Comedian Affion Crockett‘s spent the greater half of his life delivering smiles to audiences across the country, but his latest effort sees him tackle subject matter that’s no laughing matter.

The star in H.E.R.‘s gripping visual for the heartbreaking ‘I Used to Know Her’ track, ‘I’m Not Ok,’ the actor-comic reenacts the horror of being victimized police brutality and the profound impact abuse and deaths at law enforcement’s hands have on the Black community.

“For every Black man who literally & figuratively can’t seem to get off the ground, as they kill our bodies & spirits. We are surrounded by Grandmothers, Mothers, Wives, & Daughters trying to help us,” he says in the visual. “Praying for us yet left with the aftermath of watching us die. It is time to say we are not ok.” 

While the tune was not originally designed as a protest song, its repurposing is still apt.  See its accompanying emotional clip inside:

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Having earned critical acclaim from her previous hits that have sampled the likes of Beyoncé‘s ‘Crazy in Love,’ Khia‘s ‘My Neck, My Back,’ and Petey Pablo‘s ‘Freek-a-leek,’ rising rapstress Saweetie is keeping the trend going with the Too $hort-sampled, ‘Tap In.’

A summer-ready anthem akin to its forerunner, the double Platinum ‘My Type,’ ‘Tap’ sees her pay homage to her fellow Bay native ‘s hit ‘Blow the Whistle’ while also boasting about her sexual prowess aboard the tune’s catchy hook.

“Lil’ waist, fat a**, b*tch, tap in / Tap, tap, tap in / Diamonds dancin’ on your neck, ni**a, tap in,” Saweetie spits.

Serving as the first official release from her forthcoming debut album, ‘Pretty B*tch Music,’ look below to hear the latest.

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As one of the only A List musicians to debut during the advent of social media, Nicki Minaj has had the surreal privilege of watching her fans grow up in real time online.

In 2019, one of these fans- a teen who went by the name Nas Maraj– used his position as a leading member of her fan base to become the ubiquitous Lil Nas X.

Alas, as his breakout tune ‘Old Town Road’ ruled the charts, a great deal of effort was made to erase his digital history with hopes doing would so erase Minaj’s impact on his life and career.

Today, the pair have put the past behind them.

Find out what happened when Minaj spotted his request for a collaboration on Twitter below…

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Pop Smoke‘s estate has signed a co-publishing deal with  the publishing arm of Warner Music.

Full story below…

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Cardi B has never been one to hold her tongue. So, it’s only fitting that the fiery femcee had a number choice words for her detractors. Specifically those chastising her body.

Full story below…

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Misha B has been a fixture in the headlines of late after speaking up and out about the harrowing racial bias she says she experienced during her tenure on The X Factor UK. 

As reported, the talented songbird shared how her wings were clipped after being labelled a “bully” on live television by judges Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh. A move fellow judge Gary Barlow shockingly revealed was encouraged by producers.

Having revealed that the dramas in front of the camera and behind it left her feeling suicidal, the show has issued a response.

Read below…

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Lil Nas X would like to collaborate the woman who inspired him to become a musician.

Full story below..

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Over her nearly 40-year career, R&B legend Anita Baker has racked up accolades and acclaim the world over – renown for a velvety alto that’s gifted music lovers unforgettable hits like ‘Sweet Love,’ ‘Giving You the Best That I Got,’ ‘Body & Soul,’ and more.

But, despite venturing to dizzying heights of fame, Baker – like a number of other African Americans – has been a victim of unfair treatment from law enforcement officers.

In the wake of one of the hottest spotlights shone on racial injustice in recent memory, the GRAMMY winner is using her platform to connect with fans and inform them she too has had negative run-ins with police.

Her story inside:

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Detractors who have branded Justin Bieber‘s ‘Changes’ era a “flop” will be sorely disappointed by the enduring commercial performance of the set’s second official single, ‘Intentions.’

While not reaching the Hot 100 heights of its predecessor, ‘Yummy’ (which peaked at #2), the Quavo-assisted song’s been a mainstay in the tally’s top 10 for months.

Now, four months after its official debut, ‘Intentions’ has bounded into the chart’s top 5 for the first time thanks to 60.6 million streams, 7,000 digital song sales, and 13 million streams. 

The win is accompanied by a couple of history-making mentions:

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Alicia Keys has been in activism overdrive and we love to see it.

While hot on the promo trail in support of her recently released memoir, ‘More Myself,’ the diva watched her two singles – ‘Underdog’ and ‘Good Job’ – unexpectedly become anthems for healthcare and frontline workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, she’s setting her sights on erasing racial inequality and seeking justice on behalf of slain Louisville, KY healthcare worker Breonna Taylor.

Taking to Trevor Noah‘s ‘Daily Show’ Monday (June 15), the 15-time GRAMMY winner discussed Taylor as well as her forthcoming #VERZUZ battle against fellow GRAMMY winner John Legend.

Hear all of this and more inside:

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Tekashi 69 is pointing at Meek Mill and laughing at him.

Find out why below…

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Over a year after announcing her latest album was finished, the follow-up to 2016’s ‘Charlene,’ R&B soulstress Tweet has been steadily teasing buzz tracks over the last few weeks to culminate to the release of new song, ‘I Admit It.’

While admitting ‘Admit’ is ‘not an official single,’ the Charlie Bereal-produced tune is just a way to hold fans over until her official LP is ready to launch.

“You’re not the guy, the one I dreamed of / I can tell ’cause I only give just enough / Say what I had to to save your feelings / But I don’t want to lie to you anymore,” she sings. “So I’ll just close the door and leave you alone / Please forgive me, I admit I’m wrong / I admit I’m wrong.” 

Hear it inside: (more…)