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Erykah Badu, Teyana Taylor, H.E.R., & Brandy Link For “Ladies First” Cypher
An unforgettable moment during Tuesday (October 27) evening’s 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards has to be when four showstopping artists joined together for the Ladies First cypher. Teyana Taylor, Erykah Badu, H.E.R., and Brandy are all women dominating the Hip Hop and R&B circles, so it was only fitting that these women came together to once again debut their talents, this time to highlight all things womanhood. In the black and white clip, Ms. Badu dons the DJ cap as she starts things off by kicking off the beat. The familiar sound comes from Brandy’s classic 1994 hit “I Wanna Be Down,” and not only do the ladies give their performances over the track, the visual also mirrors the song’s music video.
Teyana opened things up with H.E.R. right behind her followed by Erykah while Brandy appropriately closed things out. Each artist tackled topics relating to Black womanhood and touched on socio-political issues that are prevalent to Black women. On Instagram, Brandy was thankful that her friends and fellow artists came together for this epic moment.
“BET Hip Hop Awards – Queen’s Cypher,” Brandy wrote. “And if they say sky is the limit then buy a cloud and if they can’t see us as an equal they not allowed. thank you queens.” Watch the cypher below and let us know what you think.
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ReeToxA confronts the past with truth on “HMAS CERBERUS”
“HMAS CERBERUS,” ReeToxA’s new single, is a raw, very personal song about his life experiences. The song sounds like Oz rock from the 1990s, and modern alternative and grunge. It sounds brave and familiar at the same time, like a truth kept secret for a long time.
“HMAS CERBERUS” is based on a true story from Jason McKee’s life, and it shows how his ten years in the Navy changed him and how they still do. The song bravely speaks to the emotional toll of service, including alcoholism and mental stress, sincerely.
The poem is what makes the single stand out. The writing is brilliant and stays smart, and it’s hard without being preachy. The singer got the idea for the song when he saw four seasons in one day at a beer garden in Melbourne. It connects the sudden change in the weather to a life that is constantly changing and hiding how you feel. It’s a potent metaphor for a mind that finally stops long enough to figure out where the damage started.
The song “HMAS CERBERUS” is both intense and at the same time. It makes you think, but it’s also surprisingly easy to dance to, which shows that dark themes don’t have to be sad music. The song is both interesting and challenging to listen to because of the gritty guitars and rock base. In a sea of safe releases, ReeToxA stands out as honest, raw, uncomfortable, and necessary. “HMAS CERBERUS” is a brave meditation that stays with you for a long.time
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Kieran James Honors Memory with “Part of the Grind”
Singer-songwriter Kieran James delivers a devastating new single with “Part of the Grind,” a track to tackle the tangled emotions behind loss and memory. A love letter penned to a close friend who faced severe cognitive decline, the song’s emotional heft feels universal yet heartbreakingly personal.
Set to delicate instrumentation and achingly sung vocals, “Part of the Grind” is both a lament and an honoring, a means of remembering while addressing the unavoidable cost of time and illness. His voice floats, leaving room for silence and the long pauses that so often come with grief. But in that silence, there is warmth as well, a refusal to let memory be totally extinguished.
Resilience is also implied in the song’s title, a reminder that even in heartbreak, life goes on and holding the memory of someone stays with the rhythm of everyday living. it’s an anthem for anyone who has ever looked on witnessing decline, mixed sorrow with love.
In Kieran James’s “Part of the Grind,” we hear music as well as go behind it. He gives us room feel, to mourn, and to honor. In the process, he turns private pain into something achingly universal, a song for everyone who has either loved or lost.
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