Bob Power, Influential Engineer Behind Hip-Hop and R&B Classics, Dies at 73
Bob Power, the prolific musician and recording engineer whose work helped shape the sound of modern hip-hop and R&B, has died at 73. His passing was announced March 2 in an Instagram statement from Okayplayer, the platform founded by Questlove. The tribute hailed Power as a “legendary engineer, producer, and musician” whose technical mastery and soulful innovation influenced generations of artists.
Over a decades-long career, Power collaborated with an array of icons, including Erykah Badu, Chaka Khan, D'Angelo, and David Byrne. He produced and mixed Badu’s breakthrough single “On & On” and contributed to her acclaimed debut album Baduizm. Power also earned a 1997 Grammy nomination for engineering Meshell Ndegeocello’s album Peace Beyond Passion, and worked on more than 40 charting songs, over 20 of which went gold or platinum.
Beyond the studio, Power was a longtime professor at New York University Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, mentoring future generations of producers and engineers. Questlove remembered him as an unparalleled craftsman of sound, while Badu wrote, “Safe Journey my friend.” Born in Chicago in 1952, Power’s passion for music began early, inspired in part by hearing his sister learn Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
For this Throwback Thursday, we’re revisiting the smooth R&B classic “Shake You Down” by Gregory Abbott. Released in August 1986 as the lead single from his debut album Shake You Down, the song quickly became Abbott’s signature hit. The sensual slow jam resonated with listeners and went on to earn platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Years later, the track even found new life when it appeared in the 2007 comedy film Are We Done Yet?. “Shake You Down” dominated the charts during its run. The single reached No. 1 on the R&B chart in October 1986 before climbing to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 on January 17, 1987. Its popularity helped it finish as the No. 3 song of the year on the 1987 year-end chart. The hit also crossed the Atlantic, peaking at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and spending 13 weeks there starting in November 1986. Interestingly, the song was not originally meant to lead the album—Abbott’s track “I Got the Feeling” had been scheduled as the first single but was delayed and later peaked at No. 56. The track’s sultry vibe matched its theme, which Billboard noted centers on intimacy. Its music video also stood out visually, featuring a unique scrolling effect conceived by director Dominic Sena of Propaganda Films and shot as a continuous photographic image. Abbott even filmed a second version of the video in Rio de Janeiro for the Brazilian TV show Fantástico, helping the smooth classic reach audiences around the world.
Music executive Sean Combs is now expected to be released from federal prison earlier than previously scheduled. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website, Combs’ projected release date has been moved up by more than five weeks to April 25, 2028. The 56-year-old is currently serving a 50-month sentence at FCI Fort Dix, a low-security federal correctional facility in New Jersey, after being convicted on two prostitution-related charges. Combs’ release timeline has shifted several times since he arrived at Fort Dix in October. His original release date was listed as May 8, 2028, before being pushed back in November 2025 to June 4, 2028. Around that time, reports from CBS and TMZ alleged that Combs had violated multiple prison rules, claims that his representatives denied. A spokesperson for the Bad Boy Records founder declined to comment on the latest update. The music mogul has been behind bars since his September 2024 arrest, when he was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors tied the allegations to so-called “freak-offs” involving girlfriends, including singer Cassie Ventura, and male escorts. After a seven-week trial last summer, Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges but convicted on lesser counts. He is currently appealing his sentence and challenging the law used in the case, with a hearing scheduled for April. In the meantime, Combs has been working in the prison chapel library and participating in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), which can reduce inmates’ sentences by up to a year upon completion.
A television interview with music executive Mathew Knowles took an awkward turn when he abruptly ended the conversation after being asked about the role of his ex-wife, Tina Knowles, in launching the iconic girl group Destiny's Child. Knowles, the father of superstars Beyoncé and Solange, had been speaking with Kendis Gibson of PIX11 about his daughters’ careers when the exchange became tense. During the Jan. 30 interview, Gibson praised both Mathew and Tina for their contributions to their daughters’ early success, saying the pair had “earned your flowers” for helping shape Destiny’s Child. Before the anchor could finish his point, Mathew interrupted to ask what work Tina had done. When Gibson mentioned elements such as the group’s hair, clothing, and styling, Knowles acknowledged the point, replying, “You’re absolutely right. The styling, the imaging. You’re right.” Gibson also noted Tina’s past comments about naming the group after discovering the word “destiny” in her Bible, with Mathew later adding “child” to complete the name. Gibson suggested that getting Destiny’s Child off the ground was a joint effort, but the comment appeared to end the conversation. Laughing, Mathew stood up and said, “We’ll stop now,” before walking off the set. Gibson initially seemed unsure whether Knowles was joking, asking if he had said something wrong, but Knowles assured him he had not before leaving the interview. The moment, which was cut from the version of the interview uploaded to YouTube, recently surfaced online.
Rising Memphis rapper Fresco Trey kicks off 2026 with “Hope,” an uplifting, melodic single that builds on his reputation for introspective, relatable rhymes. Following the grassroots momentum of his last project Meraki (Deluxe), the track delivers a powerful reminder that “your story isn’t over,” encouraging resilience in uncertain times. Blending lived experience with sharp storytelling, Trey offers a heartfelt anthem that urges listeners to hold onto light and keep writing their own endings.
Four-time Grammy nominee RAYE returns with “Nightingale Lane,” an emotionally charged ballad and the second release from her forthcoming album This Music May Contain Hope, arriving March 27 via Human Re Sources. Moving forward, Raye is set to perform at the BRIT Awards later this month, where she’s nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Act, fueled by her global smash “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” RAYE is currently on a sold-out European tour and will join Bruno Mars for 27 North American stadium dates.
Alt-R&B duo threetwenty — comprised of Nigerian-American singer-songwriter Ivana Nwokike and Swedish producer Filip Hunter — unveil a striking visual for “undo/redo” from their radiant 10-track project separate from the noise. Directed by New Century Sound and Tamiym Cader, the video mirrors the songs’ meditation on time as both enemy and opportunity. Nwokike’s elastic vocals glide from regret to resolve, culminating in a hopeful refrain: you still have time to undo, redo.
Nigerian newcomer Lyrxx introduces himself with Mystery Rider, a seven-track debut EP packed with melody, heartfelt storytelling, and main-character energy. Exploring love, fantasy, disappointment, faith, and optimism, Lyrxx crafts songs meant to resonate for years. From the romantic pursuit of “OAU Fine Girl” to the hopeful devotion of “Honeymoon in Paris” and spiritually grounded “Safer,” the project captures life’s emotional highs and lows with passion, realism, and vulnerability.
Neo-soul icon Jill Scott returns in striking form with the official video for “Pressha,” a standout from her 2026 album To Whom This May Concern. Set in a dimly lit lounge and directed with moody elegance, the cinematic clip finds Scott confronting a former flame who loved her privately but denied her publicly. Cameos from Niecy Nash, Tasha Smith, and Tyler Lepley heighten the drama, as fans applaud its emotional depth and stunning visuals.
Longtime Bay-area rapper LaRussell continues pushing his artistry forward with his 14-track album Something’s In The Water, executive produced by Grammy winner Lil Jon. Featuring appearances from Marshawn Lynch, Kalan.FrFr, and MALACHI, the project marks his 42nd LP and first release with Roc Nation Distribution. Following his historic Super Bowl LX Tailgate Concert performance, the Vallejo multihyphenate channels that momentum into a fresh, high-energy body of work that honors Bay Area rap’s legacy while carving out his own impactful lane.
Raphael Saadiq, who first rose to prominence as a vocalist and bassist for the Bay Area R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné!, is calling for the retirement of the term “neo-soul.” Long used as a catchall for modern soul and frequently tied to artists like D'Angelo and Erykah Badu, the label has defined a generation of Black music. Saadiq now argues the term was never rooted in artistry, but in industry positioning. In a recent Instagram post, Saadiq claimed “neo-soul” was created by one Black executive as internal shorthand for record labels. He alleges it helped marketing teams identify which Black artists would not receive major crossover budgets, with those funds instead reserved for pop boy bands. According to Saadiq, the label came with built-in sales ceilings, shaping expectations before the music even reached audiences. He further asserted that artists such as himself, D’Angelo, and Maxwell were never “neo-soul” in creative intent. Instead, he views the term as a corporate construct that limited perception and opportunity. His remarks have reignited debate about how Black artists are categorized—and how those classifications impact legacy and commercial reach.