(ThyBlackMan.com) When I first heard Minnie Riperton’s voice, it felt like hearing a lullaby from the heavens—sweet, soaring, and impossible to forget. Sure, most folks know her for “Lovin’ You,” but there’s so much more to her than just that one iconic whistle note. Minnie had a gift that reached ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) There’s just something about Anthony Hamilton’s voice that hits different. Maybe it’s the grit in his tone, the way he drags a syllable like he’s pulling it straight from the soul. Or maybe it’s how his lyrics sound like pages ripped from someone’s journal—raw, honest, and deeply human. Either ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) Let’s be honest—when it comes to blending rock, soul, funk, and pure cool, Lenny Kravitz has always had the juice. He’s the kind of artist who doesn’t just perform music—he embodies it. From the moment he dropped onto the scene in the late ’80s, Kravitz was doing his own ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) If you’ve ever tapped your foot to a beat you couldn’t shake, swayed in your seat when no one was looking, or suddenly smiled because a song brought back a memory you didn’t know you were holding onto—chances are, Earth, Wind & Fire had something to do with it. ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) There’s something about Alicia Keys that just sticks with you. Maybe it’s the way she blends soulful vocals with heartfelt lyrics, or how she sits at a piano and makes it feel like she’s speaking directly to you. From the first time I heard “Fallin’” on the radio, I ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) When I think about the artists who have truly moved me—who’ve stopped me mid-task, mid-thought, mid-life—Tracy Chapman is always at the top of that list. Her voice is like a soft wind that somehow knocks the air out of you. Her lyrics don’t scream; they whisper truths you’ve tried ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) If you’ve ever cranked up a guitar-driven rock song and felt that electric jolt of rhythm pulse through your body—chances are, you’ve got Chuck Berry to thank. As a guitarist, songwriter, and flat-out pioneer of rock and roll, Chuck Berry didn’t just make music; he laid the foundation for ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) Writing about James Cleveland again feels like revisiting an old friend—someone whose voice once echoed through the walls of my childhood home or the church pews on a quiet Sunday morning. While my first piece highlighted his more recognized work, this time I wanted to dig a little deeper—into ...