Music
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When Will There Be a LGBTQ Renaissance in Rap?
In the last few years, there have been progressive strides towards the visibility of female rap artists. In 2017, Cardi B became the first female rapper in nearly 20 years to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart (after Lauryn Hill). Since then, Lizzo, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion have also had No.…
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30 Days of Iconic Music Video Blackness With VSB, Day 9: Eddie Murphy 'Party All the Time'
Eddie Murphy singing was a thing in the ‘80s. And not just a random thing. He released three music albums. While most people remember “Party All The Time,” which was written and produced by Rick James, what is less remembered is that Eddie had music from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Nile Rogers…and even Michael…
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30 Days of Iconic Video Blackness With VSB, Day 8: Total, 'Kissin' You'
I like Total, always have. Their brand of interesting-note sonics always appealed to me as a person who couldn’t sing but always thought I should be an R&B singer—Total was an inspiration. I never dove full-fledge into sharing my vocal stylings with the world, but the dream is still alive in my heart. For the…
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Amidst Black Lives Matter Protests, Prince's Estate Releases Lyric Video for 2015 Song About Police Brutality
In honor of what would have been his 62nd birthday on June 7, Prince’s estate released the lyric video for his 2015 song commemorating the black victims of police brutality titled “Baltimore.” The video was released in response to the recent wave of Black Lives Matter protests. The over four-minute video features images and information…
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YG Reportedly Shoots Music Video During L.A. Protest
A lot of people are upset with YG, who received top billing on the flyer for Los Angeles’ Black Lives Matter protest held over the weekend. The California rapper is being chastised for reportedly shooting a music video during the event. Per social media evidence from Instagram and Twitter, the video was being shot on…
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30 Days of Iconic Music Video Blackness With VSB, Day 7: TLC, 'Waterfalls'
To call TLC’s “Waterfall” video iconic is almost underselling it. This award-winning video owned MTV back when that was a thing worthy of note and did it while addressing social issues like violence and HIV-awareness. The video stayed true to concept, used some CGI and showed our favorite girl group of the time in amazing…
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30 Days of Iconic Music Video Blackness With VSB, Day 6: Rick James & Smokey Robinson 'Ebony Eyes'
Have you ever watched something so ridiculous that it becomes both perfect and almost life-changing? That for me is the video for Rick James single featuring Smokey Robinson off of his 1983 album, Cold Blooded. Rick James featuring Smokey Robinson “Ebony Eyes” (1984) I don’t know why God made me the way he did, but…
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30 Days of Iconic Music Video Blackness With VSB, Day 5: Missy Elliott 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)'
Let’s go ahead and get a few facts out of the way about Missy Elliot’s song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).” For one, the song is timeless—I believe if this song was released today, some 23 years after its original release, it would still be a hit. It’s so different and so unique, so special,…
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The Root Jams Weekly (6/5/2020): 'Say Her Name'
Breonna Taylor would be 27 years old today. Unfortunately, she is now with the ancestors, cut down prematurely by a police system that devalues black bodies. She, along with too many other black women whose lives were cut too short often go under-acknowledged. This playlist honors them. “Say Her Name” (6/5/2020) J’Na Jefferson Janelle Monae…
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Viral Sensations Young T & Bugsey Don't Plan on Rushing Their Journey to the Top
If you’re a fan of trying to keep up with what’s hot on social media right now, odds are you know about TikTok. The video-creation app has been all the rage for the past few months, and during quarantine, dance and comedy videos have been keeping many people busy and entertained. One of the most…