Music
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Lil Nas X Has One Thing to Say to Everyone Trolling Him About His Sexuality
You know by now that Lil Nas X is better than 99 percent of the population at creating the kind of viral hit that’s catnip for children (so good in fact, you’d think he was also behind the monsters who created “Baby Shark.”) Well, just know that Lil Nas X is (way) better than you…
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Clap Your Hands: Pharrell Williams Makes 114 Grads of Harlem High School ‘Happy’ With Guaranteed Internships
Having the prolific hit-maker Pharrell Williams as their commencement speaker probably seemed like a big enough “get” for the graduating class of Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy. But the ridiculously ageless producer and singer had one welcome surprise for the young graduates: guaranteed internships. “Let me be clear…every member of the 2019 graduating class is…
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30 Days of Musical Blackness With VSB, Day 30: MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly 'Before I Let Go'
I’m not even sure I need to explain why “Before I Let Go” would be the final song of the 30 Days of Musical Blackness With VSB series. If you’re black and have congregated with other black folks and this song comes on you know it signals one of two things: 1) It’s time to…
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30 Days of Musical Blackness With VSB, Day 29: De La Soul's 'A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays'
De La Soul’s sophomore album, De La Soul Is Dead, was released on May 14, 1991. Sometime in late 1991, while I was in 7th grade, my class went on a field trip, and on the bus ride I sat down next to a friend of mine (whose name I remember vividly but whose business…
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30 Days of Musical Blackness With VSB, Day 28: SWV 'When U Cry'
I’m a well documented SWV fan. But since I’m feeling generous, allow me to document this again. From a piece I wrote called “An Ode to SWV” in February of 2016: I love SWV. Since 1992, they have been my favorite girl group. For me, all of their songs seem rooted in fun and good…
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The Homecoming Playlist: Turn-Up at the Tailgate
A few months after the summer cookouts are over and right before hibernation mode kicks in, there’s one last annual turn-up that’s a staple of black culture. It’s that time of the year known as homecoming season—an important time, filled with step shows, galas, panel discussions and more. But the most anticipated and highly attended…
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30 Days of Musical Blackness With VSB, Day 27: Junk Yard Band 'Loose Booty'
Washington, D.C., and its culture absolutely changed my life. I was first introduced to D.C.—outside of the national stories about Marion Barry—in a pre-freshman program the summer before my freshman year at Morehouse College in 1997. A few of the students in the program were from D.C. and they all stood out for their fashion…
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If Chaka Khan Had Heard Kanye West's Final Sample of Her Song, She Would've Said 'Hell No'
Once upon a time, there was a man named “Old Kanye,” born Kanye Omari West. After suffering a terrible accident, which led to his jaw having to be wired shut, the young rapper released a single titled, “Through The Wire.” That single would launch one of the most compelling careers in hip-hop. Then, several years…
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30 Days of Musical Blackness With VSB, Day 26: Roy Ayers Ubiquity 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine'
I don’t know where you are, but where I’m at it’s hot as hell outside. It’s been in the 90s and a weather notification on my phone this morning mentioned the words “heat wave.” Well, you know what song somehow manages to work perfectly in hot ass weather, even if it’s one of the coolest…
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Press, Press, Press, Press, Press: Cardi’s New Music Video Is a Perfectly Timed Court Drama
The visual for “Press” is here! While I didn’t exactly bop with this song as I have her other hits, I do have to acknowledge the strategic timing of Cardi B’s video release for “Press,” which dropped one day after her arraignment hearing in connection with a 2018 strip club altercation. The 26-year-old rapper is…