It is with great sadness that we share the passing of legendary @ClassicMotown singer and songwriter Barrett Strong.
— Motown Museum (@Motown_Museum) January 30, 2023
The voice behind @motown's first hit, the iconic “Money (That’s What I Want),” was born in West Point, Mississippi on February 5, 1941 and was raised in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/RvINyjJgcc
Monday, January 30, 2023
Barrett Strong, Motown's First Star, Dies at 81
Friday, January 27, 2023
Smokey Robinson Drops New Single From Upcoming Album 'Gasms'
"My New Music is OUT NOW!!!" wrote Robinson on his official Instagram account. "The New Single
“If We Don’t Have Each Other” is available on all platforms… and my New album ‘GASMS’ will be available April 28, 2023."
The founder and front man of one of the seminal R&B labels' first vocal supergroups — the Miracles — Robinson has also enjoyed a lengthy solo career. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
“Gasms” features nine new songs produced and written by Robinson. It is his most ambitious musical undertaking since the release of “Smokey & Friends” in 2014.
The album of duets featured an all-star lineup of his contemporaries, including Elton John, Steven Tyler, Sheryl Crow and Mary J. Blige. It peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart and No. 12 on the Billboard 200, making it the second most successful effort of his solo career.
Earlier this year it was announced that Robinson will be honored alongside Motown founder and fellow musician Berry Gordy as the 2023 “Persons Of The Year” at the Recording Academy’s annual MusiCares event on Feb. 3 in Los Angeles.
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Papoose Named Head of Hip-Hop at Music Distributor TuneCore
The company, which hails itself as "the leading development partner for self-releasing artists—owned by Believe, one of the world’s leading digital music companies" announced the partnership on Tuesday.
"When hiring executives I look for expertise and experience," TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson said of the company's reasoning behind the move in a statement.
"Papoose’s years of hustling and success in the industry make him uniquely qualified to advise Hip-Hop artists because he’s been in their shoes, he understands what they’re going through and he knows first-hand what works.”
The Brooklyn-bred wordsmith, who celebrated the news with several posts on his social media, said the new role would allow him to help others forge their own path to success in an industry notorious for its pitfalls.
“For my whole career, everyone has known what I stand for: independence,” Papoose said. “For me, being in this position with TuneCore where I can directly contribute and help other self-releasing artists on the come-up is like magic. I understand what it’s like to be in the studio, to be on the road, to chase your dreams as an artist, and I’m excited to help up-and-coming artists make their dreams a reality.”
In addition to scouting talents on behalf of the music distribution service, Papoose will oversee its artist ambassador program for hip-hop and rap along with education and career advice workshops.
The deal furthers a relationship between TuneCore and the artist that began in 2021 when he had the idea of releasing an album a month. Papoose credits TuneCore as the only distributor that allowed him to release music at that rate.
"When everyone else slammed their doors in my face I was lucky to discover TuneCore, the only distributor that allowed me to share my music at such a high rate," he told Rock The Bells. "Giving me this freedom allowed me to make history by becoming the only artist to release an album a month for a whole year, and that helped me gain support from genre giants like Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Swizz Beatz, Fabolous Timbaland, and others."
Papoose also announced the release of his latest single, “Makin Plays (feat. Jim Jones and Jaquae)” out February 10th. He described the song as a high-energy anthem about creating your own opportunities for success and hitting whatever your goals might be.
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Legendary Hip-Hop Band The Roots Perform at Kennedy Center In New PBS Special
Grammy Award-winning hip-hop group The Roots will be the subject of the next episode of "NEXT at the Kennedy Center," a primetime series from The Kennedy Center and PBS that spotlights cultural leaders from the worlds of hip-hop, jazz, folk, comedy, modern dance and more.
"The Roots Residency," an hour-long special that will air on PBS at 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27., promises to give audiences rare insights into the band through one-on-one interviews with its founders Questlove and Black Thought bookended, by an electric performance by an "electric performance" filmed during its residency at the Kennedy Center.
Jan. 27 at 9/8c on @PBS, the Kennedy Center celebrates hip hop legends @theroots! 🎧🎶
— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) January 23, 2023
Join us for the #KenCenNextPBS special featuring an electrifying performance & highlights of their #KenCenHipHop For the Culture Artist Residency. pic.twitter.com/V4VIumHceG
“The Roots have existed at the forefront of culture for over three decades. They are deeply committed to ensuring that generations of artists and communities see themselves powerfully reflected through their work and at venerable institutions like the Kennedy Center,” Simone Eccleston, director of hip-hop culture and contemporary music at The Kennedy Center, said in a statement.
"The Roots Residency’ is a testament to their capacity to not only change the lives of individuals but also to transform institutions. The impact of our partnership is that we are forever changed as an organization. Through their residency, The Roots have created powerful platforms for the celebration of multihyphenates, cultural leaders and emerging artists. We hope that viewers experience their genius as performers, curators and cultural catalysts.”
Formed by Questlove and Black Thought in 1987, while they were students at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, The Roots have been a mainstay of hip-hop culture for over 30 years.
Its pioneering use of live musical instruments, a revolving lineup that has featured as many as 12 members at a time and an eclectic approach to rap and other genres they dabble in have branded the group as innovators. While their deep discography, The Roots have released 16 studio albums, featuring hits like "Things Fall Apart" and "Phrenology," has earned the group critical praise and three Grammy Awards.
When they are not selling out venues are working on their 17th studio album, "End Game," The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Rihanna Earns First Oscar Nomination for Black Panther Soundtrack Single 'Lift Me Up'
Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” is a 2023 Academy Awards Nominee
The Barbadian billionaire was already scheduled to headline Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12. Tuesday morning it was revealed that she has earned her first Oscar nomination.
Her song "Lift Me Up," the lead single from the soundtrack for the film "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," is contending for best original song at the 95th Academy Awards
Not bad for the first solo effort by the 34-year-old star on a track since 2016.
While Rihanna provided the vocals and took part in the writing process for the ballad, it was a team effort.
Singer-songwriter Tems, the film's director Ryan Coogler and composer Ludwig Goransson shared writing credits on the record and in the nomination.
Monday, January 23, 2023
SZA Tops Billboard 200 for Sixth Consecutive Week
"SOS" sold the equivalent of 119,000 units in the United States last week according to music data tracker Luminate. It was enough to keep "SOS" on top of the Billboard 200 for the sixth consecutive week since its Dec. 7 release — a feat matched only by icons Adele and Taylor Swift in the last decade.
Janet Jackson's 1993 release "Janet" was the last R&B release by a woman to top the chart for its first six weeks according to Billboard. SZA's run at the top is the longest for an R&B artist since Usher’s “Confessions” spent nine weeks atop the chart in 2004.
Born Solána Imani Rowe in St. Louis, Missouri, SZA's art takes unique inspiration from a childhood spent in New Jersey, where she was raised by her devout Muslim father and a Christian mother.
Citing Ella Fitzgerald and Lauryn Hill among her key musical influences, the artists whose acronym — taken from the Nation of Islam's Supreme Alphabet — stands for Sovereign (modified from Savior) Zig-Zag Allah, self-released her first EP "See.SZA.Run" in 2012.
After signing with RCA Records she released her critically-acclaimed studio debut "Ctrl" in 2017. It premiered at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and earned SZA four Grammy nominations. Time magazine gave it the nod over rapper Kendrick Lamar's equally praised release, "Damn," for best album of the year.
Thursday, January 19, 2023
BMG Sues Bratz Dollmaker for $10 Million, Alleging it Ripped-off Black Eyed Peas to Promote Pooping Unicorns
The company that owns the rights to one of the Black Eyed Peas' biggest hits is suing MGA Entertainment Inc, maker of the once pervasively popular Bratz dolls, for $10 million dollars.
BMG, which owns 75% of the "My Humps" composition copyright, has asked the court for at least $10 million in damages, alleging that MGA earned tens of millions of dollars in part because of it use of the double-platinum booty-based Billboard Hot 100 (No. 3). hit.
Click here to read a copy of the full complaint.
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Flo Rida Awarded $82.6M for Breach of Contract Case
Flo Rida is celebrating after being awarded $82.6 million in damages on Wednesday by a Florida jury that agreed with his claim that energy drink maker Celsius violated an endorsement deal with him.
"I just want to say God is good in Jesus' name," said the rapper at a press conference outside the courthouse moments after his legal victory, before taking a sip of one of the company's signature beverages.
Flo Rida, 43, whose real name is Tramar Dillard, added that he sued Florida-based Celsius Holdings Inc. because he played a significant role in its rise from an obscure beverage company to an industry powerhouse.
“I carried them on my back,” he said. “I put them in my videos. They were with me everywhere I played.”
Rapper Flo Rida sips from a Celsius energy drink moments after winning a lawsuit against them and awarded millions. @nbc6 @official_flo pic.twitter.com/V89VVkcAWz
— Sheli Muñiz (@SheliNBC6) January 18, 2023
Flo Rida was a brand ambassador for Celsius from 2014 to 2018 according to the civil complaint originally filed in 2021.
During that time his lawyers argued the musician was integral to the company's growth, noting that it was $50 million in debt when the deal began and had grown into a multibillion-dollar company with his help, as he introduced millions around the world to the brand.
In return for his endorsement, which included prominent product placements in his videos — his 2015 Billboard top 10 platinum single "My House" was shown in court as an example —Flo Rida was promised a percentage of stocks and bonuses worth millions once Celsius achieved a benchmark in sales revenue.
His attorneys argued that Celsius had met those key sales metrics during the five-day trial and that their client was entitled to additional stock amounting to a 1 percent stake in the business, which was worth at least $75 million in their estimation.
Celsius' lawyers said the benchmark was reached only after its endorsement deal with Flo Rida expired and attributed the company's increased sales to internal moves.
The argument did not seem to hold much sway with the jurors, who awarded him the victory on the second day of deliberations.