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Posts published in “Hip Hop/Rap”

W.E.B. Du Bois Medal Recipients Honored at Harvard for Contributions to African American Culture

By goodblacknews on November 9, 2015
DuBois Medal recipient Nasir “Nas” Jones (PHOTO BY KAYANA SZYMCZAK FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE)

Awarded since 2000, the Du Bois Medal is Harvard’s highest honor in the field of African and African American Studies. It is awarded to individuals in the U.S. and across the globe in recognition of their contributions to African American culture and the life of the mind.

The Hutchins Center for African & African American Research hosted the celebration at Sanders Theatre. Ali picked up the honor earlier in September, but a video of his presentation played during the ceremony. Last year’s honorees included Shonda Rhimes, Maya Angelou, and Harvey Weinstein.

article by Meredith Goldstein via bostonglobe.com; additions by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

TV One to Air All 99 "Unsung" Episodes in 1st-Ever Marathon Leading Up to Landmark 100th Episode Special Hosted by Donnie Simpson

By goodblacknews on November 7, 2015
UNSUNG

In a network first, TV One has announced that the network will air all 99 episodes of its entire library of its signature series, “Unsung,” beginning Thanksgiving night, Thursday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET.
The “epic” six-day marathon will take over TV One, all day and night, leading up to the 100th episode premiere on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. ET.
Hosted by Donnie Simpson (he inked a multi-year agreement with Radio One – parent company of TV One – earlier this year, bringing the veteran out of retirement), the landmark 100th new episode, “Unsung: Top Ten That Changed The Game,” will feature a countdown of the top 10 most exceptional “Unsung” episodes – impacting profiles that were selected for their representation of the breadth and depth of the series through fan feedback, social engagement and their influence on pop culture.
“Since its conception over seven years ago, ‘Unsung’ has been, hands-down, one of our most loved series,” commented Brad Siegel, TV One’s President. “Music is at the root of black culture and this show continues to celebrate and honor artists vital to those roots and explore stories that continue to shock and amaze our viewers today.”
The marathon and 100th episode will be pushed across TV One’s digital and social landscape with episodic trivia, quizzes and user guesses for the top 10 artists. In addition to the six-day ‘Unsung’ event, themed episodes will air in primetime throughout the marathon, as listed below:
Primetime Episode Themes:
Motown Masters: Thursday, Nov. 26, 8 – 11 p.m. ET
· 8 p.m. ET – David Ruffin
· 9 p.m. ET – Eddie Kendricks
· 10 p.m. ET – Tammi Terrell
Legendary Icons: Friday, Nov. 27, 8 – 12 a.m. ET
· 8 p.m. ET – DeBarge
· 9 p.m. ET – Teena Marie
· 10 p.m. ET – Rick James
· 11 p.m. ET – Ike Turner
Disco Infernos: Saturday, Nov. 28, 8 – 12 a.m. ET
· 8 p.m. ET – Jennifer Holliday
· 9 p.m. ET – Sylvester
· 10 p.m. ET – Nile Rodgers & Chic
· 11 p.m. ET – Rose Royce
R&B Groups: Sunday, Nov. 29, 8 – 12 a.m. ET
· 8 p.m. ET – H-Town
· 9 p.m. ET – Force MDs
· 10 p.m. ET – Hi-Five
· 11 p.m. ET – DeBarge
Hip Hop Classics: Monday, Nov. 30, 8 – 12 a.m. ET
· 8 p.m. ET – Kid N Play
· 9 p.m. ET – Big Daddy Kane
· 10 p.m. ET – DJ Quik
· 11 p.m. ET – Nate Dogg
article by Tambay A. Obenson via ShadowAndAct

Salt-N-Pepa Celebrates 30 years in Music With ASCAP Honor This Week

By goodblacknews on October 25, 2015

Exported.;
Members Cheryl James (Salt) and Sandra Denton (Pepa) and DJ Spinderella (Deidre Roper) paved the way for women in hip hop. (photo via dailynews.com)

It’s been 30 years and Salt-N-Pepa is still pushing it.  Cheryl James (Salt) and Sandra Denton (Pepa), who splashed onto the music scene in 1985, will be honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers on Wednesday night.”It feels amazing to be coming up on 30 years in the game and have our work still acknowledged and respected as pioneers in music,” James told the Daily News.
Fresh off of a sold-out show in Winnipeg, Canada, the rap stars said they are still blown away by fans who line up to greet them at the airport .
“I don’t know how they know what flight we’re on, but the fans are always there at baggage claim,” Denton said. “They keep old CDs and other things forever to have us autograph.”
They were once called Super Nature and an answer song to Doug E. Fresh’s “The Show” called “The Showstopper” transformed them from unknowns to nationally-known rap artists.
“The first time we heard that song on the radio we were driving down the boulevard in Queens,” James reflected. “Pep hopped out of the car in the middle of the street and I was screaming at her to get back in the car.”
From that point on the ball kept rolling with top-selling albums including “Hot Cool & Vicious,” “Black’s Magic,” and “Very Necessary.”
Additionally, before the Spice Girls, TLC or Destiny’s Child came along, they owned the girl power theme with songs including “Expression,” “Independent,” “None of Your Business” and “Ain’t Nuthin’ But a She Thing.”
They also inspired a generation of young women to take risks – and nothing says teetering on the edge like coming home with an extreme buzz cut.
“The asymmetrical hairstyle was a hit,” Denton says about her iconic look. “We still have fans coming up to us saying they shaved off their hair. We brought fashion, fun and femininity to hip hop.”
Along with crazy haircuts, came wild threads. A mix of masculine and feminine style elements via slouchy jackets and leotards dictated the trends.

Salt-N-Pepa marks 30 years in music biz with ASCAP "Women in Music" honor.

“Nowadays everyone has a stylist – we were raw; wearing 8 ball jackets with kente hats and spandex,” Denton says. “It’s a quintessential look that everyone loved.”

The duo plans to translate their style into an athletic wear line. “This is Pep’s brilliant baby that was inspired by our song ‘Push It,’” James said. “We are into being healthy and staying motivated.”
James says she’s even gone to a few fitness classes that were themed after the song. “It’s become more than a song; it’s a lifestyle. There are so many obstacles in life that you have to keep pushing through.”
Asked to describe the journey in one word, Denton says “experience,” James, “blessed.”
article by Candace Amos via nydailynews.com

Hip-Hop Artist Lupe Fiasco Creates Nonprofit to Help Inner City Businesses

By goodblacknews on October 19, 2015
Rapper Lupe Fiasco (photo via bet.com)

Lupe Fiasco wants businesses in underserved communities to succeed. The rapper has teamed up with tech business leader Di-Ann Eisnor to create the Neighborhood Start Fund, a nonprofit organization that will provide monetary aid to projects in low-income areas. In addition to funding, entrepreneurs will have access to mentorship opportunities and networking events.

Those struggling to launch their businesses can compete for funding by sharing their startup goals on stage to a panel of judges. The live pitch competitions will take place around the country, with winners receiving $5,000. The first “Idea” competition will take place November 13, 2015, in Brownsville, Brooklyn, in New York City.
And because it’s important to keep investing in your community, proceeds from the funded startups will be used to fund other businesses. So it’s a project that will keep on giving.
To learn more about the program and submit an idea for selection into the Brownsville live pitch, visit start.fund.
article by Dorkys Ramos via bet.com

Ice Cube to Play Scrooge in Christmas Movie ‘Humbug’

By goodblacknews on October 4, 2015
Ice Cube to Play Scrooge in

 

Universal Pictures has purchased the script “Humbug” from writers Todd R. Jones and Earl Richey Jones with Ice Cube attached to star and Tim Story to direct, sources confirm to Variety.
The script is a contemporary retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic story of a wealthy real estate mogul who is shown a path to redemption by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.  Cube will produce alongside Jeff Kwatinetz. Jones & Jones will co-produce.
The film marks another collaboration between Cube and Story that began with the box office hit “Barbershop,” which spawned two two sequels, the third recently wrapped production with Malcolm Lee at the helm. The two also worked on the “Ride Along” series for Universal with the sequel bowing this January with Story directing and Cube and Kevin Hart co-starring.
Cube just produced box-office smash “Straight Outta Compton” and is about to start filming the New Line Comedy “Fist Fight” with Charlie Day.
The Jones brothers’ past credits include “Rio” and “Johnson Family Vacation.”
article by Justin Kroll via Variety.com

Kendrick Lamar Will Perform ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ Songs At the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra

By goodblacknews on September 30, 2015

Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar (photo via theurbandaily.com)

A live band rendition of To Pimp A Butterfly is in high demand, and you’d have to look no further than Kendrick Lamar‘s performances on Stephen Colbert‘s shows to know why.
Lamar has been performing cuts live with a backing track, but that changes for one day later in October. The star will perform To Pimp A Butterfly songs with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center on October 20, according to the Washington Post. Nas performed with the orchestra last year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Illmatic.
article by bjosephsny via theurbandaily.com

Nicki Minaj Comedy Gets ABC Family Series Commitment

By goodblacknews on September 29, 2015
Nicki Minaj ABC Family
Nicki Minaj is set to executive produce and appear in a scripted comedy series for ABC Family based on the rap star’s life growing up in Queens, New York. The project, from Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment, will film a pilot episode in Minaj’s hometown this winter, with the intention to continue to series.
Born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago, Minaj moved to the U.S. as a child. Written by Kate Angelo (Sex Tape), the untitled series will
focus on Minaj’s growing up in Queens in the 1990s with her vibrant immigrant family and the personal and musical evolution that lead to her eventual rise to stardom.
“Nicki Minaj is a force to be reckoned with at everything she touches,” said ABC Family’s EVP Programming and Development Karey Burke. “Nicki is an international superstar, yet not everyone knows how inspiring and hilarious her true story is, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.”
Minaj, Kaplan and Angelo executive produce with Stella Bulochnikov and Brian Sher (Boss), as well as Gee Roberson.
“This is one of the more unique adventures I’ve ever embarked on,” said Minaj. “I couldn’t be more proud and excited to team up with an amazing group of people to give the world something really special.”
ABC Family 1Minaj studied acting at Manhattan’s prestigious LaGuardia High School and originally pursued acting before launching a successful music career. Minaj, who is in the midst of her worldwide “Pinkprint” tour, is the first solo female artist to have seven singles charting simultaneously on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Her third full-length album, The Pinkprint, became the second highest-selling female debut of 2014 and arrived at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 and No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.
Additionally, Minaj’s double-platinum Anaconda set the record for most Vevo views in 24 hours. Minaj also achieved the highest digital sales for any female artist in history with over 50 million track sales between solo and feature performances. She and Adele are the only two artists in history to sell 1 million copies of five different songs in one year.
Minaj made her acting debut with a voice role in Ice Ace: Continental Drift and a co-starring role in the feature comedy The Other Woman. She recently wrapped her first starring movie role in MGM’s Barbershop 3. On TV, Minaj drew attention with her appearance on Saturday Night Live last year where she was a musical guest but did a couple of skits and portrayed Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé.
This would mark Kapital Entertainment’s third series for ABC Family, along with drama Chasing Life and comedy Kevin From Work. The six-and-a-half-year old production company has seven on-air series — Secrets & Lies on ABC, The Mysteries Of Laura on NBC, Life In Pieces on CBS, Instant Mom on Nick as well as Chasing Life and Kevin From Work, and the upcoming comedy Divorce on HBO. Kapital also has a pilot at Showtime that is in pre-production.
Angelo started her writing career in TV with stints on Will & Grace and The Bernie Mac Show before segueing to features where she penned The Back-Up Plan and co-wrote Sex Tape. She’s repped by UTA and attorney David Fox.
Minaj is managed by Gee Roberson at Maverick.
article by Nellie Andreeva via deadline.com

‘Power’ Producer 50 Cent Signs Overall Deal with Starz

By goodblacknews on September 29, 2015
50 cent power starz
“Power” producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (COURTESY OF GREGORY PACE/BEI/REX SHUTTERSTOCK)

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has signed a two-year exclusive premium television pact with Starz, the cabler that is home to his drama series “Power.”  Under the deal, Jackson will develop new projects for the network through his G Unit Film & Television, Inc. shingle and continue as executive producer on “Power.”
“Starz has been the perfect partner to make ‘Power’ the success that it is and I am looking forward to developing many more record-breaking series with them,” said Jackson.
Starz has been proud of the success of “Power”; the second season finale in August set a series record for its episode premiere viewership performance (2.39M viewers Live+3). A 10-episode third season ordered in June and production began earlier this month at the series’ home base at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn.
“Curtis is a wonderful hands-on producer and actor on ‘Power’ and we look forward to expanding his roles behind-the-camera with Starz over the next two years,” said Carmi Zlotnik, managing director of Starz.
“Power” creator Courtney Kemp Agboh signed her own overall deal with Starz in June. In addition to Kemp Agboh and Jackson, “Power” exec producers are Mark Canton, Randall Emmett and Gary Lennon.
article by Whitney Friedlander via Variety.com

A Tribe Called Quest to Release Special 25th Anniversary Edition of Their Debut Album

By goodblacknews on September 23, 2015

atcq25cover
On April 17, 1990, A Tribe Called Quest released their debut album, Peoples’ Instinctive Travels And The Paths of Rhythm and one of Hip-Hop’s most beloved groups began one of the culture’s most revered journeys. The group would go on to release several albums heralded as classics, including The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders, but it would be their debut album that helped cement an impending shift in Hip-Hop, led by the Native Tongues collective of The Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, Queen Latifah and Tribe.
Twenty-five years later, the foursome of Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhamad and Jarobi, along with Sony Legacy, have announced a special silver anniversary edition of ATCQ’s debut album, which will be released on November 13. A statement from the group reveals that the album will be remastered from the original tapes by Grammy-Award winning engineer Bob Power. Power is the legendary engineer whose handiwork can be heard on albums by ATCQ, De La Soul, The Roots, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Common and many more.
The 25th anniversary edition of Peoples’ Instinctive Travels And The Paths of Rhythm also will feature exclusive new remixes by some of today’s biggest hip-hop artists who have been influenced by Tribe over the years. According to the statement, details about the remixes will be revealed over the next few weeks, and this album’s re-release will be the first among a series of re-issues of ATCQ’s classic albums.
In speaking about the debut album, Q-Tip said “I had this album in my head for years before I did it. Looking at it overall, to see the thoughts of a 16 year old gain any kind of acknowledgement makes me feel like I have arrived… But to see it in this incarnation … I’m humbled.” Fellow group member Ali Shaheed Muhammad also added, “This album means a lot. It was the beginning of our careers; the beginning of our imprint; the beginning of seeing life the way we saw it, and being able to put it down in words and music.”
Here’s a look at a brief trailer for the forthcoming special edition LP.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkOKh7nZGCg&w=560&h=315]
article by Parfit via ambrosiaforheads.com

John Legend, Tyrese Gibson, Wanda Sykes Honored at 2015 Triumph Awards

By goodblacknews on September 14, 2015

Tyrese at the 2015 Trumph Awards in Atlanta
John Legend and Tyrese Gibson were honored for their positive impact on the community at the Triumph Awards, which took place Saturday night in Atlanta and will air Oct. 3 on TV One.
Legend received the Presidential Award for service and humanitarian efforts. The Grammy-winning singer was not in attendance, but accepted his award in a pre-taped video sitting alongside the Rev. Al Sharpton. (The network collaborated with Sharpton and his National Action Network.)
Gibson was presented the entertainer of the year award by Martin Luther King III. After the singer was given the award, he took the stage to perform his single “Shame.”
The Rev. Joseph E. Lowery received the Chairman’s Award for historic and transformative service as a civil rights leader, while comedian Wanda Sykes was given the Activism in the Arts honor for years of service to youth homelessness and engagement within the LGBT community.
Intel chief diversity officer Rosalind Hudnell was presented with the Corporate Executive of the Year.

Tichina Arnold hosts the 2015 Triumph Awards
Tichina Arnold

Actress Tichina Arnold of the Starz series “Survivor’s Remorse” hosted the show.
Rapper T.I. delivered a spoken-word piece titled “United We Stand,” urging youth to not lose focus and the meaning behind the Black Lives Matter movement.
Other performers included Tasha Cobbs, Ledisi, Jazmine Sullivan and Estelle. The Youth Ensemble of Atlanta unveiled “Put Your Guns Up,” a tribute recounting the victims of unfortunate deaths as a result of gun violence.
Grammy-winning jazz artist and producer Robert Glasper was the show’s musical director of the house band. Chante Moore and R&B singer Stokley Williams performed in a duet, singing a rendition of Donny Hathaway’s classic song “Someday We’ll All Be Free.”
article via eurweb.com