By AFRO Staff “You can’t give me no playlist … this ain’t your wedding.” That was the response from Trick Daddy in a video posted to social media and later reported by BIN News, after his performance was halted at a gathering of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The Miami rapper had been booked to […]
Category: !Front Page Arts and Entertainment
Posted inWashington D.C. News
The Apollo Theater and The Howard Theatre co-present ‘Best of The Apollo’ in Washington, D.C., with special performance by legendary hip-hop duo Clipse
Apollo Theater and Howard Theatre will co-present “Best of The Apollo” on April 26 in Washington, D.C., featuring performances by hip-hop duo Clipse and rising artists, while celebrating the legacy of “Amateur Night” and supporting the Howard Theatre Foundation.
Posted inArts & Culture
‘Power’ exhibit showcases work by Baltimore-based artist and former MICA professor, Paula Phillips
A new exhibition at SBM Gallery in Charm City highlights decades of work by Baltimore-based artist Paula Phillips. The exhibit, which opens on April 3 at 5 p.m., explores themes of identity, spirituality and community through mixed media.
Posted in!Front Page Arts and Entertainment
Kiki Shepard, ‘Showtime at the Apollo’ co-host, dies at 74
By Alexis LaRueAFRO Internalarue@afro.com Kiki Shepard, the long-time co-host of the variety show “Showtime at the Apollo,” died on March 16 after suffering a heart attack. She was 74. Shepard, a Texas native and a graduate of Howard University, launched her career as an ensemble dancer on Broadway in shows like “Reggae” and “Comin’ Uptown” […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Cast, crew of ‘Sinners’ win big at 2026 Academy Awards
By Alexis TaylorAFRO Managing Editor Standing on the Dolby Theatre stage before his mother, father and all of Hollywood, actor Michael B. Jordan accepted the Oscar award for Best Actor in a Leading Role inside of the Dolby Theatre on March 15. “God is good,” said Jordan, before acknowledging his parents, siblings and the people […]
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Multiple gunshots fired near Rihanna’s LA home and a woman is taken into custody
By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles police took a woman into custody after she fired gunshots outside Rihanna ‘s gated home, according to authorities and news reports on March 9. No one was injured, police said. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the singer was at home when the shooting happened March […]
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
BAFTA and BBC apologize for racial slur during awards show
The British Academy Film Awards and the BBC issued apologies after a racial slur was broadcast during the Feb. 22 BAFTA ceremony while “Sinners” stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting onstage. The slur was shouted by a Tourette syndrome advocate in attendance, who later said he was “deeply mortified” and stressed that the utterance was an involuntary tic. BAFTA and the BBC acknowledged the harm caused, while advocacy groups emphasized that such vocal tics are not reflective of a person’s beliefs or intentions.
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Review: Bad Bunny brought Puerto Rico’s history and culture to a revolutionary Super Bowl show
Bad Bunny turned the Super Bowl 60 halftime show into a vibrant celebration of Puerto Rican history and resilience, performing entirely in Spanish while weaving symbols of island life, politics and pride into a star-studded spectacle that included Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin.
Posted inBlack History
Black artists as historians: Preserving memory through art
For generations, Black artists have documented Black life, preserving memory and identity where traditional histories have overlooked or erased their stories. From painting and performance to film and public art, their work captures the everyday, the ancestral and the deeply personal— creating a living record of Black history.
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
Bad Bunny makes Grammy history as Lamar, SZA and Olivia Dean lead night of milestones
Bad Bunny made history at the 68th Grammy Awards, winning album of the year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” the first all-Spanish-language project to earn the top prize, while Kendrick Lamar and SZA captured record of the year for “luther.” Lamar also became the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history with 26 wins, and British singer Olivia Dean was named best new artist as the ceremony highlighted both musical achievement and social commentary.
Posted inArts & Culture
Baltimore August Wilson Celebration continues with ‘Fences’
By Victoria MejicanosAFRO Staff Writervmejicanos@afro.com Chesapeake Shakespeare Company will produce August Wilson’s “Fences” as part of the citywide Baltimore August Wilson Celebration. The production is the sixth of 10 plays in Wilson’s American Century Cycle, being staged as part of the celebration, and will run Feb. 6–March 1. Set in 1950s Pittsburgh, “Fences” centers on […]
Posted inObituaries
Richard Smallwood, gospel icon, to be honored at Jan. 24 celebration of life
The celebration of life for legendary gospel artist Richard Smallwood will take place Jan. 24 at First Baptist Church of Glenarden International in Upper Marlboro, Md. Smallwood, 77, died of complications from kidney failure on Dec. 30, 2025.