Source: GAB Archive / Getty Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, released in 2024, had fans across the globe grooving to country music with standout tracks like “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” and “BLACKBIIRD” But the album didn’t just captivate listeners, it sparked a wave of curiosity about country music’s deeper roots. Winning both Best Country Album and Album of […]
Following the release of Ari Lennox’s new single “Soft Girl Energy,” fans noticed only Interscope Records was listed as the label, prompting TMZ to report that the singer had parted ways with Dreamville. However, those with knowledge of the situation share that it isn’t so cut and dry. Lennox remains affiliated with J. Cole’s imprint, […]
For more than two decades, Rhiannon Giddens has been on a mission to shift how America views the banjo. With deep roots in North Carolina and a career that fuses music, history and education, the GRAMMY and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist has long worked to reclaim the banjo’s origins as a diasporic African instrument, challenging the […]
For a lot of people, hearing that Kanye West has said or done something outlandish no longer lands with the shock-and-awe it did in 2006, 2009, 2016, or even last year. Yet on April 21, he previewed a new record called “Cousins” on X (formerly Twitter), claiming in both the song and a string of […]
With Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour set to begin in just under a week, it’s an ideal time to revisit some standout tracks from her genre-blending album (and earlier music) — especially if country music isn’t typically your thing. Released in Mar. 2024, Cowboy Carter marked a bold exploration of country, rock, R&B, and opera, reimagining […]
April is Jazz Appreciation Month—a time to honor the rich tapestry of jazz music and its profound impact on culture and society. This annual celebration, initiated by the Smithsonian in 2001, pays tribute to jazz’s deep roots and its ongoing evolution. From the groundbreaking innovations of legends like Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald to the […]
If 2024 was the year that cemented Doechii’s rise, 2025 is proving she’s far from done evolving. On Friday, April 18, the GRAMMY Award-winning artist unveiled the music video for her viral track “Anxiety”—a sleeper hit that’s been quietly building momentum and now receives a striking visual treatment that folds time, memory and madness into […]
From healing gardens to rain-soaked reflections, Black artists have long tapped into nature as both metaphor and muse. Whether it’s grounding yourself in soil after a heartbreak, reaching toward the sun for growth or simply observing the sky to escape the chaos below, nature remains a constant thread in Black music across eras and genres. […]
RIMON’s genre-defying sound is a testament to the wide array of influences that have shaped her music. The Eritrean-born artist, who spent her formative years in the Netherlands, effortlessly blends R&B, Afrobeats and alternative music, creating a style that’s all her own. “I just have a lot… it’s a mix melting pot of all these […]
Paras Griffin A lot can happen in a life that spans over seven decades, so it would only make sense to put forth every effort that assures each and every one of those days will matter for something. For Cathy Hughes, the consummate chairwoman here at Radio One and Urban One, it’s been her only […]
