Music
-
Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj Made Billboard History
In the midst of all the bad news that this year insists on bringing, black women have been bringing us spots of joy by being amazing and groundbreaking as usual. Last weekend, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott reminded us the power of music and sisterhood in their Verzuz battle (which reportedly led to a tripling…
-
Ice Cube's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted Is 30 and I Pretty Much Had No Business Listening to This as an 11-Year-Old in 1990
According to historical records, Wikipedia and Instagram, Ice Cube’s debut, solo album, the indisputable classic, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, turns 30-years-old on May 16, 2020. For those of us (you) less mathematically inclined individuals, that means that the album was released on May 16, 1990. On the heels of his departure from N.W.A. and without the…
-
The Root Jams Weekly (5/15/2020): 'A Long Walk'
This week’s playlist is both in honor of Jilly from Philly and E. Badu’s Verzuz battle from last weekend, but also because in our current climate, a long walk is what many of us rely on for a bit of peace. “A Long Walk” (5/15/2020) J’Na Jefferson India.Arie “Can I Walk With You” Frank Ocean…
-
It’s Her Turn: Tracee Ellis Ross Debuts Her First Ever Song, ‘Love Myself’
Tracee Ellis Ross is “reaching out to touch” your heart with her new song debut! The Black-ish actress is starring in a new film, The High Note, where she portrays a legendary singer named Grace Davis with a decades-long career navigating the current music industry. Sound familiar? Yeah, I think her mom knows a little…
-
Want to Party Like It's 1985? Prince and the Revolution: Live Concert Will Stream on Youtube For a Limited Time
When it purple rains, it pours blessings on the world. The Prince estate has announced that the legendary Prince and the Revolution: Live concert that originally took place on March 30, 1985, will stream on YouTube across three days, starting Thursday, May 14 at 8 p.m. ET. Recorded at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.…
-
Happy Birthday to Ya: Stevie Wonder Honored With 24-Hour Instagram DJ Set Featuring Questlove, D-Nice
Music icon Stevie Wonder turns 70 years old today. The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s career kicked off at the tender age of 11 when he was signed to Motown’s Tamla Records. He had his first No. 1 hit at the age of 13 and has accumulated a total of 10 No. 1s and 28 top…
-
Yo, 2000 Was a Really Good Year for Soul Music
If you are reading this, there’s probably a better than 50 percent chance—and probably closer to 75 or 80 percent, really—that you were one of the, apparently, 8 trillion (Swizz’s math might be a little hyperbolic) people who tuned into the Jill Scott versus Erykah Badu Verzuz on Instagram Live on Saturday evening. Topping out…
-
Diddy and Mary J. Blige Commemorate Andre Harrell in Instagram Tributes
The music world is still mourning the unexpected passing of music executive and multi-hyphenate Andre Harrell. The Uptown Records founder and former president/CEO of Motown Records died on Thursday, May 7 at the age of 59. In the outpouring of the tributes to this extraordinary man, many thanked him for discovering acts such as Jodeci,…
-
An Exclusive Interview With ‘Tyrone’ of Erykah Badu Infamy
Following the highly successful Verzuz event featuring Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, a particularly interesting recurring convo arose about Erykah’s impromptu hit song, “Tyrone.” Namely, the fact that the song’s popularity also resulted in a particular negative association with the titular character. Now, the long-maligned Tyrone is finally setting the record straight, in his own…
-
It's Goin' Down, Down, Baby: Nelly and Ludacris Are Next Up for Verzuz Battle
This weekend, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu’s sisterly celebration of each other’s catalogs for the beloved Verzuz series soothed our spirits and souls. Fans of the Instagram Live event and shakin’ their asses are in for a treat, as the next battle will switch gears entirely, promising to bring the heat. The official announcement of…