Halloween is right around the block, and it’s time for festive costume parties, gross candy corn, and all things pumpkin spice. In honor of these American traditions, I decided to share a collection of Halloween-inspired tracks that will get you ready for adult trick-or-treatin’. October’s playlist, Pretty Wicked Things, includes a mix of old Halloween favorites like…
Who is Quincy Jones?
Last week, I was washing clothes and preparing for my vacation this week. My usual habit is to watch YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, or catch up on my Netflix shows while doing housework or packing. I came across Quincy, a documentary about the life of the legendary Quincy Jones. I was both captivated and…
Dope Aural: Fall Frequencies
The fall music season is officially here and is ready to take us anywhere the wind blows. New music releases have been landing steadily every Friday as we trek into the holiday season. Season 3 of Insecure recently concluded, but Issa Rae managed to leave us with a collection of dope music featured throughout the season of…
rePLAY: Confessions
This month I decided to pull out an album from a not-too-distant past that I haven’t heard in quite some time. I have been an Usher fan since his very first album and my all-time favorite, “Think of You”. I remember when Usher’s Confessions album was originally released in March 2004 because you could not…
Music Mix: Beats & Bourbon
This month’s playlist is all about featuring new music from different types of artists and some classics that remind me of the fall season. The Beats & Bourbon mix spotlights more than 100 songs, blending R&B and hip-hop with a touch of jazz and a pop sprinkle on top. It includes new music from some of…
Is There a Responsibility to Make Socially Conscious Music?
This past week, everyone has been up in arms about Nike’s new ad that features Colin Kaepernick as the spokesperson. Nike’s ad has reignited the controversy surrounding Kaepernick’s choice in 2016 to kneel during the US National Anthem in protest of racial injustice. In the new ad campaign, Kaepernick is quoted saying, “Believe in something,…
Dope Aural: The August Underground
If you’re reading this, I’m willing to bet that you are somewhat social media-savvy and have heard all about the controversial antics surrounding the roll-out of Nicki Minaj’s latest album Queen. We are still vibing to tracks from Drake’s album Scorpion that continues to control the airwaves and streaming spins. The rest of August’s music landscape has been…
rePLAY: CrazySexyCool
Being a music lover, I often get in moods where I get tired of new music and want to re-visit albums of the past. It’s been a while since I’ve listened, but I decided to trot out my very first CD. My parents bought TLC’s CrazySexyCool (my first CD ever) and my first portable CD…
BUP Remembers: Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018 The undisputed “Queen of Soul”, Aretha Franklin, passed away in her home on Thursday, August 16, 2018 ending her battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 76. Throughout her 60+ year musical career, Franklin gifted the world with hits such as “Do Right Woman- Do Right Man”,…
Music Mix: Love, Light & Lemon Drops
This past month has been extremely busy and stressful for me. I’ve found myself being trapped in a daily routine without any time to relax or de-stress. So I decided that I would do something to help me loosen up and get through my days. It is said that music can be a powerful tool for…