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"It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members," the 50-year-old rapper and mogul said.

Born 200 years ago this week, Russian writer Alexander Pushkin is still admired by millions of Russians today. Dostoevsky and Tolstoy looked to him for inspiration and thought of him as a superior writer. Moussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Tschaikovsky all wrote music based on his works. Alex Van Oss has this look at the man who became a legendary 19th century romantic figure who lived hard and died young - fatally wounded in a duel - his third.

Saxophone legend John Coltrane's 1964 recording A Love Supreme is one of the masterworks in the canon of jazz. A new edition includes the only live performance of the complete work. Writer Ashley Kahn, whose new book goes behind the scenes of the landmark album, has an essay on the project.

Deanna Witkowski draws on a variety of influences — from Chopin to Cole Porter to a relatively unknown Brazilian rhythm called baião. It's no wonder the pianist finds her music going in different directions — sometimes within the same song — as in her "Wide Open Window." Hear Liane Hansen's performance chat with Witkowski in NPR's Studio 4A.

On his lushly produced third studio album, the Chicago rapper cycles through deep breaths amidst uncertainty and psyches himself up with much-needed reassurance.

Jim Fusilli reviews Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava's latest CD Easy Living, which he says blends elements of traditional American jazz with a unique Italian touch.

When they aren't seeing patients, many doctors moonlight as musicians. Doctors' orchestras exist in a handful of cities around the country. Many doctors say these groups help them unwind. Some think it makes them better physicians, too. Joel Rose of member station WHYY reports.

It takes 33 pages to list all the recordings of cellist Janos Starker. After 72 years of playing the cello and instructing students from around the world, he has written a memoir. NPR's Susan Stamberg talks with Starker about a life spent in music.

Commentator Gustavo Arellano reviews Mexican singer Ely Guerra's latest CD, Sweet and Sour, Hot y Spicy.

During pop singer Ashlee Simpson's recent appearance on 'Saturday Night Live,' it was revealed that she was lip-syncing when the wrong song was cued. The singer has blamed a sore throat for her need to have a backing track. The show's former bandleader, GE Smith, says he is surprised that lip-syncing is allowed on what is billed as a live show.