R&B
Song of the Week: SZA Goes Grunge on “F2F”
Song of the Week breaks down and talks about the song we just can’t get out of our head each week. Find these songs and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist. For our favorite new songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, SZA turns up the volume for her standout S.O.S cut “F2F.” “SZA goes grunge” was not a sentence I was ever expecting to write, but when the mastermind singer-songwriter teased her new album S.O.S a couple weeks ago, she mentioned she’d be drawing upon “surf rock and grunge” alongside her usual contemplative R&B sound. With “F2F,” an unexpected highlight on an otherwise immaculate collection of songs, we see what she meant: “F2F” is a pop punk jam through and through, and it’s a satisfying comb...
SZA Reveals New Album S.O.S: Stream
SZA has finally returned with her sophomore album, S.O.S. Stream it below via Apple Music or Spotify. Arriving more than five years after the TDE singer’s breakout debut, Ctrl, the 23-track project includes features from Phoebe Bridgers (“Ghost in the Machine”), the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard (“Forgiveless”), and Travis Scott (“Open Arms”). S.O.S also boasts the previously released singles “Good Days,” “I Hate U,” and “Shirt.” The artwork for S.O.S takes inspiration from a photo of Princess Diana, as the pride of Maplewood, New Jersey recently explained. “Originally I was supposed to be on top of a shipping barge, but in the references that I pulled for that, I pulled the Diana reference,” SZA told Hot 97. “I just loved how isolated she felt and that’s what I wanted to convey the mos...
How to Get Tickets to Jill Scott’s 2023 Tour
Jill Scott is heading out on the road for a rescheduled anniversary tour to celebrate her debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, and tickets are going up for sale after a nearly three year wait. “My band and I were so excited three years ago, but that damn COVID shut us down,” Scott shared in a statement announcing the now-23rd anniversary tour. “Now, we outside! Come see me. Come feel again. Relive your favorite moments. Ya’ll ready to settle down and get with this?!? It’s a lot of love here.” Get tickets here, and read on for more details including pre-sale dates. What Is Jill Scott’s Next Tour? Advertisement Related Video The 23rd anniversary tour for Who Is Jill Scott? will launch in Augusta, Georgia on February 28th. Following stops in Macon, Georgia; Columbia, ...
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Help Is Coming, SZA Details New Album S.O.S [UPDATED]
SZA has shed light on S.O.S, the long-awaited follow-up to her 2017 debut Ctrl, in an interview via Billboard. Ahead of a December release, the TDE singer has admitted to feeling “currently stressed” about the impending deadline and the “red tape” that comes with it. Update – December 5th: SZA has revealed the album’s 23-song tracklist, which includes collaborations with Phoebe Bridgers (!), the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard (!!), Travis Scott, and Don Toliver. The tracklist contains lead single “Shirt” and “Blind,” which she debuted during an appearance on Saturday Night Live this past weekend. During her SNL performance SZA also confirmed the album’s release date: December 9th. The New Jersey native went in-depth on the various delays that have plagued her sophomore LP’s release, including deat...
SZA Previews New Album S.O.S on Saturday Night Live: Watch
SZA previewed her highly-anticipated sophomore album, S.O.S, while serving as musical guest on the latest episode of Saturday Night Live. She also revealed that the album would be released in less than a week — on Friday, December 9th. The pride and joy of Maplewood, New Jersey, SZA performed the album’s lead single, “Shirt,” and debuted a second song called “Blind.” Additionally, SZA appeared in a sketch opposite host Keke Palmer paying tribute to “Big Boys.” Watch it all below. Advertisement Related Video S.O.S serves as the follow-awaited follow-up to SZA’s debut album, Ctrl, which was released in 2017. Elsewhere on last night’s SNL, Kenan and Kel reunited to parody their beloved Nickelodeon show. [embedded content] [embedded content] [embedded content] [flexi-common-toolbar] [flexi-for...
With Indigo, RM Makes Fleeting Moments Feel Permanent
The album cover of RM’s Indigo includes artwork by Korean artist Yun Hyong-keun, a painter known for meditative, contemplative pieces characterized by splashes of umber and ultramarine. While the contemporary paintings are relatively minimalist, they’re technically complex, and all the more layered considering the artist was a bold, persistent figure who survived one of the most turbulent and traumatic periods in South Korea’s history. The streaming press preview of Indigo included extensive notes on the record; it’s there that Yun Hyong-keun is noted as RM’s favorite painter. RM, who was born Kim Namjoon, is the leader of BTS, the biggest pop group on the planet. He’s also a vocal supporter and passionate collector of contemporary art, particularly interested in elevating work by South Ko...
5 Things to Know About Muni Long, Best New Artist Nominee at 2023 Grammys
Come February 5th, all eyes will be on the controversial Best New Artist category at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Among the 10 artists who received nods is Muni Long, whose song “HRS & HRS” is also nominated for Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song. The singer-songwriter formerly known as Priscilla Renea will be competing against Anitta, Domi & JD Beck, Latto, Omar Apollo, Samara Joy, Måneskin, Tobe Nwigwe, Molly Tuttle and Wet Leg for the Best New Artist award. With over a decade’s worth of experience under her belt, Long’s presence can be heard through some of music’s most recognizable names as a writer and featured artist. As Priscilla Renea, she went on to release two albums before pivoting to her new moniker (pronounced “money long”) in 2019. Advertisement Related Video S...
Irene Cara, Oscar-Winning Singer of “Flashdance” and “Fame” Theme Songs, Dead at 63
Irene Cara, who sang two of the most iconic theme songs in movie history, has passed away at the age of 63. The Oscar-winning singer-actress died in her Florida home on Friday (November 25th), according to her representative, with no cause of death disclosed. “It is with profound sadness that on behalf of her family I announce the passing of Irene Cara,” publicist Judith A. Moose shared on the singer’s social media pages. “The Academy Award winning actress, singer, songwriter and producer passed away in her Florida home. Her cause of death is currently unknown and will be released when information is available…. She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films.” Cara is best known for singing the theme songs to the movies Fame (1980) and Flashdan...
serpentwithfeet Shares New Song “The Hands” From The Inspection Soundtrack: Stream
Animal Collective provide the main soundtrack to A24’s upcoming film The Inspection, but serpentwithfeet contributed an original song called “The Hands” as a bonus track to the Baltimore band’s score. Listen to the experimental R&B artist’s new offering below. Written and directed by Elegance Bratton, The Inspection tells the true story of Ellis French, a gay Black man who joined the Marines to support himself when his family wouldn’t. serpentwithfeet took that story to heart when writing “The Hands,” as he explained in a statement. “‘The Hands’ is a devotional song,” the artist said. “By the film’s end, Ellis French has a strong sense of self but doesn’t lose his sensitivity or optimism. I wanted to reflect that lyrically and musically.” In the track, delicate piano giv...
2022 Billboard Live R&B/Hip-Hop: Photos From the Evening
The biggest and brightest stars and executives in the R&B and hip-hop world showed out at Billboard Live: R&B/Hip-Hop on Thursday night (Nov. 17) at Academy LA. Billboard‘s deputy director, R&B/hip-hop Carl Lamarre and executive director, R&B/hip-hop Gail Mitchell started the evening’s festivities by thanking the R&B and hip-hop team, including reporters Neena Rouhani and Heran Mamo, and devoting a moment of silence to Takeoff, PnB Rock, Young Dolph, Pop Smoke, Nipsey Hussle and more rappers who have died in recent years. Future, who currently stars on Billboard‘s cover, presented the Rookie of the Year award to Blxst, who recently came off a sold-out world tour and earned two 2023 Grammy nominations for album of the year with Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big S...
R Kelly’s Manager Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Harassing Victim
R Kelly’s manager, Donnell Russell, was sentenced to 20 months in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to stalking and harassing one of the disgraced singer’s sexual abuse victims. According to the Department of Justice (per Rolling Stone), Russell, 47, used text messages, phone calls, and emails to intimidate one of Kelly’s victims, identified as Jane Doe, and her mother out of coming forward about her experience with the singer. Russell allegedly threatened to release explicit photos of the victim if she did not withdraw her civil suit against Kelly. “Pull the plug or you will be exposed,” he wrote in a text sent on January 3rd, 2019. Russell also posted the photos to a Facebook page he made with an alias called “Surviving Lies” — a play on the 2019 Surviving R Kelly docu...
Beyoncé and JAY-Z Tie for Record for Most Grammy Nominations of All Time
Beyoncé and her husband JAY-Z have independently tied for the new record for most Grammy nominations of all time with a total of 88 nominations. JAY-Z set the previous record last year with 83, and he managed to rack up five more for the 2023 ceremony with three new nods for his scene-stealing verse on DJ Khaled’s “GOD DID,” and two songwriting credits on Beyoncé’s Renaissance. But Beyoncé kept pace with nine nominations, including for Best Dance/Electronic Album and Album of the Year for Rnaissance. Meanwhile, lead single “Break My Soul” got love in Best Dance/Electronic Recording, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year categories, and she also received nominations for Best R&B Performance (“Virgo’s Groove”), Best Traditional R&B Performance (“Plas...
