Music
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The Root Jams Weekly Playlist (4/17/2020): 'A Lovely Day'
One thing we have a lot of here at The Root is music enthusiasts. We even have a Grammy-nominated artist (The Glow Up Managing Editor Maisyha Kai) amongst our ranks. The musical appreciation runs deep. Once upon a time not long ago, The Root created weekly music playlists, curated by the staff and upped onto…
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Megan Thee Stallion Mulls Lucrative UFC Career After Delivering Another Knockout In Court Against Her Record Label
When will y’all learn that Megan Thee Stallion doesn’t take L’s? Billboard reports that after crushing the charts and breaking the Internet with her #SavageChallenge, the reigning queen of Hot Girl Summer scored another decisive victory against her record label on Monday. From Billboard: A Texas judge denied a request by 1501 Entertainment and its…
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Nas, Swae Lee Among Artists to Perform During 48-Hour Livestream Festival Music Lives: 'We’ll Unite Our Global Village With Music'
The emergence of COVID-19 has forced the music industry to adapt to unprecedented circumstances, and with virtual entertainment establishing a new normal, it only makes sense that LiveXLive Media is joining forces with social media juggernaut TikTok for a massive music festival. Billboard reports that this 48-hour extravaganza, Music Lives, will feature more than 35…
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Q-Tip Reveals He Is Releasing Three New Albums in the Most Q-Tip Way Imaginable
He’s been laying low for a minute, but Q-Tip is coming back to the solo music scene. In fact, the rapper/producer is gearing up to release not one, not two…but three new projects. In an Instagram post thanking his followers for their 50th birthday wishes on April 10, the Tribe Called Quest member was slappin’…
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After 16 Years Apart, Usher, Ludacris and Lil Jon Provide the Perfect 'SexBeat'
Last weekend’s epic producer battle between crunk overlords Lil Jon and T-Pain gave us much more than just nostalgia; it also presented the perfect opportunity to premiere new music in front of a global audience. But when Lil Jon dug in the vaults and unleashed an unreleased track featuring himself, Usher and Ludacris—the holy trinity that…
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With a New EP and Rihanna's Stamp of Approval, Bia Is Aiming to Become the 'Best on Earth'
Musician Bia has been waiting in the wings for her moment to arrive, and it appears it’s finally here. The bubbly 28-year-old initially got her start as a cast member on the first two seasons of Oxygen’s T.I.-produced show, Sisterhood of Hip-Hop, alongside artists like Crime Mob’s Diamond and Missy Elliott protégé Brianna Perry. She…
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5 More 'Verzuz' Music Battles I'd Love to See Happen
While the promise of a Teddy Riley versus Babyface song-off battle royale may really just be a pipe dream—I’m still working on my own thoughts regarding Teddy Riley’s reasoning for wanting to hold off— on the heels of last weekend’s epic Lil Jon vs T-Pain joyfest, we did get news of a hip-hop lover’s dream…
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![Usher Launches #ClimaxChallenge After The Weeknd Claims He Inspired the 2012 Song [Updated]](https://assets-server.theroot.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25192133/lgi3ksjgzoed69tte6cw-300x150.jpg)
Usher Launches #ClimaxChallenge After The Weeknd Claims He Inspired the 2012 Song [Updated]
In a recent interview with Variety, The Weeknd got candid about the far-reaching influence of his despondent alt-R&B sound, which he believes began with his 2011 project House of Balloons. Per the musician (born Abel Tesfaye), the R&B game took a dark turn, which he thinks is the direct result of the acclaimed mixtape. To…
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'MmmmGurl,' I'm Sharing My Life as the Daughter and Little Sister of Kem Fans
Hey Auntie, let’s talk about Kem. Much like I’ve always attributed the sounds of The Tom Joyner Morning Show to my mama, I can also vividly picture her turning on Chicago local station V103 with a freshly warmed cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee as I sat in the passenger seat of her car. We’ve already…
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Karen vs. Becky: An Instagram Live Battle Featuring 20 Back-to-Back Hits
Picture it: a Sicily-themed nook, where a Becky sits scrolling through her “Turning Lululemons Into Lemonade” Pinterest board with a self-satisfied smirk on her face. All of a sudden, she receives a DM from her girl Karen with an interesting proposition: a hit-for-hit battle on Instagram Live. It’s a timely proposition since both women have…