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Fan Favorite La’Porsha Renae May Not Have Won "American Idol," but she Landed a Record Deal

By goodblacknews on April 8, 2016

FOX
La’Porsha Renae and Season 15 “Idol” winner Trent Harmon (photo courtesy of Fox)

article via clutchmagonline.com
To much surprise, La’ Porsha Renae did not win last night’s final American Idol season. But don’t fret. Look at the great singers who haven’t won, like Jennifer Hudson.  La’Porsha has landed a record deal, that will no doubt propel her career.
Fox
La’Porsha Renae will be joining the Universal Music Group family, signing with 19/Big Machine/Motown Records, in partnership with Big Machine.
“Because of the overwhelming fan demand and success of the farewell season of American Idol, we have made the decision to sign both the winner, Trent Harmon, and runner-up, La’Porsha Renae, to exclusive recording agreements,” Big Machine Label Group founder and CEO Scott Borchetta tells Billboard. “I can’t think of a better way to bring this American institution to a close. Everyone at the Big Machine Label Group, the Universal Music Group and Motown Records are so thrilled with the outcome and can’t wait to get to work.”
Renae’s album will be overseen by Ethiopia Habtemariam, president of Motown and president of urban music/co-head of creative at Universal Music Publishing Group, who tells Billboard, “We are extremely excited to partner with Big Machine and 19 Entertainment on such an incredible talent as La’Porsha.”
In case you’re not familiar with the power of La’Porsha, check out her stirring performance of “No More Drama” on “Idol” below:
https://youtu.be/6l-Lpth8OAU

Pharrell Williams Joins Fox 2000’s "Hidden Figures" Starring Taraji P. Henson as Producer, Will Write Music

By goodblacknews on April 7, 2016

Pharrell Williams (photo via deadline.com)
Pharrell Williams (photo via deadline.com)

article by Dave McNary via Variety.com*
Pharrell Williams will produce Taraji P. Henson’s mathematics drama “Hidden Figures” and write original songs for the soundtrack.
Donna Gigliotti, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Ted Melfi are also producing, and Melfi is directing. Williams will oversee all musical elements for the motion picture and its soundtrack.
Henson stars along with Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe as a trio of brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind the 1962 launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit — a key milestone in the space race against the Soviet Union to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade.

“After my producing partner Mimi Valdés and I heard about this project, we basically begged the producers and studio to allow us to participate,” Williams said. “This is an extraordinary story about black women with genius mathematical minds who contributed to American history. It takes place in Virginia, my home state, and at NASA, a place I’ve been obsessed with since childhood.”
Fox will release “Hidden Figures” on Jan. 13. Also starring are Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge and Kevin Costner. The screenplay is by Alison Schroeder, Melfi and Lori Lakin Hutcherson.
Williams has won 10 Grammy Awards. He’s also known for his musical contributions to the “Despicable Me” films as well as his judging stint on NBC’s “The Voice.”
*(GBN disclosure from Editor-in-Chief Lori Lakin Hutcherson:  the above is an article in which I am mentioned, as I am primarily a writer in television and film, and was fortunate enough to work on “Hidden Figures.” It may be a conflict of interest to have published this, but so be it – it’s an awesome film and Good Black News regardless!)

British Actor Duane Henry Lands on CBS Drama "NCIS" as Possible Series Regular

By goodblacknews on April 4, 2016
Duane Henry
New “NCIS” actor Duane Henry (PHOTO COURTESY OF CBS)

article by Elizabeth Wagmeister via Variety.com
“NCIS” has added yet another cast member. British actor Duane Henry has joined the current season in a recurring role with the option to continue into next season.  Henry will play MI6 Officer Clayton Reeves. He will make his debut in the final two episodes of the current 13th season.
Clayton Reeves rose above his British blue-collar roots to become a successful government agent. The character is described as offbeat and fun with swagger to spare, with professional confidence that’s impossible to disregard. To say Reeves has burned some bridges in the international intelligence community is an understatement, but he owns the choices he’s made and he’s determined to do what’s right. Behind steely eyes and a strong, no-nonsense demeanor is a killer smile and a sense of humor to match.

“We think we found something really special in Duane Henry,” said Gary Glasberg, executive producer and “NCIS” showrunner. “His unique blend of charm, heart and athletic physicality is going to be a great addition to the mix. Everyone at ‘NCIS’ is excited to have him join us.”
Born in Birmingham, England, Henry has credits that include many popular U.K. series including “Law & Order: U.K.,” “The Bill” and “Doctor Who.” In 2010, he was nominated for BAFTA’s Screen Nation Award for best emerging talent.
To read more, go to: http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/duane-henry-ncis-cast-clayton-reeves-1201745190/

A Tribe Called Quest Invites Fans to Phife Dawg Memorial in Queens on April 4

By goodblacknews on April 3, 2016
phife-dawg-memorial
A Tribe Called Quest (CREDIT: Getty Images)
article by Shenequa Golding via vibe.com
While hip-hop still comes to terms with the death of Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor, surviving members from A Tribe Called Quest announced Sunday (April 3) a memorial would be held in honor of their late lyrical brother.

 READ: A Tribe Called Quest Pens Touching Statement In Wake Of Phife Dawg’s Passing

“Please meet us at St. Albans Park in Queens, NY on April 4th at 10:30am,” Organizers wrote. “The first 200 fans to arrive will receive something very special!”
As Q-Tip famously once said “Back in the day on the boulevard of Linden” both Tip and Phife Dawg grew up in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens. Since Phife’s death on March 22nd, fans of the funky diabetic have made efforts to rename a street and park where he along with Q-Tip would often go and freestyle.
If you’re planning to attend, please arrive early because all of Queens and hip-hop will be sure to show love to the Five Footer.

Jesse Williams to Produce, Star in Upcoming Harry Belafonte Biopic

By goodblacknews on April 2, 2016

Harry Belafonte (l) and Jesse Williams (r) [photo via theroot.com]
Harry Belafonte (l) and Jesse Williams (r) [photo via theroot.com]
article via thegrio.com
“Grey’s Anatomy” star and actvist Jesse Williams has plans to produce and star in a biopic about his fellow civil rights icon and entertainer Harry Belafonte. Williams announced the project during an appearance on Denzealots, a podcast by comedians W. Kamau Bell and Kevin Avery.
During the episode, Williams admitted that he cared more about activism than acting.  “I have an awesome job that I love,” he said, “but there’s this magnetic force that is constantly pulling me toward activism. I just have to do it.”
If you’re into social media, you probably already knew that. Williams is highly influential on Twitter, boasting more than one million followers. The young actor’s gained his influence, not with selfies, but with insightful tweets and short commentaries on issues impacting people of color.  He was heavily involved in the Justice for Flint concert which brought together residents, celebrities and performers to raise awareness on the water crisis.
Source: Jesse Williams to produce, star in upcoming Harry Belafonte biopioc | theGrio

Actress Rashida Jones Named 2016 Harvard College Class Day Speaker

By goodblacknews on April 1, 2016
Rashida Jones (Photograph courtesy of Rashida Jones) 
article by Laura Levis via harvardmagazine.com
Actress and Harvard alumna Rashida Jones will be the principal guest speaker for Harvard College seniors celebrating their Class Day in Cambridge, Massachusetts on May 25.  She was chosen and invited to speak by a subcommittee of eight class marshals, who considered speakers suggested by classmates as part of a senior-class survey.
“I am truly honored to come back to campus and speak at Class Day 2016. Harvard was such a transformative place for me in so many ways,” Jones said in a statement. “It’s where I first had the idea for Facebook, which went on to make me billions of dollars and change the world. Oh wait, that wasn’t me…”
Jones, an accomplished screenwriter, philanthropist, and comic-book author, is best known for her roles in more than 20 films, television shows such as The Office and Parks and Recreation, and, most recently, as the title character in the TBS comedy Angie Tribeca. The daughter of musician Quincy Jones and model turned The Mod Squad star Peggy Lipton, Jones said of her parents in a recent Vanity Fair profile that she is “the genetic expression of all their secret academic dreams.”
According to Harvard officials, nine alumni have been selected to deliver the Class Day address since 1968, with Jones not only the fourth consecutive alumna to give the address but also the first relative of a former Class Day speaker (her father, in 1997) to receive the honor.
“As a Harvard College alumna, Rashida Jones knows what it is like to balance commitments—whether it was her involvement with the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club, the Signet Society, or the Black Students Association—with academics and the many other facets of college life,” class marshal Gabriela Ruiz-Colon ’16, co-chair of the speaker-selection committee, said in a press release. “She has taken this experience and shown an extraordinary ability to use her celebrity platform to make the world a better place.”
To read more, go to: http://harvardmagazine.com/2016/04/rashida-jones-97-named-harvard-class-day-speaker-2016

Kevin Hart Partners With Lionsgate on "Laugh Out Loud" Streaming Service, Comedy Central for Two Series

By goodblacknews on March 31, 2016
Kevin Hart VOD Service
(Comedian Kevin Hart) ERIC CHARBONNEAU/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

article by Dave McNary via Variety.com
Lionsgate has formed a partnership with Kevin Hart and his Hartbeat Digital to launch the Laugh Out Loud video-on-demand service in the fall.

The new over-the-top service will operate 24-7 and serve as the exclusive home for all content created by Hart outside his theatrical and live touring activities and include original series starring Hart — such as a hidden-camera premium original series in which Hart stars as an undercover Lyft driver.
“Lionsgate has always been a great partner of mine, and I’m more than excited to take our business and creative relationship to new levels,” said Hart. “I understand the direction in which the television business is headed, and I see this big new space toward which audiences are starting to gravitate. I believe that launching this venture together now puts us ahead of the pack.”
Laugh Out Loud will also showcase content curated by Hart along with shows featuring social-media stars and up-and-coming comedians. That will include a series starring social media personality Logan Paul, who generated 300 million video views on Facebook last month along with nearly 4 billion loops on Vine.
Codeblack CEO Jeff Clanagan, who has served as Hart’s business partner for the past decade, has been named president of Laugh Out Loud and president of Hartbeat Digital.
Clanagan told Variety that the idea of forming a digital content partnership with Lionsgate had been in the works for several months as vehicle to leverage Hart’s growing worldwide popularity as a stand-up comedy performer. He performed Wednesday in Cape Town, South Africa, for a crowd of 11,000, and was due to appear in Dubai on Friday at a 5,000-seat arena — the final performance in the “What Now” tour.
“Kevin has a worldwide appeal that transcends cultures, particularly in the 18-to-30-year-old demographic,” Clanagan noted. “And they all have smart phones so it makes sense for us to provide them with more comedy content.”
Clanagan also said that the tour, which saw two London shows draw 100,000 attendees, has afforded the Laugh Out venture to start making content deals with up-and-coming comedians from an array of markets.
The alliance will also include Lionsgate teaming with Hart and game developer Fifth Journey to create a social adventure mobile game starring and written in collaboration with Hart. The game will allow players to become comedic rock stars with Hart as their mentor and include touring the country, starring in movies, hosting award shows and more.

Salt-N-Pepa to Headline I Love the ’90s Tour feat. Kid N' Play, Coolio & Others

By goodblacknews on March 30, 2016
Salt-N-Pepa I Love the '90s
Salt-N-Pepa I Love the ’90s (MADISON MCGAW/BFA/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK)

article by Maria Cavassuto via Variety.com

Salt-N-Pepa, Coolio, Kid N’ Play and Vanilla Ice, along with other popular ’90s staples, are joining the I Love the ’90s tour. The tour has already had several sold-out shows this spring. It will be kick into full gear April 15 in Greenville, S.C., and will last through October.
Cheryl “Salt” James told USA Today that the whole experience and the fan reactions have been “surprisingly amazing.”
“It feels like you’re taking people back to a time in their lives that they really enjoyed. It’s just one big ’90s party,” she said.
However, she says Salt-N-Pepa’s performance style has changed since they first started. It’s no longer about entertaining the crowd, but rather having a good time.
“We just have fun with the crowd and the crowd has fun with us,” James said.
See the full tour dates below:
April 15 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secour Wellness Arena
April 16 – Tupelo, MS – BancorpSouth Arena
April 22 – Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
April 29 – Mashantucket, CT – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
May 12 – Bloomington, IL – US Cellular Coliseum
May 13 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena
May 14 – Baltimore, MD – Royal Farms Arena
May 20 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
May 21 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre
May 27 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
May 28 – Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay Beach at Mandalay Bay Resort
June 3 – Bonner Springs, KS – Providence Medical Center Amphitheater
June 4 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
June 10 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Arena
June 11- Grand Prairie, TX – Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
June 29 – Kettering, OH – Fraze Pavilion
June 30 – Cleveland, OH – I-X Center
July 1 – Englewood, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
July 15 – Fayetteville, NC – Crown Coliseum
July 16 – Alpharetta, GA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park
July 23 – Jackson, CA – Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort
Aug. 6 – Camden, NJ – BB&T Pavilion
Aug. 12 – West Allis, WI – Wisconsin State Fair
Aug. 13 – Indianapolis, IN – Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park
Aug. 19 – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug. 20 – Toledo, OH – John F. Savage Arena
Aug. 27 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Park
Oct. 20 – Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center

Makaila Ulmer, 11, Gets $11 Million from Whole Foods for her Bee Sweet Lemonade

By goodblacknews on March 29, 2016
Mikaila Ulmer, 11, of Bee Sweet Lemonade (photo via bet.com)

article by Evelyn Diaz via bet.com

Most kids are happy to earn a few dollars selling lemonade on the sidewalk. But not 11-year-old Mikaila Ulmer.  The pre-teen entreprenuer is making a name for herself in the world of business by landing an $11 million deal with upscale grocery chain Whole Foods for her natural lemonade, which she calls BeeSweet.
Ulmer and her lemonade first came to national attention when she appeared on Shark Tank, taking home $60,000 in venture capital for her BeeSweet business. Her company’s main priority, other than making delicious lemonade, is to help save the global bee population by utilizing honey as sweetener instead of sugar.
Her Shark Tank deal is pocket change compared to what Whole Foods is offering: $11 million and shelf space in 55 Whole Foods stores across the nation. On top of that, she also has a deal with United Natural Foods to help expand her business.
But that’s still not enough for Mikaila. In addition to running her business — she does have a little help from her mother — and staying on top of her school work, Ulmer wants to visit South Africa to teach girls about entrepreneurship and starting their own businesses.
To read more, go to: http://www.bet.com/news/lifestyle/2016/03/29/11-year-old-lands-whole-foods-deal.html 

David Oyelowo, Gugu Mbatha-Raw to Star in J.J. Abrams’ ‘God Particle’

By goodblacknews on March 29, 2016
David Oyelowo Gugu Mbatha-Raw God Particle
David Oyelowo, Gugu Mbatha-Raw (REX/SHUTTERSTOCK)

article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (@lakinhutcherson)

According to Variety.com, actors David Oyelowo (“Selma”) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“Beyond The Lights”) are lined up to star in J.J. Abrams-produced sci-fi thriller “God Particle” for Paramount Pictures.
Julius Onah is directing the film, which takes place in the near future. It centers on a team of astronauts who make a terrifying discovery that challenges all they know about the fabric of reality, as they desperately fight for their survival.  The film will be released in theaters on Feb. 24, 2017.
Oyelowo recently finished production on “A United Kingdom” costarring Rosamund Pike, as well as Disney’s “Queen of Katwe.”   Mbatha-Raw most recently appeared as Will Smith’s wife in “Concussion” and has the Civil War drama “Free State of Jones,” opposite Matthew McConaughey coming out this summer.