Kurtis Blow, the King of Rap from Harlem U.S.A., is a true hip hop pioneer. In 1981, Kurtis was the first national rapper to be booked in Minneapolis. Kurtis Blow is back in the Twin Cities as the MC of 'Hip Hop Nutcracker,' which has its final show tonight at the Ordway in St. Paul. Sean McPherson and Kurtis Blow sat down for a conversation about hip hop then and now.

After more than 25 years in New York City, Mike Doughty decided to relocate to Memphis, Tenn., citing its artist-friendly environment. 'I have time and I have space and I've just been working up a storm,' Doughty says. 'It's just fantastic here.' Read more about what led Doughty to move to Memphis and about what he enjoys in his new hometown.

The Sound Unseen Festival, which features films about music, kicks off Wednesday, Nov. 11, and runs through Sunday. Festival director Jim Brunzell and co-programmer Rich Gill join Jill Riley and Sean McPherson on The Current's Morning Show to talk about the festival and some of the films in the lineup.

R&B legend Allen Toussaint died Tuesday, Nov. 10, of an apparent heart attack after a concert in Madrid. He was 77 years old. The Current's program director, Jim McGuinn, shares a personal reflection on Toussaint's life and career.

Riding on the success of her fourth studio album, Honeymoon, Lana Del Rey sat down for a chat with The Current's David Safar about glamorized paranoia and her love of Father John Misty and Miss Nina Simone.

Following a recent in-studio session, Albert Hammond Jr. and his bandmate Hammarsing Kharhmar took some time to talk about two different Fender guitars they like very much: Hammond's Stratocaster and Kharhmar's Jazzmaster. Both instruments lend themselves heavily to Hammond's sound.

Nathaniel Rateliff describes his guitar, a vintage Gibson he's only had for six weeks. 'I saw it, it was cheap, and it was close to my birthday, so I just thought I'd treat myself,' Rateliff says. 'I think it's gorgeous looking.' Check out the full interview and a selection of close-up photos by Nate Ryan.

Ahead of his long sold out show at First Avenue, Leon Bridges stopped by The Current to chat with host Bill DeVille about his debut album Coming Home and what's in store for the Fort Worth, Texas-based musician.

The Current's music director, David Safar, attended Blur's show in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Oct. 20. "Blur's performance at The Hollywood Bowl was true to the band's beginnings,' Safar writes. '[Frontman Damon Albarn] commanded control of the band and the audience.' Read David's full report of this monumental show.

While visiting The Current's studio, Dan Wilson took a few minutes to talk about the guitar that has accompanied him on stages and in songwriting sessions since the turn of the century. 'The guitar is sort of a rough and ready, portable songwriting machine,' he says. Check out the full interview.