Some of hip-hop culture's biggest names are pulling a Rodney Dangerfield, and going back to school.
Like the legendary comedian did in his hit movie of the same name, these stars are headed to college to pursue their higher education dreams after forsaking them for their careers earlier in life.
Celebrities Amber Rose, Joseline Hernandez, Tiffany "New York" Pollard, Parker McKenna Posey, Iman Shumpert, Kwaylon "BlameItOnKway" Rogers, and O'Ryan Browner join returning star Ray J for the second of BET+'s "College Hill: Celebrity Edition."
For the show, the entertainment luminaries will live together at Alabama State University, a historically Black college founded in 1867. There they are expected to complete a "rigorous, tailor-made academic certificate program to cross the graduation stage," according to a joint statement released Tuesday (Oct. 18) by BET+ and the school.
ASU President Quinton Ross shared the institution's excitement to welcome the show to campus.
"I want to thank Tracey Edmonds, Sean Rankine, Mark Seliga, and BET+ for selecting ASU as the location for the popular reality show that gives a global stage to the academic excellence, rich history and unique culture of the nation's HBCUs," he said.
Tiffany Lea Williams, Executive Vice President of BET Unscripted Programming, added, "We couldn't be prouder to film on the campus of HBCU, Alabama State University (ASU), which is steeped in a rich legacy of producing academic excellence within the Black community. We have a new class of celebrities ready to hit the books and embrace campus life."
The family of R&B star Joyce Sims, who rose to prominence in the U.S. and U.K. in the 1980s with hits like “All and All” and “Come into My Life,” has confirmed her death at the age of 63.
“My heart is broken. I will always remember the happy times we’ve shared, the love and support you have given me will not go in vain,” Annette Ramsey, one of Sim’s siblings shared on Facebook. “I Love you Big Sis RIP.”
No cause of death was given for the singer-songwriter, whose demise on Friday (Oct. 14) was first reported by U.K.-based events organizer CJ Carlos on the same social media site.
"Having spoken to her immediate family tonight (Oct. 15), it's with a heavy heart that I post this news,” he posted. “Joyce Sims has passed away. Joyce was an amazing singer-songwriter who had so many hits in the 80s.”
Carlos added, "As most of you know she was going to be one of our USA artist's in Portugal next May. My heart goes out to her partner Errol and their children and close family."
Joyce Sims, Kurtis Mantronik, Shannon and Lisa Lisa, were the soundtrack to those glorious summers of the late 80's.
The New York native was best known for her hit “Come into My Life.” Released in 1987, the single peaked at No. 10 on the U. S. Billboard R&B chart and at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.
Along with her first hit, 1986’s "(You Are My) All and All,” which reached No. 6 on the U.S. dance chart and No. 16 on the U.K. singles chart, “Come into My Life” helped propel her eponymously named debut album to success in both countries.
Her follow-up albums did not reach the same heights, but she continued to perform and put out new material steadily. She had multiple minor hits with tracks like “Lifetime Love”, “Walk Away” and “Looking for a Love.”
Sims, whose last album was 2014’s “Love Song,” was touring the U.K. as recently as this summer and had plans to release a new one this year. Her music has also been sampled by several other popular artists, including Snoop Dogg and Angie Stone.
Fans and contemporaries rushed to social media to mourn her passing.
In the middle of a firestorm ignited by his recent antisemitic remarks and continued erratic behavior, Kanye West is doubling down instead of backing down.
Parlement Technologies announced on Monday (Oct. 17) morning that the mogul has an agreement in principle to acquire its social networking service Parler.
Launched in 2018 as a "conservative" alternative to sites like Twitter and Facebook, the site is best known for its association with former President Donald Trump.
Parler became the unofficial internet home of his Make America Great Movement. Marketed as a safe space for those with conservative values to share their thoughts without fear of censorship or reprisal, the site attracted hordes of Trump supporters.
It is heavily associated with far-right extremism, conspiracy theorists, racism and antisemitism. Parler is also a stronghold for followers of the QAnon movement.
Sometimes called a cult, QAnon pitches Trump as America's savior, conspired against by satanic forces and executing thousands of pedophiles as part of his duties during his time in office.
Kanye blaming his: - failed marriage - his mental illness - his fallout with his friends ...
The move might seem baffling to some, but for longtime fans of the artist, it likely comes as no surprise. West, who suffers from bipolar disorder, behavior has grown increasingly unpredictable since his mother Donda West, died of complications from cosmetic surgery in 2007.
In recent years, the "College Dropout" rapper had embraced Trump's MAGA movement and supported his presidency as well, made death threats to Pete Davidson after the comedian began dating his estranged wife and implied that slavery was a choice.
Following in the footsteps of Trump (Truth Social), and West's friend Elon Musk (Twitter), by seeking ownership of a platform where he can espouse whatever beliefs he wants without getting policed —as he recently was on several social media sites after his egregious comments about Jews and others — does not seem so far-fetched with that in mind.
"In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial, we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves," said West, of his reasons for the purchase, in a statement.
Parlement Technologies CEO George Farmer is the husband of recent Kanye-crisis collaborator Candace West, who sparked controversy with the Yeezy boss when the duo wore "White Lives Matter" T-shirts at the brand's Paris fashion show earlier this year.
Farmer said, "This deal will change the world and change the way the world thinks about free speech."
He added. "Ye is making a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again. Once again, Ye proves that he is one step ahead of the legacy media narrative. Parlement will be honored to help him achieve his goals."
The parties intend to enter into a definitive purchase agreement and expect to close during the fourth quarter of 2022. The terms of the proposed transaction would include ongoing technical support from Parlement and the use of private cloud services via Parlement's private cloud and data center infrastructure.
"Birthday Sex" singer Jeremih is launching a wine brand in partnership with LiveOne.
First, he brought the world an eponymously named ballad about birthday sex, and now Grammy-nominated R&B singer Jeremih is putting something on the market that may increase its frequency.
The man behind the ode to natal day naughtiness, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2009 and is certified 3x-platinum, is following in the footsteps of some of his hip-hop contemporaries and releasing an alcoholic beverage.
Instead of championing liquor with his personal brand, which artists like Jay-Z, Drake and Diddy have done, to name a few, to massive success — the 35-year-old Chicago native is launching a wine label.
"People might think I'm a tequila or Hennessy drinker but don't let the media fool you. I've always been a white wine kinda guy," he said in a statement released today (Oct. 14) announcing his partnership with LiveOne and winemaker Russell Bevan to produce the beverage.
LiveOne a "creator-first, music, entertainment and technology platform" created LiveOne Brands to diversify its business model and attempt to break into the multi-billion-dollar celebrity wine and spirits category.
According to Nielsen, off-premises sales of white wine for the 52-Week period that ended March 6, 2021, totaled over $9.1 billion. With Jeremih lending his name and likeness to the mix and Bevan, who has helped craft over 15 100-point wines, providing the technical know-how, the partners believe they have a winning combination.
"Watching my friends launch their own liquors got me thinking; why am I not doing that? So that's where LiveOne came in," Jeremih said. "They linked me with legendary winemaker Russell Bevan, and when two legends link up it's a recipe for success."
He added, of the wine which will be priced for accessibility according to LiveOne, "Now I got a wine that's perfect for the crib, the club, the studio - anywhere you wanna get a little loose. I'm excited to expand my entrepreneurial endeavors and showcase my creativity in a whole new way."
"An Evening With Silk Sonic" has been removed from Grammy consideration.
Put a big plate of food in front of some people and they will eat until they are sick. That is, apparently, not a problem for Bruno Mars.
The silky-smooth R&B singer — who has won every Grammy Award he has been nominated for the past eight years, has withdrawn his debut album with Anderson .Paak — "An Evening With Silk Sonic," from Grammy consideration.
"We truly put our all on this record, but Silk Sonic would like to gracefully, humbly and most importantly, sexually, bow out of submitting our album this year," he said in a statement to Rolling Stone. "We hope we can celebrate with everyone on a great year of music and partake in the party. Thank you for letting Silk Sonic thrive."
The move might have come as a surprise to music fans, especially considering it won all four awards it was nominated for at last year's Grammys for its lead single, "Leave the Door Open."
Released in March of 2021, which made it eligible for the show, it won Best R&B Song, Best R&B Performance, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The album was not released until Nov. 12, putting it in this year's window (Sept. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021) for award consideration.
However, for the dynamic duo, one evening of validation and adulation was seemingly enough.
"Andy and I, and everyone that worked on this project, won the moment the world responded to 'Leave the Door Open.' Everything else was just icing on the cake," Mars said, noting the group would be celebrating and partaking in the party with everyone else. "We thank the Grammys for allowing us to perform on their platform — not once but twice — and awarding us at last year's ceremony. We'd be crazy to ask for anything more."
R&B superstar and actress Brandy is reportedly recovering with her parents at her side following a medical emergency Tuesday.
TMZ broke the news that the "Moesha" star was rushed from her home to a nearby Los Angeles hospital for treatment. According to officials, a call for emergency services was received from it at around noon.
Sources with direct knowledge of the incident told the site the incident was believed to be caused by a seizure, and the "The Boy Is Mine" singer is likely to recover.
It is not the first time the 45-year-old has had a medical crisis.
In 2017, Brandy lost consciousness on a flight from L.A. to New York City before takeoff. She was treated on the runway by passengers and first responders before being taken to the hospital for treatment.
Since stoking the latest in a long string of controversies that have enveloped his career by wearing a T-shirt with the words "white lives matter" emblazoned across the back at his Paris fashion show Monday (Oct. 3), Kanye West has continued to act in ways that have people questioning his character as well as his mental health.
The rapper and fashion mogul, who legally changed his name to Ye last year, recently had his Instagram and Twitter accounts locked for antisemitic comments.
Instagram acted after he shared a conversation he had with Diddy, in which he implied the super-producer and fellow business mogul was controlled by Jews.
"This ain't a game," Ye texted in the now-deleted post. "Ima use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me. I told you this was war. Now gone get you some business."
Jamie Lee Curtis addresses Kanye West’s anti-Semitic posts on social media:
“I woke up and burst into tears. Defcon 3 on Jewish people? What are you doing?” pic.twitter.com/q9qcmEGbY3
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, removed the post and restricted him citing a violation of its policies, but Ye was not done sharing.
He jumped over to Twitter, pulled out his shovel and continued to dig.
Ye posted a throwback photo of himself with Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and wrote, "Look at this Mark. How you gone kick me off Instagram?"
If he had stopped there, it may have remained a disagreement between two out-of-touch billionaires, but Ye's follow-up message smacked of ignorance and hate.
"I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE The funny thing is I actually can't be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also," he wrote. "You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda."
It did not take long for some very famous detractors, along with a surprising amount of conservative pundit supporters, to fan the spark into a fiery controversy that continues to burn with no end in sight — partially because Ye keeps adding fuel to the fire.
The latest came in the form of a combustible interview with one of the aforementioned pundits, Tucker Carlson of Fox News.
Released in the wake of the incident at the fashion show on Thursday (Oct. 6). It clearly seemed constructed to be a rebuke of the "left," by showcasing a successful, traditional member of the network's often self-proclaimed enemy who is being persecuted.
Tucker Carlson DEFENDS Kanye West after vile anti-Semitic rant – likening him to the man in Tiananmen Square 'standing in front of the tank' https://t.co/rTfOpDkO0t
For fans of the talk show host and Ye it seemed like business as usual. Carlson contorted his face into a look somewhere between constipation and deep thought while the Yeezy boss made digs at former president Barrack Obama, Black Lives Matter and opined about how he would be the first Latino president.
In all, it was pretty standard stuff for two guys who have made their careers off controversy, and textbook post-death of his mother Donda West for Ye.
What the network left on the cutting-room floor, however, was decidedly not.
Fantastic work by @annamerlan which shows just how stealthy these cuts were. Kanye repeatedly claiming that his wife and children were being indoctrinated by schools and the media, a common fox narrative, made the final cut, but fake children didn’t. pic.twitter.com/kY6v0OwpzRhttps://t.co/11FgM5i5HN
Unaired footage from the shoot, leaked and obtained first by Vice, offers an eye-opening and disturbing look into the psyche of Ye. It also serves as a poignant commentary on Carlson's methods, motivation and journalistic integrity.
In addition to making antisemitic claims about Planned Parenthood, he said, “I prefer my kids knew Hannukah than Kwanzaa. At least it would come with some financial engineering.”
He also claimed that Black people were the real Jews, endorsed multiple conspiracy theories and claimed professional actors had been placed in his house to sexualize his kids.
Watch a leaked clip from the interview below and click here to see more.
Ivy Jo Hunter, a singer and musician best known for his work at Motown — where he was one of the hitmaking record label's most prolific songwriters — passed away on Thursday (Oct. 6). He was 82.
SoulTrack's Chris Rizik first broke the news, and the Motown Museum confirmed it on Twitter with a poignant post remembering the legacy of the man behind many of its classic releases.
"Ivy Jo was not only a remarkable writer and producer, but also a loving husband, father and grandfather," the company, which credited Hunter as being behind some of its most significant hits tweeted, "We send our condolences to his family, friends and dedicated fans around the world."
No cause of death has been given at this time.
Born George Ivy Hunter, the Detroit native was trained in orchestral music. Following a brief stint in the army, he spent time singing in soul clubs around the city and was eventually discovered by legendary Motown A&R man Mickey Stevenson in the early 1960s.
Motown Museum remembers the life and legacy of Ivy Jo Hunter — @motown principal musician, singer, and one of the company’s most prolific songwriters. pic.twitter.com/Vkf5gJbPFW
Stevenson signed the adept pianist and trumpeter to the label. There he spent time playing keyboards on Motown albums as a session musician before he eventually was made a principal in the studio's house band, playing on some of the label's biggest hits.
At the same time, Stevenson began working with him as a songwriter. Together the duo is credited with writing many of the studio's classics. Hunter’s songs were recorded by Motown's biggest acts including "Truly Yours" by the Spinners, the Temptation's "Sorry Is a Sorry Word" and the Isley Brothers' "Behind a Painted Smile."
He also wrote and produced hits for Martha & the Vandellas, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin, among many others.
Eventually, Hunter parted ways with the label when it moved to California. Though he continued to work as a vocalist during his time at the label and recorded many demos and other compositions only two of his singles were ever released by the company, both under its VIP subsidiary. "I Remember When (Dedicated to Beverly)" in 1970 and the following year "I'd Still Love You."
A planned album with the working title "Ivy Jo is in this Bag" was shelved when he left Motown.
Hunter continued to enjoy success in the music world following his departure. He played keyboards on Funkadelic's "Mommy, What's a Funkadelic?" in 1970 and later co-produced a hit album for former Dramatics' lead singer William "Wee Gee Howard."
He also remained active in his hometown's music scene. In 2009 Hunter participated in Motown's 50th-anniversary celebration.
British songwriter and producer, Ian Levine, one of his longtime collaborators mourned his death on social media.
It broke my heart to learn of the death of my friend, my co-writer and my co-producer, the incredible genius Ivy Jo Hunter. I released two singles with him on Motorcity and recorded several tracks. I wrote over fifty songs with him https://t.co/PqJdLoGoJ4
"It broke my heart to learn of the death of my friend, my co-writer and my co-producer, the incredible genius Ivy Jo Hunter," Levine wrote in a tweet, noting that he had written over fifty songs with Hunter.
