PLAYLISTS
Playlist: 97 Minutes of Christmas, Vol. 3
This Christmas season, the staff of THE 97 will be sharing their favorite holiday songs via our new 97 Minutes of Christmas Playlist
Playlist: Lil’ Kim’s Top 20 Features
Lil’ Kim’s power as an MC has always been reinforced by her featured verses. Kim has the ability to command attention and
Nippy is 60: Whitney Houston’s Greatest Live Performances
Whitney Elizabeth Houston lived a life that was akin to a Greek tragedy. The world watched her reach dizzying heights and stunning
THE 9-7 of 2024: My Replay Reflection
Rather than acting as if I have an overly important take on what the best songs, albums, or artists were in 2024,
IN 1997
Butterfly, Fly Away: Mariah Carey’s first emancipation
September 16, 1997. Seventeen years ago today, Mariah Carey released what is widely considered to be her most creative, introspective, and best, album to date; her “magnum opus.” Regardless of whether or not you agree with the those definitive statements, there is no denying that 1997’s Butterfly marked a defining moment in Mariah’s life – personally, professionally, and artistically. To appropriately analyze and speak about Butterfly, one must first contextualize it; encapsulate the experiences of that particular time in Mariah’s
Wicked: For Good – Ranking Every Song in the Soundtrack
Spoilers ahead. The album itself contains heavy spoilers if you haven’t seen the movie. The wait is over. The Wicked Witch of
Review: “West End Girl” by Lily Allen
Welcome back, Lily Allen. I mean no shade when I say this, but is it 2025 or 2007? Listening to a Lily
Through It All, Mariah Carey is Still “Here For It All”
First Listen: “Here For It All” I was stunned. Before me was an 80-foot-wide, 50-foot-tall glass window overlooking Central Park, a stage
97-Hour Review: On “eternal sunshine,” Ariana Grande proves herself
Upon the release of the lead single “yes, and?,” I wrote that Ariana Grande was selling herself short by successfully emulating her
Someone’s Favorite Daughter: A Different Type of Mariah Carey Album Ranking
It’s tiiiime again, it seems, to reevaluate my Mariah Carey album ranking. Following the release of her 16th set, many publications have done listicles ranking thee D-I-V-A’s incomparable discography. I’ll be doing it
Mariah Carey and the Catalyst of “Caution”
There comes a time in every iconic music superstar’s career when they must accept they have transitioned from icon to legend. Some do so obnoxiously, others are a little more graceful about it.
Big Purr: The Debut of Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton: The Debut It All Started With a Purr. Not quite the kind of vocal purr that Eartha Kitt famously once possessed. This purr was vastly different: vaguely androgynous, with a fry
FOR THE NOSTALGIA
“When Christmas Comes” Cements Mariah Carey’s Seasonal Crown
They don’t call Mariah Carey the “Queen of Christmas” for any ol’ reason. Her entire holiday canon has become a market for success, and
Miss Thang: Monica’s hit-filled debut
JULY 18, 1995 When Monica released her debut album in 1995, she was the last of the Teen R&B star trinity to release music.
The Gift: Beyoncé’s most underrated body of work
JULY 19, 2019 Beyoncé has recorded an extensive body of work over the course of her twenty plus year career in the music industry.
Mariah Carey’s “Christmas Time is In the Air Again” Through the Years
Mariah Carey’s honorary title as “Queen of Christmas” is attributed to the colossal success of her #1 hit single, 1994’s “All I Want For
Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy” is Still Just as Sweet
The year was 1995. Mariah Carey was only five years into her career, soaring off the success of her blockbuster selling album, Music Box
Ranked: Britney Spears’ “Oops!… I Did It Again”
“Oops!… I did it again, I played with your heart, got lost in the game…” –Britney Spears The title track and stratospheric lead single
Aretha Franklin’s Love All The Hurt Away
By 1981, Aretha Franklin was finding her musical footing again. The 70’s had started strong for Aretha, producing some of the most significant work
Anastacia’s Freak Of Nature Was A Turning Point
Anastacia was already an international sensation by the time I got my hands on her sophomore album Freak Of Nature, which came out in
VH1 Divas Live: A Life-Changing Show
I was recently at a friend’s house for game night, and upon finally finding the lost remote and taking over music (as I regularly
Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black Turns 50
I was around 8 or 9 when I got my copy of Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black. It arrived via one of the
Cher’s ‘Living Proof’ Turns 20 – Retrospective
“The music’s no good without you baby, come back to me,” laments a haunting Cher. “The Music’s No Good Without You” is the lead
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THE 97 ZINE
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