Music

photo via Beyonce.com In the ever-evolving tapestry of country music, Beyoncé's latest triumphs have spotlighted the genre's embrace of diversity and the profound influence of Black female artists. Beyoncé's chart-topping single "Texas Hold ’Em" has etched her name as the first Black woman to secure the top position on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. This groundbreaking achievement underscores the shifting dynamics within the country's music industry. Her concurrent release, […]

Credit: Photo: Estefania Mitre/NPR "When did your heart break?" It's the question that Camae Ayewa asks to open this Tiny Desk, and one that's still rattling in my head. That soul puncture is an essential piece of Irreversible Entanglements, a free jazz band rooted in punk ethos. Individually, these folks have made some of the most creative and challenging music of the past decade: Ayewa's ever-evolving project Moor Mother, trumpeter […]

A group of Democratic legislators is harnessing hip-hop's cultural and political clout to tackle urgent issues affecting Black and Brown communities across the United States. The newly established Congressional Hip Hop Power and Justice Task Force, orchestrated by Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), aims to serve as a legislative voice for economic, racial, and social justice, leveraging the genre’s rich heritage of activism and advocacy. The genesis of the task force, […]

Willie “Prophet” Stiggers and BMAC Emerging Artists/ Industry Professionals Group at a Live Nation Event Live Nation has announced a new partnership with the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), a U.S.-based organization dedicated to advocating for Black artists and professionals within the music industry. This collaboration aims to launch a comprehensive music business course and paid internship program, specifically targeting non-college-bound individuals aspiring to enter the music business sector. The […]

In what can only be characterized as a stunning juxtaposition between recognition and rejection, Tennessee lawmakers faced criticism this week after House Republicans objected to a resolution honoring Grammy Award-winning musician Allison Russell. The controversy began when Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones, a sitting member of the Democratic Party from Nashville, proposed ceremonial resolutions to honor the achievements of both the band Paramore and singer-songwriter Allison Russell, whose musical prowess secured […]

Burna Boy (center) has been nominated for the Grammy award for best global music album in four of the last five years. This year, he was among the nominees for the inaugural best African music performance prize and was the first Afrobeats artist to perform on the Grammy prime time telecast. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy Earlier this month, the Nigerian superstar Burna Boy made history as the […]