New music you might have missed this month

June sure has been a busy month, hasn't it? This month we've seen the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement sweep across the country with protests and rallies. We've seen confederate statues being torn down across the country, the 50th Anniversary of PRIDE,  LBGTQ marches/celebrations, States reopening, spikes in COVID-19 confirmed cases and for the grand finale, the President of the United States thanking the "great people" who chanted "white power" in a video he retweeted while he was at a retirement community in Florida on Sunday, June 28th. 

On top of all of that June is Black Music Month and a lot of good music was released.

Flatbush Zombies EP Now, More Than Ever cover art 

The rap threesome from Flatbush New York, Flatbush Zombies released Now, More than Ever on June 5th. The new EP features 6 songs and the last two "blessings" and "when I'm gone" feat. Sophie Faith really standout from the rest right now. 

Norah Jones and Naeem released new albums on Friday, June 12th. 

Pick Me Up Off the Floor is Norah Jones' 8th album while Naeem's Startisha is the artist's debut album. 

Nora Jones Pick Me Up Off The Floor & Naeem Startisha cover art 

Alicia Keys "Perfect Way to Die" cover art 

Alicia Keys and Anderson .paak both dropped new singles on Juneteenth. The new songs don't come off of any upcoming albums that we know of (yet) and they both came on a very important day in Black history: June 19th, the day it was announced that slavery was abolished, freeing slaves in America. 

Flush with a cascade of shimmering piano "Perfect Way to Die" tells the heartbreaking truth about what it's like to be a black mother of a slain black child. There's power behind Alicia Keys' gentle vocals and when she hits those high notes then effortlessly transitions into the soft name-sake lyrics of the chorus you're sure to get chills, mother or not. 

Anderson .paak "Lockdown" cover art 

.paak's "Lockdown" delivers a powerful one two punch: shedding light on the current state of affairs dealing with the shift of the covid-19 lockdown to the Black Lives Matter movement uprising during the pandemic. The single was released with an accompanying music video featuring a masked Anderson paak. The attention grabbing song + video combo is moving, insightful and empowering. 

The Album, is Teyana Taylor's 3rd album was also released on Juneteenth. 10 of the 23 tracks on her third instalment feature other artists, including Erykah Badu on "Lowkey",  Missy Elliot and Future on "Boomin", Big Sean on "Shoot It Up" and Miss Lauryn Hill on our favorite track "We Got Love". The Album as a whole is great listening for smooth grooves in the morning to start any day off on the right foot. The singer's androgynous look she's rocking on the cover is also a noteworthy message of love, understanding and acceptance just like we hear throughout the album it represents. 

Teyana Taylor The Album cover art 

Beyoncé "Black Parade" cover art 

Before the momentous Juneteeth of 2020 ended, Queen Bey surprised everyone with a hot new track, "Black Parade". A little over a week later Beyoncé announced that she will be releasing a visual album titled Black Is King on July 31st via Disney +. Beyoncé not only wrote but she also directed the updated spin on the story and moral of The Lion King. 

Fantastic Negrito "I'm So Happy I Cry" feat. Tank cover art 

Oakland's own Fantastic Negrito dropped a single off his upcoming new album, Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? On June 25th we got  "I'm So Happy I Cry" feat. Tank from Tank and The Bangas. 

On June 26th brought us:

-  a beautiful cover of "What The World Needs Now" by Tank and The Bangas

-  singing trio The Dixie Chicks who will from now on be known as The Chicks after dropping Dixie which is a reference to a nickname for southern states during the Confederacy. They reemerged with a new name and  two new politically driven singles "March, March, March" and "Gaslighter". 

- a brand new one from a Toni Braxton, "Do It" feat. Missy Elliot. 

- CeeLo Green released soulful, retro sounds on his sixth album CeeLo Green is Thomas Callaway. 

Ceelo Greene, The Chicks, Tank and The Bangas and Toni Braxton cover art 

The 2020 B.E.T (Black Entertainment Television) Awards aired on Sunday June 28th celebrating achievements in entertainment, honoring the black community in music, television, movies and sports. With great live performances from Lizzo, Jon Legend, Megan Thee Stallion, Jennifer Hudson, a special ensemble performance of "Fight the Power" plus so many more. 

Just because June is over doesn't mean supporting black artists ends. 

Black lives and black music always matter.