The Nightshawn 101 Archives

Okayplayer • 3rd August 2021

HARD Summer Festival 2021: An EDM Festival Ruled By Memes, Hip Hop, & Future

Although the main focus of the HARD Summer Festival is EDM, there were many prominent rap performances from the likes of Future, 2 Chainz KAYTRANADA, and Rubi Rose, which took place in San Bernardino, California. A year after the pandemic settled into...

Okayplayer • 27th January 2020

The R&B J. Cole? Kehlani's 14 Best Features, Duets, & Collaborations

Kehlani’s artistic excellence and ability to overshadow other artists on a track make her the R&B equivalent to J. Cole. We rank the singer’s best features, duets, and collaborations.

Okayplayer • 10th December 2019

The 2010s: The Evolution of Cloud R&B In 18 Mixtapes

In the 2010s, R&B bent further into alternative waves, becoming fascinated with nature, space, time, and the universe. Cloud R&B was born. And these are the 18 R&B mixtapes that defined that era.

Okayplayer • 24th November 2019

The 19 Most Influential R&B Albums of '90s & the Waves it Left

From Bell Biv DeVoe’s New Jack Swing sound to Aaliyah’s form of Electro-R&B: here are the 19 most influential R&B albums of the ’90s and the various movements the respective albums inspired.

Okayplayer • 7th October 2019

Nine Lil’ Kim Songs That Foreshadowed Trends in Contemporary Hip-Hop

What Lil’ Kim was rapping about more than a decade ago is what hip-hop is experiencing now. Here is a list of influential Lil’ Kim songs that successfully gave insight to the issues that matter in today’s hip-hop.

Okayplayer • 23rd August 2019

From Whitney Houston To Normani: The History of Black Artists Cultivating Pop Music

Through innovation and influence, Black artists have consistently reshaped popular music. From Diana Ross and The Supremes to Whitney Houston to Normani, here is a thorough examination of how Black artists shifted pop throughout the last century.

Okayplayer • 26th June 2019

A Brief History of Artists Who Have Benefited From Bundled Album Sales

A brief breakdown of the controversial yet common practice of bundling — and the artists whose sales either soared or remained stagnant as a result.

Okayplayer • 20th June 2019

The 13 Best 'The Boondocks' Episodes of All Time

When The Boondocks ended its nine-year run on June 23, 2014, a void was left in television. Since its 2005 premiere, The Boondocks became more than a satirical animated series for adults. Based on the daily syndicated comic strip by Aaron McGruder, it...

Okayplayer • 29th March 2019

Is Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” Hip-Hop or Country? The Answer Is: Both

As the debate ensued about whether Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" qualifies as hip hop or country, this early analysis suggested that it is indeed both based on prior music history in both genres.

Okayplayer • 26th March 2019

From DeFord Bailey to Ray Charles to Solange: The Long Lineage of Black Artists Making Country Music Pop

As a genre stemming from an alchemy of blues and folk, country music has a storied history in Black art spaces. Despite this presence often being erased, cast away, or discredited, from the 1920s to 2019, Black artists have been the one’s pioneering...

Okayplayer • 18th December 2018

A Case for Ty Dolla $ign: The Reigning King of R&B

In the King of R&B debate -- sparked by newcomer, Jacquees-- this is an argument in favor of Ty Dolla $ign: Based on present hits, his peers, past legends, and the criteria.

Okayplayer • 26th April 2020

15th Anniversary of ‘Touch:’ How Amerie Made a Modern Day Go-Go Classic with "1 Thing"

Released 15 years ago, Touch marked the pinnacle of Amerie Roger’s creative partnership with producer Rich Harrison. I spoke with the singer about how the two crafted their go-go-influenced classic.

Okayplayer • 18th April 2020

"I Definitely Understand the Importance of Having a Good Story:" Carl Thomas Breaks Down the Making of His R&B Classic 'Emotional'

Twenty years ago, Carl Thomas released his debut album, Emotional on Bad Boys Records. I talked to the singer about writing and creating his R&B classic. Eventually drawing comparisons to the project and daytime soap operas.

Okayplayer • 22nd April 2019

Tayla Parx: A New Kind of All-American Artist [Interview]

The singer-songwriter talks the power and purpose in writing for others-- such as Ariana Grande and Christina Aguilera-- while maintaining artistic authenticity, defying music industry norms, and becoming a new breed of American artist.