Music
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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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Rebels of Black History: How Bad Brains Redefined the Spirit of Defiance
In music journalism, where platitudes like “legendary” often feel like consolation prizes, Bad Brains jazz fusion ensemble are that and so much more.
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2020 Grammys: A Subdued Celebration as Lizzo, Alicia Keys and Others Pay Tribute to Kobe, Prince and Nipsey Hussle
A tragic pall was cast over the 62nd annual Grammy Awards Sunday night as news broke earlier in the day of Kobe Bryant’s untimely death. The fact that the awards were held in the Staples Center, the arena Kobe called home for the majority of his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, only added…
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Clive Davis Plans to Undo Damage of Other Whitney Houston Documentaries With a New Film of His Own
Clive Davis plans on getting the last word when it comes to the legacy of Whitney Houston. The 87-year-old music industry titan—credited for making Houston a household name—is developing a new biopic about the late pop music icon. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the former Arista Records chieftain said he was “very…
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Megan Thee Stallion Is Letting Y’all Know That She Is, Indeed, That ‘B.I.T.C.H.’ With a New Single
Megan Thee Stallion, a.k.a Ms. My Knees Don’t Quit (I made that up. It was either going to be that or “Twerkocalypse Now,”) has just gifted the world with a new track produced by none other than the legendary duo The Neptunes. In her new song “B.I.T.C.H”—which Megan teased last week via Instagram in a poolside…
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Move Like Obama: Forever First Lady Shares 2020 Workout Playlist with Bangers by Beyoncé, Cardi B, Kirk Franklin, and Ed Sheeran
For those who wonder how Michelle Obama stays in shape, the Forever First Lady has a workout playlist that features some of the biggest songs by some of the biggest music acts on it. On Sunday, Mrs. O—who just turned 56 on Friday and looks better than ever—shared her favorite songs to exercise to. Beyoncé,…
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Federal Agents Find Guns and Drugs on Lil Wayne's Plane
On Monday, a private jet belonging to Lil Wayne was stopped by federal agents in Miami, Florida. Among the things found on the plane was a gun and multiple drugs. The Miami Herald is reporting that Miami-Dade police received a tip that the plane Wayne was on may have been carrying weapons and marijuana. They…
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Shawty Got Gifts: A Product Review of Ray J’s Raycon E55 True Wireless Earbuds
I promise you that I don’t engage in pure unfettered foolishness just because I’m comfortable in life. And yet, here we are doing a product review of Raycon’s E55 True Wireless Earbuds. Raycon is, of course, an electronics brand by one William Raymond Norwood Jr. also known as The Artist Formerly Known as Hey Waitaminute Ain’t…
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No One, No One, No Onnnnnnnne Other Than Alicia Keys Will Be Hosting the 2020 Grammy Awards
It’s that time again—the biggest night in music will be kicking off the new decade with a familiar host! In a press release, the Recording Academy announced that multi-Grammy-winning artist Alicia Keys will be returning to host the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony. Keys took to Twitter on Thursday to excitedly announce the news, as…
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Issa Rae Has a Whole Record Label Named 'Raedio', Announces TeaMarrr as First Artist
Imagine Issa Rae taking the stage and accepting an honor for her television show, production company, beauty campaign or the 50-leven other things she does and uttering, “To all you artists out there, who don’t want to be on a record label where executive producers are all up in the videos being non-awkward, then come…