apple music
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Apple Music to Release Juneteenth 2021 Freedom Songs, Featuring New Songs and Covers
Juneteenth (observed on June 19) is definitely one of the most significant celebrations in Black culture. As you know, celebrations typically come with a dope soundtrack, and Juneteenth is no exception. Very Smart Brothas even curated a playlist for the Black-ass holiday in 2020. This year, Apple Music announced their new original playlist titled Juneteenth…
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'If You Fail, It's Everybody's Failure': Bozoma Saint John Pens Op-Ed Calling Out the Double Standard Facing Black Women
To be young, gifted and Black is a decades-long mantra, thanks in large part to the legacies of Lorraine, Nina and Aretha. To be gifted, Black and a woman is a different legacy, earned at an intersection often filled with contradictions, microaggressions and challenges to your very legitimate and hard-earned wins; a trajectory illustrated by…
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Sounds of Blackness: Apple Music, ASCAP, Spotify and TikTok Celebrate Black History Month With an Array of Curated Playlists, Specials and Programming
Welp, it’s official! Black History Month is finally here, and I for one couldn’t be happier. Though I’m Black 24/7/365 and don’t ever need a set date to bask in that glorious fact—there’s something about the first day of February that makes me wanna pick out my fro, put salt (NEVER sugar) on my grits,…
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'Believe It or Not,' Jeezy and Gucci Mane Will 'Put On' for the Verzuz, and I Think Black Twitter Loves It
The year 2020 is really bringing people together—first Will Smith and Janet Hubert…now this! What is “this,” you ask? Well, Gucci Mane and Jeezy have officially been confirmed for the next round of Verzuz. They’re kicking off Season 2! The whole thing was a whirlwind, actually. Fans first saw the news via Gucci’s Instagram page…
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Erykah Badu Sits Down With Ebro Darden for Apple Music’s Inaugural Episode of The Message
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that no one—and I mean absolutely no one—is exempt from its crazy, not even Grammy-award winning artist Erykah Badu. And that’s exactly why she’s teamed up with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden for the inaugural episode of its new series, The Message. In a press statement sent to The…
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Did Timbaland Come and Talk to Us to Tease Jodeci for a Future Verzuz?
Have y’all been feenin’ for Verzuz ever since it ended? As Netflix’s Strong Black Lead editorial and brand manager and 2020 The Root 100 honoree Jasmyn Lawson told us, “I’ve loved every moment that we, as a community, have been able to come together virtually, especially during moments like Verzuz.” Word. Well, don’t fret because…
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'Midnight Train' to IG Live: Gladys Knight Verzuz Patti LaBelle Is Happening Because 'Somebody Loves You, Baby'
“If only you knew” that this would happen…because “neither one of us” was expecting this! On Tuesday evening, the official Verzuz account tweeted that the next upcoming event will feature two beloved icons: Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle! “The Master Class we’ve ALL been waiting for!” the account tweeted, urging all fans to dress up…
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Brandy Discusses Forthcoming Album, the Price of Fame and More With Apple Music
Brandy returns with new music on Friday with B7, her first album in eight years. On Tuesday, the R&B superstar sat down with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe during his “At Home With” radio series to discuss the 15-song project, its collaborations and some of her career’s biggest hits. For Brandy, the music never stops; however,…
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Verzuz to Stream Battles on Apple Music and Beats 1 in New Partnership Deal
The highly-discussed, head-to-head music battle series Verzuz has gotten many of us through lockdown since Timbaland and Swizz Beatz’s inaugural duel on Instagram in March. The creators have discussed the possibility of bringing the entertaining showdown to a platform even bigger than the social media site—and now, fans can stream Verzuz on Apple Music and…
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Until Lil Wayne Learns 'How to Love' Us, Please Stop Going to Him for Social Commentary
In recent years, we’ve all watched Lil Wayne deteriorate before our very eyes. I don’t know if its drugs or his lengthy history of seizures, but something is clearly awry with the artist formerly known as Birdman Jr. His once-lauded output has regressed from incredible to entirely incoherent, and his commentary on social issues has…