Sheldon Taylor's Souls of Black Notes

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                                                     New Edition’s appearance with fellow Bostonians NKOTB on last night’s American Music Awards was a full circle moment, continuing the string of victories continuing to tip the scales in their favor after decades of career ups-and-downs. During NE's early years, one-sided management deals devoured their royalties and performance earnings. As NKTOB became millionaires, NE languished in financial purgatory. Group implosions grounded lucrative career take-offs. As the years came and went, others passed them by and reaped rewards that were always just beyond their grasp.   Fast forward to 2021.  A pair of TV biopics, a partnership with a high-powered Hollywood agency and a looming V...

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                                                                                                                                             Biz Markie's low-profile final year shielded him from prying eyes and public pity. Occasional whispers and premature death announcements be damned--- Biz's eventual passi...

Verzuz' greatest moments occur when the spotlight shines on Black music legends of decades past. The recent Bobby Brown- Keith Sweat battle carries on that tradition. From viewer reaction and even without a major hit in years---the legend of both singers still burns brightly.  Brown enjoys a higher profile---thanks to  much-documented trials, tribulations, and hard-fought triumphs compared to Sweat's  flurry of press coverage (see September '92 Ebony Magazine  piece "Can A Mailroom Clerk from The Projects Find Happiness and Stardom in 2 Atlanta Dream Houses?"). The Harlem crooner's  pedigree lies not in a high-profile persona or across-the-board crossover moments, but in a catalog of durable hits standing the test of time.  Usually linked to fellow New Jack Swing arbiter Teddy Riley, Keith Sweat is more than a seminal architect of R&B's future. He's also a throwback to its past. Born in '61 (or '56 if you do the interview math), Sweat mode...