RIP to reggae icon, Jimmy Cliff. #jimmycliff #reggae www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...

Along with being a master musician, Jellybean was a great storyteller and ambassador for the Minneapolis Sound. I was lucky to briefly know him. #RIPJellybean

Jellybean Johnson was a multi talented musician and critical architect of the Minneapolis Sound. We were blessed to know him and give our condolences to his wife and family. The Minneapolis Sound has lost one of its greatest champions. #RIPjellybeanjohnson #minneapolissound #Prince #TheTime

A collection of all-stars led by Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Questlove, and other greats paid tribute to the legendary Sly Stone at this year's Rock Roll Hall of Fame jam. #SlyStone youtu.be/gakFq11BfR4?...

We want to send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Marcyliena Morgan. Dr. Morgan founded the world's 1st archive dedicated to the serious study of hip-hop culture www.blackenterprise.com/dr-marcylien...

We lost a true genius today. The body may be at its eternal rest (sleep well), but the music will last forever. RIP D'Angelo.

D'Angelo has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his former manager says. He was 51

Grammy-winning bandleader and pianist Eddie Palmieri, whose pounding rhythms forged a new style for Latin music, has died.

Busta Rhymes received his well-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today for a long and legendary career.

#AugustWilson, was one of our greatest writers. His works like, The Piano Lesson and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom chronicle the Black experience in the 20th century and music plays a big role. If you want to truly understand America, then you must familiarize yourself with Wilson's work. #Pittsburgh

Black music has always been woke — from call & response work songs, to spirituals that questioned the status quo "Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel, & why not every man?" Rap has been woke since "The Message" was delivered in 1982. Wu-Tang's RZA delivers a new message we should heed. #wutang #wokesongs

“When I Rose This Morning” lead singer Mama Mosie Burks — a lead vocalist of the Mississippi Mass Choir — has died her family says. She was 92. www.wapt.com/article/mama...

LL Cool J said that he will not perform at Wawa Welcome America in Philadelphia on July 4th because of union strike “There is absolutely no way I can perform across a picket line”

If only we had a time machine. If anyone can get a hook-up on a flux capacitor, dm us.

Stevie Wonder “Maybe Your Baby” At 12 this song opened up my eyes to the idea that dating in adulthood might be more complicated than the romance Disney stories presented them. Also, the funkiness & warning in the song is and was for 12 year old me amazing yet sobering. youtu.be/J9bSLd5KzDQ?...

All month we’ve celebrated different themes, elements, and aspects of Black music.Today is a little more simple: the song you love in and out, top to bottom. For the *final day* of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share your idea of the perfect song.

“The Beautiful Ones” by Prince is my idea of perfection. It’s not quite r&b, not quite soul, and not quite rock. It’s this other thing that only be described as “Prince.” And it builds beautifully from a hushed beginning to a passionate end. It’s my absolute favorite song. #BlackMusicMonthChallenge

Listen to Terry Lewis (Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis) recount his school days. Of the many great tragedies and attacks on the American public school system since the 80s, we must not forget the underfunding of music & the arts #JimmyJam #TerryLewis #Prince #MinneapolisSound #PublicSchool #blackmusicmonth

Here’s a piece I wrote a while ago that folks have been reading apparently! Apt as I’ve spent the day doing absolutely nothing because I’m too bloody hot to.

Public Enemy released ‘It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back’ 37 years ago on June 28, 1988 | Listen to the album + revisit our tribute here: album.ink/PEitanomthub

Weekend rec: A double-bill. Rent the #movie Far From Heaven and the Little Richard #documentary I Am Everything, and watch them back-to-back. Why? Because Far From Heaven depicts the "straitjacketed" world that Little Richard and rock 'n' roll helped liberate society from. #PrideMonth #Movies 1/5

"Reverse crate digging" = my term for finding the original source a sample. The best part when you get to the original song, and now THAT'S your jam. For Day 28, share a sample that made you love the original (post both songs! Also TAG ME in both songs)

I wrote about Donny. What a voice. What an artist. What an album.

🗣️Darlin’ look both ways before you cross me… The #1 song in the U.S., 55 years ago today... Michael 🕊, Tito 🕊 #Jackson5

You ever been minding your business, listening to a song, and have the revelation that the entire song is actually problematic, you just never realized it because it sounds so good? For Day 27 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share a song that’s low key trifling or petty.

The film "Sinners" highlighted a lesser-known connection between Black culture and Chinese immigrants in Mississippi. However, did you know that there is another interesting connection between Chinese immigrants and the African diaspora that is particularly important to music? #blackmusicmonth 1/14

Walter Scott, Co-Founder of The Whispers, one of R&B's best all-time vocal groups has passed away. He was 81 years old. Here are The Whispers performing one of their most memorable songs, "And the Beat Goes," (1980, producer, Leon Sylvers). RIP.

For #BlackHistoryMonth, we'd like to celebrate and honor the triumvirate of Black American music — blues, jazz, and gospel. American music would sound much more boring without these three monumental musical elements created by African Americans.

The Funkadelic catalog is being reissued, with audio remastered and restored from the original master tapes www.treblezine.com/funkadelics-...

Today we’re going to talk about the songs you know. Like REALLY know. Encoded in your spirit, know. Like if your life was on the line, you could go word for word, note for note, lead and BGV. For Day 26 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share the song(s) you know every lyric and adlib for.

Today, we commemorate the loss of Michael Jackson. The "King of Pop" was one of the defining American figures of the second half of the 20th century. He became a cultural phenomenon unlike the world had seen before or has since. Listen to our curated playlist here #MichaelJackson #blackmusicmonth

One of my favorite things about the challenge is discovering new music, and today is officially “put people on” day! For Day 25 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share a song from a new or niche artist you think more people should know.

A good appetizer sets a meal off just right. Sometimes the app is even better than the main course. R&B interludes, preludes, and postludes just give a little extra something that feeds our soul. For Day 24 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share a favorite R&B interlude (or prelude or postlude)

Did you know that the FBI ran surveillance on Earth, Wind & Fire? Watch this enlightening video from the always phenomenal Dara Starr Tucker to learn why the FBI feared the Funk. #blackmusicmonth

Also, when I discovered The #CarolinaChocolateDrops *and* Hit Em Up Style (didn’t know it was a remake), I was going through a painful divorce. When i was screamsinging this song, you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t #RhiannonGiddens 🥰. Whole album was curative. 🙏🏾🖤🙏🏾

Some songs turn us into full vocalists... in our minds. We can do all kinds of runs and hit all kinds of notes... in our minds. With the right acoustic conditions we could really do this... in our minds! For day 22 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share a song that makes you think you can SANG.

The Quiet Storm's love songs generally have three focus areas: 1) celebrating new love, 2) horniness 3) or trying to win back an old love that you messed up on. "A House Is Not A Home," from 1981 by The Velvet Voice, Mr. Luther Vandross, is the epitome of number 3. #LutherVandross

The Quiet Storm was greatly influenced by jazz and its most soulful crooners, like Ella and Sarah Vaughan. You can easily imagine any of those jazz legends covering this Prince jazzy ode to love, "Strollin'."

We lost one of the greats earlier this year — Miss Roberta Flack. Roberta was the queen of the soulful, grown-folk ballad. Her duets with Donny Hathaway are on another level, but for this one, we'll highlight her 1983 hit collaboration with Peabo Bryson, "Tonight I Celebrate My Love." RIP Roberta.

Melvin Lindsey developed the Quiet Storm format at Howard's WHUR in 1976. He opened that 1st broadcast (& every show afterward) with Smokey Robinson's new song, "Quiet Storm." The show instantly hit and influenced R&B for decades. This beautiful version is a collab between John Legend and Smokey.

Soft and warm... the quiet storm. Those sacred radio hours that are just pure vibes. Imagine: It's late night, you want to send a message via song, and the DJ is there to be of service. For Day 21 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share your Quiet Storm dedication 🌩️

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony released their debut EP ‘Creepin’ On Ah Come Up’ 31 years ago on June 21, 1994 | Listen to the EP + watch the official videos here: album.ink/BTNHcreepin

Can't start summer off without this jam. Kool & the Gang's original Summer Madness is the one that you end the day with, but this is the one to set it off. youtu.be/Kr0tTbTbmVA

For Day 20 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share a song that sounds like Summer. ☀️🕶️🏖️ One of the easier prompts 😁

Happy Solstice!!! ☀️ Today's the official first day of Summer and the longest day of Summer, let's govern ourselves accordingly! Today's prompt might have y'all repeating some former choices; that's ok! For Day 20 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share a song that sounds like Summer. ☀️🕶️🏖️

We recently lost #SlyStone, but his legacy will live on. Watch this 1968 clip of Sly & The Family Stone performing live and experience this pioneering band's pure joy, artistry, showmanship, expertise, and FUNK! It showcases Sly at his peak before the trappings and burdens of fame overwhelmed him.

James refused to change the wording from "and" to "but", saying he wanted to make a joyous affirmation of pride for Black youths—hence the use of call-and-response (a staple of Black music) with the children singing. The record co printed the label with "but," and James demanded they fix it.