Pop albums increasingly come pre-packaged with their own narratives—elaborate backstories meant to deepen the listening experience. But does all that context actually enhance the music, or does it distract from it? According to NPR's Sheldon Pearce, two new releases offer a study in contrast. Lizzo's latest arrives as an event, laden with backstory. Rising artist Imani Imani's record drops with almost no context. The result: one approach may say more about modern marketing than about modern music.

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