celebrities

Music celebrities in the growing entertainment industry.

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
Powerful Presence And Music With A Message
For every genre of music, you will note Black artists spearheading the creation and progression. And Black women have certainly made their mark on the music industry through the centuries. The Black female musicians highlighted here were chosen based on two main factors: a powerful presence and music with a message. With so much rump shaking bordering on pornography and nonsensical lyrics of much of today’s music, it is refreshing to have a reminder of the greatness that paved the way for modern musicians. I am in awe of the barriers these women breached; standards they set; and progress they made, much during very difficult political and historic times. These lovely ladies are presented in order of when they arrived on the scene—their birthday, that is.
By Stephanie J. Bradberry5 years ago in Beat
Women in music
Music is very influential to people. It is a form of expression. It’s everywhere we go and involved in almost everything in the media. Whether it’s in the background of something or highlighting the artist making it there is no escape. Almost everybody listens to music and there are many different genres of it. The existence of music has been traced back to the beginning of civilization. There are many talented women who have made an impact with music and that have had an influence over music as its been reshaped over time. From behind the scenes to in the spotlight there are many women that have contributed to the success of the music industry we know today.
By Mystery Writer5 years ago in Beat
Women Who Rock My World
Of all the stunning black female singers in the world, the women who pull on my heartstrings the most by far are those who have also mastered instruments. As somebody with zero musical inclination, I never fail to be fascinated by anybody with the level of skill required to play with both their voices and their hands. Transcending a multitude of barriers, these women have truly blessed the universe with their unimaginable talents. While modern day black singers are all incredible on their own merit, musicians of multiple talents are, and always have been, thoroughly underappreciated for their phenomenal contributions to the arts.
By Ashleigh Harris5 years ago in Beat
The Fridge Again!!
I’m board at home, stuck inside trying to avoid Covid outside and I’m at the refrigerator, again looking for a snack. A song pops into my mind and I close the door without taking anything out. I am playing that viral song from KD French in my head and now it is stuck up there, on repeat.
By Vicky DiMichele5 years ago in Beat