Latest news with #R&B
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
CM reviews repair works of roads, bridges; asks officials to adopt proactive approach, ensure immediate redressal of complaints
Chief Minister (CM) Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday reviewed the ongoing repair works of roads and bridges across the state through the video wall of the CM Dashboard. He directed officials to adopt a proactive approach to road repairs, ensure quick restoration of traffic movement and the immediate redressal of citizens' complaints by prioritising road maintenance. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi; Additional Chief Secretary to the CM, M K Das; CM's advisor S S Rathore, Principal Secretary of Urban Development and Urban Housing Department (UD&UH Department), M Thennarasan; Additional Principal Secretary to the CM, Avantika Singh; Secretary to the CM, Vikrant Pandey; Secretary of Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, P R Patelia and others. Officials from district administration and urban local bodies also participated through video conference. As per an official release from the Chief Minister's Office, CM Patel instructed engineers and officials to ensure that no complaint, however small, remains unresolved and that repair works are prioritised to prevent the public from facing any inconvenience. The CM emphasised that all complaints received through the R&B department's 24×7 control room, GujMarg mobile app, municipal apps, WhatsApp, websites, helpline numbers, city civic centres, and command & control centers must be addressed promptly and satisfactorily, with active monitoring by the officials concerned. At Tuesday's meeting, UD&UH Secretary Thennarasan outlined the mechanism for the prompt redressal of citizens' complaints in urban areas, highlighting that out of 15,424 complaints received from metropolitan cities, 12,023 were successfully resolved. R&B Secretary Patelia informed the CM that 99.66% of the 3,632 complaints received via GujMarg app were resolved. As per the release, the number of users on the GujMarg app increased from 10,767 to 28,449 in just three days. The release stated, 'The CM directed that all ongoing repair works be closely monitored through field visits by officers, local authorities, and district administrations. He instructed thorough inspection and prompt repair of bridges closed for safety, with strict quality checks. For bridges with diverted traffic, he emphasised ensuring safe alternate routes and smooth traffic flow. He further stressed that repairs must continue without interruption, and citizen convenience must be prioritised. On rain-free days, additional manpower should be deployed to expedite road and bridge restoration.' Besides, a comprehensive review was conducted of the ongoing road repair operations, including patchwork and pothole filling, at the meet. 'As of now, 47% of patchwork on damaged roads has been completed, and more than 63% of pothole-filling work has been accomplished. Additionally, a significant portion of road repairs under the jurisdiction of the 17 Municipal Corporations in the state has also been completed,' the CMO release further stated.
News24
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News24
R&B superstar Tank is ready for Mzansi - ‘I can't wait to see you'
International R&B sensation Tank is heading to South Africa for the first time, bringing his chart-topping hits to local fans as part of the spectacular grand opening celebrations for Ndala Mall. The Grammy-nominated artist will take the stage at Ndala Arena in Pretoria for two special performances on August 2 and 3, marking a milestone moment for both the new shopping destination and South African music lovers. A visibly excited Tank says he is excited to be performing in South Africa. 'Africa, I am pulling up on you. It's going to be R&B, and it's going to be crazy, so get your tickets from the Ndala Arena website. I'm coming and I'm excited, I can't wait to see you,' he says. Tank has solidified his place as an R&B icon with a catalogue that includes some of the genre's biggest hits. His 10th studio album, R&B Money, produced five #1 singles, including 'Can't Let It Show,' 'I Deserve,' 'Slow,' 'See Through Love,' and 'Before We Get Started.' Read more | She's back! MaMkhize returns as president of Mbabane Highlanders AM FC Tank celebrated the re-release of his first three albums, Force of Nature, One Man, and Sex, Love & Pain, rekindling his connection with long-time fans and introducing his remarkable discography to a new generation of R&B. His latest release is titled The Last Temptation. A 12-track album released on June 16, 2025, which proves his vocal prowess and his innate ability to connect with his fans. Ndala Mall CEO, Thami Ndala, tells Drum that he is proud to be at the forefront of this event, as he sees it as a 'transformative' initiative. 'As the CEO of Ndala Mall, I am filled with pride and gratitude as we officially launch this transformative space. This isn't just a new chapter, it's the revival of Pretoria's beating heart! Ndlala Mall carries the torch of our city's iconic entertainment legacy, reimagined for a new generation,' he explains He says that one of the most exciting aspects of this initiative is the fact that employment opportunities will be created for the youth of Gauteng. 'We're creating real employment opportunities for our community while building a stage where local talent shines and global stars will dazzle. The energy you'll feel here, in these walls, through these experiences, will echo the magic this location has always been known for. This is more than a launch, it's the homecoming,' he says. This marks the beginning of a new era for the people of Tshwane, whose lives will never be the same again. 'This moment marks a new chapter — not just for the mall, but for the people of Tshwane. And I'm incredibly proud to lead this journey,' he concludes. Other artists pencilled to perform at the event, which is expected to draw throngs of revellers, include award-winning songstress Zonke Dikana.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Givēon's Old-School R&B Heartbreak
With his oaky baritone, Givēon often sounds like he teleported to us from the 1970s. In the rapid-fire internet age, his love songs — frequently lost-love songs — are unhurried. At his best, he's like a barrel-aged cognac — warm, earthy, and mature. Still, when he rose to prominence at around the age of 25 about five years ago, in a landscape where more modern, edgy alternative R&B dominated, he allowed his steady, soulful production to ride on top of subtle rap drums; across his debut EP, Take Time, and album, Give or Take, he even dipped into cloudy MC cadences, too. Now, on his sophomore LP, and well established as a singular voice, there's nothing 'alternative' about his musical approach. Beloved is almost barren of the hip-hop flourishes that peppered his earlier work, and instead leans all the way into the orchestral R&B of another time, lush with searing strings and the crash of real hi-hats. Rich and authentic, Beloved feels indebted to Al Green, Philly soul, the Jackson 5, and Blaxploitation soundtracks. More from Rolling Stone Givēon on His 'Accountability' Era and Making His Best Album Yet Rihanna, Kesha, Giveon, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week Giveon Is Done Wasting Time Behind the Scenes at 'Twenties' Video Shoot Demonstrating the most robust control of his instrument yet, Givēon offers a stunning, panoramic view of romantic relationships in their toughest places. He's always been a real yearner, taking cues from the 'Black women heartbreak music' he's said he was raised on by his mother — singers like Anita Baker and Mary J. Blige. True to form, much of Beloved lives at the end of the road romantically, where songs like 'Twenties,' 'Mud,' and 'Strangers' ache with defeat. 'Yes, I'm taking this hard,' he proclaims in a pained, zigzag riff on 'Strangers,' after learning his ex is finally seeing someone else. By 'Numb,' he's unable to feel at all. When he admits, 'I've been here before,' over angelic background coos, it's a cunning recognition that a heartbroken Givēon is one his listeners are all too familiar with, though this version is the most visceral yet. And though in these gut-wrenching moments, Givēon is the victim — even telling an old flame who has tried to play that same role, 'You run my name through the mud/Wipe that dirt off your shoes.… You be lying to yourself so much it sounds true' — he complicates his reliability as a narrator, too, adding more nuance to his romantic persona. On tracks like 'Diamonds for Your Pain (Interlude)' and 'Keeper,' he's slyly working his way out of the doghouse, telling a girl on the former, 'Prettier than I remember/Haven't seen you since December/You know I come around every summertime, swimming in your teardrops.' (There's sharp imagery like this all over the album, building on the cinematic soundscapes acclaimed producers like Jeff Gitty and Jahaan Sweet have created with Givēon.) And though the groovy 'Avalanche' is only sung from a place of promise and not repair, a naivete that could also prove unproductive peeks through. 'Intuition says we're way too young to start a family/But I've been thinking about forever, my dear,' he beams, delusionally. Beloved especially shines when it embraces how complicated heartache can be, like the songs where Givēon or the object of his affection linger in limbo. On 'Backup Plan,' he watches anxiously as his lover quietly contemplates leaving him; on 'Bleeding,' he's a suitor tiptoeing around the shards of a woman's broken heart, knowing she's still fixated on her ex. He's more hopeful on 'I Can Tell,' where he's proudly making his case as a better man than the one he's trying to get some young woman to leave behind. Fittingly, the album ends with Givēon as part of a couple who seem committed to surmounting conflict together, a buoyant reminder that, even in his world, not all snags precipitate a breakup. 'I'll even let you run me down to the ground/Watching you while you run your mouth/I stick around,' he sings brightly. 'I love you 'cause you love me/Through the good, bad, and ugly.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Drake brings out R&B stars, U.K. rappers and an unlikely singer-songwriter at London shows
Drake rounded up the cavalry this weekend for his U.K. performances, which featured R&B stars, British rappers — and U.S. singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton, for some reason. The Toronto rapper is headlining the Wireless Festival in London all weekend and kicked it off with a celebration of R&B Friday night, bringing out the reclusive Lauryn Hill, Mississauga native PARTYNEXTDOOR and contemporary R&B powerhouses Bryson Tiller, Giveon, Mario and Bobby Valentino.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Is Peter Gabriel in my vocal range? I don't care. I'm singing it at karaoke': Xzibit's honest playlist
The first song I fell in love withFight the Power by Public Enemy from their Fear of a Black Planet album touched my soul. Hearing the vibrant production on that record is what really inspired me as a child to become a musician. I listened to it so much, I nearly wore it out. It was first single I boughtRuff Rhyme (Back Again) by my friend King T on cassette tape from Tower Records in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It has the Ruff Mix remix on the B-side, and to this day he and I fight about which is best. The song I do at karaokeIn Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel. Is it in my vocal range? I don't give care if I'm singing it right. I'll do my best. The best song to play at a party It depends on what they're serving. If it's a wild party and there's a whole bunch of drugs involved, it's gotta be uptempo. If it's kick back with some weed, then some 90s or 00s gangsta rap like Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang by Dr Dre featuring Snoop Dogg. The song I secretly likeI love Everything by Mary J Blige from her Share My World album, which samples You Are Everything by the Stylistics and The Payback by James Brown. I've been a fan of hers ever since she came out. She's one of my favourite artists who integrates hip-hop and R&B. The best song to have sex toIt's not about the music. Sometimes it's just about being into your partner: that's the music right there. Would I have sex to my own records? Hell no. Have you heard my shit, like Choke Me, Spank Me (Pull My Hair)? You can't have sex to those records. The song that changed my lifeBitch Please by Snoop Dogg featuring Nate Dogg and Xzibit was the beginning of an era. It launched us into the stratosphere, turned the page, and kicked everything up in my career. The song that makes me cryYou just reminded me I haven't cried in a minute. I gotta go look for that. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion The song that gets me up in the morningYankee and the Brave by Run the Jewels because it's adrenaline and goes good with coffee. The song I'd like played at my funeralPlay This at My Funeral, the first song on my new album. Xzibit's new album Kingmaker is out now.
