Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty ImagesJust days after letting fans know he’s been “locked in on the music” and would be more consistent with his blog, J. Cole dropped a new song, “cLouds.” The song finds him addressing his thoughts on the world in 2025, specifically sharing some bars about Donald Trump’s assassination attempt, billionaires and artificial intelligence.”I’m that bass in your trunk, the bullet that missed Trump,” he spits, referring to the shooting that took place during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. “The gun that jammed because it seemed God had other plans.”Bashing billionaires and their careless attitudes, he raps, “Throw it in the pan and caramelize for richness/ Served on a plate with sirloin steak to billionaires who don’t care the world’s gon’ break/ Long as they make money off it, pain brings profit.”J. Cole also references artificial intelligence and its potential impact on the music industry.“Don’t buy, subscribe so you can just stream your content/ Like rent, you won’t own a thing/ Before long, all the songs the whole world sings’ll be generated by latest of AI regimes/ As all of our favorite artists erased by it scream/ From the wayside, ‘Aye, whatever happened to human beings?’” he continues.”cLouds,” Cole’s first release of 2025, premiered on his Inevitable blog alongside a post that let fans know he “just wanted to share.””Made this a few days ago, then I added a second verse and was like ‘man I got a blog now, I can put whatever I want up there,'” he writes. “I didn’t have a title 20 minutes ago when I decided to really put this up. But now I got one… produced by DZL, Omen, and small contributions from me.”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Photo by John Lamparski/Getty ImagesVoletta Wallace, the mother of The Notorious B.I.G., has passed away. According to Monroe County coroner Thomas Yanac, she died under hospice care and of natural causes Friday morning in her Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, home. She was 78 years old.In the years since The Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, was fatally shot in 1997, Voletta fought to find out who killed her son. She filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department, claiming some of its officers were involved in the killing. It was eventually dismissed. She also helped to keep B.I.G.’s legacy alive, working as executive producer on the 2021 Netflix documentary Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell, among other things.“They never knew me. The public never knew me. I was thrust into this environment, I should say, after he passed away, because I’m a very private person. Extremely private,” she once told The Associated Press. “What he was doing out there, maybe I should have known. But honestly, I didn’t. And to this day, there are people who are saying, ’Oh, she knew.’ (whispers) But I never knew.”Notorious B.I.G.’s 1994 debut album, Ready to Die, is six-times Platinum, while his sophomore album, Life After Death, released two weeks after his death, sold over 11 million units. B.I.G’s case remains unsolved.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Cardi B and DJ Khaled team with Natania and Subhi on “Higher Love,” set to be featured on the Smurfs soundtrack. “I’m excited to be a part of this iconic collaboration,” Khaled said. “Growing up I remember always watching the ‘Smurfs.’ It feels like a full circle moment now having children of my own who watch the Smurfs as well, and I get to be a part of the soundtrack. … It’s inspiring and looking forward to sharing our music with the world.”Coco Jones is giving fans a “Taste” of what’s to her come on her debut album, Why Not More?, which she announced is arriving on April 25. “Taste” samples Britney Spears’ 2003 song “Toxic,” with Coco adding her R&B flair to the track, and is complete with a new music video. Why Not More? is now available for preorder.Don Toliver has released a song titled “LV Bag,” recruiting J-Hope of BTS and Louis Vuitton’s own Pharrell, who currently serves as men’s creative director. Pharrell first teased the song at the Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall/Winter 2025 runway show in Paris.Fridayy has dropped a song about “February ’23” a week before the release of his sophomore album, Some Days I’m Good, Some Days I’m Not. “‘February ’23’ is a representation of the hardships and blessings that have impacted the trajectory of my career,” he says. “This album is a glimpse into my journey, from the obstacles I’ve overcome to the beauty I found along the way. It captures a profound feeling of gratitude-for everything I’ve achieved, and everything that is still to come.Also released:Quavo, “Trappa Rappa”JENNIE ft. Doechii, “ExtraL”Nardo Wick, WickDave East & Random, The Final CallLola Brooke, “You The One”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Kodak Black was at the White House Thursday, where he attended a reception held in honor of Black History Month. “Kodak in the People’s House,” the official White House X account wrote alongside a photo of the rapper, which he later shared to his Instagram Story. Boosie Badazz was in attendance as well and shared photos on his IG account. A White House official told The Associated Press Rod Wave was also invited.Leon Thomas now has his own episode of NPR’s Tiny Desk, featuring performances of songs “VIBES DON’T LIE,” “YES IT IS,” “MUTT,” “Breaking Point” and “Treasure in the Hills.” “This has to be the most lit office of all time. I’m f****** with y’all,” he said at one point. The performance can be found on YouTube.Tory Lanez says fellow Canadians Drake, PartyNextDoor and The Weeknd have motivated him to make a new album. “PARTYNEXTDOOR showed his best work of 2025, Drake showed his best work of 2025,” Lanez said in a phone call shared to his Instagram. “The Weeknd showed his best work of 2025, now it’s time for me to come out.” He hopes to complete and drop the album in the next two to three weeks. Tory is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.Clarks has tapped Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah and Raekwon to help celebrate its 200 years of existence. They’re featured in a documentary chronicling the brand’s rise in fashion, which included a dominance in reggae and hip-hop culture. Yasiin Bey helps with narration.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty ImagesA$AP Rocky is back to business following his legal victory. He’s been announced as the first creative director for Ray-Ban Studios, a “creative hub celebrating self-expression as a display of individuality,” according to the brand’s website. “I’ve always admired Ray-Ban’s ability to stay true to its roots while constantly evolving,” he said in a press release, per Complex. “I’m excited to be part of the strong heritage and develop the next chapter for an iconic brand like Ray-Ban.”In his new role, Rocky will direct Ray-Ban brand campaigns, redesign retail spaces and design products, starting with a batch of eyewear that will be released in April via the Blacked Out Collection. “For nearly 80 years [Ray-Ban] has been on the faces of the most iconic musicians, artists, actors and heroes – shaping and re-shaping the status quo, leading cultural revolutions of all the times,” Ray-Ban President Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio said in a statement. “Today, we are welcoming ASAP Rocky into our family; he’s a visionary artist and creator. His ability to push the boundaries of the diverse worlds he explores, aligns with the Ray-Ban DNA.”On the music front, Rocky has been teasing his Don’t Be Dumb album. He wrote the title in a tweet Tuesday, and a clip that’s seemingly from the project has surfaced.The updates come after Rocky was found not guilty of shooting A$AP Relli, a verdict Tyler, The Creator says made him pass out.Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina told Extra Rocky and Rihanna joked their next child will be named A$AP Joe in his honor.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty ImagesThe 56th NAACP Image Awards take place Saturday, acknowledging the achievements of Black entertainers regardless of whether they win in any categories. Karen Boykin-Towns, vice chair of the NAACP national board, tells ABC Audio it’s a platform where the organization is “able to give folks their flowers … celebrate and uplift each other and just celebrate our uniqueness and our excellence.””What I love about this show … there’s such love in the auditorium,” she adds. “People are cheering for each other, and those that don’t win are still celebrating and having a great time. Because what we know is that in the places and spaces where we operate, where we reside, it is not easy.”While only eight winners are announced live at the show, there are 90 categories, in addition to the president and chairman awards, which will be going to Kamala Harris and Dave Chappelle, respectively. The vanguard award is going to Essence; the Mildred Bond Roxborough – social justice impact award recipient will be Jotaka Eaddy; and the Wayans family will be inducted into the hall of fame.Boykin-Towns says this year, the show will also be sure to acknowledge “the times that we’re in” while helping communities that were affected by the LA wildfires, specifically Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and Altadena, “a city that is very much rich in Black history and home ownership.””We want to be mindful that there are people who faced overwhelming loss and are in the process of rebuilding … and help, knowing that this will be certainly a marathon and not a sprint,” she says.”I hope people walk away knowing that while we celebrate Black excellence and resilience, we have a lot of work to do,” she adds. “And so we celebrate, but we get back to work and move forward, realizing that these are serious times.” (AUDIO IS ABC 1-ON-1)Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Disney/Randy HolmesThere are many things Doechii has gotten from God, including the name of her Grammy-winning mixtape and the lifesaving phrase “I am Doechii.”In her cover interview for The Cut, she explains God told her to name the mixtape Alligators Never Heal, noting, “I know that God will reveal to me what it means later.” The phrase, she adds, came to mind after a moment where she had considered suicide.“I don’t want to get super-dark,” she starts. “I was getting bullied so bad that I was thinking about killing myself. I realized, ‘Oh, f***, I’m gonna kill myself and then I’m gonna be the only one dead.’ The bullies aren’t gonna be with me, and everything they said is not coming with me either. I would just be gone,” she recalls. “And then I was like, ‘F*** that! F*** that s***! I’m not going for that!””And this wash of peace came over me, and I received ‘I am Doechii.’ But it was more like this feeling of — I made a choice, a decision,” she continues. “I am the most important character in this movie. This is my motherf****** movie.”Doechii’s “movie” has consisted of vulnerability, which she notes she is something she sometimes wants to dial back. “I have moments where I am worried … but I don’t give a f*** because I know that in the end, it’s going to pay off more for me to be real,” she says.”The feeling that I have when I listen to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the same feeling I want some other Black little girl to have when she listens to me,” Doechii adds. “And in order for her to have that feeling, I have to talk about my feelings.”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty ImagesJ. Cole has added a new post to his Inevitable blog, three weeks after introducing it to his fans. He started off by apologizing for his inconsistency before letting fans in on what he’s been up to.“I knowwww mannnn. I’m off to a bad start with the consistency, but I’ma do better! Watch!! I been locked in on the music while also balancing family life,” he explains. “It’s a juggling act that a blog post wouldn’t do justice in explaining. But with that said, I’m back tending to this garden.”Cole then shared his idea of possibly letting other people post on the blog “to get the vibes up,” starting with his manager Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad and Inevitable audio series producer Scott Lazer. “It’ll motivate me to check every day, and will fuel the desire to post more,” he writes.He later adds, “To anybody in the squad reading, if you trying to contribute I’m taking applications!” Cole first announced his blog on his 40th birthday, fulfilling a yearslong desire to have a “lil blog.” “This is just a place for me to share,” he wrote at the time. “Somewhere to post random s*** I f*** with where the audience is way smaller than it is on the social media platforms.”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Julian Dakdouk/Parkwood Media/WireImage via Getty ImagesBeyoncé just made a major announcement that has the Beyhive and beauty lovers buzzing.Her hair care brand, Cécred, will officially be available at over 1,400 Ulta Beauty stores nationwide and online starting April 6, marking the largest exclusive hair care launch in the beauty retailer’s history.Bey took to Instagram Wednesday to share the news with her 312 million followers.Beyoncé first introduced Cécred in February 2024, unveiling a hair care collection that emphasized both science-backed formulas and rich hair care traditions. The initial launch featured a range of products designed for cleansing, conditioning and strengthening all hair types.Most recently, Cécred expanded beyond hair care products by introducing a line of styling tools, which includes a Rake Comb for picking out voluminous hairstyles, as well as a Vented Paddle Brush that features widely spaced bristles to help gently flex around knots for easy detangling.Cécred’s arrival at Ulta Beauty makes the brand even more accessible to beauty enthusiasts — it previously was only sold on the brand’s website.The partnership with one of the country’s largest beauty retailers will feature custom fixtures, in-store displays and salon integrations that showcase Cécred’s patent-pending bottle designs. Additionally, Ulta Beauty’s full-service salons will incorporate Cécred into their professional services, further enhancing its presence in the beauty space.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Photo by Carley Margolis/FilmMagicJa Rule said his goodbyes to Murda Inc. co-founder Irv Gotti Wednesday at a private funeral held at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York.He read a eulogy at the service, of which a video was later posted on X. “I just want to say Irv, I love you. Everyone in this room loves you. You touched everybody in your own way and everybody has their moments of that with you,” he said in part. “We’re all here in celebration of your life because it will live on forever. I love you my brother; see you when I get there.”Sitting in the crowd were Gotti’s family, as well as attendees including Ashanti, Lloyd, Charli Baltimore, Vita and Jay-Z, who sat in the front row, per Billboard. Gayle King, Fat Joe, Steve Stoute, music video/film director Hype Williams, Benny Boom and Angie Martinez also attended to pay their respects.”You knocked it out the park gotti,” Angie wrote after the service on Instagram. “Just left a beautiful and emotional service today honoring a life well lived. Irv was loved deeply and his contributions to the culture will out live us all. May God bless him & the whole Lorenzo family.”Gotti passed away on Feb. 5 at 54 years old.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Cassie is pregnant with her third child. She shared the news on Instagram alongside a carousel featuring photos of her with her baby bump, husband Alex Fine and their two kids. In the caption, she shared a pregnant emoji along with a blue heart and “#3,” possibly letting fans know her third child will be a boy.Drake’s money-giving moments continued Wednesday night when he gifted a pregnant fan $30,000 during his tour stop at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena. “Are you 20 weeks pregnant? Get out of the pit. Get outta there,” Drake told Tiana Henderson, before getting her transferred to VIP seating, per Billboard. “Give her some VIP tickets immediately and like $30,000,” he said. “Who the f*** brings a baby to a mosh pit?”Burna Boy has a new song out titled “Update.” It samples Soul II Soul’s “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)” and is complete with a new music video directed by UAX. The song will likely appear on his new album, No Sign of Weakness, which he describes as “extrospective.” “It’s not just about me but about looking outward, reflecting on the world, and how my experiences connect to the bigger picture,” he told Billboard France. “It’s about growth, understanding, and challenging perceptions while staying true to who I am.”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Disney/Randy HolmesNight two of the 56th NAACP Image Awards Pre-Awards Show took place Wednesday, revealing the second round of winners in the nontelevised award categories. Among them were Beyoncé, her daughter Blue Ivy, Kendrick Lamar, Doechii and Chris Brown.Beyoncé dominated in the category of outstanding female artist, with her latest album, Cowboy Carter, winning outstanding album. Her oldest daughter, Blue, earned outstanding character voice-over performance (motion picture) for her work on Mufasa: The Lion King.Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” won him outstanding song – hip-hop/rap song, and Doechii secured the award for outstanding new artist. Chris took home two awards — outstanding male artist and outstanding international song for “Hmmm” featuring Davido.Other winners of the night include Adam Blackstone & Fantasia, who won outstanding duo, group or collaboration (traditional) for “Summertime,” and Malcolm Washington, winner of outstanding breakthrough creative (motion picture) for his work on Netflix’s The Piano Lesson. The Six Triple Eight won outstanding ensemble cast in a motion picture, with star Ebony Obsidian winning outstanding breakthrough performance in a motion picture.The full list of winners can be found below:Outstanding New ArtistDoechii – (Capitol Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)Outstanding Male ArtistChris Brown – (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)Outstanding Female ArtistBeyoncé – (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)Outstanding International Song“Hmmm” – Chris Brown feat. Davido (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)Outstanding Jazz Album“Portrait” – Samara Joy (Verve Records)Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song“Working For Me” – Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)Outstanding Gospel/Christian AlbumLive Breathe Fight – Tamela Mann (Tillymann Music Group)Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)Adam Blackstone & Fantasia – “Summertime” (BASSic Black Entertainment Records/Anderson Music Group/EMPIRE)Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz – “Piece of My Heart” (RCA Records/Sony Music International/Starboy Entertainment)Outstanding Original Score for Television/Film“Star Wars: The Acolyte (Original Soundtrack)” – (Walt Disney Records)Outstanding Song – Hip-Hop/Rap Song“Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar (pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records)Outstanding AlbumCowboy Carter – Beyoncé (Columbia Records/Parkwood Entertainment LLC)Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short FormStranded – (Broadway Video and Audible)Outstanding Podcast – News and InformationNative Land Pod – (iHeartPodcasts, Reasoned Choice Media)Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle/Self-HelpWe Don’t Always Agree with Ryan & Sterling – (ABF Creative & Indian Meadows Production)Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Motion Picture)Wicked – Paul Tazewell (Universal Pictures)Outstanding Hair Styling (Television or Motion Picture)Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist – Lawrence Davis (Peacock)Outstanding Make-up (Television or Motion Picture)Shirley – Debi Young (Netflix)Outstanding Stunt EnsembleRebel Ridge – Keith Woulard, Nico Woulard (Netflix)Outstanding International Motion PictureEmilia Pérez – (Netflix)Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Motion Picture)Blue Ivy Carter – Mufasa: The Lion King (Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture)Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)Dawn Porter – Luther: Never Too Much (Sony Music Entertainment/Sony Music Publishing/CNN Films)Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion PictureJomo Fray – Nickel Boys (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)Malcolm Washington – The Piano Lesson (Netflix)Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion PictureEbony Obsidian – The Six Triple Eight (Netflix)Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion PictureThe Six Triple Eight – (Netflix)The 56th NAACP Image Awards will take place Saturday at the Pasadena Civic Center, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on BET and CBS.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Francis Specker/CBS Janelle Monáe will be portraying con artist Tanya Smith in a film adaptation of Smith’s memoir, Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System — and Pocketed $40 Million, Variety reports. It will be produced via Janelle’s Wondaland Pictures.The heist thriller will follow “Smith’s journey from teenage hacker to [a] financial system mastermind,” who was known for being “one of the single biggest threats to the entire United States banking system.” She was behind several heists and had collected millions of dollars, getting by law enforcement and even the FBI, who “refused to believe a Black woman could be the architect of such sophisticated crimes,” the press release says, per Variety. She built a $40 million empire before things went down hill, and she faced a harsh prison sentence. Tanya now serves as advocate for prison reform, women’s rights, economic equality and more, and will also be an executive producer of Never Saw Me Coming.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesRaphael Saadiq is taking fans through the last 30-plus years with a one-man show taking place in a few iconic venues in the U.S.Titled No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits, the show will feature a retrospective look into his career through his catalog and never-before-told stories. It will kick off May 31 at the Apollo Theater in New York City, before making stops at LA’s The United Theater on Broadway on June 6 and Oakland’s Fox Theater on June 7.“I’ve always wanted to do a one-man show. I want to challenge myself. My one-person show has three acts; I will be talking about my career, bringing a couple of instruments to express myself, singing my original music as well as covers of songs I wish I had written, and more,” Raphael says in a statement. “I want it to feel magical and like a Broadway show.”Presale tickets will be available via an artist presale, local presale and Spotify presale. The general sale will take place on Friday at 10 a.m. local time on Raphael’s website.The announcement of Raphael’s one-man show arrives after his performance at the NBA All-Star game. He introduced the players and paid tribute to the Bay Area with a medley featuring a 14-piece band and Bay Area icons, including Steve Miller Band, MC Hammer, Too Short, Tower of Power and Metallica.Raphael is also fresh off a Grammy win for his contribution to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, which won album of the year.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Disney/Randy HolmesOsheaga 2025 is returning at the top of August, and Tyler, The Creator’s been tapped to headline the show. He’ll be closing out the second night of the annual music festival, following performances from BigXThaPlug, BossMan Dlow, Amaarae and more.Also taking the stage at Osheaga this year are Doechii, Jorja Smith, Tommy Richman, Smino, Durand Bernarr and more.Osheaga started as an alternative music festival but has since expanded to include mainstream acts and multiple genres. Headliner Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams represent pop, Shaboozey’s a country artist and The Chainsmokers will put on for rock, as will the Glass Animals. There are also a few Canadian artists on the bill, including The Beaches, Ruby Waters and Mint Simon.“Early on we were alternative and then alternative became mainstream,” founder Nick Farkas told The Gazette. “The first few years of Osheaga, none of the bands we had played on the radio. Then all of a sudden you have a Coldplay that was an alternative rock band and then they become huge. The way I would describe it now is that it’s a multi-genre festival that tries to be enough of everything for everyone. We want people to dig deep in the line-up.”Osheaga takes place Aug. 1 to Aug. 3 at Parc-Jean-Drapeau in Montréal. More information can be found at osheaga.com/en. Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Parkwood EntertainmentBeyoncé fans in Atlanta will have one more chance to see her when she visits the Mercedes-Benz Stadium for her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour in July. In addition to the shows taking place July 10, July 11 and July 13, there will now be one on July 14. It will be her final show in Atlanta and the tour overall, following a nearly three-month run starting on April 28.Tickets for Bey’s last Cowboy Carter show will become available Friday at 12 p.m. local time at beyonce.com, with multiple presales happening before then. The first, the Beyhive presale, will start Wednesday at 12 p.m. ET and run through Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. ET.Bey will perform a total of 31 shows for the tour supporting Cowboy Carter, the Recording Academy’s choice for album of the year. Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

ABC/Troy HarveyKeke Palmer, Jamie Foxx and Taraji P. Henson are early winners of the 56th NAACP Image Awards. They were announced as part of the pre-awards show Tuesday, during which the first round of winners in the nontelevised categories were revealed.Keke took the win for outstanding host in a reality/reality competition for NBC’s Password, while Jamie’s Netflix special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was, won in the category for outstanding variety (series or special). As for Taraji, she was awarded with outstanding supporting actress in a limited television (series, special, movie) for her role in Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. Her book with Paul Kellam, You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book, also took home an award for outstanding literary work – children.Other winners include Marlon Wayans for outstanding guest performance for his role as Lou in Bel-Air, Samuel L. Jackson for outstanding actor in a limited television (series, special, movie) for his portrayal of Frank Moten in Fight Night and Ayo Edebiri for outstanding breakthrough creative for television for her role as Sydney on FX’s The Bear.Highlights of the winners awarded during night one of the NAACP Image Awards preshow can be found below:Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was (Netflix)Outstanding Guest PerformanceMarlon Wayans – Bel-Air (Peacock)Outstanding Writing in a Comedy SeriesCrystal Jenkins – No Good Deed – Letters of Intent (Netflix)Outstanding Writing in a Drama SeriesBen Watkins – Cross Hero Complex (Prime Video)Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or SpecialJuel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier, Thembi L. Banks – Young. Wild. Free. (BET+)Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)Ayo Edebiri – The Bear (FX/Hulu)Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie)Taraji P. Henson – Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock)Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie)Samuel L. Jackson – Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist (Peacock)Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or SpecialTina Mabry – The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat (Hulu)Outstanding Directing in a Comedy SeriesTiffany Johnson – How to Die Alone – ‘Trust No One’ (Hulu)Outstanding Directing in a Drama SeriesRapman – Supacell – Supacell (Netflix)Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or EnsembleKeke Palmer – Password (NBC)Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film)How to Sue the KlanOutstanding Short Form (Live Action)Superman Doesn’t StealThe 56th NAACP Image Awards will take place Saturday at the Pasadena Civic Center, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on BET and CBS. Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images, FILEFederal prosecutors “singled out” Sean “Diddy” Combs because he is Black, demonstrating “bad faith” and “racial animus” in handling his case, defense attorneys argued in a new court filing that sought to dismiss the prostitution charge the rap mogul faces.Combs has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution charges and is scheduled to go on trial this spring.Defense attorneys accused the government of a racist prosecution because, they argued, “no white person has ever been the target of a remotely similar prosecution.”Combs is charged with transporting prostitutes across state lines to engage in prolonged sexual activities known as “freak offs,” according to the indictment.”Yet no other person, and certainly no white person, has ever previously been prosecuted under the White-Slave Traffic Act for hiring male escorts from another State,” defense attorneys Alexandra Shapiro and Marc Agnifilo wrote. “Mr. Combs has been singled out because he is a powerful black man, and he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished. Count Three should be dismissed because this is a clear case of selective prosecution.”The filing said former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who was linked to a prostitution ring in 2008, “engaged in similar conduct but were never charged under the Act.”His attorneys argued Combs used the escort service Cowboys 4 Angels, featured on the Showtime show Gigilos, to bring third-parties into his sexual relationships, which the defense cast as common among people of Combs’ stature.”Many couples, including wealthy high-profile couples, involve third parties in their sexual relationships, sometimes for implicit or explicit remuneration,” the filing said. “No federal prosecutor, in this district or any other, has targeted the company, its CEO, or its escorts. Nor has any prosecutor previously targeted any customer who purchased escort services from Cowboys 4 Angels.”The filing redacts the name Cowboys 4 Angels, but refers to the Showtime series and an episode of Nightline featuring the escort service.A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment but federal prosecutors will respond to the accusation of racist, selective prosecution in a forthcoming court filing.Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

ABC/John ArguetaTyla’s success may serve as inspiration for the younger generation, but coming up, Rihanna was the one who gave her hope of becoming a singer.“Coming from somewhere outside the States, I really looked up to her,” the South African singer tells British Vogue for their March cover story. “I used to think you’re only going to become famous if you’re born in America. She made me realize there is another way.”In the years that followed, Tyla worked hard to make her dreams come true and prove to her parents that she could. Now that she has made it, however, there are some parts of her old life that she misses.“I just miss being able to walk. Or sit in the park. Or go to Nando’s,” she tells the magazine.Fame has also come with a microscope into her life, like the time there was controversy regarding her identity as “a colored South African.”“Honestly, I felt like I had no…no control. People took it and… It just went so far that I didn’t know what to do,” she says. “The way people painted me… And I understand that word is a sensitive word to people, so I don’t blame people for being touched about it. I just would have wanted an opportunity for people to actually truly listen and learn.”Later in the cover story, she adds, “You know that even if you give the best explanation, people will still choose not to understand. But I’m at a point where I know who I am. I know I’m a Black woman and I know I’m a colored woman as well and you can be both. And the people that care to learn, they understand now. And that’s enough for me.”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A$AP Rocky and Rihanna leaving court Feb. 14; DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin/GC ImagesA$AP Rocky was found not guilty on Tuesday of felony assault charges related to a 2021 incident in which he was accused of shooting at a former friend and music collaborator in Hollywood.The New York rapper, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, was charged on Aug. 15, 2022, with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm for allegedly firing a handgun in the direction of Terrell Ephron, whose professional name is A$AP Relli, during a confrontation.The jury panel, which was made up of seven women and five men, began deliberations on Tuesday morning.Rocky, who pleaded not guilty, faced up to 24 years in prison if he had been convicted.Rocky and Ephron were childhood friends and both part of the Harlem-based rap collective A$AP Mob.The trial began with jury selection on Jan. 21. It included testimony from Ephron, who served as a star witness for prosecutors. During his testimony, he accused Rocky of shooting at him, claiming that his hand was grazed by a bullet.Rocky — who shares two children with Rihanna — declined to take the witness stand during the trial.The gun, which was never recovered by authorities, was a focal point in this trial. Prosecutors argued that the gun was real, while Rocky’s defense team argued that the gun that the rapper was holding at the time of the confrontation was merely a “prop gun” that he carried for his own security.Ahead of jury selection in this case, Rocky turned down a plea deal that was offered to him by prosecutors, the rapper’s lead attorney Joe Tacopina confirmed to ABC News. It included a 180-day jail term.”Yes, he was offered a plea deal but is not interested because he is actually innocent,” Tacopia said.As the verdict was read, an emotional Rocky ran to hug Rihanna, as well as friends and family.As the jury walked out, the rapper thanked them “for saving my life,” adding, “You’re making the right decision.”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.