R&B
xiv and biosphere Share Origins of New Song “BLASTOFF!” with koven wei: Exclusive
With Origins, artists get the chance to share insights on their latest release. Today, xiv and biosphere share the inspiration behind their collaboration with Toronto-based artist koven wei. xiv and biosphere are getting intergalactic. Their joint project, Calamity (available to stream today, March 1st) is a 10-track journey that feels less like a cross between a concept album and an atmospheric mixtape, complete with star-crossed lovers and plenty of longing. Vocalist xiv and producer biosphere released track “On You” in October of 2021 before recruiting fellow Canadian up-and-coming artist koven wei for this next single. It’s no surprise that xiv mentions South Korean artist collective Dream Perfect Regime (DPR) as an influence — the extremely successful group has set the stage for...
James Brown Documentary from Mick Jagger and Questlove in the Works
A new James Brown documentary, produced by fellow musical legends Mick Jagger and Questlove, is set to premiere on A&E. Dubbed James Brown: Say It Loud, Jagger and Questlove will be joined by Black Thought in making the four-part documentary, which is directed by Deborah Riley Draper. The project is set to arrive in 2023 and will explore Brown’s legacy through never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with friends, family, and collaborators. Jagger said he was “thrilled” to produce the documentary in a statement, calling Brown “a brilliant performer who inspired me from the beginning and was deeply committed to the Civil Rights movement. I have always admired James and learned so much from him.” Advertisement Related Video “The life of James Brown is significant not only t...
5 Best Moments From New Edition, Charlie Wilson & Jodeci’s Culture Tour Concert in New York
The R&B, soul and funk vibes were draped all over New York City on Saturday night (Feb. 26), when the New Edition: The Culture Tour with Charlie Wilson + Jodeci took over Madison Square Garden. In collaboration with the Black Promoters Collection, who organized the tour, R&B legends New Edition, Wilson and Jodeci intended to give fans a night to remember, and they did just that as concert-goers went home with more than they expected. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Fans of all ages filled up the iconic halls of MSG to get a feel of some vintage energy that was brought upon by some of the best R&B acts ever to grace the stage. Jodeci kicked things off right on time, running through their hits while Wilson blew the roof off the joint ...
Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Kick Off Silk Sonic Las Vegas Residency: Recap + Setlist
Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) began their Las Vegas residency on Friday (February 25th), transforming the Dolby Live theater at Park MGM into a seventies disco. The superduo — whose live appearances have thus far been limited to awards shows — threw what might just be the sexiest dance party Sin City has ever seen. The mood for “An Evening With Silk Sonic” was set from the get-go, as wisps of fog spilled out from under a red velvet curtain while guests settled into their seats. When the venue went dark, signaling the start of the show, the crowd roared in unison. Two screens on opposite sides of the stage flashed images of Silk Sonic sipping cocktails in a tropical setting with flowery button-up shirts, while a giant disco ball hung high above the seats. As the curtain lifted,...
Robert Glasper Unveils Black Radio III: Stream
Ten years since he kicked off his award-winning Black Radio series, Robert Glasper has returned with Black Radio III. Listen to the album below. With a star-studded list of guest contributors including Killer Mike, Ty Dolla $ign, H.E.R., D Smoke, Q-Tip, Esperanza Spalding, Jennifer Hudson, Common, and more, Black Radio III continues in Glasper’s tradition of celebrating Black talent with sophisticated, genre-bending music. H.E.R and Meshell Ndgeocello guest in the Grammy-winning single “Better Than I Imagined,” while Q-Tip and Esperanza Spalding contribute vocals to “Why We Speak.” Beyond slinky hip-hop beats and Glasper’s jazz piano, the album even nods to new wave, when Lalah Hathaway and Common offer a soulful rendition of the Tears for Fears classic “Everybody Wants to Rule t...
Cincinnati Music Festival Announces Return With Janet Jackson, Charlie Wilson, Anthony Hamilton & More
After canceling two editions due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the beloved Cincinnati Music Festival is planning a major comeback this summer with a stacked lineup that dropped on Wednesday (Feb. 16). The July 21-23 event that balances R&B from the past, present and future will be top-lined by BJ the Chicago Kid on its opening night, followed by Charlie Wilson and Anthony Hamilton on night two and Janet Jackson and the O’Jays on the final evening. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The fest will once again take place at Paul Brown Stadium — home of this year’s Super Bowl LVI competitors the Cincinnati Bengals — with a new venue added into the mix for the Thursday night kick-off party with BJ (and an artist to be announced soon): the new And...
What Was the Best ‘Verzuz’ Battle of All Time? Vote!
If there’s one thing that has gotten hip-hop and R&B fans through the pandemic, it’s been Verzuz. What started as a friendly face-off on Instagram Live between Swizz Beatz and Timbaland has steadily grown into a cultural phenomenon over the last two years, as Verzuz has brought together rivals and contemporaries of all kinds to put their discographies on the line and battle it out for bragging rights — from T-Pain vs. Lil Jon and Ryan Tedder vs. Benny Blanco to Nelly vs. Ludacris and Ashanti vs. Keyshia Cole. So with Season 3 kicking off Tuesday (Feb. 15) with a battle between Anthony Hamilton and Musiq Soulchild, Billboard wants to know: Which Verzuz battle do you consider to be the all-time greatest? Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news Are yo...
Nick Cannon Sings About How He Wants Mariah Carey Back on New Song ‘Alone’: Listen
Nick Cannon unveiled his new song “Alone” on Monday (Feb. 14), and it features a surprise declaration to his ex-wife Mariah Carey. “This is for anybody else who is #ALONE on Valentines Day… I had to come Raw from the heart on this one,” he captioned the post introducing the track on Instagram, adding the hashtags “#Broken #Shattered #Toxic #RAW&B #Alone.” However, the biggest shock came when fans hit play on the track, and the first voice they heard wasn’t Cannon’s, but Carey’s. The song flips her iconic 1990 single “Love Takes Time” into a quavering, ghostly sample that hangs over the proceedings. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news And though he doesn’t mention her by name, the talk-show host’s lyrics seem to point to him pining for the way t...
Silk Sonic Share Smooth Cover of “Love’s Train” for Valentine’s Day: Stream
Not content with releasing an album’s worth of Valentine’s Day jams last year, Silk Sonic have returned with their new single “Love’s Train.” Stream it below. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s latest soundtrack for… ahem, adult activities is the dynamic duo’s rendition of a 1983 classic by R&B and funk band Con Funk Shun. “We love this song so much we wanted to sing it for y’all,” they wrote on Twitter. Staying true to the original version, Mars and .Paak easily slip into their seductive roles. “I’m down on my knee, I wanna please you, baby,” Mars sings. “Ooh, I’ll be your righteous lover.” Interestingly, “Love’s Train” was inspired by a situation in which two members of Con Funk Shun were unknowingly chasing the same woman. Advertisement Related Video “A tall pretty young lady...
Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Mary J. Blige Perform 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show: Watch
Midway through a match-up between the Los Angeles Rams and upstart Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium, Dr. Dre brought out a championship team of his own for the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show. Joining the G-funk pioneer on stage were some of his closest collaborators: Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, and surprise guests 50 Cent and Anderson .Paak. By the time the 15-minute performance came to an end, it easily ranked among the most thrilling halftime shows in history. Dr. Dre and his longtime creative partner, Snoop Dogg, kicked off the evening by performing “The Next Episode” and “California Love,” which doubled as a tribute to fellow West Coast hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur. 50 Cent’s surprise performance followed, as the one-time Dr. Dre protege waxed nostalgic...
Ibeyi Announce New Album Spell 31, Share “Sister 2 Sister”: Stream
Ibeyi have announced the coming release of their latest album Spell 31, out May 6th via XL Recordings. The duo also shared the new single “Sister 2 Sister” as a preview. The studio set will be the third album from the soul-R&B act, made up of Afro-French Cuban twins Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz, following their 2015 self-titled debut and 2017 follow-up Ash. The 10-track LP features collaborations with the likes of Jorja Smith (“Lavender & Red Roses”) and BERWYN (“Rise Above”), as well as Pa Salieu on the previously-released lead single “Made of Gold.” On the joyful “Sister 2 Sister,” the fraternal twins celebrate their bond, name-dropping Shakira and spelling out the pronunciation of their stage name (which means “twins” in Yoruba, the language of the siblings’ West African ancestors...
Silk Sonic Slide Into Fortnite ‘Icon Series’ With Outfits, Radio Station
Silk Sonic joined the world of Fortnite on Thursday (Feb. 3) when the Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak-led duo announced that they’ve signed a deal to bring their smooth stylings to the virtual universe. The partnership between Atlantic Records and Fornite on the latest “Icon Series” will include in-game outfits for players, a new in-game “Icon Radio” station and an upcoming “Silk Sonic Cup” player tournament. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “When Fortnite asked me if I wanted to create an outfit for the game, I asked, ‘Are CGI muscles off the table?’ They said ‘no.’ I said ‘deal.’ I”ll see you on the Island,” Mars said in a statement, with .Paak cheekily adding, “When Fortnite agreed to give Bruno CGI muscles, I said, ‘I’m in. He could use ...
