"I feel like people are not educated at a young age to know like, 'OK, you have a choice to go behind bars and become a number and for somebody to profit off you for free labor and it's enslaving your brain," Raphael Saadiq says. Aaron Rapoport/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Nicole Bus plays a Tiny Desk Concert on July 8, 2019 (Olivia Falcigno/NPR). Olivia Falcigno/NPR hide caption
Bakar's "Hell N Back" is one of this week's additions to Heat Check. Aidan Cullen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Baby Rose started winning talent shows at 14, but lost a college scholarship and a spot on The Voice before finding her way back to music. Donte Maurice/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Taylor McFerrin's latest album Love's Last Chance is out now. Amir Ebrahimi/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Boston rapper Cousin Stizz. His latest release, Searching For My Next Thrill, is on our shortlist for the best new albums out this week. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
ALA.NI elevates the value of self worth and love in new single 'Sha La La.' Jean Baptiste Mondino /Courtesy of the artist hide caption
"Beetlejuice" by Mariah the Scientist is featured on this week's Heat Check. Jerald Johnson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Maya de Vitry (left) by Laura E. Partain, Jessy Wilson (right) by Mary Caroline Russell Courtesy of the artists hide caption
Ty Dolla $ign pays tribute to Mac Miller at the Tiny Desk (Bob Boilen/NPR). Bob Boilen/NPR hide caption
The Impressions circa 1970. Left to right: Curtis Mayfield, Fred Cash and Sam Gooden. Gilles Petard/Redferns/Getty Images hide caption
Childish Gambino performs at Triple J. YouTube hide caption
Lizzo plays a Tiny Desk Concert on May 21, 2019 (Claire Harbage/NPR). Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption
Masego plays a Tiny Desk Concert on Jan. 8, 2019 (Claire Harbage/NPR). Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption
Jacob Collier plays a Tiny Desk Concert on May 16, 2019. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption
Gloria Gaynor in side the World Cafe Performance Studio Emily DeHart/WXPN hide caption
A still from Blood Orange's "Benzo" video. YouTube hide caption
"If you want to make a diaspora of things, you need to reach to a diaspora of people," GoldLink says. Josh Brasted/Getty Images hide caption
Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. His latest project K.R.I.T. IZ HERE is on our shortlist of the best albums out on July 12. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
J. Cole and his Dreamville label wanted to invite as many artists as possible to connect and create on the album Revenge of the Dreamers III. Tabatha Fireman/Getty Images hide caption
Bruce Springsteen belts out his hit song "Born in the USA" before a sellout crowd in 1985. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive hide caption