Long before rap, there was “the dozens” – the African-American street rhyming tradition that author Elijah Wald defines as “halfway between ‘yo mama’ jokes and rap freestyle battling.” He joins us to share the surprising musical history of the R-rated comedic insults.

Make a musical summer resolution with Soundcheck! Yesterday we announced that there are some big plans ahead for the show. Starting next Monday, we're spending the summer off the air - building a better Soundcheck. And as we embark on our big self-improvement project … we want YOU to start a project of your own. Find out how you can get involved, here.

With her new solo album “Insterstellar,” indie veteran Frankie Rose (of Vivian Girls and Crystal Stilts fame) breaks out of her lo-fi cocoon and takes flight as a shimmering synth-pop butterfly. Frankie joins us to play songs off the record and tell us about life in the trenches of the Brooklyn music scene.

Native American DJ-producer trio A Tribe Called Red makes its New York debut at S.O.B.'s on Thursday night. Download the Ottawa crew's tune "General Generations."