Mary J Blige

Mary J. Blige, Nas, And Chance the Rapper Will Headline Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa 2023

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Mary J Blige Today Show 2023
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Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa‘s 2023 lineup has been revealed. The three-day outdoor festival will be headlined by Mary J. Blige, Nas, and Chance The Rapper. Set to take place between July 28 and 30, this year’s festival will feature Grammy Award-winning musician Robert Glasper as the artist-in-residence, as well as special guests De La Soul, Bilal, Lalah Hathaway, and more.

This is by no means Glasper’s first time working with the festival. However, each time he takes the stage, the musician finds a way to reinvent his rich discography.

Other notable acts on the lineup include Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton, NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge), Ari Lennox, Cordae, Digable Planets, Big Freedia, Bilal, Lalah Hathaway, Talib Kweli & Malib, PJ Morton, Rapsody, BJ The Chicago Kid, and Smino. View the full lineup below.

The Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa 2023 will be held at the Silverado Resort in Napa, California. The event will also feature curated after parties each night, with sets from 9th Wonder, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and more. Not to be confused with their iconic New York installment slated in June, the Napa series is a much more intimate experience compared to the flagship event.

Tickets for Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa 2023 go on sale on Wednesday, April 5, beginning at 9 am local time. For more information, click here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Nas, Mary J. Blige, More Announced For Blue Note Jazz Festival

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Nas, Mary J. Blige, and De La Soul have all been announced as performers at the Blue Note Jazz Festival. The bi-coastal festival announced the lineup by way of instagram. The hip-hop heavy hitters are just a few of the exciting performers that have been confirmed to perform. There will also be performances from Chance The Rapper, Cordae, and NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge). Additionally, Dave Chappelle will return to host. This announcement comes just three weeks after the festival announced its east coast lineup, which included artists like the iconic Grace Jones and Robert Glasper.

The Blue Note Jazz Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in both New York City and Napa. It features a wide range of jazz, soul, funk, and blues artists. The festival is named after the legendary New York jazz club, the Blue Note. The club has been a staple of the Greenwich Village music scene since 1981. Likewise, the festival has been become a staple of the jazz scene. The festival usually spans several weeks and showcases both established and up-and-coming artists. It often includes special collaborations and one-of-a-kind performances. The festival has become a must-see event for jazz lovers from all around the world and continues to be a vital platform for the evolution of jazz music.

Blue Note Celebrates Jazz and Hip Hop

The Blue Note Festival is no stranger to icons taking the stage. The 2022 festival featured performances from Rakim, Snoop Dogg, Chaka Khan, and George Clinton. “The intimate festival boasts a lineup of cultural icons, all in tune to celebrate the influence of jazz on hip-hop for the past 50 years,” the festival’s official Instagram wrote. Certainly, the festival has become the best place for music fans to appreciate legendary artists of both genres. As the festival itself says, it’s a “who’s who of music culture.”

The 2023 Blue Note Jazz Festival will take place in both New York City and Napa, California. The first round of performances will take place throughout June in New York at the titular club and other popular venues. Subsequently, the second lineup of performers will take the stage in Napa July 28, 29, and 30 at the Silverado Resort. Tickets can be purchased for the event this Friday on the festival’s official website. Will you be attending the Blue Note Jazz Festival? Additionally, who are you most excited to see take the stage? Sound off in the comments below!

Queen Latifah’s U.N.I.T.Y Celebrates 30 Years Of Female Empowerment

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Queen Latifah Amazon Music

Amazon Music is paying tribute to Queen Latifah with a short film called Generational Queens. The film will honor Latifah for her 1993 women’s empowerment anthem,  “U.N.I.T.Y.,” which turns 30 this year. Amazon Music honors rapper/actress Queen Latifah with a short film titled Generational Queens. The film will highlight Latifah’s 1993 hit, “U.N.I.T.Y.,”  which turns […]

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50 Cent Breaks Down Why He’s “Defensive” When Women Ask Him For Luxury Goods

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50 Cent likely isn’t going to buy you a Birkin bag if you ask him. During his recent appearance on Mary J. Blige’s The Wine Down on BET, the rapper detailed his love life, among other things, when he and the singer began to discuss the topic of women. As a wealthy man with plenty of fame, there’s no doubt that he has to vet the women that enter his life. Not just for the sake of compatibility but to protect his assets. 

During the episode, Fif told Mary that he gets “defensive” when women ask him to buy them things. Though he could easily splurge of luxury goods at the drop of a dime, he explained that he sees through the intention of women who expect it from him. “I get defensive when a person is trying to… when a woman is asking me for things. Then I’m like, ‘Oh you think I’m a sucker?” 50 Cent said while Mary J Blige burst into laughter.  

Intention Matters To 50 Cent

He went on to explain that he’s willing to do that out of the kindness of his heart, but he isn’t here to be someone’s come-up. “Because organically I wanna do those things. Then I’ll start to do those things and it’ll be cool because she’s never asked me for… nothing,” he continued. “But if she comes with those intentions or that idea then it feels like, ‘Wait.’” That’s when Mary J. Blige interjected, saying, “That’s when you could read the energy.”  Fif replied, “Right, cause she came with those intentions.”

50 Cent went on to explain that the women he’s around are a reflection of who he is. The rapper is currently dating Cuban Link, who has been by his side since at least 2019. The couple has become far more public in recent times, as she accompanies him to plenty of red-carpet events for his shows and clowns him on Instagram. Most recently, she caught Fif sliding into the comment section of her Instagram page while they were together at a sports event. Check out the clip above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments. 

Mary J. Blige Announces Second ‘Strength of a Woman’ Festival

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Mary J. Blige

Words by: Brandon Simmons

Mary J. Blige has combined with Pepsi again to bring the Strength of a Woman festival and summit.  The event will take place in Atlanta from May 11-14.  In a statement, the My Life singer expressed her excitement to put together the empowerment festival again.

“I’m so excited to bring our Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit back to Atlanta for its second year.  Having the opportunity to continue to uplift, inspire, and build amongst a community of women is the reason why we created this festival.”

On Instagram, Mary shared the festival flyer stating she will be performing a never before seen B-sides set celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop.  The Strength of a Woman festival is set to empower, educate, and elevate all women.  Attendees will have plenty to do throughout the weekend!

On the first night, Grammy winner for Best R&B Album, Robert Glasper, will be hosting an evening at the City Winery.  The following night, Mary will headline the tribute to 50 years of Hip Hop with performances from Jodeci, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Jeezy, and DJ Drama.  The “Family Affair” singer booked another legend for the third night of the festival.  Lauryn Hill will headline with Summer Walker, Muni Long, Coco Jones, and Lucky Daye all performing.

The Earn Your Leisure Podcast, Angela Yee’s Lip Service and many more speakers will be on the Strength of a Woman Summit panel.  The festival closes out on Sunday with performances by Saucy Santana and Mike Epps.

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Women’s History Month: The Women Behind Hip-Hop Fashion

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Women of Hip-Hop Fashion

Hip-Hop can’t be properly celebrated without acknowledging the fashions that were birthed. Over the years, many female fashion designers have made significant contributions to hip-hop. All from designing clothing lines and creating iconic looks for some of the most influential artists. SOHH, Let’s take a look at the women that made a huge impact in […]

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Mary J. Blige & Pepsi Announce Second Annual Strength Of A Woman Festival & Summit Dates

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Mary J. Blige Festival

Mary J. Blige and Pepsi announced the second annual Strength Of A Woman festival. The upcoming event will include an all-star lineup with artists such as Busta Rhymes, Summer Walker, and more. Mary J. Blige alongside soft drink company Pepsi announced the dates for the Strength Of A Woman festival and summit for May 11-14 […]

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Chaka Khan Apologizes to the Singers She Criticized in Recent Interview: ‘I Took the Bait’

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Chaka Khan Denies Sleeping With Rick James 'He Was Too Worn'

Chaka Khan is backtracking on her comments on some legendary singers. In case you missed it, the legendary Chicago singer had smoke for Mary J. Blige, Adele, and Mariah Carey during a podcast appearance with Los Angeles Magazine, on The Originals.

The host, Andrew Goldman, began by congratulating the 10-time Grammy winner for making Rolling Stone’s selection of the 200 greatest singers of all time. Her reaction?  “I didn’t even know what the hell you were talking about, so obviously this don’t mean a great deal to me,” Chaka states. “These people don’t quantify or validate me in any way.” Aretha Franklin, who occupied the top slot, was the only one with whom she could agree. In agreement, Chaka said, “As she fucking should be.”

She called Mariah Carey being at No. 5 payola, said “I quit” to Adele being at No. 22, and said Rolling Stone was “blind as a motherfucking bat” when Mary J. Blige was placed at No. 25. Khan then takes a moment to remind listeners that Mary J. Blige previously botched her song “Sweet Thing,” which was first performed for her back in 1975, when she was a lead vocalist for the band Rufus.

“I told Mary J. Blige she fucked it up. Number one, her vocals were flat, and I asked her. I said: ‘what time did you, what time of day was it or night, what were you doing when you decided to cover ‘Sweet Thing’ and where were you at when you covered it?’”

Blige’s response was that she was up late and recorded at 8 a.m.

“I said girl you don’t sing nothing at eight in the motherfucking morning,” Khan continued. “Especially if you have to get up to sing it. If you’d been up all night, smoking crack or something, I don’t know, it might have been a whole different thing. But you don’t get up at eight in the morning to sing girl. But she and I have that kind of relationship we can talk…you know, I love her. She loves me. We don’t have a problem. Now the press would love to making it a motherfucking problem.”

Hitting Instagram, Khan backtracked on her comments stating she took the bait.

“Recently, I was asked about a list of the ‘greatest singers of all time’ and instead of questioning the need for such a list, I was pitted against other artists and I took the bait,” Khan wrote.

“As artists, we are unfairly put into ‘boxes,’ ‘categories’ or on ‘lists.’ Being an artist or musician is not a competition. It’s a gift, for which I am truly grateful.”

Chaka Khan would go on to “sincerely apologize” and will now work to empower and not criticize.

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Chaka Khan Apologizes For Shading Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Adele & More

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Chaka Khan is an unlikely person to kick off a flood of reactions following her interviews, yet here we are. The legend has been intimately woven into music history, and her contributions to the culture are unmatched. However, Chaka Khan’s soundbites have caused an uproar in recent years. She went viral—twice—over comments made about Kanye West. She admitted to hating his “Through the Fire” sample for his classic hit “Through the Wire.” More recently, Khan shared scathing opinions about Adele, Mariah Carey, and Mary J. Blige. For the latter controversy, she returns with an apology.

“Recently, I was asked about a list of the ‘greatest singers of all time‘ and instead of questioning the need for such a list, I was pitted against other artists and I took the bait,” Khan says in a statement shared to Instagram. “As artists, we are unfairly put into ‘boxes’, ‘categories’ or on ‘lists.’ Being an artist or musician is not a competition. It’s a gift, for which I am truly grateful.”

Chaka Khan Says She Didn’t Mean To Offend

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 24: Chaka Khan performs onstage during Angel Ball 2022 hosted by Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on October 24, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation)

“It was not my intention to cause pain or upset anyone. To anyone that felt this way, I sincerely apologize,” she continued. “Thank you for all the love everyone has shown me, unconditionally. I have always been about empowering others and I started a foundation for that very purpose. I will be announcing soon. Empowering all artists is most important because we truly are the architects of change…and change begins within the heart. I love you all and God bless.”

The apology has caused a divide. Khan’s supporters don’t believe she needed to explain herself to anyone. Yet, those who found her remarks to be offensive have taken to social media with pushback because they didn’t think the icon took accountability. During the controversial interview, Khan had this to say about Blige’s cover of her classic, “Sweetest Thing”: “I told Mary J. Blige she f*cked it up,” Chaka Khan said.

Khan’s Hot Take About Mary J.

She added, “Number one, her vocals were flat. And I asked her, I said, ‘What time of day was it or night, what were you doing when you decided to cover ‘Sweet Thing’? And where were you at when you covered it?’” Khan claimed Blige told her she was up late, until 8:00 a.m. “I said, ‘Girl, you don’t sing nothing at eight in the motherf*cking morning. Especially if you have to get up to sing it.’” Check out Chaka Khan’s post above.

Chaka Khan Says Mary J. Blige “Messed Up” Her Song + Accuses Mariah Carey Of “Payola” And Praises Beyoncé

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Chaka Khan Mary J. Blige

In an interview with The Breakfast Club, iconic singer and songwriter, Chaka Khan, detailed how Mary J. Blige ruined her song with flat vocals. She also accused Mariah Carey of using payola and noted that Beyoncé had the makings of a great singer. In an interview with The Breakfast Club on March 2, Grammy Award-winning […]

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