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For the most part, day three of the opening weekend of the 2024 Coachella Festival was focused on a string of jaw-dropping surprise appearances by everyone from Justin Bieber to Kesha, Lauryn Hill and many more during a picture perfect Sunday of music and skin-baring cowboy chic.
But during her set, 2024 best new artist Grammy winner Victoria Monét injected some politics into the mix when she made a bold statement during her appearance at the Indio, CA fest. “Stop the wars, stop the hate, stop the genocides, stop motherf–ing hating,” Monét said from the stage according to fan video of the moment. “Live with love. Stop thinking so small. You need to be thinking big, b–ch. Think big, b–ch.”
Though Monét did not reference Israel, Gaza or the now seven-month-old war between the Jewish state and militant group Hamas, the singer has been a longtime vocal proponent of a ceasefire in Gaza. Following Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attack on Israel — in which more than 1,200 men, women and children were killed and sexually assaulted and more than 250 taken hostage — Israel unleashed a retaliatory wave of strikes on Gaza and the West Bank that Palestinian authorities have said has killed more than 33,000, many of them non-combatant women and children.
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Monét was one of the founders of the Artists 4 Ceasefire collective, which penned an open letter to Pres. Jo Biden in March urging him to call for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict; the letter was co-signed by dozens of fellow artists, including R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Dua Lipa, Killer Mike, Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Quinta Brunson, Rooney Mara, Jeremy Allen White, Jon Batiste, Frank Ocean, Zayn and many more.
While Monét did not directly attribute her use of the term “genocide” to Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, the government of hard-right Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced accusations that his country is participating in such an action in the wake of Israel’s devastating bombing campaign in the Palestinian territories. To date the war has resulted in the displacement of more nearly two million Palestinians, the destruction of more than 157,000 buildings in Gaza and an emerging food crisis that experts warn could result in widespread famine.
Last week, U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee that “we don’t have any evidence of genocide being [committed]” by Israel in Gaza. In January, the top United Nations court ordered Israel to do everything it could to avoid acts of genocide in the war; Israel has repeatedly denied that it is acting with genocidal intent.
The issue has become a part of the American presidential campaign, with a chant of “Genocide Joe” favored by pro-Palestinian protesters getting adopted on Saturday by supporters of former president Donald Trump at his rally in Schnecksville, PA. After Trump once again offered his unconditional support for Israel just hours after Iran launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes against the country this weekend, the twice impeached one-term president responded to the “Genocide Joe” shouts from the crowd with the line, “They’re not wrong, they’re not wrong. He’s done everything wrong.”
Watch Monét’s call for peace below.
When Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles was asked on the the red carpet at Sunday night’s (April 7) 2024 CMT Music Awards if she’d listened to Beyoncé‘s Billboard 200 No. 1 album Cowboy Carter the answer was a no-brainer. “Of course! Who hasn’t?” Nettles said in mock horror about the country-leaning collection that secured Bey’s eighth […]
Tanner Adell is just a few years into her country career, but on Sunday night (April 8) at the 2024 CMT Music Awards she was elated to celebrate her first chart-topper on the Billboard 200. When Billboard‘s Tetris Kelly mentioned that Adell was featured on Beyoncé‘s eighth No. 1 album, Cowboy Carter, the Kentucky native could not suppress a giant smile as she said, “apparently.”
Adell — who sings alongside Bey on the interpretation of the Beatles’ “Blackbird,” (which in Beyoncé’s version is titled “Blackbiird”) — said “it feels incredible. Congratulations to Bey, she’s worked so hard — especially just… Act I, now we’re Act II and I can’t wait for Act III. I’m just starting out and it feels pretty amazing to have one of my… not even one of my, my favorite artist on the planet know my name, put me on this album and now it’s debuted at No. 1. It’s very special.”
Pitching things forward a bit to the 2025 Grammy Awards, Kelly noted that if Cowboy Carter is nominated for the elusive album of the year prize that Beyoncé — the most-decorated artist in Grammy history — has never yet won, Tanner could get a major moment in the sun. Rendered speechless, Tanner smiled and said, “I guess?”
“I’m an independent artist, it’s been a grind and just to have someone of that caliber reach down and lift us up it’s really, really special and i’m just very honored,” said the singer who released her debut album, Buckle Bunny, last summer.
Cowboy Carter debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart dated April 13, debuting with 407,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending April 4 according to Luminate; the album marks the singer’s eighth No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Cowboy Carter also has dibs on the biggest week of 2024 to date, marking the largest opening frame since Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) bowed with 1.653 million units in November.
Another contemporary Black country act who had high praise for Bey on Sunday was Reyna Roberts, who also lends her voice to “Blackbiird,” along with Brittney Spencer, Adell and Tiera Kennedy. “Absolutely! I believe it. I’ve always believed that I was going to history, not sure in what capacity,” said “Stompin’ Grounds” singer Roberts of possibly being part of a major moment if Bey is finally fitted for the AOTY crown next year. “I’m just grateful that Beyoncé allowed us to be part of her dream and her project. This is phenomenal, I can’t even describe how excited and happy I am.”
On the CMT red carpet, tAdell also showed of the new “Blackbiird”-inspired tattoo on her arm, noting that Roberts got her own version as well to commemorate their unexpected place in the Bey universe. “We all did it in our own style kind of how we wanted to,” she said showing off the bird image ink on her right forearm. “We just felt like this is a really big moment and something to commemorate the experience of being able to work together with someone that we all look up to very much.”
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Blaque, the ‘90s R&B group comprised of Shamari DeVoe, Brandi Williams and the late Natina Reed, will be featured in a new episode of Unsung, premiering Sunday (April 7) on TV One.
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The girl group, signed by TLC’s Lisa Left Lopez, shot to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s thanks to hit singles such as “808” and “Bring It All to Me.” The trio went on to tour with *NSYNC and TLC and released two albums prior to Reed’s death in 2012.
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Blaque also appeared in the 2000 cult classic, Bring It On, and released a previously shelved third album, Torch, in 2019.
TV One’s award-winning documentary series, which “celebrates the lives and careers” of recording artists and groups, premiered in 2008. James Brown, Phyliss Hyman, George Clinton, Tammi Terrell, B.B. King, 702, Jagged Edge, Wyclef Jean and Ice T are some of the artists that have been spotlighted in the series.
Read on for the best ways to stream Unsung for free, without cable.
Unsung on TV One : How to Watch Free
Blaque’s Unsung episode will debut on Sunday, April 7, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TV One.
If you don’t have cable, you can watch Unsung on streaming platforms that offer live channels such as Philo and DirecTV Stream.
Philo is perfect if you’re on a budget. It’s free for the first week and just $25 per month after the trail period ends.
The streaming platform has over 70 cable channels including TV One, Lifetime, WeTV, VH1, MTV, CMT, BET, Paramount Network, Food Network, OWN, Trvl, TLC and AMC.
DirecTV Stream offers access to over 75 local and cable channels for one low price. DirecTV lets you stream TV One, Bravo, Lifetime, TLC, ESPN, A&E, E!, BET, CMT, FX, CNN, AMC, FYI, IFC, ID, Paramount Network, TBS, WeTV, Trvl, OWN, Univision and other cable networks along with ABC, CBS and more.
DirecTV Stream starts at $69.99 per month with a 24-month agreement. Eligible subscribers also get a free trial for the first five days.
Watch a clip from Sunday’s episode of Unsung below.
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Source: Christopher Cavanaugh / Brandon Coton / iOne Digital
In exclusive news, iOne Digital is relaunching Elev8, a new platform with a spotlight on a new wave of Christian Hip-Hop and R&B artists.
As the world is undergoing some turbulent times, there are many online who are looking for a sort of safe space to find motivation and attain reflection on topics related to mind, body and culture. In that spirit, the return of an online hub dedicated to that mission was announced Thursday (April 4). Elev8, pronounced “e-le-vate,” seeks to be a bedrock for those Black men and women seeking out nontraditional sources to further their interconnected well-being.
Elev8 is starting this mission out strongly with a new cover story covering seven talented rising artists in the world of Christian Hip-Hop and R&B. The artists – Childlike CiCi, Franchesca, Lee Vasi, Wande, Jor’Dan Armstrong, Mike Teezy and Stevie Rizo – got to sit down and talk extensively with Elev8 Digital Director Aliya Faust about their commitment to their faith influencing their music in various ways allowing them to push envelopes and appeal to the public.
“I’ve always been a wear-my-heart-on-my-sleeve kind of girl and that’s been kind of amplified in this Christian genre because it’s really soul work that this music is stemming from,” said Lee Vasi in the profile. For Armstrong, who’s attained the No.1 slot on Billboard charts recently, the new shift is remarkable. “I remember 10 to 15 years ago, we didn’t have these types of opportunities,” he states. “We didn’t have these types of platforms. We were frowned upon because we were different or because we had a different approach to what gospel sounded like. I’m grateful to be a part of what God is doing in the industry and the genre that we’re in.”
As Faust explains: “I think it’s important to have a brand like Elev8 because we acknowledge that what you feed your mind and body matter. Health is multifaceted. I always refer to four of the eight dimensions of wellness. Spiritual health, emotional health, physical health, social health, etc. – it’s all interconnected. When we nurture them in harmony, life is elevated.” In addition to more in-depth articles on each of the aforementioned artists, Elev8 will feature more soul-stirring conversations on all of those topics in conjunction with featured videos, exclusive digital profiles, and daily articles along with a newsletter.
Check out the first profile at Elev8 here.
Beyoncé is rustling up all her cowboys and kindly asking them to hit the dancefloor for a new remix of her Cowboy Carter single “Texas Hold ‘Em.” The track gets a fresh bounce as well as a new verse and breakdown in a “Pony Up” remix of the song that topped the Billboard Hot 100 […]
Blxst and Feid linked up for the vibrant cross-cultural collaboration “Rewind,” which dropped Thursday (March 28) via Evgle and Red Bull Records. “Rewind” is the kind of song you want to dance with your significant other to at the club on a warm summer night you wish to relive over and over again. It marks […]
Xscape and SWV have been announced as co-headliners for The Queens of R&B Tour. Produced by Monami Entertainment and Live Nation, the 30-city tour will launch June 27 with special guests MYA, 702 and Total.
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Monami Entertainment founder/CEO Mona Scott-Young tells Billboard, “Xscape and SWV are an indelible part of R&B music; their influence and reach are undeniable. These Queens of R&B have connected to the hearts and souls of fans and, along with 702, MYA and Total, will travel across the country this summer to give the fans what they have been asking for — an unforgettable co-headline experience! From their hit television series to embarking on this tour, the journey for these ladies has not been easy but they are all a living testament to the power of resiliency and strength through perseverance. I am so proud to be part of this defining moment in R&B culture and so grateful for our partnership with Live Nation.”
After its first show in Concord, CA on June 27, The Queens of R&B Tour will also stop in Las Vegas, Houston, Washington, D.C. and New York before closing in Los Angeles on Aug. 18. The tour is represented by Seth Shomes through Day After Day Productions (DADP).
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A Citi presale begins on March 26; additional presales run through the week ahead of the general sale that starts March 29 (10 a.m. local time) via Ticketmaster.
Check out the dates for The Queens of R&B Tour below:
June 27 — Concord, CA @ Toyota Pavilion at ConcordJune 29 — Las Vegas, NV @ Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & CasinoJuly 2 — Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort AmphitheatreJuly 3 — Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta AmphitheaterJuly 5 — Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis PavilionJuly 6 — Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by HuntsmanJuly 9 — North Little Rock, AR @ Simmons Bank ArenaJuly 10 — Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena at The BJCCJuly 12 — Jacksonville, FL @ Daily’s PlaceJuly 13 — Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union AmphitheatreJuly 14 — West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial AmphitheatreJuly 16 — Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood AmphitheatreJuly 17 — Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music PavilionJuly 19 — Washington, D.C. @ Capital One Arena*July 20 — Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut CreekJuly 21 — Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia BeachJuly 24 — New York, NY @ Madison Square GardenJuly 25 — Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts CenterJuly 26 — Boston, MA @ TD GardenJuly 27 — Atlantic City, NJ @ Atlantic City Boardwalk HallAugust 2 — Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford HealthCare AmphitheaterAugust 3 — Syracuse, NY @ Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at LakeviewAugust 4 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank ArenaAugust 6 — Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake AmphitheaterAugust 9 — Detroit, MI @ LIttle Caesar’s ArenaAugust 10 — Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music CenterAugust 11 — Chicago, IL @ Credit Union 1 AmphitheatreAugust 13 — St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz ArenaAugust 14 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom CenterAugust 18 — Los Angeles @ Kia Forum
*without MYA
Call it the “braids and beads beef.” A sartorial scuffle erupted on Wednesday (March 20) after it appeared that Erykah Badu called out Beyoncé for borrowing her signature look for the cover of the upcoming Act II: Cowboy Carter album. Badu, long known for her intergalactic Afro-futuristic look, took the most subtle of shots at […]
SZA, Tyler, The Creator, blink-182, The Killers, Future X Metro Boomin will headline this summer’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago. The August 1-4 throwdown in the Windy City will also feature headline sets from Hozier, Stray Kids, Melanie Martinez and Skrillex among the 170 bands that will perform on eight stages over four days.
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Among the other acts on the lineup announced on Tuesday (March 19) are: Deftones, Tate McRae, Laufey with the Chicago Philharmonic, Reneé Rapp, Lizzy McAlpine, Zedd, Fisher, Zeds Dead, Dominic Fike, Labrinth, Pierce the Veil, Victoria Monét, Sexyy Red, Teddy Swims, Faye Webster, Benson Boone, Jungle, Two Door Cinema Club, Killer Mike, Ive, Vince Staples, Kesha, Galantis, Kevin Abstract, Ethel Cain, Chappell Roan, Megan Mornoey, Teezo Touchdown and many more.
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Fans can sign up now for the 2024 presale, which will kick off on Thursday (March 21) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET; the presale is the only way to guarantee the lowest price on 4-day general admission, GA+, VIP and Platinum tickets. Ticket prices will increase at 1 p.m ET when the public onsale begins; click here for ticketing information. One-day tickets and the lineup-by-day rundown will be available at a later date.
This year will mark Skrillex’s first show in a decade and K-pop boyband Stray Kids will be making their Lolla Chicago debut.
Last summer’s event featured headlining sets from Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kendrick Lamar, Odesza, Karol G, TOMORROW X TOGETHER and The 1975. The four-day extravaganza that sets up in Grant Park in downtown Chicago draws more than 400,000 fans to the massive party near Lake Michigan.
Check out the full lineup poster below.
