Louder: Can the Mainstream Catch Up to Rico Nasty?

Plus: Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion, Phoebe Bridgers and More

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story November 27, 2020 By Caryn Ganz The Grammys news dominated the top of the week, but we had much more! So here’s the rare double dose of Louder, with Joe Coscarelli’s fantastic profile of the rapper Rico Nasty, Jon Pareles on Taylor Swift’s “Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions,” Lindsay Zoladz on Megan Thee Stallion’s “Good News” — and one last bit on the Grammys, for now (Phoebe Bridgers on her own good news.) Myles Loftin for The New York Times Can the Mainstream Catch Up to Rico Nasty? The 23-year-old Maryland rapper has built a cult following with her mixtapes of playful but bruising scream-rap. Now she’s releasing her major-label debut. By Joe Coscarelli THE CRITICS TAS Rights Management Movie Review Taylor Swift Illuminates ‘Folklore’ in a Stripped-Down Studio Concert Playing her latest album for the first time with two collaborators who helped make it, Swift heightens the songs’ sense of pristine contemplation. By Jon Pareles ABC/Agence France-Presse, via Getty Images Album Review Snapshots of the Many Megan Thee Stallions The Houston rapper provides glimpses of her various sides on her new album, “Good News,” but offers few close-ups. By Lindsay Zoladz Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Q. AND A. The Grammys How Phoebe Bridgers Got Her Grammys Good News The 26-year-old singer and songwriter picked up her first four nominations on Tuesday, including one for best new artist. By Sarah Bahr FEATURES & INTERVIEWS Alex Bailey/Netflix How ‘The Crown’ Embraced ’80s Pop Season 4 of the Netflix show takes viewers into a new decade, with a musical soundtrack to match, including artists like Stevie Nicks, Elton John and David Bowie. By Anna Leszkiewicz Laura Benanti Says Goodbye to Melania and Watches ‘Ted Lasso’ The actress may be nearing the end as Melania Trump on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” but she has plenty of other projects and passions to keep her busy. By Michael Paulson How the Singer Patty Smyth Spends Her Sundays The frontwoman of the 1980s band Scandal talks about promoting her solo album during a pandemic and her 23-year marriage to the tennis star John McEnroe. By Tammy La Gorce MOVIES & TV ‘Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square’ Review: Holiday Winks Netflix’s peppy holiday musical has a campy streak and original songs by the country star, who plays a homeless angel with lessons for the town Scrooge. By Wesley Morris Critic’s Pick ‘Zappa’ Review: Portrait of a Rock Star and a Nation’s Hero The documentary, directed by Alex Winter, portrays the musician and composer Frank Zappa as a sort of noble. By Glenn Kenny ‘Stardust’ Review: A Week With David Bowie, Unaccompanied by His Music A more accurate title for this movie, set in the early ’70s, would be “Johnny Flynn Sings Jacques Brel.” By Glenn Kenny ‘Shawn Mendes: In Wonder’ Review: A Skin-Deep Portrait This Netflix documentary wants so much to be a humanizing look at Mendes, but it doesn’t crack his polished pop-idol veneer. By Chris Azzopardi Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT OBITUARIES Bill Wagg/Redferns, via Getty Images Cándido Camero, Conga Master Who Transformed Jazz, Dies at 99 He brought Afro-Cuban influences to American ensembles and dazzled audiences with his virtuosic multiple-drum technique. By Neil Genzlinger Bobby Holland/Mptv Bruce Swedien, a Shaper of Michael Jackson’s Sound, Dies at 86 In more than 60 years as a recording engineer, he worked with a wide range of artists. His most notable collaboration was with Mr. Jackson and the producer Quincy Jones. By Richard Sandomir Len Barry, 78, Dies; Soulful Voice of ‘Bristol Stomp’ and ‘1-2-3’ He had success as the lead singer of the Dovells and later as a solo artist. But he was always a reluctant performer, most comfortable as a songwriter and producer. By Richard Sandomir Those We’ve Lost Eric Hall, Extravagant British Soccer Agent, Dies at 73 After promoting bands like Queen and the Sex Pistols, Mr. Hall became one of the most colorful agents in England’s Premier League. He died of the coronavirus. By Elian Peltier NEWS The Charts AC/DC Debuts at No. 1, Powered by CD Sales The band’s 17th studio album is its third to top the Billboard 200. By Ben Sisario Guitar Center Files for Bankruptcy The filing by the nation’s largest retailer of musical instruments highlights the growing gap between the strongest and weakest companies in the pandemic. By Lauren Hirsch 5 Moments From the American Music Awards The ownership of Taylor Swift’s catalog returned as a hot topic during a night highlighted by creative performances, throwback charm and lots of mask wearing. By Olivia Horn Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT GIFT GUIDES Roberts Rurans The Best Books to Give This Year What better way to spread joy than with books? We've rounded up 62 new titles, from thrillers to cookbooks to photography books and more, for every type of reader. via Marquee TV When Music Is on Your Holiday List Online subscriptions and charity donations are easy ways to give the gift of sound this year. By Rachel Felder Make a friend’s day: Forward this email! Get this from a friend? Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter @nytimesmusic. Send your feedback on Louder at theplaylist@nytimes.com. Check out our full range of newsletters. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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