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News

Dec 23, 2022

Are things back to normal in 2022? They are, aren’t they? Well not quite. More

Nov 15, 2022

The nominations for the 2023 Grammy Awards have been announced. Under the Radar favorites Wet Leg got five nominations, including for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album. Other artists we cover to get nominations include Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Björk, Spoon, The War on Drugs, Wilco, Big Thief, Arctic Monkeys, IDLES, Beck, Spiritualized, The Black Keys, and more. More

Glastonbury 2022: Watch Performances from Wolf Alice, Jessie Ware, Mitski, HAIM, Foals, and More

Plus Courtney Barnett, Cate Le Bon, Pet Shop Boys, beabadoobee, Dry Cleaning, First Aid Kit, Jack White, Kendrick Lamar, Caribou, St. Vincent, Squid, black midi, Big Thief, and Many Others

Jun 27, 2022

Couldn’t make it to Glastonbury this past weekend? We have you covered, with highlights from some of the performances including ones by Wolf Alice, Jessie Ware, Courtney Barnett, Mitski, HAIM, Foals, and many more. Plus Cate Le Bon, Pet Shop Boys, beabadoobee, Dry Cleaning, First Aid Kit, Jack White, Kendrick Lamar, Fontaines D.C., Lorde, Caribou, Metronomy, St. Vincent, Olivia Rodrigo and Lily Allen, Squid, black midi, Big Thief, IDLES, Crowded House, and much more. More

13 Best Songs of the Week: Crack Cloud, Death Cab for Cutie, Stella Donnelly, TRAAMS, and More

Plus Kendrick Lamar, Gwenno, Bartees Strange, Ezra Furman, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

May 13, 2022

Welcome to the 19th Songs of the Week of 2022. It was a stellar week for new tracks, thanks in part to some exciting album announcements and their corresponding singles. So this week we have a slightly super-sized Top 13. More

Kendrick Lamar Releases New Album “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” and Announces Tour

Out Now via PGLang / Top Dawg / Aftermath / Interscope; Stream It Now

May 13, 2022

Kendrick Lamar has released his fifth studio album today, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. His first album since 2017’s Pulitzer Prize-winning DAMN., it features guest appearances by Portishead’s Beth Gibbons, Summer Walker, Ghostface Killah, Thundercat, Baby Keem, and Sampha, among others. More

Watch the Super Bowl Halftime Performance with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, and More

The Performance Also Featured Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent

Feb 14, 2022

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar joined together to perform at last night’s Super Bowl halftime show. The performance also featured a surprise appearance by 50 Cent, and Anderson .Paak made an appearance as a drummer in the live band. More

Apr 11, 2019

Sweden’s Amason have shared a new song, the slow-burner “You Don’t Have to Call Me.” It’s the first single from their upcoming new album, which a press release says is due out this August. They have also done a P3 Session (a Norwegian radio program on NRK P3) where they perform “You Don’t Have to Call Me” and “Ålen,” with the latter song morphing into a cover of Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “All the Stars,” from the Black Panther soundtrack. More

Oscar Nominations Announced – “Black Panther,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “A Star Is Born,”

Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Vice, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Roma, BlacKkKlansman, Green Book, Isle of Dogs, The Favorite, and More

Jan 22, 2019

This morning the nominations for the 2019 Academy Awards were announced. Two music-related films were nominated for Best Picture: Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star Is Born. Rami Malek was nominated for playing Freddie Mercury in the former and Lady Gaga was nominated for her performance in the latter. Lady Gaga was also nominated for Best Original Song for “Shallow” from A Star Is Born and Kendrick Lamar was among the nominees for the song “All the Stars,” from Black Panther. More

Jul 20, 2018

Scottish electro-pop trio CHVRCHES released a new album, Love Is Dead, back in May via Glassnote. Now they have stopped by Australia’s Triple J radio station to take part in their Like a Version series where a band does a cover version. Their choice: Kendrick Lamar‘s “LOVE.” from his Pulitzer Prize winning DAMN. album. More

Kendrick Lamar Wins the Pulitzer Prize for Music

DAMN. is the First Hip-Hop Album to Win

Apr 16, 2018

Kendrick Lamar‘s 2017 album DAMN. has won the Pulitzer Prize for Music. This makes Lamar the first hip-hop or rap artist to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. In fact, in the past it’s only been given to classical and jazz artists. More

Kendrick Lamar and SZA Share “All the Stars” Video from “Black Panther” Soundtrack

Black Panther: The Album Due Out February 9 via Interscope, Black Panther in Theaters February 16

Feb 06, 2018

The early reviews for Black Panther, the latest Marvel Comics blockbuster, are through the roof. It’s currently got a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 87 on Metacritic, with critics raving that it’s a comic book movie with more on its mind than just epic superhero fights. The movie is due out February 16. Kendrick Lamar has done the soundtrack, Black Panther: The Album, which is due out this Friday (February 9) via Interscope. More

We’re Supposed to Report on Last Night’s Grammys, But We Don’t Want To

Congrats to The War on Drugs, The National, and Father John Misty, and That's About It

Jan 29, 2018

We’re a music magazine and website and so I guess we’re supposed to report on last night’s Grammy Awards, but we really don’t want to. More

Soundtracking the Resistance - Stable Genius

The Fallout From Michael Wolff's Book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House

Jan 12, 2018

This week we look at the talk of Washington town, chaotic battles with legislation, half-time shows, and some more magic from the ever reliable and magically baffling Dan Bejar. More

Under the Radar’s Top 100 Albums of 2017

Another Dark Year Was Brightened By a Plethora of Fantastic Albums

Dec 30, 2017

2016 was regarded as a fairly rough year by many, but 2017 was no walk in the park either. 2016 was mired by the deaths of several beloved musical icons (David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, George Michael, and Sharon Jones among them) and the disappointing and divisive Presidential election, but in 2017 we had to deal with the ramifications of said election (we’d say that roughly 95% of the musicians we interview likely don’t support many, if any, of President Trump’s policies). More

Grammys 2018 Nominations: Lorde, Father John Misty, The National, The War on Drugs, and More

Plus Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, JAY-Z, Bruno Mars, Arcade Fire, Leonard Cohen, LCD Soundsystem, and Others Get Nominations

Nov 28, 2017

The 2018 Grammy Awards nominations have been announced. Childish Gambino, JAY-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, and Bruno Mars are all vying for Album of the Year. Arcade Fire, Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem, Father John Misty, and The National compete for Best Alternative Music Album. More

U2 Share New Song Feat. Kendrick Lamar - “American Soul”

Songs of Experience Due Out December 1

Nov 17, 2017

U2 are releasing a new album, Songs of Experience, on December 1. Now they have shared another song from it, “American Soul,” which features Kendrick Lamar. It’s essentially a rework of “XXX,” a song on Lamar’s DAMN. album from earlier this year that featured U2. Listen below. More

Nov 01, 2017

U2 are releasing a new album, Songs of Experience, on December 1. Now they have shared another song from it, “Get Out of Your Own Way,” which features a spoken word verse from Kendrick Lamar at the end. More

Kendrick Lamar Shares “LOYALTY.” Video Featuring Rihanna

DAMN. Out Now via Aftermath/Interscope/Top Dawg

Jul 28, 2017

Kendrick Lamar released a new album, DAMN., back in April via Aftermath/Interscope/Top Dawg. The album features guest appearances from U2 (on “XXX.”) and Rihanna (on “LOYALTY.”). Now he has shared a video for “LOYALTY.” More

Watch: Kendrick Lamar “ELEMENT.” Video

DAMN. Out Now via Aftermath/Interscope/Top Dawg

Jun 27, 2017

Kendrick Lamar released a new album, DAMN., back in April via Aftermath/Interscope/Top Dawg. The album features guest appearances from U2 (on “XXX.”) and Rihanna (on “LOYALTY.”). More

Kendrick Lamar Shares “DNA.” Video Starring Don Cheadle

DAMN. Out Now via Aftermath/Interscope/Top Dawg

Apr 18, 2017

Kendrick Lamar released a new album, DAMN., last Friday (April 14) via Aftermath/Interscope/Top Dawg. The album features guest appearances from U2 (on “XXX.”) and Rihanna (on “LOYALTY.”). More

Kendrick Lamar Announces New Album Featuring U2 and Rihanna

DAMN. Due Out This Friday (April 14) via Aftermath/Interscope/Top Dawg

Apr 11, 2017

Kendrick Lamar has officially announced a new album, after teasing it last week. It’s entitled DAMN. and is due out this Friday (April 14) via Aftermath/Interscope/Top Dawg. The album features guest appearances from U2 (on “XXX.”) and Rihanna (on “LOYALTY.”). More

Coachella 2017 Announces Line-up Featuring Radiohead, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and More

Plus Father John Misty, Future Islands, The Avalanches, The xx, Bon Iver, New Order, Real Estate, Glass Animals, and Others

Jan 04, 2017

Coachella has announced the line-up for their 2017 festival, which goes down in Indio, California over two weekends in April (with the same bill each weekend). Friday April 14 and 21 is headlined by Radiohead, Saturday April 15 and 22 is headlined by Beyoncé, and Sunday April 16 and 23 is headlined by Kendrick Lamar. More

Austin City Limits Lineup: Radiohead, M83, HAIM, LCD Soundsystem, Foals, and More

Plus: Mumford and Sons, Kendrick Lamar, Chairlift, Local Natives, Band of Horses, Frightened Rabbit, and Others

May 05, 2016

Austin City Limits have announced the lineup of their 2016 festival, in which they will celebrate their 15th anniversary. Highlights include Radiohead, M83, HAIM, LCD Soundsystem, Foals, Kendrick Lamar, Mumford and Sons, Andrew Bird, Local Natives, Conor Oberst, Chairlift, Flying Lotus, Caveman, Marlon Williams, Willie Nelson, Band of Horses, Major Lazer, Frightened Rabbit, and more. More

FYF Fest 2016 Lineup: LCD Soundsystem, Tame Impala, Air, Beach House, Grimes, Hot Chip, and More

Father John Misty, Kendrick Lamar, Grace Jones, Wolf Parade, Ty Segall, DIIV, Wild Nothing, Julia Holter, and Many Others Set for Los Angeles Fest in Au

Mar 29, 2016

FYF Fest has announced its 2016 lineup and it’s another impressive one. The event is due to take place August 27 and 28 at LA Sports Arena and Exposition Park. Saturday will be headlined by Kendrick Lamar and Tame Impala and Sunday will be headlined by LCD Soundsystem (who seem to be playing every festival this year) and Grace Jones. More

Panorama, New NYC Festival from Coachella Organizers, Announces Inaugural Lineup

LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, and Kendrick Lamar to Headline Three-Day Event in July

Mar 01, 2016

The company behind Coachella, Goldenvoice, are launching a new festival in New York City named Panorama and today the festival’s lineup has been announced. Panorama will go down at Randall’s Island Park in New York City, from July 22-24. The headliners will be LCD Soundsystem (in their first NYC show since their Madison Square Garden farewell concerts five years ago), Arcade Fire, and Kendrick Lamar. More

Watch Kendrick Lamar’s Fiery Grammys Performance

Performed "The Blacker the Berry," "Alright," and New Song

Feb 16, 2016

Kendrick Lamar may have lost the Album of the Year award at the Grammys last night to Taylor Swift, but he may have won for best Grammys 2016 performance (if there was such an award). More

Jan 18, 2016

Kanye West has shared a brand new song, “No More Parties in LA,” which features Kendrick Lamar. The song was previewed a week-and-a-half ago at the end of another new song West released, “Real Friends.” More

Grammy Nominations: Kendrick Lamar, Mark Ronson, Tame Impala, Wolf Alice, Courtney Barnett, etc.

Plus Florence and the Machine, The Weeknd, Father John Misty, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Björk, and More

Dec 07, 2015

This morning nominations for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards were announced, with the ceremony to go down on February 15, 2016. Kendrick Lamar is nominated 11 times. Other nominees include Mark Ronson, Tame Impala, Wolf Alice, Courtney Barnett, Florence and the Machine, The Weeknd, Caribou, Jamie xx, Alabama Shakes, Death Cab for Cutie, The Dead Weather, and more. More

Jun 30, 2015

Kendrick Lamar has released a video for “Alright,” a track taken from his acclaimed To Pimp a Butterfly album. More

Feb 23, 2015

Saturday was the first day of Air+Style, a festival founded by Shaun White aimed at bringing together the worlds of snowboarding and music. More

Dec 17, 2014

Last night Kendrick Lamar dropped by the third to last Colbert Report ever. More

Dec 10, 2014

There’s a new Kendrick Lamar album in the works. Since there’s a dearth of information about it, feast your eyes on this Reebok Ad. More

Nov 14, 2014

Kendrick Lamar may appear on You’re Dead track “Never Catch Me,” but that wasn’t his only collaboration with Flying Lotus. More

Listen: Under the Radar’s Weekly Playlist Featuring Kendrick Lamar, Andy Stott, Slow Club, and More

Plus New Tracks from Mark Lanegan Band, Baths, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Happyness, Marianne Faithfull, Puro Instinct, Alvvays, His Name Is Alive, and Others

Sep 26, 2014

Welcome to Under the Radar’s weekly playlist, where we compile the best and most exciting tracks to debut online in the last week (give or take). In this mix we’ve got new songs by Kendrick Lamar, Andy Stott, Slow Club, Mark Lanegan Band, Baths, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Happyness, Marianne Faithfull, Puro Instinct, Alvvays, His Name Is Alive, Hudson Mohawke, Alexander Von Mehren, Andras Fox, and more. Look no further, your Friday and weekend playlist is here. More

Aug 11, 2013

Last weekend, Gothenburg, Sweden hosted the sixth annual Way Out West Festival. We sent writer/photographer Laura Studarus and photographer Helen Boast down to cover the action. Check out their gallery featuring Taken By Trees, Iris DeMent, Public Enemy, Cat Power, James Blake, Danny Brown, Little Boots, Kendrick Lamar, and Disclosure. More




Reviews

Jun 17, 2022

Under the Radar’s Jimi Arundell heads to Glastonbury next week for its 50th edition. Here are his thoughts about the greatest music festival on earth. More

Jun 15, 2022

“Tell them the truth,” pleads fiancée Whitney Alford in the opening seconds of Kendrick Lamar’s new double-album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. More

May 03, 2017

On “PRIDE.,” Kendrick Lamar declares: “I can’t fake humble just because your ass is insecure,” his vocals subtly but unmistakably distorted into haunting whisper gusts and booming echoes over tightly looped funk grooves. More

Mar 25, 2015

Kendrick Lamar is not reluctant when it comes to being the voice of a generation. He may sound conflicted about his actions on record—insecure, remorseful, angry, pensive, probing—but he doesn’t shirk the responsibility that comes with the power he has over his listeners. More