R&B
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...
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Announce November Release Date for Silk Sonic Album
The holidays are coming early for Silk Sonic fans, as Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak have officially announced the release date for their collaborative first album is November 12th. An Evening with Silk Sonic was initially targeted for a January 2022 release, as revealed by the duo in an August interview with Rolling Stone. At the time, Mars explained that they wanted to share a few more singles to give their music more space. “I don’t want to be binge-watched,” said Mars. So far, Mars and .Paak have only released two songs as a group: “Leave the Door Open” and “Skate,” the latter of which was named our Song of the Week. However, demand for more new material has only grown with performances at the Grammys, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and BET Awards. Advertisement Related V...
R. Kelly’s Music Sees Major Spike in Streaming and Sales Following Guilty Verdict
R. Kelly may have been found guilty last month in his federal sex crimes trial, but the news seems to have caused a major spike in his sales and streaming numbers. According to streaming data provided by Billboard, the disgraced artist’s catalog experienced a 14% rise in streaming during the week of his September 27th conviction, as well as a 55% rise in radio play across the country. However, the real impact came in the week immediately following the guilty verdict. A report by Rolling Stone points out R. Kelly’s music received a 500% surge in sales, while his streaming numbers also rose by another 22% from the week prior. Advertisement Related Video Interestingly, a comparable bump came back in January 2019 when Lifetime first began airing its bombshell documentary series Surviving R. Ke...
James Blake Releases New Album Friends That Break Your Heart: Stream
James Blake has delivered his latest album, Friends That Break Your Heart. Stream the UK crooner’s fifth studio full-length below via Apple Music or Spotify. Described by Blake as a “concept” album, Friends That Break Your Heart features guest appearances by SZA, JID, SwaVay, and Monica Marti. Blake’s girlfriend, The Good Place actress Jameela Jamil, also has songwriting credits on three songs: recent single “Famous Last Words,” the SZA-featuring “Coming Back,” and “I’m So Blessed You’re Mine. Of the LP’s 12 tracks “Say What You Will” and “Life Is Not the Same” were also shared as early previews. The concept of Friends That Break Your Heart is right in the title: Blakes treats platonic heartbreak the same way writers typically look at romance. As Consequence’s own ...
New Kids on the Block Announce 2022 Tour with Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley, En Vogue
New Kids on the Block have got the right stuff for “The MixTape Tour 2022.” The veteran boy band has announced a massive 55-date trek supported by fellow icons of the ’80s and ’90s Salt-N-Pepa, Rick Astley, and En Vogue. The quintet of Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood, and Donnie Wahlberg last hit the road on the “MixTape Tour 2019.” In a statement, Wahlberg explained the emotions around the new tour and why they named it “MixTape.” He said, “We had a blast out on the first MixTape Tour in 2019, and can’t wait to take it to another level with our fans on the MixTape Tour 2022. Just like a mixtape, these shows are going to take audiences through all the emotions. To be able to have Salt-N-Pepa come back and now also have the iconic and legendary&...
R. Kelly’s Baton Rouge “Key to the City” Honor Being Rescinded
Back before his legacy fully tanked as a result of his own incorrigibly disgusting actions, R. Kelly was a “Key to the City” honoree in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Now that the disgraced R&B singer was found guilty of all counts in his federal sex trafficking case — facing a possible sentence of a decade to life in prison — the city is rescinding the honor. Although multiple sexual misconduct allegations have been made against him since the ’90s, Kelly was given the Key to the City honor back in 2013 by then-Baton Rouge Metro Council member Denise Marcelle, who told TMZ that, at the time, she had only been aware of his 2008 acquittal. Now a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, she added that she regrets ever giving him the honor. She holds the power to rescind the honor becaus...
Kali Uchis Recruits SZA for “fue mejor” Remix: Stream
Last November, Kali Uchis released her first Spanish-language album, Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios). On it was a song called “fue mejor,” which today gets a revamped version boasting guest vocals from none other than SZA. As an additional treat for fans, the “fue mejor” remix arrives with a new music video. “fue mejor” is a heavy-hitting R&B slow jam that perfectly suits SZA’s voice. Following the smash success of “Kiss Me More” with Doja Cat, “fue mejor” marks the first time we’ve heard SZA sing in Spanish. “This is Latin R&B, this is SZA singing in Spanish for the very first time, this is spooky season, this IS the moment,” Uchis said in a statement. The steamy music video, directed by Daniel Sannwald, feels fit for spooky season indeed, looking like it could’ve been pulle...
R Kelly Found Guilty in Federal Sex Trafficking Trial, Faces Decades in Prison
R Kelly has been found guilty of all counts in his federal sex trafficking case and faces decades in prison. The disgraced R&B singer was charged with one count of racketeering rooted in alleged sexual exploitation of children, kidnapping, and forced labor. Additionally, he was charged with eight counts 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.” Kelly pleaded not guilty to all charges, but on Monday a jury convicted him on all nine counts. Kelly, 54, faces a possible sentence of a decade to life in prison. Sentencing is set for May 4th, 2022. Advertisement Related Video Over the span of 20 days,...
Fugees Perform “Ready or Not” at First Concert in 15 Years: Watch
Earlier this week, Fugees reunited at New York City’s Pier 17 for their first performance in 15 years. A portion of the concert was filmed for broadcast on Saturday night as part of the Global Citizen Festival. Below, watch their performance of “Ready or Not.” All told, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel performed a seven song set pulling exclusively from their classic album The Score. Though they took the stage nearly four hours late, “in the air there was a genuine sense of rebirth that has been present in very few reunion tours — as if they had, in these 25 years, figured out exactly how to fit in the narrow space between nostalgia and modernity,” wrote Valerie Megan in her review of the concert for Consequence. “It was a glorious victory lap, underlined by the nipping breeze...
