Today marks the 21 years that the Notorious BIG was murdered in Los Angeles. His music continues to live on and murder case is still unsolved.
Lately, there has been a lot of Biggie unsolved murder series showing on television; from Biggie: The Life of Notorious, to Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and Notorious BIGĀ to Oxygen network shows and plenty more, PLUS the movie that came out in 2009, which was a good film; but it’s a bit overwhelming. It’s like the network are blatantly trying to make money off the unsolved murder (including Tupac) and to me, reopening the wounds of his loved ones, like his mother, ex-wife and more importantly his children. I feel like the case could be handled out of the public without creating television shows about it. I appreciate the perspective but it’s becoming a bit too much. Overall, I hope the murder does get solved.
Some of Biggie’s hits are “Juicy”, “Hypnotize”, “Big Poppa”, “Party & Bullshit”, “Who Shot Ya”, “Mo Money Mo Problems” and several more. Use this day to play all your Biggie hits if you’re a hip hop fan.
I want to dedicate this post to the lovely Black Women who came and slayed the 2018 Oscars this year.
Oh, the men looked fine too!!
credit: nytimes.comcredit: nytimes.com
credit: nytimes.com
I loved these looks from the stars and SHOUT OUT TO Tiffany Haddish honoring her father by showing homage to her roots of Eirtrean gown on the red carpet…
credit: nytimes.com
AND for wearing her dress for the white Alexander McQueen gown a third time at the Oscars lol. She had originally said she paid $4k for the dress so she’s going to keep wearing it lol.
#DidYouKnow that Good Times aired for the first time today, 44 years ago? Of course i wasnāt born when the show originally aired but I definitely watched reruns lol!
Happy Birthday to good show that showed a struggle, strength and love and may Esther Rolle rest in peace.
I LOVED the NAACP Image awards last night, not only for the black excellence but for the winners as well.
The show started out with Anthony Anderson hosting and telling a few jokes. He actually took home the award for Ā Outstanding Actor in a Comedy TV Series forĀ Blackish.Ā
The first winner was Octavia Spencer winning the Outstanding Actress Award for a Drama Movie in Gifted
Girls TripĀ won for best Motion Picture. (Tiffany Haddish had a good year last year.)
The show Black-ish won for Outstanding Comedy TV Series.
Tracee Ellis Ross won forĀ Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Black-ish
(How dope, the TV comedy couple won.)
Omari Hardwick won for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series for Power.
blackamericaweb credit
The show won for Power Outstanding Drama Series.
The actress Naturi Naughton won forĀ Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series forĀ Power.Ā
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Taraji P. Henson won forĀ Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Empire
Charlie Wilson was awarded the Make A Difference Award for raising awareness to homelessness in America.
Daniel Kaluuya,Ā won for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, Ā for Get Out, which was his first award.
CREDIT: Infu.us
Jay Ellis wonĀ Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in Insecure.
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My fav SZA won for Outstanding new artist
Bruno Mars won for Outstanding traditional song ANDĀ Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
It was really nice seeing some of my favorite shows nominated and even winning well-deserved awards. Hopefully āthe Academyā will pick up on their great talent and ALL of these winners will be nominated for the Oscars.
This year a lot of R & B artists caught a break and starting popping this year. Even though some of the artists have been making music for years, this year they started to get a lot of attention. For instance:
H.E.R, has had an hidden identity for the longest until recently, it came out that her real name is Gabi Wilson. In 2010, she performed at the BET Awards, a Capella of “Fallin” for Alicia Keys. H.E.R. stands for Having Everything Revealed, which is ironic because she;s been keeping her identity hidden. Regardless of her identity, she makes great music. She falls in the category of alternative R&B with other artists such as Jhene Aiko, Erykah Badu, Kehlani, DVSN, Miguel, SZA, The Weeknd and plenty other artists. Her music has a soft soft with a bit of funk to it.
A1; you may know him from Love & HipHop Hollywood, but he not only produced songs or Ty Dolla $ign, Trey Songz and K. MichelleĀ BUT he also produced 13 songs on Chris Brown’s album, Heartbreak On A Full Moon. He is another individual who used his platform on Love & Hip Hop to showcase his skills and become more known in the entertainment industry. Personally, some of my favorite songs on the new Chris Brown alum were coincidentally produced by him.
Tone Stith, is a singer from South Jersey that has that Drake touch to his music–but higher notes. Ironically, his manager is Drake’s old starting manager and clearly he saw the same potential in Tone. He released his first album titled “Can We Talk” and previously, he wrote “Liquor” and “Make Love” for Chris Brown. Need I say more? Clearly he has enough boasting. Check out his music.
Sabrina Claudio, is another alternative R&B artist who has a sensual touch with her music. Her first single was “Unravel Me” and following that, “Belong to You.” She put out her first EP, Confidently Lost, in March of this year and then released her first albumĀ About Time in October. Sabrina’s music is…sexual, to say the least. Since she falls in that alternative R&B category, you’ll understand where I’m coming from. Since she’s still early in her career, you may want to jump on her band wagon now.
Xavier Omar, who was also known as SPZRKT, is a known as a soulful singer. When he was known as SPZRKT, he relased an EP titled Hours Spent Loving You. Once he changed his name, Xavier released his second EP in 2016 titled The Everlasting Wave and more recently, he released Pink Lightning, his third EP. His music is definitely love/relationship-base with lyrics such as “Baby I’m afraid, of loving you” and “Acting like you meant well when you ain’t—now you’re playing both of us.”Ā You can tell that he’s been hurt. Women sing about being hurt by someone all the time; Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, K. Michelle; so hearing a man sing and pour his heart out about being hurt is a good enough reason to listen to his music. I suggest you listen to “Afraid” and “Runnin Round” gradually work your way into the other songs.
Lastly, I’m sure some have heard of him but by now BUT if you haven’t, check out Daniel Caesar. His music definitely is slow, “in my feelings” neo-soul type of jamming. Daniel released his first alum Freudian, in August of this year and it has been a hit. His first single “Get You” accumulated on 12 million stream on iTunes music. One of my favorite songs by him is “Best Part” featuring H.E.R.. At this point, his songs may be playing on the radio, along with H.E.R., but he is definitely a nice new neo-soul artist to listen.
All these artist have a special touch with their music especially the alternative R&B artist. Since some of their albums were released in the last month of 2017, you still have some time to get hip on their music. Thank me later š¬š¬
This year wasĀ a great year for music. I’ve been more in tune with music than any other years It’s like, the albums that people had been waiting for were released this year, such as Jay Z, Kendrick and J.Cole. Here is the break down of the Hip Hop albums were released this year.
DAMN by Kendrick Lamar
photo credit: Hiphopdx
More Life by Drake
photo creditL Complex
I Decided by Big SeanĀ
photo credit: Genius
Pretty Girls Like Trap Music by 2ChainzĀ
(I seen him in concert back in August and commend him for performing while sitting in a wheelchair because he tore his ACL. That’s commitment.)
Photo credit: 2chainzshop
4:44 by Jay-Z
Photo credit: Variety
ISSA Album by 21 SavageĀ
Photo Credit: Complex
Rather You Than Me by Rick RossĀ
Photo credit: hiphopdx
Droptopwop by Gucci ManeĀ
Photo credit: deadendhiphop
Culture by Migos
Photo credit: Genius
Gotti Made It by Yo GottiĀ
Photo Credit: DatPiff
Plato O Plomo by Remy Ma and Fat JoeĀ
Photo credit: HipHopdx
The Autobiography by Vic MensaĀ
Photo Credit: HipHopauth
and last by not least Pressure by Young Jeezy, that was release Friday December 15
photo credit: youtube
Personally, I didn’t listen to the whole list but 70% I did and my favorites wereĀ Pressure, Culture, I Decided,Ā More Life, 2Chainz, Gotti, Remy & Fat Joe and even catch a snippet of Vic’s album, which wasn’t bad.
Now, the R&B albums this year were so LIT! I was more in tune with these albums than anything else. I actually did listen to all of them, minus Keyshia Cole’s 11:11 Reset
CTRL by SZA
Ā (I seen this pretty lady in concert just a few days ago, Dec 19, and she was awesome!!!)
photo credit: uproxx
SweetSexySavage by Kehlani
photo credit: Singersroom
Tremaine by Trey Songz
(Seen Trey in convert back in April and he literally sung every song who put out, no money was wasted on his ticket)
photo credit: hiphopdx
Heartbreak on a Full Moon by Chris Brown
photo credit: rap-up
War & Leisure by Miguel
Trip by Jhene Aiko
photo credit: genius
True to Self by Bryson Tiller
photo credit: genius
Beach House 3 by Ty Dolla $ign
photo credit: xxlmag
Girl Interrupted by Sevyn
photo credit: thatgrapejuice.net
H.E.R. Vol 1 by H.E.RĀ
photo credit: genius
Morning After by DVSN
photo credit: rapradar
Freudian by Daniel Caesar
photo credit: thefader
11:11 Reset by Keyshia Cole
photo credit: vibe
(I haven’t had a chance to listen to her, but I’ve always loved her and Imma give her her credit)
For me, it’s been a great year to listen to music and I’m excited to see what’s coming next year. I heard Cardi B should be coming with an album, Nicki Minaj, I wouldn’t be surprised if Drake came out with something.
Check out my next post on the artists that you may have slept on this year who may start shining bright next year!
If I missed anyone, call me out on it but more than likely if I didn’t list them then I don’t listen to their music orrrr I haven’t listened to it yet.
R&B, Neo-soul artist Miguel dropped his fourth album titledĀ War & LeisureĀ on Friday. Iāve been listening to it nonstop sense then. The album features Rick Ross, Travis Scott, QuiƱ, Kali Uchis, and the talented J.Cole whom he has other singles with like āPower Tripā and āAll I Want Is Youā.
This album is so….Miguel. From the instrumentals to the ad-libs to his recognizable voice. Heās got sexy songs, inspiration songs, fessing up songs and even a full blown Spanish song on the album. We all have been waiting since his last album was released in 2015. Heās been teasing us with covers on social media and heās FINALLY released an album.
As I said before, you can definitely Ā here the instrumentals on this album, specifically the guitar. You can tell that Prince is/was a big part of his inspiration. Also, over time, Miguelās image was slowly changed and that comes with growth; but with that growth, music never dies. He may go MIA for a while but when he comes from hiding, itās like he never left.
If you like different melodies, with guitar instrumentals, feeling different vibes, then I encourage you to listen to this exotic album. My only critic is, I would have loved for it to be longer, like three more songs would have been good.
I give it 5 stars: āļøĀ āļøĀ āļøĀ āļøĀ āļø
H.E.R, has had an hidden identity for the longest until recently, it came out that her real name is Gabi Wilson. In 2010, she performed at the BET Awards, a Capella of “Fallin” for Alicia Keys. H.E.R. stands for Having Everything Revealed, which is ironic because she;s been keeping her identity hidden. Regardless of her identity, she makes great music. She falls in the category of alternative R&B with other artists such as Jhene Aiko, Erykah Badu, Kehlani, DVSN, Miguel, SZA, The Weeknd and plenty other artists. Her music has a soft soft with a bit of funk to it.
Lastly, I’m sure some have heard of him but by now BUT if you haven’t, check out Daniel Caesar. His music definitely is slow, “in my feelings” neo-soul type of jamming. Daniel released his first alum Freudian, in August of this year and it has been a hit. His first single “Get You” accumulated on 12 million stream on iTunes music. One of my favorite songs by him is “Best Part” featuring H.E.R.. At this point, his songs may be playing on the radio, along with H.E.R., but he is definitely a nice new neo-soul artist to listen.
Danii Gold 