Music
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Naughty by Nature Teams Up With Rita Wilson for 'Hip Hop Hooray' Remix
Last month, actress and COVID-19 survivor Rita Wilson impressed fans with her quarantined rendition of the Naughty by Nature classic “Hip Hop Hooray,” which she rapped bar-for-bar on Instagram. Today, it was announced that she and the New Jersey rap legends will be joining forces on a remix of the song in order to help…
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The Roots Announce Live Performances, Behind-the-Scenes Stories to Deliver Us All From Cabin Fever
Much like everyone else at the moment, The Roots have a lot of time on their hands. But even with no shows to book and NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon shifting to an at-home operation due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the band is refusing to allow their tremendous talent to go to…
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Let's Argue! Teddy Riley Versus Babyface Is Happening. Here Are the 20 Songs I'd Choose for Each
The one really fun and entertaining thing about this COVID-19 shut-in situation is the emergence of beat/song/hit “battles” between so many of our faves. While somebody has to lose in these instances (Mannie Fresh, I see you whoadie), the legacies of the artists are set in stone, so it’s more fun and games than true…
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Marsha Ambrosius Reminded Everyone She Sang the Ad-Libs in 'Cry Me a River,' Not Justin Timberlake
Marsha Ambrosius is the shit, in case y’all forgot. While she may be best known for being one-half of the English R&B duo known as Floetry (along with Natalie Stewart) and her subsequent solo career, she also has a string of amazing songwriting credits (such as Michael Jackson’s “Butterflies”) and has made guest appearances on…
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I'm Not Crying, You're Crying: Frank Ocean Returns With Two New Singles Guaranteed to Put You in Your Feelings
There are two things I can never get enough of: crab legs and new Frank Ocean music. And while I always make it a point to partake in my favorite crustacean, the gracious soul who blessed us all with Channel Orange has been shortchanging our eardrums for a while now. Thankfully, Frank has re-emerged from…
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You Wanna See a Dead Body? Scott Storch Destroys Mannie Fresh in Epic Instagram Live Battle
With a global pandemic keeping us trapped in our homes for the foreseeable future, Instagram Live has become the premier destination for music aficionados to get their much-needed fix. And outside of DJ D-Nice’s legendary #ClubQuarantine parties, super producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland have spearheaded the effort to give the people what they want—while social…
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In What Has To Be the Dumbest April Fools' Day Prank in Recent Memory, Public Enemy Admits Their Breakup Was a Hoax
I hate April Fools’ Day. Each year, friend and foe alike go to ridiculous lengths to deceive and delude the general public for the sole purpose of raising our blood pressure—as if black folks don’t have enough shit to worry about it. But clearly that’s beside the point since now we have rap legends Chuck…
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Disappointed, but Not Surprised: Rihanna Gently Swerves Another Album Release Chat in 'British Vogue' Cover Story
Multitalented, multifaceted musician, entrepreneur and bad-ass Rihanna graces the cover of British Vogue for the publication’s May 2020 issue (by our estimation, her 16th Vogue cover—but who’s counting?). Inside, she not only discusses her Fenty empire and her dream of having at least “3 or 4” kids, but once again hopscotches around the conversation regarding…
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Questlove's 7-Hour Stevie Wonder Set Featured B-Sides, Rarities, and a Phone Call from Mr. 'Very Superstitious' Himself
Like most black men and women of a certain age, I’m obsessed with Stevie Wonder—which means spreading the gospel of Stevland Hardaway Morris at every given opportunity and catching the Holy Ghost at the countless “Wonder-Full” tribute parties that DJ Spinna throws throughout the country. For those who have yet to experience the unspeakable joy…
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Brakes Pumped on Essence Festival 2020 Amid Coronavirus Crisis
The show must not go on—at least for the time being. The coronavirus crisis has gotten everybody and everything fucked up right now, and after a couple of weeks of evaluating how this global pandemic would impact business, the producers of the Essence Festival decided to postpone its annual party with a purpose in New…