R&B
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...
Aaliyah’s Albums Coming to Streaming Services Beginning August 20th
For several years now, Aaliyah’s uncle Barry Hankerson has promised that the late R&B pop star’s music would finally be uploaded to streaming services. This time, it’s actually going to happen. In an interview with Billboard, Hankerson revealed that all of Aaliyah’s music will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, and the like starting on August 20th. Technically, fans have had access to Aaliyah’s 1994 debut album Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number and a few early singles for a while now. But the majority of her catalog, including 1996’s One in a Million and 2001’s self-titled album, have been unavailable to stream this whole time. According to Hankerson, who owned the original Blackground Records and the majority of Aaliyah’s masters aside from her debut LP, that decision was in accordanc...
Lizzo Returning Next Week with “Rumors,” Her First New Song in Two Years
Lizzo is kicking off a new era next week with “Rumors,” her first new song in two years. It’s due out Friday, August 13th via Atlantic Records. “Rumors” marks Lizzo’s first new material since linking up with Charli XCX on “Blame It on Your Love” in May 2019. One month prior, the Minnesota rapper and singer dropped Cuz I Love You, one of the best albums released that year. The breakout project contains her massive No. 1 hit, “Truth Hurts,” as well as the popular singles “Good As Hell” and “Juice.” It also propelled Lizzo to Grammy wins for Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Traditional R&B Performance, and Best Urban Contemporary Album. Now that touring has resumed again, fans can catch Lizzo making appearances at festivals like Bonnaroo, where she will become the first ever...
The Weeknd Teases New Album with “The Dawn is Coming” Video: Watch
The Weeknd’s Abel Tesfaye has shared a two-minute preview of his new album The Dawn. Entitled “The Dawn Is Coming,” the teaser clip includes an animated visual. Check it out below. In a new interview with GQ, The Weeknd described The Dawn as “the album I’ve always wanted to make.” GQ writer Mark Anthony Green further described The Weeknd’s new music as “packed with party records. Like real-deal, illuminated-white-tiles-on-the-floor party records. Quincy Jones meets Giorgio Moroder meets the best-night-of-your-fucking-life party records. Not anachronistic disco stuff. (Not ‘cosplay,’ as Abel put it.) That sort of retro thing is having a moment right now in pop music, but these records are new. Sweaty. Hard. Drenched-suit, grinding-on-the-girl/boy-of-your-dreams party records.” Advertisement...
