Chloe Bailey, left, of the sister duo Chloe x Halle, rapper YBN Cordae and actor and activist Yara Shahidi, who will be featured in a new EP about the Black experience. “Music for the Movement Volume III – Liberated,” the third volume in Disney’s four-part series of EPs honoring Black lives and social justice under […]
Author Archives: Mesfin Fekadu
Associated Press
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, Lil Nas X set for BET Awards
In this Oct. 1, 2011 file photo, DMX performs during the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta. The late rapper will be honored at Sunday’s BET Awards. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) By Mesfin Fekadu AP Music Writer The BET Awards on June 27 will be packed with performances by Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Nas X […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music, TV and Film
‘Black Is King’
By Mesfin Fekadu AP Music Writer Beyoncé’s new film “Black Is King” takes you on a journey of Black art, music, history and fashion as the superstar transports you to Africa to tell the story of a young man in search of his crown, matched to epic songs she created while inspired by “The Lion […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Review: Beyoncé’s ‘Black Is King’ is Supreme Black Art
By MESFIN FEKADU, AP Music Writer King Beyoncé’s new film takes you on a journey of Black art, music, history and fashion as the superstar transports you to Africa to tell the story of a young man in search of his crown, matched to epic songs she created while inspired by “The Lion King.” The […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, INTERNATIONAL, Media, NEWS, TV and Film
Apple Music Launches Its 1st Radio Show in Africa
By Mesfin Fekadu AP Music Writer Apple Music is launching its first radio show in Africa. The streaming platform announced May 28 that “Africa Now Radio with Cuppy” will debut May 31 and will feature a mix of contemporary and traditional popular African sounds, including genres like Afrobeat, rap, house, kuduro and more. Cuppy, the […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music
Despite Label Drama, Megan Thee Stallion Happy To Release Music
By Mesfin Fekadu AP Music Writer Megan Thee Stallion says she works extremely hard in the studio writing music, and so became more than a little worried when she almost couldn’t release her new album because of a dispute with her record label. “I was super nervous,” she said in an interview with The Associated […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music, TV and Film
Diddy Calls Out Grammys and Demands Change in Fiery Speech
By Mesfin Fekadu AP Music Writer Sean “Diddy” Combs called out the Grammy Awards for dissing rap and R&B stars in its major categories in a blazing speech that earned him a standing ovation from Beyoncé, Jay-Z and several other music industry players. At the end of his 50-minute speech the night of Jan. 25 […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music
Nipsey Hussle’s Legacy Lives on at Grammys
By Mesfin Fekadu Associated Press Even before Nipsey Hussle laid down his first verse on “Higher,” DJ Khaled predicted he had a Grammy-nominated hit on his hands. At Khaled’s home in Miami, the hip-hop stars had deep and personal conversations about topics outside of music — family life, street life, entrepreneurship, future goals and more […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music, TV and Film
Belafonte Recalls Horne’s Activism as Solange is Honored
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Lena Horne was a fierce advocate for civil rights in her later years, but that part of her legacy is often pushed behind her glamorous image. Her good friend Harry Belafonte hopes that a new award in her honor will push that aspect of […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music
AP’s Top Albums of 2019: Ari Lennox, Summer Walker, Anitta
By MESFIN FEKADU AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The top 10 Albums of the Year by Associated Press Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu: Ari Lennox, “Shea Butter Baby”: A message to the Grammy Awards, in the words of pop music philosopher Mariah Carey: “Them chickens is ash and I’m lotion.” Them is the Grammys, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, TV and Film
Nyong’o Honors Her Mother For Fueling Her Passion For Art
By MESFIN FEKADU AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — As Lupita Nyong’o accepted an award from the Harlem School of Arts — and entered the stage to Beyoncé’s anthemic hit “Brown Skin Girl” — the actress mainly had two people to thank for fueling her passion for the arts as a child: her parents. […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music
Jessye Norman, International Opera Star, Dead at 74
By MESFIN FEKADU AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Jessye Norman, the renowned international opera star whose passionate soprano voice won her four Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honor, has died, according to family spokesperson Gwendolyn Quinn. She was 74. A statement released to The Associated Press on […]