Gospel

(ThyBlackMan.com) Cherrelle’s name deserves to be right up there with the best of them in any conversation about underrated R&B royalty. For those who know, she’s a hidden gem of the Minneapolis sound — a singer whose voice defined a slice of the ‘80s and early ‘90s, thanks in large part to her unforgettable partnership with the legendary production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. But Cherrelle’s appeal goes beyond just […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) Gerald Levert had a voice that could melt the coldest heart — powerful, raw, and wrapped in warmth. Born into soul royalty as the son of Eddie Levert of The O’Jays, he didn’t just follow in his father’s footsteps — he forged his own lane with a style that married old-school passion and contemporary edge. He wasn’t just singing; he was storytelling, giving voice to heartache, intimacy, joy, and […]

(ThyBlackMan.com) On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump issued an executive decree which limits US citizenship to only those born in the US to a parent who was a legal US citizen. Such citizenship also includes those who legally became US citizens through naturalization. Currently, US citizenship has been granted to individuals who were born in the US even though their parents did not have legal US citizenship. Trump in his […]

(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(ThyBlackMan.com) Overseas crime rings are profiting from the trafficking of U.S. wireless devices because of an outdated FCC rule that prevents providers from controlling their phones.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 […]