black musicians
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Mic Drop: Music Releases From the First Week of January to Get You Ready for 2021
2021 started off with a bang, literally and metaphorically. From the insanity that happened in D.C. last Wednesday (January 6th, 2021) to KimYe’s split to every other random act in between, it was hard for me to stay on top of the new music that I was dying to hear as it dropped. Because we’ve…
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Keep Austin Weird, Keep Artists Paid: How the Cancellation of SXSW Affects Black Creators
I’ve been to SXSW as a patron. I’ve been to SXSW as a member of the press. I’ve always dreamed of going to SXSW with a project. In 2019, I personally witnessed the significance of this (and every) festival’s potential impact on a black creator when I reviewed Numa Perrier’s Jezebel, which has since been…
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100 Percent That Thief? Lizzo’s ‘Truth Hurts’ Slapped With Second Plagiarism Claim
If the latest round of accusations is true, Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts” is more than merely a chart-topping smash—it’s the byproduct of some carefully calculated theft. Pitchfork reports that producer Justin Raisen took to Instagram to air out his grievances with the Cuz I Love You singer and was kind enough to include receipts. “On April…
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Three Times a Lady: When I Grow Up, I Want to Be Like Iman (or Ciara, or Teyana, or…)
How do you celebrate 25 years of hosting the biggest celebration of black womanhood in the world? If you’re Essence magazine, you mark the spirit of the summer festival season by featuring three dynamically different beauties on your covers—all with a common gift for killing the game. Is the eternal slay of the iconic Iman…
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Solange Pulls Out of Coachella 2019 Due to 'Major Production Delays'
Sorry kids, it looks like “Sol-chella” is indefinitely postponed. Citing “major production delays,” Variety reports that Solange’s scheduled headlining appearance will not be going on as planned, as tweeted by Coachella’s official account on Sunday. “Due to major production delays, Solange will unfortunately no longer be performing at this year’s festival. She sends her sincerest…
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Adorned—and Adorable: Miguel Marries Longtime Love Nazanin Mandi
“It’s been one hell of a ride!” model and actress Nazanin “Naz” Mandi told Vogue of her 13-year romance with the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter simply known as Miguel (last name: Pimentel), which the two celebrated on Saturday with a 260-guest wedding at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in Santa Susana, Ca. The two have been together since…
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In Water Is Wet News: Lauryn Hill (Still) Shows Up 2 Hours Late to Concerts
I am known for many things. My humor, great smile, stamina, the list goes on. But one thing my black ass is not known for is punctuality. Given the opportunity, I will probably roll up late to my own funeral. Everyone will be there ready to mourn/celebrate my life and I’ll be somewhere in traffic,…
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Beauty and Fashion Keep Rihanna in the Top 10 of Forbes' Highest Paid Women in Music
Never knock your side hustle. That’s the lesson to be learned from the music industry’s—and now, the fashion and beauty industry’s—favorite bad gal, who has increased her net worth through the runaway successes of Fenty Beauty and Savage x Fenty. How else can you explain Rihanna’s maintaining the seventh place spot on Forbes’ Highest Paid…
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Love, Peace and Soul (and a Little Faith): The 2018 Soul Train Awards Was a Night of '90s Nostalgia
All eyes and (marketing strategies) may be on millennials and Gen Z, but despite artists from those generations leading the pack in nominations, by all appearances, it was “grown folks music” that dominated the 2018 Soul Train Awards. For those of us of a certain age, Saturday night’s annual awards ceremony in Las Vegas was…