Blueface, whose real name is Johnathan Jamall Porter, finds himself again in legal trouble. According to local news reports, the artist was arrested on robbery charges while entering a Las Vegas courthouse. The arrest follows an incident involving Erykah Badu, who publicly criticized Blueface for trolling his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Chrisean Rock. Blueface was recently arrested […]
Erykah Badu is set to hit the screen soon. Today (May 31), Netflix announced that the “On & On” singer will be joining the cast of the feature film adaptation of The Piano Lesson.
Badu joins the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, and Corey Hawkins in this post-Depression-era story.
The Piano Lesson takes place in 1936 in Pittsburgh following the Great Depression. The story chronicles the members of the Doaker Charles household and their family piano, which contains carvings and messages from an enslaved ancestor of the Charles family.
Jackson and Washington have previously starred in a Broadway adaptation of The Piano Lesson. This show recently concluded its run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre after playing 27 previews and 124 regular performances. This edition of The Piano Lesson is the highest-grossing revival of a play on Broadway and the highest-grossing August Wilson production on Broadway ever.
The show also earned two Tony awards — Best Revival Of A Play and Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Play, the latter for Samuel L. Jackson’s performance.
At the time of writing, Badu’s role in the upcoming film adaptation of The Piano Lesson has not yet been specified.
Born as Anne Mae Bullock in Tennessee in 1939, Tina Turner made her entry into the music industry in the late 1950s as a member of Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm. After marrying Ike in 1962, they formed a formidable musical duo. However, their partnership ended in 1976. This was followed by their divorce in 1978. Despite these challenges, Turner experienced a remarkable comeback in the 1980s. Her 1984 album, Private Dancer, reached a peak position of #3 on the charts and achieved five-times platinum certification in the United States. The album’s single, “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” spent three weeks at #1 in September of that same year.
Turner’s influence extended beyond music as she became involved in pop culture. In addition to starring in the 1985 film Mad Max: Thunderdome, she recorded the film’s main original song, “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome).” The single reached #2 on the charts. Another song from the film, “One of the Living,” reached #15. A decade later, Turner was approached to perform the theme song for the 1995 James Bond film, Goldeneye. Initially intended to be a song by Depeche Mode, the band’s touring schedule prevented their participation. This led Bono and U2 to write a song specifically for Turner when she was offered the prestigious role. In 1986, Turner was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was a true legend, and many have taken to social media to mourn her passing.
Tina Turner’s Influence Lives On
Popular American soul pop singer Tina Turner singing live at the Budapest Sports Hall, Hungary, 1982. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Earlier today, it was announced that the legendary performer had passed away. Turner’s team made a statement via her social media confirming the news. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” the statement said. “With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”
Tina Turner inspired a generation of performers, many of which have expressed their sadness at her passing. “Survivor. The King & Queen. She was everything,” Questlove said. “This is one of the figures I just knew would live in her 3 digits. I was not prepared to say goodbye to Tina Turner.” Erykah Badu also took to social media to make her thoughts known. “Cultural Icon down. Safe Journey Anna Mae Bullock. You were HERE,” she wrote alongside a picture of the iconic singer. Stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates.
Summer Walker and Erykah Badu have a bond that runs deep. Not only are they both beautifully talented R&B stars in their own right, but their chosen career paths have also allowed them to connect in a far deeper way. The birth of the Atlanta native’s twins a few months ago was actually overseen by “The Healer” herself, who shared plenty of thoughtful words about her experience acting as Walker’s doula alongside her own daughter, Puma Curry. While they have yet to actually collaborate together musically, it seems Badu’s energy is rubbing off on her young friend, as her influence is all over the latter’s new CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE EP.
The project is a long-awaited sequel to 2019’s CLEAR, on which she shared four featureless tracks with fans. The mother of three spiced things up this time around, recruiting J. Cole to kick things off with “To Summer, From Cole – Audio Hug,” as well as Childish Gambino, who offered up his help on “New Type.” The other seven titles are handled by Walker alone, though she did have Solange Knowles and Steve Lacy’s help with production on the final title, “Agayu’s Revelation.”
In the hours since CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE hit DSPs, fans have been consistently drawing comparisons to Badu on social media. Many of them are positive, writing messages like, “Summer Walker really Erykah Badu Goddaughter. Love this sound sm,” and “[This] is what I didn’t know I needed.” Others, however, are unimpressed by the Still Over It songstresses’ copycat vibes. “Summer Walker on Erykah Badu beats with these dumb ass lyrics is pissing me off,” one Twitter user ranted on Friday (May 19) morning.
“I got mixed feelings about this Summer EP. I do appreciate the Erykah Badu inspo and shit… But we need Summer Walker, not Summer Badu,” another person expressed, noting that they hope the project eventually grows on them with time.
Keep scrolling to read more mixed Twitter reactions to the new 9-track EP. Have you streamed Summer Walker’s CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE EP yet? If not, check it out here, and let us know in the comments which of the R&B darling’s new songs is your favourite.
summer walker just gave us a good erykah badu type— cleaning the house on a beautiful sunday, while burning a nice finely scented incense type of EP, and y’all are complaining?? the music is a vibe… it just might not be for some of y’all
I got mixed feelings about this Summer EP. I do appreciate the Erykah Badu inspo & shit… but we need summer walker not summer badu. I hope this album grows on me fr
You can say what you want about Summer Walker but when she goes into that studio she’s going to give you quality fucking music. That Pull Up sound like some Erykah Badu Jill Scott type of shit.
Summer Walker New Album Is The Mood I Just Wanna Be InIt’s Giving Erykah BaduLIKE IM IN LOVEEEEEE….If you not a Neo Soul Type Of Girl THIS IS NOT FOR YA BABES
They say ‘the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree’ and looking at these beautiful women that saying couldn’t be more true. In celebration of Mother’s Day, we chose to honor the mothers of some of today’s hottest rappers and actresses. Ice Spice The “Princess Diana” rapper took over the hip-hop scene with her unique […]
You can get your mom as high as Erykah Badu. This Mother’s Day, Badu will launch her own brand of weed-rolling cones. According to Fader, the cones will be hand rolled with natural rose petals from roses grown in the Dominican Republic.
“Give your mom ‘That Badu’s’ Dozen Roses Rose-Cones for Mother’s Day– a bouquet of fragrant rose-cones,” Badu said of the release. “More and more mothers are using cannabis for its ability to quiet the mind, relax the body, and balance the central nervous system.”
The cones created by Badu are a result of her collaboration with VIBES, the rolling paper brand owned by Berner, a rapper from Taylor Gang. Starting this Sunday, May 14, interested buyers can purchase them on the VIBES website.
Denzel Curry is one of the biggest underground rappers from Florida. Although, his “underground” status has been debated since his song became a part of one of social media’s biggest trends years ago. Since jumping onto the scene, he has released multiple albums, EPs, and singles that all have their own unique sound. His features are even more varied as he has worked with up-and-coming artists like Armani White and redveil. He’s also worked with well-established acts like Glass Animals and even covered Rage Against The Machine and, most recently, Erykah Badu. Naturally, his style (in music and hair) has transformed over the years. Most people associate Denzel with high-energy music. His discography has shown he has expanded beyond those days but can still return to it if needed.
Denzel Curry’s Origins
Denzel’s origins in the music world go back to the Florida-based collective Raider Klan (often stylized as RVDXIR KLVN). Music from these acts took heavy inspiration from the moody, dark piano chords and pitched-down vocals of Three 6 Mafia and other acts from the early 2000s in Memphis. While in Raider Klan, he released Strictly for My R.V.I.D.X.R.S. and other mixtapes whose titles had direct connections to the imagery, style, and branding of the collective.
In 2013, Denzel released a single titled “Threatz,” which featured fellow clan members Yung Simmie. Robb Bank$, and producer Ronny J. This track brought him attention in the underground world as the video began circulating because of its unique look. This song came from his debut studio album Nostalgic 64 which brought him even more attention.
Denzel’s Popularity Continued To Rise
In 2015, Denzel Curry dropped “ULTIMATE” which brought him even more attention and success. One year later, a snippet from the song began circulating. People used it for the social media trend, the “Bottle Flip Challenge.” Participants would edit the video so the song’s beat would drop when they successfully flipped their bottles. This song came from Curry’s double EP 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms.
A remix version of this song was also released, which featured a verse from Juicy J. This version was released at the height of the song’s newfound popularity. In 2016, they inducted Denzel into the XXL Freshman Class of that year. His group’s cypher video also went viral. Many pointed out he was a clear standout and noticed his hairstyle solidified his authenticity as a Florida native.
Denzel Curry was preparing to show the world his new concept album since he had even more eyes on him. But, before that, he still had some high energy left in him and this was shared in his EP 13 which was released in 2017. This five-track project appealed to fans that gravitated towards him for songs like “ULTIMATE.” Almost every song has distorted bass and high-energy vocals from Denzel. Curry’s lyrical ability did not falter on this project and it still served its purpose as a high-energy holdover project for his listeners.
All Of Denzel Curry’s Projects Have A Purpose
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 27: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Denzel Curry visits SiriusXM at SiriusXM Studios on February 27, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images)
Denzel Curry did something unique for his 2018 album TABOO (officially stylized as “TA13OO”). He released the album in three parts. Each part was called an “Act” and was subtitled “Light,” “Grey,” and “Dark,” respectively. The acts were released on different days with different covers from July 25 to 27, 2018. Each part had four to five tracks. This tied into the various themes across the album, and each act’s theme signified the tone and production style of the music in it. On July 27, the album was released as a whole, with all 13 tracks arriving together. Act 2: GREY contained the single “CLOUT COBAIN,” which shared Denzel’s commentary on the music industry. This caught many people’s eyes – even those outside of the rap world. There’s a unique look to the song titles in the track list on streaming services too.
Denzel’s 2019 album ZUU paid homage to the rapper’s home state of Florida – specifically Carol City, Miami. Denzel wears a Florida Marlins jersey on the album’s cover, and the color scheme of the album’s logo is the same as the one for the University of Miami. The album’s lead single, “RICKY,” pays homage to his father and mother in its lyrics and features his father on the cover art. Features on this album included fellow Miami natives Ice Billion Berg, Sam Sneak, and Rick Ross. Denzel performed a medley of “RICKY” and “WISH” for his debut television appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. This performance brought even more eyes to him, and he brought those eyes to his hometown.
Denzel Brings His Outside Interests Into His Music
Denzel Curry released a project with Kenny Beats titled UNLOCKED in 2020 and a remix version in 2021 called UNLOCKED1.5. They paired it with a 24-minute short film that combined music videos for all eight songs on the EP. Each of these videos had a different animation style which tied in with the comic book-like cover art for the project. Denzel has referenced comic book and anime characters throughout his career, making this project a full-circle moment. The track titles look like file names on streaming services which was a stylistic decision made by Curry and Kenny Beats.
Denzel Has Reached A New Level In His Music
Denzel Curry’s most recent full-length album, Melt My Eyez, See Your Future, was released in 2022, and its extended edition was released the same year. This album finds Denzel at his most mature yet. He covers more vulnerable topics, and his song arrangement is more strategic, layered, and varied. He cited inspiration from films for this project, and the music videos for the songs showcase this.
Perhaps the biggest standout moment from this album is the T-Pain feature. Denzel has spoken highly of how honored he was to have him on the album. The extended edition includes his live performance of the album, which was live-streamed on YouTube. He performs with The Cold Blooded Soul Band, which creates jazzy, cinematic versions of the songs on the album. Denzel easily adjusts to the new but familiar soundscape and praises the band for their efforts throughout the album.
Denzel’s Authenticity Draws In His Listeners
Denzel Curry is a multilayered artist. He goes into every album with a specific vision in mind and executes it to the best of his ability. After sporting locs, having those locs literally save his life, then cutting them off and growing them out again, he truly has been transforming his entire career. Listeners never know what to expect from him musically, but they know he will remain his authentic self throughout it all. He may not be a household name, but his listeners will show up and show out for him, and that’s all that matters.
Janelle Monáe’s rap songs are more common in her discography than people may realize. While her singing abilities are well documented and have been showcased many times, she’s talented with rapping, too. Considering this and the fact her studio albums have some sort of concept/narrative, she truly puts her all into her creative musical expression.
Each of her studio albums has a song displaying her rap skills. Besides these moments, she’s had singles where she focused on rapping, too. Her most recent single, “Float,” is one of them. The song’s cover art features a semi-visible tracklist, so her upcoming project may have even more rapping. In the meantime, we’ve gathered some of her discography’s best past rap moments.
5. “Dance or Die” (feat. Saul Williams) (2010)
This rapped song from Janelle Monáe is on her debut album, The ArchAndroid. This one is more of a hybrid because her sung vocals are woven throughout the song, too. Not only do they appear on the hook, but they appear as ad-libs during her rap verses too. However, they do not detract from the skill displayed during the rapped moments.
Janelle uses fast rapped flows on this one. She drops a whopping six verses on the track, but her fast delivery makes it not even feel like that many. This song offers listeners an intro to the concept Janelle created for this album. She raps about the state of the world her character is in and how it’s up to people to make the change they want to see. There’s a cinematic feeling to this one that comes through with the guitars, horns, and bouncy drums.
This song has a closing rap verse from Janelle Monáe’s album The Electric Lady. For some listeners, the song has two highlights: the verse from Erykah Badu and Janelle’s outro rapped verse. Ms. Badu’s verse precedes Janelle’s rapped one. But between these moments, there’s an instrumental passage where a trumpet comes in and sets the tone for Janelle’s verse.
While the song celebrates individuality, Janelle’s rapped verse focuses on the unification of people and her power as a person. Strings come in during it, which gives it a grandiose and motivational feeling. Her delivery is a combination of confidence with just a hint of aggressiveness. It makes the words she says stick and resonate as they effectively contrast the sonically lighthearted aspects of the first portion of the song.
3. “Turntables” (2020)
This single is a song that finds Janelle Monáe in her full political rap bag. Listeners have seen Janelle speak on things like this for years, and this song captures her thoughts on the topic of this country well. The song was created for the documentary All In: The Fight for Democracy. The music video, credited as an “Emotion Picture,” captures multiple facets of the Black experience in America.
There’s footage from the Civil Rights era, protests from our modern era, and celebratory moments from both periods. Janelle raps against various backgrounds, all of which reference the country in one way or another. Her punchlines here reference her dissatisfaction with the country we’re in, while others proclaim she’s ready to make changes to it. Her delivery is not aggressive but confidently rhythmic. She and most of her listeners have known the country has had issues for centuries.
2. “Float” feat. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (2023)
This is Janelle Monáe’s most recent single, and finds her in her rap bag on a different level. Janelle has put the work in as an artist and an actress for over a decade. More recently, many people have recognized her talent and she takes pride in her continued accomplishments. This song is a declaration of this confidence and finds her speaking on how she has changed as an individual.
Like our previous entry, she sings on the hook and raps on the verses. There’s a certain relaxed confidence in Janelle’s rapped verses. She’s not bragging about material possessions but about improving her mental perspective. The production’s soundscape fits this well with triumphant horns balanced with relaxing keys and stuttering trap drums.
1. “Django Jane” (2018)
This rap song was the first single for Janelle Monáe’s most recent album Dirty Computer. Janelle’s music overall has a charming and uplifting tone to it. However, things are different this time around. Produced by Nana Kwabena, this one has a slightly menacing yet confident feel. Trap drums, strings, and what sounds like a bell appears throughout the song.
Janelle declares her pride in making it to the level she’s at while also boosting Black women worldwide. One unique thing about this song is it has no hook. This is something listeners in the rap world have seen done many times. Janelle did it with ease going through flow switches to keep the song interesting and also did the whole song without ad-libs. Many listeners hail this as her best-rapped moment. What’s your favorite moment where Janelle Monáe rapped? Let us know in the comments section.
Ladies, it’s time to celebrate because female artists are making some serious waves in the hip-hop world. With new drops, exciting announcements, and a surge of female talent. Erykah Badu announces her “Unfollow Me” Tour, Nicki Minaj hops on a track featuring Kim Petras, and more! Erykah Badu’s “Unfollow Me” Tour, Kim Petras feat Nicki […]
Erykah Badu is getting ready to return on the road, and she will be joined by Yasiin Bey, also known as Mos Def. The two will embark on the Unfollow Me Tour.
The run of shows will begin on June 11 in San Antonio before making runs to Vegas, Chicago, Philly, L.A., New York City, and more on the arena tour.
The tour comes in the 20th-anniversary run of Badu’s third album, Worldwide Underground. You can see the full run of shows below.
(@HartDaScientist) 
(@DiaryOfKeysus) 
(@Fentyyyonce) 
(@briaa_blazay) 
. I hope this album grows on me fr
It’s Giving Erykah Badu
LIKE IM IN LOVEEEEEE
….If you not a Neo Soul Type Of Girl THIS IS NOT FOR YA BABES
(@KyyxSymonee) 
