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8 Black Artists To Watch In 2021
2020 was an unprecedented year for music. With no music festivals or tours, rising and seasoned music artists had to rely on social media and other digital platforms to stand out to the masses in an already crowded industry. But it was music from these breakout artists that brought us together and served as a haven and the soundtrack to our year while the world was literally falling apart. They not only made it through all 2020 had to bring, but they also gave us moments that helped us get through it too. There's no doubt these 8 black artists will continue to flourish in 2021, and we can't wait to watch.
1.Giveon
Many came to know Giveon when his collaboration with Drake for Chicago Freestyle debuted at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 last year. But he's made a name for himself thanks to his vulnerable and candid lyrics and musical style. His single "Like I Want You" was certified Gold just a couple of weeks shy of the new year and landed Giveon his first one million streams. His debut album Take Time has earned him a Grammy nod for Best R&B Album. Giveon, who's been compared to the likes of Frank Sinatra and Barry White, told Elle magazine:
"I want to be one of those artists who are openly honest and vulnerable. Being a savage person comes easy to some, but deep down I'm just not that type of dude. I'm out here mourning and heartbroken like the rest of us."
2.Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan played no games when she returned from her nearly five-year hiatus with her mega-successful EP Heaux Tales. Even though we're happy she taught us the powerful lesson of taking a break to figure things out for ourselves, she's only proven that her time away made us miss her even more. If she was a fave in her Bust Your Windows days, she's taken her level of controversy up a notch as she unapologetically shared her experiences in the viral EP. Now that she's back, one can only imagine what else she has up her sleeve for 2021.
3.Tiana Major9
The East London native captured the ears of millions after her single "Collide" with EarthGang was featured on the Queen & Slim soundtrack. Now, the accompanying video also has more than five million views. She's a member of the Motown Records family and her sound bridges several types of music from jazz and reggae to soul. Her stage name is a subtle salute to her favorite genre and love for jazz.
She said during an interview with Flaunt:
"Jazz music is the heart and soul of my music. It's the base of my music, literally... It's always been around. When I started songwriting, it became more obvious that I loved jazz. It was one of my biggest influences because you can hear it in my melodies. When I decided to become an artist, I wanted a name that related to jazz so I added the Major9."
4.Arin Ray
Those who have been watching Arin Ray can only hope that he'll release his highly-anticipated album this year. After being featured on Kehlani's "Changes" and touring with Ari Lennox in Europe (and we can't forget his stint on The X-Factor in 2012), many are waiting for a full-length project from Arin Ray in 2021. Fortunately, he teased the possibility of a new project on Instagram dropping this year, so it could come sooner than later.
5.Brittney Spencer
We stan a black queen holding it down in country music. The songstress hails from Baltimore but spent many of her pre-COVID days hitting the pavement and playing in Nashville clubs. She's caught the attention of labels and booking agents but is in no rush to take that step. Her latest song "Sorry Don't Work No More" has nearly half a million streams so far.
She opened up about her journey and told Billboard:
"Being Black, a woman, and not a size 2 has certainly presented additional obstacles on my musical journey here in Nashville… artists like me keep showing up with whatever amount of hope we've got that day, choosing to find a ray of sun in what sometimes looks like a sky full of gray. I recognize my journey is not just about my personal success -- there's a much bigger purpose."
"[I hope] that the industry will one day realize that inclusion and diversity of thought, representation, and sonic approach only heightens creativity and encourages innovative ideas that could make lasting impact for the entire country music community."
6.Chloe x Halle
Chloe x Halle have been around for years, but there was something about 2020 that marked a new beginning for them. Their newest album Ungodly Hour easily served as a coming-of-age project that presented Chloe Bailey, 22, and Halle Bailey, 20, like we've never seen them before; and it worked. They're no longer the little girls singing covers with guitars on YouTube. They've come into their own individually and as a duo, and we can't help but watch to see what waves they make in 2021.
7.D Smoke
He hasn't slowed down since taking home the crown on Netflix's Rhythm & Flow. While D Smoke released his debut EP, Inglewood High, in 2019, and sophomore studio album Black Habits in early February 2020 (his first, Producer of the Year, was released in 2006), it looks like he's just getting started. The Inglewood native, who is also brother to Top Dawg Entertainment artist SiR, is getting the recognition he's long deserved.
8.ENNY
ENNY became the long-distance bestie for many in 2020, and we're OK with her pushing the gas on that this year. The South London lyricist celebrated all things black girl magic with her song "Peng Black Girls" (featuring Amia Brave), putting her on the map and making her beloved by many. She told British Vogueof the breakout single, which has 5.7 million views:
"It kind of just poured out in a subconscious way. Making music is therapeutic for me so it was just me getting stuff out."
Who are a few artists you have your eye on this year?
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Featured image GIF via Chloe x Halle "who knew"
Charmaine Patterson is a journalist, lifestyle blogger, and a lover of all things pop culture. While she has much experience in covering top entertainment news stories, she aims to share her everyday life experiences, old and new, with other women who can relate, laugh, and love along with her. Follow Char on Twitter @charjpatterson, Instagram @charpatterson, and keep up with her journey at CharJPatterson.com .
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
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Mariee Revere On Her History-Making Million-Dollar Sales And The Future Of MoonXCosmetics
If the name Mariee Revere sounds familiar, it's probably because you heard of her beauty and skincare brand, MoonXCosmetics, or you may have heard about her history-making achievement of making $1.8 million in less than eight minutes. But before starting her million-dollar brand, Mariee was just a teenager trying to cure her acne.
While she grew up in the skincare capital of the world, South Korea, Mariee didn't really experience breakouts until her senior year of high school. Like many people who get their first breakout, she didn't know what to do, and there weren't many products out there at that time. So she decided to experiment. What she didn't know was that what she came up with would ultimately be her ticket to success.
"When I graduated high school, I moved back to America, Georgia, and I ended up making, like, the oil, the Rose Galore oil, which is like the staple product of my brand. I don't know what made me make it, but I did, and it literally cleared my face up," she tells xoNecole in an exclusive interview.
"I end up selling it as a body oil first because, obviously, I'm 17, [and] don't have any background as an esthetician or anything like that. I just made a product that worked for me, but people bought it and was using it, and I reformulated it, and then it just stuck like with me."
While MoonXCosmetics is known for its facial products, it wants to expand to body care and home. It just released its new product, Moon-Gel body wash, and it's only up from there. As Mariee continues to grow the brand, it's more than likely that she will see more history-making moments. And so far she has.
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When asked if she feels pressure to obtain more of those milestones, she says yes and no. "I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more," she says.
"I want to say more reach than more like fast-paced sales. I do want that. Obviously, every girl wants that, but I do want to have a better overall reach for my brand because I did take two years off so I was able to learn, [and] study a lot of different things. See how things have changed from 2020 to now."
"I did $1.8 [million] again, and then I did $2 million but I feel like now, currently, I don't look at that as one of my goals anymore because [of] the headache and just everything that came with it, but I was thankful and blessed to have that milestone, but now I'm looking for more."
Another part of expanding for any company is hiring people. Finding the right person to help you can be a hassle, especially for business owners who are used to doing all the work themselves. Mariee can relate to this, and she touched on this topic in her documentaryThe Million Dollar Story. She recommends having someone be your "right-hand man" who you trust to handle the ins and outs of the company.
"I could say, definitely get, like a right-hand man to help you within the process because that really was what helped me. I never had a job. I literally was 18 now, being like, you know, the boss of over 30+ employees at one point in time, and I didn't know anything. I didn't know anything about no W-2s, no taxes, no clock in, clock out because all I [have] ever known was my brand," she explains.
"So I definitely partner with people who are very skewed and versed in those areas, and they helped me get through it. Even to this day, I still have my same person helping me with hiring, firing, [and] doing everything that I can right now because I'm still learning. But obviously people get jobs young, so they have way more experience than me, but still learning."
And though she is still learning, one thing she makes sure to stay on top of is being consistent. Consistency is what trips many people up when it comes to achieving goals, but Mariee says it's all about scheduling. Whether it's when to post on social media or email marketing, scheduling it out can make a world of difference. That same practice also works when planning out her future goals for the company.
"Right now, future goals would be to drop at least five more products before the end of the year. We always do outreach, where we do drives and all that, but definitely do way more this year, she says. "Then really dive into body [care], and then hopefully open up MoonXBody underneath MoonXCosmetics to let that branch out and be open and definitely get back consistent."
For more information, visit moonxco.com.
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