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(ThyBlackMan.com) Sometimes, it’s amazing how two voices – from different eras – can still feel like they’re singing your story. Beyoncé and Patti LaBelle do that for me every time. Patti’s soul-stirring power and Beyoncé’s fearless reinvention show us that truth and emotion never go out of style — they just find new ways to hit you. Even now, with Beyoncé riding high on her Cowboy Carter Tour, she’s still […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Overseas crime rings are profiting from the trafficking of U.S. wireless devices because of an outdated FCC rule that prevents providers from controlling their phones. Repealing it should be a no-brainer for the FCC and the Trump administration – get rid of the wasteful and harmful cell phone unlocking rule. When the FCC adopted its C Block rules back in 2007—the same year the iPhone debuted—it was an era […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) When we talk about the soul of Atlantic Starr, it’s impossible not to talk about Wayne Lewis. As one of the band’s co-founders, main songwriters, keyboardists, and occasional lead vocalists, Wayne’s fingerprints are all over some of the smoothest love songs and R&B grooves ever made. His gift for melody, his subtle yet masterful touch on the keys, and the sincerity in every note helped define the soundtrack of […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) None of us should be silent about the recent use of federal agents by this administration to bully, arrest, and investigate political opponents. Just as none of us should accept as normal or okay its use of the military against Americans exercising their First Amendment rights. Donald Trump’s gleeful embrace of fascist tactics is on display almost daily. As he tries to run roughshod over the courts and sics […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Everywhere you look, humanity is on the search for the utmost, the best, the maximum, the record, the furthermost, the ultimate. There are even books, like the Guinness Book of Records, that exist to deal with nothing except the finding, and recording, of such achievements. Every sportsperson dreams of being in the record books, as being the ultimate in his sport; some even do dishonest and dangerous things, like […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Wilson Pickett’s voice grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. He could make you dance, make you shout, make you feel like you were right there in the studio with him, sweating out every note. For me — and for so many who love soul music — Pickett’s best songs are more than old hits; they’re living, breathing proof that raw emotion and a tight groove can […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) When I think of Barry White, I think of that unmistakable baritone — the kind of voice that could turn a simple “hello” into an invitation to fall in love. For years, people have leaned on the same handful of Barry White classics when they want to set the mood. But if you only stick with “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” or “You’re the First, the Last, […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) If you came of age in the ‘90s or early 2000s, chances are Jesse Powell’s voice found its way into some of your most tender memories. Maybe it played at your cousin’s wedding, or during those late-night radio slow jams that made you believe love could really last forever. His four-octave range, gospel-trained heart, and honest delivery gave us songs that still linger like perfume on an old letter. […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) The BBB of politics, Donald J. Trump has lashed out at Spain allegedly because it refuses to commit to NATO’s 5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) for defense spending quotient by 2035. Trump threatened to make Spain pay by doubling tariffs on the country. His wannabe tough guy act is just another reason why people of conscience cannot wait until January 2029, if not sooner, for his […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Walter Scott, one-half of the iconic vocal duo at the heart of The Whispers, has sadly passed away—and for those of us who grew up on his voice, it feels like losing a trusted companion in love, heartbreak, and everything in between. While Scotty often took center stage with his soaring tenor, it was Walter’s buttery baritone that grounded The Whispers in warmth and quiet strength. He didn’t need […]