Kickmag

Meshell Ndegeocello announces her third Blue Note album, Synonym. The funk R&B legend has recorded nothing but covers for the album, much like she did for Ventriloquism eight years ago. To introduce the album, she shares the George Michael and Aretha Franklin duet "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" recorded with actress and singer Cynthia Erivo. The uptempo '80s hit is reborn as a pensive, soulful dedication with folk underpinnings. Ndegeocello and Erivo stretch out the sentiment of discovering the deepest romantic love in contrast to Franklin and Michael's fire-and-water partnership that made people want to lip-sync and dance. "This project is about classic songs that are known and loved. The songs have diverse tones, representing various genres and intentional grooves. But the album is also about joy, selfhood, individual representation, and universal experience.”

David Gamson, who produced Ndegeocello's first two albums, Plantation Lullabies and Peace Beyond Passion, returns for Synonym to co-produce with Abe Rounds. Chaka Khan, Robert Glasper, Lizz Wright, Lianne La Havas, and WILLOW are some of the artists making guest appearances on the album. All of the songs are performed as duets by people who identify as the same gender. Ndegeocello also revealed that the title is a word that “just feels good on the mouth" and that Synonym "is an expression of queer liberation as a synonym for liberation of all kinds. Synonym is Ndegeocello's third Blue Note release with her most recent one being the Grammy-winning No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin, released in 2024. Synonym drops on October 2nd.  

                                                             Synonym Tracklisting 

1. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) with Cynthia Erivo

2. Don’t You Want Me with Cat Power

3. Don’t Stop The Music with Nick Hakim, Robert Glasper

4. Islands In The Stream with Chaka Khan

5. It Ain't Me Babe with Madison Cunningham

6. Always on Time with Laura Lee

7. Be Real Black For Me with Emily King, Lizz Wright

8. Don’t Look Any Further with Lianne La Havas

9. The Closer I Get To You with Destin Conrad, Moses Sumney

10. Golden Ring with Brandi Carlile

11. I Got You Babe with ANOHNI

12. Here We Come (Here He Comes) with Evann McIntosh

13. Guilty with Ink

14. Hunger Strike with WILLOW

15. With God On Our Side with Bill Callahan, Chris Thile

Gerald Levert's "Misery" appears on his fourth studio album, G. Co-written by Levert and his longtime collaborator Edwin "Tony" Nicholas, the album cut addresses a friend's betrayal—a departure for Levert, who typically sang about love. Heavy on the blues-tinged side of R&B, "Misery" highlights Levert in the role of a life philosopher, driven home by his preacher-man vocals.

G reached the Top 10 on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, coming two years after his platinum-certified Love & Consequences. The album captured Levert still at his peak, 15 years after debuting with the group LeVert. In 2013, he was posthumously inducted into the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame. Continuing the family legacy, Levert's daughter, Camryn, followed in the footsteps of her father and grandfather Eddie Levert to become a recording artist.

Fresh off a high-octane stadium run supporting The Strokes, Thundercat's relentless tour schedule continues with his Distracted AF Tour, featuring a supportive lineup including Channel Tres (DJ Set), TiaCorine, Fera, 54 Ultra, and Kitty Ca$h. Distracted is more of Thundercat's quirky, brilliant fusion, breaking a six-year break from his last album, the Grammy-winning It Is What It Is. The guest appearances on Distracted are just as stimulating as the artists supporting the tour. WILLOW's contribution on "Thunderwave" begged for a longer project, and other collaborators like Tame Impala and The Lemon Twigs maintain Thundercat's eclecticism. The tour starts in the fall and will continue until the end of the year. Tickets are on sale now. 

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Jazz pianist and composer Rodney Franklin died July 8th at the age of 67. His niece announced his passing via the GoFundMe page that was created for his medical costs. Franklin was a major contributor to the jazz-funk movement of the late 1970s and 1980s because of his hit single, "The Groove." The success of the single inspired a brief dance movement in the UK called The Freeze.

A classical prodigy from Berkeley, California, he signed with Columbia Records while still in his twenties, quickly establishing himself as a formidable voice in contemporary jazz. Over the course of his career, he released a string of acclaimed albums that effortlessly blended jazz, R&B, and pop sensibilities. He collaborated with esteemed jazz artists like Freddie Hubbard, Marlena Shaw, and Stanley Clarke and earned deep respect across multiple music communities.

Hil St. Soul went home to Zambia to film a striking video for her song, "With You." The singer was deliberate in her desire to share some of the country’s picturesque scenery, including Tiffany's Canyon Kafue and Sandy Beach. Zambia's vivid colors naturally elevate the video's cinematography.

"Filming the video in Zambia was very important to me because it's home," she says. "No matter where life and music have taken me, Zambia remains a huge part of who I am. I wanted the visuals to reflect not only the beauty of the song but also the beauty of the place that is a huge part of me."

Terri Lyne Carrington & Social Science advocate for minors thrust into war with their single, "Children's Song."Christie Dashiell and Lizz Wright are the featured vocalists on this meditation about voiceless, trafficked children, those caught in the middle of wars, and others separated from their parents due to hurtful immigration policies.

Dashiell shared her thoughts on the track in a recent press release: “I was honored when Terri Lyne called me to be a part of the Social Science album. As we live through global crises, it can be easy to turn a blind eye to the injustice constantly happening around us. ‘Children’s Song,’ so beautifully written by Terri, feels like a very sincere expression of the oneness of humanity and how important it is to look after one another. I was so happy to lend my voice to this song. Singing with Lizz Wright made it all the more special for me.”

Wright echoed those sentiments, adding, “Coming together in song. with Christie is a blessing for me because she’s one of my favorite new voices. Bringing our gifts together to give sound and shine a truthful light on the lives of unheard children is a beautiful purpose. I’m grateful for Terri Lyne’s leadership and vision to use art to spark change.”

"Children's Song" is featured on Carrington's upcoming album, Trip the Night Fantastic, due out at the end of the month.

Missy Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On" led the rollout for her third album, Miss E... So Addictive. Missy's longtime friend and producer, Timbaland, utilized elements of bhangra music to create a hypnotic Punjabi melody. This fusion of hip-hop and bhangra was unheard of at the time; fans instantly fell in love with the production and Missy's frantic instructions to her listeners. Interestingly, her command for them to explore their lust sounded more like encouragement to play hopscotch than an invitation to bedroom endeavors.

Known for her history of standout visuals, Missy collaborated with director Dave Meyers for the first time on this project. The music video, like many of Missy's hits, became just as important to the song's identity as the track itself. "Get Ur Freak On" was a Top Ten hit on both the American hip-hop and pop charts while also performing exceptionally well internationally in places like the Netherlands and the UK. Multiple critics' polls have since categorized "Get Ur Freak On" not only as one of Missy's best songs but also as one of the most culturally relevant tracks in pop music history. Looking ahead to 2026, Missy collaborated with Kehlani on "Back and Forth" and honored Aaliyah at the Essence Music Festival.

The Womack Sisters deliver a message of caution regarding love on their single "If I Let You." The track's Motown and Latin rock flavors create a memorable sound that stays true to their retro-soul roots. Vocally, the sisters' rawness perfectly expresses the tension and uncertainty of crossing a critical threshold in a relationship.

Kucha shares, "This song reminds me of a time when I rushed into love because of attraction—not asking enough questions, not staying true to myself, selling myself short. For us, it’s a reminder to take your time to find love and to find out who you’re really dealing with."

"If I Let You" is the latest single from their upcoming self-titled debut album on Daptone Records. The Womack Sisters drops on August 14th, and the sisters will be hitting the road for a tour running from August through the fall. The album is available for pre-order, and tour tickets are on sale now.

The Womack Sisters 2026 Tour Dates

Aug 1-2 / Happy Valley, OR - Pickathon

Aug 4 / Calgary, ALB - Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium^ (without LA LOM)

Aug 6 / Edmonton, AB - Edmonton Folk Music Festival  (without LA LOM)

Aug 8 / Carnation, WA - Remlinger Farms*

Aug 9 / Vancouver, BC - Freedom Mobile Arch*

Aug 11 / Forest Grove, OR - McMenamins Grand Lodge Concerts at The Grove*

Aug 12 / Wheatland, CA - Hard Rock Live Sacramento*

Aug 14 / Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl~

Aug 15 / Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre*

Aug 16 / Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center at Fresno State*

Aug 18 / Salt Lake City, UT - Beddy’s Plaza at America First Field*

Aug 20 / Denver, CO - Junkyard*

Aug 21 / Dillon, CO - Dillon Amphitheater*

Aug 22 / Taos, NM - Red Willow Park*

Aug 25 / El Paso, TX - El Paso County Coliseum*

Aug 26 / Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Financial Theatre*

Aug 28 / San Diego, CA - Gallagher Square at PetCo Park*

Aug 30 / Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl*

Sep 10 / San Antonio, TX - Freeman Coliseum*

Sep 11 / Houston, TX - 713 Music Hall*

Sep 12 / Irving, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory*

Sep 15 / Atlanta, GA - Coca-Cola Roxy*

Sep 17 / Vienna, VA - Filene Center at WolfTrap*

Sep 18 / Boston, MA - Leader Bank Pavilion*

Sep 20 / Toronto, ON - RBC Amphitheatre*

Sep 22 / Baltimore, MD - Pier Six Pavilion*

Sep 23 /  Cincinnati, OH - The Andrew J Brady Music Center*

Sep 25 / Madison, WI - The Sylvee*

Sep 26 / Chicago, IL - The Salt Shed Fairgrounds*

What do Coco Jones' unreleased experimental records sound like, and could they be the songs to give her a bigger presence?

Joe's "More & More" was the lead single from his fifth album, And Then.... The song was written and originally recorded by R. Kelly for his Loveland album, but when Kelly's project was shelved, "More & More" was offered to Joe. The description of endless nights of physical intimacy was a perfect fit for Joe's voice and his love for the romantic core of R&B. Chicago guitar player Donnie Lyle provided the song's warm, rolling acoustic lines and subtle mandolin textures, while engineers Abel Garibaldi and Ian Mereness laid down the signature, hypnotic mid-tempo groove that helped make the track a major comeback success.

While Joe's 2001 album, Better Days, was no disappointment to his fans, it lacked a crossover hit with the massive pull of "I Wanna Know" from his 2000 release, My Name Is Joe. Internationally, "More & More" was packaged as a double A-side single with the G-Unit-assisted "Ride wit U," and this success led Joe back to high-profile hip-hop collaborations, reminiscent of his classic work with Big Pun on "Still Not a Player." And Then... went gold ten months after its release, reminding R&B fans of Joe's status as one of the staple vocalists of his generation. Decades later, his legacy remains intact; he released his 13th album, My Name Is Joe Thomas, in 2016 and delivered a standout NPR Tiny Desk concert for Black Music Month in June 2026.

Sparky D, one of the earliest battle rappers in hip-hop history, has passed away at the age of 61. Born Doreen C. Broadnax, she hailed from Brownsville, Brooklyn, and was originally a member of a crew called the Playgirls, who were known for performing their raps in alphabetical order.

Sparky D later met producer Spyder-D, who encouraged her to respond to Roxanne Shanté's hit "Roxanne's Revenge." Her response track, "Sparky's Turn (Roxanne, You're Through)," achieved gold status within days, officially igniting the legendary "Roxanne Wars"—an era defined by numerous response records aimed at Shanté. The massive success of the record solidified Sparky D as the first rap star to come out of Brownsville.

Capitalizing on the immense popularity of their rivalry, Shanté and Sparky D teamed up in 1985 to release a collaborative battle record, "Round One: Roxanne Shanté vs. Sparky Dee." Fortunately, their conflict stayed strictly "on wax," and the two became close friends in real life.

Did Sylvia Rhone give India.Arie bad marketing advice for her Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship album cover?

Dave Barbarossa has launched his new project, Barbarossa's Beat, with the single "Phattie's Lunchbox Part Two," featuring electronic musician Mekon. The longtime friends and colleagues decided to cut a new version of the song, which Mekon originally released in 1997. This current interpretation highlights the signature drumming style that influenced a slew of post-punk bands in the '80s. Barbarossa initially established himself as the original drummer for Adam and the Ants, only to leave at the suggestion of Malcolm McLaren, who changed the drummer's surname from Barbe to Barbarossa and placed him in Bow Wow Wow.

Driven by a sample of Run-D.M.C.'s "Run's House," a relentless rhythm, and a repetitive synthesizer, the mostly instrumental track serves as a sonic time capsule right back to Barbarossa's key era. The Barbarossa's Beat project will feature the drummer working with a different collaborator on new tracks scheduled for release every month until 2027.

The London native explained the scope of the project in a press release: “I’m proud of the work I’ve done through the years, but I never felt it expressed the diversity of my playing like it did in the early Ants and Bow Wow Wow. In these collaborations, there are some real surprises along the way, and I am excited for people to see how this develops.” Ultimately, "Phattie's Lunchbox Part Two" marks a full-circle moment for Barbarossa and Mekon, delivering a single that still boasts a vibrant pulse nearly 30 years later.

Phyllis Hyman recorded "Don't Wanna Change the World" for her 1991 album, Prime of My Life. Produced by Nick Martinelli and written by Jonathan Rosen, Karen Manno, and David Darlington, the track paired Hyman’s rich contralto perfectly with Martinelli’s smooth, house-infused R&B patterns. Her plea for a fulfilling romance rather than a social science project felt warm, even if it lacked the blistering intensity of her signature ballads. However, the brighter sentiment combined with Martinelli’s contemporary production successfully brought Hyman into the modern era, earning her a lone number-one hit with the track. By the end of 1992, Prime of My Life achieved gold status, ultimately marking Hyman's final album released during her lifetime.

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