Phil Harrell

Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music was more than an hour of feedback and noise with no noticeable structure. A new tribute album called Metal Machine Muzak interprets the spirit behind that work.

Following star-making roles in Broadway's Kinky Boots and FX's Pose, Billy Porter has released an original album that plays out like mini-autobiographies: Black Mona Lisa.

In the new film Dream Scenario, Nicolas Cage plays a man who unwittingly starts showing up in other people's dreams. NPR speaks with writer and director Kristoffer Borgli.

Champion bodybuilder, Hollywood superstar, Governor of California — Arnold Schwarzenegger offers a few pieces of advice about living a successful life in his new book Be Useful.

A new book about the 1980's film "Airplane!" from David Zucker, Jim Abrahams & Jerry Zucker, the writing and directing team responsible for one of the most transformative film comedies in history.

The New York icons whose songs pulled rock inside out (and whose breakup was nearly as legendary) gather for the first time in years to discuss their rereleased concert film, Stop Making Sense.

The 2010 Nicki Minaj album Pink Friday brought vibrant new shades to hip-hop.

Hip-hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Commentator Kiana Fitzgerald is looking back at the albums that changed the game. Today, it's OutKast's album Aquemini.

Commentator Kiana Fitzgerald examines hip-hop game-changer Missy Elliott — as we celebrate 50 years of the genre.

In 1995, the Memphis hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia took a shoestring DIY approach to recording their debut album, Mystic Stylez. Their example led to a flourishing independent hip-hop scene.

In 1989, 2 Live Crew's As Nasty As They Wanna Be became the first album declared legally obscene, and the group's legal battles set a precedent for the rappers that followed.

With their 1987 debut album Paid in Full, Eric B. & Rakim introduced internal rhyme schemes to rap, and changed the flow of hip-hop forever.

Hip-hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Commentator Kiana Fitzgerald is looking back at the albums that changed the game.

Dave Lombardo of Slayer breaks out gongs, timbales, djembes, congas and cajóns (plus anything else he can bang on) for the album Rites of Percussion.

Music mogul Seymour Stein died Sunday at the age of 80. As the head of Sire Records, he signed genre-defining artists like Madonna, Ice-T, the Ramones and Talking Heads.

As the head of Sire Records, Seymour Stein signed genre-defining artists like Madonna, Ice-T, the Ramones and Talking Heads.

Depeche Mode return with its first album since the death of founding member Andy Fletcher. It focuses a lot, unsurprisingly, on the subject of life.

Raised in lily-white Cape Cod, Mass. while one of the few persons of color around, Esperanza found their voice the old-fashioned way: by searching for it.

Pink Floyd's historic album Dark Side of the Moon turns 50 years old today – cognitive psychologist Daniel Levitin joins us to discuss its twisting psychological themes.

She scored a much-maligned hit at the age of 13 with "Friday." Now 25, Rebecca Black is finally releasing her debut album, Let Her Burn.