According to an idiom popularized by rapper and ‘business, man’ Jay-Z, “Men lie and women lie, but numbers don’t.” So even by this simple metric, Mary J Blige has “the numbers” that count: over 70 million in album sales, fifteen albums, nine Grammy Awards, a pair of Academy Award nominations and….oh yes, that single crown… Continue reading Mary J. Blige’s “Good Morning Gorgeous,” Preview/Review Link
Category: Grooves & Beats
All things entertainment – music, movies, theater, spoken word, books, etc.
“….For me, ‘Sankofa’ means to remember who you came from, what you came from, & where you came through.”
“I’ve been slow-walking this whole thing: stewing it, getting it into people’s systems and letting them absorb the aesthetic of it. So anytime the music is able to get out of me, I consider that a success. The press, PR, whatever that other stuff is, that’s a different thing…….But once it gets out, and… Continue reading “….For me, ‘Sankofa’ means to remember who you came from, what you came from, & where you came through.”
Soultracks Music Review: Brandy, B7
If you were to ask an industry newbie what they aspired to achieve as an entertainer, the list probably includes a lot of what’s already a reality for Brandy Norwood. Her irresistible and eponymous 1994 debut, Brandy, went multi-platinum and introduced pop and R&B audiences to a Mississippi native with a sweet face and sultry voice in… Continue reading Soultracks Music Review: Brandy, B7
Caught Up In The “Rhapsody”: How Queen Won On Film & In Life
Earlier last month, when the Oscar Award nominations were announced, the choices and snubs gave critics plenty to write about: A Star is Born and If Beale Street Could Talk fell short of representation in the main categories, but Black Panther made history as the first superhero-centered movie to get the nod for best picture… Continue reading Caught Up In The “Rhapsody”: How Queen Won On Film & In Life
Godspeed, Queen of Soul: RIP Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)
Ms. Franklin’s reputation for speaking her mind and sometimes shading folks who rubbed her the wrong way, I was more anxious than I usually was when meeting a star. But since she was cordial to us, apparently we passed Aretha’s test. Witnessing her talents in person was incredible enough, but having one-on-one contact with the Queen herself? That was a privilege I will never forget.