Rapper Gucci Mane (Radric Davis) is using his memoir and public platform to speak openly about his diagnoses—bipolar disorder, paranoid schizophrenia—and his recovery journey, highlighting the role of family caregiving and destigmatizing mental health in Black communities. With his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir deeply involved in his care, the couple emphasizes early intervention, accountability, and reshaping masculine norms around seeking help.
Category: Music
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Baltimore’s Gabby Samone: From ‘American Idol’ breakout to rising R&B powerhouse
From a Disney performance in 2021 to “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” and now “American Idol” and beyond, Gabby Samone is proving that her story is only beginning. For Baltimore and for fans nationwide, the rise of Gabby Samone is one to watch — a young artist grinding, glowing, and stepping fully into her moment.
Posted inMusic
Faith, harmony and surprise moments mark 2025 Dove Awards
Brandon Lake emerged as the night’s top winner at the 56th Annual GMA Dove Awards, taking home five honors including Song of the Year for “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” performed alongside Jelly Roll and surprise guest Jon Batiste. The star-studded event at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena featured powerful performances from CeCe Winans, Carrie Underwood, and Tamela Mann, as well as a historic Opry 100 medley by Steven Curtis Chapman, Lady A, and Vince Gill.
Posted in!Front Page Arts and Entertainment
Neo-soul icon D’Angelo dies at 51 — fans, radio and the music world mourn
D’Angelo, the influential neo-soul artist, passed away at the age of 51 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving a void in modern music and a legacy of soulful intensity, stylistic daring, and deep musical integrity.
Posted inBaltimore News
Common headlines United Way of Central Maryland’s 100-year celebration at the Meyerhoff
United Way of Central Maryland celebrated its 100th anniversary with a star-studded concert at Baltimore’s Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, headlined by Common and featuring performances from CeCe Peniston and the Baltimore City College Choir. The evening honored a century of community service while inspiring hope for the organization’s next hundred years of impact across Central Maryland.
Posted inMaryland News
United Way of Central Maryland to celebrate centennial anniversary with benefit concert
United Way of Central Maryland, led by Franklyn Baker, is marking its 100th anniversary with a star-studded benefit concert on Oct. 11 at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, featuring Common, CeCe Peniston, and Elyscia Jefferson. The celebration not only honors a century of impact but also calls on the community to continue supporting the organization’s mission to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods across Greater Baltimore.
Posted inMusic
CeCe Winans celebrates 30 years of solo success with intimate NPR Tiny Desk concert
CeCe Winans celebrated the 30th anniversary of her solo debut album with a soulful NPR Tiny Desk performance, which has now amassed over 881,000 views on YouTube.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kid ‘n Play to be inducted into the National Hip-Hop Museum’s Hall of Fame
By Mekhi AbbottSpecial to the AFROmabbott@afro.com The National Hip-Hop Museum will conclude the summer by inducting a new class of Hall of Fame honorees, which include Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin of Kid ‘n Play, at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre on Aug. 23. The induction ceremony will be followed by a concert headlined by Kid […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Ciara is among the first descendants of enslaved people granted citizenship by Benin
Grammy-winning artist Ciara was granted citizenship in Benin on July 26 under a groundbreaking new law offering citizenship to descendants of enslaved Africans. The move is part of Benin’s wider effort to confront its role in the transatlantic slave trade and invite Afro-descendants to reconnect with their ancestral roots through cultural heritage and “memorial tourism.”
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Rare Essence, D.C.’s legendary go-go band, proves they still have the magic touch
Go-go elite Rare Essence, continues to draw audiences to its live performances of Washington, D.C.’s homegrown sound delivered in the band’s signature style.
Credit: AFRO Photo/ J. Pamela Stills
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Paris unveils mural of Josephine Baker to honor her legacy
A new mural honoring Josephine Baker has been unveiled in northeast Paris, celebrating the legendary entertainer’s legacy as a performer, World War II spy, and civil rights activist. Painted by artist FKDL, the mural is part of a street art festival and serves as a tribute to Baker’s enduring spirit of freedom, resistance, and cultural impact, fifty years after her death.
Posted inArts & Culture
AFRAM 2025 offers star studded line up and fun for the whole family
The AFRAM Festival, a celebration of African-American culture, returned to Baltimore on June 21-22, featuring international artists such as Amerie, Patti LaBelle, Juvenile and Teedra Moses, and offering fun, food, and more for the whole family.