Category: ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Look for ‘The Revenant,’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio, to take the top prize at the Oscars. (Courtesy Photo) It’s unfortunate that there’s a dark cloud hanging over the Oscars because of the absence of any Black actors or actresses among the nominees for the second year in a row. What’s worse is the way the controversy […]

Black Moon released a classic album in 1993. (Courtesy Photo) 1993 was a pivotal year in hip-hop, with Wu-Tang teaching us to “Protect Ya Neck” and Snoop opting to go “Doggystyle.” 2pac was still finding his way in 93’ when he told the world to “Keep Ya Head Up”. Eazy-E dedicated an entire album to […]

Naughty by Nature will perform at the Howard Theatre in Washington D.C. on Feb. 25. (Courtesy photo) Grammy Award winning, platinum selling, legendary hip hop group Naughty by Nature kicked off 2016 with a celebratory 25th Anniversary Tour that began in Greensboro, North Carolina Jan. 27. The last show will take place on Feb. 28 […]

In this June 8, 2015 file photo, Forest Whitaker, producer of “Dope,” poses at the premiere of the film at the Los Angeles Film Festival in Los Angeles. Whitaker stars in the Broadway revival of Eugene O’Neill’s “Hughie,” a short play about human connection that requires the actor to speak for an hour virtually non-stop. […]

Creed” director Ryan Coogler, and director/screenwriter Ava DuVernay. (AP Photos) LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Creed” director Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, Janelle Monae and other Hollywood celebrities have big plans for Oscar night. But they have nothing to do with the Academy Awards. Coogler and company will be 2,300 miles away in Flint, Michigan, participating in […]

NEW YORK (AP) — In one of the most exhaustive and damning reports on diversity in Hollywood, a new study finds that the films and television produced by major media companies are “whitewashed,” and that an “epidemic of invisibility” runs top to bottom through the industry for women, minorities and LGBT people. This image released […]

Rapper T.I. and hip-hop entrepreneur Jay-Z (photo inset). ATLANTA (AP) — Rapper T.I. is partnering with two of Jay Z’s companies. T.I. announced Monday night during a private pop-up concert in Atlanta that the entertainment company Roc Nation will distribute his 10th album “Dime Trap” and he’ll be a part owner of the Tidal streaming […]

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Guests at the first American Black Film Festival Honors are ready for Chris Rock to shake up the Oscars. In this Nov. 14, 2014 file photo, Chris Rock accepts the Hollywood comedy film award on stage at the Hollywood Film Awards at the Palladium in Los Angeles. The largest black […]

Comedian Bill Cosby and wife Camille. (AP Photo) SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Bill Cosby’s wife, an enigmatic figure who has publicly stood by her husband despite the dozens of sexual assault allegations against him, was deposed Monday in a defamation lawsuit filed against him by seven accusers. The deposition, believed to be the first she […]

Music legend Ray Charles performs in Zurich, Switzerland, Nov. 19, 2001. Ray Charles died at the age of 73 on Thursday, June 10, 2004. (AP Photo/Keystone, Franco Greco) WASHINGTON (AP) — Usher, Demi Lovato, Yolanda Adams and The Band Perry are among the contemporary artists heading to the White House to celebrate the late Ray […]

In a Monday, March 2, 2015 file photo, singer Natalie Cole performs at “An Evening of SeriousFun Celebrating the Legacy of Paul Newman,” at Avery Fisher Hall, in New York. Cole, the daughter of jazz legend Nat “King” Cole who carried on his musical legacy, died Thursday night, Dec. 31, 2015, according to publicist Maureen […]