(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) 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) 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) 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 ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) Cherrelle’s name deserves to be right up there with the best of them in any conversation about underrated R&B royalty. For those who know, she’s a hidden gem of the Minneapolis sound — a singer whose voice defined a slice of the ‘80s and early ‘90s, thanks in large part ...

(ThyBlackMan.com) Gerald Levert had a voice that could melt the coldest heart — powerful, raw, and wrapped in warmth. Born into soul royalty as the son of Eddie Levert of The O’Jays, he didn’t just follow in his father’s footsteps — he forged his own lane with a style that ...