R&B
FKA twigs Debuts New Song “killer” During NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert: Watch
FKA twigs is the latest artist to deliver an NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, and, to no surprise, the MAGDALENE singer chose a church as her backdrop. During the performance, the English artist debuted her upcoming single, “killer.” The three-song set saw twigs accompanied by a violinist, cellist, and pianist, who only added to the epic feel of her performance. The singer-songwriter ran through songs both old and new, including the yet-to-be released “killer” (out on Thursday, June 16th) and MAGDALENE cuts “home with you” and “cellophane.” Watch the full concert below. twigs’ appearance is the fourth in NPR Music’s Black Music Month concert series, which showcases Black artists through 11 Tiny Desk Concerts airing throughout June. So far, Adekunle Gold, James Francies, and Naira Marley have ...
Princess Nokia Reveals New Single “Diva” and Music Video: Watch
Princess Nokia has premiered her new single “Diva” as well as the melodic track’s accompanying music video. Stream it below. Shot on location in Puerto Rico, the visual is a loving tribute to the island’s indigenous Taíno culture as the rising star name-drops Beyoncé, Shakira, Lemonade, “Hips Don’t Lie,” Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Aaliyah before rapping, “Yo, can’t stay in one place/ I was meant to be a star like a rocket in space/ I done went from internet to ahead of the race/ Feeling like I’m Ricky Bobby but I’m brown in the face/ I may be the new girl but I’ll never replace/ All the women here before me, making excellent taste/ I just learn from these women, do whatever it takes/ I’m the daughter of the witches that they burned at the stake.” “Diva” is the rapper-singer’s ...
Not Even Post Malone Can Save Post Malone on Twelve Carat Toothache
Twelve Carat Toothache (out today, June 3rd) is Post Malone‘s shortest album to date. And according to Posty, this is a deliberate play to resist the overloaded track lists that dominate streaming platforms; “I’ve made a lot of compromises, especially musically, but now I don’t feel like I want to anymore,” he said in a Billboard cover story back in January, “I don’t need a No. 1; that doesn’t matter to me no more, and at a point, it did.” This points to a few different potential outcomes for his fourth studio album — now that Post Malone has indeed scored his multiple No. 1s, ascended to true headliner status, and became a “sensitive bad boy” icon, taking some of that pressure off to make hit after hit could absolutely work in his favor. If he has nothing to lose at this point in his some...
Juneteenth Celebration 2022 to Feature The Roots, Killer Mike, Mickey Guyton, and More
Juneteenth 2022 marks the liberation of Black Americans from slavery 157 years ago. In celebration, The Roots, Killer Mike, Mickey Guyton, and more will take the stage at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, June 19th for a special concert that will be broadcast live on CNN. Other artists on the roster for the evening include Earth Wind & Fire, Robert Glasper, Jhené Aiko, Anthony Hamilton, Billy Porter, Lucky Daye, Mary Mary, and Michelle Williams. Additionally, the show will feature the 68-piece symphony Re-Collective Orchestra. Conducted by Thomas Wilkins and Derek Hodge, the group will be the first all-Black orchestra to ever play the Hollywood Bowl in the venue’s 100-year history. See the full lineup poster below. “This is the most important event we’ve ever produced at Live Nation U...
Sudan Archives Announces Fall 2022 North American Tour
Los Angeles-based violinist and singer Sudan Archives has mapped out her headlining “Homecoming Tour” across North America for Fall 2022. The trek kicks off on September 24th in Solana Beach, California, and will include dates in San Francisco, Vancouver, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Nashville before closing out on October 21st in Los Angeles. See the full itinerary below. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 3rd at 10:00 a.m. local time. Pick up yours via Ticketmaster. Related Video Ahead of the tour, Sudan Archives will be making the festival rounds, making appearances at Winnipeg Folk Festival, All Points East, and Capitol Hill Block Party among others. Earlier this month, the musician released her latest single, “Selfish Soul,” which came on the heels of March’s “Home Maker.” Her last al...
How to Get Tickets to Kehlani’s 2022 Tour Dates
Kehlani has charted quite the course for her upcoming “Blue Water Road Trip” across North America and Europe this year, and she’s got plenty of new material in tow thanks to her latest album blue water road. Get tickets here, and read on for more details including pre-sale dates. What Is Kehlani’s Next Tour? The “Blue Water Road Trip” consists of two legs, with 28 shows in North America followed by 15 in Europe. The journey begins in Raleigh, North Carolina on July 30th and continues along the East Coast to the likes of Miami, Washington, DC, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia into mid-August. Heading to the Midwest via Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, the tour hits Minneapolis on August 19th, Detroit on August 22nd, Chicago on August 26th, and Indianapolis on August 28th before turning south fo...
Song of the Week: Rina Sawayama Throws the Hottest Dance Party Around in “This Hell”
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, Rina Sawayama has us burning up in all the best ways. Rina Sawayama is one of the most exciting and dynamic pop girlies out there at the moment. She gives us choreography. She gives us camp. She gives us bright, colorful, inclusive bops, fueled by her keen sense of melodic construction and a healthy heaping of fun. Look at her indulgent and slyly anti-capitalistic “XS,” addictive “LUCID,” or her verse on Charli XCX’s “Beg For You” if you’re in need of a crash course. With “This Hell,” she injects a touch of yee...
Sudan Archives Celebrates Black Hair in New Song “Selfish Soul”: Stream
It’s about time Sudan Archives feeds her “Selfish Soul” — or, more accurately, that she embraces her natural beauty. Listen to the singer-songwriter’s new single, an empowering ode to Black hair, below. “Selfish Soul” rumbles with a quiet bass line and Sudan Archives’ signature acrobatic violin. In the song, the artist, born Brittney Denise Parks, puts voice to the fears all Black women face as they navigate our Euro-centric society: “If I cut my hair, hope I grow it long/ Back long, back time like way before/ If I wear it straight will they like me more?/ Like those girls on front covers?” Later, she asks, “Am I good enough?” “I feel like there’s an American standard of what beautiful hair is, and I wanted to show in this video that’s not what all beauty is; to showcase different hairstyl...
Kehlani Announces 2022 World Tour
Kehlani has announced the “Blue Water Road Trip,” an expansive 2022 tour in support of her new album blue water road. The 43-date trek includes 28 concerts in North America followed by another 15 shows in Europe. Rico Nasty will accompany Kehlani on the first leg, while Destin Conrad will join her from beginning to end. The “Blue Water Road Trip” begins July 30th in Raleigh, North Carolina, and from then through October Kehlani will take in cities including Atlanta, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Honolulu, Hawaii. Beginning in November the tour picks back up on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, with stops in Copenhagen, Stockholm, several German cities, and a prolonged run through the UK. Advertisement Related Video Check out the full schedule b...
Carrie Underwood, Ben Platt, Flo Rida, Gabby Barrett, & More to Perform on 2022 ‘American Idol’ Finale
After the top 5 American Idol contestants performed for mentor and fourth season winner Carrie Underwood on Sunday night (May 15), the show revealed the all-star line-up for the upcoming May 22 3-hour finale. The episode, which will air live coast-to-coast on ABC beginning at 8 p.m. ET, will have this season’s three finalists — HunterGirl, Leah Marlene and Noah Thompson — performing for one last time in their bid to take home this year’s crown. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news In addition to songs from judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, next week’s season 20 finale will feature performances from Underwood, Ben Platt, Deana Carter, Earth, Wind & Fire, Flo Rida, Idol alum Gabby Barrett, James Arthur, Sara Bareilles, Melissa Ether...
2022 Billboard Music Awards: Silk Sonic Perform “Love Train”: Watch
Silk Sonic took the stage at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night to perform their cover of “Love Train” by R&B and funk band Con Funk Shun. Watch the replay below. Dressed in matching maroon leisure suits, Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars turned up the charm as they ran through the song with a fully choreographed routine in tandem with their backup dancers and band. At this year’s BBMAs, Silk Sonic are up for awards in four categories: Top Duo/Group, Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Album, and Top R&B Song, the latter of which they have already won for “Leave the Door Open.” Advertisement Related Video In April, Silk Sonic performed “777” at the 2022 Grammy Awards, where they picked up four wins for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, a...
Sean “Diddy” Combs Forms R&B Label, Announces New Album
Sean “Love” Combs (aka Diddy) has announced a new R&B label, the eponymous Love Records. The first project under the imprint will be his next solo album, slated for release this summer as part of a one-off deal with Motown Records. The “Bad Boy for Life” mogul is also sticking to his word by confirming that he will maintain his oversight role in Bad Boy Entertainment, which he founded in 1993, while developing the more genre-specific Love Records. In terms of operational duties, he will reportedly act as executive producer, curator, and A&R for his upcoming project. In a statement, Combs shared: “Music has always been my first love. Love Records is the next chapter, is about getting back to the love and making the best music of my life. For the label, I’m focused on creating t...
