They’re giving a sonic salute to iconic albums — and the celebration is louder than ever.

This Black Music Month, NPR Music’s Tiny Desk is cranking up the volume on legacy, lineage, and the artists who have shaped the very rhythm of American culture. Through a curated, month-long tribute honoring landmark album anniversaries, Tiny Desk is taking listeners on a journey through the heart of Black musical brilliance — a place where sound becomes story, resistance becomes rhythm, and memory becomes melody. As NPR notes, the series is designed to uplift the voices and visions that have long defined Black creativity in all its forms (NPR).

Nine Albums. Nine Eras. One Living Archive of Black Genius.

From June 1 through the end of the month, nine groundbreaking albums will receive their flowers, each marking a milestone year and capturing the diverse range of Black artistry. These albums are more than songs compiled into track lists — they’re cultural artifacts, sonic time capsules, and reflections of the worlds that shaped them.

Whether it’s the genre-bending fire of Living Colour’s Time’s Up turning 35, or the raw soul of Keyshia Cole’s debut The Way It Is celebrating 20 years of impact, each project being honored represents a moment when Black music reshaped the landscape. As Billboard has often noted, these projects continue to influence generations long after their release (Billboard).

The full roster of Tiny Desk tributes spans five decades, blending R&B, hip-hop, gospel, funk, jazz fusion, and dancehall — a testament to the depth and breadth of Black sound:

• Touch by Amerie with The Backyard Band (20 years)

• Alone in His Presence by CeCe Winans (30 years)

• In a Major Way by E-40 (30 years)

• The Way It Is by Keyshia Cole (20 years)

• Time’s Up by Living Colour (35 years)

• Kush & Orange Juice by Wiz Khalifa (15 years)

• School Days by Stanley Clarke (50 years)

• LUXURY by Alex Isley (10 years)

• Art and Life by Beenie Man (25 years)

Each Tiny Desk performance will invite fans to rediscover the albums that helped define eras — and in many cases, rewrite them.

“These Are Our Icons”

“This year feels like the perfect time to stop and revere some of the greatest albums in Black music,” said Bobby Carter, Tiny Desk host and producer. “These artists might not be the first you hear in the Pop culture conversation, but they are crown jewels in Black culture. These are our icons.”

Carter’s vision for the series was inspired in part by Chaka Khan’s electrifying Tiny Desk performance, which became one of the platform’s most celebrated sets (Essence). What began as a spark of inspiration has evolved into a robust tribute honoring both household names and revered cult legends.

More Than Music — It’s Cultural Memory

In addition to the anniversary tributes, fans can expect brand-new Tiny Desk performances, plus the return of Tiny Talks, short-form interviews that dive deeper into the stories behind the artists, albums, and eras. Platforms like Rolling Stone have praised Tiny Desk for mastering the balance between performance and storytelling, creating intimate artistic spaces that bring fans closer to the music (Rolling Stone).

For over a decade, NPR Music has built a reputation as a sanctuary for both music lovers and music makers. With legacy projects such as Jazz Night in America and Alt.Latino, the platform has consistently uplifted underrepresented artistry and illuminated the ways music intersects with culture, history, and lived experience (NPR Music).

A Reminder That Black Music Is a Living Story

As NPR encourages audiences to follow the month’s celebration across its platforms using #BlackMusicMonth, this year’s tributes offer a reminder: the soundtrack of Black life is vast, layered, and ever-evolving. These albums may be decades old, but their echoes continue to inspire today’s artists — from studio production to political expression, from genre fusion to chart-topping hits.

Black music isn’t just something you listen to. It’s something you feel, inherit, and often live through.

So tune in. Turn it up. Honor the architects.
Because in every verse, bass line, riff, and run, Black music is still — and always — making history.