Podcast: "The Torch" (The BackBeat)

This week on The BackBeat, we talk about Brandy claiming Whitney Houston passed her the torch. We cover the success of Cardi B's "Bodak Yellow" on the Hot 100. Next, we delve into Trina's beef with a local Miami rapper and we congratulate Cyn Santana and Joe Budden on their new baby. Also, we give a shout out to Kelly Rowland, who is in the studio working on her new album and much more.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode when we choose our songs of the moment. Marcus chooses tracks from Jazmine Sullivan and Whitney Houston. Kyera's favorite songs of the moment come from Kelela, Dreezy and Cassie.

New Joint: "Life Is Good" (Jazmine Sullivan)

Back when Jazmine Sullivan was signed to Jive Records and working on her debut album, it appears as though she linked up with Mike City to record some music.

With that said, a few days ago, Mike City released an unreleased gem from Jazmine that she recorded when she was 14/15 and it truly underscores the point that Jazmine is one of the greatest to ever touch the mic.

Regarding the unreleased song "Life Is Good," Mike City said the follow:

When you're in the presence of greatness, you usually know right away..I knew Jazmine was great immediately!! She was only 14-15 yrs old and was an absolute BEAST and she STILL IS..being that today (4/9) is her b'day, i wanted to let the real R&B/Soul heads hear how she was getting down BACK THEN...She cut her vocals in 1-2 takes and was under the weather too..#BEAST MC

Therefore, take a listen below to Jazmine Sullivan's "Life Is Good" and Enjoy!

Podcast: "Do Your Research" (The BackBeat)

Hey Friends! On our new episode, we talk about the tragic trailer for the new Nina Simone movie starring Zoe Saldana. Next, we fan out over Kendrick Lamar’s surprise album “Untitled and Unmastered.” We then discuss Sam Smith’s problematic Oscar acceptance speech. Also, we breakdown hip-hop drama between Joey BadA$$ and Troy Ave followed by a discussion of Tank vs. Tyrese. Finally, we show love to the new Hamilton mixtape that is dropping soon!

Stay tuned to the end of the episode where we discuss our songs of the moment. Kyera chooses songs from the Hamilton Cast Recording, The Alabama Shakes, and Chris Brown. Marcus chooses cuts from Jazmine Sullivan, Erykah Badu, and Fifth Harmony.

Podcast: "The Grammy Family" (The Backbeat)

In this week's episode of The Backbeat, Marcus and Kyera delve into the 2016 GRAMMY Awards where they talk about their favorite performances of the night as well as some of their disappointments. In addition to their favorite performances, we get into Taylor Swift's clapback to Kanye West's "Famous" from The Life of Pablo. Then we get into a track-by-track review of Kanye's latest LP and then come back to the GRAMMYs to shame them about their lack of inclusion and celebration of Black female artists.

Cut: "Veins" (Jazmine Sullivan)

If reality shows are over dramatic and often times inauthentic, Jazmine Sullivan's third album Reality Show is the total opposite offering up a raw, harrowing and introspective view of some of the tales we might see flashed on our TV screens.

A self-noted reality show fan, Jazmine Sullivan might've been inspired by the content on our screens, but she takes it a few steps further offering some deep lyrical content and powerhouse vocals that only this legend in the making possess.

With that said, one of my favorite cuts from her new album Reality Show has to be "Veins," which opens up with a few powerful lines: "Writings on the wall, but I can't see the words it's right in front of me but my vision is blurred...".

Offering one of the best albums I've heard in a minute, Jazmine's return warrants more acclaim both critically and commercially in my opinion and "Veins" is just a tip of the iceberg that is Reality Show.

Take a listen below to "Veins" and if you like what you hear, go and support Jazmine by picking up her new album.

Podcast: "#2015Faves" (The Backbeat)

This past week on The Backbeat Podcast, Marcus and Kyera give us a rundown of their favorite moments in music in 2015! They cover their favorite albums, songs, music videos, clap backs, and the biggest surprises of 2015!

Continue to celebrate the new year with their new episode covering Adele, Jazmine Sullivan, Lianne La Havas, Drake, Future, Jill Scott, Tamar Braxton, Justin Bieber, and so much more.

Cut: "In Vain" (Jazmine Sullivan)

Back in 2010 Jazmine Sullivan released her sophomore album Love Me Back and while the disc didn't receive the same commercial success as her debut album, it is just as good, if not better than its predecessor.

With that said, the set boasted a ton of great vocal performances and lyrical creations from Sullivan and the iTunes pre-order bonus track "In Vain" is one of the numerous standout joints from the set. Therefore, take a listen after the jump to her cut "In Vain" and Enjoy!

Podcast: "To Pimp A Grammy" (The BackBeat)

In this week’s episode of The BackBeat, we talk about the GRAMMY Award nominations where Kendrick Lamar dominated with 11 nominations, Ayesha Curry's politics of respectability tweets, Twitter's #BlackestSongsEver, Wu-Tang Clan album being sold to pharmaceutical villain for $2 million, as well as Erykah Badu's Twitter chat. We also discussed how Chance the Rapper isn’t here for Chi-Raq and Spike Lee's response.

Also make sure you tune into the end of the episode where Marcus and Kyera share their Songs of the Moment.

Award Nominations: 2016 GRAMMY Awards

The 2016 GRAMMY Award nominations were announced earlier today and Kendrick Lamar leads this year's nominees with eleven total nominations. The Grammys return to L.A.'s Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 on CBS at 8pm EST. No host has been announced yet but you can get into all the award nominations below from the major 4 categories (Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best New Artist) to the R&B and Rap categories respectively.

Amazing Cover: "Home" (Jazmine Sullivan)

After enjoying the sublime NBC production of The Wiz Live, I thought it would be nice to revisit Jazmine's sublime cover as I really think she'd be a great choice to be included in this remake.

Listen to her runs because to me they are so reminiscent of Stevie Wonder and she truly takes Stephanie Mills' iconic hit to another level. With that said, watch her phenomenal performance of "Home" below and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Get Lucky" (Jazmine Sullivan)

I HATE YOU Jazmine Sullivan for turning out "Get Lucky" the way you did in London last year and not giving us a recorded rendition for us to rock. Although I must say her latest album Reality Show is perfection and an added track, even "Get Lucky," might've messed up the flow.

With that said, her runs and scats during the breakdown of the Daft Punk monster smash hit transform "Get Lucky" into an uptempo funky jazzy smooth jam that has me yearning to hear both a recorded official version from Jazmine as well as a bonus cut live version from her. While I know that this will never happen, I hope has her cover of "Kiss From A Rose" at least will appear on an album one day.

Watch this phenomenal live clip of Jazmine breaking it down on Daft Punk's Grammy-winning monster smash hit single "Get Lucky" from her 'comeback' show in London last year and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "I Have Nothing" (Jazmine Sullivan)

A few months ago, VIBE posted a stirring rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" done by none other than GRAMMY-nominee Jazmine Sullivan. Considered a vocal phenom in her own right, Jazmine Sullivan reinterpreted the stunning power ballad from The Bodyguard into a more soulful bluesy number that only her contralto vocals could.

With that said, peep Jazmine's sublime cover of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" below and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Jazmine Sullivan)

Bonnie Raitt's classic "I Can't Make You Love Me" has found new life in the new millennium with countless covers including Tank's, Adele's, and Bon Iver's to just name a few.

With that said, Jazmine Sullivan recently added herself to that growing list of singers who have added their own take on "I Can't Make You Love Me" and in true Jazmine fashion, she sings it down and owns the song with every fiber of her vocal range.

Throwing in several sublime vocal riffs that would make even the most skilled vocalist jealous, Jazmine's acoustic cover proves why she is continually one of the most underrated vocalists in the game today.

Watch Jazmine's powerful acoustic cover of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" below and Enjoy!

Song of the Day: "Don't Make Me Wait" (Jazmine Sullivan)

"Don't Make Me Wait" - Jazmine Sullivan

• Writers: Carlos McKinney and Jazmine Sullivan
• Producer: Carlos McKinney
• Classification: Funk, Neo-Soul, and Philly Soul
• Record Label: J Records
• Featured on 2010's Love Me Back

Amazing Cover: "Kiss From A Rose" (Jazmine Sullivan)

Jazmine Sullivan's take on Seal's "Kiss From A Rose" is by far my favorite cover Sullivan has performed during her young career and is one of my all time favorite vocal performances from the songstress.

With that said, I hope that one day Sullivan will record her own take on this classic and release it as a single. While one can hope, watch below as Sullivan offers up her live take on "Kiss From A Rose" from back in 2009 at the famed Jazz Café in Camden Town and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Home" (Jazmine Sullivan)

Stephanie Mills STILL owns this song, but below you will find an 11 year old Jazmine Sullivan singing "Home" from The Wiz in her elementary school production and offering up the best performance of the song I've heard sans Mills and Whitney Houston's.

With the casting rumors swirling about who should play Dorothy in the forthcoming NBC live musical production entitled The Wiz Live, I thought it would be nice to revisit Jazmine's sublime cover as I really think she'd be a great choice to be included in this remake.

Listen to her runs because to me they are so reminiscent of Stevie Wonder and she truly takes Stephanie Mills' iconic hit to another level. With that said, watch her phenomenal performance of "Home" below and Enjoy!

Cut: "Veins" (Jazmine Sullivan)

If reality shows are over dramatic and often times inauthentic, Jazmine Sullivan's third album Reality Show is the total opposite offering up a raw, harrowing and introspective view of some of the tales we might see flashed on our TV screens.

A self-noted reality show fan, Jazmine Sullivan might've been inspired by the content on our screens, but she takes it a few steps further offering some deep lyrical content and powerhouse vocals that only this legend in the making possess.

With that said, one of my favorite cuts from her new album Reality Show has to be "Veins," which opens up with a few powerful lines: "Writings on the wall, but I can't see the words it's right in front of me but my vision is blurred...".

Offering one of the best albums I've heard in a minute, Jazmine's return warrants more acclaim both critically and commercially in my opinion and "Veins" is just a tip of the iceberg that is Reality Show.

Take a listen below to "Veins" and if you like what you hear, go and support Jazmine by picking up her new album.

Amazing Cover: "I Have Nothing" (Jazmine Sullivan)

A few months ago, VIBE posted a stirring rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" done by none other than GRAMMY-nominee Jazmine Sullivan. Considered a vocal phenom in her own right, Jazmine Sullivan reinterpreted the stunning power ballad from The Bodyguard into a more soulful bluesy number that only her contralto vocals could.

With that said, peep Jazmine's sublime cover of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" below and Enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Baltimore" (Jazmine Sullivan)

Earlier today Nina Revistied: A Tribute to Nina Simone went up for pre-sale on digital retailers and as part of that pre-sale, several of the songs from the album were made instantly available, including Jazmine Sullivan's haunting rendition of "Baltimore."

While a snippet of the clip had been making its rounds for the last six weeks or so, the official fully mastered version has finally hit the net and it is really just everything.

Featuring one of the most underrated voices in music right now matched with a powerful lyric and melody especially during these heightened racial times, Jazmine's rendition of "Baltimore" is one of the best things I have heard all year and is a standout cover.

Take a listen below to Jazmine's rendition of "Baltimore" and Enjoy!

Live Video of the Day: "Forever Don't Last" (Jazmine Sullivan)

Jazmine Sullivan's latest album Reality Show is hands down one of the best albums of 2015 and while it hasn't received the critical or commercial credit it deserves yet, I am hopefully that people are just late to the party and need some time to really get into her brilliant return.

With that said, one of the standout songs from her album is the set's second single "Forever Don't Last," a powerhouse ballad guided perfectly by her sublime contralto vocals. I had the opportunity to witness Jazmine on tour twice during The Reality Show Tour and the standout moment besides her encore performance of "In love With Another Man" was her riveting performance of "Forever Don't Last."

Luckily for us, Yahoo! Live and Jazmine Sullivan have uploaded her performance of "Forever Don't Last" from the night she performed it live in Birmingham, Alabama as a part of her tour. Watch her riveting performance of "Forever Don't Last" below and Enjoy!