Entertainment

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, […]

Source: Astrida Valigorsky / Getty Erykah Badu closed out Roots Picnic 2026 with a memorable performance, sparking a debate about her live vocals in the comment section. Badu addressed the speculation by confirming that she was indeed singing live during her set. She also explained her unique outfit, describing it as a jellyfish and garnering nearly a thousand likes for her response. This interaction exemplifies Badu’s enigmatic and unapologetic approach […]

Hip-hop gospel music has become one of the most influential sounds in modern faith-based music, proving that praise and powerful beats can coexist. Over the years, gospel artists have blended traditional church roots with hip-hop production, rap flows, trap drums, and R&B melodies to reach a younger generation searching for inspiration through music. One of the biggest pioneers of the movement is Kirk Franklin. Known for pushing boundaries in gospel music, […]

From viral hits to sold-out tours, Black-owned record labels continue leading the conversation in hip-hop. These companies are not only discovering some of today’s biggest stars, but also helping push culture forward through music, fashion, social media, and creative storytelling.

Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty JAY-Z didn’t just perform at Roots Picnic. He spent part of his freestyle settling old scores. Throughout the verse, Hov appeared to take direct shots at Kanye West, Dame Dash, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Jaguar Wright and even referenced one of the most controversial moments of his career. “You’re no maniac” was aimed at Kanye West. “Teeth fumbling” was a jab at Dame Dash. “A rapper […]

Source: Nicolò Campo / Getty Jaÿ-Z’s Roots Picnic performance proved to be just as eventful as expected and may mark the beginning of a new Hov era. When the show began, it was revealed that the dreads he started growing shortly after the release of 2017’s 4:44 had been combed into an afro. Hov lore suggests that he grows his hair when he’s working on a project—or simply in between […]