Author Archives: Naima Cochrane

The Divinity of Luther Vandross

“There are voices in this world and once they sing, it’s a stamp on everybody.” Bravo producer and personality Andy Cohen was asking Patti Labelle about her dear friend Luther Vandross on talk show Watch What Happens Live. “Luther’s done that.”

Y’all Ready to Argue? It’s Bracket Time!

Long time #MusicSermon congregants know we do our own version of #MarchMadness over here – with music brackets, of course!

Since we’re running back content from the last five years of #MusicSermon, we’re revisiting the very first #MusicSermonMadness bracket – the 90s R&B Tourney. In fairness, I messed up the seeding the first time, so this year y’all get to do it (also, I don’t want y’all typing all hard at me in my mentions lol).

The Undersung Women of ’80s and ’90s R&B PT I

In 1990, singer Phyllis Hyman complained to Donnie Simpson during a BET Video Soul interview about record labels shifting their focus from talent to artist “packaging,” using production to supplement raw talent. “They’re picking up kids off the street, pretty much, and producers are producing these albums. These kids have literally no talent. But they look right. I’m telling you, get a girl, get the hair weave on, make her lose 30 pounds, (snaps) you’ve got a hit record. Can’t sing a lick!” In the shift from substance to style, which started gradually happening in music in the mid-’80s, Phyllis and other singers with big voices got shelved, dropped, or simply ignored in favor of younger, more pop-friendly and video-friendly acts – with arguably less ability. “(It) pisses me off. It makes me big time angry because I have spent so many years developing this talent,” Phyllis added. She wasn’t alone.

Millie Jackson: The Original Bad Girl

You know that auntie who you were nervous to bring your young male friends around back in the day because she might proposition them in the kitchen when nobody was looking? Or the auntie liable to cuss out a family member or two after dinner for something that happened 12 years ago? The one that women in your family whispered about, warning not to leave men around alone? Who your mama didn’t want you to spend too much time with, but you were always excited to see because she was entertaining and was gonna slip you a little pocket change?

That auntie listened to Millie Jackson.

26 Years Later, “Up Jumps Da Boogie” is Still a Party

Missy Elliott tweeted today that “Up Jumps Da Boogie,” from Timbaland and Magoo’s Welcome to Our World, will turn 26 this year. Welcome to Our World was part of the Blackground catalog re-released in 2021 after 20 long years being withheld from streaming and out of physical production. I had the honor of working withContinue reading “26 Years Later, “Up Jumps Da Boogie” is Still a Party”

#SaveCanWeTalk

I put out an emergency call to choose a new feel good, throwback r&b anthem for 2023…and y’all answered! THE MISSION First it was “Candy Rain,” then “Poison,” and “If It Isn’t Love” and “Weak” both narrowly escaped severe injury. Now, “Can We Talk” has been worn out like a cozy but delicate vintage sweaterContinue reading “#SaveCanWeTalk”

#BlackMusicMonth

#MusicSermon celebrates Black music all year, but in June we put a little extra somethin’ on it. Celebrate Your Favorite Black Music all Month #MusicSermon’s version of Vacation Bible School is the annual #BlackMusicMonthChallenge. The community spends the month sharing our most beloved (and, during one disruptive day, least liked) music and the memories thatContinue reading “#BlackMusicMonth”