How Tiny Desk became a go-to spot for hip-hop

It's Been a Minute

NPR

News Commentary, Society & Culture, News, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality

4.6 • 8.8K Ratings

🗓️ 30 September 2022

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When folks think about where to get the latest in hip-hop, NPR doesn't usually come to mind. But that's changing, thanks to the team at the Tiny Desk Concerts, which was just nominated as the Best Hip-Hop Platform for the 2022 BET Awards. Since 2008, Tiny Desk Concerts have delighted millions of listeners and viewers on YouTube with stripped-down performances from their favorite artists. Now the series is proving it's also an authentic space for showcasing all forms of hip-hop. Guest host Elise Hu talks to Tiny Desk Concerts series producer Bobby Carter about bringing new musicians into the mix, what goes on behind the scenes and where the team wants to take the show next.

Then, Elise plays a Tiny Desk edition of 'Who Said That' with Carter and video producer Josh Bryant.

Finally, Elise chats with P.E. Moskowitz, author of the 'Mental Hellth' newsletter, about how terms from therapy have crept into our daily language. Does it help or harm how we think about mental health?

You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at [email protected].

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hi, I'm Luna. Hi, I'm Luna.
0:03.0	It is my mom. This week on the show.
0:06.0	This week on the show. How tiny desk concerts.
0:09.0	How dying test concerts.
0:11.0	Became a huge platform for hip-hop artists.
0:14.0	Also, also. Why some words you might know.
0:17.0	Why some words you might know from therapy.
0:20.0	CREPT INTO. CREPT INTO. Every day's conversation.
0:23.0	Alright, look, search the show.
0:25.0	Hey y'all, you're listening to It's Been a Minute from NPR.
0:30.0	I'm your guest host, Elise Hugh.
0:32.0	We have a great reason this week to celebrate the tiny desk concert series from NPR Music.
0:38.0	The show is up for a BET Award for Best Hip-Hop Platform.
0:43.0	Tiny desk concerts have been a cultural force for years now thanks to the internet.
0:47.0	They're known all over the world as a way to enjoy stripped-down performances.
0:51.0	From big names you already know. They're also a showcase and a launch pad for lesser known artists you might not know.
0:58.0	Musicians from all genres have played the tiny venue, but now the tiny desk concert has become a legit curator of the best hip-hop music out there.
1:07.0	So today we brought on someone who's been central to bringing more hip-hop artists and black artists to our NPR listeners and our viewers online.
1:15.0	Hello, I am Bobby Carter on the series producer for the Tiny Desk.
1:20.0	Tiny desk. Yeah, that thing. That thing, that thing.
1:23.0	I don't think anyone listening to this won't know what a tiny desk concert is, but if folks have been under a rock or they came off a spaceship from another planet, just describe what a tiny desk concert is.
1:35.0	Yeah, a tiny desk concert is a short, intimate performance behind a desk in a real office space.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from NPR, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of NPR and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.