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Halle Bailey’s love?… or something like it (Deluxe): Vulnerability, Growth, and New Colors. Approaching Halle Bailey’s debut solo album for the first time, and taking in the full project (including the newly expanded deluxe edition), felt like stepping into a carefully constructed emotional landscape rather than a collection of isolated songs. The experience is cohesive, intimate, and quietly ambitious. The ethereal, almost cinematic intro immediately sets the tone. Its poetic quality and delicate atmosphere pull you in right away, establishing a sense of vulnerability and wonder that lingers across the record. It’s a strong opening statement that primes the listener for the journey ahead. “Know About Me” (featuring GloRilla) stands out as a charismatic pivot. The collaboration injects a fresh, bold flavor into Halle’s solo sound. Something more assertive and textured than the softer R&B-leaning moments elsewhere. It expands her musical identity without feeling forced. “Heaven” is a highlight. The afrobeat-inflected production is captivating and suits Halle’s voice beautifully. There’s a noticeable kinship with the recent sonic direction of her sister Chlöe; whether one influenced the other or both drew from similar wells, the result is positive. The track feels natural and magnetic. “Back and Forth” carries clear echoes of Destiny’s Child in its melodic phrasing and group-harmony sensibility, a nod that feels both respectful and personal given Halle’s background. One of the album’s emotional peaks is “So I Can Feel Again” with Chlöe. The sisterly chemistry is undeniable, delivering a dose of nostalgia from their duo days while carrying a more mature, reflective weight. It doesn’t just revisit the past, it evolves it. “In Your Hands” leans into gospel influences with its soulful delivery and spiritual undertones, adding another layer of depth to the project’s exploration of love and healing. The collaboration with H.E.R. (“No Warning”) has strong vocal chemistry and solid ideas, but it feels somewhat underutilized. A heavier, more infectious beat could have elevated it further and given the track greater impact within the album’s flow. “Bite Your Lip” is among the strongest cuts. It carries a mature, melancholic air that showcases Halle’s growth as a songwriter and vocalist, balancing emotional weight with control. Finally, “Don’t Leave” (from the deluxe) emerges as a true standout. It fits seamlessly into the album’s themes while feeling distinct and memorable. An addition that strengthens the overall project rather than merely extending it. Visually, the original album cover does a better job of reflecting the project’s musicality. Its warmer, richer tones feel more inviting and aligned with the emotional warmth and intimacy of the songs. The deluxe artwork, by comparison, comes across as more muted and less cozy to the eye. Almost a bit faded in presence, which slightly underplays the heart of the music it represents. Taken as a complete listening experience, love?… or something like it (Deluxe) reveals Halle Bailey carving out her own space with emotional honesty, refined production choices, and a willingness to blend influences. The first-listen impression is of an artist who is both rooted in her past and confidently stepping forward. Verdict: 8.0/10

me: men are disgusting also me every single time the guy I met yesterday says he loves me:

Only 4 Black women have won the "Album of the Year" category at the Grammys: Natalie Cole — Unforgettable... with Love (1992) Whitney Houston — The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album (1994) Lauryn Hill — The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1999) Beyoncé — Cowboy Carter (2025)

In a raw and emotional conversation on Keke Palmer’s podcast 'Baby, This Is Keke', Grammy-winning artist Lil Jon spoke candidly about navigating the devastating loss of his 27-year-old son, Nathan Smith (also known as DJ Young Slade), who died in February 2026 after an accidental drowning. Lil Jon emphasized the universal nature of grief and the necessity of moving forward. “If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone. And if I can get through it, you can get through it,” he said. He added that he shares this message even during his shows: “If somebody’s out here dealing with loss, I’m just saying that you have to keep living. God brought your loved one or friend home, but you are here. He shows you to keep living. So you have to keep living. You have to enjoy life, and your loved one would want you to keep living and enjoying life and not give up. Because if you want to give up, they would love to trade places with you and come back. … We have to keep living. We have to keep spreading love. We have to keep spreading joy.” The Atlanta rapper and producer described the heavy emotional toll in the months after his son’s death. “Going through my grief, going through my loss of my son, I realized I was just in a—not dark, but I’m just in a very down place. I’m crying every day. I’m just on the couch,” he recalled. He explained that his daughter and partner became a key reason he pushed himself to heal: “I realized I had to pick myself up because my daughter and my partner don’t need to see the worst of me. They need to get the best of me. They deserve that. So it made me pick myself up and, you know, smile. I had to learn to smile again, and I had to learn to laugh again.” Lil Jon also reflected on the strange guilt that accompanied any moment of happiness. He remembered the first party he performed after burying his son, where “it just felt wrong to smile. Every day when I [experienced] something, whatever, it would feel wrong to just be happy about. And I had to change that.” Touring with Pitbull proved pivotal in his recovery. On the final U.S. show of the tour, he said he broke down after realizing how much he needed the experience: “I needed to be out on the road. I needed to feel all of that energy from all of those people in every city, to see those smiling faces, to see them having a good time. I needed to be around the crew, my crew, people making me laugh again, making me joke, have a good time.” Throughout the interview, Lil Jon framed his journey as one of resilience and purpose—using his own experience to encourage others facing similar loss to keep living, loving, and finding moments of joy, even when it feels impossible. His memoir 'I Only Shout So You Can Hear Me', released earlier this month, also addresses the grief and his reflections on family and legacy.

Tanerélle new single ‘save me’ out this Friday.

Ciara and Russell Wilson are prioritizing a humble outlook for their children as a key part of the family’s long-term legacy. Wilson has said that while winning a Super Bowl is something to be proud of, it may not be the only thing for which he is remembered. Ciara wants their kids to carry forward the same perspective the couple has lived through their philanthropic work. “We say that we want to empower youth to lead with the ‘Why not you?’ attitude, and obviously that applies directly to our kids in our house,” Ciara explained. “When they have that mentality, there’s no limit to what they can do. There’s no limit to their dreams. If they’re going to help continue this mission, they have to be a part of it.” For the couple, the message is clear: success matters, but so does the mindset—and the responsibility—to keep giving and dreaming bigger. 🔗

BET has annouced the Grammy-winning artist Durand Bernarr as the Soul Personified Honoree at the 2026 Soul Train Awards. From his genre-defying artistry and powerhouse vocals to his commitment to authenticity, Durand continues to push R&B forward while honoring its rich legacy. This special honor recognizes an artist who fully embodies the essence and spirit of the sound. In addition to receiving the honor and performing on the main show, Durand will host the Digital Red Carpet Pre-Show: Back on Track. Expect the perfect mix of talent, personality, and sharp commentary, the kind of evening that truly feeds the culture. Catch it all on Friday, November 27th at 8/7c on BET (also airing on CBS and streaming platforms).

Rolling Stone ranked The 200 Greatest Rock Songs of the 21st Century So Far - and here are the names of the Black artists on the list: #171 Mdou Moctar, ‘Afrique Victime’ #156 Prince, ‘Guitar’ #128 Gary Clark Jr., ‘Bright Lights’ #116 Willow feat. Travis Barker, ‘Transparent Soul’ #106 Bartees Strange, ‘Boomer’ #101 The Roots feat. Cody Chesnutt, ‘The Seed (2.0)’ #59 D’Angelo and the Vanguard, ‘The Charade’ #46 Beyoncé and Jack White, ‘Don’t Hurt Yourself’ #41 OutKast, ‘B.O.B.’ #8 Jay-Z, ’99 Problems’

Full list:

After two decades anchoring Odd Future, fronting The Internet, and quietly shaping hits for some of the biggest names in music, Syd has fully stepped into her own with her third solo album, Beard. In a new FADER cover story, she reflects on a career built from the ground up. Starting as a teenage engineer charging five dollars for studio time in her parents’ sunroom in Mid-City Los Angeles and the long path of learning by doing. She never set out to be a frontwoman. Singing and performing were things she figured out on the job, often through anxiety and persistence, until the work became second nature. Beard, recorded largely at home and written for her own voice rather than for other artists, marks her most personal and self-assured project yet: an exploration of identity, love, and evolution from a place of comfort and clarity. Collaborators including Big Sean, Raphael Saadiq, and her brother Travis Bennett speak to her quiet mastery, team-player ethos, and organic approach. At 34, married, settled near where she grew up, and still very much a homebody, Syd embodies the power of staying true to her own pace and space.

Check it out:

When PEOPLE magazine named Black men as the ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ for three years in a row: 2018. Idris Elba 2019. John Legend 2020. Michael B. Jordan

Russell Wilson and Ciara began talking about building a foundation together on their very first date. What started as a shared vision has grown into the Why Not You Foundation. A partnership that has supported tens of thousands of children through education, pediatric health, food security, and youth programs across the country. In a new Town & Country feature, the couple opens up about the roots of their work: Wilson’s weekly hospital visits that began as a rookie in 2012, the “Why not you?” mantra from his father, Ciara’s deep ties to Atlanta, and their commitment to showing up in person rather than lending their names from a distance. From major gifts to Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital and the Atlanta Community Food Bank to Why Not You Centers with Boys & Girls Clubs, their approach emphasizes relationships, creativity, and stable foundations so kids can dream bigger. Even after Wilson’s retirement from the NFL and as their family grows, the mission remains central: both for the children they serve and for the values they’re instilling in their own kids.

Check it out:

“[This] brought tears to my eyes. It reminds me of what a huge blessing it was from God after the miscarriage that Blue was born healthy and beautiful. It is a beautiful thing to see how her father celebrated her life in this song, and what joy all of his children bring to him. They are all such a blessing.” Tina Knowles via IG.

Rema is cold in new photo.

RT @blackishpress: Alicia Keys appears on the November 2026 cover of Vogue Italia, photographed by Szilveszter Makó, in a thoughtful conversation that also includes her husband and longtime collaborator Swizz Beatz. The most notable update is the imminent release of Lovers Rose, their first full collaborative album and Keys’ first studio project in five years. The seven-track record blends African-American R&B with Chicano soul, Latin musical traditions, and the cultural atmosphere of classic lowrider cars. Keys describes it as carrying a sense of peace and warmth rather than a typical New York edge. An invitation to “let the nervous system breathe” and step away from everyday chaos.⁠Vogue The interview also deepens the portrait of their 16-year marriage, which began with a high-school introduction in 1990s New York (she initially declined to give him her number). Swizz compares their dynamic to Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me,” emphasizing that they have never raised their voices with each other and instead discuss differences calmly as adults. An approach they are proud to model for their two children. Keys returns to a core personal philosophy: she always leaves room for magic, because being overly specific about desires risks missing the best part of what life can offer. Her real gift, she suggests, is the ability to turn dreams into something tangible. Overall, the piece presents Alicia Keys as both an enduring artist and a deliberate partner, focused on light, presence, and shared humanity.

RT @blackishpress: 4 Years Ago Today: The World Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever On October 26, 2022, Marvel Studios held the world premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at the El Capitan Theatre and Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The event marked a powerful and emotional return to Wakanda following the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film honored Boseman’s legacy while introducing new characters and expanding the MCU’s narrative in meaningful ways. Attended by the cast including Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, and Tenoch Huerta, the premiere set the stage for the film’s theatrical release on November 11, 2022. Four years later, Wakanda Forever remains a standout entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only for its box office success and critical acclaim, but for the cultural impact and emotional depth it delivered. Wakanda Forever. 🖤

Flo Milli Calls Megan Thee Stallion “A Caring Person” and Highlights Their Collab Session: “I f*ck with Megan so hard, and she really is a caring person. I just want to put that out there. Shout out to Meg. That was probably one of my favorite sessions [they have worked together previously in ‘Roc Steady’, from Megan's Act II and have something to release in milli’s next project]. Like, it was so fun. We talked about everything. Like, it's like I didn't expect her to be like that, but I did in a way. But, honestly, Meg is good in my book.” Via SiriusXM

Alicia Keys announced a new album with her husband, Swizz Beatz.

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