Maxwell has officially recorded his rendition of Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful.” Green wrote and recorded “Simply Beautiful” for his 1972 classic album, I’m Still in Love with You. Maxwell has included the song in his live shows for years and performed it at the BET Awards in 2008 as a tribute to Green. “Simply Beautiful” will probably be included on his trilogy-finishing Blacksummers’ NIGHT album. He also shared a video of him recording in the studio and talking about his introduction to Green’s music. Tickets are on sale for his fall Serenade Tour, which has October London and Jazmine Sullivan on the bill. The Urban Hang Suite Cruise returns in 2025; cabins are being booked now. 

Will Smith and Coco Jones performed at Peacock’s BBQ last night to celebrate season 3 of BEL-AIR. The event took place at the Universal Studios Backlot in Los Angeles. BEL-AIR cast members Jabari Banks, Coco Jones, Adrian Holmes, Jimmy Akingbola, Olly Sholotan, Akira Akbar, Jordan L. Jones, and Simone Joy Jones, attended alongside executive producers Will Smith and Morgan Cooper; showrunner, executive producer, and writer Carla Banks Waddles. Special guest stars in attendance included Jazlyn Martin, Justin Cornwell, Alycia Pascual-Peña and more. Trejos Tacos, Black-owned Earle’s On Crenshaw, and Eagle Rock BBQ catered the event. The Blaccess (Black Access term coined by Will and Carlton) Flea Market featured three Black-owned vendors and Blaccess merchandise. DJ Meel kept the music going, and Charles Kuykendoll was the host. BEL-AIR’s third season debuts on Peacock on August 15th. 

Bradd Marquis returns after a three-year break with the I Choose You EP. The R&B singer kept fans on notice with the single “Blowin’ In The Wind,” but his last EP, Love, was released in 2021. Marquis pays homage to the devotion between lovers with modern sounds comprised of Afrobeats, Latin rhythms, and timeless R&B. Marquis’ contributors include indie soul chanteuse Deborah Bond, who lends her pen to co-write the Afro-Cuban-infused “Dance Amongst the Stars.” Marquis is a devoted romantic, and their collaboration is one of the songs for couples expressing their closeness on the dance floor. Nigerian producer Prosee brings in evocative Afrobeats and ambient keys on “Date Night”‘s dedication to nurturing a found love. Marquis sings about his own union on the title track, which is a new wedding song destined to be on the playlists of future nuptials for R&B lovers.  I Choose You is Marquis’ latest testament in song to the power of lasting love in a world inundated with hookup culture. 

Bell Biv and DeVoe’s “B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?” was the third single from Poison, their 1990 debut album. The New Edition members came together as a trio at the suggestion of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Eric Sadler, Keith and Hank Shocklee who were members of The Bomb Squad production team had become known for producing records for political rap group Public Enemy. They worked on Poison and crafted the New Jack Swing beats and curdled bass of “B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?.” The single hit number one on the R&B chart adding to the album’s success which also commanded platinum status within two months of its release. Poison became a landmark for the ’90s and New Jack Swing as one of the paths to Hip-hop soul. BBD released four studio albums and in 2023 they shared the single “Act Like You Know” featuring Rev Run. New Edition will return to the Encore Theater in Las Vegas this fall.