'We Knew Things Were Different For Us': Heems On Rap, Race And Identity

Stream Chastity Belt's new album, meet the reggae singer behind Kanye West.

MUSIC INTERVIEWS 'We Knew Things Were Different For Us': Heems On Rap, Race And Identity Born in New York to Indian parents, Heems watched the Sept. 11 attacks from his high school. The Das Racist rapper's new album explores how life changed, for himself and his community, after that day. Read this story THE RECORD Assassin: Rap's Best Kept Secret Weapon Call it weaponized wordplay. When rappers want to make a statement, they call this Jamaican dancehall star — but they don't call his name. Read this story FIRST LISTEN First Listen: Chastity Belt, 'Time To Go Home' For a record that aims to interrupt and rewrite the machinations of college-age womanhood in 38 minutes flat, Chastity Belt's new album is remarkably easygoing. Stream the album TINY DESK CONCERTS Aurelio: Tiny Desk Concert Accompanied by traditional Garifuna musicians and an electric guitar, Aurelio weaves together intricate layers of acoustic guitar to capture the polyrhythms of the African dispora. Watch the video ALT.LATINO A Cuban Soul Singer Walks Into A Colombian Party, And The Bass Drops We dug into our recent listener suggestions and found some real gems — a mix of Cuban soul, Colombian dance and Mexican-American hip-hop. Hear the show