Music
-
Happy Birthday Janet Jackson, From Every Black Kid Who Performed Homemade Dance Recitals
On May 16, 1966 a tiny baby who would be named Janet Damita Jo Jackson performed an eight-count out of her mother’s womb and into the world. Today marks Janet’s 53rd birthday and the iconic superstar is celebrating on the eve of her Las Vegas residency launch, aptly titled Metamorphosis. Beyond her well-known whispery vocals…
-
Pass That Doctorate: Missy Elliott Shares Inspirational Message While Receiving Honorary Degree
If there’s only a handful of redeemable qualities about 2019, surely one of them is this: it’s the year Missy Elliott is getting her flowers. Earlier in 2019, the hip-hop innovator and vanguard became the first female hip-hop artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Now, Elliott’s officially a doctor, walking across the stage at…
-
Jhené Aiko Is ‘Triggered’, but Is Big Sean the Culprit?
Jhené Aiko is a divisive artist. There are people like myself who are rather fond of her breezy brand of trap soul and others who consider it an anesthetic. But wherever you fall on the spectrum, the 31-year-old songbird returned Wednesday morning with “Triggered.” The subject matter is familiar territory. Aiko weaves an oscillating tale…
-
After More than 30 Years of Music, DJ Spinderella Says Salt-N-Pepa Fired Her
Longtime member DJ Spinderella has been fired from Salt-N-Pepa, XXL reports. The DJ, who had been with the group since 1987 and contributed to mega-hits ranging from “Whatta Man” and “Shoop” to “None of Your Business,” announced Thursday on Instagram that she’d been told in an email back in January that she could no longer…
-
Wu-Tang Clan Honored by Staten Island with Street Sign and Wu-Tang Clan Day
Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s iconic declaration has never been truer than today. According to Allhiphop.com, Staten Island’s greatest rap group will have its own day for the children. Legendary Staten Island Hip Hop conglomerate Wu Tang Clan will have their own day in their home borough, as November 9 has been proclaimed Wu Tang Clan Day.…
-
Frankie Beverly Calls Beyoncé’s ‘Before I Let Go’ Cover ‘One of the High Points of My Life’
I’ve spent the past 365 days telling anyone who will listen that Beychella—Beyoncé’s legendary performance at the 2018 Coachella Arts and Music Festival—is the single greatest performance that I’ve ever seen in my entire life, and I will bang that drum until my dying day. But with the arrival of Netflix’s documentary Homecoming, which draws…
-
'Exhibit C' Is Almost 10 Years Old. Jay Electronica Has Completely Squandered His Career
Illmatic, my all-time favorite debut album and one of my top-five favorite hip-hop albums of all time, celebrated its 25th anniversary April 19. Whether or not Nas ever released another classic album has been the subject of an interminable debate among hip-hop nerds; what isn’t up for debate is that Nas had a largely respectable…
-
![Wait? Was Ariana Grande Paid Twice As Much As Beyoncé For Coachella Performance? [Updated]](https://assets-server.theroot.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25210006/eb9jnzy1vtvrnso7w4vq-300x169.jpg)
Wait? Was Ariana Grande Paid Twice As Much As Beyoncé For Coachella Performance? [Updated]
Updated: 4/19/19 at 3:42 p.m., ET: There is some discrepancy regarding who was paid what when it comes to Beyoncé and Ariana Grande performing at Coachella. The Blast reported that according to their sources each artist was paid the same amount for two weekends worth of shows—$4 million per show, which still bears some cause…
-
Lil Yachty Is Behind the 'Real Ass Bitch' Aura of 'Act Up' by City Girls, Says He Wrote Most of the Lyrics
On April 18, 2019, The Toxic Masculinity Brigade held an emergency meeting after receiving a press release informing them that the “real ass bitch, give a fuck about a nigga” lyric that has annoyed their ashen spirits has been brought to you by none other than Lil Yachty. That’s right, a whole ass man helped…
-
Revisiting Zhané's Debut Album, the Perfectly 90s Album, Pronounced Jah-Nay
When I think of the 90s, there are a few specific groups, songs and television shows that immediately come to mind: Martin, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Jodeci, SWV, Wu-Tang Clan, Jade’s “Don’t Walk Away,” Groove Theory’s “Tell Me,” (for my money, one of the best and most 90s songs of all time) and indisputably Zhané’s “Hey…