Podcast: "Fact Check Yo Self" (The BackBeat)

On this week's episode of The BackBeat, we discuss Miley Cyrus and her claim that Hip Hop is too sexist for her. Next, we get into the debacle of the Fyre Festival that has Ja Rule looking like a scammer in these streets. We briefly discuss the drama between Ms. Aretha, Dionne, and Gladys. Make sure you stay tuned in until the end of the episode for our favorite songs of the moment. Kyera chooses cuts from DJ Khalid ft. Quavo, Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne. As well as new jams from Goldlink and SZA. Marcus selects jams from Tamar Braxton, Kendrick Lamar and Sabrina Claudio.

Podcast: "Google Me Baby" (The Backbeat)

In this week’s episode, we discuss Kanye West and Azealia Banks reaction to the Trump Presidency. We get into Aretha Franklin’s beautiful rendition of the national anthem at the Detroit Lions Game. Speaking of legends like Ms. Aretha Franklin, we discuss the upcoming VH1 Hollywood Divas special with performances from Mariah Carey, Teyana Taylor, and more. Next, we get into Jay Z’s multi-million dollar bid for Prince’s unreleased music before we end by talking about new music from Alicia Keys, Tinashe, Emeli Sande, Bruno Mars and The Weeknd. We hope you enjoy the episode!

Podcast: "For Us" (The BackBeat)

In this week’s episode, we discuss Nicki Minaj’s new interview with Marie Claire in which she talks about being an entrepreneur and the double standards for black women in the entertainment industry. We touch upon Kid Cudi’s new video “Frequency” and the awareness he is bringing to mental health. Next, we discuss Emeli Sande’s new song “Garden” ft. Jay Electronica and her upcoming album, which we can’t wait to hear. We run through the nominees for the 2016 American Music Awards--where Drake and Bryson Tiller scored huge nominations. Finally, we plug Michel’le’s movie “Surviving Compton,” which airs on Lifetime this Saturday (October 15th) at 8pm.

Don’t forget to stay tuned in until the end of the episode to hear our Songs of the Moment. Marcus chooses cuts from Aretha Franklin, Mary J Blige, Whitney Houston, and DVSN. Kyera gives us some of her favorite songs from Mahalia Jackson, Solange Knowles, and Vince Staples!

Enjoy!

Song of the Day: "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (Aretha Franklin)

"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" - Aretha Franklin

• Writers: Chips Moman & Dan Penn
• Producer: Jerry Wexler
• Record Label: Atlantic Records
• Released in 1967 from Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
• Peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart
• Ranked #476 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

Amazing Cover: "Say A Little Prayer" (Lianne La Havas)

During her Blood Solo Tour here in the States to support her Blood Solo EP which just recently dropped, Lianne La Havas covered the Queen of Soul's Ms. Aretha Franklin's iconic classic "Say A Little Prayer."

Performed and recorded at The New Parish in Oakland, CA on Feb 9th, 2016, Lianne's sweet soprano glides effortlessly across her own amplified guitar licks. Take a listen below and Enjoy!

Song of the Day: "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (Aretha Franklin)

"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" - Aretha Franklin

• Writers: Chips Moman & Dan Penn
• Producer: Jerry Wexler
• Record Label: Atlantic Records
• Released in 1967 from Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
• Peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart
• Ranked #476 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

Cut: "Hooked On Your Love" (Aretha Franklin)

Back in 1976, Aretha Franklin released Sparkle, the official soundtrack to the Warner Brothers motion picture that featured the instrumental tracks and backing vocals from the film versions, with Franklin's voice taking the place of the original lead vocalists.

Written and produced entirely by Curtis Mayfield, the song that everyone most remember's from Franklin's breakout 70s album is "Something He Can Feel," which was a #1 hit on the Hot Soul Singles and a top 30 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. While "Something He Can Feel" is such a classic song, Curtis Mayfield's score had a lot more cuts to offer including "Hooked On Your Love."

With that said, take a listen to Franklin's rendition of "Hooked On Your Love" below and Enjoy!

Live Video of the Day: "Angel" (Aretha Franklin)

I was fortunate to witness the greatness of the Queen of Soul, Ms. Aretha Franklin back in 2012 at Nokia Live here in Los Angeles and while I knew she probably wouldn't perform my favorite cut from her "Angel," I held out a bit of hope. Sadly I was right, but Ms. Franklin's set did not disappoint and she truly rocked the house last night with her sublime set.

With that said, I though it would be nice to watch Ms. Aretha Franklin crooning out a rare live performance of this touching classic. Peep the Queen of Soul sanging a phenomenal rendition of "Angel" after the jump from her Showtime special back in the '90s and Enjoy!

Live Audio: "The Way We Were" (Aretha Franklin)

Back in 1990, Aretha Franklin stopped by The Phil Donahue Show and while she was on the show, she tickled the keys and performed a stunning cover of the Barbra Streisand classic "The Way We Were."

While the Queen of Soul only performed for a little bit, the crowd was of course mesmerized by her sheer vocal prowess of Ms. Franklin as well as her phenomenal prodigy pianist skills. Therefore, take a listen below to Aretha's cover of "The Way We Were" and Enjoy!

Song of the Day: "Who's Zoomin' Who?" (Aretha Franklin)

"Who's Zoomin' Who?" - Aretha Franklin

• Writers: Aretha Franklin, Preston Glass, Narada Michael Walden
• Producer: Narada Michael Walden
• Record Label: Arista
• Released in 1985 from Who's Zoomin' Who?
• Peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #2 on the Hot Black Singles chart 

Live Audio: "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Aretha Franklin)

Back in 1972, the Queen of Soul, Ms. Aretha Franklin recorded a live album in Philadelphia entitled Oh Me Oh My: Aretha Live in Philly, 1972. The set boasted a phenomenal live showing from Ms. Franklin and one of my all-time favorite jams from her, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was included on this live LP.

With that said, after the jump you will find the live audio of Aretha accompanying herself in addition to crooning out a sublime rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Rare Performance: "Spirit In The Dark" (Aretha Franklin & Ray Charles)

The Queen of Soul Ms. Aretha Franklin took to San Francisco's Fillmore West on March 6th, 1971 and turing the place out with her thumping Ray Charles assisted rendition of "Spirit In The Dark."

Spanning nearly 25-minutes, the duo performed an electrifying, once in a lifetime  performance of "Spirit In The Dark" that any soul fan has to see at least once in their life.

With that said, peep this rare black-and-white footage of Ms. Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles sharing the stage on "Spirit In The Dark" after the jump and Enjoy!

Song of the Day: "Spirit in the Dark" (Aretha Franklin)

"Spirit in the Dark" - Aretha Franklin

• Composer: Aretha Franklin
• Record Label:  Atlantic Records
• Featured on 1970's Spirit in the Dark

Song of the Day: "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" (Aretha Franklin)

"Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" - Aretha Franklin

• Writers: Chips Moman & Dan Penn
• Producer: Jerry Wexler
• Record Label: Atlantic Records
• Released in 1967 from Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
• Peaked at #37 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart
• Ranked #476 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

Rare Performance: "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" (Aretha Franklin)

The official soundtrack for the remake of Sparkle reignited interest in the original soundtrack and while the vocals to the remake in my opinion do not match the Queen of Soul's from the original Curtis Mayfield compositions, the women of the 2012 remake put together a solid and phenomenal effort in their own right.

Either way you feel, Ms. Franklin in my book has the top rendition followed closely behind by the funky divas of En Vogue. With that said, peep this rare performance of "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" below from the Queen of Soul, Ms. Aretha Franklin and Enjoy!

Live Audio: "Spirit in the Dark (Reprise)" (Aretha Franklin & Ray Charles)

On Ray Charles' definitive collection Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection that was released back in 1997, there lies a special little gem in the form of his duet with the Queen of Soul, Ms. Aretha Franklin on her iconic classic "Spirit in the Dark."

Entitled "Spirit in the Dark (Reprise)," this live audio is filled with the vibrato and power of two of music's most pioneering artists. Take a listen after the jump and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Nessun Dorma" (Aretha Franklin)

This performance is why Aretha Franklin has transcended to become the Empress of Music. On a moments notice, she performed this amazing cover in a different key then she had performed it nights before.

In addition, The Queen went on stage without practicing, warming up, or having enough time to fully comprehend what she was doing. This simply, is what legend are made of.

Take a few minutes and watch Aretha Franklin's riveting rendition of "Nessun Dorma" below and Enjoy!

Podcast: "Girl, You Tried It" (The BackBeat)

In this week’s episode, we get into Andra Day’s sublime debut Cheers To The Fall, Taylor Swift’s problematic music video for “Wildest Dreams,” Miley’s traumatic hosting duties at the VMAs, Macklemore getting praise from Big Daddy Kane, Tyler the Creator getting banned from the UK, as well as our excitement over Janet Jackson’s Unbreakable era.

We also introduce a new segment Minute Update regarding Aretha Franklin’s documentary Amazing Grace, and get into a Blast from the Past regarding Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

And make sure you stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear our songs of the moment.

Live Audio: "Amazing Grace" (Aretha Franklin)

As the film based around Aretha's Amazing Grace album continues to get caught up in litigation, I thought it would be nice to revisit the title-track of the film and album.

Back in 1972, Aretha Franklin released her career defining live gospel album Amazing Grace. Recorded at her New Bethel Baptist Church, Franklin let into numerous spirited renditions of Gospel hymns though her rendition of the title track"Amazing Grace" proves to be the definitive version of this famous hymn.

With that said take a listen after the jump to her phenomenal vocal performance of "Amazing Grace" and Enjoy!

Podcast: "The BackBeat: Don't Call It A Come Back" (The BackBeat)

This week, we get back into our soundbites starting with NWA’s biopic Straight Outta Compton, our thoughts on JoJo’s compact with her Tringle, Beyoncé’s “stringy hair” Atlantic article and Black Twitter’s response as well as how we are totally here for Janelle Monae and her movement.

Also we get into Lil B’s discussion of Black Lives Matters on CNN, Azealia Bank’s bad contract and response to Nicki Minaj’s wax figure, Fetty Wap dominating the summer, as well as Aretha Franklin’s highly anticipated biopic with Jennifer Hudson loosely attached to stars.

And make sure you stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear our favorite songs of the moment.