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Queens of R&B tour makes me look forward to my aunt’s era

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Kandi Burrus needs to know that some of you might be talking nonsense.

During the last stop of the Queens of R&B tour, which was co-headlined by Xscape and SWV and supported by Mýa, Total and 702, Kandi has achieved its characteristic high tone in “My Little Secret” with a bit of dazzling shine for good measure, it was serious a slight but noticeable smile on her face.

While the tour itself was successful, during one of the ultimate stops some online critics noted that she didn’t sound exactly like herself.

My last stop was on Sunday in Inglewood, California, on the Kia Forum with my best friend, who, seconds before Kandi’s big event, grabbed my knee and checked out me with concern in his eyes.

There was no reason to worry though, and for the curious I’ll add that Kandi also played a superb note in “Understanding”.

Announced in May during Xscape and SWV’s joint performance of “Sherri,” the tour was to be “a testament to what can be accomplished when women come together with respect, admiration, and undeniable talent,” according to a press release, in addition to “a celebration of passion, strength, resilience, and the unstoppable ability to defy expectations.”

That’s a pleasant way of saying that R&B bands have learned to let go of reality shows, which probably weren’t enough to cover the prices of bickering with one another and fueling fans’ incessant web wars, and have began cashing in on touring, which leads to larger profits and fewer personal chaos.

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IN In an interview with “The Breakfast Club”, Coko from SWV admitted, this money was an enormous motivation for SWV and Xscape to join forces and do that tour.

I’m glad they stepped up and did it since it was one of essentially the most fun trips I’ve been on in years.

It’s a lesson that many R&B bands from the ’90s and ’00s could use to money in on the nostalgia market by staging their very own tours.

I admit I wasn’t prepared for a way persistently Xscape… DJ AOne he kept saying, “If you are over 40 and 50, raise your hands!”

The first time he said this, my response was to look at my friend with despair and say, “I’ve been hit, I’ve been hit.”

I turned 40, folks.

I swear I’m okay with getting older. It’s a blessing. It just gave the look of quite a bit on the time, but in the long run it was beautiful to see so many various representations of aunts and uncles in a single setting.

The program itself reminded me of the recommendation I give within the context of aging in my own life. latest book:”To millennials struggling with aging: stretch and believe in yourself.”

I don’t desire to be negative, but I even have to admit that it was actually an ideal decision on the part of the group not to proceed the truth show:SWV and Xscape: Queens of R&B” when Tiny criticized SWV for wearing only “t-shirts and combat boots” on stage, something in SWV woke up.

Since this episode aired they have not stopped looking amazing and looking out like such stars on the stage in Los Angeles.

Sometimes a bit of shade can turn out to be useful, folks.

In any case, the groups complemented one another well. their Verzuz-style format and even within the absence of LaTocha Scott, who decided not to tour together with her band after the truth show, her sister Tamika Scott filled the void.

This reminds me of one other good lesson I’ve learned on tour: don’t let your teammate dirty your bag.

I wasn’t sure what Total would offer on stage without Pam, but Kesha and Kima were impressive as a duo. They polished the vocals of the songs when needed and never lost a beat. It was all about their energy and robust catalog. That was enough to get fans excited, although guests like Ma$e, Da Brat and 112 (Slim, who now favors Stephen A. Smith, and Mike) helped.

But what I liked most was Kesha Epps’ bob hairstyle.

The 702nd group member was also missing, however the remaining members Misha and Meelah gave a moving performance tribute to Irish Grinsteadwho passed away last yr, and together, like Total, they created a superb set that I hope they will tour with for years to come.

Then there was Mýa, who after ending workingit pissed me off again after I considered how her profession must have gone after her release in 2003. At the tip she said, “Peace and blessings”, so I’ll end by saying I’m glad I got to see her perform here without having to travel to Tokyo.

Unfortunately, I missed OMG Girlz, so I can not share the impressions I finally felt when listening to it. “Gucci this (Gucci that)” AND “Lover” live.

Let this be a reminder to you that for those who are going to see SWV and Xscape, for those who want to see everyone on the bill, you wish to show up right originally.

At the tip of the performance, all of the actors got here out on stage to take a selfie with the audience, and as an indication of appreciation for the venue, we said goodbye with the song “Not Like Us”.

Watching Coko take off her blonde V-neck wig and wave it within the air in triumph, I left the venue hoping that this tour would return in some form in the long run.

They all deserve it, but overall, not many bands get the chance to perform at this level at this stage of their profession, so I would like them to ride this wave for so long as possible.

I’ll definitely raise my hand more quickly on my next run when DJAone calls out the old hands who’re blissful to be where they’re.



This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Janet Jackson recalls another major wardrobe mishap she experienced on stage

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Janet Jackson, Rhythm Nation, Janet Jackson style, theGrio.com

Janet Jackson once almost showed her full moon to the Queen of England.

The 58-year-old music icon opened up about an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction she had within the ’90s, in addition to a few of her most memorable fashion moments. British Vogue. When the “That’s the Way Love Goes” singer stepped out for a photograph in her iconic “Rhythm Nation” jumpsuit, she said, “Funny story about that jumpsuit: I was performing for the Queen of England and we were playing ‘Rhythm Nation.’ And sure enough, as soon as I crouched down, my pants ripped right down my ass crack. And I mean that very seriously.”

Jackson was in disbelief, she said, adding: “I thought, ‘Oh my God.’ And then I started feeling air in there, so I knew it had actually happened.”

She coped with the style faux pas by never turning her back on the Queen. When the choreography required her to show, she said, “I just looked straight ahead.”

“Can you imagine what it would be like if I showed myself to her for even a second?” she asked.

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Elsewhere within the film, Jackson takes viewers on a journey through her childhood looks within the Nineteen Seventies to her more memorable stage looks from throughout her epic entertainment profession. She admits that she was a tomboy who often needed to argue her viewpoint when it got here to her mother’s clothing decisions. She preferred wearing suits and trousers, while her mother favored dresses and colours like pink.

But, Jackson noted with a sly smile, “I’ve gotten my way in a lot of cases.”

She added: “It was just about being myself and being comfortable.”

In another photo from her teens on the American Music Awards, she wears a red ruffled taffeta dress and a pair of hoop earrings, one in all which has a key hanging from it. She explained that since she didn’t carry a key chain, she needed to get creative when it got here to keeping her keys on her person.

“I was in charge of the animals, and we had animals: giraffes, mouflon sheep, pheasants, toucans, cockatoos, dogs,” she said, adding: “That’s why I kept the key there.”

She also noted that she hadn’t seen the dress for the reason that ’80s, when her older sister LaToya wore it herself.

“Sisters,” she said with fun.

The video ends with a scene from her current tour designed by Tom Browne.

“There are certain designers who are just brilliant to me. Thom is right up there. He’s a genius and he did this for me on tour,” she noted of the designer she called a friend.

“I think he did it, but he did it, and I did it,” she said of the tuxedo jumpsuit look.

Discussing the present tour and her fans, the music legend said, “You know, it’s people who have grown up with my music since the beginning and their kids. It just lets me know that my music has stood the test of time, which would be any artist’s dream.”

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Kendrick Lamar’s first song since ‘Not Like Us’ shows the contemplative side of black Air Force 1 energy

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thegrio.com, kendrick lamar, pop out show, not like us, super bowl

One day last fall, while I used to be in school at Howard University, I felt a bit uneasy about the work that several of my students had become me. I don’t have to go into detail, but let’s just say I felt something like — RIP to Rich Homie Quan. My class felt it, so I closed the class and let everyone leave early. Anyway, I showed as much as my next class wearing triple-black (otherwise often known as all-black) Nike Air Force 1 Lows. One of my students, who can also be a sneakerhead, noticed my shoes and said something like, “Oh, what era are we in?” I began lecturing my class about how kindness is weakness and that they were confusing my desire for them to succeed with my willingness to just accept mediocre work. Although it wasn’t a fun class that day, all of us got here away with a clearer understanding of my expectations and their efforts. I had shown the black energy of the Air Force 1, they usually knew it.

The black Air Force 1 is a legend in the footwear industry. While the all-white Nike Air Force 1 Low is a beloved shoe worn by people from ages 8 months to 80 years old, when people think of its black counterpart, they think of sinister, mean, indignant, and destructive behavior. Anyone who wears black Forces just isn’t committing against the law, but anyone who does commit against the law is wearing (or has worn) black Forces. That last statement might be not true, however it could thoroughly be true. Black Forces are synonymous with the type of one who is above things and living that life; either they’ll show you that they’re serious, or they already are and you understand you shouldn’t mess with them anymore. The black Air Force 1 is the shoe of a one who stands as much as the system and every little thing in it.

That’s why I wasn’t surprised when Kendrick Lamar posted an untitled single on Instagram (the streets call it “Watch the Party Die”), which featured a worn, battered black Air Force 1 cover. It’s Kendrick Lamar’s first song since his summer heater and potentially the best diss album of all time, “Not like us.” The shoes in the Instagram post could thoroughly be the ones he stomped on Drake’s credibility and coolness; Kendrick’s entire record series criticizing Drake’s post “Yes,” gave the black Air Force 1 energy.

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The song itself is interesting since it almost feels like the thoughts of a man walking down the street whose favorite shoe is a pair of black Air Force 1s. Kendrick is sick of, well, all of you. Maybe even me. He’s annoyed by fake individuals and folks who haven’t got anything to do with anything, men here who don’t have anything to supply women there. Now he’s a considering man who’s on a mission to destroy and rebuild the game because, well, possibly he seems like he’s the just one who can do it. That’s definitely the black energy of the Air Force 1.

He can also be conflicted. He desires to have empathy for those individuals who just don’t appear to know any higher. He wants to wish for them, but… he’s wearing black Air Force 1s. He’s about motion and pushing boundaries for many who matter most to him. He also knows that the price of his fame, celebrity, and artistry is his peace of mind. The same con artists who’re a threat to the community through their music and their lives will attack him because he has something to supply.

Again, Kendrick feels like a person whose job and actions are about purpose and getting the job done, and he’s stuck in an industry full of individuals who care about nothing but destruction. He needed to get rid of Drake for being the epitome of that thing. Look, I do not know if that is what Kendrick actually thinks about every day when he goes into the studio (or in any respect), but when we later discovered he’s rapping in the same shoes he’s wearing on the cover of this song, I wouldn’t be surprised. This is a person who has every little thing, and who also knows what meaning. That’s what I got from this song: Kendrick, who may or might not be on the point of drop a brand new album — he tends to drop songs as precursors to his albums — is drained of everyone.

Now I can be remiss if I didn’t mention that Kendrick is an artist and he just competed in and won the biggest rap battle we have had in ages. He’s having the best 2024 ever, it seems. AND NOW he’s a Super Bowl headliner in New Orleans. But I feel that is the point; regardless of how high you’re, you possibly can’t stop being yourself, and Kendrick is willing to place that work into all of you who’re making the game worse for many who are coming up.

Kendrick says it is time to look at the party die. I’m guessing he’ll do it in his black Air Force 1s because that is 100% the energy he’s giving.


(*1*)


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Kendrick Lamar to headline 2025 Super Bowl halftime show

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar to hit NFL’s biggest stage next yr: Grammy winner to headline Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime performance in New Orleans.

This NFLApple Music and Roc Nation announced on Sunday that Lamar will host the halftime festivities at Caesars Superdome on February 9. The rap megastar, winner of 17 Grammy Awards, he said he cannot wait to introduce hip-hop to the 2022 NFL Championship Game, where he guest-starred alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Eminem.

“Rap music is still the most influential genre to date,” Lamar said in a press release. “And I will be there to remind the world why. They chose the right person.”

Lamar, 37, has enjoyed massive success since his debut album “good kid, mAAd city” in 2012. He has since won 17 Grammy Awards and have become the primary non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album “DAMN.”

The rapper’s most up-to-date album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, was released in 2022. He was featured on “Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin on the track, which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this yr. He also scored one other hit with “Not Like Us.”

In 2016, Lamar gave a shocking seven-minute performance of songs like “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright” on the 58th Grammy Awards. Lamar dazzled as a gap act two years later on the Grammy Awards, performing performance of “XXX”.

In June, Lamar turned his Juneteenth “Pop Out” into celebrating the unity of Los Angeles. It got here to on the heels of his rap battle with Drake throughout the three-hour concert, which featured emerging Los Angeles rappers and stars including Tyler, The Creator, Steve Lacy and YG.

Roc Nation founder Jay-Z called Lamar a “once-in-a-generation” artist and performer.

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“His deep love for hip-hop and the culture informs his artistic vision,” Jay-Z said. “He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture around the world. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his influence will be felt for years to come.”

Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will co-executive produce the halftime show. Creative direction for Lamar’s performance can be provided by pgLang, the creative firm founded by Lamar and Dave Free — who previously directed the rapper’s music videos.

“Kendrick has proven time and again his unique ability to create moments that resonate, redefine and ultimately shake the very foundations of hip-hop,” said Seth Dudowsky, NFL music director.

Last yr, Usher shined with a star-studded show featuring guests comparable to HER, Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon, Ludacris and Alicia Keys.

“The Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show is a celebration of the music we love and the incredible artists who create it, all on the world’s biggest stage,” said Oliver Schusser, vice chairman of Apple Music and Beats.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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