

Mariah The Scientist's "From A Woman," Ice Spice's "Pretty Girl," & Other Singles To Have In Rotation Now
The music of this week has continued the trend of artists harmonizing about love and the various stages of their respective relationships. Songs like Jamila Woods' "Practice" and "Closer to God" depict the divine and human love growing together. While "What Now" and Offset's "WORTH IT," depict romantic partnerships navigating difficult terrain.
Some songs, like "SAY MY GRACE" and "Capable of Love," express a yearning for the past, while others, like "From A Woman" and "From A Man," were written with love in mind. This week's music proves that stunning innovation will always be inspired by human connection, regardless of whether those relationships are beneficial or not.
"What Now" - Brittany Howard
It's been eight years since the Alabama Shakes came out with an album. And in those eight years, I understand why their hiatus may be indefinite, though, it doesn't mean I have to like it. What I do have to like, or better yet, what I can't help but like, is the very thing that made Alabama Shakes so damn good: Brittany Howard.
Howard sings about a succession of relationship problems and a reluctance to apologize in her newest single as a solo artist, which also serves as an announcement for her upcoming album. These tremors might be the beginning of an irreversible split.
She doesn't intend to argue with her boyfriend, but she has grown weary of speculating about what greater fulfillment could be waiting on the other side. In the end, she isn't sorry and doesn't know where the relationship will end up now. Howard delivers a strong, soulful vocal performance over a tight, funky beat. With some blues, it sounds like a tune from the late 1980s or early 1990s and is perfect for the chill autumn vibe.
"From A Woman" - Mariah the Scientist
Atlanta singer-songwriter Mariah the Scientist's 2023 track "From A Woman" is thought to be a "female" rendition of her partner Young Thug's song "From A Man." In the song, Mariah sings about finding someone she can depend on and have complete faith in. At times addressing Young Thug directly, Mariah the Scientist fluidly changes her vocal range from a light timbre to a clean falsetto to showcase the winding route that love has led her down and the ecstatic joy that someone has when they realize they have found love after never having believed in its existence.
This fall, "From A Woman" is a sweet ballad that belongs on every playlist. And it is another reason to wonder why more listeners haven't already flocked to the R&B singer.
"From A Man" - Young Thug
Young Thug has been releasing music steadily since May 2022 while being detained in Atlanta on a number of RICO-related allegations. His most recent song, "From A Man," which was posted online about a year ago, discusses Thug's accomplishments and many awards while he demands the respect he feels he is due. Despite what his detractors may think, he concludes the song by saying that his financial success has only given him advantageous circumstances and doesn't seem to be ending soon. This song is characteristic of Young Thug in that it offers both praise and criticism. If you're a huge fan of Young Thug, you'll like listening to it. He continues to employ the same auto-tuned falsetto, ATL trap rhythms, and mumbled words as before.
Although the song is named after and romantically associated with Mariah the Scientist's track "For A Man," there is no obvious connection between the two songs. The only reason these tracks make sense as a pair is so that Mariah the Scientist may promote both singles while Young Thug is still awaiting trial and perhaps to draw in more listeners to the R&B artist. Sadly, it appears that this single will receive more accolades than the one that is actually deserving of it.
"WORTH IT" - Offset & Don Toliver
Offset doesn't have the biggest fan in me, but over the past few months, I'm beginning to change my mind. Since its announcement, many fans have been anticipating the release of the brand-new album Set It Off, especially after all Offset has experienced in the past several months, from his conflict with former group member, Quavo, to the passing of the beloved Takeoff. On September 30, 2023, Offset's SET IT OFF album listening party in Paris, France, featured a live performance of this suave Offset and Don Toliver duet.
Now, with the depiction of the suffering that comes with love, over some gentle guitar chords, it is clear why this has become a popular song since the album's release. As Don sings about a special woman who is aggressively shattering his heart, listeners receive subdued notes that Toliver glides on with strong, crisp vocals. Meanwhile, Offset flows over the verses in a concentrated and purposeful manner that isn't always associated with the rapper. With this unexpected duo, this will be the ideal song to add to your autumn playlist.
"Closer To God" - Diddy ft. Teyana Taylor
With their most recent song, Teyana Taylor and Diddy bring us "Closer to God" as she briefly comes out of retirement. Displaying unbelievable vocal skills, Taylor sings about how being with her love makes her feel closer to God. Taylor, who calls the song a "message of love," also directs the music video, which illustrates the spiritual trip she underwent in the process of collaborating with Diddy on the track. The video conveys the profound emotion of feeling divinely linked while in the midst of real love.
According to Taylor the song is meant to depict the enchantment of meeting someone who draws you nearer to the sacred, together with genuine emotion and vulnerability. The song is goooood, and it makes us all wish Taylor was still recording music. It also makes us appreciate Diddy while he continues to produce.
"Practice" - Jamila Woods ft. Saba
Although the video is entertaining and attractive, I'm not a great fan of how the concept for the video was carried out, but it's fun, and the music deserves praise. The last lead song from Jamila Woods' album Water Made Us, "Practice," includes a verse from Chicago collaborator Saba. The message of the song, according to Woods, is that we don't have to "get everything right" or "have everything together" to just enjoy ourselves and be in the moment with someone. With her comments, Woods extols the virtues of the relationship that blossoms slowly and without undue stress.
Woods says of the song, "I was trying to shift how I often evaluate relationships based on their potential for longevity rather than how I feel in the moment." The song is endearing, sweet, and has a nice melody. It would make a lovely anthem for this season of romance and stillness.
The song's title, "Practice," interpolates the words "We're talkin' bout practice, talkin' about," which the legendary Sixer Allen Iverson repeated 22 times in a news conference in 2002, further adding to its charm.
"TK421" - Lenny Kravitz
You would be doing yourself a disservice if you listened to this song without watching the accompanying video. Lenny Kravitz makes an appearance to rip through his most recent hit, "TK421," in his customary ageless style. Even though I am unclear of the song's specific title, Star Wars is probably the best guess; it doesn't matter since it is a thirst trap unlike any other. A Prince-coded funk-rock tune, this new track is taken from his forthcoming album Blue Electric Light, which is set to release next March.
In this video, Kravitz goes through his morning routine, dancing naked throughout the house, smoking in a towel, and swaying in leather jeans as he sings in the bathtub. The song is fun and reminiscent of the time when Kravitz used to control all of our playlists.
"Capable of Love" - PinkPanthress
I was vocal in my "Why?" when PinkPanthress announced the release of another song. This isn't meant as a critique of the artist because I like her singles. I did, however, start to wonder why she had been in such a hurry. This pondering lasted for only a few minutes because PinkPanthress revealed the release date of her first album, Heaven Knows (November 10), within the same hour. She makes every second count in the record's newest single, "Capable of Love," which clocks in at just under four minutes.
In the film, PinkPanthress makes her way across a field carrying a suitcase while singing. There, she discovers a huge hole in the ground and utilizes it as a means of release, throwing an old phone, scribbled notes, and abandoned possessions into the gloom, only to later follow its destruction through a portal. The song is catchy, as all PinkPanthress songs are, and is fun and energetic as its synthetic rhythms force you to dance along.
"Pretty Girl" - Ice Spice & Rema
Today, an Afrobeats single featuring Ice Spice and Nigerian singer Rema will be released. In the Bronx drill scene, Ice Spice is a budding talent. The song, which celebrates her Nigerian background, expresses optimism that if you give someone the chance to win your heart, they won't break it. Ice Spice promises to treat Rema kindly and to make sure he remains her first priority after hearing his request.
This song is perfect since it captures both the summertime exuberance and the serene mood that allows it to be played at any time. If the song succeeds, it will be the Bronx drill rapper's sixth number-one hit on the charts. After his Selena Gomez's "Calm Down" remix rocked the summer, Rema will soon have his second smash.
"SAY MY GRACE" - Offset ft. Travis Scott
Offset returned to the top with yet another hit after the release of an album, official video, and lyric video. The trap, drill-like sound in this song gives it the same usual ATL rap vibe as before. Offset and Travis Scott, longtime friends and regular collaborators, reunite on the hotly anticipated single "SAY MY GRACE."
Offset and Travis Scott, two of Takeoff's closest friends and collaborators, are still deeply affected by his passing. Offset makes mention of Takeoff's death and that of his grandma in the opening verse.
He is seeking solutions that will probably never materialize, and knowing this, he just returns to doing what he knows, which is saying his grace. Travis Scott addresses his sorrow for Takeoff's murder in his guest verse as well. In the end, the song is a good dedication to the loss Offset has experienced in the last year and the various ways he has learned to cope with it.
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Featured image via Ice Spice/YouTube
Taysha Robinson is a writer and high school English teacher, based in metro-Atlanta. A self described philomath, you can find her reading books and articles of every genre, attending educational conferences, and hiking wherever the terrain will allow.
Exclusive: Gabrielle Union On Radical Transparency, Being Diagnosed With Perimenopause And Embracing What’s Next
Whenever Gabrielle Union graces the movie screen, she immediately commands attention. From her unforgettable scenes in films like Bring It On and Two Can Play That Game to her most recent film, in which she stars and produces Netflix’s The Perfect Find, there’s no denying that she is that girl.
Off-screen, she uses that power for good by sharing her trials and tribulations with other women in hopes of helping those who may be going through the same things or preventing them from experiencing them altogether. Recently, the Flawless by Gabrielle Union founder partnered with Clearblue to speak at the launch of their Menopause Stage Indicator, where she also shared her experience with being perimenopausal.
In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
From Cardi B To Mary J. Blige, Meet The Woman Behind Your Favorite Celebrity's Glam Team
What would you do if you just got laid off from your corporate job and you had a serendipitous encounter with someone who gave you the opportunity of a lifetime? Tamara Taylor was faced with that decision in 2013 after she was let go from her sales profit and operations coach job in the restaurant industry and met a then-up-and-coming stylist, Law Roach, on a flight to L.A. She and Roach struck up a conversation, and he shared how he was looking for someone to run his business and was impressed by her skills. While she took his business card, she was unsure if it would lead to anything. But, boy, was she wrong. Two weeks later, after packing up her home to move back to her hometown of Chicago, she called Roach; he asked if they could meet the following day, and the rest is herstory.
Taylor founded Mastermind MGMT, an agency that represents some of Hollywood’s best “image architects” like Roach, Kellon Deryck, and Kollin Carter, who are responsible for creating unforgettable style and beauty moments for celebrities like Zendaya, Megan Thee Stallion, Taraji P. Henson, and more. Taylor and her company possess an array of functions, but her biggest role is to be her client’s advocate. We hear endless stories about how creatives aren’t paid or underpaid in the entertainment industry, but Taylor ensures that her clients get their piece of the pie. The entrepreneur opened up about her company and her non-profit, Mastermind Matters, in an exclusive interview with xoNecole.
“I always say that I'm an artist advocate first, deal closer second. So my primary focus is to just make sure that the artist is getting everything that they deserve, whether it's compensation or, you know, certain accommodations, but just making sure that they have everything that they need to be able to show up and provide the best service that they're hired for,” she explained.
“So you know, in the beginning, it was hard because I didn't have any experience, and the artists who I was working with at the time–we were learning together, meaning neither of us had assisted anyone. We didn't have mentors in our specific fields. So every deal was like a new learning experience for us from the styling side and also from the business side, and so it took, you know, doing some research, using some very creative tactics, to find out information in the industry and just starting to request accommodations that I knew other artists were granted, who maybe didn't look like my artists.”
Photo by Christopher Marrs
Ten years later, there’s still not many people who are doing what Taylor is doing. However, things have gotten easier thanks to the research and connections she made in the beginning. During Mastermind MGMT’s ten-year anniversary celebration, she announced her non-profit, Mastermind Matters, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that focuses on helping young entrepreneurs through a 12-week program. The program is divided into “two routes.” The first route is for aspiring creative artists who want to start a business from their talent and all the things they need to learn about business, such as taxes, life insurance, etc. The second route is for practicing creative artists who are already in the industry but need resources such as how to plan for retirement or how to sustain themselves if they can’t work for a short amount of time, i.e., the pandemic.
“I just feel that I'm able to have a business and be successful because of their art as well. And so there are things that I know, I tried to teach it to them but understanding that I can only do so much because I'm not a subject matter expert in those fields,” she said. “So I at least want to be able to provide the resources, and then if they make their grown decision not to do it, then that's on them. But you know, I could be guilt-free and taking advantage of the resources that I'm also providing to them.”
Taylor continues to be an innovator in her industry by always pushing the boundaries of creativity and thinking one step ahead of everyone else. The Chicago-bred businesswoman is moving into the tech space thanks to a new invention created with her clients in mind, and she is looking forward to bigger collaborations in the future. Follow Mastermind MGMT on Instagram @mastermind_mgmt for more information.
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Feature image by Christopher Marrs