Harp Finds New Life in Hit R&B Songs

The harp is one of the oldest known instruments - it’s been around since at least 2500 BC and is used mostly for classical music. But recently the harp has been getting an update - you can hear it in hip-hop, jazz, and pop songs. In other words, the harp is now hip. Harpist Brandee Younger is helping. She’s performed and recorded with pop and rap artists including John Legend, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, and Drake. She’s a music art faculty at New York University-Steinhardt. (Originally aired May 6th, 2021)