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Writer's pictureNatasha Parker

Who Reigns Supreme?

If you've been active on social media lately, chances are you've seen TMZ reporters catching up with various celebrities to ask them who would make it onto their personal "Mount Rushmore" of singers. This hypothetical mountain represents those who are considered the best among their peers. We've seen some of the greatest artists of our generation, such as Beyonce, Usher, and Michael Jackson, added to this imaginary monument.


There has been a lot of discussion regarding who deserves to be included among the greats, and I must say that some of the selections have been questionable.While commuting, I tuned into Amanda Seales' radio show on 100.3 FM where she discussed this very topic with her team. Amanda had some valid points.During the show, Amanda mentioned that not everyone needs to be on this "mountain". She meant that there are different levels to this game, including valleys, hills, and even swamp levels. Amanda's co-host added that being in the "Valleys" does not guarantee reaching "Mount Rushmore".


I was genuinely pondering about who I would add to my "Mount Rushmore" of singers during this conversation. Have you thought about the criteria that should be considered for this honor? In my opinion, the singer must possess a range of skills, including singing, dancing, and acting. Does the number of years they have been active in the industry count? Should they be considered iconic? Should their record and streaming sales be taken into account? There are so many factors to consider when making this decision.


Let's discuss who I would include on my "Mount Rushmore". These are my opinions, so let's not argue about whether they deserve to be there. Let's see who made the cut!

  1. Jill Scott, I haven't seen her on anyone's list, but she makes my list because she's my hometown legend, she has that sultry soulful voice, she can make any song sound poetic and lastly, she just that girl.

  2. Toni Braxton, the living legend herself has over 70 million albums sold, her songs are the soundtracks of the 90s, the uniqueness of her voice is pure gold, and her music can stay be played today as if it was just released.

  3. Brian McKnight, Brian might not be fans favorite because of some of personal life decisions, but we cannot deny that McKnight has the pipes of a god. His love songs are top tier and the epitome of what mean when we say bring back real r&b.

  4. Jazmine Sullivan, Now Jaz is another hometown legend in the making this throat goat has been shutting down singers since she was a child with her powerhouse voice. The two-time Grammy award winner has showed us time after time that she is a force to be reckoned with; I know y'all remember her rendition of the National Anthem sis ate down!

  5. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, of course Bey had to make this list, she's the MJ of our time, and she has shown us over and over again how upgrade when it comes to this music game. Beyoncé continues to top herself and others and recently broke history when her RWT became the highest grossing for a woman.


 

These are only a few of the vocal artists that I believe deserve to be at the top of the list, and I could easily go beyond just five. However, I am interested in hearing from all of you who you think should be on your very own "mountain of singers" and why. If there are any who didn't quite make the cut but are a close second, feel free to let us know.


JAZMINE SULLIVAN AT THE GRAMMYS/ Jazmine IG


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