KEXP chats with Hank Shocklee about the creation of Public Enemy's classic LP on its 30th anniversary, covering everything from their use of sampling to carving out a space for themselves in a music industry that had other priorities
Seattle-based electronic musician and video game soundtrack composer Lena Raine takes the listener on a magical journey through some of her favorite video game music on her dynamic guest DJ mix for Midnight In A Perfect World.
The Seattle-based jazz musician Kassa Overall released CREAM in September 2025, an album that showcases new, original takes on some of the most classic tracks in '90s rap.
k2k is the alias of Wellington, New Zealand, DJ, electronic producer, and vocalist Katherine Anderson. An alumnus of Red Bull Music Academy Paris 2015 and currently part of the Inky Waves collective that's taking over dancefloors around her home country, her love for highly-melodic, pop-tinged, hou…
In honor of John Cusack's 52nd birthday today, KEXP is taking a cue from High Fidelity, and presenting the Top Five Music-Related Films of his career.
Good thing Portland's just three hours away, because you don't want to miss the Musicfest NW, taking place August 21st to 23rd at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
We take a second look at Eric's Trip's debut Love Tara, the drama behind the LP, and why it remains a timeless classic as we celebrate Sub Pop's 30th anniversary.
New music from Smashing Pumpkins and Death Grips, Lykke Li takes the Colbert stage, and FIDLAR cover Pink Floyd.
The Shabazz Palaces and Digable Planets MC talks about what it was like to experience Public Enemy's masterpiece as it was unleashed into the world, the brilliance of Flavor Flav, and what the band meant to black youth in 1988.
As we get closer to the finals of the 19th Annual Sound Off! competition, KEXP's Content Team wanted to take a minute to reflect on some of the competition's most successful alumni, artists who've parlayed their participation into active music careers.
Public Service Broadcasting make their first visit to the KEXP studio to perform songs off their 2013 LP, "Inform - Educate - Entertain." The London duo blend samples from British archival film footage through dense, but groovy instrumental music. Recorded 2/23/2014 - 4 songs: London Can…
L.A. ladies Warpaint share a new song... titled "New Song." Well played, Warpaint, well played. The track is slated for their third full-length, Heads Up, which finds the group moving (no pun intended) in a more dance-oriented direction. Vocalist/guitarist Emily Kokal says, via a press release, "W…
In the weeks since Tom Petty's sudden death, dozens of musicians have honored the rocker by covering his songs. The breadth and depth of these tributes is awe-inspiring: Sure, artists have gravitated toward the hits -- "American Girl," "Don’t Come Around Here No More," "Mary Jane's Last Dance" and …
Every time I look at this album cover I wonder if I should post it or not. Given the losses the Ramones suffered in the 21st century, the title and image takes on a new bittersweetness, and one or two of the 1984 KCMU DJs' comments take on a harsher edge than probably intended. That said, the stati…
2016 continues to take so much away from us. Today, the world mourns the death of a ladies' man, Leonard Cohen, at age 82. His Facebook page reports:
The highly-anticipated new album from Arcade Fire is finally here. KEXP's Music Director Don Yates notes, "Like their last album (2013's Reflektor), this one features a more dance-oriented sound... with takes on consumerism, social media, and content overload."
This week, you can pick up the latest from the self-described "best punk band in Toronto," The Greys. KEXP Music Director Don Yates declares it a "more expansive, dynamic and melodic take on the band's anthemic posthardcore sound, with consistently strong songs exploring themes of identity, racism,…
Down in New Orleans, the streets are filled with drunken debauchery as Carnival comes to a close. On this Fat Tuesday, KEXP joins the festivities with a Mardi Gras mix, sure to get your toes tappin'. Take a musical trip to the French Quarter with this some funky favorites in this Video Roundup of N…
Seattle-based professor, writer, historian, and author of 6 ‘N the Morning: West Coast Hip-Hop Music 1987-1992 & the Transformation of Mainstream Culture Dr. Daudi Abe offers insight on this landmark work as KEXP breaks down every track and sample on the LP.
