Lizzo and Cardi B both playfully confront the rumors about their appearances, their private lives and clap back at them. They are aware of the magnification that women undergo in the industry. “Spendin’ all your time tryna break a woman down,” Lizzo sings on the pre-chorus to combat the all too common criticism women deal with.  

Behind the funk-pop single, “Rumors” is the medium through which Lizzo unpacks the body shaming, public criticism for her diet, and the racism she’s dealt with since hitting the mainstream scene in 2019. Despite this song being a positive anthem, she is still, unfortunately, getting attacked for her body positive message but thankfully she has received support from the likes of Cardi B, Chloe Bailey, and Jameela Jamil.

Despite the criticism, “Rumors” is a brilliantly playful comeback for Lizzo. It’s a wonderful mesh of talent along with plenty of witty clapbacks.

Stream “Rumors” here:

The post Lizzo Returns With “Rumors” appeared first on Red Roll.

1. Euphoria

If you’ve seen Euphoria, you probably love it just as much for the storyline as you do for the music. Euphoria follows struggling teen Rue (Zendaya) as she attempts to recover from a drug addiction. In this show, Rue and several other high school-aged characters’ lives and conflicts intertwine with one another. The series paints the picture of all of the main characters’ conflicts, piece by piece, using flashbacks to give each teen a detailed storyline. What is great about the Euphoria soundtrack is that most of the artists featured are young, currently popular or up-and-coming.  This is realistic– these are the musicians who real teenagers are actually following, like Beyoncé, Drake, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Solange, Migos, and more. There is also exclusive music for the show by producer Labrinth, featuring Zendaya. Overall, this show and the music it features are incredible. The way the music is used absolutely completes the story. If you haven’t seen this show, it’s a lot to handle subject-wise, but it’s worth it. If you have watched the show, I’m sure you can vouch for the quality of its soundtrack.

2. Big Little Lies

This HBO series, like Euphoria, is a drama with some dark content, but rather than showcasing teens, it follows a group of elite moms in Monterey Bay, California. Big Little Lies is based on a fantastic novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty. The main characters are played by Reece Witherspoon, Zoë Kravitz, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and Shailene Woodley. Some of the music on this soundtrack is set to ominous B-roll footage of the waves of the Pacific Ocean crashing to the shore. Otherwise, music is used in scenes to help better tell this super-compelling story. A diverse range of artists, both older and newer, appear on the soundtrack. Classics by musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Carole King, and Elvis are paired with more modern tunes by Frank Ocean, Sufjan Stevens, and Alabama Shakes. Even cast member Zoë Kravitz appears on this soundtrack, covering Elvis’s song “Don’t.” The theme song itself, “Cold Little Heart” by Michael Kiwanuka, is iconic for enthusiastic fans of the show, including myself.

3. Insecure

Insecure follows Issa, (Issa Rae), a twenty-something aspiring rapper in Los Angeles, California, who deals with friendship, relationships, and her day job as a non-profit educator. The main characters and cast are majority Black, so the soundtrack definitely heavily features both rap and Black artists alike. Frank Ocean’s lyrics are, at times, even embedded into the characters’ dialogue. Most of the music featured on the show are by young, up-and-coming artists, which is likely what most twenty-somethings in L.A. listen to. Rap favorites on the soundtrack include but are not limited to –  Rico Nasty, Mac Miller, Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Kari Faux, and Tyler, the Creator. One of my personal favorite SZA songs, “Quicksand,” was released exclusively for the soundtrack to Season 2 of the show. This is definitely the show to watch if you’re a fan of rap, comedy and pop culture. If you’re not, this show may broaden your horizons and turn you into one.

What are your favorite HBO shows? Leave us a comment below to let us know!

The post HBO: A Catalog of Shows and Music appeared first on Red Roll.

It is truly hitting everyone differently. For me, the air feels a little heavier and springtime is dragging its feet rather than skipping the way it usually does.

As for music, large concerts and festivals are canceled, as well as smaller gigs, robbing local artists of their chance to finally shine. It seems like everything around us is trying to take our music, but this is actually a chance to be absorbed by it.

Locking yourself in your shoebox apartment might feel like some kind of weird arrest, but it can also be used as a time to create, explore, and connect with others in a unique way that only our era presents.

So, when there’s nowhere to turn, turn on your speakers, crank up the volume and let the magic of music take hold. It improves mood, boosts health and has always had the power to unite people. Especially now, in a time of global uneasiness, the strength of music can beat the blues. It is the thread that has woven together families, cultures, religions, countries, and movements since the beginning of time. Because there is no playlist as personal as life itself.

“…there is no playlist as personal as life itself.”

Be inspired by all the ways we can sing positivity into life. In Italy, they’ve taken over the balconies rallying together behind one beating song. Let’s join them. If you’re a creative, use the quarantine to create. If you’re a friend, send uplifting songs to loved ones. If you’re a human, collaborate by adding any sound that makes you happy to my “Spreading Positivity” playlist.

In the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” So, let’s chat.

The post Singing in Lieu of It All appeared first on Red Roll.

Of course this caused worried fans to respond and ask her about her tweets. Which in return caused Noname to clarify that she plans to fulfill her scheduled dates but after that she plans to take a break on making music.

Her tweet stated, “I have 2 shows on the books then after that I’m chilling on making music. If y’all don’t wanna leave the crib I feel it. I don’t want to dance on a stage for white people.”

Noname’s tweets voice what seems to be her frustration with a lack of support from Black fans and the racism Black artists can deal with within the industry. (The following tweets were provided by XXLLMAG as NONAME deleted all her tweets regarding the issue.)

“ME CONSISTENTLY CREATING CONTENT THAT IS PRIMARILY CONSUMED BY A WHITE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD RATHER SHIT ON ME THAN CHALLENGE THEIR LIBERALISM BECAUSE SOME HOW LIKING LIZZOS MUSIC ABSOLVES THEM OF RACIST TENDENCIES”

“Y’ALL REALLY PUSHING THE IDEA THAT BLACK PEOPLE CAN’T COME TO MY SHOWS BECAUSE OF BLACK DEATH AND FINANCIAL RESTRAINT ??? AS IF DABABY, MEGAN AND SMINO SHOWS AIN’T BLACK AS HELL? SAY YOU DON’T LIKE MY SHXT AND MOVE AROUND LOL“

“WHATS FUNNY IS MOST BLACK ARTIST ARE JUST AS UNCOMFORTABLE PERFORMING FOR MAJORITY WHITE CROWDS BUT WOULD NEVER PUBLICLY SAY THAT OUT OF FEAR AND ALLEGIANCE TO WHICH ISNT A BAD THING NECESSARILY CAUSE NIGGAS GOTTA EAT BUT YALL WOULDNT BE UP AND ARMS IF I QUIT WORKN @ MCDONALDS”

“WHEN I GO TO WORK, THOUSANDS OF WHITE PEOPLE SCREAM THE WORD NXXXA AT ME. AND NO I’M NOT CHANGING MY ART SO IT IS WHAT IT IS. CATCH ME @NONAMEBOOKS ”

“THAT’S REAL. UNFORTUNATELY I’M NOT GOING TO KEEP PERFORMING FOR PREDOMINANTLY WHITE CROWDS. I HAVE 2 SHOWS ON THE BOOKS THEN AFTER THAT I’M CHILLING ON MAKING MUSIC. IF Y’ALL DON’T WANNA LEAVE THE CRIB I FEEL IT. I DON’T WANT TO DANCE ON A STAGE FOR WHITE PEOPLE.”

“I REFUSE TO KEEP MAKING MUSIC AND PUTTING IT ONLINE FOR FREE FOR PEOPLE WHO WON’T SUPPORT ME”

@NONAME (Posted on November 29) Tweet quotes provided by XXLLMAG

The post Noname Threatens to Stop Touring appeared first on Red Roll.

Lizzo was hit by accusations of copying left and right. On October 17, singer Cece Peniston posted a side to side video of her own song, “Finally,” and Lizzo’s song, “Juice.” Peniston’s Instagram caption claimed that Lizzo is a “clear example of copyright infringement.”

The use of the ad-lib “ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee” can be heard in both of the choruses. Collectively the use of the chorus in Lizzo’s song adds up to around 40 seconds of copyrighted ad-lips.

As of Oct. 23, Lizzo has not responded to this allegation.

Second Accusation:

Producer Justin Raisen also accused her of stealing. He claimed the popular opening for “Truth Hurts” was taken from a song they co-wrote together earlier in the year titled “Healthy.” Raisen then credited UK based singer Mina Lioness for the “I just did a DNA test turns out I’m 100% that bitch” lyric.

It was around February of 2018 when Mina Lioness made her own accusations on her twitter about the line being stolen.

According to Cosmopolitan, Mina Lioness tweeted, “Now everyone believes those were your words, when in fact they were mine. My creativity, my wit, and my comedy.’ (Mina tweeted that she got the idea for the joke from Demi Lovato, who once tweeted about how her DNA test results said she was 1 percent African.)”

When Lizzo was confronted by Mina and the fans, she responded with the following:

Lizzo’s Response:

On Oct. 23 Lizzo posted a thread of photos stating that Mina will be credited for “Truth Hurts.” Lizzo then clarified that she has no plans to credit Justin Raisen for the song as he was not part of her writing process. She instead hit him with a lawsuit. According to NBC, the lawsuit states that Justin Raisen and Yves Rothman “expressly withdrew any claim to ‘Truth Hurts,’ in writing” last April, that Rothman never previously made any such claim, and that Lizzo requests that the court enter a judgement stating that the Raisens, Rothman and their publisher have no ownership rights or rights to any money earned in connection with “Truth Hurts,” that it does not “infringe any copyright interest purportedly held by Defendant Rothman in any unreleased demo song,” and awards Lizzo costs and reasonable attorney fees.”

Not too soon after Lizzo posted her statement on both Instagram and Twitter, Mina Lioness took to Twitter to tweet out the following:

The post Lizzo Responds to Recent Drama appeared first on Red Roll.

Azealia Banks:

Azealia Banks is back on the hot seat for attacking another successful women in the industry. It’s only been two weeks since attacking Lizzo for being an “ongoing joke” that she’s grown tired of, and for being a “dumpy fat girl.”

Banks kept the same fat shaming tone, but this time at the end of her brunt is Rihanna. Banks got on Instagram and posted several videos to both her Instagram and on her story where she discussed her feelings about the Savage X Fenty Show. Despite it getting mostly positive reactions on social media, Banks felt very differently about the fashion show. Banks expressed being very bothered by the theme of body positivity.

Banks mocked Rihanna for her drug use, weight and appearance. Then she went on and accused Rihanna of only being body inclusive due to her own weight gain.

Banks then stated that, “we will have no fat f-ing Black icons on this side.” This caused a negative reaction from the public which led to tweets being posted against Banks.

2019 is far from over, but as of now, Banks has come for Kenny Beats and Rico Nasty, Cardi B, Lizzo and now Rihanna.

CupcakKe:

Later that night, CupcakKE tweeted some serious allegations towards another women in the industry.

Most guesses underneath those tweets pointed to former Fifth Harmony member, Camilla Cabello. CupcakKe had just dropped a song the day before she dropped these tweets. It was a great means of promotion especially since she made the trending list after those tweets.

CupcakKe ended this rant with threats of receipts. She then proceeded to share posts of her new song and hasn’t since mentioned the thread of tweets.

The post Azealia Banks and CupcakKe Went Off appeared first on Red Roll.

Chase Atlantic’s- “Phases”

Chase Atlantic, the alt-pop trio, returned with their much anticipated sophomore album, “Phases.” And with the second album drop, Chase Atlantic proved once again why they are rapidly getting social media attention. Chase Atlantic is unafraid of deviating from the typical generic “pop” sound. On the contrary, Chase Atlantic successfully and unapologetically integrates a mixture of dreamy vocals, hip-hop, electronica, rock, R&B and pop. The twelve tracked album is an easy listen and great for the summer road.

Ariana Grande- “Thank U, Next”

Ariana Grande’s sound is mostly positive, happy, and free-flowing and that’s really easy to vibe with. But Grande does have range, both vocally and lyrically. Despite Grande having a mostly “pop” sound, that doesn’t take away from her very soulful voice. “Thank U, Next” was antithesis of “Sweetener.” It showed her range and depth, lyrically. In “Thank U, Next” Grande confronts the negativity with no sugar coating. She is vulnerable and honest with her audience – breaking away from that stereotypical happy go-lucky pop sound she is often associated with. Songs such as “needy” and “imagine” capture that soulful vocal ability she’s known for having with the backing of a seamless blend of electro-pop, blissful ambiance and smooth spacious trap.  Grande shows depth, while also keeping her pop fans happy with more upbeat songs such as, “make up,” “7 rings,” and “bloodline.” 

Billie Eilish- “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”

Billie Eilish’s album is a harmonious clashing of dance music, pop, rap and folk. Eilish’s edgy yet angst visuals only assist the album which reveals the various faucets of Eilish. Eilish is unafraid to be vulnerable with her fans and explore darker themes. The beautiful, the weird, and the self-aware all mesh beautifully as every song within the album flows into the next, despite experimenting with every song.

Lizzo- “Cuz I Love You”

Lizzo is probably the obvious breakout star with her positive message of self-love. The breakthrough album is full of “twerk-worthy bops” (such as Tempo) and fully empowering messages about embracing inner strength and becoming your own soulmate (Truth Hurts). Lizzo is known for expressing her feminist ideas while encompassing an R&B sound, jazz, the flute and gospel piano.

The post Best Albums From The First Half Of 2019 appeared first on Red Roll.

Lizzo is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and flutist. You can see her flute skills on Instagram and they’re quite impressive. She doesn’t just bring these talents but brings a voice for women all around to feel empowered and sexy. She radiates positivity and is challenging the image of a pop star in the industry.

Before releasing her debut album Cuz I Love You, she released two singles: ‘Tempo’ ft Missy Elliot, and ‘Juice.’ She has been releasing singles since 2014 and her time has come to give us a full album.

‘Juice’ proved to be a hit as it was her first single to hit the Billboard charts. Lizzo brought back an 80’s vibe that made you want to get up and dance and the music video showcased just that.

Her debut album Cuz I Love You features eleven tracks. Ranging from dance party vibes to slow ballads having you in your feels. Her range in voice allows her to experiment with sound bringing a uniqueness that has been missing in the industry.

“For a long time, I didn’t want to be that big black girl with a soulful voice, That’s how we were tokenized—the big black girls were always the belters, and I’ve always been afraid of being put into that box…I started to embrace how good I can finally sing, and now I’m celebrating that.”

Lizzo says in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Celebrating indeed. The album itself is a story of self-love and acceptance, and when I think of Lizzo, I see confidence, power, and self-acceptance. This is what she radiates and can definitely be seen in her music. When we learn to love ourselves nothing can stop us. ‘Like a Girl’ is the anthem to woman all around the world. I am here, and I am fierce, this is what you’re reminded of as Lizzo sings “Do your thing, run the whole damn world.”

Lizzo brings different genres such as R&B in ‘Better in Color,’ pop in ‘Exactly How I Feel’ ft. Gucci Mane, a trap feel in ‘Tempo’ ft. Missy Elliot, and soul in her ballads, ‘Jerome,’ and ‘Cry Baby.’ There something new to expect in each track, you’ll never be bored when listening to this album.

Overall, I think this album is the beginning to catapulting her to more success. She has the thrive and ambition to achieve that. This album is definitely in my top 10 favorite for the year.

Stream ‘Cuz I Love You”

The post Lizzo Is Bringing the Juice with Her Debut Album appeared first on Red Roll.

Below, are my personal reviews of the acts I was able to catch.

Clairo

Within the confines of a beautifully designed floral set, potential pretty girl, Clairo opened the gates of Lollapalooza with a selection of the best cutesy, pillowy love songs that she had to offer. Despite not being the most dynamic singer in the world, she proved that she can carry a tune and project to a large crowd. Her down to earth girl next door persona only adds to her music’s endearing quality. The outside production was surprisingly clear with the jangly guitars floating gently over the rumbling bass and drums. To top it all off she brought fellow bedroom pop singer and recent collaborator, Cuco, to perform a live rendition of their new song, “Drown.”

8/10

Parquet Courts

New York art punks performed afterwards with a show that was both loud, yet tame. At one point the group had some technical difficulties with one of their guitars so the band was forced to play the same chord progression for a solid two minutes straight. While only a small fraction of the set, it was still infuriating with every new riff. Probably the biggest draw to the band’s music is their witty lyricism, which as you can guess, does not translate well into a live setting. The vocals were decent in that they conveyed the band’s mature energy, but they were nothing to write home about.

6/10

Lizzo

Minnesota rapper, Lizzo brought her twerkfest of a show to the Tito’s Homemade Vodka Stage. Her gargantuan gospel sized vocals flooded the crowd as her, her backup dancers and DJ provided provocative, but intricate choreography for the world to see. Her unashamed confidence poured into the audience. Her messages of body positivity, female empowerment and making the most of life showed her to be a real free spirit. She was loud and proud! The flows she used were not overly complicated, but her conviction was undeniable.

9/10

Post Malone

Polarizing rap crooner Post Malone was arguably one of the most popular acts of the day if not the weekend. Considering his newest album, “Beerbongs & Bentleys” broke the 50 year record for the most simultaneous top 20 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, it was obvious his show would be packed to the back. When he first came out, his voice sounded really really rough similar to how he did at Coachella. I thought this would have been the cause for a disaster of a live show, but in all honesty it was not that bad. It’s not to say Post had a little from his friends: autotune and a backing track, however, underneath all of the effects, it was easy to see Post was capable of following the melody. Either way, he knew how to throw down a party. He also pleased some of the more rock oriented fans by bringing out an acoustic guitar to play a live rendition of “Stay,” which he actually sounded pretty decent over.

7/10

Brockhampton

The self-proclaimed greatest boyband of all time came out of the gate with their wild energetic presence. In what was possibly the biggest mosh pit inducing set of the day, the Texas rap group certainly knew what the Lollapalooza crowd needed. With the weirdness of Merlyn Wood, the smooth swagger of Kevin Abstract and the beautiful boyish voice of Bearface, the group provided an array of talent sure to keep their fans entertained for the duration of their set. Interspersed with these rap bangers created these slower, moodier guitar ballads that showed off the group’s collective singing chops. The only real issue I personally had with the show was that the visuals in the background acted more as a distraction than an enhancement to the set’s mood and aesthetic.

8/10

Bruno Mars

Triple threat, Bruno Mars headlined Friday as a perfect closer to day two. Throughout the set, he ran through his colossal list of hits he has built over the years including, “24K Magic,” “Treasure” and of course, “Just the Way You Are.” As expected, he had an incredible voice and dance skills. Was there ever any doubt? What I was not expecting was how talented he would be on a multiple instruments including the electric guitar. Performing alongside him was a massive crowd of dancers, instrumentalists and backup singers all of whom were equally talented, but still allowed Bruno to have the spotlight. The main issue was when he began performing some of his slow jams in which he elongated them for no apparent reason other than to extend the song’s run-time. Outside of that, there really was not too much to complain about.

8/10

There’s a reason why Lollapalooza is one of the world’s most popular music festivals. Every year it brings in a solid mix of up and comers and arena rockers and this year was no different. Featuring artists of a multitude of genres, the festival did a great job of showcasing the talent within the modern musical landscape.

Overall: 8/10

Best act: Lizzo

Worst act: Parquet Courts (marginally)

The post Lollapalooza Reappears with Its Usual Hodge-Podge of Genres appeared first on Red Roll.