Five Black Women Music Video Storytellers You Need To Know

“One of the special things about our friendship is, nine times out of ten we are on the same wavelength,” Solange told the New Yorker when asked about working with music video director, Melina Matsoukas. “Her being a black woman being able to tell those stories in such a bold, unique way is really rare.” Black women, like Matsoukas, are outnumbered, often overlooked, and frequently pigeonholed in the music industry. This is particularly true for the world of music video direction and storytelling, where roles available to Black women often reinforce stereotypes and typecast them as video vixens or background characters in stories that don’t reflect their experience.

However, when the person behind the direction, story, or camera of a music video is in fact a Black woman, the ability to tell more nuanced and multifaceted stories, or reach the same “wavelength” of Black artists that Solange described, is more readily available. From Beyoncé’s “Formation” to Drake’s “God’s Plan,” the following five women have proven the necessity of Black direction in Black storytelling. Through their creative direction, skill, and unique perspective, they have not only told the authentic and artistic stories of artists through the music video format but made space for the Black female directors and creatives to come up behind them.

child.

Director and artist child. grew up surrounded by music in Shreveport, Louisiana, thanks to her churchgoing family and mother who child. shares “used to color and listen to gospel music while I was in her womb.” That foundation of art and spirituality never left her, pushing her into a career as a photographer and creative director. Leaning into her upbringing, and bringing dreamlike imagery to her work in videos she’s directed for Big Sean, Janelle Monáe, Nas, and H.E.R., child. draws inspiration from the Black experience, biblical stories, and even artists like Jean Michel Basquiat. Though her work pays homage to her past, child. has her eyes set on the future, sharing, “I plan to impact the art world like nothing they’ve ever seen before. I see myself going beyond the stars.”

Lacey Duke

Growing up in Toronto, Lacey Duke knew she wanted to be a music video director. She conquered her dream step by step, attending film school, then interning at a production company in London, and eventually moving to New York where she worked with smaller artists. But then, hard work crossed paths with opportunity when she met Janelle Monáe after a show. Eventually, Monáe asked her to direct her music video for her track “I Like That,” launching Duke into a career where she’s brought authentic portrayals of Black womanhood onto the small screen. Since then she’s directed award-winning videos for SZA, Bryson Tiller, and H.E.R. Speaking to Complex about her work with Black women, she shared, “I have a responsibility in a sense, and I don’t feel pigeonholed by it at all. I think there’s something beautiful about my subjects just being black women, that’s not some little shit.”

Karena Evans

Known for her cinematic, authentic, and narrative-heavy visuals, music video director Karena Evans got her start at a Toronto-based film school but eventually dropped out after getting frustrated by the curriculum’s slow pace. So, she took matters into her own hands, shooting a cold text to Canadian filmmaker Director X and landing an internship at his production company. That longshot paid off, and now she’s known for directing several of Drake’s music videos, including the altruistic “God’s Plan,” the fun-centric “I’m Upset,” and the star-studded “Nice for What.” Evans also understands what her work means to up-and-coming Black female directors and the importance of making space for those creators. She told Teen Vogue, “I think the first thing to realize is that there are in fact a lot of female directors. There are a lot of women of color who are here and present. The unfortunate part is that we were not always given a place. It took the Melina Matsoukas, the Ava DuVernays, and others who have paved the way for me, and the next generation of young Black female filmmakers, to help us understand that we do have a place, and to also break down those barriers so we can be heard.”

Melina Matsoukas

Melina Matsoukas’ resume speaks for itself, she’s responsible for creating some of the most critically acclaimed and award-winning music videos of the past decade. She’s brought her blueprint to Rihanna’s MTV Best Music Award-winning video for “We Found Love,” (she was the first female director to receive this honor) Solange’s “Losing You,” and even nabbed a Grammy for her direction of Beyoncé’s “Formation.” She’s also known for highlighting the Black experience through her film work, including her debut Queen & Slim. Matsoukas is credited for executive producing and directing Issa Rae’s successful HBO series Insecure, which notably gives an authentic, positive, and culturally resonate portrayal of Black women. In speaking on her career thus far, Matsoukas told Rolling Stone, “I am who I am because of Black women,” adding, “We’re beginning to redefine our community — and hopefully our version of Hollywood.”

Laurieann Gibson

Laurieann Gibson may be known for her choreographing dance numbers for legends like Michael Jackson and Beyoncé, but her focus on creative direction has also allowed her to become a successful music video director. Her direction credits include Lady Gaga’s “Judas” and “You and I,” and Keri Hilson’s “The Way You Love Me.” Gibson, who has appeared on multiple reality shows providing straight-forward dance direction, is cognizant of how her experience has differed from her white counterparts. She spoke to The Grio, about how her intensity as a Black woman is often seen as intimidating, sharing, “I absolutely have endured the lack of fairness as a young Black woman and as a professional woman. There is a difference. When we react or we are dramatic or intense then we’re intimidating.” She added, ”It is really difficult and I have had to find a way to evolve the conversation. Yes I’m intense because I’m passionate.“

Young Nudy And 21 Savage Assert Their Dominance In The Haunting ‘Child’s Play’ Video

Young Nudy may have already put out his second project of 2021, Rich Shooter, but he apparently remains just as dedicated to promoting the first, Dr. Ev4l. When the album first dropped, the song “Child’s Play,” which features Nudy’s cousin 21 Savage, was tabbed as an early standout. Today, the terrifying twosome releases the video for their collaboration, teaming up to share a taunting visual component to the spooky single.

As always, when these two link up, they bring the best of each other lyrically, as they compare themselves to the doll villain from the film series “Child’s Play” is named after. Throughout a series of eerie, fog-filled night shots, the duo cruises through an abandoned junkyard, the rusting husks of the automobiles looming like tombstones over the moonlight scene.

While Nudy has geared the majority of his videos this year toward the Dr. Ev4l album, including “2Face” and the title track, he hasn’t neglected Rich Shooter. In August, he shared the surreal video for “Green Bean” shortly after the album’s release as he toured both albums at the same time, playing up the competition with a “Dr. Ev4l Vs. Rich Shooter” theme.

Watch Young Nudy’s “Child’s Play” video featuring 21 Savage above.

SZA Strives To Stand Out In Her Inspirational ‘The Anonymous Ones’ Video

As long-suffering SZA fans impatiently await her next album, the TDE singer shares the video for her new single “The Anonymous Ones” from the upcoming Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack. The video sees SZA sitting in her room writing a song before riding a bus to a crowded city park. There, she sets up with a small amplifier and a microphone to sing her new song, despite being mostly ignored by passersby. Appearing discouraged, she relocates to a park bench, where she finds inspiration again in peeking over the shoulder of a young girl drawing in a sketchbook — the same way SZA wrote in her own songbook to start the video.

The Dear Evan Hansen soundtrack, in addition to containing songs from the film adaptation of the popular musical, also has covers of the songs from contemporary singers like SZA, including Sam Smith, Carrie Underwood, Finneas, and Tori Kelly. “The Anonymous Ones” features in the film sung by Amandla Stenberg.

And although SZA hasn’t given any indications of when her follow-up to CTRL might arrive, she has been issuing sneak peeks, including three “random thoughts” released toward the end of August, and appearing as a featured artist on songs from Isaiah Rashad, Summer Walker, and of course, Doja Cat.

Watch SZA’s “The Anonymous Ones” video above.

Watch The Fugees Play Together For The First Time In 15 Years

Along with death and taxes, one thing that remains invariably true about the universe is that someone, somewhere, is using a phone where they shouldn’t. Despite taking precautions such as locking attendees’ phones in Yondr bags, plenty of video has emerged from the Fugees’ first show on their reunion tour for the 25th anniversary of The Score. The group has reunited for the first time in 15 years for this tour, with their most recent performance together being in 2006 in Hollywood after their touted 2005 reunion tour.

However, the group announced their return for the 25th anniversary of their classic album earlier this week, following through with the kickoff performance at New York’s Pier 17. According to Stereogum, around 3,000 people were in attendance, while Rolling Stone reports the show was 45 minutes long. All of the songs played were from The Score, naturally, and perhaps inevitably, the show reportedly started around three hours late.

Stereogum’s recap details Pras and Wyclef freestyling and Wyclef using the platform to address the US’s current treatment of Haitian refugees. And despite banning phones from the proceedings (recordings of some of the performances will reportedly be used in Global Citizen’s broadcast this Saturday), plenty of fan-made recordings have leaked out. The fact that the group reunited after some of the prior comments they’ve made on the subject is a minor miracle and worth celebrating.

Watch video from the Fugees’ first performance together in 15 years below.

You can see the full tour schedule, which begins in proper on November 2, here.

The Most Anticipated Concert Tours Of Fall 2021

Once COVID-19 vaccines became widely available in early 2021, artists wasted no time plotting tours again. And after a largely concert-less 2020, it felt amazing to just have the option of seeing our favorite bands live onstage. Now that the year is drawing to a close, seeing bands announce tour dates feels almost normal again, with an added — and very important — caveat that fans should bring their vaccination cards if they want to attend. With fall fast approaching, we’ve rounded up 25 acts we’re excited to see live, and there are sure to be more announcements rolling out in the weeks to come.

100 Gecs

Hyperpop phenom ​​100 Gecs initially made waves on their 2019 debut album, 1,000 Gecs. Since then, 100 Gecs have dropped a remix album and fired off a few collaborations (including one with Charli XCX). Now, Dylan Brady and Laura Les are kicking it up a few more Gecs with the 10,000 Gecs North American tour, comprising 34 stops and kicking off in October in Oakland before coming to a close two months later in Brooklyn.

Check out 100 Gecs’ tour dates here.

Adrianne Lenker / Big Thief

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Both Adrianne Lenker AND Big Thief are headed out on the road this fall, which shouldn’t get confusing at all! (I kid.) Let’s break it down: In November, Lenker will tour a series of dates, kicking off in Burlington, Vermont, and wrapping up in Minneapolis. It’s all likely in support of her 2020 album(s), Songs and Instrumentals. Meanwhile, the wider collective are going on tour in September for a month-long journey wrapping up in early October in Philadelphia. During that trek, they’ll no doubt play both previously released singles “Certainty,” “Sparrow,” and “Little Things,” not to mention more new music the indie-folk favorites cooked up during their time spent at Sam Evian’s Flying Cloud Studios in the Catskills.

Check out Adrianne Lenker’s tour dates here, and check out Big Thief’s tour dates here.

Ava Max (opening for Maroon 5)

Ava Max — an Uproxx cover star — turned some heads with her 2020 debut album Heaven & Hell, including those of some of her peers in the industry. She’s worked with people like Charlie Puth, Kane Brown, and Jason Derulo, but these days she can be found on the road with Maroon 5. The longtime pop-rock outfit have been touring steadily since mid-August, with Max joining up with them in Chicago, Hersey, PA, and Boston. Come October, her last date with Maroon 5 will be in Los Angeles at Banc Of California Stadium, with the guys concluding their tour later in the month in Concord, CA.

Check out Ava Max and Maroon 5’s tour dates here.

Beabadoobee

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Uproxx cover star Beabadoobee only just put out her debut album, Fake It Flowers, last year, but already she’s released a follow-up EP, Our Extended Play, which was created in collaboration with the 1975’s Matty Healy and George Daniel. Now comes the victory lap, with a full North American tour featuring Blackstarkids, starting in November in Washington D.C. at the 9:30 Club and concluding in mid-December in Pittsburgh.

Check out Beabadoobee’s tour dates here.

Caroline Polachek

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If memory serves, Caroline Polachek contracted COVID while on tour in Europe early last year, sharing updates to her Instagram Story about how she was doing health-wise. And it was particularly frightening because we knew so little about COVID at the time. Now, two years after releasing her debut solo album, 2019’s Pang, the former Chairlift singer is staging a comeback, complete with the single “Bunny Is A Rider” and the “Heart Is Unbreaking” tour, which kicked off in August at the Greek Theatre in LA. Moving through the US, the (Covid-safe!) tour will wrap just before Christmas in Santa Cruz.

Check out Caroline Polachek’s tour dates here.

Don Toliver w/ BIA

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Houston’s Don Toliver has opened up for the biggest artists in the game — Travis Scott in 2019, and in 2022 he’ll be in the supporting slot for The Weeknd. In addition to showing up on a collaboration with Skrillex and Justin Bieber (“Don’t Go”) and prepping his forthcoming sophomore album L.O.A.D., the Don will be playing across the US on his Life Of A Don tour with BIA supporting, starting in Austin, Texas, and wrapping up at Day N Vegas and Rolling Loud California.

Check out Don Toliver and BIA’s tour dates here.

Fiery Furnaces

Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger have been making a low-key comeback for a couple of years now. Last year, the Chicago indie-rock torchbearers released “Down At The So And So On Somewhere,” their first new song in over a decade. Then came its B-side, “The Fortune Teller’s Revenge.” This fall, they’re hitting the road again with special guest Fred Armisen. “We’re very excited to be playing again, to get a chance to do new things with old stuff, or old things with new people,” the band said in a press release. “And we’re very happy to have Fred opening the shows.”

Check out the Fiery Furnaces’ tour dates here.

Fugees

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To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their hugely influential 1996 album The Score, Fugees — aka Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel — plan to reunite this fall for a brief set of reunion tour dates. The first of them is on September 22 at a yet-to-be-announced venue. After that, they’ll pick things back up in November and December for a handful of shows in the US, as well as dates in Nigeria and Ghana. The moment carries a great deal of significance for all involved. After all, the trio, each of whom went on to have extraordinary solo careers after The Score, have a fraught history with one another, to put it mildly.

Check out Fugees’ tour dates here.

Harry Styles

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Harry Styles‘ Love On Tour was originally meant to run in 2020, which meant, of course, that it got postponed due to COVID. Since then, the former One Directioner hit the road in September with opener Jenny Lewis, with dates running through late November 2021. Lewis will accompany Styles on every date, with the exception of October 30 and 31, which will be Styles’ “Harryween” concerts at New York’s Madison Square Garden. (Orville Peck and Madison Cunningham will open those dates.)

Check out Harry Styles’ tour dates here.

Japanese Breakfast

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Despite a pandemic, this has arguably been the most active year of Japanese Breakfast’s career. In addition to releasing a remarkable memoir, Crying In H Mart, Michelle Zauner also dropped her band’s critically beloved third album, Jubilee. Fall 2021 brings the indie-rock band’s victory lap, with Japanese Breakfast hitting the road in mid-September and touring across the US, wrapping up in Pomona, California on November 16.

Check out Japanese Breakfast’s tour dates here.

Jason Isbell

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Alabama-born alt-country player Jason Isbell has been one of the most vocal supporters of COVID-safe concerts, therefore supporting him as he tours through the country with The 400 Unit is probably in everybody’s best interests. Isbell, who actively maintains an entertaining Twitter presence, was unfortunately not able to tour his band’s 2020 album, Reunions, so you can definitely expect to hear some cuts from that. Even better, don’t be surprised if Isbell churns out some covers from his forthcoming Georgia Blue charity album, featuring renditions of songs by Georgia Artists, such as R.E.M. and Gladys Knight.

Check out Jason Isbell’s tour dates here.

J. Cole w/ 21 Savage & Morray

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Back in the spring, J. Cole released his sixth studio album, The Off-Season. Not only that, but he even did some remarkable album promo by even playing pro basketball in Africa. Now comes The Off-Season Tour, which is set to feature two of the album’s guest rappers, 21 Savage and Morray. Beginning in September, the tour will hit 17 cities, kicking off in Miami and concluding in October at LA’s The Forum.

Check out J. Cole’s tour dates here.

Kaytranada

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Kaytranada had a great start to 2021, winning the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album (2019’s Bubba) and Best Dance Recording (for “10%” featuring Kali Uchis). Moving forward, the Canadian DJ/producer is hitting the road now through December, where he’ll wrap up with a show in Toronto.

Check out Kaytranada’s tour dates here.

Khruangbin

Texas trio Khruangbin expanded their psychedelic funk sound with their third LP Mordechai, but more recently, they released a 10-track effort called Mordechai Remixes featuring contributions from Kadhja Bonet, Ginger Root, Knxwledge, and more. In support, Khruangbin has been on tour since August, but the journey is nowhere near complete. They’re doing a series of dates through December, hitting Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre, Atlanta’s The Eastern, and New York City’s Radio City, among others.

Check out Khruangbin’s tour dates here.

Lil Baby w/ Lil Durk & Coi Leray

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In June, Lil Baby and Lil Durk released their collaborative album, The Voice Of The Heroes. To celebrate, both Lils are hitting the road on their Back Outside Tour, which also has a supporting slot from NJ rapper Coi Leray and kicks off in September and runs through mid-October at West Palm Beach’s iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre.

Check out Lil Baby and Lil Durk’s tour dates here.

Machine Gun Kelly / KennyHoopla

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Capping off a very Machine Gun Kelly summer is the rapper-turned-pop-punker’s 2021 fall tour, starting in mid-September and featuring singer/rapper KennyHoopla. I repeat, if you haven’t seen or heard enough from MGK this year, you’re likely in for a treat. I mean, it’s not every day that a rapper pivots to pop-punk, gets matching tattoos with Travis Barker, and starts a highly public relationship with the most beautiful woman on the planet. In addition to cuts from 2020’s Tickets To My Downfall, fans will no doubt get to hear new music from MGK’s forthcoming effort Born With Horns (release date TBD).

Check out Machine Gun Kelly and KennyHoopla’s tour dates here.

The New Pornographers

It’s been a meaningful few years for the Canadian indie-pop supergroup. Last year marked the 20th anniversary of their 2000 debut, Mass Romantic. Since they couldn’t celebrate properly (because, pandemic), The New Pornos have plotted out a fall tour where they’ll play Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema (celebrating its 16th anniversary) in their entirety. Joining them will be original band members Neko Case and Destroyer‘s Dan Bejar (!), plus AC Newman, Joe Seiders, John Collins, Todd Fancey, and Kathryn Calder.

Check out The New Pornographers’ tour dates here.

Omar Apollo

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Last fall, Omar Apollo shared his long-awaited debut project, Apolonio. The Mexican-American singer-songwriter has been on the road since July for his Desvelado Tour, and he has a long way to go. He’ll be performing throughout the US all the way through mid-November, wrapping up at Boston’s Big Night Live.

Check out Omar Apollo’s tour dates here.

Phoebe Bridgers

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Now through October, Phoebe Bridgers is touring the US in support of her critically adored 2020 album Punisher, which she mostly promoted last year via livestreams and other pandemic-safe events. Bridgers’ Reunion tour has a number of COVID safeguards in place: all previously indoor shows have been moved to outdoor venues (per an Instagram announcement), and entry will require proof of vaccine or a negative COVID test within 48 hours. In more exciting news, though, the Reunion Tour will feature special guests Muna, who recently signed to Bridgers’ Saddest Factory records and released “Silk Chiffon” with Bridgers.

Check out Phoebe Bridgers’ tour dates here.

Playboi Carti

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It’s been a few years since Playboi Carti’s last tour. Last time the Atlanta rapper toured was his headlining jaunt in 2018 for Die Lit. Now, though, Carti is heading out to arenas on The Narcissist Tour, kicking off in mid-October in Nashville and concluding just before Christmas in Carti’s hometown. It’s all in support of his forthcoming new project of the same name, which the rapper revealed via Instagram, where he is pictured wearing a series of layered outfits.

Check out Playboi Carti’s tour dates here.

The Rolling Stones

Despite the unfortunate loss of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts earlier this year, the band’s fall 2021 tour is still scheduled to go forward as planned. The beloved classic-rock act are set to hit the road in late September and wrap up in November in Austin, Texas. Still, before Watts’ passing, it was announced that longtime Rolling Stones associate Steve Jordan would be stepping in for the revered drummer, as Watts needed to rest and recover after a medical procedure. At the time, Jordan said, “It is an absolute honor and a privilege to be Charlie’s understudy.”

Check out the Rolling Stones’ tour dates here.

The Strokes

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The Strokes had a banner 2020, despite it being a pandemic year. Not only did they release the Rick Rubin-produced The New Abnormal, they even won Best Rock Album at the 2021 Grammys. So it seems only fitting that they should do a victory lap now that it’s possible. In October, the band will hit III Points Festival in Miami, followed by Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta. Then, they’ll hit The Forum in Los Angeles and Outside Lands in San Francisco. Short and sweet.

Check out The Strokes’ tour dates here.

St. Vincent

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In support of her latest album, Daddy’s Home (and perhaps also her just-released rockumentary/mockumentary The Nowhere Inn), St. Vincent (aka avant-pop powerhouse Annie Clark) heads out on the road this fall for a tour hitting all of the big venues: Radio City Music Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and more. Running for a little over a month, the Daddy’s Home tour will wrap up on October 22 at Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta.

Check out St. Vincent’s tour dates here.

Tame Impala

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Even though Tame Impala released an album, The Slow Rush, in 2020, the psychedelic rock figurehead (Kevin Parker) was, like everyone else, forced to postpone touring. Now, thanks to Parker’s patented “drug” Rushium, Tame Impala is hitting the road for the band’s official The Slow Rush 2021 North American tour, kicking off in September (they were originally supposed to play Bonnaroo, but that was canceled due to weather) and closing in November in Dallas, Texas. Press materials also noted that this tour is only “Phase I” of the “Rushiam trials,” suggesting that more tour dates could be announced in the near future.

Check out Tame Impala’s tour dates here.

Thundercat

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Grammy-winning R&B bassist Thundercat has already played a few sets at various festivals this summer — Maha Music Fest in Omaha, Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco, Pitchfork Fest in Chicago — and in October, he’ll hit the road again. With support from Channel Tres (plus some surprise special guests), Thundercat will start out in Orlando at The Plaza Live on October 24 and wrap up at Boise’s Knitting Factory on December 5.

Check out Thundercat’s tour dates here.

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

Lizzo Leans Into The Funk Of BTS’ ‘Butter’ For Her ‘Live Lounge’ Cover

Lizzo recently showed love for BTS with an impromptu freestyle the other day, but now she has expressed her admiration in a more professional environment. BBC Radio 1 is in the midst of its “Live Lounge” Month, and as the latest guest, Lizzo performed a cover of BTS’ No. 1 hit “Butter.”

For her performance, Lizzo emphasized the funky elements of the song and put a delightfully engaging spin on the song.

Before the performance, she also offered praise for BTS and spoke about why she chose to cover “Butter,” saying, “I’m really a sucker for people who make positive music. I have dedicated my artistry to making positive music and BTS does just that. The word has fallen in love with them because they are so sweet and pure, and they’re good-hearted. I wanted to bring some more positivity into the world via their song. It’s a great song, too. It’s so funky. I hope we do it justice.”

Meanwhile, fans were also treated to an appearance from Sasha Flute, as Lizzo calls her instrument, as she busted it out while performing “Rumors.”

Watch clips from Lizzo’s performance above and listen to her full “Live Lounge” visit here.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Lucky Daye Navigates A Confusing Love With Jordyn Woods In His Stylish Video For ‘Over’

Lucky Daye kicked off 2021 by releasing his third EP, Table For Two, which features six duets with female singers, including Ari Lennox, Yebba, Joyce Wrice, and more. The singer has stayed quiet on the solo side of things since then, but he’s also dropped an impressive collection of guest verses. On Wednesday, he returned to the solo route with his brand new single, “Over.”

The luscious track captures he and his partner — played by Jordyn Woods — caught up in a confusing relationship that finds them on-and-off-again. “Over” also arrives with an excellently shot video, in which Daye experiences a bad dream multiple times before breaking out of the cycle.

The new song comes after Daye connected with Sevyn Streeter for “Feelz,” off her sophomore album, Drunk Wordz Sober Thoughtz. It’s one of many strong collaborations that Daye has been a part of this year. Others include “You Want My Love” with Earth, Wind & Fire, a remix of “Slow Down” with VanJess, and “Make You Feel Good” with BJ The Chicago Kid.

Daye recently performed at HER’s Lights On Festival in California and is set to appear on stage at the showcase’s second iteration in Brooklyn, NY.

You can watch the video for the track above.

Birdman Offers An Explanation For Why He And Lil Wayne Would Kiss

Starting in the ’90s, Birdman and Lil Wayne were an inseparable duo for the better part of two decades. The duo’s close relationship fell apart during the mid-2010s, after label issues arose around the release of Wayne’s Tha Carter IV. Nowadays, things are better between the two, and during a recent appearance on Revolt’s Big Facts Podcast, Birdman spoke about the infamous kisses that he and Wayne shared at multiple points of their careers. During the conversation, he explained that their father-son relationship and his fear of death as to why he and Wayne shared these very intimate moments.

“I always looked at Wayne as my son…’cause I was in the streets and I thought this might be the last time they ever see me, ’cause I was living like that,” Birdman told Revolt. “That’s where that sh*t really started from. I thought that, every night I leave, I might not never come back.” He added, “I was his father when he didn’t have a father and I love him like my own and I’d give my life for him and I’d take a life for him.”

You can listen to Birdman’s comments on Big Facts Podcast in the video above.

Teyana Taylor Announces A Farewell Tour As She Nears Her Official Retirement From Music

Last year, Teyana Taylor announced her plans to retire from music months after the release of her third album, which was called, simply, The Album. She revealed that she would be “retiring this chapter” of her career due to “being overlooked,” which she said was a result of issues with her label, Def Jam. “I constantly feel alone, I constantly feel under-appreciated, I constantly feel failed…there is literally no push,” she said during an Instagram Live, adding that she asked to be dropped from the label “on almost 10 different occasions.” Taylor seems quite close to making her retirement official, but she won’t do so without a farewell tour, which she announced today.

Starting this November, Taylor will hit the road for The Last Rose Petal Farewell Tour. “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard,” she wrote on social media. “However, for every goodbye, God makes the next hello closer. Come out and watch me leave it all out on the stage… One last time… Just for you & as my last rose petal falls, I say farewell.”

The tour begins on November 7 in San Francisco and continues throughout the month before coming to an end on November 30 in Atlanta. Pre-sale tickets will be available starting on September 23 while general admission begins on September 24 at 10 am.

Saweetie Is Hosting ‘Sex: Unzipped,’ A Netflix Comedy Special Featuring Sex-Positive Puppets

Just when you thought Saweetie had one of her manicured hands in everything, it turns out she’s already found her next endeavor — and it might not be anything you would have expected. Vulture reports the Bay Area rapper/aspiring media mogul is set to host a new comedy special on Netflix titled Sex: Unzipped featuring sex experts, actors, stand-up mainstays, and “horny puppets.” From the description, it sounds a little bit like the Guy Code/Girl Code shows that used to air on MTV2 all the time, with higher-profile funny people and a few more actual experts (okay, fine — any).

The guests mentioned include Pose star Dominique Jackson, Late Late Show writer Ian Karmel, British comedian London Hughes, Always Be My Maybe scene-stealer Michelle Buteau, Netflix comedy regular Nikki Glaser, and HBO show host Sam Jay, among others. For more factual/researched information, the show’s recruited Alexander Cheves, Emily Morse, Oloni, and Stella Anna Sonnenbaum to round out its panel of experts. The show is set to stream on Netflix starting on October 26.

One release date we still have yet to receive from the ranch dressing enthusiast/McDonald’s collaborator is the one for her debut album, Pretty B*tch Music, which she pushed back in order to add some Cher-inspired oomph. However, she recently hinted that “things will unfold” around the holidays, so perhaps that release date is coming soon.