(ThyBlackMan.com) When we talk about the DNA of hip-hop, three words always come up: James Brown. Breakbeats. From the moment DJs like Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash first looped those funk grooves at Bronx block parties, the Godfather of Soul became something more — the Godfather of Hip-Hop’s heartbeat. It’s ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) The forced resignation of James E. Ryan as president of the University of Virginia at the hands of the Trump administration marks a dangerous precedent for American higher education. The federal government’s ultimatum that Ryan step down as a condition for resolving a civil rights investigation into UVA’s diversity, ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Few voices in R&B history can match the velvet smoothness and emotional honesty of Luther Vandross. For many of us, his music isn’t just part of our playlists — it’s part of our lives. He gave us first dances at weddings, heartbreak anthems for lonely nights, and those songs ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) Elon Musk warned that if Republicans passed their big domestic policy bill, he would form a new “America Party” to primary those who voted for it. He doesn’t need a new party. He has his old one, the Democrats. Many Democrats have grown to intensely dislike Musk, and they ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) “Are we there yet?” “How much longer?” “I just want to get home!” These are phrases I have heard from the back seat where my kids were fidgeting after a long drive. I have never told them this, but there are many times I wanted to ask the questions ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) In the ever-evolving landscape of R&B and dance music, few voices have remained as distinct, versatile, and enduring as that of Deborah Cox. Emerging in the mid-1990s, Cox quickly set herself apart as a powerhouse vocalist who could command a heartbreaking ballad with the same ease she brought to ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) This year’s award for state sponsored terrorism goes once again to (drum roll) the United States of America. Since 1945, the US has been the hands down winner of the award. In 1945, the US won the award for its use of not one but two atomic bombs on ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) When people talk about the golden age of funk, certain names always come up: Parliament-Funkadelic, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang. But tucked into that legendary company is a band that deserves just as much shine — Con Funk Shun. Formed in Vallejo, California, this crew mastered ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) If you’ve been anywhere near a headline this summer, you already know: Sean “Diddy” Combs has once again sidestepped the legal noose. Found not guilty on three major federal counts — racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and specific trafficking charges related to Cassie Ventura and Jane — he now ...
(ThyBlackMan.com) When people talk about the golden age of Motown, names like Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye often dominate the conversation. But tucked within that glittering roster is Mary Wells — the velvety voice that first crowned Motown’s pop royalty. Nicknamed “The Queen of Motown,” Wells was more ...