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.

UK vocalist Konyikeh has released her new EP “Cincere,” a project that reconnects the singer with her musical roots while blending influences from R&B, gqom and amapiano. The vocalist also arranged and performed some of the project’s string sections herself, highlighting her artistry and musicianship. Inspired by the Latin phrase “Ex cinere,” meaning “to rise from the ashes,” the EP explores themes of rebirth and resilience alongside the newly released video for “Jealous.” 

South African artists Sio and Daev Martian reconnect on the soulful new single “Liquor". The longtime collaborators revive their signature chemistry with a hypnotic blend of emotional storytelling and jazz-influenced production. Centered on themes of vulnerability, introspection and emotional fallout, the track uses liquor as a metaphor for fleeting escape and lingering pain, while Sio’s haunting vocal performance gives the record a deeply intimate and human feel.

Miami R&B quartet Bella Dose taps into nostalgic R&B and pop energy on their new single “Rich,” with the group channeling the empowering spirit of Destiny's Child throughout the track. Produced by Kerim Wilheim, the song blends romantic devotion with luxury-inspired imagery, emphasizing that genuine love outweighs financial wealth. Through smooth harmonies and heartfelt lyrics, Bella Dose celebrates loyalty, emotional security and standing by someone through every high and low.

Reign Judge showcases heartbreak and independence in the official video for “Infatuation,” directed by Conor Cunningham and produced by Poppy Shaw. The Queens native (also known for her work as an actress and model) channels personal experiences into the emotionally charged track, singing lyrics about betrayal, emotional detachment and moving on from dishonesty.

Dancehall icon Vybz Kartel delivers a spiritual and reflective message in the official music video for “God and Time,” directed by NOWorNEVER. The faith-centered title track finds Kartel inside a church, praising God while reflecting on the value of time and the divine purpose guiding our lives. The single appears on his highly anticipated upcoming album God & Time, which is scheduled for release on June 5, 2026, blending heartfelt lyrics with uplifting visuals and emotion.

Latto has officially entered motherhood. The Grammy-nominated rapper, born Alyssa Michelle Stephens, confirmed Monday via Instagram that she recently gave birth to her first child with longtime rumored partner 21 Savage. The emotional post featured a video montage documenting her pregnancy journey, including intimate moments shared with Savage. The clip concluded with audio from the delivery room as voices encouraged the rapper to push during childbirth, marking the first public confirmation of the baby’s arrival. Latto first revealed her pregnancy in March during the rollout for her “Big Mama” album era, prominently showcasing her baby bump in the “Business & Personal” music video. Although she never directly named the child’s father at the time, fans quickly speculated that Savage was involved after noticing several clues throughout the visuals. Among them were scenes featuring a tattooed hand resting on her stomach, a scrapbook believed to contain Savage’s childhood photos, and matching dagger tattoos shared by the two artists. Savage later fueled speculation himself when he reposted Latto’s Paper magazine cover to his Instagram Story, captioning it, “Big Mama Not the Little 1.” Despite being romantically linked since 2020, the pair have largely kept their relationship private over the years. Latto previously referred to Savage as her “husband” during a 2025 interview with TMZ, though neither artist publicly clarified their relationship status. Savage is already the father of three children (sons Kamari and Ashaad, as well as daughter Rhian) and has also been linked to Keyanna Joseph. While representatives for the artists previously declined to comment on the pregnancy rumors, Joseph notably “liked” Latto’s pregnancy announcement on Instagram earlier this year, adding another layer of intrigue to the closely watched relationship.

Legendary blues and soul singer Clarence Carter has died at the age of 90. The Alabama-born artist, known for his gritty vocals and classic hits including “Patches” and “Strokin’,” passed away Thursday after battling stage 4 prostate cancer, pneumonia, and sepsis. News of his death was confirmed by FAME Studios, the iconic Muscle Shoals recording studio where Carter created many of his biggest records over the course of a career that spanned more than four decades. Born blind in Montgomery, Alabama, Carter overcame significant challenges to become one of soul music’s most recognizable voices. A self-taught guitarist, he earned a music degree from Alabama State College in 1960 before launching his recording career as part of the duo Clarence & Calvin. He later broke out as a solo artist with a string of hits, including the 1967 single “Tell Daddy,” which inspired Etta James’ response track “Tell Mama.” Carter reached new heights in 1970 with “Patches,” a deeply emotional song about a young man struggling to support his family after his father’s death. The single climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. While Carter could deliver heartfelt ballads, he also became famous for his playful and provocative recordings. His 1986 hit “Strokin’” became a cult favorite despite limited radio play because of its explicit lyrics, later gaining renewed popularity after appearing in The Nutty Professor starring Eddie Murphy. Carter’s influence extended into hip-hop as well, with his 1968 holiday track “Back Door Santa” famously sampled by Run-D.M.C. on “Christmas in Hollis.” Carter is survived by his son, Clarence Carter Jr., whom he shared with former wife and soul singer Candi Staton.

GRAMMY-winning band Tank and the Bangas have released The Last Balloon, the final chapter in their acclaimed “Balloon” trilogy following Green Balloon and Red Balloon. Featuring praised singles including “Nighttime,” “No Invite,” and “Move,” the album (which features 13 tracks in total) showcases the group’s evolving sound and creative freedom. Executive produced by Austin Brown, the project includes collaborations with Ledisi, Lucky Daye, Jelly Joseph, and Iman Omari while exploring themes of resilience, vulnerability, and self-discovery through energetic, genre-blending performances.