Sun, Nov 08 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Sophie B. Hawkins emerged from New York City with a distinct rhythmic sensibility rooted in her percussion studies at the Manhattan School of Music and training under master drummer Babatunde Olatunji. After being abruptly dismissed from touring as Bryan Ferry’s percussionist, she channeled her artistic voice into songwriting, penning the seminal confession of longing, “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover”. While working as a coat-check attendant at Manhattan’s Joe Allen restaurant, her demo tape circulated to industry executives, triggering an intense bidding war among multiple record companies. Hawkins signed with Columbia Records and released her 1992 debut album, Tongues and Tails, which achieved widespread international acclaim, earned Gold certification, and garnered her a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Songs
Beyond the Funk
Fri , Nov 06 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical is a biographical jukebox stage production developed over several years by Adrian Grant Productions in direct association with ten-time Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan. Featuring a book by Nia T. Hill, direction by Racky Plews, musical supervision by Mark Crossland, and choreography by Ebony Clarke, the musical charts Khan’s five-decade trajectory from her Chicago upbringing and teenage involvement with the Black Panther Party to her breakout success with funk band Rufus and subsequent global solo career. Rather than delivering a sanitized hagiography, the narrative delves into the artist’s personal and professional challenges, addressing industry misogynoir, fraught marriages, the strains of working motherhood, and long-standing battles with substance dependency. The score weaves Khan’s celebrated solo and Rufus repertoire into both concert numbers and dramatic scenes, highlighting anthems such as “I Feel For You,” “Tell Me Something Good,” “Ain’t Nobody,” “Sweet Thing,” “Through the Fire,” and “Higher Love,” alongside appearances by contemporaries including Stevie Wonder, Prince, Joni Mitchell, and Steve Winwood. Continue reading
What a Wonderful World
The Accidental Classic: How British Charts and Good Morning, Vietnam Saved Louis Armstrong’s Legacy
Fri , Nov 06 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — “What a Wonderful World” was conceived in 1967 by producer Bob Thiele (writing under the pseudonym George Douglas) and composer George David Weiss as an artistic counterweight and healing message during the height of the Vietnam War and Civil Rights turmoil. Inspired by Louis Armstrong’s unique gift for uniting audiences across racial boundaries, Weiss tailored the gentle, reflective ballad specifically for the jazz legend. Although the song was briefly offered to Tony Bennett, who passed on it, Armstrong embraced the material immediately, viewing its unpretentious lyrics of natural beauty and human fellowship as an essential acoustic antidote to national cynicism and trauma. Continue reading
How to Hire Beyoncé for Your Private Party
Hiring a celebrity like Beyoncé for a private party is a complex and expensive process. Here are some steps you can take to get started: Continue reading
What’s Love Got to Do with It
The song “What’s Love Got to Do with It” was written by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten. It was recorded by American singer Tina Turner for her fifth studio album, Private Dancer (1984). Capitol Records released it as a single from Private Dancer in May 1984 and became Turner’s biggest-selling single. Continue reading
Adidas vs Nike and the hip hop community
May 15, 2023 /Business/ — The rivalry between Adidas and Nike for the hip hop market was a major factor in the iconic status of Air Jordans. In the early 1980s, Adidas was the dominant force in the basketball shoe market, with stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson wearing their shoes. However, Nike signed Michael Jordan in 1984, and the Air Jordan line quickly became popular among young people, particularly in the hip hop community. Continue reading
Six pack like LL Cool J
LL Cool J, an American rapper, actor, and television personality. He is best known for his hip hop music, which has sold over 30 million records worldwide. His biggest hit single is “I Need Love,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 1988. He has also had success in acting, appearing in films such as “Independence Day,” “Scream 2,” and “The Last Dragon.” In 2002, he starred in the television series “NCIS: Los Angeles” as Special Agent Sam Hanna.
Here are some of LL Cool J’s most notable achievements: Continue reading
She Works Hard for the Money
The song “She Works Hard for the Money” by Donna Summer is a powerful anthem about the struggles of working-class women. The song was inspired by a real-life encounter that Summer had with a restroom attendant who was working two jobs to support her family. The song’s lyrics tell the story of a woman who works hard to provide for her family, but who is still struggling to make ends meet. The song is a reminder of the challenges that working-class women face, and it is a call for respect and recognition for their hard work. Continue reading
Nicole Scherzinger
London, May 5, 2023 /Lifestyle/ — Nicole Scherzinger currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She has been dating Thom Evans since 2020. They have been spotted together in Twickenham, London, but it is not clear if they have a home there. Continue reading
What is going on with Ed Sheeran?
Ed Sheeran has won a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by the family of Marvin Gaye. The lawsuit alleged that Sheeran’s 2014 hit song “Thinking Out Loud” copied elements of Gaye’s 1973 song “Let’s Get It On.”
A jury in New York City deliberated for about three hours before finding Sheeran not liable for copyright infringement. Sheeran testified during the trial that he did not copy Gaye’s song and that any similarities between the two songs were coincidental. Continue reading