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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I Read Kanye West's Latest Interview So You Don't Have To
Early on April 15, folks flocked to social media to report that their promised stimulus checks made their way into their bank accounts. Others were attempting to grapple with the strange quaran-dreams that continue to occur during these uncertain times. But me? I used my Wednesday morning to read Kanye West’s latest GQ cover story.…
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Experts Say Concerts, Sporting Events Should Not Happen Until Fall 2021 to Prevent Spread of COVID-19
While we’ve been loving these Verzuz Instagram Live battles and social media concert sets from our favorite artists amidst all of the bullshit going on in the world, nothing is quite like watching your favorite team win a game or singing along to your favorite musicians with friends and family live and in-person. While we’re…
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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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A National Holiday: Dr. Dre's 'The Chronic' Will Hit All Streaming Services on 4/20
Although it’s been on Apple Music for a few years now, Dr. Dre’s debut studio album The Chronic will be available on all streaming platforms later this month. Per Entertainment One (eOne), the album will be released to streaming services on, you guessed it, 4/20 (or April 20, if you’re not into that sort of…
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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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Lil Nas X Initially Planned to Take the Secret of His Sexuality to the Grave
It’s been a little more than a year since Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” rode into our hearts, making the newcomer an overnight sensation, and later, a Grammy winner and history-maker. The song spent the longest consecutive number of weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, spending 19 weeks at No. 1. The Atlanta native…