‘NSYNC, Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child, Alicia Keys and Ja Rule are among the artists who are lending their voices this week to an all-star remake of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” to benefit AIDS research. U2 frontman Bono and hip-hop/R&B producer Jermaine Dupri are organizing what Dupri has called a “We Are the World”-like project. Backstreet Boys, Wyclef Jean, Christina Aguilera, No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani and the Roots’ ?uestlove are also participating in the recording, according to organizers. Jennifer Lopez, Radiohead, Jagged Edge and Usher may also contribute, Dupri told MTV News last week. Hundreds of artists are in… Read more »
After a long re-audition process to fill the late Aaliyah’s shoes, “The Matrix: Reloaded” finally lives up to its name. Nona Gaye, the daughter of Marvin Gaye who was recently seen acting alongside Will Smith in “Ali” and heard on last fall’s “What’s Going On” benefit single, has been chosen to play Zee in the two upcoming sequels to the 1999 sci-fi thriller “The Matrix,” according to Variety. The role was originally set to be portrayed by Aaliyah, who had filmed portions of “Reloaded” before she died last summer in a plane crash. The character of Zee will be introduced… Read more »
After inking a deal with Fearless Records, DE’WAYNE has returned with his sexy new single, “synthesizer.” Inspired by the timeless groove of the Commodores’ 1977 chart-topping and Grammy-nominated single “Brick House,” which the four-piece penned “about the perfect woman—in their eyes,” DE’WAYNE infuses his own unique rockstar flair into his latest offering that captures a similar sentiment of all-consuming love. With its irresistible chorus echoing emotions of boundless affection, boldly proclaiming, “She’s a synthesizer/Baby, don’t you understand/She’s my heaven, she’s my earth/She’s my woman, she’s my man,” DE’WAYNE seizes the essence of a love that transcends conventional boundaries and breaks… Read more »
For Americans across the nation, this July 4th might not feel like one worth celebrating. June 30, mere days ago, the Supreme Court of the United States made three major rulings, which, in short, overturned affirmative action, halted President Joe Biden’s plans to cancel student debt, and legalized discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals. Additionally, last year at this time, SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade, setting abortion rights back by decades. Refer back, even further, to 2020 to see the federal government’s botched response to the COVID-19 pandemic, unchecked police power used against marginalized communities, and more. So, truly, it is well… Read more »
“What’s Going On” The present-day relevance of What’s Going On is an acknowledgement of the creative mastery of the 1971 album and a reminder of the stagnation of society’s moral compass in its movement towards “justice for all.” Marvin Gaye’s creative genius is on full display on vinyl through the musicianship that helped create what is known as the “Motown Sound.” By the time of What’s Going On’s release, he was already known as a ‘Motown Star’ based on a career on a meteoric rise—that rise for Motown, as a label, and Marvin, as an artist, took place during the… Read more »
For decades some of the most talented drummers in the music industry have been the women. These drummers were born with the beat, taking their talents and their empowerment and spreading them across the industry. They’ve changed the way things are done with big banging beats and the indomitable spirits that go along with them. Jess Bowen We could only start this list off with our favorite drummer: Jess Bowen. She absolutely kills it in every project. Jess most famously played for The Summer Set and NEKOKAT and joined 3OH!3 for the entirety of the last Warped Tour. Now she’s… Read more »
We’d never use the word “staycation” but are you ready to escape to another city? Corona-world may have paused travel plans but that doesn’t mean you can’t go on a wifi world tour. idobi is delivering virtual Quaran-Care Packages from all around the globe, so you can eat the food, see the sights, and listen to the music in your living room. Annnddd you’ll already know which spots to hit once we get going again. Hi! I’m Alice, and I’ll be your guide today on a virtual tour of my hometown: Detroit, Michigan. Get your Buffs on and stay safe… Read more »
Basslines and Protest Signs is Brett Callwood’s column looking at the intersection of music and politics. This week breaks down the impact of Public Enemy’s album ‘It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back’.
Pour out some eggnog and get yourself a mince pie while you’re listening to this parody of “Blurred Lines”.
Why do musicians copy each other? Is it to pay homage, or merely coincidental? We dive into the concept of originality in music, and why maybe there’s more gray area than you think.
