97 Words: ‘Aaliyah’ defined an artist and a summer
July 7, 2001. Snakes. That’s my first memory of Aaliyah's self-titled third…
ESSENCE: Highlights from music’s best festival
Six years ago, I ventured to New Orleans for my first visit to…
Black Music Month Spotlight: Phyllis Hyman
It's week three of our month-long Black Music Month celebration, and today…
Toni Braxton’s Secrets is unforgettable
June 18, 1996. In 1993, Toni Braxton strutted onto the scene with…
Black Music Month Spotlight: Bobby Womack
As we continue our journey through the decades, this week we would…
The Purple Print: how Prince left his mark on popular music
A month after Prince's untimely death, we have decided to honor his lasting…
How ‘Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite’ helped revolutionize R&B
Rhythm and Blues has always been evolutionary. Deeply rooted in gospel,…
Single Review: Maxwell dives back onto the scene in “Lake by the Ocean”
Not every artist can take a seven year break in between albums…
Album Review: K. Michelle has “More Issues Than Vogue”
Never one to back down from getting people to talk about her,…