u/CC-Blue

The album is teeming with so many references to R&B and Pop's past. I wasn't sold on the project at first, but I really enjoy it now.

Samples, Interpolations and Covers

• All I Need interpolates You're All I Need to Get By (1968) by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

• Come Back To You samples and interpolates Voyage To Atlantis (1977) by The Isley Brothers.

• Care For Somebody is a cover of the mid century ballad, Somebody, by Harry Warren.

• Head To Toe samples and interpolates All The Things Your Man Won't Do (1997) by Joe.

• Almost interpolates Almost Doesn't Count (1998) by Brandy.

• That's Why I Love You samples Ritorenai (1963) by Bruno Lauzi.

• I Want You samples and interpolates Sleeping In My Bed (1996) by Dru Hill.

• For You is a cover of the original 1996 song by Kenny Lattimore.

Other Inspirations

• Juicy was inspired by the 80s Yacht Rock sounds of Michael Jackson, Michael McDonald and Toto. The title and Funk sound might also be an allusion to Mtume’s 1983 hit Juicy Fruit.

• The sprawling length and interludes reminded me of Janet's 1993 self-titled masterpiece, janet.

• The lush Adult Contemporary feel of the album is reminiscent of Sade's Love Deluxe (1991) and Chante Moore's 1994 album, A Love Supreme (also, the use of "Love" in both titles).

• No Love Live Yours (Interlude) follows the 90s R&B tradition of ending an album with a Gospel song.

Visual References

The album cover shoot and music video for Reach Out references high fashion photography by Herb Ritts and Albert Watson of late 20th Century music and fashion icons such as:

• Madonna (True Blue album cover)
• Sade (Love Deluxe album cover shoot)
• Janet Jackson (Love Will Never Do music video)
• Michael Jackson (In The Closet music video)
• Tina Turner (1989 shoot)
• Naomi Campbell (various shoots)

I just love that Esther has painted all of Destiny's Child! I believe she worked with Kelly extensively first then Beyonce and most recently, Michelle. Plus, her work with Anika Noni Rose was stunning! Had to throw her in there too, lol. Beautiful ladies

The two crooners have a longstanding friendship that dates back to 2003 when Robin co-penned Can U Handle It on Usher Diamond-certified magnum opus, 2004's Confessions. For the September 26 date of his co-headlining gig with Chris Brown, Usher brought out Robin for a couple of R&B classics such as the aforementioned Boyz II Men hit, Come and Talk to Me by Jodeci and Robin's own Lost Without U. I have always said that Usher and Robin have great musical and vocal chemistry and that is evident in this short clip.

I'm crying at Usher forgetting his character's name on Moesha (his first acting role, btw) and instead named Darryl, the DJ he played in 2005's In The Mix. It's Jeremy, Usher!

Ciara made her iHeartRadio Music Festival debut over the weekend and even though she's pretty far along in her pregnancy, it didn't stop her from busting out her gravity defying "Matrix" move while performing her 2007 hit, Like A Boy. I USED to be able to do this in my teens but I am scared to try it now. Meanwhile, she's on her 5th baby and still has that incredible core strength. This woman is an ATHLETE!

The audio’s reel doesn’t use the actual one from the concert but legendary production duo, Jam & Lewis, were videoed watching Usher perform U Remind Me, the Grammy winning #1 hit they co-produced for his 8701 album 25 years ago. Some fun facts about this song:

• The song was written and produced by Edmund "Eddie Hustle" Clement and Anita McCloud. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis came in later to co-produce. Terry is often referred to as “the vocal guy” and vocal produced Usher’s award-winning performance on the song.

• It was the first time Usher worked with Jam & Lewis. They went on to produce some of his best album cuts, including Can U Help Me, Bad Girl, Seduction and Mars & Venus.

• It was the 16th and final song Jam & Lewis produced to top the Billboard Hot 100.

• It was Usher’s first Billboard Hot 100 #1 of the 2000s and was Billboard’s Song of the Summer in 2001.

• U Remind Me garnered Usher his first Grammy win for Best Male Vocal Performance in 2002. He has won this award three times, making him the male artist with the third most wins in this category.

I randomly came across this on the clock app and loved how he found a new way to sing this 22-year-old song with different phrasing, ad libs and vocal runs. He never performs a song the same way twice. That's what you get when the mic is on.

Photography by Hamid Moleshi

Full list of artists involved in the recording of the single:

1. 3LW
2. Aaron Carter
3. Alejandro Sanz
4. Anastacia
5. Beyoncé
6. Billy Gilman
7. Brian McKnight
8. Bryton James
9. Carlos Santana
10. Celine Dion
11. Cristian Castro
12. Emilio Navaira
13. Gloria Estefan
14. Hanson
15. Jon Secada
16. Joy Enriquez
17. Juan Gabriel
18. Julio Iglesias
19. Justin Timberlake
20. La Mafia
21. Laura Pausini
22. Luis Miguel
23. Luther Vandross
24. Mariah Carey
25. Michael McCary
26. Mýa
27. *NSYNC
28. Nick Carter
29. Olga Tañón
30. Reba McEntire
31. Ricky Martin
32. Rubén Blades
33. Shakira
34. Shawn Stockman
35. Thalía
36. Tom Petty
37. Usher
38. Ziggy Marley

At this point, she and Usher go together real bad. I’m gonna tell Jody 🤣

1. My Way: The Las Vegas Residency (2022)
2. Rendezvous In Paris (2023)
3. Past Present Future Tour (2024)
4. The R&B Tour (2026)

It’s lead single, Daylight, is already out. I am not so keen on Pharrell anymore but I hope this is good.

I just wanna say, I KNEW IT! Cinco is on the way, lol!

Okay, they ate that!

In November 2024, Madam Tussauds Las Vegas teased an upcoming wax figure for Usher. Nearly two years later, I can say it was worth the wait because they did a STELLAR job. The new wax figure features Usher dressed in the now-iconic Vanson Leather BONE jacket and roller skates as seen in his My Way Las Vegas Residency.

Going to Vegas in 2021 through 2023 completely reignited Usher’s career. His two-year stint on the strip grossed an impressive $114 million, making him one of the highest grossing Vegas musicians of all time. The success and wild popularity of the residency also led to an electric Super Bowl Halftime Show performance at Nevada’s Allegiant Stadium in 2023, and two sold-out world and stateside tours.

I made a post a few hours ago commemorating the 25th anniversary of Aaliyah’s funeral. No mention of any controversies or anything. Just a somber reflection about the tragic death of one of the genre’s most innovative and brightest stars gone too soon.

What did I get? Overly conspiratorial comments blaming some of her peers for her death (Jay-Z and Usher, who were in attendance were described as “looking guilty as hell”). Oh and of course, Beyoncé was brought up for good measure. It’s so disrespectful to her and her crew’s death.

But what really grinds my gears is the way these people incessantly bring up R. Kelly. Yes, we know what happened in 1995 and it was utterly disgusting. However, that was not all Aaliyah’s life and career was about. Luckily the mods acted appropriately and removed those comments.

I am starting to think these comments highlighting the grooming she unfortunately went through are not in good faith at all. It’s just another salacious talking point for them. Why not just STAY ON TOPIC and wish the best for the soul of the dearly departed?

This sub has a pop up warning when discussing controversial figures like R. Kelly. I fear the same will soon happen with her. When discussing Aaliyah, you actually don’t have to remind and retraumarize everyone by talking about her abuse. You also aren’t “deep” or have your third eye open because you watched some stupid conspiracy theory video on YouTube. I would like to request stricter moderation on all Aaliyah topics going forward.

End rant.

No one does updated nostalgic fashion this better than him. It really speaks to his timeless looks and iconography.

I was seven-years-old when Aaliyah passed away and only knew her because Try Again was so massively popular. I would later make the connection that she was the singer I heard perform the pop version of Journey To The Past, during the end credits of my VHS copy of Anastasia (1997). When she died 25 years ago, it may have been the first time I experienced young adults around me be genuinely affected by the death of a celebrity. News coverage of the plane crash that led to her death was round the clock and my older cousins mourned the loss of a woman they looked up to. Some of them had JUST bought her eponymous final masterpiece, Aaliyah. Images from the music videos for Rock The Boat and More Than A Woman (the first time I saw an in memoriam message at the end of a video) are seared into my brain just because of how much I saw them at the time.

Looking at these photos of her crestfallen family, friends, peers and colleagues (some of whom have also passed away) as they exited St. Ignatius Loyola Church in New York City, really puts into perspective how massive and devastating her loss was. At 22, Aaliyah was just starting to hit her stride as a major pop star and going by her upcoming film, fashion and business ventures, she was poised for something greater. As writer, Justin Tinsley put it, "Aaliyah is etched into the universe as one of the great and most painful unfinished stories... Aaliyah wasn't finished becoming Aaliyah. Or maybe she was and we have spent the last 25 years trying to tell ourselves this possibly couldn't have been the end for somebody like her."

May Baby Girl continue to rest in peace.

In the mid 90s, Madonna and Janet Jackson were regarded as the most boundary-pushing female pop stars. Their music made bold statements, they reinvented their image often were the preeminent female visual artists of the MTV era. They were also making serious headway as film actresses with Madonna starring in a number of films in the 80s and Janet making her splashy film debut in 1993 with Poetic Justice. Both sought to expand their horizons as Hollywood stars and used music videos for their singles to "audition" for roles they coveted: Evita Peron and Dorothy Dandridge.

I know Madonna's not R&B but the music video in discussion today is for an R&B song. A film adaptation of the Broadway musical, Evita, languished in development hell for 15 years. When the time finally came for the film to be made, Madonna sent a copy of her sultry 1994 music video, Take A Bow, to the film's director, Alan Parker and a four page letter explaining why she was the best fit for the role. He agreed and cast her. The film went into production in 1995, was released in 1996 and Madonna won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy the following year.

Janet Jackson's Design of a Decade era saw the pop diva fashion herself as a polished 50s film starlet after the earthy sexiness of the previous album, janet (1993). Janet had talked about admiring Dorothy since the 80s and by the mid 90s, the race to play the first Black woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar was heating up. Whitney Houston had a script ready and Halle Berry bought the rights to her biography. Janet made a strong visual case with the video for her single, Twenty Foreplay, where she portrayed a glamorous Hollywood star, which many interpreted as a nod to Dorothy. Unfortunately, neither Janet or Whitney would get to make the movie as their careers as music superstars took them in other directions. Halle Berry would end up playing Dorothy in the HBO movie, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, which won her a Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG and NAACP Image Award.

I love this moment where film, pop culture and GOOD R&B music intersects. Are there any more examples of music videos by R&B artists where they make a good case to play a film role?

R&B veteran, Durrell "Tank" Babbs, just announced the release date of his upcoming album, "EXPERIENCE". In true Tank fashion, he's shirtless on the album cover (his SEVENTH cover to follow this theme). The album follows the release of two singles, "CONTROL" (#1 on Adult R&B Airplay) and "YES". The pre-ordered album also comes with two tracks, a House track, "HIGHLIGHT", with the legendary Charlie Wilson and the Gospel closer, "HOW I NEED YOU" with Kirk Kranklin.

He's having big year as a special guest on Usher and Chris Brown's R&B Tour and is about to star in the next season of "Reasonable Doubt" (October 6). Are you ready for Tank's new album? What did you think of the last one, "R&B Money", and what are your expectations for its follow up?

Because one of the markers of a truly iconic artist is having an instantly recognizable image. It's all part of world-building. Here are examples of iconic R&B acts and their signature accessories and how they've evolved through time.

1. Stevie Wonder's sunglasses: Used to shield his eyes because of his visual impairment, his dark-colored Aviator style lenses ended up being a major fashion statement. I have heard some singers say they started wearing shades because of him.

2. Michael Jackson's glitter glove: He could have multiple entries here (fedora, white socks) but I chose the one that stood out the most. From Motown 25 in the early 80s to his last televised performance in 2001, that glove will always be iconic.

3. Janet Jackson's key earring: Used to keep the family animal's cage key close to her, Janet's key earring era in the 80s inspired women everywhere to adopt the look.

4. Prince's bejewelled canes: While he first started carrying walking sticks in the early 1990s purely as a "pimp" persona fashion accessory, they eventually became a neccessity with age. He looked fly every time.

5. Erykah Badu's headwraps: The most important meaning behind Erykah's towering headwraps were to pay respect to her roots, protect her locs and redefine the look of Black women in mainstream media.

6. Mariah Carey's butterfly ring: After her divorce from Tommy Motorola and the release of her 1997 album, Butterfly, Mariah comissioned Van Cleef & Arpels to create the ring to represent her womanly and artistic freedom.

7. Mary J. Blige's thigh high boots: At her core, Mary is just a girl from Yonkers and her luxuriously-crafted thigh-high boots are an evolution of the "Ghetto Fabulous" look she helped give rise to in the 90s.

8. Usher's diamond-encrusted "U" chain: Probably the most iconic piece of jewelry in R&B. Usher's signature chain has gone through so many iterations and sizes since he introduced it nearly 30 years ago.

9. Alicia Keys' hats and beaded braids: Alicia wasn't the first Soul singer to rock braids (Stevie and Patrice Rushen come to mind) but she made it such an integral part of her brand early in her career. Pairing her Fulani braids with beads and those wide brim hats was such a look.

10. Ne-Yo's fedoras: He's said he owns a whopping 12k fedoras and hats in his closet and I believe him. In the 20 years we've known Ne-Yo, he has never repeated wearing a hat more than once!

This is the most Y2K video you will see today. In support of her You Drive Me Crazy World Tour, Fox aired a television special of one of her shows at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu in April, 2000. Dressed in all white and flanked by two backup dancers, Joe, who was one of Britney’s label mates at Jive Records, made an appearance to sing a sweet rendition of his hit song, I Wanna Know, to a beaming Spears.

This was as close to perfection as a vocal performance could sound and Joe surpassed the studio recording here in my opinion. The move to feature him on the concert special was a brilliant cross-promotional tactic that appealed to both artists’ fans. A few months later in July, the single would peak at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

As a millennial, this video hits a little different because it was represented the melting pot that became the Billboard charts at the start of the millennium. Pop, Rock, R&B and Hip-Hop songs were all over top 40 radio. It was a time when a slow jam like I Wanna Know could become a major pop hit. Also, just looking at a young Britney before what befell her career later that decade (and beyond) is a reminder of how innocent things felt.