India Arie Joins Exodus From Spotify

Photo credit: Benedict Evans

Neo-soul artist India Arie joined a growing list of prominent defectors from the Spotify streaming music platform on Monday.

The artist, who has been nominated for 23 Grammys and taken home four awards over the course of her lauded career, took to Instagram to declare her reasons for leaving.

“Neil Young opened a door that I MUST walk through,” Arie wrote, referencing the legendary Canadian-American singer and songwriter leaving Spotify last week because of Joe Rogan continuing to share vaccine misinformation on "The Joe Rogan Experience," Spotify's most popular podcast of 2021.

Young, in a since-deleted open letter to his management team and record label demanding they remove his music from Spotify, wrote, “I am doing this because Spotify is spreading fake information about vaccines – potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them. Please act on this immediately today and keep me informed of the time schedule."

The artist received his wish, and despite an apology from Rogan and assurances by Spotify that the misinformation spread on its podcasts would be debunked on its own popular science program, other musicians have continued to follow his lead.

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Musicians Joni Mitchell, Nils Lofgren and Graham Nash are among the most prominent, along with bestselling author Brené Brown — who recently signed an exclusive deal with the platform.

Rogan and his guests' bad takes on science, however, were not the only reason Arie chose to remove her catalog. She cited the host's controversial comments on race in her post.

 

“I believe in freedom of speech. However, I find Joe Rogan problematic for reasons other than his Covid interviews. For me, it’s also his language around race,” Arie wrote. “What I am talking about is respect — who gets it and who doesn’t. Paying musicians a fraction of a penny? And him $100 [million]? This shows the type of company they are and the company that they keep,” she continued. “I’m tired.”

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Three Men Arrested in Raid of NBA YoungBoy's Houston Residence

Courtesy Atlantic Records

The artist formerly known as Kentrell DeSean Gaulden continues to be a legal lightning rod.

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, born rapper better known by his stage name NBA YoungBoy is currently under house arrest in Utah awaiting trial for weapons-related charges. 

Unfortunately, being monitored by the police and in another state entirely has not kept his name out of the headlines.

Tuesday, three men were arrested, and a cache of weapons was found when authorities raided a house belonging to the rapper in Houston, which TMZ reports is where his mother resides.

According to Harris County Sheriff’s Office Senior Deputy Thomas Gilliland, the three suspects were arrested on warrants related to a shooting incident that took place in November 2021.

During the incident in November a man get shot multiple times which resulted in "permanent and life-altering injuries," according to Gilliland:

"Investigators were called to the 700 block of Barren Springs after a male complainant was shot multiple times by the three. Leads were developed and the evidence was collected."

ROYMELLO WILLIAMS                       DARYL BROWN                        CARLEON GAILEN

 

The three men arrested, Carleon Gallien, Roymello Williams, and Daryl Brown, are alleged to have committed the attack. The Harris County District Attorney's Office has charged Gallien with two counts of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, Williams with aggravated robbery and aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, and Brown with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.

According to TMZ, while neither NBA YoungBoy nor his mother were there, the men who were arrested were said to be associates of the rapper by police. The celebrity news site also said that the weapons seized included AR-15s, pistols and long guns.

It’s just the latest in a long list of legal run-ins for the 22-year-old artist who released six independent mix tapes before hitting it big with his major labor debut for Atlantic Records in 2018. His first studio album “Until Death Call My Name” peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200, anchored by the lead single “Outside Today.”

In the following years, despite spending much of the time incarcerated, he followed up with two No. 1 albums. “Top” in 2020 and 2021’s “Sincerely, Kentrell” — which was released from prison and made him the third artist besides Tupac and Lil Wayne to have a chart-topping album while incarcerated and cemented his position in the rap pantheon.

He was released from jail last October after serving seven months on a $1.5 million bail, posting a $500,000 bond. Then quickly followed his release with his 17th mixtape “Colors” which was followed by an announcement from his producer Jason “Cheese” Goldberg that YoungBoy would be taking a break from music.

PSA: A select few songs probably (maybe) will drop from now until then but Top will not be seen or heard from into his album approximately #6months from now,” Goldberg wrote on Instagram. “We have some amazing songs for you thank you for everything #HealingTime #RockPeace #ForeverBro.

 

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Apple to Spotlight Black Voices During Black History Month

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It is nearly that time of year again when corporate America momentarily does anything within its power to align itself with Black interest and causes. 

Black History Month is on the horizon, so it should come as no surprise that the most valuable company in the world is ready to ramp up its cultural diversity this February.

What does the first company to reach a $3 trillion market value valuation have in mind to put a spotlight on Black voices?

Well, the house that Steve Jobs built announced it is celebrating Black History Month with the release of a special edition Apple Watch Black Unity Braided Solo Loop and matching Unity Lights watch face inspired by Afrofuturism.

A release accompanying the announcement by Apple describes how the project came to fruition and what it represents in the company’s eyes to the Black community.

Designed by members and allies of the Black creative community at Apple to celebrate Black history and culture, the Apple Watch Black Unity Braided Solo Loop and matching Unity Lights watch face honors generations of Black people across the African diaspora. This design symbolizes a communal belief in the necessity for a more equitable world. The vibrant red and green colors of the Pan-African flag appear like speckled light across the black band.

That’s a lot of pressure for a $99 phone accessory for one of the most expensive phones on the market and a downloadable watch fact. Fortunately for Apple, it is not the only initiative the company is taking to spotlight Black history. 

The company says it will be “amplifying Black voices with a variety of exclusive content and curated collections” throughout February. This includes special episodes of “The Message” podcast on Apple Music 1 discussing the contributions of Black creators, whatever “workouts that honor Black History Month” are on Apple Fitness+ and much more. 

Read the full press release here to discover everything Apple has in store for Black History Month.

If you want to get a head start on the celebration and have an Apple watch or like to collect bands, the Black Unity Braided Solo Loop is available now on Apple's website.