Normani

Normani Previewed ‘Candy Paint,’ Her First Single In A Year, In A New Bose Commercial

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If you’re going to preview a new song, a commercial for headphones might be the perfect place to do it. Singer Normani joins the likes of Diddy, Saweetie, and Vince Staples in using a business partnership to prime a new music release. In this case, it’s “Candy Paint,” Normani’s first single in a year, which she previewed in a clip promoting Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds II and QuietComfort 45 Headphones.

In the clip, Normani practices dance moves and scribbles in a notebook while surrounded by magazine clippings and other inspirational, mood board-esque trappings. In a voiceover, she addresses some of the criticisms against her, saying, “People sometimes confuse my commitment to the craft with perfectionism.” However, she rebuts, “I don’t strive for perfection… I strive to be the most authentic version of myself… I strive to create work that moves my spirit.”

Meanwhile, in a Billboard interview about the new song and commercial, Normani revealed her inspirations for “Candy Paint.” “I really wanted to create a record that allowed me to show my personality,” she said. “I feel like there’s a misconception; it probably has everything to do with my social media. [Laughs] I think that people think I’m so serious, which is the complete opposite [of me]. Anybody that really knows me knows that I’m really funny. I’m a goofball! I love to twerk. [Laughs] I’m just regular. I really wanted to create a record that encompassed that and allowed my personality to shine. It’s a performance record first, which I know my fans have been waiting for, for a very long time. It’s fun, energetic, bossy. It’s bold. It’s sassy but assertive, and yeah, I’m really excited to shoot the music video.”

Normani previously rebutted her online critics in a blunt tweet after one commenter accused her of being “comfortable” and asserted “you’re not HUNGRY anymore.” “Just shut the f*ck up,” Normani replied, cutting straight to the chase. It’s not like she hasn’t been working, after all; earlier this year, she voiced a character much like herself on The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder and partnered with Fabletics (which also produces Lizzo’s Yitty line) for a limited-edition clothing line of performance wear.

Meanwhile, the description for the Bose ad — which you can watch above — says Normani’s debut album is “finally on the cusp,” so it looks like fans’ patience will pay off soon enough.

The Biggest R&B Singers Who Are Geminis

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Geminis are known for their inquisitive minds, creative talents, and witty charm. R&B, as a genre, boasts many successful Gemini singers. There’s no shortage of Gemini talents between the legacy acts written in the history books and the newer, rising stars. Coming in right at the end of the Taurus season, the Gemini season is covered between May 21 and June 21.

Every year, fans celebrate many R&B singers that were born during Gemini season. It’s a season stacked with some outstanding vocalists, from Lenny Kravitz to Lionel Richie to Maxwell. Here are more major Gemini singers that deserve all the love.

Patti LaBelle

The Godmother of Soul needs no introduction. Patti LaBelle has been blessing the world with her insane vocals for over 60 years. The multitalented artist kicked off her successful career as the lead singer of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. Since then, the powerhouse vocalist and actress has been inspiring generations to come. Patti LaBelle was born on May 24 in 1944.

Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill has received several honorific titles in her career. However, the one that sticks for most fans is “Queen of Hip Hop.” Despite being one of the most famous Gemini rappers of all time, she also makes the list of the best R&B singers that share the star sign. Lauryn Hill’s contributions to Hip Hop and R&B are magnanimous. She has influenced many established artists today, including Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj. With a soulful voice equally as bright as her sleek rap tone, Lauryn Hill has always been in a league of her own. Moreover, she was already a showstopper in The Fugees before her outstanding solo career began. She was born on May 26 in 1975.

Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight has been widely referred to as the Empress of Soul. The legendary star has won hearts with her soulful voice since she was young. She became a household name in the ’60s as the lead singer of her family group Gladys Knight & The Pips. Consequently, her solo career proved even more of a hit worldwide. One of the most revered Gemini singers, Gladys Knight’s music has influenced generations of artists. She was born on May 28.

Normani

Normani has achieved superstardom with the girl group Fifth Harmony and as a solo artist. The Atlanta native is known for her musical versatility and incredible dance skills. Her music videos often feature elaborate dance sequences and performances, earning her a growing reputation. In a promotional video for Nike’s “Conscious Movement” program, the singer referred to the Gemini season as “the best season.”

However, she cheekily pointed out that she’s definitely a little biased as she’s a Gemini. Normani’s voice was made for R&B, and it’s no wonder her fans continue riding with her. She is undoubtedly one of the world’s rising Gemini superstars. She was born on May 31 in 1996. 

Prince

Prince’s legacy will always be monumental. He is one of the most talented artists in music history. His music covered various genres, and he quickly rose to fame with his explosive on-stage persona. Additionally, Prince was praised for being a highly skilled multi-instrumentalist. The Grammy and Oscar winner is one of the most influential musicians ever. Moreover, his works are often cited as musical masterpieces, and his stage presence is always a lesson in dedication, energy, and power. The fashion icon and music legend was born on June 7, 1958. 

For his work on his eleventh studio album, Prince introduced his alter ego Gemini to the world. The album also served as the soundtrack for the 1989 film Batman. In the music videos for the songs “Batdance” and “Partyman,” the character donned makeup on one side of his face, referencing the villain Joker. The other half was bare, referencing the heroic nature of Batman. 

Faith Evans

Faith Evans dominated the late ’90s with the albums Faith and Keep the Faith. Both records went Platinum and put the singer in the limelight. Despite a troubled relationship with The Notorious B.I.G., she honored him with the song “I’ll Be Missing You.” The Grammy-winning tribute became one of her signature songs. Besides her music career, Faith Evans has starred in several shows in the reality TV genre. Another one of many talented Gemini singers, Faith Evans is R&B royalty. She was born on June 10. 

Jorja Smith

Jorja Smith is one of the UK’s most appreciated R&B exports. Known for her relaxed singing style, Jorja Smith has captivated audiences with her vocals. She has ventured into trip-hop and grime, all while maintaining her signature style. Her debut album, Lost & Found, put her on the map and showcased her talents at a young age. She has collaborated with many other artists, including Drake. She was born on June 11 in 1997.

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Normani Partners With Fabletics For A Limited Country Club-Inspired Performance Line

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Normani Milan Fashion Week 2023
Getty Image

Back in January, Normani lent her voice to the Disney+ series The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder. The songwriter was able to pull inspiration from her musical career as the fictional character of Giselle, a member of the show’s fictional ’90s music group The Soul Vibrations. But that’s not the only autobiographical part of her life from which the singer is hoping to pull.

As a trained dancer, the news of her partnership with the sportswear company Fabletics makes a lot of sense. For her first collaboration with the brand, the singer’s country club-inspired line features 10 new pieces, including athletic dresses, tops, shorts, skirts, leggings, and more, available for people to purchase in colors like navy, white, and emerald green.

In a statement shared with Uproxx when discussing the collaboration with the brand, Normani said, “I love that I can wear this collection with comfort in mind — but also feel sexy, feminine, and confident.”

In the promotional images and video starring Normani, she’s seen sporting the white symmetrical cutout shaping one-piece bathing suit, the pleated skirt with a built-in short, the Payton woven jacket in emerald green, and more.

You can view the promotional images below.

For more information, click here.

Chris Brown Accused Of Colorism Again After Group Of Black Women Were Denied Entry Into Afterparty At London Nightclub

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Chris Brown

A group of British Black women has recently taken to TikTok, insinuating Black women were not allowed in Chris Brown’s VIP at a London nightclub. It was also mentioned that promoters were “handpicking” White girls. A British TikToker along with a group of local Black women were recently not pleased when they were denied entry […]

The post Chris Brown Accused Of Colorism Again After Group Of Black Women Were Denied Entry Into Afterparty At London Nightclub appeared first on SOHH.com.

Normani Voices A ’90s Music Star In A New ‘The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder’ Teaser Clip

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Normani may be holding off on the release of her debut solo album, but that hasn’t stopped the singer from using her voice in other arenas. Yes, the cross-over act has dropped a string of singles over the years, including “Dancing With A Stranger” featuring Sam Smith, “Motivation,” “Wild Side” featuring Cardi B, and most recently, “Fair.” Still, she’s kept her creative options open.

Now, the musician is looking to add the title actress to her growing resume. In a new teaser clip shared by Disney+, the New Orleans native will blend her vocal skills both as a voice actor and as a singer thanks to her new role on The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder. Normani will play the role of Giselle, a member of the show’s fictional ’90s music group, The Soul Vibrations.

The episode is described as the staple character Uncle Bobby (played by Cedric the Entertainer) reliving his musical glory days as the leader of the fictional band. In the clip of the scene featuring Normani, Bobby recounts to his Penny (played by Kyla Pratt) all about Giselle’s early start in the industry as his backing support. Based on its description, Normani may make several appearances throughout the season. It makes you wonder, did Normani use her admiration for ’90s music star Janet Jackson to get into character?

Watch the episode teaser clip above.

The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder is exclusively available on Disney+. New episodes will be available for streaming starting on February 1.

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

Normani & Seattle Seahawks Athlete DK Metcalf Have Flirty Instagram Exchange

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The latest vocalist who appears to have found herself in the midst of a budding romance is “Fair” singer Normani. A recent flirtatious exchange between her and a certain NFL athlete was uploaded to @theshaderoom’s Instagram on Saturday (December 10). Since then, fans have been attempting to piece together the puzzle regarding the possible relationship.

Yesterday, Seattle Seahawks player DK Metcalf shared a photo dump full of selfies on his own profile. While most of them were ordinary snaps, on his last inclusion, the 24-year-old casually made it known that he and the Fifth Harmony alum are FaceTime buddies (when she answers his call, that is).

Normani attends the Burberry Spring/Summer 2023 runway show in Bermondsey on September 26, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Burberry)

On the fifth slide, he looks down at his camera in disapproval after facing rejection from the performer. Above his head, we see the words “Normani, FaceTime unavailable written.”

Though her contact photo is small, it’s obvious that the Atlanta native is peacefully resting in bed in the image. Upon seeing her rumoured boo’s post, she only added fuel to the fire by commenting, “Now I know you don’t have me up here in my head scarf.”

While Metcalf didn’t publicly respond to Normani’s comment, it’s not unlikely that he shot her a flirtatious apology via text.

Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time these two have made headlines this year. As Bossip reports, the 26-year-old seemingly denied relationship gossip that was spreading like wildfire back in the summer.

At the time, Normani and Metcalf ate dinner together at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica. They reportedly arrived separately but left in the same car. Paparazzi photos caught them walking closely together, but no PDA was shown at the time.

In response to the rumours that began spreading as a result, she quickly quoted Yung Miami on her IG Story. When someone on Twitter asked the City Girl if she was single earlier this year, she wrote back “Real bad.”

Since then, headlines regarding Metcalf and Normani have slowed down. However, the pair looks to be heating up just in time for cuffing season, much to the internet’s amusement.

What do you think of the rumoured new couple? Sound off in the comments, and check back later for more pop culture news updates.

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Normani Fans Are Tired Of Her Talents Being Overlooked

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Normani

Disgruntled Normani fans are sounding off on Twitter because they believe their fave has constantly been overlooked throughout her career. After last night’s MTV Video Music Awards, Normani fans took to Twitter to express their frustrations over the “Wild Side” artist’s lack of recognition. Fans were missing the “Motivation” singer’s presence and felt she should […]

The post Normani Fans Are Tired Of Her Talents Being Overlooked appeared first on SOHH.com.

Normani Shuts Down Haters Saying She’s Not ‘Motivated’ Or ‘Hungry Anymore’: ‘Just Shut The F*ck Up’

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Normani SiriusXM's Morning Mash Up 2022
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Even without a debut album out, Normani has established herself as a star; She has two top-10 singles to her name with the Khalid collaboration “Love Lies” and the Sam Smith link-up “Dancing With A Stranger.” As for that debut album, though, fans are still waiting. Some have even turned on Normani, believing that her success has led to a loss of drive in the singer. Per Normani’s passionate response to recent tweets making those allegations, that just isn’t true.

As Newsweek notes, a tweet from a user who has since set their profile to private read, “No idea where Normani’s motivation (no pun intended) has gone but I just [don’t] see the same passion from her as I used to. Before [y’all] start, [it’s] not depression so [don’t] even go THERE!” Another user wrote in response to the tweet, “What happens when you’ve gotten comfortable and you’re not HUNGRY anymore.”

Normani herself replied to the latter tweet yesterday (August 9), writing, “just shut the f*ck up.”

UK fashion illustrator and designer Hayden Williams responded to Normani’s tweet, “It’s so interesting that people that have no clue what it’s like to be in the music industry & the complexities that can come with that, but will dish out unwanted & rude opinions all the time smh.” Normani shared that and added, “on top of real life sh*t going on in my personal life.”

Calvin Harris Drops ‘New To You,’ With Tinashe, Normani, And Offset

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A week out from his upcoming album, Funk Wav Bounces, Vol. 2, Calvin Harris has dropped the R&B-focused “New To You.” On the song, which features Tinashe, Normani, and Offset, Harris delivers an live instrument-driven-beat, with seductive strings and slow-thumping kick drums, creating a romantic, cinematic feel.

Normani opens with the song’s chorus, singing, “This might be news to you / this thing might feel new to you / but if you like everything / I think you might love me, baby.”

Tinashe delivers the song’s first verse, toughening up her signature soft-tinged vocals, willing to “bet a billion that you gon’ like this / ‘Cause you never had a wild one like this / Don’t really do one night sh*t / ‘Cause one night make ’em wanna whole life it.” Midway through the verse, she switches back to her signature sound, on which she instructs her summer flame to “Stay focused on T / I’m all that he needs / And don’t ever play no games.”

Offset swoops in with an affectionate verse, detailing an immediate infatuation. “I don’t know you, but I know I f*ck with you / I think I want to fly you to Peru from Malibu.”

Harris has collaborated with all of these artists in the past — Tinashe on “Dollar Signs” from his 2014 album, Motion, Normani on “Checklist” and “Slow Down,” from a collaborative EP in 2018, and Offset on 2017’s “Slide,” which featured Frank Ocean and Migos. This is Harris’ first time collaborating with Offset without the other members of Migos, and it’s quite possible this may be the way going forward, given the recent hints at Offset leaving the group.

Check out “New To You” above.

Funk Wav Bounces, Vol. 2 is out 8/5 via Columbia Records. Pre-save it here.

Calvin Harris Announces The ‘Funk Wav Bounces Vol 2’ Release Date And Features

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Calvin Harris’ first Funk Wav Bounces album, which was released in June 2017, has become something of a cult favorite among dance music fans, who’ve agitated for a follow-up ever since. Harris recently began the rollout for Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2, dropping its first single, “Potion” featuring Dua Lipa and Young Thug, in May. Today, he finally shared the project’s long-awaited release date: August 5. He also teased the guestlist via a short video of waves crashing on a sunny shore with the names flashing across the screen.

Those names include 21 Savage, 6lack, Charlie Puth, Chloe, Halsey, Jorja Smith, Justin Timberlake, Latto, Lil Durk, Normani, Offset, Pharrell, Pusha T, Shenseea, Snoop Dogg, Stefflon Don, and Tinashe.

Ironically, there couldn’t be a better time for Harris to return with Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2, as a new wave of dance music — particularly dance music crafted by some of the world’s biggest entertainers — appears to be cresting. Just weeks ago, Drake surprise-dropped his club-influenced new album, Honestly, Nevermind, prompting a renewed interest and discussion of Black musicians in the art form, then Beyonce followed up with her new single “Break My Soul,” which even had national news programs looking up vocal house legend Robin S. to get her take on the out-of-nowhere revival of Black house music.

You can pre-save Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2, out 8/5 via Columbia Records, here