Monica has made an indelible mark with her long list of classic songs. As such, the GRAMMY-winning songbird was an apt pick to help celebrate Black Music Month on the Tiny Desk Concert series.

Armed with that unforgettable alto, the singer took vocal flight with rousing renditions of hits ‘Angel of Mine,’ ‘So Gone,’ ‘Love All Over Me,’ and ‘Before You Walk Out My Life.’

Mo’ also marveled with a special preview showing of ‘Friends’ – her incoming single with Ty Dolla $ign.

Check out the soaring set after the jump…

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Since its launch during lockdown, VERZUZ has never been short on delivering moments and its latest showdown lived up to that billing.

Omarion and Mario did battle and the spar was memorable for a whole host of reasons.

Full story below…

Embracing the new live performance format, the R&B crooners locked horns with spirited renditions of hits such as ‘O,’ ‘Ice Box,’ ‘Let Me Love You’ and ‘Crying Out For Me.’

And as is customary, viewers did not hold back with their views realtime – with everything from vocals (see: Omarion) to dance moves (see: Omarion) to a watermelon (see: Omarion) being dissected with scientific granularity.

Mario also sprung a surprise by bringing out O’s B2K band members for a performance.

Elsewhere, “Bonus Battle” competitors Ray J, Bobbie V, Sammie brought the hilarity with drama over duplicate showings of ‘One Wish.’

Enough from us, though. Check out highlights from one of the more dramatic VERZUZ showings in a while.

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Madonna sprung a surprise on fans during her performance at New York Pride 2022. 

And that surprise came in the form of Saucy Santana.

The Queen of Pop brought the ‘Booty’ performer out to deliver a mash-up of her hit ‘Material Girl’ and his track ‘Material Gworl.’

Together the pair powered through the energetic showing – much to the delight of the capacity crowd.

Watch the unique duo in action after the jump…

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Three months after first teasing ‘Carolina,’ fans of Taylor Swift – affectionately called #Swifties – finally have their first listen to the haunting track.

Penned for the ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ soundtrack ahead of the film’s July 15 landing date in theaters, Swift revealed she was thrilled to be a part of the project when she learned the Delia Owens novel would be adapted into a movie.

“’Where the Crawdads Sing’ is a book I got absolutely lost in when I read it years ago,” the Pop diva shared. “As soon as I heard there was a film in the works starring the incredible @daisyedgarjones and produced by the brilliant @reesewitherspoon, I knew I wanted to be a part of it from the musical side.”

And now she’s on the other side indeed.  Produced by Aaron Dessner, hear ‘Carolina’ in full inside.

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On July 1, the same day the Minions are back to take over theaters with the new animated feature film ‘Minions: the Rise of Gru,’ the mischevious bunch are looking to take over music charts with the movie’s star-studded companion album.

Lined by the likes of Diana Ross, Phoebe Bridgers, Kali Uchis, and more, the Jack Antonoff-produced project also features contribution from GRAMMY and Academy Award-winning songstress H.E.R.

Putting her spin on the classic 60’s Sly and the Family Stone hit ‘Dance to the Music,’ the singer-songwriter trades in her usual slower-to-mid-tempo grooves for a refreshing take on the psychadelic jam – and we can say without hesitation that she NAILED it.

Hear it inside:

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Over a year after Giveon saw his name printed in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 with his inaugural compilation album ‘When It’s All Said and Done…Take Time,’ the rising R&B star is looking to do it a second time via his long-awaited debut album, ‘Give or Take.’

Arriving on digital shelves Friday (June 24) courtesy of Epic Records, the 15-track project includes the previously released singles ‘For Tonight’ and ‘Lie Again’ – both of which hit the Billboard R&B chart’s top 20 (with ‘Tonight’ peaking highest at #6).

“The whole concept of the album is me having a conversation with my mom, and we’re just catching up,” he said of ‘Give or Take.’ “That’s why the stories kind of feel like a roller coaster and not just one smooth story—because it was more sporadic.  I really wanted to give people a look behind the curtains of a 26-year-old man growing up today.”

Hear it in full inside courtesy of Apple Music and Spotify.

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With ‘Finally Enough Love’ fans of Madonna finally get their hands on all of her chart-topping Dance hits in one place.

The compilation album, announced early May, commemorates the Pop Queen making Billboard history after topping the Dance Club Songs chart for the 50th time – making her the first and only to do so.  She is also the first and only artist in Billboard history to have 50 #1 hits on any chart.

The 50-track collection includes her favorite remixes of those chart-topping dance hits while an abridged 16-track version, simply titled FINALLY ENOUGH LOVE, is available for streaming inside.

Listen to it courtesy of Spotify.

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Lil Nas X‘s ‘Late to Da Party’ dropped early Friday morning (June 24) and fans of the GRAMMY winner couldn’t be more elated.

Teased via a series of fake promotional ads – including one that slick dissed the BET Awards for omitting him from their nominations tally –  the new tune features fellow chart-topping rapper NBA YoungBoy (also known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again).

Keeping the diss going, ‘Party’ starts with LNX chanting “f*ck BET” before launching into the tune’s braggadocious lyrics.

“Everything I do, b*tch, right or wrong, gon’ make a profit / Read about it / I don’t even gotta sing about it / I wake up with the money that you n*ggas dream about,” he croons over the TakeADayTrip-produced beat.

Hear it in full inside.

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‘Breezy,’ the 10th studio album from Chris Brown, has arrived.

Just two days after getting fans hot with the video to ‘Warm Embrace,’ the R&B bad boy lifts the lid on his first solo studio effort since 2019’s ‘Indigo.’

A 24-track affair, the star-studded LP features the likes of H.E.R., Wizkid, Ella Mai, Tory Lanez, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Lil Wayne, Bryson Tiller, and many more.

And while anticipation for the project is high among Brown’s diehard supporters (affectionately called #TeamBreezy), the set marks his first to enter battle at the Billboard 200 without a Hot 100 Top 40 single to precede it.

While time will tell the impact that has on the set’s chart trajectory, in the meantime you can listen to ‘Breezy’ via Apple Music and Spotify inside.

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‘Black Ink Crew’ star Ceaser Emanuel has been axed from the show with immediate effect after a video showing him allegedly beating and abusing dogs surfaced online.

Full story below…

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The Wireless Festival 2022 continues to bring the heat with its most scorching line-up yet.

Because Afrobeats titan Wizkid has officially boarded a bill stacked with superstars.

Full story below…

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Jennifer Hudson‘s multidimensional career is set for its next chapter with the launch of the star’s daytime series, ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show.’

Set to premiere on Fox stations on September 12, J.Hud’s foray into the talk sphere comes following her historic ordination as an EGOT winner. 

Speaking on what her show – which is being helmed by the team behind ‘Ellen’ – will be serving up, Hudson said:

“Nothing makes me happier than to see everybody shine and know that they have a light within them. On ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show,’ you’re going to get quality, you’re going to get honesty, you’re going to get all of my heart, and don’t forget the fun. We’re going to have a lot of fun.” 

Ahead of its debut, check out the first look trailer:

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