The latest in a prolific career, Busta's new album is a sequel — delivered 22 years after the first Extinction Level Event — and a characteristically big, ambitious project.

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Thundercat about his latest album, It Is What It Is, the importance of laughter and the artist he's grateful for, Louis Cole.

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with singer-songwriter Mia Doi Todd about displacement, her forthcoming album and the artist she is grateful for: Thundercat.

The Big Thief singer and guitarist holed up in the mountains of Western Massachusetts to record not one, but two albums, simply titled songs and instrumentals.

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with American multi-instrumentalist and meditation expert Laraaji about laughter meditation, his latest album Sun Piano and the artist he is grateful for: Mia Doi Todd.

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Brooklyn-based musician Nick Hakim about creating little worlds with music and the artist he is grateful for: Laraaji.

Keys speaks with Audie Cornish about delivering her seventh album, Alicia, during the pandemic, and the strange new resonance of songs written before anyone knew what this year would be like.

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with British singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas about her music and the artist she is thankful for, Nick Hakim.

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with British rapper, poet and spoken word artist Kae Tempest about their ability to empathize and find hope amid darkness and an artist they are grateful for: Lianne La Havas.

A new season Ari Shapiro's musical chain of gratitude, Play It Forward, begins with Indigo Girls' Amy Ray and Emily Saliers talking about their lifelong bond and the poetic flair of Kae Tempest.

In the finale of the first season of Play It Forward, Ari Shapiro speaks to dubstep pioneer Mala about minimalism, freedom and an artist he was inspired by, the late Augustus Pablo.

Ari Shapiro speaks with Blake about playing virtual concerts for thousands of fans, and finding his voice early on by studying the music of British producer Mala.

The anonymized, countryfied singer-rapper came barreling into the mainstream in February, seemingly out of thin air.

Ari Shapiro talks to jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin about her new album Pursuance: The Coltranes and an artist she is grateful for: James Blake.

"They unleashed sheer hell on peaceful protesters right outside my stoop," says Washington, D.C., resident Rahul Dubey.

In the fourth episode of Play It Forward, Ari Shapiro speaks with R&B polymath Georgia Anne Muldrow about how music has served her during the pandemic and the sprawling soul-jazz of Lakecia Benjamin.

In the third episode of Play It Forward, Ari Shapiro interviews Robin Dann of the Canadian band, Bernice. She talks about redefining success and how the freedom of jazz informs her music.

Many musicians canceled tours and delayed album releases due to the pandemic. But some are now using home recording setups and streaming services to write and publish songs about the coronavirus.

Glenn Copeland, whose ambient and electronic recordings were largely unknown for decades, talks about his late career reemergence, the power of positive thinking and the Canadian band Bernice.

In the inaugural segment of Play It Forward, Ari Shapiro speaks with Dan Snaith, who records under the name Caribou, about his new album Suddenly and the inspiration he found in Glenn Copeland.