Music

Polo G Plays His Tiny Desk Concert On An Outdoor Basketball Court

Polo caps an impressive breakout year with an unconventional Tiny Desk paying homage to the LA Lakers. …

Basketball season may be over but Polo G still found a way to play on an outdoor court — just not quite the way you might expect. Instead of shooting jumpers and crossing over defenders, he and his team took over the Los Angeles court for their NPR Tiny Desk (At Home) Concert. Playing up the theme, they carted out a ball rack and shot clock, decked themselves out in Lakers jerseys, and even set up a scorer’s table with a custom ball bearing the up-and-coming Chicago rapper’s sobriquet.

After making an impressive debut last year with Die A Legend and his breakout single “Pop Out” featuring Lil Tjay, Polo doubled down on his impending stardom with The GOAT this May. The gamble paid off big, with Polo becoming a hot commodity for features on other rappers’ songs and landing a spot on the prestigious XXL Freshman Class of 2020.

So far, Polo’s been co-signed by Polo G, who put him on “3 Headed Goat” with Lil Baby, Murda Beatz, who tapped Polo for “Doors Unlocked” with Ty Dolla Sign, and by fellow Freshman Fivio Foreign, on the made-to-go-viral “Bop It.” Most recently, Polo appeared alongside Chika, Flawless Real Talk, Jack Harlow, and Rapsody for a fiery cypher at the 2020 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

Watch Polo G’s Tiny Desk Concert above.

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Artist Spotlight

Lana Crow turns a dream inspiration into pop anthem with “In Spirit”

Lana Crow’s new single, “In Spirit,“ arrives as a high-energy pop anthem that blurs the line between subconscious inspiration and studio refinement. The song’s backstory, based on a real dream, adds an interesting emotional weight that’s easy to hear in the music.

“In Spirit“ has a retro-modern look, featuring elements of old-school texture and a modern pop structure. Made with Tristan Boston, the production feels simultaneously considered and organic. The record is based on four rigorously selected sample signatures that establish a soundscape both familiar and foreign.

“In Spirit“ was initially conceived as a laid-back, beachy song before it expanded into something more dynamic and wide-ranging. The gradual crescendo toward the chorus builds excitement, which is fulfilled by a catchy, almost hypnotic hook, tamped down by “Eeeeeooo,“ an unforgettable sound. Lana Crow’s singing is well-balanced between control and expression.

There is a compelling reflective quality beneath the surface energy, as though the song sits somewhere between an inner monologue and a celebration. What holds “In Spirit“ together is the contrast between peaceful intention and enterprising execution. “In Spirit“ is a testament to the value of following your creative instincts. Lana Crow transforms a daydream into a realized crunch of pop that makes clear she has lots of confidence in her art, and the next chapter could be exciting.

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Artist Spotlight

“Boom” by Chandra explodes with energy and in-depth storytelling

“Boom” is Chandra’s second single of 2026, and it’s the kind of moment when emotion, energy, and cosmic interest collapse into each other, delivering you a pop-rock sensation that is at once intimate and grand.

“Boom” settles into a steady sequence with the driven bass of Chris Wong and lead-guitar fireworks from Mike Paul. The production plays back-and-forth, the verses are cool and collected, and in the choruses, everything bursts into high, emotional sounds. The lead singer, Chandra Nair, sings in a way that feels quite personal yet speaks to everyone. He sings with a sense of wonder that matches the song’s central idea of soulmates wandering through an infinite cosmos to meet. It has a spiritual nature underneath all that, a sense of fate wrapped in heavy metaphor.

“Boom” is a song you think about and sing along to. The band leans into celestial and elemental imagery, contributing to a resonance. Chandra continues to make a name for themselves in contemporary pop-rock by balancing self-reflection with energy. Beyond being a song you want to hear, it demands you feel it, and the echo lingers well.