Music

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association Widespread chaos — and think pieces — ensued across the internet after Fantasia Barrino-Taylor was nowhere to be found on the list of this year’s Oscars nominees. Many who shared their dismay about The Color Purple snub said Barrino should have earned a Best Actress nomination for her role as Celie.  On Thursday, Barrino […]

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy Kirk Franklin, Robert Glasper and renowned music director Adam Blackstone have been announced as performers for the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony.  Jordin Sparks and beloved drummer Sheila E. will kick off the show, which streams live a few hours ahead of the actual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 4, with an opening number alongside J. Ivy, Larkin Poe and Pentatonix. Recording Academy Trustees […]

NAACP NAACP unveiled the nominations for the 55th Image Awards Thursday, naming Usher, Victoria Monét, Ayo Edebiri and Colman Domingo among the top nominees.  Usher, the Super Bowl 58 halftime show performer, received the most nominations in music with six, including Outstanding Male Artist, Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album for “Boyfriend” and Outstanding Soul/R&B Song for “Good Good.” Monét follows closely behind with […]

Bob Mahoney/Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy Netflix Kelly Rowland takes center stage in the first-look trailer for the new legal thriller from Tyler Perry, Mea Culpa.  In the two-minute clip, viewers get a glimpse of Rowland as Mea Harper, a defense attorney who, on a mission to make partner, takes on the case of man accused of murdering his girlfriend.  Scenes from the film, […]

Live Nation Offset is hitting the road for his first solo headlining concert series, the Set it Off Tour.  He announced the 17-city tour via Live Nation Tuesday, revealing the list of dates and cities in which he’ll make stops.  After a kickoff in Philadelphia on March 10, the rapper will travel to Maryland, New York, […]

ABC The nominations for the 96th Academy Awards were announced Tuesday, revealing the top big screen projects and actors up for a gold statuette.  American Fiction, the race-related film starring Jeffrey Wright, earned five nominations, including the coveted Best Motion Picture of the Year. With the film, Wright scores his first-ever nod, as he’s up for Performance by an Actor in […]

Courtesy Lovers & Friends Janet Jackson and Super Bowl halftime performer Usher will headline the third edition of the Lovers & Friends festival, scheduled to take place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on May 4. The lineup for the festival also includes Nelly, Alicia Keys, Nas, Mary J. Blige, Ludacris, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Ciara, Timbaland and TLC. Usher will be performing his megaselling Confessions album in honor of its 20th anniversary, while […]

Disney/Frank Micelotta A new TV project involving rapper Ludacris has a home at BET+, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  The untitled series will be a half-hour scripted dramedy inspired by Luda’s life and his “experience coming up in the competitive music scene in Atlanta as DJ Chris Lova Lova.” A description of the project, as listed by THR, says, “The series follows […]

Paramount+ A new documentary about the use of rap lyrics in court rooms and on trial will premiere on Paramount+ next month. The streamer announced As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial, which follows Bronx rapper Kemba as he explores the “growing weaponization” of rap lyrics in the United States criminal justice system and abroad. His findings will reveal […]