Aaliyah Reissue Sparks New Debate Over R. Kelly’s Role in Her Debut Album
More than two decades after her death, Aaliyah continues to captivate new generations of fans, but a recent vinyl reissue of her 1994 debut album Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number has reignited controversy online. Fans noticed what appeared to be a deliberate effort to obscure R. Kelly from the album’s packaging, sparking widespread discussion across social media. Kelly heavily wrote and produced the album, which was released when Aaliyah was only 15 years old.
The conversation intensified after Aaliyah’s estate shared a social media clip showing a fan playing the reissued vinyl with a sticker covering Kelly’s face on the album cover. In the video, the fan also hid his image on the back sleeve with their thumb. The estate appeared to acknowledge the gesture in the caption, writing, “We hope that y’all listened to instructions carefully while bumpin’ ‘Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number.’” Many fans interpreted the message as subtle support for hiding Kelly’s image while still celebrating Aaliyah’s early music.
The renewed debate has also drawn attention to the album’s complicated legacy. Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number launched Aaliyah into mainstream success, reaching No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and producing hits such as “Back & Forth” and “At Your Best (You Are Love).” However, the project remains deeply connected to Kelly’s later abuse allegations and criminal convictions. In 2021, Kelly was convicted on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges in New York, with prosecutors detailing allegations involving underage girls, including Aaliyah.
Bruno Mars is making waves on the Latin charts with “Lo Arriesgo Todo,” the Spanish-language version of his song “Risk It All.” Released May 8 through Atlantic Records, the track marks Mars’ first official Spanish-language studio recording and his highest-charting Latin entry to date. The song debuts across multiple Billboard Latin rankings, including Hot Latin Songs and Latin Pop Airplay, giving Mars his first Spanish-language hit among seven career entries on the chart .
GRAMMY-winning R&B duo Blaq Tuxedo have returned with their new single “CRASH OUT,” marking their first release since the 2025 album Should’ve Seen This Coming. Made up of brothers Darius and Dominique Logan, the pair continue pushing their signature “Rhythm & Punk” sound, blending gritty guitar textures, hypnotic basslines, polished R&B melodies, and emotional lyricism. Driven by the chantable hook “Crash out,” the track reflects the intense realities shaping their everyday experiences and creative vision.
Tone Stith has released his debut album, The Edge, through MNRK Music Group. The 10-track project explores themes of love, faith, freedom, and self-discovery, led by the hit single “Fly,” which topped both the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay and Mediabase Adult R&B charts. Songs like “Pageant Stage,” “Back Around,” “Shut Up,” and “I Quit” showcase emotional depth and confidence, while closing track “Better Days” delivers a heartfelt, prayerful reflection on healing and hope.
Jorja Smith has returned with her new single and video, “What’s Done Is Done,” marking the beginning of a new era in her career. Produced by P2J and directed by longtime collaborator KC Locke, the track blends atmospheric electronic sounds with Jorja’s soulful vocals to explore heartbreak, acceptance, and personal strength. The video captures vibrant nightlife and intimate moments with friends and family, featuring appearances from artists including AJ Tracey and Knucks.
Jazz poet aja monet explores the realities of creative survival on “Working Class Musicians,” an upbeat yet honest reflection on the struggles and joys of life as a gigging artist. Built on handclaps, unpredictable percussion, and a flowing double bass line, the song balances hardship with hope, celebrating the spiritual power of live music and human connection. The accompanying animated video by Brandon Ray and Paper Brain Productions adds whimsical visuals that perfectly complement monet’s heartfelt storytelling.
Emmy-winning actress and producer Quinta Brunson is bringing legendary cartoon icon Betty Boop back to the spotlight through a new animated feature film developed by Fifth Chance Productions and Fleischer Studios. Brunson is expected to star in the project, which will explore Betty Boop’s origins and rise to global fame through the perspective of creator Max Fleischer. The film will examine the tension between artistic creativity and commercial success as the beloved character becomes a cultural phenomenon. Brunson called Betty Boop “pleasantly niche” despite her lasting influence on pop culture. The project marks another major career move for Brunson following the Emmy-winning success of Abbott Elementary.
R&B singers Tank and Durand Bernarr appear to have resolved a recent public disagreement that sparked debate among music fans online. The tension reportedly began after Bernarr claimed during an appearance on The Joe Budden Podcast that Tank blocked him following differing opinions about singers performing songs in their original key. After fans heavily discussed the issue on social media, the two artists privately settled things during a FaceTime conversation. Tank later shared a screenshot of the call, writing that “love always wins” while hinting at a future collaboration. Bernarr responded playfully, and many fans praised both singers for resolving the matter quickly and professionally instead of allowing the disagreement to escalate publicly.
Afro Plus Fest, billed as the world’s largest Afro-Caribbean hip-hop festival, is returning for its second year with a major expansion following its sold-out debut. In partnership with the Prince George’s County Executive Office, the all-ages event will take over the Northwest Stadium Complex during Labor Day Weekend from Sept. 4-6, 2026. The festival will feature headlining performances from Davido, Alkaline, and Wizkid across two large stages expected to host up to 40,000 attendees daily. Built around the theme “Africa, plus more,” the festival celebrates the influence and future of the African diaspora through genres including Afrobeats, hip-hop, dancehall, amapiano, soca, and R&B. Organizers say the experience will also include food vendors, fashion activations, immersive cultural programming, and a marketplace spotlighting Black-owned businesses and creators from the DMV area.
Jordan Peele says he intends to continue working with Daniel Kaluuya following the success of their acclaimed collaborations on Get Out and Nope. Peele described Kaluuya as “a director’s dream,” praising the trust and creative connection they have built over the years. Their partnership has become one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actor-director pairings, with Peele previously calling Kaluuya his “De Niro” because of their artistic chemistry. Kaluuya earned an Academy Award nomination for his breakout performance in Get Out, a role he has said restored his faith in acting during a difficult period in his career. Peele later wrote the lead role of OJ Haywood in Nope specifically for Kaluuya, highlighting the actor’s emotional depth and commanding screen presence. Interest in the film has recently grown again following its renewed popularity on Netflix.
In the early 2000s, few songs captured heartbreak and devotion quite like Ashanti’s breakout hit “Foolish.” Released on February 11, 2002, as the lead single from her self-titled debut album through Def Jam Recordings and Murder Inc. Records, the track instantly introduced Ashanti as one of R&B’s brightest new voices. Written by Ashanti, Irv Gotti, Mark DeBarge and Etterlene Jordan, the song famously sampled DeBarge’s classic “Stay with Me,” blending soulful nostalgia with modern hip-hop influenced R&B. Fans also remember the special promotional version, “Unfoolish,” which featured a verse from The Notorious B.I.G.. “Foolish” quickly became a chart-dominating phenomenon. The single spent an incredible 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 while also topping the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It remains Ashanti’s highest-charting single as a lead artist and became one of the defining songs of 2002. Internationally, the song reached the top 10 in countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Its success carried into awards season, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and taking home the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Female. Years later, Billboard still recognized its impact by ranking it among the biggest songs of the 2000s decade. The music video for “Foolish” also became unforgettable for fans of both music and film-inspired storytelling. Directed by Irv Gotti and filmed in January 2002, the visual starred Terrence Howard opposite Ashanti in a dramatic romance inspired by the classic film Goodfellas. The video portrayed Ashanti struggling to leave a dishonest and unfaithful partner involved in criminal activity, reflecting the emotional conflict heard throughout the song. Cameos from Ja Rule and Irv Gotti added to the cinematic feel, while the clip’s popularity earned three nominations at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, including Best Female Video and Best R&B Video. Nearly a quarter century later, “Foolish” remains one of the signature records of the early 2000s R&B era.