer Stephen Schwartz to celebrate 20 years of Wicked.
25 min
J Noa
J Noa came to the Tiny Desk to show the world what a girl from her barrio is capable of.
16 min
DannyLux
The Chicano singer brings a grounded sense of reflection to the Tiny Desk.
22 min
Sam Smith
The singer's Tiny Desk performance is a joy to behold.
21 min
Alex Cuba
Alex Cuba weaves evocative imagery into musical arrangements that conjure his native country.
18 min
Villano Antillano
Antillano shows why she's one of the most exciting voices in Latin trap and reggaeton right now.
15 min
Caroline Polachek
Haters may say it's AutoTune, but when Caroline Polachek sings live, it's clear that the impressive range and control you're hearing is all her.
18 min
Ivy Queen
"La Caballota" herself gives a performance for the girls.
25 min
Becky G
The stripped down sound of some of Becky G's biggest hits offered a rare view of her artistry.
21 min
Smokey Robinson
If there was ever an artist the word "legend" applies to, it would be Smokey Robinson.
30 min
Maluma
The Colombian superestrella brought his mesmerizing vocals and a few proud tears to the Tiny Desk.
22 min
Jordan Ward
The R&B singer performs a set of his most beloved musical moments.
17 min
Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman
The two artists perform a set of music full of yearning, joy and history.
18 min
Nile Rodgers & CHIC
As the ringleader of the CHIC experience, Rodgers crams a lifetime's worth of nightlife into every strum of his guitar.
30 min
Shakti
The Indian jazz fusion band stops by the Tiny Desk for a historical performance.
20 min
Arlo Parks
The British singer-songwriter articulates relatable emotions in ways a mere layman couldn't imagine.
19 min
Conrad Tao and Caleb Teicher
In our very first tap dancing Tiny Desk, the artists created an experience so unexpectedly fresh and suffused with joy, it moved some to tears and others to cheer for more.
23 min
Emerson String Quartet
In one of its very final performances ever, the durable and beloved string quartet says farewell with music by Beethoven, Walker and Ravel.
24 min
Samia
Samia's set provides a stunning showcase for her charisma, vocal talent and deftly detailed lyricism.
20 min
Noname
The Chicago-bred emcee-activist performs some revolutionary raps from her third album Sundial.
23 min
Hayden Pedigo
At the Tiny Desk, the guitarist plays quiet, gentle melodies inspired by his Texas panhandle home.
21 min
Marta Pereira da Costa
The renowned Portuguese guitarist bridges centuries of history with immaculate playing.
21 min
PJ Harvey
In her Tiny Desk performance, the artist lives on her own artistic plane — inviting listeners to take their time to fully join her.
17 min
Shucked
Songwriting team Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally take us on a musical journey from Nashville to Broadway with their musical, Shucked.
23 min
William Prince
The singer-songwriter performs songs that swoon at the wonders of love, but also deep partnership.
17 min
Tiny Desk Korea: Tomorrow X Together
The standout group of K-pop's fourth generation is in their element in this Tiny Desk Korea performance.
12 min
Sampha
The artist returns to the Tiny Desk for a full circle moment of a performance.
23 min
Aja Monet
The Tiny Desk blooms with the stanzas, sounds and legacy of jazz poetry.
28 min
Philip Selway
The Radiohead drummer performs three songs with a mix of deep warmth and wry, self-effacing modesty.
17 min
The LeeVees
Bob Boilen's favorite Hanukkah tradition graces the Tiny Desk for fun-filled songs about latkes and gelt.
18 min
Olivia Rodrigo
The singer-songwriter brings a handful of searing cuts from her sophomore album, GUTS, to the Tiny Desk.
18 min
Laufey
The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter brings her modern jazz-pop love songs to the Tiny Desk.
19 min
Alvvays
The band's recreation of its billowy, shoegaze-y sound lights up the Tiny Desk.
13 min
Scarface
The rapper's performance radiates with his decadeslong passion as an emcee and producer.
31 min
Louis Cato
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert bandleader believes that live music builds community. At the Tiny Desk, Cato captivates.
21 min
Sweeney Todd
Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford lead the Broadway cast, complete with Tiny Desk-sized orchestrations by Stephen Sondhiem's longtime collaborator, Jonathan Tunick.
24 min