Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCEDevale and Khadeen Ellis have said goodbye to their podcast of 15 years, Dead A** with Devale and Khadeen, but with every end comes a new beginning. Taking its place is a new podcast, Ellis Ever After, an idea they came up with to stick around for their fans.”[The] rebrand idea came from … [our] Love Against the World Tour, and it just seemed like a finale. To be quite frank, Khadeen and I were on the brink of not doing the podcast anymore because we felt like people had heard our story already,” Devale tells ABC Audio.Contrary to their belief, people expressed a desire for the couple to keep podcasting, prompting them to think about ways to “make the podcast bigger and better than it was.””We thought about it long and hard, and we felt like in order to kind of accurately portray our elevation within the podcast space, it was kind of necessary to kind of rebrand and see where it goes,” Khadeen adds. The first thing they came up with was the name, which Devale says he thought of after God simply asked him, “Ellis, what [are] you going to do after?” The rebrand also includes elements/segments of the Dead A** podcast, like the soundbite, story time, karaoke, listener letters and moment of truth. New to the listeners will be the aftershow featuring the perspectives of Tribble, Josh Dwain and Matt Ellis, as well as a segment titled Op or No Op, where they’ll share whether they have an opinion or no opinion on various pop culture topics.”I think my goal overall is just to continue to spread positivity, to share our life experience,” Khadeen says of Ellis Ever After. “We want to create a space where people can listen, they can learn, they can have takeaways, [and] they could have conversation pieces.” Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Disney/Randy HolmesSnoop Dogg is ready to take us all to church.The rapper and entrepreneur announced on Instagram that he’s releasing a gospel album in late April.“April 27, I’m dropping a gospel album on Death Row Records. It’s called Altar Call,” Snoop says in the Instagram video. “You heard it first. A gospel album, April 27. God is good. Won’t he do it?”The clip also shows a glimpse of the track list, which features Jamie Foxx, October London, Robert Glasper and more. The cover art is a tribute to his late mother, Beverly Tate, who passed away in 2021.Snoop previously released a gospel album in 2018 called Bible of Love.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Tyler Mitchell/VogueRihanna has the approval of A$AP Rocky’s grandma.In the rapper’s new cover story for Vogue, his grandma Cathy tells the mag she always knew he “was going somewhere,” but says she’s particularly proud of the partner and father he’s become.“I’m glad that he settled down, and I’m happy with who he settled down with,” Cathy says of Rihanna. “She’s a down- to- earth person.”“She loves her some Rih Rih,” Rocky says.He later describes his love for Rihanna to Vogue as “internal, external, infinite, the past, the future” and gives an update on their two sons together, RZA and Riot.“The older one, he stays to himself—he likes his books,” he says of RZA, while he says Riot “likes to take stuff from his brother so his brother can chase him.”Rocky will serve as co-chair of the 2025 Met Gala, set to take place May 5.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Courtesy Live NationIce Cube is hitting the road for his first headlining domestic tour in over 10 years.The Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude tour will celebrate the hip-hop legend’s 40-year career. It’ll kick off Sept. 4 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and make stops across major cities in the U.S. and Canada, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and Toronto.“Truth to Power is more than a tour — it’s a 40-year celebration,” Cube says in a statement. “The world needs truth. The people need power. And that’s what my music brings. It’s gonna be next level to go from city to city with a major production unlike anything I’ve ever done before.”Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, April 18, at 10 a.m. local time on IceCube.com.The tour follows Cube’s latest album, Man Down, released in November 2024. On Tuesday, the rapper gets his handprints immortalized at the TCL Chinese Theatre in LA.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesA TLC stage musical is in the works.Next summer, CrazySexyCool – The TLC Musical is set to make its debut at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, the show will feature the girl group’s biggest hits, like “No Scrubs,” “Waterfalls” and “Unpretty,” while telling the semi-biographical story of their rise to fame.“TLC is synonymous with rebellion—using their art to challenge, subvert, and entertain,” Kwei-Armah says in a statement. “Why a musical? Why now? Their lives need to be sung. It’s about that time!”The show is set to run June 12, 2026, to Aug. 9, 2026.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Amy Sussman/WireImageLil Nas X seems to be improving after he revealed on Instagram that he was suffering from partial facial paralysis.In a video posted Monday, Nas, speaking from a hospital bed, shows how his attempts to smile are only affecting one side of his face, and appears to be very amused by the whole thing.  “It’s like, ‘What the f***!'” he says, giggling. “I can’t even laugh right, bro, what the f***! Oh my God, bro! So, yeah.””Soooo lost control of the right side of my face,” he captioned the video.But in his Instagram Story on Tuesday, he told fans not to worry, writing, “Guys I am OK!! Stop being sad for me! Shake ur a** for me instead!”  He captioned another photo of himself in the hospital bed, “Imma look funny for a lil bit but that’s it.”Later on Tuesday morning, Nas posted a video on his Story showing that he’s out of bed and wearing regular clothes. “O.K., so lil update,” he says. “It’s already getting better.” He then attempts to move the right side of his face, with varying results. “This right eye is, like, keepin’ an eye out for Selener, like, it do not give a f***,” he jokes.He captioned the video, “Right eye is stubborn. Imma be good. Smile getting a lil better.”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Courtesy VevoA new episode of Vevo’s Footnotes series, which gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of current videos, focuses on Doechii’s ’90s sitcom-themed visual for “DENIAL IS A RIVER,” revealing that the clip originally had a very different ending.In pop-up notes, directors Carlos Acosta and James Mackel provide commentary on the action, explaining that the clip was heavily inspired by both Family Matters and Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and the entire thing — including building the set and shooting the clip — took just three days. It was also filmed on the same soundstage as Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-winning film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.At the end of the clip, an explosion goes off in the set of the fake sitcom, and Doechii is left standing in the smoke, breathing heavily. The directors reveal, “We had an alternate ending where Doechii passes out and EMTs rush on stage to revive her, but during the last hour of shooting, the entire power at the stage shut off.””We still filmed it … but we actually went with the cleaner ending in the video.”Meanwhile, Doechii has a busy summer of festival performances coming up, starting June 28 at the U.K.’s prestigious Glastonbury Festival.(Video contains uncensored profanity.)Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Apple TV+Government Cheese, a new Apple TV+ show debuting Wednesday, follows the story of Hampton Chambers, an ex-convict trying to go into business for himself in late 1960s California — while avoiding further tangles with the law. The show’s 10 episodes cover a variety of genres: at times it’s a hardened crime drama, or a quasi-religious journey of discovery, or an offbeat family comedy. For lead actor David Oyelowo, the mix of tones extends to his character.“The thing that [was] so fun to play is the fact that [Hampton] is equal parts selfish and selfless. And that is where a lot of the drama and therefore conflict in the show comes from,” Oyelowo tells ABC Audio.Oyelowo’s character must also regain the trust of his wife Astoria, played by Simone Missick, who’s on her own journey to break into the professional world.“I’ve gotten the benefit to play women who were excellent at everything they did,” says Missick. “I love the flawed nature of Astoria. And the missteps that she has to navigate around in order to pursue her dreams at this time.”Government Cheese also stars Emmy nominee Bokeem Woodbine. He says it’s a different take on the Black experience in 20th century America.“What attracted me to the project was the idea that we could have a depiction of a Black family in the late ’60s that wasn’t necessarily mired in the responsibility of telling about our struggle for human rights during the Civil Rights Movement — that was a little bit more lighthearted,” he says.Woodbine says he also liked that the show isn’t afraid to get weird.“The kind of surrealist, quirky nature of the show is another aspect that is rarely employed when depicting Black family life. … We just don’t get that opportunity to be that,” says Woodbine.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Disney/Eric McCandlessAshanti has a new single coming out, as announced in the latest episode of American Idol. Titled “Called You Up,” the song will be accompanied by a video that she shot in Bermuda.“It’s amazing and I can’t wait for you guys to see it,” she shared of her upcoming projects. A release date has not yet been announced.Ashanti also mentored contestants from the current season, before taking the stage to perform some of her hit songs.“[I’ve been impressed by] all of their stories, all of their passion, where they come from — the talent is just through the roof, and they have a purpose. I’m just so happy and so proud of all of them,” Ashanti told Ryan Seacrest.Her performance took place at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, and included songs “The Way That I Love You” and “Foolish,” as well as a tribute to Hawaiian culture.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Live NationBig Sean’s going Into the W!ld for his upcoming tour, which also features Russ and Sabrina Claudio. The 16-date trek will kick off July 8 at Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre and is set to end Aug. 10 at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn, Washington. Other cities on the schedule include New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago and Atlanta. Presale tickets for the Into the W!ld tour are available Tuesday, starting with a Big Sean Artist presale at noon local time. The general tickets will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time via LiveNation.com.”Let’s start gettin back on road this summer!!!” Sean told fans on Instagram in reference to the tour. “Its been a long time n i can’t wait to see you.”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images via ABCDrake may have dropped $ome $exy $ongs 4 U with PartyNextDoor, but he’s living out “God’s Plan” and working on a solo album.While reuniting with Adin Ross for a Stake gambling livestream Sunday, Drizzy shared that he is “working on a new album right now,” adding, “It’s a slap.”In another highly discussed moment, Drake said he wouldn’t participate in a celebrity boxing match. He did, however, say he would be down to fight with no cameras on.“I know who I want you to fight,” Adin joked to Drake, seemingly referring to Kendrick Lamar, with whom Drake has lyrical and legal battles.“If we’re fighting, we’ll fight at [Hollywood] Hino’s gym or something like that — behind closed garage doors,” Drake responded.He also thanked fans for supporting him and PND on their latest effort.“Shout out to everybody that’s been showing us love, though, for real. On every song. Shout out to everybody that’s coming to Wireless [Festival]. We love you so much,” Drake said.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

2025 AWGE/Interscope RecordsPlayboi Carti’s album Music is back at #1 on the Billboard 200, marking its third week atop the chart. It earned 64,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in the week ending April 10, according to Luminate. It’s the smallest weekly sum for a #1 since Morgan Wallen dominated the chart with One Thing at a Time, garnering 61,000 units. Streams comprised 96% of Music’s units; it’s the #1 album on Top Streaming Albums for a fourth week.Also in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 are PartyNextDoor and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, which moves up from #5 to #3; SZA’s SOS, which rose from #6 to #4; and Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, which dropped from the #4 to the #5 spot.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty ImagesCoachella made its return over the weekend with its usual jam-packed lineup, but among the most talked-about moments were performances from Missy Elliott, Travis Scott and Megan Thee Stallion.Missy took the stage on Friday, starting her performance in a Transformers-like look. As 3D animations projected on the screens around her, she entertained the crowd with hits “Get Ur Freak On,” “She’s a B****” and “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).” She also wore an outfit that resembled a trash bag and, of course, her iconic look from “The Rain” music video.Scott’s performance went down on Saturday on Coachella’s main stage, with help from the Jackson State and Florida A&M marching bands and some dancers, who were floating in the air. His set featured performances of “Sicko Mode,” “Fe!n,” “Stargazing” and “Skyfall,” during which he was seen walking down a wall.Megan helped close things out on Sunday, surprising fans with guests Queen Latifah, Victoria Monét and Ciara. Queen Latifah performed “U.N.I.T.Y.,” and Victoria sang “On My Mama” as well as her song with Megan, “Spin.” Ciara then took the stage to perform “Roc Steady” — her collab with Megan and Flo Milli — as well as “Goodies,” with Meg captured doing the choreography with her. Some of the songs Meg performed from her discography included “Ungrateful” and “Thot S***,” right down through “Savage,” “Bigger in Texas” and “Body.”Coachella will continue Friday to Sunday for weekend two.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

GloRilla recently went on a 30-day fast, which included reading, working out three times a week and avoiding nightlife, but she says the hardest part was not drinking alcohol. “I probably say that drinking [was the hardest to avoid], but I’m not a drinker anyway. I don’t take shots unless it’s occasionally. I drink margaritas,” Glo told BET. “I [had] a lot of stuff to do like the game events–All-Star Weekend and the Super Bowl. I had shows, and I couldn’t drink. I normally like to prep myself with a little drinky drink. But I couldn’t do that.”“Some people did it with me and that did make it easier, the few people that did,” she continued. “When everybody was around just drinking, I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I was trying to stay away from them.”Alicia Keys recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of Hell’s Kitchen at the Shubert Theatre, alongside a star-studded crowd including Busta Rhymes, Cory Hardrict, Ava DuVernay, Phylicia Rashad, Debbie Allen, Rome Flynn, Angie Martinez and, of course, her husband, Swizz Beatz. The show took place hours after Keys watched as the Empire State Building lit up in blue and yellow in honor of the Broadway musical. Hell’s Kitchen opened on April 20, 2024.Cardi B stepped out with her rumored beau, the NFL’s Stefon Diggs, over the weekend and clips of them at a club surfaced on social media. When a fan commented, “Offset punching air,” Offset responded that he is “happy for her.”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Disney/Randy HolmesThe Emancipation of Mimi turned 20 on Saturday, and it remains one of the albums Mariah Carey likes the most.”It’s still one of my favorite albums that I’ve done. And, you know, back then when it first came out, everybody was calling it a comeback album. … I didn’t really agree, because you never think you’ve gone anywhere. You know what I mean?” she tells Associated Press.”I just always really loved the songs and the performances. People seem to really be into it. And new fans came from that album,” she explained, though she agreed “it sort of revitalized my career” after 2002’s Charmbracelet. “I do think it’s got a fun feeling to it and it definitely feels free,” she says of the album. “I spent a while making that album … working with some great people, some great collaborators. … It was an experience that I’ll never forget, creating that album.”The Emancipation of Mimi is Mariah’s 10th studio album, but her first, Mariah Carey, released 35 years ago, which is why she was eligible for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination she received in February. It’s her second time being nominated, and she tells AP she is consciously controlling her emotions.”That’s a huge honor. I don’t know if I’m going to win it, so I don’t want to get too excited about it,” Mariah says. “So, I just want to say that, again, it’s a huge honor and I guess I didn’t expect it. I wasn’t really thinking about it. And here we are.”The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in late April. Elsewhere in the interview, Mariah notes she’d love to work with Rihanna, do a family album with her twins and release her ’90s grunge album. She also teased she has “something new” coming soon.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty ImagesSoulja Boy has been ordered to pay $4.25 million in the sexual assault case brought by his former assistant and girlfriend, Courthouse News reports. A jury found him liable for several claims the plaintiff made, including sexual battery, assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and nonpayment of wages. The jury cleared him of false imprisonment and constructive discharge. According to court documents obtained by ABC Audio, the plaintiff had sued Soulja Boy in 2021, alleging she experienced rape, as well as numerous physical and sexual injuries, from Jan. 23, 2019, to Dec. 23, 2020; she said she worked as his assistant and later became his girlfriend during that period. She claimed he kidnapped her and hit her “directly in the head on at least ten separate occasions,” including one incident in which she lost consciousness and woke up in a locked bedroom. The plaintiff alleges that after moving out she was attacked and sexually assaulted when she would try to retrieve her belongings. She notes she stayed in the toxic relationship for various reasons but at one point thought she was going to die.Soulja Boy had denied abusing the plaintiff and claimed she was never formally hired, while his lawyers accused her of suing for a payday, per Courthouse News. He’d issued 49 affirmative defenses, denying her allegations, as well as a prayer of relief asking that the complaint be dismissed, according to court docs obtained by ABC Audio.The jury awarded the plaintiff $4 million in compensatory damages and $25,000 in punitive damages, Courthouse News reports.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

After topping the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks, Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” now has a music video. The clip, directed by Karena Evans, sees both stars either performing their verses or having intimate moments with their respective love interests. When their song comes to an end, the song it samples, Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s cover of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s “If This World Were Mine,” plays until the end.The latest song from Quavo and Lil Baby is out with an accompanying music video. “Legends” finds them rapping about “legacy, resilience, and their journey to superstardom,” per a press release, as two icons of Atlanta’s rap scene. The video, directed by Hidji, shows the evidence of their success, capturing luxury cars, yacht parties, poolside glamour and high-speed cruises.Rema mixes Afrobeats and R&B on his new song, “Bout U,” a song that expresses his infatuation with a woman. “Girl, blazing, girl, ten, girl, A-list/ And her waist is figure-eight, she put the work in/ Change your life, six-figure, she deserve it,” he sings. “Got girlies around the world but she my favorite/ 4:30 in the morning thinking about you.”Busta Rhymes teamed with Akon and the World Boss, Vybz Kartel, for “Crazy.” The video is directed Benny Boom and finds the three stars having a meal at Papi Steak in Miami Beach and partying at a nightclub, with Vybz performing his verse in a jail cell surrounded by dancing women. The three are forced to handle a trio who seem to be hating on their status and fame.Other releases: Ken Carson, More Chaos4 batz, “n da morning”Big Boss Vette, “I Look Like”Lola Brooke, “Disgusted”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The cast of “The Best Man Holiday” in 2013; Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagicThe cult classic movie and TV series The Best Man has returned with its first novel, set to release in the summer, according to People. The Best Man premiered in 1999 and was followed by 2013’s The Best Man Holiday and the 2022 Peacock series The Best Man: The Final Chapters.The Best Man: Unfinished Business will follow “Harper, Jordan and Robyn as they navigate unconventional parenthood, mid-life crises and a second chance at love,” per the press release, picking up where The Best Man: The Final Chapters ended. Malcolm D. Lee, who wrote the movies and the Peacock series, wrote the novel alongside author Jayne Allen, who was thrilled to open “a new avenue of immersive storytelling for this beloved franchise through the written word.”“I’m very excited for readers to share in the delight of this book series and travel along with its many unexpected twists for Harper, Jordan, Robyn, and the crew,” she adds.Taye Diggs and Morris Chestnut, who respectively portray Harper and Lance in the series, teased the book, especially for fans who’ve been following the characters over the years.“When you’re as close to the characters as I have been, you think you can predict what’s coming around the corner, but this kept even me on the edge of my seat,” Diggs said in a press release, per People. He described the book as “emotionally-engrossing. Seductive. Impossible to put down,” adding, “It’s the perfect summer read, full of heat!”“Unfinished Business is the characters you love like you’ve never seen them before! You will laugh out loud and possibly shed a few tears, so read this with your crew,” Chestnut adds. “A must-read for new and old fans alike. You will keep wanting more.”The Best Man: Unfinished Business will arrive on July 1.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Markus Klinko & Indrani April 12, 2005, marks the 20th anniversary of Mariah Carey’s hit album The Emancipation of Mimi, and she’s just announced several releases to celebrate the milestone.First up is a five-LP vinyl box set, due out May 30. Personally compiled by Mariah, it includes the original album, the tracks from the Ultra Platinum Edition and bonus tracks that include dance remixes, collaborations, instrumentals, a cappella versions and edits.There’s also a brand-new remix of “Don’t Forget About Us” by Kaytranada, which is out now, and a 28-page booklet that includes a personal letter from Mimi. The whole thing will set you back about $250.Highlights of the box set include “When I Feel It” — a fan favorite that was destined for the original album but was dropped due to a sample clearance issue — and Mariah’s performance of “Don’t Forget About Us” and “We Belong Together” from the American Music Awards’ 50th anniversary special last year. A deluxe two-LP vinyl version will also be released, as well as an extended digital deluxe edition, with a selection of songs from the box set; both will be released May 30. You can preorder your preferred version now.Mariah says in a statement, “While working on this edition, I got to relive all the memories from this pivotal moment in my personal and professional life.”This album has some of my biggest hits to date, as well as some personal favorites that are very special to me. Forgotten gems, unreleased bonus tracks and different remixes with incredible collaborators – all of these and more are now available in one place for the first time ever!”The Emancipation of Mimi has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Stewart Cook/ABC via Getty ImagesJazmine Sullivan celebrated her 38th birthday Wednesday and while thanking fans for their wishes, she revealed some of the emotional battles she’s facing, including a pregnancy loss.“Whew.. thank yall for ur birthday wishes. Leading up to my birthday has been incredibly hard as I’ve been thinking abt my mother and missing her more than words can say,” she began in a post shared Thursday. “I woulda have been holding my 2-month-old son that I never got to meet. So needless to say I’ve been down bad.”She noted her gratitude for a massage she received “that helped to release some of the deep pain I’ve been holding in for a while” and for the fans who made it a point to send her a message on her special day.“I’m also grateful that so many of you think of me and take the time to write! It’s all so beautiful!! Please continue to pray for me as I heal from life’s a** whooping,” she wrote.It’s not clear when Jazmine lost her baby; her mother, Pamela, passed away on July 22, 2023, at the age of 64.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.