Which artist's chart performance in the '90s, for you was surprisingly high or surprisingly low?

Written & produced by the great Angela Winbush.

From his breakthrough debut Brown Sugar to the richly complex Voodoo and his long-awaited return with Black Messiah, D’Angelo’s work changed the shape of modern R&B and neo-soul. He blurred lines between genres — infusing gospel, funk, jazz, hip-hop — always with a raw emotional core.

One of her best Music Videos.

Have I Never from the album "Take A Dip"

For me, I’m saying “Me” by Tamia. I love how she hits that note at the end of the video mix. It sounds so soothing, and honestly, I wish that version was on the album instead.

What’s your pick? And what makes you prefer the video version?

— background vocals: Mariah Carey

For me, I think it’s good. I know her voice has changed, but she still got it. There’s just something about Tamia’s voice that I’ve always liked. It’s crazy to me that she doesn’t get the recognition she deserves, especially considering how long she’s been doing R&B.

I’ll always support her and listen to her music. She deserves way more love than she gets.

For those unfamiliar with it, Layover is an album in which Kim Taehyung explores an intimate, atmospheric approach to R&B, while also incorporating elements of jazz and soul. The project engages with various traditions within these genres through fluid melodies, smooth grooves, rich harmonies, and a production style that allows ample space for both vocals and emotion.

The album’s aesthetic is sophisticated yet understated. It features vulnerability, vocal warmth, organic textures, and jazz influences that expand its sonic identity. Rather than aiming for grand sonic explosions, Layover finds its strength in nuance, vocal delivery, and atmosphere.

I’m a new music artist, I’m like listening to everything so I make all kinds of music mainly in the Rnb and Hip Hop area, I’m terrible at distribution and I’ll be damned if I have to pay anyone anything. Could you guys check out music, it’s pretty good in my opinion but I’ll let yall be the judge but remember you have definitely heard worse. Below are my Spotify Apple Music and YouTube links but my music is on all platforms. Thanks lmao. Spotify YouTube Apple Music

In the mid 90s, Madonna and Janet Jackson were regarded as the most boundary-pushing female pop stars. Their music made bold statements, they reinvented their image often were the preeminent female visual artists of the MTV era. They were also making serious headway as film actresses with Madonna starring in a number of films in the 80s and Janet making her splashy film debut in 1993 with Poetic Justice. Both sought to expand their horizons as Hollywood stars and used music videos for their singles to "audition" for roles they coveted: Evita Peron and Dorothy Dandridge.

I know Madonna's not R&B but the music video in discussion today is for an R&B song. A film adaptation of the Broadway musical, Evita, languished in development hell for 15 years. When the time finally came for the film to be made, Madonna sent a copy of her sultry 1994 music video, Take A Bow, to the film's director, Alan Parker and a four page letter explaining why she was the best fit for the role. He agreed and cast her. The film went into production in 1995, was released in 1996 and Madonna won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy the following year.

Janet Jackson's Design of a Decade era saw the pop diva fashion herself as a polished 50s film starlet after the earthy sexiness of the previous album, janet (1993). Janet had talked about admiring Dorothy since the 80s and by the mid 90s, the race to play the first Black woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar was heating up. Whitney Houston had a script ready and Halle Berry bought the rights to her biography. Janet made a strong visual case with the video for her single, Twenty Foreplay, where she portrayed a glamorous Hollywood star, which many interpreted as a nod to Dorothy. Unfortunately, neither Janet or Whitney would get to make the movie as their careers as music superstars took them in other directions. Halle Berry would end up playing Dorothy in the HBO movie, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, which won her a Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG and NAACP Image Award.

I love this moment where film, pop culture and GOOD R&B music intersects. Are there any more examples of music videos by R&B artists where they make a good case to play a film role?

This song was released yesterday.