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 […]
SZA is currently continuing her massive SOS tour — and is clearly bringing along some surprises in different cities. During the first night of her two performances at NYC’s Madison Square Garden, she was joined by Cardi B for “I Do” and Phoebe Bridgers for “Ghost In The Machine.”
During her March 7 concert in Atlanta, SZA treated fans to an appearance from Summer Walker. The duo performed “No Love,” their 2021 collaboration from Walker’s album, Still Over It.
“Take this opportunity to learn from my mistakes,” Walker shared about the song in an Apple Music interview, via Voir. “You don’t have to guess if something is love. Love is shown through actions. Stop making excuses for people who don’t show up for you. Don’t ignore the red flags. And don’t think you have to stay somewhere ’cause you can’t find better — you can and you will. Don’t settle for less — you don’t deserve it and neither does your family.”
Summer Walker has come out to say why she suffers from shyness, especially when it comes to interviews. Since her rise in popularity in 2018, Summer Walker remains relatively reserved. However, she has now come out to state the reason for her hesitancy to speak out in interviews. In an Instagram story, Summer states that she has spent 27 years trying to understand her own shyness. “It’s cause I’m trying real hard not to say something crazy. I’m literally walking around over thinking how not to hurt anyone’s feelings.”
Summer Walker’s anxiety around interviews is understandable, given the high stakes of public scrutiny. In recent years, several high-profile musicians have faced backlash for controversial statements and behavior. This can result in lost fans and brand deals. As a relatively new artist, Summer may feel particularly vulnerable to criticism. In fact, Summer has already garnered some heat for seemingly innocent comments she has made on Instagram before. But fans are acutely aware of her absence from interviews in comparison to her R&B peers.
Summer Walker Is Too “Ghetto” For Interviews
At the same time, Summer Walker’s reluctance to engage with the media could also limit her career opportunities. Interviews and press appearances are important tools for building a fanbase and promoting new music. By avoiding these opportunities, Summer may miss out on potential fans and industry connections. However, she has not always kept to herself. Summer has opened up a bit about her pregnancy and children, and how they impact her life. She happily talks about how her twins, and how proud she is of herself for bringing them into the world.
However, Summer Walker has felt the need to address why she does not frequently attend interviews. In her own words, Summer feels that she is too ghetto to get away with an interview gracefully. “Deep down I’m ghetto af n I be scared ima get canceled.” Born on April 11th, Summer is an Aries, who are known for their fiery passion. In the hopes of not offending anyone, she chooses to hold her tongue. While cancel culture is a real concern, it’s important for artists to stay true to themselves. But at the same time, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of speaking your mind freely.
Rolling Loud weekend spurred many demon-related conspiracy theories during performances from Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti. On Friday night, one woman shared a video of herself leaving during Playboi Carti’s set as she felt that it was too demonic. An understandable take, given Carti’s fascination with the occult, the individual went viral as fans debated whether or not artists like Playboi Carti are pushing the Devil’s agenda. However, he certainly isn’t the only rapper who has embraced and explored this aspect.
Lil Uzi Vert has also expressed his adoration for the devil in the past in a few ways that are just as alarming. Some might argue that Uzi and Carti use this imagery for entertainment purposes. However, there are plenty of individuals who feel as though artists shouldn’t be playing with devil in the first place. During Uzi’s set at Rolling Loud, he debuted new music where he suggests that he converted JT of the City Girls to Satanism. “I make a City Girl believe in Satan,” he raps on the track. There’s no word from Lil Uzi Vert or his camp when the record might come out, though it could land on Pink Tape.
Summer Walker, who collaborated with Uzi’s girlfriend JT in the past, appears to be concerned with the influx of references to the devil in modern music. The Over It singer addressed Uzi’s comments online, though she wondered whether any of these artists who speak the devil’s name have ever encountered a demon in their lifetime. “I be genuinely curious have these people ever seen or heard a demon before…?” she asked.
Though we’ve undoubtedly seen a lot more gothic and darker imagery appear in hip-hop in recent years, Walker urged people to stop trying to play with evil spirits, even in jest. “I feel like if you have [encountered a demon] you’d stop playin’,” she continued. “Really nothing funny or cute about it. May God be with y’all.” So far, Lil Uzi Vert hasn’t chimed in but it seems incredibly unlikely that he will. Perhaps, her comments might make him reconsider releasing the single. Check out Summer Walker’s post above and sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below.
Just because the snow is melting and cuffing season is coming to an end doesn’t mean we’re ready for a break from R&B. In recent weeks we’ve heard plenty of smooth releases from the genres leading ladies and gentlemen, including Masego’s self-titled album, and Tink’s Thanks 4 Nothing. This New Music Friday (March 3), Kali Uchis also came through with a new album, titled Red Moon In Venus, which arguably includes some of her best work to date.
The 15-track release was preceded by singles such as “Moonlight” and “Fantasy,” the vocalists’ collaborative effort with her Houston-born beau, Don Toliver. He released a project this year as well, in February, which found Uchis lending her talents to his “4 Me” song. Other friends who helped out the 28-year-old include Omar Apollo and Summer Walker.
R&B Darlings Kali Uchis and Summer Walker Come Together for “Deserve Me”
The former, who’s been on the road touring with SZA as of late, appears on track three, “Worth the Wait.” Where the magic really happens, however, is on track thirteen, where Uchis and the mother of three come together on “Deserve Me.” This marks the two artist’s first time working together musically, and we certainly hope it won’t be their last.
“I like it better when you’re gone / I feel a little less alone / You know I never needed you / Didn’t deserve me,” the Colombian sweetly sings on the chorus. To begin her verse, Walker’s voice rings out, “You don’t deserve the love I give you / Make me wanna take the p*ssy back / You don’t even know how to act.”
Stream Kali Uchis’ “Deserve Me” collaboration with Summer Walker on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, find the former’s full Red Moon In Venus album here. Make sure to check back tomorrow for more release recommendations on our R&B Season playlist.
Quotable Lyrics:
You just don’t get it or maybe you just got used to me Do you know how many motherf*ckers want this p*ssy exclusively? You ain’t the only one tryna be the only one Wise up, man, ’cause you’re lookin’ real dumb
New music is coming in heavy this Friday (March 3). The latest offering comes from Kali Uchis who’s just released her long-awaited third studio album, Red Moon in Venus. The album’s title is a reference to the rare astronomical event that occurs when a red moon aligns with Venus, the planet of love. Kali Uchis uses this metaphor as she explores the highs and lows of romantic relationships throughout the ethereal 15-track project.
The Colombian-American singer-songwriter’s unique blend of R&B, Latin, and Pop music has made her a standout star, and her new LP is one of the greatest examples of Uchis’ creative prowess. Red Moonin Venus leads with a delicate message to Uchis’ lover in the opener “in My Garden…,” floating forward to the dreamy “I Wish You Roses” single. The album continues on with lush ballads and production from Kali herself, along with Benny Blanco, WondaGurl, Darkchild and more. Red Moon in Venus also sees features from Summer Walker, Don Toliver, and longtime collaborator Omar Apollo.
Listen to Kali Uchis’ “Red Moon In Venus”
On Kali Uchis’ vulnerable “Fantasy” track with partner Don Toliver, the songstress voices her love languages and relationship goals. “Babe if you don’t worship me it just don’t work for me / Love all on me (everyone needs love) / Forget all the foolery, stay on me like jewelry / On my body, don’t let go of me,” she sings. Toliver doesn’t take her words in jest, and even admits he wants to start a family with the bilingual vocalist. The song’s production is more upbeat than most on Red Moon in Venus, and is a lofty continuation of their previously-released collaboration “4 Me.”
The album takes a turn from the more intense, lovey tracks as we listen to Kali and Summer Walker’s “Deserve Me” single, teased earlier this week. The crooners’ voices transcend on the four-minute track as they air their grievances about failing unions. True to form, Kali Uchis incorporates her signature Latin lyrics, which she also does on Red Moon’s “Como Te Quiero Yo” and “Hasta Cuando.” Uchis’ new project can now be streamed on Apple Music, Spotify, and SoundCloud.
The promotion for Kali Uchis’ album release has her fandom in a frenzy. Over the weekend, the vocalist shared her latest single “Moonlight,” which will be on Red Moon in Venus. The album isn’t too feature-heavy, with only three artists appearing on the 15-track project. Her boyfriend, Love Sick crooner Don Toliver, is listed as one, as well as Omar Apollo and Summer Walker. Now, a snippet of her Summer collab is officially here, and it’s shaping out to be her next big hit.
Kali took to TikTok yesterday to show off Summer Walker’s celestial vocals. On “Deserve Me,” the Atlanta songstress stays true to form as she tells a man off for not knowing how to act. “I don’t deserve the s**t you put me through / Like you don’t know that you’re lucky / Make a cute n***a feel ugly / Like I got time for callin’ you,” she sings. In the original posting, Kali Uchis says Walker’s verse is her favorite on the song. She then proceeded to delete the video and repost the track in a new one, telling fans “I like this video better” as she shows off her figure in all-black.
Kali Uchis Shares Snippet of Summer Walker Single
Immediately after posting, fans went off in the comments. “MOTHER IS MOTHERING,” writes one, with another calling “Deserve Me” “The collab of my dreams.” The visual follows Kali’s appearance on Don Toliver’s 90s-inspired “4 Me” single. On it, the lovers sample Beenie Man and Mya’s ever-popular “Girls Dem Sugar,” coupled with hitmaker Wheezy on production. Kali Uchis has also been featured on Life of a Don’s second single, “Drugs N Hella Melodies.” The two lovebirds tap each other together again for Uchis’ “Fantasy,” which can be heard on Red Moon In Venus.
Last month, Kali Uchis announced the forthcoming project after dropping “I Wish You Roses,” her first offering of the year. The singer says the ethereal track “is about being able to release people with love.” “It could be a friend, a lover, or someone else,” she continues, “but the point is to celebrate releasing people from your life without being resentful or bitter.” Stay tuned for more from Kali upon her third studio release, out this Friday (March 3).
J. Cole and Dreamville have announced the full lineup for the 2023 Dreamville Festival. The event is set for April 1-2. Usher will headline Saturday and Burna Boy will headline Sunday. Sunday will also feature a main stage special performance by J.Cole, bringing in Drake as a special guest to close out the main stage. J. Cole and Drake will perform a medley of hits from their catalogs. Two-day tickets on sale now at www.DreamvilleFest.com.
Additional performers during the festival include Summer Walker, Lil Durk, City Girls, Jessie Reyez, GloRilla, and the entire Dreamville Records roster with Ari Lennox, J.I.D, EARTHGANG, Bas, Cozz, Lute, and Omen.
Dreamville Festival will once more provide fans from around the world with a weekend celebration that is curated by J. Cole and includes a variety of local vendors, food trucks, artisans, and community organizations from the greater Triangle area, with a continued emphasis on community, diversity, and inclusivity. Next April, festival-goers can look forward to exploring the iconic Dorothea Dix Park, Raleigh’s largest city park, and taking in outstanding musical performances from some of Cole’s personal favorite musicians and collaborators who will fly in from all over the world to play in his native North Carolina.
80,000 people from all over the world, including visitors from all 50 U.S. states and more than a dozen foreign nations, were welcomed by the event’s organizers last spring. They provided them with a range of family-friendly activities as well as local vendors, food trucks, and artisans from the greater Triangle area. Dreamville Festival 2022 has grown to be one of the biggest and most well-known artist-led music events in existence today, with a total economic effect of more than $6.7 million on the neighborhood of Raleigh and Wake County.