Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
PawPaw Rod, the newest artist to feature on NME’s The Cover, has put together a special playlist to celebrate the release of his cover story. Check it out below.
The American indie funk artist takes centre stage on this week’s (June 8) edition of The Cover, NME’s ongoing platform dedicated to highlighting emerging artists from around the world. Each week, a rising talent is spotlighted through an in depth feature. You can read PawPaw Rod’s profile here, written by Erica Campbell and photographed by Matt Baron.
To coincide with his appearance on The Cover, PawPaw Rod has assembled an exclusive playlist called ‘Records I Always Return To’. The selection includes tracks from artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Mac Miller, Tevin Campbell, and others. Speaking to NME, he explained that these are songs that “have stayed with me over the years” and continue to be part of his life because they bring him “a sense of peace, no matter where I’m at in life”. Listen to the full playlist on Spotify below and on Apple Music.
Describing himself as a “military brat”, PawPaw Rod was born in Hawaii and spent much of his childhood in Oklahoma. Before leaving high school, he had already lived in Texas, South Carolina, Washington, and Germany. Every move exposed him to different people, cultures, and musical influences, all of which helped shape a sound that blends hip hop, ’60s funk, alternative rock, and a variety of other genres.
That broad mix of experiences and inspirations is reflected throughout his debut album, ‘Picture Day: A PawPaw Rod Album’, which arrived last month. The record explores themes of identity and belonging, capturing the emotional highs and lows of never fully feeling rooted in one place. Each song acts as a snapshot of his personal journey while also paying tribute to school picture day, a moment that made him feel grounded and, as he puts it, “like a real boy”.
Although friendships often came and went because of life on military bases where families regularly moved away, Hulsey said he always tried to recreate the sense of connection he admired in groups such as The Temptations and Jackson Five. “I would try to get homies to start an R&B group with me,” he laughs. “We would go down to this little basement and sing songs. That’s what gravitated me towards [music] in the first place. And the fact that you could just escape into something.”
Each year, NME publishes 50 Cover stories, shining a spotlight on the next generation of music through detailed interviews and exclusive photography. You can also explore the coffee table book NME The Cover 2024-2025, featuring artists including Kneecap, Lola Young, Amaarae, LE SSERAFIM, Oklou, and many more.
Share
Advertisement
The Municipality of Celleno has publicly invited Dua Lipa and Callum Turner to enjoy a secluded honeymoon in its historic ghost village, complete with privacy from photographers and a generous supply of the area's renowned cherries. The offer comes after reports that the couple selected Palermo in Sicily as the destination for their wedding celebrations.
Mayor Luca Beraldo has once again extended an open invitation to the newlyweds, offering them a peaceful retreat in Celleno Vecchia where they can relax away from media attention. Situated in the Tuscia area of Lazio, around 90 minutes from Rome, the small town of roughly 1,200 people has earned a reputation as Italy's "Cherry Town." With the couple's wedding coinciding with the end of the community's famous Cherry Festival, local officials have promised to keep them supplied with freshly picked cherries for the duration of their visit.
"Palermo will give her and Callum a fairytale celebration worthy of their love," Mayor Beraldo stated. "But we at Celleno, our beloved 'Cherry Town', would like to offer them something even rarer: total privacy, genuine safety, and a sweet taste of our land. As our famous Cherry Festival concludes, we want to welcome them with an endless supply of our finest local cherries. Here, surrounded by ancient history and volcanic lakes, they can simply be themselves — away from the world, together. After the party of the century in Palermo, let their forever begin here."
To help ensure complete seclusion, local authorities have suggested temporarily closing the medieval village to visitors and providing dedicated security measures to keep photographers away. Celleno Vecchia, often regarded as one of Italy's most picturesque ghost villages, sits atop a volcanic cliff with sweeping views across the surrounding countryside. A stay in the area would also give the couple the opportunity to explore some of the region's most celebrated attractions in private, including the clear waters of Lake Bolsena, the dramatic hilltop setting of Civita di Bagnoregio, and the scenic landscapes that stretch across nearby Umbria and Tuscany.
Share
Advertisement
