Podcast: "Inaugur-what?" (The BackBeat)

In this week's episode of The BackBeat, we get into Kanye West not being invited to perform at the inauguration while Chrisette Michele and Jennifer Holliday were. We also get into Alicia Keys pushing back against gender norms as well as Taylor Bennett and Makonnen coming out as bisexual and gay respectivley.

Make sure you tune into the end of the episode to get into our songs of the moment. Kyera choses songs from The Brothers Johnson, Funkadelic, and Prince. Meanwhile Marcus selects songs from Jimmy Scott, Ariana Grande, as well as Sevyn Streeter.

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: "Express Yourself" (The BackBeat)

On this week’s episode of The BackBeat, we discuss the historic 2016 TONY Awards in which all four acting categories in a musical went to people of color. Next, we discuss VH1’s plan to bring back their Hip Hop Honors show with Queen Latifah as the first honoree this year. Do you remember Miki Howard? If you don’t we have you covered with a short review of her recent biopic, Love Under New Management. We take on the 2016 XXL Freshman Cover, which doesn’t feature any women artists before we discuss Prince’s induction into the Apollo Walk of Fame. We end with reflections on recent concerts from Anderson Paak and Beyonce!

Stay tuned until the end of the episode where we discuss our songs of the moment! Marcus chooses cuts from Chasing Destiny, Miki Howard, and Kaytranada. While Kyera takes us down south to New Orleans with bounce classics from Big Freedia, Nicky Da B, and Sissy Nobby.

Live Videos of the Day: "Sometimes It Snows in April" (D'Angelo & Princess)

Earlier tonight, D'Angelo paid a moving tribute to Prince by covering his classic "Sometimes It Snows in April" with help from Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum's cover band, Princess, for The Tonight Show audience.

With that said, what the trio's touching tribute of "Sometimes It Snows in April" below and Enjoy!

Podcast: "Music Is On Life Support" (The BackBeat)

On this week’s episode, we honor the late, great, legendary Prince sharing some of our fondest memories of the musical icon. In addition we briefly talk about Birdman giving the shortest interview in Breakfast Club history in addition to the casting news of BET’s New Edition miniseries.

We hope you enjoy!

Amazing Cover: "Purple Rain" (Jennifer Hudson & The Color Purple Cast)

Earlier tonight in New York City, Jennifer Hudson along with her fellow The Color Purple cast offered up a riveting tribute to Prince with his iconic classic jam "Purple Rain."

With that said, take a few minutes out of your mourning and watch Jennifer Hudson and her fellow cast members break it down on "Purple Rain" and let Prince continue to live on through his music!

Second Listen: "The Beautiful Ones" (Prince)

Back in 1984, Prince released his iconic soundtrack album Purple Rain and one of the phenomenal standouts from the album has to be "The Beautiful Ones," in my opinion. Produced, arranged, composed, and performed by Prince, the song was recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles by Peggy Mac and David Leonard in early September 1983.

"The Beautiful Ones" is a haunting musical tale of emotional longing and unrequited love. Starting out as a slow falsetto ballad, with Prince's piano and organ-sounding synthesizers providing a lush backdrop, it gradually builds in volume and intensity, and by the end of the song, Prince is screaming out "Do you want him, or do you want me? 'Cause I want you." The song comes to a quiet close, with Prince's keyboards and drum solo serving as the closing instrumentation.

Never released as a single, Prince's "The Beautiful Ones" is one of my favorite joints from the 80s and you can take a second listen to it below.

Live Audio: "How Come U Don't Call Me" (Stephanie Mills)

While it is unclear when this live audio clip of Stephanie Mills performing the Prince classic "How Come U Don't Call Me" originated, her voice, as always is still firing on all cylinders and hitting all of those notes and runs that we've come to appreciate and expect from Ms. Stephanie Mills.

Lifted from a New York performance that Stephanie Mills had some years ago though, her own powerful interpretation of "How Come U Don't Call Me" had the crowd mesmerized I bet from the first few notes and you can take a listen to her cover below!

Live Video of the Day: "Adorn" (Alicia Keys)

Back during the 2010 BET Awards, Alicia Keys took part in a Prince tribute that took the roof off of The Shrine here in Los Angeles.

As murmurs of Alicia Keys's highly anticipated forthcoming album grow louder,  I thought it would be appropriate to revisit Alicia's electric performance that really was one of the highlights from that night. Catch Alicia Key's powerful performance of "Adorn" below and Enjoy!

Live Video of the Day: "2004 Grammy Medley" (Prince & Beyoncé)

Back during the 2004 Grammy Awards, Prince and Beyoncé opened up the show with a phenomenal medley of some of Prince's greatest hits. This in my opinion is one of the best Grammy Award performances of all time.

Featuring "Purple Rain," "Baby I'm A Star" as well as a bit of "Crazy In Love," this powerhouse performance from the legendary Prince and a then "new" solo artist Beyoncé is the stuff of legends and after a decade, the performance is still as powerful as it was back in the mid-2000s.

With that said, watch Prince and Beyoncé's Grammy medley below and Enjoy!

Song of the Day: "The Glamorous Life" (Sheila E)

"The Glamorous Life" - Sheila E

• Writer: Prince
• Producers: Sheila E & Prince
• Record Label: Warner Brothers
• Released in 1984 from The Glamorous Life
• Peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #9 on the Hot Black Singles

Amazing Cover: "Do Me Baby" (Meli'sa Morgan)

Back in 1985, Meli'sa Morgan released her debut single "Do Me Baby," which also served as the title-track to her debut LP Do Me Baby. Originally lifted in 1982 from Prince's 1981 LP Controversy, Meli'sa Morgan's rendition would actually be the first charting rendition of "Do Me Baby"

Peaking at #1 on the Hot Black Singles chart, "Do Me Baby" because a signature song for Meli-sa throughout her career and some still believe that she is the originator of this grown-and-sexy joint. With that said, take a listen below to her sublime rendition of Prince's "Do Me Baby" and Enjoy!

New Joint: "FUNKNROLL" (Prince)

Prince has been making some big music movies over the last year or so with new music releases including "The Breakdown," "U Know" as well as "Clouds" and after headlining the ESSENCE Music Festival this past fourth of July weekend, Prince has released a new joint "FUNKNROLL," just a few days ago.

Lifted as the official third single from his forthcoming solo album ART OFFICIAL AGE, both ART OFFICIAL AGE, and his collaborative debut album with his band 3rdEyeGirl, PLECTRUMELECTRUM, are slated for release next Tuesday, September 30 via his recently re-upped deal with Warner Bros. Records.

With that said, take a listen below to "FUNKNROLL" below and lookout for Prince's forthcoming OFFICIAL AGE on September 30th.

Amazing Cover: "The Beautiful Ones & Sex On Fire" (Beyoncé)

Back in 2011, Beyoncé counted down her top 10 moments during the 4 era and of course her history making headlining stint at that year's Glastonbury Festival is one of the top moments for the songstress.

Coming in at number 8, Beyonce shared the highlight moment for me during her set, which was a sublime cover and mashup of Prince's "The Beautiful Ones" and Kings of Leon's "Sex On Fire." With that said, rewatch her sublime performance below as we continue to enjoy the BEYONCÉ era.

Song of the Day: "The Glamorous Life" (Sheila E)

"The Glamorous Life" - Sheila E

• Writer: Prince
• Producers: Sheila E & Prince
• Record Label: Warner Brothers
• Released in 1984 from The Glamorous Life
• Peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 & #9 on the Hot Black Singles chart

Amazing Cover: "Do Me Baby" (Meli'sa Morgan)

Back in 1985, Meli'sa Morgan released her debut single "Do Me Baby," which also served as the title-track to her debut LP Do Me Baby. Originally lifted in 1982 from Prince's 1981 LP Controversy, Meli'sa Morgan's rendition would actually be the first charting rendition of "Do Me Baby"

Peaking at #1 on the Hot Black Singles chart, "Do Me Baby" because a signature song for Meli-sa throughout her career and some still believe that she is the originator of this grown-and-sexy joint. With that said, take a listen below to her sublime rendition of Prince's "Do Me Baby" and Enjoy!

Live Video of the Day: "2004 Grammy Medley" (Prince & Beyoncé)

Tis the Purple One's birthday today so of course it would be appropriate to revisit one of his more recent iconic performances that is included in a career spanning numerous iconic performances and classic hits and album.

Back during the 2004 Grammy Awards, Prince and Beyoncé opened up the show with a phenomenal medley of some of Prince's greatest hits. This in my opinion is one of the best Grammy Award performances of all time.

Featuring "Purple Rain," "Baby I'm A Star" as well as a bit of "Crazy In Love," this powerhouse performance from the legendary Prince and a then "new" solo artist Beyoncé is the stuff of legends and after a decade, the performance is still as powerful as it was back in the mid-2000s.

With that said, watch Prince and Beyoncé's Grammy medley below and Enjoy!

New Joint: "The Breakdown" (Prince)

This past Friday, April 18th, Prince released his latest single "The Breakdown" and I don't know about you, but I've had this joint on replay since it's release. Not only is Prince serving you melancholy and a sublime mid-tempo beat, but his vocals are of course off the chain.

My favorite part of Prince's performance has to be the end of "The Breakdown" where he just lets his vocals rip and launches into an emotive falsetto grunt that really sets this song off in my opinion.

With that said, take a listen below to Prince's "The Breakdown" and lookout for more new music from Prince later this year as he recently just resigned with Warner Brothers.

New Joint: "FallinLove2Night" (Price ft. Zooey Deschanel)

During FOX's post-Super Bowl episode of New Girl, Prince hit the dance floor with Zooey Deschanel with the thumping joint "FallinLove2Night" and finally after almost two months since we first heard the jam, it's coming to digital retailers tomorrow, March 17th.

Being released via Epic Records this Monday, this is a welcomed new released from Prince as he's teamed up with L.A. Reid for the song's release and potentially his upcoming album Plectrumelectrum.

Either way it turns out, take a listen below to "FallinLove2Night" and if you like what you hear, lookout for it at all digital retailers tomorrow!

Live Video of the Day: "FUNKNROLL" (3RDEYEGIRL)

Yesterday on The Arsenio Hall Show, the legendary Prince occupied the entire show and during it, he and his gourp 3RDEYEGIRL performed their latest joint "FUNKNROLL," which is lifted from their forthcoming album.

While the album doesn't currently have a release date, Prince revealed that being independent allows him to really revel in the creative process and this has me and I am sure a lot of Prince fans eagerly awaiting to hear what he's been cooking up with 3RDEYEGIRL.

With that said, watch 3RDEYEGIRL's performance of "FUNKNROLL" from The Arsenio Hall Show and lookout for more new music from 3RDEYEGIRL later this year!