celebrities

Music celebrities in the growing entertainment industry.

The Formidable Eartha Kitt
Like many people, I got introduced to Eartha Kitt a few years back, when a video clip of her was making rounds on Instagram.
By Damilola5 years ago in Beat
Bold-faced Caribbean Women in Music
Recent generations of Caribbean women have been raised with a blazing spirit to match the heat of the tropics. We're hot and we know it, and our music reflects that. Feminist Anthems from sexually charged and in-control powerhouses like Lady Saw, Patra and Calypso Rose paved the way for the unapologetic boss-ness and savagery that come from Rihanna and Nicki Minaj. Soca, Dancehall and Reggae mavens like Koffee, Shensea and Nailah Blackman are rarely caught singing sad, longing love songs. Instead they sing about being confident, blessed and strong. To be raised on these icons has been a golden opportunity. Young women see themselves as the stars of their own show, not background dancers shaking it for attention. They understand from early on that a woman is to be respected and honored.
By Stephanie Ramlogan5 years ago in Beat
Black Girl Magic
I first heard of Janelle Monáe after shazaming her song "Yoga" in 2016 at a restaurant and then recognised her playing Mary Jackson, NASA's first black female engineer in the film Hidden Figures. I later went on to see her in concert in Manchester in July 2019 after the real of her latest album "Dirty Computer". My only regret, is that I didn't know about her earlier.
By AV5 years ago in Beat
10 Empowered Black Women in Music
Empowered Black Women have carved their names in fiery musical notes during the 20th century. Recently, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, George C. Wolfe's recent film, brought the Vaudeville blues back to the spotlight. Wolfe revived a time when black female singers reigned supreme among their congregation of worshipers.
By Rui Alves5 years ago in Beat
Don’t Judge Me
“I’m afraid of it all, afraid of loving you.” Janelle Monáe croons on So Afraid, the penultimate song of her Grammy nominated LP, 2018’s Dirty Computer. In a rare moment, specifically reserved for special records, I find myself welling up with tears. Monáe’s Dirty Computer album is full of charm, wit, sass, political satire, racial inequality, queerness, and more. But, this lyrical moment is a beautiful display of what makes Janelle Monáe so special and such an influential figure in music and Black culture. She perfectly encapsulates the feelings and frustrations of those society labels as outcasts.
By Jan Michael5 years ago in Beat
Fatou Samba, The Only Black Woman in K-Pop
K-pop’s popularity is one that can’t be denied even in western culture today. From BTS to Blackpink, this genre of music originating from South Korea is one that has taken over the charts and become a huge part of the music industry.
By Damilola5 years ago in Beat
The Amazing "Peaches"
Growing up in small town of barely 13,000 people we didn't have a lot of places to experience different cultures, music, or even different people. Except for Saturdays at the Broadacres swap meet. Every weekend my dad and I would get up early and head out to the swap meet. My dad would set up the booth to sell his wood creations he had made and I would get to explore a whole new world. I know what your thinking, a swap meet a new world "What" But as a 12-year-old kid in 1984, the swap meet was the only place to see all kinds of people and experience different cultures, foods. and music. Hundreds maybe even thousands of people on any given weekend. would pay their 50cents and embark on a cultural shopping oasis. On this particular Saturday, I was doing my usual routine of my favorite booths with my allowance in hand, waiting to find my next treasure. Off to the music man's booth. He had been coming to this swap meet for years and had 3 massive booths. Everything a 12-year-old girl could want from 300 vinyl records to over 500 cassettes. and a very handsome young man that was always super friendly. Yes, the good ole days! On this particular Saturday as I was approaching the booth I could hear the most glorious music I had ever heard blasting from 4 monster stand-alone speakers It was as if I had just heard music for the first time.
By Michelle Armstrong5 years ago in Beat
Music Royalty
Black culture was brought to the mainstream US population after World War I had ended and American soldiers of all color returned to their homeland. Black men had contributed to their country’s victory and were hopeful that this would encourage and cultivate full citizenship and acceptance among their fellow white countrymen.
By S Z Piraner5 years ago in Beat
My First Inspirations
I was raised in a strictly white area of northern Indiana. I lived in such an impenetrable bubble that I did not actually see a Black person for the first time, in person, until I moved in with my Nan, a good hour or so north of Indianapolis. I had been so sheltered, it was plain to see, because seeing them actually scared me at first. As a kid, you're faced with so much wild propaganda from racist family members that you're truly believed to be afraid of them on the spot. It was an embarrassing knee-jerk reaction that I had to unlearn.
By Dani Banani5 years ago in Beat
Britney Spears, An Industry Horror story
It took me several attempts to sit down and watch this documentary in its entirety because I became so emotional, so filled with nostalgia as I was about 8 years old when Britney's 1st hit dropped. If you are around my age, you remember when Britney Spears was at the top of the pop charts with hits like ‘Hit me Baby one more time” and “Toxic”. Britney is someone a lot of us girls look up to through her music so when it became more apparent that she may be in danger, #FreeBritney became trending the long-awaited discussion of how misogyny can either empower a woman or lead her to her detriment. I am glad to be living in a time where we can look back at our mistakes and address them. We stood back and watched as the world gas lit Britney and probably many other artists, but now we can see how misogyny and complacency have led to where the discussion is today. Does Britney need to be on a conservatorship? I don’t know. I don’t know her personally however I do question if she is able to work as hard as she does, I don’t know if I can question her competency. Britney came from humble beginnings which leads me to question the motives of those around her. One would assume at least one family member would try to come forward and participate in the documentary, even if it is just to provide balance and attempt to clear the family name.
By Ashley La'Donn5 years ago in Beat
"There's a Science Fiction in the Space Between You and Me"
Dear Ms. Chapman, You were my true introduction to folk music/Americana music and it has become the background music to my slow living lifestyle. I only listen to Americana because I love the style and the way it makes me feel.
By Dream Silas5 years ago in Beat
A colorful story about black female artists
Here’s a story today about black women in music. Let’s start off with the woman pictured first. Pictured with a pixie cut bob and black lipstick, is none other than Missy “Missdemeanor”Elliott, who was born in Portsmouth, Virginia . Missy Elliott just received her doctrine in music approximately 2-3 years ago from college. We have already beaten the odds with a college educated and a BLACK historical artist. So now I ask you the question ‘Is it worth it let me work it? I put my thang’[thing] down flip it and reverse it.....’ If you go on YouTube, YouTube music or back in the days, Yahoo! Music you’d be able to find these lyrics and if you bought the CD you might be lucky enough to come across the lyrics in the album art. What a time to be alive during the Missy Elliott era. She has many other hits as well as about 5+ albums and singles such as Get ur Freak on, Lose Control and Gossip Folks just to name a few, but that’s enough about this addictive woman. My next artist who I will be covering is Solange aka SOL-AN-GEL aka Camille, who also starred in Bring it on as the head cheerleader captain. Solange Knowles is the younger sister of Beyoncé Knowles. She is a mother of a young black son named Daniel. Solange originally was apart of Destiny’s Child, the girl group formed by Beyoncé, but Solange was only briefly in the music group as a backup dancer. However, Solange is a singer, actress and producer as well. Solange has four albums Solo Star, Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams, A Seat at the Table and When I get Home. She has hit singles such as T.O.N.Y, Almeda and Cranes in the Sky. Solange is a Grammy Award winning artist. She also directs music and mostly writes music for her big sis Beyoncé. That’s it for the Sol-Angel, Solange Knowles. Next up we have our favorite Erykah Badu. I can definitely relate to the Bag lady herself from both a physical and mental standpoint. Erykah Badu is an amazingly talented artist. She is what we would consider a neo-soul artist and she delivers every time. Whether we are packing light so we don’t hurt our backs or Calling Tyrone and telling him help him get his shhhh*t one black artist who we will never not be able to remember is Erykah Badu and the beauty of it is that she raps and writes as well. Erykah Badu has 5 studio albums, one live album and 2 mixtapes.
By Ashanti B5 years ago in Beat