LION BABE has released their fourth studio album, House of LION BABE. The duo’s Rainbow Child album was three years ago and since then they have gone harder with their dance music ethos and this time around there are no guest appearances. The stylish millennials have studied classic ’90s house and created an album of irresistible tunes that could have easily been a part of that era. They have always embraced nostalgia from the beginning, with the rare ability to miss sounding like a stale history lesson. On House of LION BABE, they pay tribute to ball culture with songs made for walking, twirling, and posing on the ballroom stage. In their 10+ years of working together, Lucas Goodman and Jillian Hervey have mastered the late-night vibe that comes from escaping into the world of dance, usually in a club. HOLB allows you to access that feeling anywhere and at anytime.  Upon listening to “Better Late Than Never,” you are mentally whisked away into a world of a domineering bass synth, handclaps, and Hervey’s sexy rap. The slinky rhythm work up pulls your body and mind into a getaway from the drudgery of mundane life. All 14 songs succeed in lifting up dopamine and adrenaline levels with music that would’ve made Willi Ninja proud. There is new HOLB merchandise, a tour of Europe and a video for “Mama Wanna Dance.” 

Marsha Ambrosius shares a live performance of “One Night Stand” from her Casablanco album. The supremely soulful chanteuse dropped the album during the summer. Dr. Dre collaborated with Ambrosius and they pulled inspiration from jazz and hip-hop to craft her latest R&B jewel. The singer recently informed the public of the fact that it is her voice singing the falsetto note on the outro of Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River.” You can catch her live at The Blue Note in New York City this week, and she’s in Detroit next month. 

Toni Braxton’s “Seven Whole Days” is the third single from her 1993 eponymous debut album. L.A. Reid, Babyface, and Daryl Simmons understood how to write for Braxton’s wanton contralto that conveyed sensuousness and heatbreak at the same time. “Seven Whole Days” was about the end of a romantic relationship and Braxton’s album was getting more popular with each single. Critics and fans immediately praised “Seven Whole Days,” but the irony is that Braxton didn’t like the song or want to record it. The video featured Braxton singing on a stage with her sisters Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar singing backup for her. The success of Braxton’s album garnered three Grammys, two American Music Awards, multiplatinum sales, and top ten status in five countries. Thirty-one years later, Braxton’s album still holds its weight as a classic and the Braxton family are pop culture stars. Braxton released her ninth studio album, Spell My Name, in 2020. 

Dancer, choreographer, and singer Cat Glover died Tuesday at age 62. Her passing was announced on her Facebook page. Glover is known for working with Prince in the ’80s during his Sign o’ the Times and Lovesexy eras. Glover was a Chicago native, and she started dancing when she was 5 years old. It was Prince’s Dirty Mind album that made Glover a fan and gave her the dream to meet him one day. Her first major show of talent happened when she and Patrick Allen competed on the television show Star Search as Pat & Cat. They were the first act on the show to achieve a four-star perfect score. The feat happened again, and despite winning seven times on the show, they did not win in the finals and the $100,000 prize. They lost the contest, but Glover achieved her dream of meeting Prince. A Star Search searcher who was dating Prince introduced him to Glover, and she auditioned for him one night at a club. She joined Prince’s band in 1986 after turning down David Bowie. Prince fans first saw Glover on one of the inner sleeves from the Sign o’ the Times album holding a guitar. She appeared in the concert film for the album and videos for “U Got The Look” and “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man.” 

Prince and Glover had kinetic energy on the stage, and their dance routines were one of the major components of his highly praised and well-attended concerts. She did her Cat Scat dance, which became her trademarked move. Glover famously rapped on “Alphabet Street” from Lovesexy and she also rapped on “Cindy C” from The Black Album. In 1989, she left the band and released her Catwoman album. She continued to work as a choreographer, and after Prince died in 2016, she vowed to keep his memory alive. Fans can only hope that Cat and Prince are dancing together again.