r&b
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10 R&B Slow Jams That Bang in the Whip
I’m a child of the ’90s, which means that I grew up on R&B that wasn’t rappers harmonizing or singers talking with melody from their souls. Not that I don’t enjoy that; to the contrary, I love it all. But there was nothing like an actual solid slow jam. You know what I’m talking about:…
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The Bruno Mars Controversy Proves People Don’t Understand Cultural Appropriation
Before we begin any discussion of Bruno Mars and cultural appropriation, we must lay down a few ground rules: This will not be a debate about the quality of Bruno Mars’ work. That discussion is too subjective, and no one will ever reach a consensus on any kind of art. Plus, some people have shit…
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Real Love: Mary J. Blige Is Getting a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Well, here’s a reason to be happy: Just in time to coincide with her Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice best supporting actress nominations for the film Mudbound—as well as a Golden Globe nod for best original song for “Mighty River”—the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has announced that Grammy Award-winning artist Mary J.…
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Anita Baker Announces ‘Farewell Tour’ for 2018
When R&B songstress Anita Baker hit the scene in the mid-’80s, it was as if we didn’t know what we’d been missing. Her cool, low register gifted us hits like “Angel,” “Sweet Love” and “Rapture,” and with all our hearts we loved it, baby. And then she disappeared. Baker, who hails from Detroit, said she…
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What Song Best Represents the ‘Bad Boy’ Era? Take That, Take That
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad Booooooooooooooooy! When Puffy hit the scene with Bad Boy in 1994 and Craig Mack’s “Flava in Ya Ear,” everything changed. For the rest of the decade, backed by seminal releases and singles from Biggie, Puff, the Lox, 112, Faith, Mase and even peripheral acts like Lil’ Kim (only because she wasn’t on Bad Boy)…
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Hey Y’all, Ray J’s Musical Career Ain’t Half Bad
First, tuck your judgment; it’s not necessary. Second, listen with your mind, not your heart. Your heart made you side-eye the living shit out of the title, but your mind may be a little more open-minded. That’s a pun. Get it? I’m sure you do. Before we get into the shenanigans, a few ground rules…
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Raphael Saadiq Is the Most Underappreciated R&B Artist of All Time. Yeah, I Said It
On March 17, 2017, terrible human being-turned-terrible human being plus chicken-wing savant, Rick Ross, dropped his ninth studio album, Rather You Than Me. The first song on the album is called “Apple of My Eye.” As I listened to this song for the first time, a very familiar voice, one I’ve been listening to since…
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"Return of The Mack" Is The Best Song Ever That Nobody Acknowledges Is The Best Song Ever
There’s no need to parse words here: “Return of the Mack” is easily one of the best songs ever created in the history of the planet. Sure, it’s no “Moonlight Sonata”, but “Moonlight Sonata” is no “As”, feel me? But far and wide, nobody wants to put the proper ‘speck on “Return…” Well that changes…
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Where Does Dru Hill Fit In The Pantheon of Great Male R&B Groups?
Sometimes, I feel like Dru Hill gets lost in the sauce. When having discussions about great R&B male groups from the 90s (and 2000s), Jodeci is typically the gold-standard, and while Boyz II Men is pretty much a snoozefest in retrospect, their accomplishments cannot be ignored. New Edition is, well, New Edition despite being of…