celebrities

Music celebrities in the growing entertainment industry.

Sade and Shade
“Oh, like the singer? Smoooth operatorrr.” Every time I introduce myself to someone, they inevitably say something like that. You could swap the song for “The Sweetest Taboo”, or any one of Sade’s hits, but the reaction is almost always the same. I have the same name as one of the most famous singers from the late 80s and early 90s.
By Shade Oye5 years ago in Beat
Rachelle Farrell
She is the one, who has kind of, flown under the radar. If you don't already know to search for Her, then you would probably never experience Her. Funny that same thing can be said for acquiring inspiration.
By (Catzisms) Cat Collier Scott5 years ago in Beat
Superwoman
A Woman’s Worth Commencement of the twenty first century. Alicia was sitting by her Baldwin piano – inherited after her classical background – and pounding on the keys from A minor scale. All crucial instruments and equipment were already assembled at the avenue and halt in handy help to support the artist. But the artist, even though seemed so sincere, young, and unexperienced, possessed superpowers. After rejection of her lyrics and music for her debut album and unmoral propositions from the major Columbia Records, she strongly stated that she has to do it on her own. Ah, not quite alone. With the help of the Brothers. That was the reason of all those unfamiliar to her equipment, apart from the piano, gathered in a small apartment and in waiting to contribute one-of-a-kind part to her first release to the world.
By Moon Desert5 years ago in Beat
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