R&B
NNAMDÏ Announces New EP Are You Happy, Shares “Backseat”: Stream
Chicago singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist NNAMDÏ has announced his new EP, Are You Happy, out this Friday (November 12th) via Sooper Records. He also shared the new single “Backseat” as a preview. Production on the EP is handled by Chicago electronic artist Lynyn — the new moniker of fellow Monobody bandmember and longtime friend Conor Mackey — making Are You Happy the first project NNAMDÏ didn’t produce himself. Fusing NNAMDÏ’s effortless mix of hip-hop and R&B with Lynyn’s experimental beats, the EP spans five tracks and includes a remix of “Glass Casket,” which originally appeared on 2020’s BRAT. The off-kilter production of “Backseat” helps to showcase NNAMDÏ’s ability to transition between smooth R&B vocals and fast-paced rhymes. “Cranking up the gas at the drop...
Indigo De Souza Announces Tour Dates, Covers Frank Ocean’s “Ivy”: Watch
Indigo De Souza is ready to hit the road. Today, the rising singer-songwriter announced a round of upcoming tour dates running through the fall and winter. The North American jaunt kicks off November 14th at Nashville’s Mercy Lounge and hits Asheville, NC and West Columbia, SC before taking a pause for the month of December. After the new year, the tour resumes Charlotte, NC and runs through January 30th. Allie, Ex Gold, and Truth Club will provide support and various stops along the way. Grab tickets for the trek via Ticketmaster. Coinciding with the tour announcement, the “Hold U” songstress also unveiled a candid cover of Frank Ocean‘s Blonde-era hit “Ivy.” Recorded from the comfort of her home, De Souza is bathed in pink-ish light as she performs the song in her hallway. Advertisement ...
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Release New Silk Sonic Single, “Smokin Out the Window”: Stream
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak have released a new Silk Sonic song called “Smokin Out the Window,” which serves as the third preview of the duo’s upcoming debut album An Evening with Silk Sonic. Watch the song’s accompanying music video below. Following the release of their debut slow jam-turned-Song of the Week “Leave the Door Open” in March, and lighthearted follow-up-turned Song of the Week “Skate” in July, “Smokin Out the Window” follows in the grand tradition of funk and soul. With cinematic strings and soft bass, the duo takes cues from artists like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder in their mission to make an uplifting throwback album for our dark modern times. An Evening with Silk Sonic arrives on November 12th. Head here to catch up on everything we know about th...
Post Malone and The Weeknd Drop Collaborative Single “One Right Now”: Stream
Post Malone and The Weeknd have teamed up for their new collaboration “One Right Now” via XO/Republic Records. Stream it below. Just two days before it hit streaming services, the two superstars teased the track with a social post hinting at the surprise. “PM&TW-ORN-Update.5.nonhyped.w1.mp3,” read the audio note, which contained a snippet of The Weeknd crooning, “You’re a stain on my legacy” over atmospheric production. The singer’s manager, Dre London, later confirmed the title of the mystery tune. “One Right Now” serves as the first single off Post Malone’s upcoming fourth album, according to a press release. The song was produced by Louis Bell, Brian Lee, and Andrew Bolooki. Advertisement Related Video The Weeknd is prepping his own new album, the follow-up to his hit 2020 album Aft...
serpentwithfeet Announces 2022 North American Tour, Shares “Fellowship (Remix)”: Stream
serpentwithfeet is releasing a companion EP titled DEACON’S GROVE on Friday, and today he announced a 2022 North American tour. As a preview of the project, our former Artist of the Month also shared a remix of “Fellowship.” The rising R&B singer’s trek kicks off at Union Stage in Washington, DC on February 12th. From there, serpentwithfeet will make stops in New York City, Toronto, and Chicago before closing out the tour on March 9th in Los Angeles. See the full schedule below. Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 5th at 10:00 am local time. Pick them up at Ticketmaster then. Advertisement Related Video “Fellowship (Remix)” adds new verses from Ambre and Alex Isley, giving a whole new dimension to the original version, which featured co-producers Sampha and Lil Silva on the chorus...
Everything We Know About Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s An Evening with Silk Sonic (So Far)
In late February of this year, veteran hitmakers Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak teamed up to form a supergroup called Silk Sonic. The arrival of their debut single, “Leave the Door Open,” was accompanied by the official announcement of an upcoming album, which immediately became one of the most highly anticipated releases of 2021. Simply titled An Evening with Silk Sonic, the collaborative project will also contain Mars and .Paak’s summer jam, “Skate,” as well as a forthcoming single titled “Smokin Out the Window.” The duo has described the album’s sound as based in the ’60s and ’70s, “the old school.” Inspired by Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, and Prince, it’s meant to create feel-good vibes in “in times like the time we’re in right now.” Advertisement Related Vi...
Terrace Martin Announces New Album Drones, Shares “Leave Us Be”: Stream
Terrace Martin has announced a new album, Drones, out Friday via Sounds of Crenshaw / BMG. If three days is too long of a wait, the jazz musician shared the first single “Leave Us Be” today. Drones offers commentary on the growing sense of apathy in American culture, and seeks to unmask the Black American experience in what Martin calls a “Black Disneyland.” An all-star lineup of collaborators helps him accomplish this goal. After Martin produced notable works from Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, YG, and more, the artists have come back to return the favor, making Drones a who’s who of modern hip-hop. Lamar, Snoop, Ty Dolla $ign, and James Fauntelroy all appear on the title track, while Leon Bridges, Smino, Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, and more appear elsewhere on the album. Pre-ord...
Rolling Loud New York Day 2 Recap: Rainy Weather Couldn’t Stop J. Cole, City Girls Showed Out and More
If the Day 1 theme of Rolling Loud New York 2021 was hometown rappers reigning supreme, the driving force on Friday (October 29th) was Mother Nature. Beginning as a crisp, overcast autumn day with winds strong enough to tip over garbage cans, it started drizzling around 7:30 p.m. before giving way to a full-blown rainstorm shortly after J. Cole took the main stage at 8:45. The Dreamville founder was unfazed by the weather, giving an all-time performance that those in attendance will never forget. Meanwhile, City Girls and Ski Mask the Slump God carried stage presences that demanded reciprocal energy from the crowd, Wale showed the breadth of his catalog after an unplanned set time switch, and Bas gave a sneak peek of his boss’ headlining set while playing his most popular cuts to a lo...
Fugees Postpone Reunion Tour
Fugees are postponing their 25th anniversary reunion tour “to ensure the best chance that all cities on the tour will be fully open so we can perform for as many fans as possible.” Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel had been scheduled to kick off the 12-date arena tour in early November. According to a statement announcing the postponement, those shows are being moved to early 2022. The trio also says they’re “adding more cities and dates.” Given the long and messy history between Fugees’ three members, the idea that their reunion tour would go off without a hitch always felt like a pipe dream. In the group’s defense, there’s nothing in today’s announcement to suggest the tour is in danger of being canceled outright, but until Hill, Jean, and Michel physically take the stage, ma...
James Blake on Falsettos, Comparisons, and His Knack for Musical Left Turns
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS James Blake joins Kyle Meredith to discuss his latest album, Friends That Break Your Heart. Advertisement Related Video The English singer-songwriter tells us about the process of deciding what this album should be, comparisons with and being jealous of other artists, and covering Joy Division on the preceding covers EP. Blake also talks about his knack for left turns in his songs, using less of his famous falsetto, and having SZA and JID guest on this newest set. Listen to this new episode of Kyle Meredith With above or watching the whole interview via the YouTube player below. Advertisement Make sure to subscribe to KMW...
Attorney: R Kelly Placed on Suicide Watch Following Guilty Verdict
R Kelly was placed on suicide watch after being found guilty of federal sex crimes last month. The revelation was made by the singer’s attorney, Steve Greenberg, during a hearing ahead of Kelly’s next federal trial in Chicago, according to Billboard. On September 27th, Kelly was found guilty of one count of racketeering rooted in alleged sexual exploitation of children, kidnapping, and forced labor, and eight counts of of violating the Mann Act, a law that criminalizes transporting someone across state lines “with intent that such individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense.” His sentencing is set for May 4th, 2022, and he faces up to life in prison. A separate trial on child pornography and obstruction of justice...
SZA Announces “Good Days Fall 2021” Tour
SZA has announced the brief “Good Days Fall 2021” tour, a run of five new November dates culminating in a previously-announced performance at Day N Vegas Festival. This jaunt through the southwest is named for SZA’s December 2020 track, “Good Days.” That’s just one of the many recent singles fans are likely to hear on tour, because while her first and only album, Ctrl, is already four years old, the neo-soul singer has been busy sharing oodles of silky smooth music. Over the past year she’s also dropped “Hit Different”(which ranks among our 50 favorite songs of the 2020), as well as the trio of SoundCloud singles “Joni,” “I Hate You,” and “Nightbird,” and “The Anonymous Ones,” which she recorded for Dear Evan Hansen. In support of all these loosies, SZA will hit th...
