More Than Music: Blige's Strength of a Woman Movement Grows with $100,000 Fund

Mary J. Blige has partnered with Pepsi to empower Yonkers women. Fund grants $100,000 to local organizations supporting education and advancement.

Mary J. Blige, the undisputed Queen of Hip-Hop Soul and recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, stands at a crossroads. While whispers of a graceful exit from the music spotlight within the next five to six years have emerged, Blige's unwavering commitment to uplifting Black women continues to burn brightly.

"There's definitely gonna be more acting, and retirement in, like, five or six years," Blige shared in a recent interview with Extra TV. "But for now, I'm still doing what I'm doing, just at a different pace."

Blige's legendary voice may be transitioning to new stages, but her dedication to empowerment takes center stage at the annual Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit. Now in its third year, the event is set for May 10-12 in New York City.

"This festival is more than just music," Blige emphasized. "It's a celebration of resilience, a space for us to share stories, and inspire each other to keep pushing forward."

Mary J. Blige to be inducted into the 'Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’ at this years ceremony.

“The legendary musician has won 9 #GRAMMYs, sold over 60 million albums and 100 million records worldwide becoming one of the best-selling acts of all time”. pic.twitter.com/fmJGUvp0SR

— music data (@music__data) April 22, 2024

Workshops, panels, and empowering performances promise to create an unforgettable experience, but Blige isn't content with just conversation. Partnering with Pepsi, she's launching the Pepsi x Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman Community Fund, a $100,000 initiative specifically designed to support underserved women in her hometown of Yonkers, New York.

"Pepsi has been an incredible partner from the start," Blige remarked. "Now, with their support, I can finally come home to Yonkers and give back to the community that nurtured me."

The fund will award grants to local organizations tackling critical issues faced by women, including education, financial stability, and food security.

"Through this fund, we aim to uplift those who are often overlooked," Blige stated. "It's about creating opportunities for them to thrive."

Watch: 'Lion King' Prequel Gets Trailer; Beyoncé's Daughter Blue Ivy Carter Cast

Photo Credit: Beyonce.com

The excitement surrounding the upcoming "Mufasa: The LionKing" prequel roared even louder with the release of its teaser trailer on Monday. The trailer itself fueled anticipation, but it was the star-studded cast that truly captivated audiences.

Directed by Barry Jenkins, the photorealistic-animated prequel features a returning cast of beloved characters. John Kani reprises his role as the wise Rafiki, while Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner return as the hilarious duo Pumbaa and Timon, respectively. Donald Glover steps back into the role of Simba, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter rejoins the cast as Nala.

However, it was the addition of another member of the Carter family that stole the show – Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé's 12-year-old daughter, makes her film debut by voicing Kiara, Simba and Nala's daughter.

Blue Ivy Carter: A Timeline

• **Jan. 7, 2012:** Blue Ivy Carter is born to Beyoncé and Jay-Z at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
• **Jan. 8, 2012:** Beyoncé and Jay-Z release a statement and photo welcoming Blue Ivy to the world.
• **Feb. 1, 2012:** Blue Ivy becomes the youngest person to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, thanks to a feature credit on her father's song "Glory."
• **2015:** Blue Ivy is credited as part of the choir on Coldplay's song "Up & Up."
• **2018:** Blue Ivy begins attending West Hollywood's The Center for Early Education.
• **2020:** Blue Ivy features on her mother's track "Brown Skin Girl," winning a Grammy Award as the youngest winner in a non-competitive category.
• **Nov. 2020:** Blue Ivy narrates Matthew A. Cherry's book "Hair Love," sparking speculation about future voice acting endeavors.
• **Jan. 21, 2023:** Blue Ivy joins her mother onstage for the first time, singing "Brown Skin Girl" at a private show in Dubai.
• **May 26, 2023 (present):** Blue Ivy joins her mother on the Renaissance World Tour as a dancer for "My Power" and "Black Parade."

The teaser offers a captivating glimpse into the film's narrative. Rafiki narrates the legendary tale of Mufasa to a young Kiara, voiced by Blue Ivy Carter. Flashbacks then reveal the origin story of Mufasa, portrayed as an orphaned cub who embarks on an extraordinary journey after encountering Taka (voiced by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a sympathetic lion. Thandiwe Newton, Anika Noni Rose, and Keith David round out the cast, bringing life to key characters in Mufasa's life.

Blue Ivy's involvement in the film marks a significant milestone in her burgeoning career. Born into music royalty, she has already made waves in the industry, credited as a featured artist on her mother's hit song "Brown Skin Girl," which earned her accolades as the youngest winner of both a BET Award and an MTV Video Music Award.

Watch the trailer below.

Watch: Ne-Yo Brings Hits and New Song 'Two Million Secrets' to NPR's Tiny Desk Concert

R&B singer Ne-Yo brought his smooth vocals and songwriting talents to NPR's Tiny Desk concert series on Friday.

Ne-Yo launched into a four-song medley of his hits, including "Because of You," "So Sick," and "Sexy Love," before surprising fans with a new song, "Two Million Secrets." Ne-Yo described the new track as a "personal reflection" on growth and redemption.

He further showcased his songwriting prowess with covers of songs he wrote for Rihanna ("Take a Bow"), Beyoncé ("Irreplaceable"), and Mario ("Let Me Love You").

The intimate concert concluded with Ne-Yo's signature anthem "Miss Independent."

Born Shaffer Chimere Smith, Ne-Yo is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter with multiple platinum-selling albums. He remains a force in R&B, both with his own music and as a sought-after songwriter.

Watch the entire performance below.