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Source: Joe Chea / Joe Chea Gone Too Soon: 20 Rappers Who Tragically Died Before the Age of 30 Hip-hop has always been the voice of a generation, shaped by young stars who channel pain, purpose, and power into every bar. But for too many artists, their time at the top… or on the rise …was cut short far too soon. From senseless violence to substance abuse to tragic accidents, […]

Source: ESSENCE Festival of Culture / ESSENCE Festival of Culture The ESSENCE Festival is one of the largest cultural celebrations in the Black community. This multi-day event features a 2–3 day concert series packed with performances from some of your favorite artists, all set in New Orleans, Louisiana. Check out this year’s nighttime lineup of concerts that you can’t miss. This year’s Festival takes place July 3 to July 5 at Ernest […]

Source: Getty, Kim Person Every year, the Stellar Gospel Music Awards serves as both a roll call of gospel’s elite and a snapshot of where the genre is headed next. The 41st edition keeps that tradition strong, with gospel superstar Kirk Franklin set to host the celebration at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center on Saturday, Aug. 15. The Queen City stage will once again bring together choir legends, worship leaders and forward-thinking […]

Source: Julie Yarbrough / CNBetter Media The music community is mourning the loss of R&B legend Peabo Bryson, who passed away from stroke complications on June 2, at the age of 75. RELATED: Notable Atlanta Figures We Lost in 2026 If you grew up in the 90s and later, then you probably know him mostly as the smooth voice behind a pair of Disney classics (the theme from Beauty and […]

Source: Paul Natkin / Getty How Michael Jackson Blurred Color Lines on MTV With ‘Billie Jean’ It is not an unknown fact that Michael Jackson reinvented pop music and music videos from what they once were. Yet— the entertainer still had to fight with MTV to get his videos played on their platform. By now, we all know the story: In 1982, Jackson released Thriller, which reached global acclaim in […]

✕ There’s something about his presence, calm, confident, unbothered, that reminds you exactly why Keith Sweat’s music has stayed with us for nearly four decades. Between laughs and real talk, he opened up about his legendary career, new music on the horizon, and his upcoming performance on the One Voyage Cruise. Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. (Terms and conditions). The One Voyage […]

Source: Ebes Olumese and Royce Adkins / SBMF It was a windy but beautiful night in Curaçao, the air smelled like the ocean and champagne. Music legends Jodeci and Babyface were about to hit the stage at the Soul Beach Music Festival, making the audience of music lovers antsy. Food vendors lined the perimeter of the outdoor complex as fans rushed through the entrance, excited for a night of eargasmic […]

Def Jam Recordings It’s a concept almost as old as pop music itself: get a group of young male heartthrobs together who can sing, dance and appeal primarily to the ladies, then put a mic in front of them to see the musical magic they make. The success rate for boy bands has been replicated ten times over for decades, including The Jackson 5 from the ’60s into the ’70s, […]