Sam Smith may have postponed his third album in the wake of the global health crisis, but he’s not vacating the spotlight altogether.

The GRAMMY and Oscar winner has unwrapped the video for his stirring cover of Coldplay’s ‘Fix You.’ 

Stripped back and vocally driven, Smith’s take on the classic is already receiving rave reviews from fans.

Check it out below…

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From The Vault takes it all the way to the East Coast today. New York’s very own Mary J. Blige, Method Man and Diddy’s 90s flavored ‘Love @ 1st Sight’ is this week’s pick.

Released in 2003, ‘Sight’ was the very first offering from Mary’s sixth effort ‘Love & Life.’

The project saw the singer reunite with the man responsible for her highly acclaimed two first albums, Diddy – or was it P. Diddy in 2003?

Written by the duo and produced by Mario Winans and Stevie J, the track featured a verse from Rap legend Method Man and was built around a sample of A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Hot Sex’ released in 1992.

Unfortunately, nostalgia wasn’t enough to turn this gem into the surefire hit was on paper. Still it peaked at #22 on the US Hot 100, #10 on the Hot Hip-Hop/R&B tally, and reached the 18th position of the UK Singles Chart.

Chris Robinson was tapped to craft the music video for the track, which shows Mary taking over the streets of a studio-stationed Brooklyn with her dynamite dancers. Both Diddy and Meth appear… as well as a then-premium iPod as the result of paid-for product placement by Apple.

17 years later, it’s still puzzling as to why this song wasn’t as big as ‘Family Affair’ – released 2 years prior – after all it packed the same punch, played host to great melodies and a fire-filled video to match. Sometimes, it’s just not in the cards, it seems…

Still, the song and album’s trajectory only made Ms. Blige’s subsequent project, ‘The Breakthrough’, even more victorious.

Chart topper or not, ‘Love @ 1st Sight’ was yet another home-run by the Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul, and alongside some of her biggest hits, we still have it on replay in 2020.

Your thoughts?

6ix9ine‘s return from prison has brought with it Billboard hits and an endless array of headlines to match.

And it’s all taken place from the living room of his halfway house.

See, the rapper – who was convicted on charges of racketeering and more – has been on house arrest after being released early due to the global health crisis.

In a reflective post, he opened up about his stack of achievements.

His words below…

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Kanye West isn’t the only name in the mix for the US presidency.

For, it appears comedienne Tiffany Haddish is making a bold bid for The White House too.

Full story below…

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Pharrell Williams has been at the helm of many a Billboard bop, but now he’s gearing up to lend his midas touch to the Gospel sphere.

And he’ll be doing so in partnership with Netflix. 

Full story below…

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Kanye West‘s hopes to win the 2020 Presidential election may be stifled by the fact that he missed a number of important deadlines.

Learn more below…

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More gains for the Pop prince Jason Derulo.

Full story below…

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Damon Dash believes a power player at Lifetime has been working hard to “exploit” his relationship with the late singer Aaliyah.

Full story below….

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Lady Gaga‘s wins continue to accrue.

Mother Monster topped the charts in May with ‘Chromatica’ and its hit single ‘Rain On Me.’

Now, the success of the latter is extending on Pop radio.

Full story below…

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Usher has unwrapped the self-directed video for ‘I Cry.’

And it’s a family affair, because the singer’s sons Usher V and Naviyd contribute graphics to the visual (under their alias Dem Raymond Boyz).

Speaking on his rationale for releasing the emotional song, Usher said:

“This song was inspired by wanting to teach my sons that it is ok for a man to feel emotions deeply and to cry. Like many men, I was raised to believe that we have to be “tough” and not show our vulnerability, which I don’t want to teach them. While I was shut in during the pandemic and watching the death of George Floyd, the ongoing slaughter of Black men and women, the protests and the events that unfolded, I became very connected to the wider universal feeling of hopelessness. Like many, I grew increasingly frustrated by how slow things have been to change.  I became very depressed thinking about all the sons who have lost their fathers to police brutality, social injustice and violence; the daughters and mothers too. So I returned to this song and realized it was intended for this time, so I finished it and here it is.”

Watch below…

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Kanye West shocked the masses moments ago by announcing that he is running for president of the United States.

Full story below…

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Beyonce set the net ablaze last week with the surprise announcement of Disney+ movie ‘Black Is King.’

Based on album ‘The Lion King: The Gift,’ the long-form visual sees Queen Bey team with African artists, directors, dancers, and more to celebrate the regality of the Motherland. 

In production for over a year, the hotly anticipated flick arrives on the streamer – which boasts over 50 million subscribers – on July 31st. 

One question that has hovered is how those in Africa can tune in, given that the service isn’t tipped to arrive on the continent until 2021.

Well, it appears plans are in motion. See what we mean below…

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