38 Black Christmas Songs To Add To Your Playlist This Holiday
The Christmas season is in full effect, and one great thing about that—beyond the festive decor, sales, feasts, and much-needed break—is the music. I don't know about you, but Black Christmas songs are a major part of family celebrations and are connected to great memories. We all have a soundtrack of the times, whether it was Christmas at Grandma's house, that wild trip abroad to "do something different" or your first Christmas with bae in your new home.
Best Black Christmas Songs
Check out 38 classics and new hits—from R&B and hip-hop to dancehall and reggae—to get you into the holiday spirit and keep the good vibes going this Christmas:
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" — The Jackson Five
"Silent Night" — The Temptations
"All I Want For Christmas Is You" — Mariah Carey
"8 Days of Christmas" — Destiny's Child
"Christmas in Hollis" — Run-DMC
"My Favorite Things" — The Supremes
"Everyday is Christmas" —Vybz Kartel
"Someday at Christmas" — Stevie Wonder
"Sleigh Ride" — TLC
"Let It Snow" — Boyz II Men and Brian McKnight
"Christmas In Harlem" — Kanye West
"St. Brick (Intro)" — Gucci Mane
"No Gift" — Tamar Braxton
"Santa Looking for a Wife" — Bindley Benjamin
"Christmas in the City" — Mary J. Blige
"This Christmas" — Chris Brown
"Give Love on Christmas Day" — Ledisi
"Oh Santa" — Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, and Jennifer Hudson
"Oh Come Emmanuel" — The Clark Sisters
"We Wish You an Irie Christmas" — Jacob Miller and Ray-I
"A Christmas Wish" — Beverley Knight
"Holiday" — Lil Nas X
"I Want to Come Home For Christmas" — Marvin Gaye
"Christmas Without You" — Xscape
"What Christmas Means to Me" — Fantasia
"Snow" — Leslie Odom Jr.
"Joy to the World" — Whitney Houston
"It's Christmas All Over the World" — New Edition
"Merry Christmas Baby" — Faith Evans
"Give Love on Christmas Day" — Johnny Gill
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" — Keyshia Cole
"Christmas Trees Remix" — Lil' Duval
"Be My Holiday" — TGT (Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank)
"I'm Your Santa" — Chance the Rapper and Jeremih
"Make It Jingle" — Big Freedia
"Doggy Dogg Christmas" — Snoop Dogg
"Thank God It's Christmas" — Wayne Marshall and Sean Paul
"Soca Santa" — Machel Montano
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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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Tubi has been gaining popularity due to its free sign-up and a vast selection of series and films. According to Deadline, the FAST (free ad-streaming television) service has seen a 14.7% growth from May and now has similar numbers to Disney+. So while many people have joked about Tubi having low-budget movies, the numbers don't lie.
In fact, I was one of those people who didn't get the appeal of Tubi, but the more I watched it, the more I enjoyed the content. They have some of our favorite TV series, such as Scandal and Star, as well as big films like the Fast and Furious franchise and cult classic Love & Basketball.
Tubi even has its own original movies and series that are just as entertaining. But while Tubi is on the come up, some of the low-budget movies and hood movies are still a must-watch. From Tubi originals to the hood movies, we've put together a list of shows and movies to add to your watchlist.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an original Tubi movie that stars Hailey Kilgore (Juke from Power Book III: Raising Kanan), Damon Wayans, and Pam Grier. It's a love story gone awry after a robbery turns deadly, and a young couple faces many challenges to make it out alive.
The Dirty D
The Dirty D is one of the first things I watched on Tubi, as many people highly recommended it. It's a series set in a Detroit club, and it has all the drama you can think of. Murder, drug dealing, cheating, greed, and more.
Black Men Don't Cheat
In this film, a young woman grapples with the death of her husband while also discovering his secret life, which puts her in danger.
Mother May I
This movie fully captivates the overbearing mother. However, the ending will shock you as she goes a little too far.
The Stepdaughter
When a young girl moves in with her dad and his new wife, a series of unfortunate events occurs. This Tubi original will keep your attention with every turn.
These Men For Everybody
These Men For Everybody is a film that highlights the tangled web of friendships and relationships and how you can't trust anybody.
Best Friend
What happens when your best friend is obsessed with you? This movie, which stars Serayah and Marques Houston, answers this very question and takes us on a ride in the process.
What's Done After Dark
What's Done After Dark shows us that everything isn't always what it seems. The twist at the end is a real doozy.
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