The Current's Sean McPherson reflects on the life and music of Phife Dawg; the rapper from A Tribe Called Quest who died earlier this week due to complications from diabetes. 'Phife Dawg wasn't the man, he was the everyman. He wasn't the coolest. He was the realest,' Sean writes.

Policy and a Pint: Using Technology to Solve Community Problems asks, what makes Minnesotans connect across an ever-growing virtual space? Host Steve Seel is joined by guest panelists for a lively discussion about tackling systemic challenges like homelessness and creating better public services through technology.

Apple Music and Vice have launched a music documentary series called The Score. The series will explore music across the country, and the first episode, “Reservation Rap,” spotlights Ojibwe hip-hop artists from northern Minnesota. Baby Shel, Tall Paul, Thomas X, and Left Field appear in the two-part documentary, which clocks in at just under 20 minutes and is now streaming…

On his 13th album, Bird delves deeper into alternately peppy and muted ruminations on love and chemistry. Always a thoughtful songwriter, he's found a way to sound playful while maturing with time.

Last night, Lucius played a sold-out concert at First Avenue’s Mainroom, and they welcomed a local guest onstage: none other than Gaelynn Lea, the Duluth singer-songwriter who recently made national headlines when she won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. Lucius’s Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe were both judges in the contest. “Hers was the one melody…

For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear from rock stars that were in injured in the line of duty?

Christian Erickson remembers the moment he realized he was in a band. Gathered in a practice room, Angela Orluck, Amy Turaney and Janey Winterbauer began crafting harmonies for Erickson’s “Cape Canaveral.” Originally, Erickson had just planned for them to sing in some of the different tracks he had written, but he knew he was witnessing something…

After numerous collaborative efforts since 2012’s For My Mother, producer and composer Big Cats returns with another solo project, though the term is not entirely accurate. The eight-song album What If It Doesn’t Get Better? pulls from a core group of collaborators for additional vocals, instrumentation, and composition — including Lydia Liza, Claire de Lune,…

Billboard published its first U.S. LP chart; Elvis joined the Army; Lou Reed was bitten by a fan; the Bee Gees had their 8th U.S. chart-topper; songwriter extraordinaire Nick Lowe celebrates his birthday; and legendary Motown drummer Uriel Jones died, Today in Music History.

Polica are the highest new entry, along with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes and CHVRCHES; M. Ward is the biggest upward mover; Tame Impala return to the top; and David Bowie is inducted to the Hall of Fame for the first time.