By Ericka Alston Buck, Special to the AFRO As the summer sun gradually yields to the crisp embrace of fall, Baltimore’s arts and culture scene bids adieu to the old and hello to a new season in an extravagant fashion. This year’s swan song included a trifecta of remarkable events: the UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball, […]
Category: Entertainment
Posted inNational News
CultureCon, a Black creative’s paradise
By Ariyana Griffin, Special to the AFRO The Creative Collective NYC’s highly anticipated conference, CultureCon, is making its way to New York Oct. 7-8. The two-day event is the last to close out the year; in previous months it was hosted in Los Angeles and Atlanta. Billed as the “Biggest Creative Homecoming,” the annual event […]
Posted inHBCU
AFRO spotlight on Black excellence: Meet Travis Mitchell, the HBCU-made mogul making moves in media
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com When Travis Mitchell attended Morgan State University in 1988, his initial intention was to earn a political science degree. He also wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps of playing college basketball. He thought he’d either graduate and continue playing basketball or take up coaching. Then came his […]
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Last living suspect in 1996 drive-by shooting of Tupac Shakur indicted on murder charge
By RIO YAMAT and KEN RITTER, Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — A man who prosecutors say orchestrated the 1996 drive-by shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur was arrested and charged with murder Friday in a long-awaited breakthrough in one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries. Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 60, has long been known to investigators as one […]
Posted in!Front Page Baltimore News
Artscape returns to Baltimore after three-year hiatus
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Artscape, one of the largest free outdoor arts festivals, returned to Baltimore. Artscape took place Sept. 22 through Sept. 24 at the 1300 to 1800 blocks of Charles Street and Mount Royal Avenue. Despite Tropical Storm Ophelia […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Phoenix Awards honors trailblazers in Black politics and culture
By Amber D. Dodd Special to the AFRO adodd@afro.com President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris deliver remarks as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference’s pinnacle event On Sept. 23, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation hosted their 52nd annual Phoenix Awards ceremony at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., to […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Jonathon Heyward set to debut as first Black music director of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Sept. 23
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com Jonathon Heyward will make history as the first Black and youngest person to ever lead the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra next month. Heyward will step into the role of BSO music director on Sep. 23 at the 2023 Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Gala. To celebrate Heyward’s five-year tenure and the […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Day two of Artscape cancelled due to Tropical Storm Ophelia
By Special Press Release The Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts has cancelled activities on Sept. 23 after a state of emergency was declared due to Tropical Storm Ophelia. PRESS RELEASE: After careful consideration and based on direction from the Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management and the Baltimore City Fire Department, we have […]
Posted in!Front Page National News
Allen Media Group and the AP to host discussion on race and democracy
By Stacy M. BrownNNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent@StacyBrownMedia The event will be broadcast on theGrio and AP’s television, audio, and digital platforms, offering an opportunity for a diverse audience to engage in crucial conversations surrounding race, democracy, and social justice in the United States. (NNPA NEWSWIRE) – Allen Media Group’s multimedia platform, theGrio in collaboration […]
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Money makers: how hip-hop is financing a new generation of content creators
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com The hip-hop genre and artists alike are celebrating 50 years of influence and impact in 2023. Rappers have undoubtedly shaped culture and helped to shape the perspective on the power of the Black dollar. In 2022 hip-hop generated $15.9 billion off of music streams and purchases alone, according […]
Posted inArts & Culture
PRESS ROOM: The Lewis Museum welcomes philanthropist Danny Simmons as he blends poetry, art and jazz to honor Derrick Adams in WordSmith series during Artscape weekend
BALTIMORE, Md. – The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture (The Lewis Museum) – a Smithsonian Affiliate – today announced Danny Simmons – the prolific artist, poet, and philanthropist who co-created the hit HBO series Def Poetry Jam – will bring his critically acclaimed WordSmith series to Baltimore on Friday, […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Artscape festival announces change in headliner
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts announced that Grammy Award-winning artist Anderson.Paak will be headlining the main stage on Sept. 22 at this year’s Artscape Festival. When the list of headliners for the three-day weekend event was first announced in August, singer and songwriter Kelly Rowland […]
