Swooning for Black-Ass 90s R&B Crooners
Welcome to This Black-Ass Life! Happy Pride! Happy Juneteenth! This week, we want to continue our hard-hitting ogling news series and swoon over R&B men of the 90s for Black Music Month.
I. The Facts
This list is about beauty in the eye of these newsletter writers as beholder, not talent, even though everyone here is talented. It’s about the heart and not the beats going thump thump thump. Get ready for lots of puns, y’all.
D’Angelo, we will always be your Lady and you will always be our Brown Sugar.
We are So Anxious for Ginuwine.
Our childhood selves wanted 90s Usher his way, our way, My Way.
Baby 90s us would have melted if Tevin Campbell asked, “Can We Talk?” A chaste kiss on the cheek from the version of him that wished Ashley Banks a Happy Birthday would have changed the trajectory of our lives.
We would go Anywhere with Atlanta and 112 legend Q Parker.
My, My, My was Johnny Gill a fine man.
All we need is a Careless Whisper from Montell Jordan.
Don’t Ever Wonder with Maxwell who will always have a lil Sumthin’ Sumthin’.
Lately, Tyrese has been focused on the vroom vroom of Fast n Furious (as he should be) but we’ll always be his Sweet Lady.
We do it All for Love of Bilal.
Honorable Mention (Rap Rising: R&B Cusp)
Andre 3000 told the world the South (and importantly, Atlanta) had something to say and then backed that up for decades.
We Found Love with Heavy D’s perfect episode arc and later season surprise guest star on Living Single.
Q-Tip is our Vivrant Thing, and we won’t make the mistake of waiting to appreciate what we’ve Got ‘til It’s Gone.
All we have to say to LL Cool J is “Hey Lover.”
Why does it matter?
How else would one celebrate Black Music Month than with punny thirsting?
What can my Black ass do?
Light a candle or some incense (maybe not both because too much smoke), put on your favorite loungewear, and relax to some beggin’ ass crooners.
II. Other Things
Black-ass happenings
Tiny Desk happenings: Shout out to the Black person at NPR doing what needs to be done this Black Music Month.
Shout out to Tony winners Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee!
The Grio’s Michael Harriot has a great thread about fraudster Nikki Haley.
The very talented Dominique Fishback has been profiled in HuffPost.
After 30 years, Reverend William J. Barber ll has retired from the pulpit.
Samantha Irby is one of our favorite humorists; learn how she gets it done.
Our Black-Ass song(s) of the week (Jumoke):
I hate to tell y’all but I’m throwing ass to this Gracie’s Corner x Big Freedia hit.
Things we look forward to:
I (Jumoke) look forward to Gabrielle Union’s press tour fits. Gorgeous!
I (Mitu) look forward to more Gracie’s Corner hits keeping our hive fed.
lll. Text from a Black-Ass Parent
Being apart physically doesn’t mean you can’t dole out punishment.
Stay Black, have a snack, and take a nap today. We'll hit your inbox next on July 4!