With veteran voices like Killer Mike and T.I. leading a coalition of artists to the Supreme Court this month, will the legal system finally establish a federal ‘RAP Act’ standard that recognizes art as fiction, or will the 30-year precedent of using lyrics as a courtroom weapon continue to go unchecked?
In a week where the Quincy Jones estate chose a 'Cultural Defense’ partnership over a quick payout, can Sherrese Clarke Soares’ HarbourView prove that protecting the Black music foundation from AI exploitation is more valuable than the 'fire sale’ deals that claimed legends like David Bowie, and will this new stewardship finally reset the market for our architects?
October London Has An Official Video For The Touch ON Me Remix Feat. Tonio Armani
October London has released the official video for the “Touch On Me” remix featuring Tonio Armani. Armani’s gritty, Southern soul is the perfect contrast to London’s syrupy, Marvin Gaye-inspired silk, turning the bedroom ballad into a raw, late-night anthem.
The visual, directed by Mike Allen, takes place in an Atlanta barbershop (specifically The Swag Shop) where customers are entertained by an all-woman staff of sultry dancers. The remix builds on the massive momentum of the original single’s popularity, which sparked a viral phase of soul line-dancing videos across TikTok and Instagram last year.
Now that the track has fully infiltrated the clubs and the steppers’ circuit, it’s clear London hasn’t just made a hit—he’s created a cultural moment. “Touch On Me” is the beating heart of his sophomore album, October Nights, which is already being hailed as a new “Quiet Storm” classic.
This track marks London’s third #1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart, officially cementing him as the most visible artist on the new Death Row Records. His continued success makes him the undisputed torchbearer for the label’s second act, proving that Snoop Dogg’s vision for the brand can dominate both the rap and R&B worlds simultaneously.
You can catch the magic live as the An Evening With October London tour runs through the summer, featuring a heavy-hitting lineup of EricBenét, Lalah Hathaway, and J. Brown. Tickets.
Watch Thundercat and WILLOW tap into the souls of George Duke and Pat Metheny for an Amazon Music showcase of “Thunderwave.” Dennis Hamm’s atmospheric keyboards take the sounds out of the realm of fusion and into quiet storm territory. The single is taken from Thundercat’s upcoming Distracted album, and he was pretty happy about working with WILLOW. He says,
“Willow, the weeping, the whimsy, the whispy, the wizard. Grateful for the opportunity to create and spend time with such a beautiful human. Our journey together has been quite a fun one. Creating this song together felt very much like the real us. So happy to be able to share.”
Jalen Ngonda announces his sophomore album, Doctrine of Love, with the release of the title track. The Daptone artist has reconnected with producers Vince Chiarito and Michael Buckley to continue their exploration of ‘60s and '70s pop styles. “Doctrine Of Love” is modern-day soul shouting. He shared the process towards “Doctrine Of Love” in a press release.
“I wrote that track when I was trying to do anything to get out of the studio. I was listening to a lot of James Brown at the time, and that was an inspiration. 'Doctrine,’ to me, was a word no one ever uses. I took it to be like a certificate, the ‘Certificate of Love’—look, I think maybe I meant 'doctorate,’ but we wrote it and recorded it and now it’s a whole thing. I just write the song. The listener can interpret it however they want.”
Doctrine Of Love has expectations after the critical success of Ngonda’s debut, Come Around and Love Me. The new album is just as committed to Ngonda’s gospel roots and pop history with a contemporary lens. The release date is June 5th, and Ngonda is currently appearing at various European festivals and will go on a headlining tour in the fall.
Throwback: Quincy Jones: If I Ever Lose This Heaven
Quincy Jones recorded “If I Ever Lose This Heaven” for his 1974 album, Body Heat. Minnie Riperton, Al Jarreau, and Leon Ware sang together on the song written by Ware and Pam Sawyer. Jones balanced the vocal acrobatics of Minnie Riperton and Al Jarreau against Leon Ware’s understated delivery, placing a master songwriter at the center of an R&B piece defined by its premier singers. He acted as a master curator, placing a visionary songwriter at the heart of an arrangement that defined the mid-70s soul aesthetic.
“If I Ever Lose This Heaven” had a modest chart position because radio did not know how to classify Jones’ R&B that bridged the gap between jazz and funk. The Body Heat album was a top ten album on the jazz, Billboard 200, and R&B charts as fans preferred to hear the full collection of songs. Body Heat would be the last album Jones recorded before suffering from two near-fatal brain aneurysms months after its release.
Jones’s medical events stopped his trumpet playing as advised by his doctors, and he spent the rest of his life working as a producer. “If I Ever Lose This Heaven” also appears on I Heard That!!,Live At Budokan, and The 75th Birthday Celebration. The song is included on almost every career retrospective compilation, including The Best of Quincy Jones; Classics, Vol. 3; Greatest Hits; 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection; and The Ultimate Collection.
GENA (Liv.e & Karriem Riggins) Release The Pleasure Is Yours
Liv.e and Karriem Riggins are GENA—God Energy Naturally Amazing. Inspired by Gina from Martin, this partnership brings together the Dallas-bred songstress with the esoteric rasp and the Detroit native Riggins, whose rhythmic architecture was forged alongside J. Dilla. Their debut, The Pleasure Is Yours, captures a jazz sage and a master of the lean beat in a synergy that borders on the avant-garde.
On “HOWWEFLOW,” Liv.e’s soothsayer enunciation contrasts beautifully with a gospel chorus and Riggins’ faithful kick drum. They venture into funk on the leather-cool, after-hours glow of “Lead It Up,” infused with an emotive talk box. Throughout the record, Liv.e’s experimental nature clicks with Riggins’ judicious groove offerings so much that it never comes across as the mostly virtual session it is.
“This Is So Crazy” leans into a high-octane throwback, fueled by driving digital drums and electric guitar that feels plucked straight from 1984, the perfect backdrop for vocals that echo the iconic, signature harmonies of Prince and the Revolution. The Pleasure Is Yours sounds like no other R&B album, and it begs to be played whole to catch its essence.
Throwback: Teena Marie: Déjà Vu (I’ve Been Here Before)
Teena Marie’s “Déjá Vu” is on her 1979 debut album, Wild and Peaceful. While Rick James, who discovered Marie, is credited with writing the song, it was her poem that he adapted into lyrics. The song about her having lived different lives on earth as rich, poor, young, old, and in the form of a gazelle was ethereal. Marie’s take on being an “old soul” was a different beast entirely from Dionne Warwick’s “Déjà Vu,” also released in 1979. Where the Isaac Hayes and Adrienne Anderson composition for Warwick was a polished, Grammy-winning pop ballad about romantic connection, Marie’s was a much heavier, deep, soulful journey that leaned into the funk and the spiritual, supported by the powerhouse backing vocals of the legendary Maxine Waters.
James’ talent as a producer and arranger provided a serene, tide-like arrangement opening with delicate guitar plucks and a wistful, breathy flute that eventually settles into a warm, mellow saxophone and the sound of water coming ashore. Marie sang with such undeniable soul that she initially bypassed the industry’s racial barriers; Motown famously kept her face off the album cover for fear she wouldn’t be accepted by Black audiences. However, the music spoke first: Wild and Peaceful climbed to #18 on the Black Albums chart, an incredible feat for a newcomer. By the time listeners saw her, the “mystery” didn’t matter—the culture had already claimed her. Known as the Ivory Queen of Soul, Teena Marie set a standard for authenticity that every white soul singer since has had to measure up to. An expanded edition of Wild and Peaceful was released in 2005.
In 2026, Teena Marie would have celebrated her 70th birthday. To honor the milestone, a special live tribute tour titled “Remembering Teena Marie” has been launched, featuring vocalists like Sulene Fleming and the Square Biz Band performing her biggest hits and deep cuts like “Déjà Vu.” Marie’s daughter, Alia Rose, has a biopic and book in the works. In 2021, John Morales, who worked on some of Marie’s original music, was given access to the early studio tapes and put together the compilation, John Morales Presents Teena Marie: Love Songs & Funky Beats. Released through BBE Music, it gives a modern take on her Motown era.
Were the actresses picked for the TLC musical a good casting choice?
Why didn’t the BBC edit the N-word out of the BAFTA Awards when Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan were presenting since it wasn’t a live event? And if it was because of John Davidson’s Tourette syndrome, why didn’t he apologize?
The Womack Sisters Join Daptone & Release You Went Away Too Long
The Womack Sisters share their latest offering on the Daptone label, “You Went Away Too Long.” Bosco Mann, aka Gabriel Roth, produced the song’s Motown sound. Sisters BG, Zeimani, and Kucha sing the melody like a group of women who are tired of waiting, yet their harmonies soothe over any dissatisfaction. Mann’s imperious horns convey the stern sadness and weary emotions of feeling too much time gone by. The sisters shared the song’s meaning in a press release:
“This song holds a deep meaning that’s different for each of us. Imagine precious time stolen from your life, slipping away like sand through an hourglass, as your loved ones slowly forget the sound of your laughter. ‘You Went Away Too Long’ is a song about love and life interrupted.”
The Womack Sisters have started a new phase of their careers by signing with Daptone. It was 2017 when they emerged with their first single, “Darling,” and the Legacy EP came out five years later. The music was a full-circle moment for their family because their father and uncles started out as The Womack Brothers. Sam Cooke’s daughter Linda, a respected songwriter, is their mother. Unlike so many kids of music legends, they were lucky to have the talent passed down to them. “You Went Away Too Long” follows “I Just Don’t Want You (To Say Goodbye)” and “If You Want Me,” also Daptone releases. The sisters are going on The Constellation Tour this summer with label mates Thee Sacred Souls and Latin instrumental rock band LA LOM. Tickets for those shows and their upcoming solo dates in March are available now.
SALIMATA takes the camera with her on a trip to Thailand and films a video for “Superstar Livin.” The Brooklyn rapper with the Bahamadia swag shows off her body while hanging out in the hotel and on the beach. She flows over a soul track courtesy of the producer Reggie, and it sounds like it should be playing in an old-school Cadillac. At the end of 2025 SALIMATA released The Happening, and her fans are wondering what’s next for the budding star.
BeMyFiasco is back with Misha and their Aura Gold EP. Together they deliver contemporary cross-continental soul connecting Misha’s Finnish roots with BeMyFiasco’s North Carolina foundation. Misha turns BeMyFiasco’s lyrics into songs with mood-inducing acoustic guitar, rugged beats, saxophone, and synthesizers that twitch and make long gliding notes. Their synergy is the strongest on cuts like the self-actualization theme “Back To Myself” and the Afrobeats-inflected title track. Misha flexes his ability to make everything have the sonic smoothness of driving music even on the danceable “Burning Fire.” The warm timbre throughout the playlist is the personification of the title, as both of them glow. Aura Gold is BeMyFiasco and Misha blooming together with an EP that has the carefree air of spring and summer.
Throwback: Hardrive Feat. Barbara Tucker: Deep Inside
Hardrive’s “Deep Inside” featuring Barbara Tucker is one of house music’s most euphoric cases of rhythmic recycling. Louie Vega’s moniker for his releases on the Strictly Rhythm label sometimes included his Masters At Work partner Kenny Dope. Vega sampled Tucker’s vocals from the “Beautiful People” demo he previously made with her and Dope. The sample of “Deep deep deep inside deep deep down inside” was enthralling and made her voice sound like a tool of psychological warfare. Tucker’s vocals, the hi-hat, bassline, ambient piano, and Erick Morillo’s mixing resulted in one of house music’s seminal songs from the ‘90s. “Deep Inside” was released as part of the Deep Inside EP. “Deep Inside” was remastered in 2007, and remixes arrived in 1995, 2009, and 2015. Bob Sinclair, DJ Rashad, and Kanye West have all sampled “Deep Inside.” Masters At Work finished a 2026 collaboration with Rahsaan Patterson and Brian Jackson on a cover of “Lady Day & John Coltrane.” Young Pulse produced Barbara Tucker’s 'In The Name Of Love,“ released in 2026.
Watch FLO perform for the first time in the Tiny Desk office. The British trio delivers smooth harmonies in their seven-song set that includes favorites like “Cardboard Box” and “Shoulda Coulda Woulda.” The last two songs, “Therapy at the Club” and “HaterBooth,” are unreleased and reveal the direction of their sophomore album. Their visibility continues to grow with several accolades, including a Grammy nomination for their 2024 debut, Access All Areas. BET, the NAACP, the Soul Train Awards, the MOBOS, and the Brit Awards have all acknowledged them. The Tiny Desk show proves that all the attention is deserved, and they are ensuring that the all-woman R&B group won’t go extinct in an uncertain 2026 music industry.
Thundercat’s “She Knows Too Much” is a bittersweet collaboration with the late Mac Miller. He reached out to Miller’s estate and was approved to finish and release the song on his sixth album, Distracted. Producer Greg Kurstin worked with Thundercat to complete the production.
The animated video has the two of them on a car ride, a rollercoaster, and a flying saucer. Their wild time together as cartoon characters matches the song’s energy. Video director Léa Esmaili shared her vision for it:
“First of all, making this music video is a huge honor, as I grew up with these two artists and have admired their universe since I was a teenager. I wanted to create, within a single video, a fun animated moment by mixing styles either it’s 2D animation or 3D. Beyond that, I wanted to build a burlesque narrative around two friends who spend a completely crazy day together, tied to their friendship and to anime of this kind.”
WILLOW and Channel Tres are also on Distracted, which comes out on April 3rd.
The Georgia Coalition For The People’s Agenda Release Statement On The Passing Of Jesse Jackson
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The Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda mourns the loss of one of the most influential civil rights warriors in modern history, Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. From Operation Breadbasket, to his historic presidential campaigns, to his decades of leadership at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Rev. Jackson dedicated his life to service, justice, and economic and political empowerment for Black communities across this nation.
Rev. Jackson began organizing as a student and soon became a trusted lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He utilized economic boycotts and negotiation to demand jobs, contracts, and opportunity for Black workers and businesses. But he didn’t just protest, he built political power.
His 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns registered millions of new voters, including more than two million in 1988 alone. He expanded the electorate, inspired young people, and helped usher in a generation of Black elected officials at the state and national levels. His work strengthened the enforcement and spirit of the Voting Rights Act and cemented voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts as central pillars of the modern civil rights movement. He believed deeply that the ballot was the most powerful nonviolent tool we possess.
As we bid farewell to an American hero who dedicated his life to uplifting the marginalized and amplifying voices too often ignored, it feels as though we are closing the chapter on a generation of fearless warriors who confronted injustice and greed head-on. The man who inspired a nation to Keep Hope Alive has departed at a time when it feels hope is in short supply. Yet his life teaches us that hope is not passive; it is a call to action, a mandate to organize, and a responsibility to carry the struggle forward.
In this moment, when our right to vote faces renewed challenges and some seek to weaken the protections generations fought to secure, Rev. Jackson’s passing is not an ending, it is a charge. A call to reinvigorate, reinvent, resurrect, and replenish the civil rights movement. A call to organize, mobilize, and turn people out in record numbers in the 2026 election.
We honor his legacy not with words alone, but with action — by restoring and strengthening the Voting Rights Act, expanding access to the ballot, and ensuring that every citizen’s voice is heard and protected.
Rev. Jesse Jackson’s life was filled with purpose, and his message will endure. Now the mantle passes to us to carry it forward and to Keep Hope Alive.
The Power Station emerged with “Some Like It Hot” in February of 1985. The supergroup was comprised of John Taylor on bass and Roger Taylor on guitar from Duran Duran, Robert Palmer on vocals, and Tony Thompson of Chic on drums. Bernard Edwards, who usually played bass for Chic, produced the band’s first album, and his bandmate Nile Rodgers was unofficially involved. John and Roger wanted to do something outside of Duran Duran’s pop synthesizer sound that had a harder rock edge and funk rhythms. They started out as a trio on a lark with plans for a variety of vocalists and plans to back model Bebe Buell on a cover of T. Rex’s “Get It On.” Robert Palmer’s audition convinced them to record the whole album with him. “Some Like It Hot” was designed to put Tony Thompson’s epic drums out front. Thompson’s thunderous playing grabbed ears immediately and led the band’s chemistry. “Some Like It Hot” made the American Top Ten on the charts, and so did the album. The unlikely grouping of musicians churned out an album that combined funk and rock in a form that charmed pop audiences.
They performed “Some Like It Hot” one time together shortly after its February 1985 release on Saturday Night Live. It was their only performance together because Palmer left the group to record his popular Riptide solo album. The Power Station’s sophomore album, Living In Fear, was released in 1996, but it did not have the buzz of their first album. Palmer and Thompson both passed in 2003, but The Power Station still has a pulse with new fans and the older ones who still listen to them. In 2026, a remastered 40th anniversary edition of the first album was released with new remixes, instrumentals, and never-before-seen concert footage from 1985. A 20th anniversary version was released in 2005 with a DVD and seven bonus tracks. A 3 LP live album, Raw Power: Live At The Spectrum, will be released on Record Store Day 2026.
Lindsey Webster and Stokley go back in time to create their version of “Two Hearts,” originally done by Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass. The 1981 song written by James Mtume, Reggie Lucas, and Tawatha Agee would have intimidated most singers, but Webster and Stokley’s voices have a natural symmetry. Their sparkling energy is a sincere nod to the classic. “Two Hearts” is on Webster’s upcoming seventh studio album, Music In Me. Stokley also plays drums on the album that has appearances from Keyon Harrold, Anthony Hamilton, and Isaiah Sharkey. “Two Hearts” is the only cover on the album that was created over a three-year period with her musical partner, keyboardist Keith Slattery. Webster’s Music In Me comes out on February 27th.
Alex Vaughn is on “Demon Time” with an official video for the song. The Maryland chanteuse released The Hurtbook two years ago, and online R&B “crate diggers” picked it up. Her raw storytelling reminded many of ‘90s-styled R&B, which made some describe her as an old soul. She was a backup singer for Goapele and MuMu Fresh before she released her debut album. Classically trained and in possession of a more than capable pen, fans are primed for Vaughn’s breakthrough moment. The video for “Demon Time” finds her basking in contemplation and self-care.
Five-piece UK band Mamas Gun has connected with the legendary musician Brian Jackson for “Dig!” Frontman Andy Platts formed the band back in 2007 during the days of Myspace, and yes, he used the title of Erykah Badu’s sophomore album for their name. Brian Jackson is always remembered for his output with the late Gil Scott-Heron despite working with other heavyweights like Earth, Wind & Fire, Roy Ayers, and Kool and The Gang. Platts and Jackson met in New York 20 years ago after he received his first publishing deal. Their initial meeting and subsequent songwriting created a rapport for Platts’ manager to reach out to Jackson after Mamas Gun started working on their next project. Jackson said this about “Dig!”:
“Working together has been something that Andy and I had talked about for a long time, and after years, the stars aligned and we finally got the chance. I’ve always been a fan of funky tunes and well-crafted lyrics with a message, so when I heard “Dig! ” I knew we had finally arrived at the right place at the right time. ‘Dig!’ is the song we were meant to record together.“
The funkiness that is "Dig!” is the title track from Mamas Gun’s upcoming sixth studio album. Dig! the album drops April 10th. The band will go on a tour of their native UK in March.
Floetry is breaking their tour hiatus for a return to the stage after 10 years. Teedra Moses and Raheem DeVaughn will join them for the jaunt that starts in New Jersey and ends in Oakland. Clint Coley is hosting the show, and DJ Active will warm up the crowd. Floetry Presents The Say Yes Tour is something R&B fans have been waiting for and contemplating since their three-show appearance at the YS Firehouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio, last year. Fans are forever locked into Floetry’s chemistry on “Say Yes,” which is considered one of the greatest neo-soul songs made. They still hope for a third album in the midst of a poorly supported R&B world in 2026. Teedra Moses just had a highly viewed COLORS show after releasing a reimagined version of her heavily cited Complex Simplicity debut album. Raheem DeVaughn started off the year with The Appetizer release. Local, venue, and promoter presales start Thursday, February 12, from 10 AM to 11:59 PM local time using the code BPC. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 13, at 10 AM local time.
Baby Rose and Leon Thomas sing their way back to an old flame on her single, “Friends Again.” Their collaboration about unresolved feelings sounds like an R&B love song from an earlier time. She introduced the song on BBC Radio 1’s New Music Show with Jack Saunders. The video is a mix of the final cut and a behind-the-scenes look of them filming in a house somewhere. Baby Rose’s surprising baritone is becoming more visible since the release of her sophomore album, Through and Through, which was released in 2023. In 2025 she made her film debut with an appearance as a wedding singer in The Materialists. Thomas just took home two more Grammys for Best R&B Album and Best Traditional R&B Performance. Rose won with Thomas for Best R&B Album for her contribution to “I Used To,” which was their first work as a duo. “Friends Again” is out now.
Ego Ella May is going on a UK tour, and she has shared a video of “What You Waiting For” performed live. The tour will start in April at YES in Manchester, and it will be in support of her sophomore album, Good Intentions. The British-Nigerian singer-songwriter emerged in 2020 with her debut, Honey For Wounds. She just received a nomination for Best Jazz Act at the 2026 MOBO Awards. Ego co-produced and composed “What You Waiting For” with Tom Excell. She says, “‘What You Waiting For’ is one of my favourite songs to play live; this song is so fun! But it holds a deeper meaning about living life NOW and about presence. Quite simply, don’t wait! The time is now. I wrote it about this album as a whole, and trying to conjure up more of a belief in myself and my gifts, and I kept saying to myself, ‘If not now, when?’ It’s the anthem I play when I need a confidence boost!” Check out the video of May’s performance, and tickets for the tour are on sale now. If you are in the UK and can’t make any of the tour dates, she is also performing some acoustic shows at various Rough Trade locations. Access to those dates will be available via pre-order of the exclusive signed limited edition colored vinyl or CD through Rough Trade.
Flying Lotus has announced his next project, the Big Mama EP. The artist spent time in New Zealand composing music for the movie Ash and decided to make new music. Each day for 10 to 15 seconds he worked on the songs that would become the EP. He calls the sounds “Experimental, maximalist, hyperfast, electronic burst of energy. I wanted it to feel like being shot out of a cannon, just explosive, unpredictable energy. Like a fuckin’ computer gone awry. Like a machine that had just lost its mind.” The two-month process included making artwork inspired by cartoons like The Simpsons with artist Christopher Ian Macfarlane. Flying Lotus had always wanted to work with Macfarlane; this time created an opportunity for them to collaborate. The EP will mark the first complete release on his Brainfeeder label. The Big Mama EP is like a successor to his 2010 Pattern+Grid World EP, which sounded like fun computer music. The EP comes out March 6th but can be pre-ordered now.
Jody Watley’s “Real Love” was the first single to emerge from her 1989 sophomore album, Larger Than Life. Watley co-wrote “Real Love” with longtime personal and professional collaborator, André Cymone. Prince’s childhood friend and former bandmate worked with Watley on her debut, co-writing every song. Three top ten singles and a Grammy for Best New Artist certified Watley’s breakthrough as a new pop star. Larger Than Life had a similar impact, and “Real Love” was one of the three top ten hits that made it to number two on the Billboard Hot 100, just as “Looking For A New Love” did in 1987. “Real Love” was a bass-driven dance track with splashy horns. The video was one of the most impactful because of Watley’s progressive style that made it look like a high-end fashion show. All of the clothes were from her closet, and she did a runway walk with her iconic big hoop earrings. David Fincher directed the video that is one of the most nominated music videos ever. Fashion photographer Steven Meisel photographed her for the album cover. “Real Love” also received a Soul Train Award nomination for Best Female Single.
Larger Than Life hit another mark with one of the earliest collaborations between a singer and rapper on “Friends” with Eric B and Rakim. Watley’s success made her the only other dance-oriented female artist in the mainstream besides Janet Jackson. In 2026 “Real Love” is still making people dance. In 2021, Watley became the First Ambassador of the National Museum of African American Music. She received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from Joe Biden in 2022 on Jody Watley Day at the Georgia State Capitol. Watley has an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from T.I.U.A. for being a successful entrepreneur, and she was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2025, Watley released the remix compilation Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats.
Lindsey Webster performs “Music In Me” with Keith Slattery as she gets ready for the release of her seventh album, also titled Music In Me. The album version came out on Lindsey’s January 19th, and it boasts a full band. Webster and Slattery’s longtime musical partnership is evident in their effortless chemistry. The rawness of Webster’s voice heard with only a keyboard is more compelling than the studio version. The duo version serves up more vocal textures and a rare look at her sheer artistry at work. Webster is 10 years out from making history as the first vocalist since Sade’s “Soldier Of Love” to have a number one single on the Smooth Jazz chart. She has continued to build momentum with more hit songs over the years, traversing the jazz and R&B worlds.
Music In Me is the first album to contain a duet. Stokley, Anthony Hamilton, trumpeter Keyon Harrold, guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, and rapper Kev Choice are guests on the album. Stokley plays drums and sings with Webster on what she considers to be her lucky seven collection. Music In Me comes out February 27th.
Houston quartet Sentury has given their single, “Forever,” the acoustic treatment with a black and white video. The group let the cameras watch them as they worked in the studio recording a different version of the song. The promise of fidelity and everlasting love is stripped down to their voices, and their conviction promises that “Forever” will be another wedding song. They are building momentum that started with their cover of Jeffrey Osborne’s “Only Human” in 2025, which made them the first R&B group in 25 years to have a number one song. Sentury’s arrival is at a time when it seemed that the R&B group had gone extinct. The “Forever” acoustic remix is one more song in the building of a legacy that needs to be heard by true R&B fans.
