Camille Augustin

With his roots cemented deep in the church, Static Major’s voice transcended the holy sanctuary and landed on the ears of Jawann “Smokey” Peacock and later Benjamin “Black” Bush. They formed the 90s group Playa — which saw the addition and subtraction of members before it became just the trio — after being discovered by Devante Swing of Jodeci at a concert. For Playa, music was a way of life. Black and Smoke’s first introduction via three-way resulted in a battle of the vocals, and they instantly knew they would click on wax. From winning top prizes at gospel expos to serving as a source of inspiration for Jodeci, the R&B group was determined to be a force to be reckoned with in front of the masses and behind the pen. (Read More)

It’s been 15 years since Aaliyah Haughton’s unexpected passing (Aug. 25). Within that time span, her music has continued to serve as an inspiration and catalyst for other artists’ careers. The epitome of sticking true to the real you, Aaliyah made sure that her opinions on her career mattered without compromise for the sake of success, leading her to be one of the few authentic and relatable entertainers in the industry. With three solid and genre-defying albums immortalized in her discography, the Detroit native aimed to elevate her sound with each full-length project, leading you to wonder what would’ve been next for the famed singer. (Read More)

For Jason Flom, the process of proving an incarcerated person’s innocence is an around the clock task. Before the beginning of this interview, the Lava Records CEO took a call from a prisoner named Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez, who was sentenced to 25 years in Sing-Sing Prison for murder. According to a 2014 NBC report, Velazquez – who has been detained since 1998 –pleaded with the courts to grant him another trial where he’ll present evidence that could solidify his innocence. (Read More)

From West Africa to the West Indies, the sounds that preserve the history of these regions remain an undeniable influence in pop music. Whether it’s Ed Sheeran’s “Shape Of You,” or most recently Drake’s “Signs,” pop artists continue to look to the rhythms sewn within Afrobeats and Dancehall to cook up that feel-good hit. With the summer season underway, the dance-floor ready vibes continue to pour from some of our favorite musicians, especially when those stateside link up with the rising pioneers of the aforementioned genres. (Read More)

Michael Bakari Jordan is pressed for time. The photo shoot set he just arrived on knows it, his personal team knows it and he knows it. With an intense press tour ahead of him for his newest film Creed, it’s surprising that this sort of new leading man takes the pressures of a demanding schedule like a rugged veteran. The straight-laced actor’s time is carved into an itinerary reminiscent of an 18-credit syllabus. With his spotlight getting brighter, it becomes more and more apparent that the man of the hour has arrived. (Read More)

Way before Twitter timelines and WhatsApp chats, we had our weekly conversations at the lunchroom table. With our processed vegetables or mac n’ cheese below us, we pushed aside our meals to recap the previous night’s Martin episode, discussed where we could get our hair braided like Moesha, or dreamed of going to an all-black college like we saw on A Different World when we became old enough to understand it. There was always something or someone that related to people of color on television — created by people of color. Although a Shaq-sized list of shows returned and premiered in the fall for our viewing pleasure starring black and brown faces, the color spectrum behind the lens lacks a few neutral hues. (Read More)