Music
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Erykah Badu and Jill Scott Brought the Healing Vibes We Needed in Their Verzuz Battle
Incense was burning, Crown Royal was ready for the sipping, and even our forever first lady Michelle Obama was tuning in for the Verzuz battle between Neo Soul queens Erykah Badu and Jill Scott last night on Instagram Live. During the “battle”—which felt more like a celebration of blackness and sisterhood than anything—the two artists…
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Charlie Wilson Becomes 1st Artist to Score No. 1 Hits In Each of The Last Three Decades
As much as we love all things Charlie Wilson, one thing we don’t give him enough credit for is his longevity. Since The Gap Band’s arrival on the scene in the early 70s, he’s blessed us with hit after hit for decades. And with his latest single, “Forever Valentine,” Billboard reports that Uncle Charlie has…
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The Root Jams Weekly Playlist (5/8/2020): 'Bring Me Peace'
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in honor of that fact, the playlists this month will all be dedicated to it. Our first one, titled “Bring Me Peace,” is a list of songs from staffers of TheRoot.com that are used to bring a peaceful mental state. “Bring Me Peace” (5/8/2020) Panama Jackson Maxwell “Ascension…
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Here’s How You Can Score 3 Months of TIDAL’s Premium Subscription for Free While You’re Staying Home
Most of us may not know the privilege of fame or wealth, but there is a certain privilege in having a TIDAL subscription, especially if you’re a fan of Jay-Z and Beyoncé. When either of the two drops a project, TIDAL typically gets first dibs, and subscribers happily indulge while the rest of us scramble…
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Teddy Riley Says Bobby Brown Stormed Out During Recording of 'My Prerogative'
Bobby Brown’s hit song “My Prerogative” was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 24 weeks in 1989 and was also nominated for a Grammy Award for the Best R&B Urban Contemporary Single category. Despite the song’s accolades and commercial success, the recording process was apparently not peaches and cream. Just ask the…
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Even 20 Years Later, Lucy Pearl's Sole Album Is Still as Perfect as Ever
As is typically the case whenever I’ve undertaken a project of some sort that requires me to carve out a sizable block of time to complete, I try to queue up a few albums that I know I love with high replay value so I don’t have to spend a lot of time skipping tracks.…
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French Montana Concedes Drake Could 'Probably' Beat Him in Head-to-Head Hits Battle; Water Declares It Is 'Likely' Wet
If there’s any self-care mantra I can offer to anyone right now, it’s to believe in yourself the way French Montana believes in himself. The “Unforgettable” rapper, in an interview with DJ E Rock on 92.3’s The Bassment (h/t Complex), maintained, once again, that his catalog could stand next to most of hip hop’s greats—with…
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Billboard Big Breaks: Kid Cudi Lands His 1st No. 1 Hit and Megan Thee Stallion Scores Her 1st Top 10
Kid Cudi and Megan Thee Stallion are having a good week. In fact, it’s a historic week for both artists, in regards to personal career milestones. According to Billboard, Cudi has finally achieved his first number one hit (he’s been in the game over a decade!) with “The Scotts” while Meg landed in the Top…
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DJ Jazzy Jeff Looks to 'Break the Monotony' With Virtual Block Party Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Last week, fans fiending for nostalgia were treated to an impromptu The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion courtesy of Will Smith, who helped transform the show into a cultural phenomenon. And as the cast and critics continue their yearlong celebration of the 30th anniversary of this landmark sitcom, DJ Jazzy Jeff will be hosting a…
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LL Cool J Believes If He Didn't 'Need Love,' Drake Wouldn't Have Been Able to 'Find Your Love'
Want to take another trip down memory lane while in the confines of your house during self-isolation? Well, you’re in luck, because LL Cool J (born James Todd Smith) reminisced about his impact on the hip-hop game. Specifically, LL says he paved the way for some artists to openly express themselves in regard to the…