R&B
Golden Sand Destination Hip-Hop Festival Brings 50 Cent, TLC, Ludacris to Riviera Maya
Pollen Presents, a technology company known for its event experience packages, has announced the lineup for its first-ever Golden Sand destination music festival. Taking place January 12th-16th, 2022, Golden Sand aims to present an immersive weekend filled with classic hip-hop and R&B, luxury resort amenities, and adventures all along the gorgeous beaches of Riviera Maya, Mexico. The Phase 1 lineup includes 50 Cent, TLC, Kelly Rowland, Ludacris, Nelly, Flo Rida, Sean Paul, T-Pain, Fat Joe, and Lil’ Kim, with more artists to be announced soon. Beyond the music, attendees will be able to indulge in the all-inclusive services of the Barcelo Riviera Maya resort. That includes all premium food and beverages from over a dozen restaurants and bars, 11 swimming pools, jungle adventures, yoga, ...
JoJo on How Mental Health, Depression, and Joni Mitchell’s Blue Shaped Her New EP
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS JoJo sits down with Kyle Meredith to discuss her new EP, Trying Not to Think About It, it’s firth single “Worst (I Assume).” and the building the new songs around mental health, negative patterns, and how depression affects your relationships. Advertisement Related Video The singer/songwriter/actress talks extensively on how the new songs were built around mental health, negative patterns, and how depression affects your relationships. JoJo also discusses how Joni Mitchell’s Blue lent a heavy dose of inspiration when looking towards lyrics, while the classic sounds of Usher, Justin Timberlake, and Aaliyah along with...
Yola Belts Out “Diamond Studded Shoes” on Kimmel: Watch
Yola has one of the best voices in modern country right now, in part because of the undeniable soul she brings to the genre. Last night, she got to reintroduce her show-stopping voice on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with a rousing rendition of “Diamond Studded Shoes.” Watch a replay of her performance below. For the occasion, Yola broke out the Stand For Myself track in a cozy room back home in Nashville, Tennessee. What starts out with the warm vibe of a local band at a bar quickly turns into a powerhouse country-pop song worth dancing along to. Yola shows off her voice with subdued verses and effortless trills, but it’s her massive belted notes towards the end that steal the show. All told, it’s a goosebump-raising live version of “Diamond Studded Shoes” that further drives home the song’s an...
Aaliyah’s One in a Million Finally Hits Streaming Services
25 years after its release, late R&B legend Aaliyah’s second studio album, One in a Million, has finally arrived on streaming services. Stream it via Apple Music or Spotify below. One in a Million saw Aaliyah linking up with producers like Timbaland and Missy Elliott to break away from the sound crafted by R. Kelly on her 1994 debut, Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number, and carve a unique lane in the R&B landscape. Slick Rick and Treach of Naughty by Nature contributed guest verses to the album. For years, most of Aaliyah’s catalog was in limbo because Barry Hankerson, her uncle and the co-founder of Blackground Records, wouldn’t license her music to streaming services or digital retailers. Prior to today, Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number was her only album available to str...
R Kelly Trial Day 1: Prosecutors Liken Singer to Crime Boss Who Blackmailed His Victims
Opening statements in the federal trial of R Kelly got underway in Brooklyn on Wednesday. The disgraced singer is charged with an array of sex crimes against six women and girls, including kidnapping, trafficking, and forced labor. According to The Daily Beast, in her opening statement Assistant United States Attorney Maria Cruz Melendez sought to portray Kelly as the leader of a criminal enterprise who knowingly facilitated his crimes. Cruz Melendez described Kelly as a “predator… who used his fame, popularity and the individuals at his disposal to target and groom girls, boys and young women for his sexual gratification.” Advertisement Related Video Prosecutors say they’ll present the jury with evidence including text messages between Kelly and his alleged victims, as well as video...
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak to Release Silk Sonic Debut Album in January 2022
Since first introducing their collaborative Silk Sonic project back in March with “Leave the Door Open,” Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak have kept the music world waiting for word on their first album. It looks like we still have a few months to go, as the duo have revealed their LP, An Evening with Silk Sonic, is targeting a January 2022 release. The pair confirmed the news in an extensive new interview with Rolling Stone. Apparently, the album was initially set for a fall drop, but they wanted to release a few more singles to give the songs their own space. “I don’t want to be binge-watched,” explained Mars. (Since “Leave the Door Open,” we’ve only received one other Silk Sonic track: “Skate,” which arrived in late July.) Speaking about their detailed collaborative process, ...
Ray Charles to Be Inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame
Ray Charles is set to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame alongside the rest of the class of 2022. Widely known for his genre-redefining contributions to R&B, soul, and gospel music, Charles was also responsible for breaking down color barriers in country music at the height of the Civil Rights era. His two-volume Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music from 1962, reissued back in 2019, was a personal passion project that ended up becoming a landmark release for both country at large and Charles individually. The album went on to become one of the best selling country LPs of the time, demonstrating the genre’s commercial potential. The single “I Can’t Stop Loving You” not only spent five weeks atop the Billboard 100, but is often considered the definitive version of the ...
The Weeknd Shares Extended Version of “Take My Breath”: Stream
Last week, The Weeknd finally unveiled “Take My Breath,” the lead single from his upcoming album The Dawn that he’s been teasing for quite a while. Now, he’s back with an even groovier extended version of the hit song, which you can stream below. “Take My Breath (Extended Version)” goes all in on ’80s synth, disco drumming, and that infectious, wobbly bass that sounds like it’s straight out of a Halloween movie. It’s hard to hear the lengthier version of this absolute jam and not interpret it as The Weeknd giving everyone a reason to dance as vaccinated people cautiously begin celebrating a post-pandemic world. “I know temptation is the devil in disguise,” he sings. “You risk it all to feel alive.” The single is about being in a whirlwind romance, of course, but lyrics about making your br...
R.I.P. Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Saxophonist of Kool & The Gang Dead at 70
Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, a founding member and longtime saxophonist of Kool & the Gang, has died at the age of 70. According to a lengthy obituary published on the group’s social media, Thomas passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, August 7th. Thomas appeared on every one of Kool & the Gang’s albums, playing alto saxophone, flute, and percussion. He was also the “master of ceremonies” at the group’s concerts. Advertisement Related Video Thomas first met Ronald Bell and Robert “Kool” Bell in high school, and together they began playing music with several other friends including Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George Brown, and Charles Smith. After initially calling themselves the Jazziacs, the group eventually settled on the name “Kool & the Gang.” Over the proceeding ...
Frank Ocean Launches Luxury Goods Company Homer with Jewelry Line
Frank Ocean has announced the launch of his new luxury goods company Homer. Inspired by his “childhood obsessions” and “heritage as fantasy,” Ocean’s first Homer collection will include both fine and high jewelry pieces as well as a number of printed silk scarves. Handcrafted in Italy and designed at Homer’s headquarters in New York City, the jewelry will be crafted from lab-grown American diamonds, 18K gold, recycled silver, and hand-painted enamel. The company’s first and only NYC-based jewelry store is set to open this coming Monday, August 9th, but expect access to be highly exclusive and personalized. The only way to shop the collection is by making an appointment on Homer’s website, though some walk-up appointments will also be available. Advertisement Related Video Ocean’s launch al...
Jorja Smith Is Feeling “All of This” on New Single: Stream
It’s never been up for debate whether or not Jorja Smith has an incredible voice. She made that much obvious on Lost and Found. But on her brand new single “All of This,” which sees her teaming up with producer GuiltyBeatz, the R&B singer branches into minimal electronica and sounds like she could be the next opener for Radiohead. Stream it below. Over staccato drum taps and a restless shaker, Jorja Smith sings about falling in love, being stung by lies, and navigating a path forward after having her heart broken on the single. In the background, a slink synth beat plays on loop and some deep bass notes ring out in the softest way possible. If we didn’t know better, it would be tempting to wonder if Thom Yorke produced “All of This” considering how minimal yet groovy it is, like someth...
The Weeknd Shares New Single “Take My Breath”: Stream
After days of teasing, The Weeknd unveiled his new single “Take My Breath” today via XO/Roc Nation Records. Stream it below. The R&B artist first hinted at the track on Monday night, when it was used during a promo for the Olympics featuring U.S. track and field stars Dalilah Muhammad, Athing Mu, Sydney McLaughlin, and Gabby Thomas. “8.6.21 new single…#tokyoolympics,” he captioned the post on his Instagram along with a gold medal emoji. In the snippet The Weeknd can be heard crooning the track’s demanding chorus over a propulsive cascade of synths. Since then, the singer has flooded his feed with cryptic images of himself wearing a blinged-out oxygen mask to hype up the song’s release. Advertisement Related Video The song is set to be included on The Weeknd’s upcoming fifth album The D...
