Episode Features Interviews with Tyler Perry, Shemar Moore, Full Force & More
Watch the Teaser for Cheryl Pepsii Riley’s “UNSUNG” here
CHERYL PEPSII RILEY
Premiere: Sunday, July 1 at 9 p.m. ET/8C
Cheryl Pepsii Riley burst on the scene in 1988 with her #1 hit single “Thanks for My Child,” a ballad that paid tribute to the love of single mothers for their children. Under the songwriting and production umbrella of the Full Force family she seemed destined to keep rising as a star. However, after a series of singles about provocative subjects, her label struggled with how to market her, and Cheryl’s career foundered. Determined to support her family by any means necessary, she took musical back roads from session work to back-up singing, while raising several children with the help of her husband and family. She eventually reinvented herself as a musical stage actress in plays by Tyler Perry and continues to stay true to her musical roots.
Episode features candid discussion on Cheryl Pepsii Riley with Tyler Perry,Shemar Moore, Full Force and more.
WATCH THE “CHERYL PEPSII RILEY” EPISODE PROMO
WATCH CLIPS FROM CHERYL PEPSII RILEY’S “UNSUNG”
DOWNLOAD EPISODIC IMAGES FROM “UNSUNG”
left: Tyler Perry; right: Cheryl Pepsii Riley
left: Shemar Moore; right: Paul Anthony (Full Force)
“UNSUNG” PRESS HIGHLIGHTS
TV ONE’S AWARD-WINNING SERIES “UNSUNG” AIRING THIRTEENTH SEASON SUNDAY NIGHTS ON TV ONE
New Season features stories of musical trendsetters
B.B. King, Mtume, Regina Belle, Michel’le, Digable Planets, 702 and more
TV One’s longest-running and five-time NAACP Image Award winning series, Unsung, will launch its thirteenth season on Sunday, May 20 at 9 p.m. ET, kicking off with the story of the iconic musical group Mtume. The remainder of the season promises to be equally unforgettable, featuring stories from other influential musicians including hip-hop artists Special Ed and Digable Planets, songstresses Cheryl Pepsii Riley, Regina Belle, 702 and Michel’le, blues pioneer B.B. King, and R&B crooner Will Downing. Unsung will delve into the lives of trailblazing music artists whose full stories and journeys have yet to be explored.
Throughout the season, Unsung celebrates the lives and careers of artists or groups who have overcome great odds in their journey to stardom, yet their stories have yet to be fully explored. Through first-hand accounts, interviews with family and friends, and archival footage, each episode weaves a tale of the highs and lows of a life in the limelight. Unsung is narrated by actor Gary Anthony Williams and is Executive Produced by Arthur Smith and Frank Sinton of A. Smith & Co. Productions. Mark Rowland is Executive Producer. For TV One, Jubba Seyyid is Executive in Charge of Production and Sr. Director of Programming; and Robyn Greene Arrington is Interim Head of Original Programming and Production.
For more information about TV One’s upcoming programming, including original movies, visit the network’s companion website at www.tvone.tv. TV One viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv) using the hash tags #UNSUNG and #REPRESENT.
ABOUT TV ONE
Launched in January 2004, TV One serves 59 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain and inform a diverse audience of adult black viewers. The network represents the best in black culture and entertainment with fan favorite shows Uncensored, Unsung, Rickey Smiley For Real, Fatal Attraction and The NAACP Image Awards. In addition, TV One is the cable home of blockbuster drama Empire, and NewsOne Now, the only live daily news program dedicated to black viewers. In December 2008, the company launched TV OneHigh Def, which now serves 14 million households. TV One is solely owned by Urban One, Inc., formerly known as Radio One, Inc. [NASDAQ: UONE and UONEK, www.urban1.com], the largest African-American owned multi-media company primarily targeting Black and urban audiences
North London’s 4t9 isn’t just stepping into the UK rap scene – he’s kicking the door wide open with his debut single, “Freedom”. Blending hard-hitting drill beats with motivational lyricism, 4t9’s arrival feels bold, intentional, and impossible to ignore. While drill music often leans on themes of street life and bravado, “Freedom” carves out its own lane, focusing on self-belief, focus, and determination.
From the opening bars, 4t9’s delivery is sharp and direct. His tone carries a hunger that feels authentic, as he weaves between gritty observations and personal affirmations. The hook – “It’s been about freedom, it’s been about racks” – becomes a powerful mantra, embodying 4t9’s belief in chasing success on his own terms. There’s no reliance on empty bravado here; instead, 4t9 taps into the mindset of someone who’s faced challenges but refuses to let them define his path.
His verses showcase a knack for clever wordplay. Lines like “In Paris riding the metro / I’ve been wavy from the get-go / I still compete and I get gold / That’s the 9 on me like Crespo” highlight his ability to blend cultural references with sharp storytelling. He paints pictures of grind and grit, but it’s always laced with a forward-thinking attitude.
The track’s production matches this energy, with a brooding instrumental that balances dark, rolling basslines with crisp percussion. It’s the kind of beat that demands attention, creating the perfect backdrop for 4t9’s powerful delivery. Meanwhile, the track’s structure keeps momentum high, with the hook acting as a grounding point that ties the themes together.
Adding to the track’s impact is its visually striking music video, directed by ODXC. The visuals mirror the song’s intensity, capturing 4t9’s commanding presence as he delivers each bar with conviction. The sleek visuals, combined with the track’s unrelenting energy, make “Freedom” feel like a real statement piece.
With this debut release, 4t9 shows he’s not here to follow trends – he’s here to create his own lane. His blend of raw authenticity, sharp lyricism, and motivational energy makes this debut impossible to overlook. If “Freedom” is just the starting point, there’s no telling how far 4t9’s ambition will take him.