2011 is shaping up to be a big year for black music on the festival circuit in the United States.  The lineup for the 17th annual Essence Music Festival was announced and features such heavyweights as Kanye West, Mary J. Blige and Jill Scott amongst others.

On February 14th, 1991, Boyz II Men‘s debut album, Cooleyhighharmony, hit stores officially introducing the Philadelphia quartet to he world.  The album was an instant success, thanks to the album’s lead single “MotownPhilly.”

Boyz II Men recorded a modern day Christmas classic with their 1993 holiday single, “Let It Snow.”

This is the time of the year where we talk about the things we are thankful for. We all gives thanks in different ways and some of us even demand thanks from other people. Here are 5 songs that give thanks.