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Childish Gambino just released his last album. I’m gonna miss him.

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It’s like the top of an era. Donald Glover says his latest album, out Friday, “Bando Stone & the New World” is the most recent work of Childish Gambino. and that makes me sad. Childish Gambino is top-of-the-line musical acts of our time. I’m serious. I’m not cool enough to dislike Glover. I still love “Atlanta” which I called the darkest TV show in historyand plenty of of his other projects, reminiscent of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” With Gambino, he combined his musical talent, comedic talent, and perspective on black people in an enchanting way. With Gambino, he really won my heart.

When Gambino first began, I believed it was a funny response to hip-hop. I believed Glover was proving that he could actually rap, which was surprising in a funny way, but at the identical time he was using his Gambino persona to poke fun on the seriousness of hip-hop and attack the concept that he wasn’t really black or that he was some sort of black equivalent of Oreo. He was the king of the Blerds — the black nerds — which was an oxymoron because he was so deep in his mind that he couldn’t be an actual nerd.

I’m still listening to “Campfire” from his 2011 debut album, Camp, at the least once per week. It’s on my gym playlist. “Bonfire” is an incendiary roar that’s funny and sarcastic. It’s a way of poking fun at hip-hop while still coming up with great rhymes. He said, “You told me I should just quit. ‘First of all, you talk like a white guy / Second of all, you talk like you ain’t quit yet.’ / Stepfather of rap, yeah, you hate me, but you’ll respect me.” In these lines, he burns through black self-criticism and self-critique and plays with hip-hop’s variety of metaphors while poking fun on the countless ways rappers proclaim themselves the perfect.

I believed the Gambino thing was a conversation with hip-hop, but then, much more interestingly, it was something completely different. In 2016, we got “Redbone” from Gambino’s third album, “Awaken My Love.” When I first heard it, I used to be shocked. I asked, who did that? I had no idea Glover had such a soulful, funky song in him. “Redbone” is an incredible record. If you’d sneaked it on an old Ohio Players, Parliament or Bootsy Collins album — and even one among Prince’s very early albums — it could be right at home. “Redbone” is not any joke. This is baby-making music. But the lyrics — the message to “stay alert” because individuals are sneaking up on you — suggest that something deeper is happening. Is it telling you to look at out because your partner may be cheating on you, or is it a political message? Both? It’s an exquisite, gripping record that marks a shift away from the goofy Gambino and toward the mature Gambino.

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Of course, the height of the Gambino aesthetic got here in 2018 with the enduring “This is America.” I believe it’s a hip-hop song because a hip-hop song can sound like anything, and he’s principally rapping, nevertheless it’s so different than most hip-hop, definitely different than the hip-hop of, say, “Bonfire.” The artistic growth from “Bonfire” to “Redbone” to “This Is America” is mind-blowing. It’s one other flamable song that’s on my gym playlist.

“This Is America” is a dance-style critique of America. Gambino talks about guns, saying, “This is America / Don’t get caught slipping now,” taking the message we often hear from West Coast rappers — don’t get caught off guard and don’t go outside with no gun, you would possibly get killed. But when a Blood or Crip rapper says it, talking about gangs and the gun craze of their neighborhood, it’s different than a nerdy pop star saying it. When Glover says it, it implies that everyone in America have to be afraid of the gun epidemic. But in his genius, Glover brings the speaker of the song into the image. He says, “Guns in my neighborhood / I got a belt / I gotta wear them.” The song also dives into capitalism and the problem of reparations, but he does it with sparse words. It relies on a variety of short lyrics, bluesy repetitions, and listener interpretation. “This Is America” seems like a song with a hidden message that you’ve gotten to be black to actually understand.

Childish Gambino was beautiful. I’ll miss him.


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Sade Ends 6-Year Hiatus to Lend Her Voice to Transgender People on ‘Transa’ Album

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Sade, Sade Adu, Sade Transa, Transa, Red Hot Transa, Andre 3000 Transa, transgender compilation album, transgender awareness, Sade son, Sade transgender son, trans visibility, theGrio.com

It’s been six years because the world was treated to recent music from Sade Adu, however the music legend is reportedly ending his recent hiatus to appear on a really special project. As reported Dazed The British-Nigerian singer-songwriter will contribute the track “Young Lion” to the compilation “Transa,” an upcoming album promoting awareness for transgender and non-binary people.

As Dazed notes, for Sade, 65, the project is personal because her only child, Isaacunderwent his own gender transition. Acknowledging the difficulties of his journey and people of many others, Sade’s recent song is devoted to Isaac, who now lives as a transgender man, and reportedly includes the lyric, “You must have felt so alone, I should have known.”

“It’s incredible to hear a legendary musician like Sade sing about her honest experiences as a parent of a transgender child,” model, transgender activist and album co-producer Massima Bell said, according to Dazed. “It’s incredibly powerful.”

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Produced by Red hotThe nearly 35-year-old nonprofit that released the platinum-selling, star-studded compilation “Red Hot + Blue” amid the AIDS epidemic, “Transa” will feature greater than 100 artists, including André 3000, Moses Sumney, Sam Smith, “Euphoria” star Hunter Schaefer and more. The first single is reportedly a canopy of the Prince classic “I Would Die 4 U,” created by former Prince and the Revolution members Wendy & Lisa with singer-songwriter Lauren Auder. The album, set for a vacation release on Nov. 22, features 46 tracks and eight “chapters” that make up the three-and-a-half-hour album, an “ode” to the unique eight stripes of the Pride flag.

“We hoped to create a narrative that positions trans and nonbinary people as leaders in our society, as long as they do the deep inner work to validate who they are in our current climate. We felt like everyone should do that,” said Dust Reid, executive director of Red Hot, per Diversity“Whether you identify as transgender, non-binary, or other, if you took the time to explore your gender, to get in touch with the emotional side of yourself, perhaps we would have a future centered around the values ​​of community, collaboration, care, and healing.”


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Teedra Moses’ Classic Album ‘Complex Simplicity’ Turns 20: I’m So Happy My Worst Musical Take Ever Has Apparently Disappeared From The Internet

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Over the past twenty years of writing on various platforms—my first blog post was June 3, 2004—I’ve shared my thoughts and opinions 1000’s of times on a wide selection of topics. I’ve written about race, politics, culture, music, movies, family, etc. In fact, if I had access to all of my writings, I’m sure I’d find loads of passages that will make me wince and others where I’d be thrilled to know that my younger self had said something my older self still believes. What I also know of course is that I can’t recall the overwhelming majority of opinions I’ve had on any variety of things I’ve written about.

There are just a few exceptions to this rule, though. I remember just a few songs that I wrote that I wish I had never written. I believe the response to those songs has made them my go-to memories of my writing journey. And there are just a few musical opinions that I’ve had at different times that I just can’t consider I ever had. One of those opinions is one which I shared with people in 2004 about Teedra Moses’ debut album Complex Simplicity, released on August 10, 2004, making it 20 years old.

I vividly remember telling folks that I assumed this album was bad. I do know this because I remember having heated arguments with two specific individuals who loved it and couldn’t consider how absurd my opinion was. (They also remember the arguments and agreeing that my opinion was absurd.) Since this album got here out after I began blogging, and since I often drew inspiration from my personal conversations, I’m 90% certain that in some unspecified time in the future, somewhere, I wrote a blog post or something expressing my dislike of this album.

Younger me was an idiot.

Here’s how I do know my younger self was an idiot. At this point in my life, Complex Simplicity is considered one of my favorite albums, possibly ever. I’m undecided if it’s in my top ten, nevertheless it’s definitely in my top twenty. Any album that has a song (like “You will never find”) starting with the words “Ooooh cat daddy”, should be something I take seriously. The album’s opening track, “Be your own girl” might be considered one of my favorite album openers, partly because I really like the Ahmad Jamal sample “Awakening” but additionally because I really like how Teedra gets right to the purpose; she’s like, “Boo, what’s up with you and me…your girl’s gonna be okay!” Who hasn’t thought that about someone they didn’t know? Damn, Christina Milian must be glad social media wasn’t a thing after I had a crush on her, because otherwise I’d be texting her lyrics to this song daily. I’m a romantic. Or a stalker—it is a wonderful line.

And do not get me began “Care,” by far my favorite track on the album and literally the song I’ll be listening to until the nice Lord calls me to glory. And even then after I hit those pearly gates I’ll be asking if “Caution” is offered on whatever platform they use to stream music in heaven.

Look, I can try this with every song on this album. I really like all of them. I absolutely love Complex Simplicity. Along with How I Do, Res are two of probably the most defining R&B albums of my 2000s. Each of those records lived within the CD changer in my automotive. When I believe of Panama Jackson within the mid-2000s walking around New York or Washington, D.C., or traveling to Los Angeles or wherever, I actually have songs from each of those albums in my head. Complex Simplicity is just a beautiful and enjoyable singer to take heed to, and her voice is gorgeous.

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That’s why I’m so excited to know that I can not find written proof that I made profane and meaningless negative comments about this album. Now, I got into a little bit argument with Teedra Moses just a few years ago a couple of review I wrote about how she set the blueprint for 2010s R&B that was less subtle and more intrusive. While I believe my sentiment was spot on, I believe my approach was reckless in a way that got here across as insulting, which was my calling card — the goal was more essential than how I got there. I can also’t find that clip, mostly because while I remember writing it, I can not pinpoint after I did it, and a few of those older tracks are just about inconceivable to seek out and not using a date to assign them to. That works great for me, because I hate reading things I’ve written that I now think are silly. Cheers to growth. And do not be silly, Panama.

As a music lover and someone who would find albums that touch my soul, it makes me very sad to know and do not forget that I ever considered a Teedra album to be anything lower than a fantastic murals that makes the world a greater place. That’s how I feel now and I believe that is the suitable solution to feel about it. To know “Complex Simplicity” is to like “Complex Simplicity” and there is simply no other solution to perceive it. Even 20 years later, the music sounds as fresh and sonically jamtastic because it did within the 2000s, aside from in the future after I didn’t prefer it.

Today is just not that day because today is the day I admit that I really like “complex simplicity” and I’m so joyful that it continues to be a component of my life, 20 years later.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Megan Thee Stallion to Host, GloRilla, Lenny Kravitz to Perform: Here’s What You Need to Know About the 2024 MTV VMAs

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NEW YORK (AP) — Rapper, singer, songwriter, businesswoman, hot girl summer provider and now… an awards show host? Megan Thee Stallion to host in 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

It’s her first time hosting an awards show, though she’s guest-hosted “Saturday Night Live” and co-hosted “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in the past. This time, she’s hosting a lineup of her musical peers.

The 2024 Awards Gala Announces Star-Studded Performances, Lots of Attractions people of the moon, and more Taylor Swift.

Here’s every little thing you would like to learn about the MTV VMAs.

When are the MTV Video Music Awards?

The VMAs will air survive September 11 at 8:00 PM ET from the UBS Arena on Long Island, New York.

Prize the show has been moved back day due to the upcoming US presidential debate. ABC News recently confirmed that each Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump’s campaigns have agreed to take part in the debate September 10.

Who is nominated for the VMA Awards?

Fast with 10 VMA nominations, he ranks first — eight for her “Fortnight” video and nominations for artist of the 12 months and best pop. She’s followed by her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone, who has nine nominations. He’s tied with Swift for eight nominations and earned a ninth nomination for his country hit “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen.

Also nominated for Artist of the Year are Ariana Grande, Bad Bunny, Eminem, Sabrina Carpenter and SZA.

Grande, Carpenter and Eminem have six nominations each; Megan Thee Stallion and SZA have five nominations each. LISA, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims of Blackpink have 4 nominations each.

This 12 months, there have been 29 first-time nominees, including Wallen, Carpenter, and Swims, in addition to Benson Boone and Silence — the latter can boast three nominations each.

Who will receive the Video Vanguard Award?

Katy Perry will receive Video Vanguard Award. She may even perform.

Previous winners of the award include Shakira, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna and Missy Elliott.

Perry will return to the VMA stage for the first time since 2017, when she performed and hosted the awards show.

The pop singer has won five VMAs in her profession, taking home her first three in 2011: Video of the Year (“Firework”), Best Collaboration, and Best Visual Effects (each for “ET” featuring Kanye West).

Who will perform at the VMA Awards?

Featuring: Perry, Boone, Carpenter, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, Halsey, Lenny Kravitz, LISA, Rauw Alejandro, Anitta, Karol G, LL COOL J, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello.

What about voting?

Fan voting in 15 gender-neutral categories is underway now and can end on Friday.

Voting for Best New Artist will proceed throughout the exhibition.

___

For more information on this 12 months’s MTV Video Music Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/mtv-video-music-awards

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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