Fantastic Negrito’s “Oh Betty” is a compact tale of one part of his family history and today he releases the acoustic version of the song from his White Jesus Black Problems album. Betty was his seventh-generation white indentured servant grandmother in a common-law marriage with his enslaved seventh-generation African-American grandfather. Their relationship occurred in 1750s Virginia when interracial relationships were illegal and several laws were in place to keep African-Americans restricted and separated from whites. Negrito had something to say about this part of his ancestry: 

“The incredible story of my seventh-generation grandparents was so profound. I reimagined it through the lenses of my touring band. Please check it out unplugged unapologetic reimagined.”

The original version of “Oh Betty” has a Grammy nomination for Best American Roots Performance. 

Janet Jackson’s Velvet Rope album turns 25 this Friday and to celebrate the occasion a deluxe edition that has two rare cuts (“God’s Stepchild and “Accept Me” ) and 13 remixes will be available. J.Dilla’s Ummah remix of “Got Til It’s Gone” Teddy Riley’s TNT remix of “I Get Lonely” and the Missy/Timbaland remix of “Go Deep” is included in the release. There are club remixes from Tony Humphries, David Morales, Frankie Knuckles and Masters At Work. October 7th will also be the date when some of Jackson’s videos are released in HD including “Got Til It’s Gone,” “Go Deep,” “I Get Lonely” “You” and “Together Again (Deeper Remix).” Jackson’s Velvet Rope was daring for its exploration of sexuality, mental health and domestic violence when it was released in 1997. The album is one of Jackson’s most influential works and it debuted at no.1 on the Billboard 200 and “Go Deep” was a no.1 dance hit. You can pre-order The Velvet Rope: Deluxe Edition here. 

The Velvet Rope Deluxe Edition Tracklisting 

Component 1:
1. Interlude -Twisted Elegance
2. Velvet Rope [feat. Vanessa-Mae]
3. You
4. Got ‘Til It’s Gone [feat. Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell]
5. Interlude – Speaker Phone
6. My Need
7. Interlude – Fasten Your Seatbelts
8. Go Deep
9. Free Xone
10. Interlude – Memory
11. Together Again
12. Interlude – Online
13. Empty
14. Interlude – Full
15. What About
16. Every Time
17. Tonight’s The Night
18. I Get Lonely
19. Rope Burn
20. Anything
21. Interlude – Sad
22. Special
23. Can’t Be Stopped
24. Accept Me [Bonus Track] *
25. God’s Stepchild [Bonus Track] *

Component 2:
1. I Get Lonely (TNT Remix Edit) with BLACKstreet *
2. Got ‘Til It’s Gone (Ummah Jay Dee’s Revenge Mix) *
3. Go Deep (Timbaland/Missy Remix) featuring Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott *
4. Together Again (Jimmy Jam Deeper Mix) *
5. Every Time (Jam & Lewis Disco Mix)
6. I Get Lonely (Jam & Lewis Feel My Bass Mix) *
7. Got ‘Til It’s Gone (David Morales & Frankie Knuckles Def Club Mix) *
8. Together Again (Tony Moran 12″ Club Mix) *
9. Go Deep (Masters at Work Thunder Mix) *
10. Together Again (Tony Humphries Club Mix Edit)
11. I Get Lonely (Jason vs. Janet The Club Remix)
12. Go Deep (Masters At Work Vocal Deep Disco Dub)
13. Got ‘Til It’s Gone (Armand Van Helden Bonus Beats)

Lizzo’s fourth studio album Special has landed on playlists and her multi-genre steez lives up to the anticipation. She grabs disco, pop, R&B and funk with the same kind of conviction she had on her breakthrough album Cuz I Love You three years ago. There is always the concern that an artist can not follow up their most acclaimed work with more substance but Lizzo shoots down the naysayers from the first note of album opener “The Sign.” Fans were given a clue back in the spring when the first single the Nile Rodgers’-influenced “About Damn Time” was released. Lizzo sings about wellness, love, her artistry, good times and of course her favorite social media spectacle; twerking. Special adds more pleasure to the soundtrack of 2022 and the tour kicks off on September 23rd. 

The third Day N Vegas festival is happening this upcoming Labor Day and the lineup has been announced. Hiatus Kaiyote, Syd, J. Cole, Doechii, Summer Walker, Ravyn Lenae, Pink Siifu, Freddie Gibbs and J.I.D. are among artists performing at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. Tickets are on sale and there are VIP packages and the option to bundle day passes with hotel rooms, nightclub guest lists, local deals and late-night dining. Both can be purchased through hotel partner Fuse Technologies. The bundles are Sza, J.Cole and Travis Scott will headline the event from Friday, September 2 to Sunday 4th. The full details of the event are available at the official website.