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Black Music Month: How These Artists Are Taking Up Space Outside Of Hip-Hop And R&B
June is Black Music Appreciation Month and it is a time to reflect on and celebrate the contributions made by Black musicians. While former President Jimmy Carter is credited for introducing Black Music Month in 1979, (President Biden signed a recent proclamation recognizing June as Black Music Appreciation Month) what many people may not know is that it was co-created by veteran radio and TV personality Dyana Williams, Kenny Gamble from the legendary songwriting and production duo Gamble & Huff and DJ Ed Wright.
All three were involved in the Black Music Association and launched a campaign called “Black Music is Green” which is where Black Music Month sprouted from. Dyana opened up about that monumental time for Tidal.
“The Black Music Association petitioned President Jimmy Carter to host a reception at the White House acknowledging the contributions of the Black music business,” she said. “That took place on June 7, 1979, on the South Lawn of the White House, where Gamble and I sat with President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. Dexter Wansel was the musical director, with MFSB providing the music for Sara Jordan Powell, Billy Eckstine, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Andraé Crouch, and Chuck Berry. That was the first official Black Music Month celebration at the White House.”
Black music has come a long way since the 1970s. While Black artists have continued to be innovators in music, their accomplishments are often overlooked especially if it doesn’t fit a specific genre. However, there are Black artists who refuse to be boxed in and are using their music as a form of expression, individualism, freedom, and resistance in spaces that have historically been reserved for non-Blacks.
From country star Mickey Guyton to electric pop singer Dawn, these artists are pushing the boundaries on how Black music is represented and doing a damn good job.
Mickey Guyton
Mickey Guyton has made a name for herself as one of the few Black artists in country music and with that comes some hardships. With the country music industry being historically white, the “Lay It On Me” singer has faced racism from the genre’s fans and has even addressed it such as the time she responded to someone saying they didn’t want her kind in country music.
“Started off 2022 with a good ole batch of racism. I show you this so you guys continue the fight for equality and love and acceptance,” she wrote.
However, the mother of one hasn’t let racism and discrimination rain on her parade. Her single “Black Like Me” which came out during the wake of George Floyd’s death earned Mickey a Grammy nomination in 2020 which made her the first Black female solo artist to receive a nod for a country category. She was also the first Black country artist to perform at the prestigious award show.
Dawn Richard
Most people may be familiar with Dawn Richard from the groups Danity Kane and Dirty Money but since the singer went solo, she has been making music on her own terms. The “Frequency” artist has been making waves in the electronic music space as one of the few Black artists in the genre. In an interview with Kyle Meredith, Dawn opened up about how her skin color initially kept her in a box.
“As a solo artist when I did my albums, they kept calling me alternative R&B as a Black girl because I kept doing music that wasn’t traditionally R&B,” she said. “But because of the skin color that I had, I couldn’t get out of that genre. They put experimental R&B; they had to put that next to it. And what I found was though I didn’t care what I looked like, I wanted to do the music that I did, my color was limiting me and society was limiting me for that. So my entire trajectory has been to choose to say no. We belong here.”
She also shed light on the history of electronic and dance music and how it derived from Black culture although now it is mostly white men in that space. The New Orleans beauty has released six solo albums so far with her last project titled Second Line being a nod to her New Orleans roots.
Nova Twins
The Nova Twins are taking over the punk rock scene in the UK and eventually the world. The duo, which is composed of Amy Love and Georgia South, come from multicultural backgrounds that influence their music. Amy is half Iranian and half Nigerian, and Georgia is half Jamaican and English and they have made it their mission to change the way Black women are viewed through their music.
The “Antagonist” artists spoke with NME about speaking up in spaces where they typically aren’t celebrated. “Being black women doing punk music is political, so yes. ‘Devil’s Face’ touches on Brexit, ‘Bullet’ speaks about sexism, but ‘Athena’ is completely fictional and mythological,” Amy said. “We called it ‘Who Are The Girls?’ because we didn’t always feel heard or accepted making the type of music we do, looking the way that we do. It’s definitely challenging and there is a stigma attached to it.”
The group is gearing up to release their second studio album Supernova in June 2022.
Willow
Willow Smith’s music trajectory has been an interesting one that finally saw the 21-year-old find her voice. She released “Whip My Hair” at just nine-years-old and it became an instant hit. However, the success became too demanding for the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith which caused her to rebel and step away from music at that time. As she got older, she began following in her mother’s footsteps and found herself creating punk music. The “emo girl” singer released her pop-punk album lately I feel EVERYTHING in 2021.
In an interview with NPR, Willow explained why Black artists should enter other genres and be empowered by that decision. “Black youth get taught that we belong in R&B and rap spaces, and we don't do the research,” she said. “We're not given the truth. There's no way that we would be able to follow that example, because we don't even know it exists.”
“I want to tell all the Black and brown, young girls that they can scream, they can growl, they can cut their hair, scoop it to the side, dye it. They can do whatever they want. They can make any kind of music and do it better than anyone they've seen. I want to give girls like me that confidence and that feeling of power and beauty. That's the only reason why I do anything.”
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Featured image by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT
How This New Bond Repair Line Transformed One Mother's Postpartum Shedding Into The Ultimate Curl Comeback
This article is in partnership with SheaMoisture
For Crystal Obasanya, her wash day woes came shortly after her son did. The beauty and lifestyle content creator had been natural for years, but during postpartum, she quickly learned about one reality many mothers can relate to experiencing: postpartum hair loss. “Sis had thinning hair. Sis had split ends,” she shared about her hair changes in a Reel via xoNecole.
Over a year into her postpartum journey, Crystal explained she also had dry, brittle hair, noting that keeping it hydrated before pregnancy had already been “a task.” The 4C natural recalled going from thick hair during pregnancy to a thin hairline due to postpartum shedding as “devastating.” When it came to strengthening and revitalizing her hair, the new SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection was just the thing she needed to elevate her damaged coils to revive and thrive status and get them poppin' again.
SheaMoisture is providing us with the cheat code for transforming dry and damaged strands into thriving and deeply nourished crowns. By unveiling their 4-step hair system, the SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection is equipping you with the tools to reverse signs of hair damage caused by protective styling, heat, and color and is uniquely formulated for Type 3 and 4 hair textures.
The haircare system revives damaged natural hair by repairing and rebuilding broken hair bonds through a game-changing combination of HydroPlex Technology and AminoBlend Complex, a unique blend of fortifying amino acids formulated specifically for curly and coily hair. Scientifically proven to reduce breakage by 84% and make your hair six times stronger (vs. non-conditioning shampoo), the collection infuses your hair with the nourishment it craves and the strength it deserves.
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“When trying it out, I quickly noticed that my hair felt revived and renewed, and my curls were so hydrated,” Crystal said while using the Amla-infused Bond Repair Leave-In Conditioner. “I also felt my hair strands were stronger.” So much so that the influencer felt brave enough to get her hair braided shortly thereafter. “I can definitely say that I will be keeping it in my hair wash routine,” she added in the caption of her Reel about her positive experience using the products.
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Tailored to repair styling damage, this creamy conditioner locks in 12x more moisture than standard non-conditioning shampoos, boosting damaged hair strength by 1.5x with significantly less breakage. The creamy SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Conditioner deeply hydrates, enhances manageability, and leaves your hair looking healthier and shinier.
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This Ultra Moisturizing reparative masque is a moisture-rich game-changer for those dealing with the aftermath of hair damage caused by styling. The SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Masque delivers 13 times more moisture compared to non-conditioning shampoos, ensuring your hair feels nourished and soft. Designed to repair and rejuvenate, this masque significantly strengthens damaged hair — making it twice as strong while reducing breakage.
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Elevate your curl game with SheaMoisture’s Bond Repair Collection Leave-In Conditioner. Lightweight and hydrating, the Bond Repair Leave-In Conditioner provides 12x more moisture than non-conditioning shampoos and tames frizz with 24-hour humidity control. Designed to define curls and coils, the leave-in conditioner enhances softness and shine allowing you to detangle effortlessly.
Bonding Oil
The SheaMoisture Bond Repair Collection Bonding Oil is a multitasking all-in-one formula that acts as a heat protectant and provides the hair with moisture, strength, shine, damage protection, and intense nourishment. This lightweight oil not only offers 24-hour frizz and humidity control but also fortifies your tresses, making them up to 5 times stronger with significantly less breakage.
Featured image courtesy
Looking for ways to level up your solo sex sessions or your partnered sex play? Entering the wonderful world of arousal oils might be exactly what the doctor ordered. As its name suggests, arousal oil arouses. And they might very well be the pleasurable vessel through which your mind-blowing orgasms can be beckoned. Specifically, arousal oils are a pleasure-enhancing sex lubricant intended to increase the sensitivity to your nipples, your vulva, or your clitoris, just to start.
With an ingredient list that can include the likes of CBD, ashwagandha, and essential oils, arousal oils act as an aphrodisiac in a bottle, maximizing intensity and heightening the levels of pleasure you feel, thereby making your climax that much more attainable.
Keep reading for our selection of some of the best arousal oils in the game right now.
Bloomi Luxe Arousal Oil
Described as a "sensual pleasure oil," the Luxe Arousal Oil by Bloomi is clean with plant-derived organic ingredients. With 2-4 pumps, a gentle massage with this oil-based intimacy oil is formulated to intensify pleasure to your clitoris, your vulva, your thighs, or anywhere else you care to use it, before and during the act.
Foria Awaken Arousal Oil
Not only do reviewers rave about the "incredible o's" from Awaken Arousal Oil, but this best-seller is also known for its sensuous aroma, slip, and feel. With the uncanny ability to enhance sensations, users of the product have reported reinvigorated orgasms and renewed sex lives. And all we have to say is, say less.
Mood Maker Pleasure-Enhancing Intimacy Oil for Couples
Amazon
The Mood Maker had us at hello. Christina Aguilera's sex oil is where luxury and intimacy meet. Thanks to the relaxation facilitated by magic mushrooms and pleasure-enhancing adaptogens, the Mood Maker lays the groundwork for easeful foreplay, sex, and even an encore. With its texture like silk and warm scent, the oil effortlessly sets the perfect mood for pleasure play and allows your body to follow suit.
Lure Deluxe Intimacy Oil
Sultry, clean, and moisturizing are the cornerstones of this intimacy oil. The oil is formulated with organic ingredients like MCT coconut oil and CBD, so there is no need to worry about throwing off your pH balance or leaving behind a sticky residue when using it for intimate moments. The silky texture provides a sensual slip that is all gas no brakes, creating a slip n' slide glide during partner play, as well as solo play.
Bonus points: since it's all-natural, it's also oral-friendly. So Deluxe Intimacy Oil is queening-approved.
Green Compass Intimacy Oil
Green Compass
Entice and awaken your pleasure and your senses with the Intimacy Oil by Green Compass. An intimacy oil made for every body, this oil is fragrance-free, paraben-free, and silicone-free and formulated with plant-based and organic ingredients. With ingredients like organic hemp flower extract, coconut oil, and jojoba oil, the pleasure felt and experienced in intimate areas becomes even more intense upon application.
FOCL CBD Arousal Oil
Loved by users for its "perfect texture," its "warm wonderful feeling," and the fact that it's "non-irritating," the CBD Arousal Oil by FOCL is definitely worthy of a spot in your tox boy. Like other CBD oils, the hemp-derived product is said to ease tension and promote blood flow, which are major keys to enhancing and maximizing your sexual pleasure.
Sensuva On Arousal Oil
Amazon
Looks like we saved the best for last. Available in Lite, Original, and Ultra to give you the ability to choose the intensity that suits your intimate moments best, the On Arousal Oil by Sensuva is said to be one of the most powerful arousal oils on the market with good reason. With a "unique, buzzing vibration sensation on the clitoris," in 1-2 drops, On Arousal delivers more sensation during sex, helps women achieve orgasms quicker and more intensely, and can also help curb any issues with vaginal dryness.
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