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Queen Latifah is an award-winning actress who is just on letter award shy of an EGOT, but at one point in time, she doubted she’d be accepted in Hollywood.
“I watched this idea of what beauty was supposed to be – size two, blue-eyed. That was being pushed on everyone as I was growing up. I thought that was a bar I was never going to meet,” she shared while discussing obesity at the Cannes Lions Festival, per Deadline.
She said she questioned whether she’d ever make it in the music industry and “move into Hollywood in a way I would like to,” before realizing that success “was about finding people who understood that was the vision.”
While Queen notes “there was pushback” along the way from those “stuck in their mindsets,” she attributes the change in conversation to Oprah Winfrey and her willingness to be transparent about her weight over the years.
“When I think of her and what she’s been through on that journey, I love the idea that someone will not have to endure the same journey today, that they will be able to walk into their doctor’s office and just have a conversation,” Queen said.
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Victoria Monét teams with frequent collaborator D’Mile for Amazon Music’s Save The Music: Inspiring Music’s Next Generation, out now. A celebration of the importance of Black Music Month, the documentary follows their trip to Brooklyn’s Transit Tech High School, where they provided students with equipment, taught them some production skills, and shared insight on the music industry and knowledge on their cultural history.
“So many genres stemmed from Black artists and musicians: rock and roll, country, disco, house, R&B, soul, techno, rap … the list goes on,” Monét says in a statement, per Billboard. “I love that there’s a month dedicated to educating others on and celebrating Black music.”
“My hope is that in general, music by Black artists is celebrated in all genres one day,” she continued. “Motown was a breeding ground for so many incredible Black musicians and icons who truly made quality, POPular music.”
Save the Music also features BTS footage of Monét and D’Mile recording the reimagined version of their hit “Hollywood,” which can only be streamed on Amazon Music. Save the Music dropped Tuesday.
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Spotify and Max have come together for a one-day music showcase in celebration of Black Music Month, Billboard reports. The immersive event, titled Shaped by Sound, will feature performances by Cash Cobain and Monaleo, as well as some surprise guests and curated DJ sets.
There will also be three themed rooms: One will display a close view of some legendary concerts using 360-projection mapping technology; the second will pair films and TV scenes on Max alongside the music videos that featured and helped popularize them; popular scenes and quotes from ’90s sitcoms will be revisited in the third room.
The goal is to highlight the “impactful relationship between Black music and entertainment,” Billboard reports.
“We’re excited for guests to experience this one-of-a-kind immersive journey for the senses, through projection mapping and transcending sound, to highlight the profound influence of Black music on our culture and innovation,” said Jackie Gagne, Max’s VP of multicultural marketing, in a statement. “We hope you can join us for an unforgettable experience that bridges both Max and Spotify’s dynamic programming and music libraries in ways that resonate deeply and universally.”
Shaped By Sound is set to take place Saturday at New York City’s Hall des Lumière.
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Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Black Music Honors
Syleena Johnson is celebrating Juneteenth with a special performance, though it’s taking place the day after the actual holiday. The singer is slated to take the stage at a college campus, specifically the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“Well, the Juneteenth concert is amazing because first of all, any time you just get to celebrate Juneteenth that’s lit. Doing it on a college campus is lit,” she tells IPM News, noting the holiday, which celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States, is “important because it highlights a milestone for our country.”
“To be able to, you know, perform in the name of it is always special,” she continues. “It’s just like Black History Month. It’s fun to be able to perform for our own independence, our own freedom.”
Taking place at the university’s Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Syleena’s performance will feature an acoustic set that “sounds like a full band.”
“It’s really dope. It’s two guitars and my percussionist has like Congos and Cajóns and … it makes it feel like it’s a full show and my background singers sing down to the floor. So, it’s gonna take you through a journey of old school, new school, 90’s [sic], love, pain,” she says. “It’s a really fun show. So, it’s gonna be a history lesson for the young people, but it’s gonna be nostalgic for the older people.”
“I don’t know if you guys are ready,” Syleena adds. “It’s gonna be really good.”
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Happy Juneteenth! If you’re wondering how you’re going to celebrate the new federal holiday, which commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States, there are a few star-studded events to keep in mind.
— Taking place at the Hollywood Bowl in LA is a concert featuring T-Pain and special guests Ledisi, D Smoke, La Russell, Mary Mary‘s Tina Campbell, Color of Noize Orchestra, DC6 Singers Collective and conductor Derrick Hodge. It’s “a celebration of freedom, creativity, and brilliant artistic tradition,” per the venue’s website. Tickets are also available on the site.
— Major League Baseball has gathered a few celebrities and athletes for an event being held in honor of Juneteenth. Taking place Wednesday at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, the Barnstorm Birmingham will feature Omari Hardwick, Lil Rel Howery, DC Young Fly, Matt Barnes of the All the Smoke podcast, JR Smith, Terrell Owens and more. Players will be split between two teams named after Alabama legends Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, and Metro Boomin will perform after the game.
— Syleena Johnson‘s event is the only one not held on Juneteenth, but it’s still in celebration of the holiday. She’ll headline at a free concert at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Doors open at 5 p.m., with music starting at 6 p.m.
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Top Dawg Entertainment is down another member. Following Kendrick Lamar‘s departure in 2022, Reason has announced he’s leaving the label.
“The last seven years have been incredible and I appreciate all the time and experiences that have come within that span of time,” he begins a post shared Tuesday. “I can’t even put into words the surreal feelings I’ve had of being able to share my thoughts, expressions, emotions, stories and experiences with you all through the platform provided to me by Top Dawg Entertainment. With that being said, it comes with great appreciation and excitement that I want to announce my split from TDE.”
He also expressed gratitude to label CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith “for giving me a chance to live out my dream” and “understanding my decision to travel a different path over the years.” He also thanked the fans and artists “who embraced me” throughout his journey.
“Thank you guys for the time and a huge thanks to everyone for this experience. Excited for what comes next,” Reason concluded. He’d been signed to the label since 2003.
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If you’re a fan of Tinashe‘s new single “Nasty,” you may want to listen to her new Match My Freak Remix EP. The project is comprised of five remixes of the song, respectively featuring DJ Tunez, Wuki, UNIIQU3, Jane Remover and OG Ron C & DJ Candlestick, who appear on the ChopNotSlop remix. “Nasty” currently sits at #69 on the Hot 100, a rise from its debut as #90. “Billboard matched my freak,” Tinashe wrote on the social platform X.
LeBron James appears in a new commercial promoting Beats’ new Pill+ product. The ad sees him at a party when Lil Wayne‘s “A Milli” starts playing from a Pill on the table. Bron then raises the volume and raps the lyrics to the song. The clip wraps with the release date for The Predicament: June 25.
Quavo wrote a birthday message Tuesday to his late nephew and one-third of Migos, Takeoff. “Happy Birthday Take!!! A 30 ball damn bro the youngest out gang getting old boyy but today we celebrate,” Quavo wrote on Instagram. “No matter what we will always celebrate you and keep your name alive as long I’m here you are too twin it always have been like that and don’t nun change but the chains to infinity rocket man I love you.”
The news hasn’t been confirmed, but Ella Mai appears to be pregnant. She was spotted with a baby bump at an NBA Finals after-party celebrating the victory of the Boston Celtics, for whom boyfriend Jason Tatum plays. Speaking of Tatum, he quoted Ye‘s Grammy speech for The College Dropout‘s Best Rap Album win in 2005 at a post-game celebration. “I know everybody will wonder what would happen if we didn’t win,” Tatum said. “I guess we’ll never know.”
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Ashanti didn’t expect she and Nelly would ever rekindle their romance following their breakup in 2013.
Speaking to ET, she says, “Never in a million years did I think we would be here.”
“Ten years ago — maybe yes — but after our breakup, you know, I didn’t even think we’d ever have a conversation again,” she continues. “I guess when you go through a breakup, for me personally, I kind of just shut that person out. It’s kinda like, OK, that chapter is closed and you just move on, you know, and there’s nothing there.”
Nearly a decade later, however, the two showed up at the Fat Joe and Ja Rule Verzuz battle in 2021, and Nelly got Ashanti’s number from DJ City. They eventually reconnected, prompting questions about Ashanti’s true feelings for her then-ex.
“I had to really, like, be real with myself, like, do I have feelings for him again? Like what’s going on? Because they were out, you know what I mean. They were gone. I was pleasantly surprised that they were there,” she says, noting she and Nelly have exhibited “superb” growth in their communication and conflict resolution skills since they were last together.
They are now are engaged, following a “beautiful, intimate moment” that took place while they were watching TV in bed.
“I cried. I gave him the biggest hug and kiss ever,” Ashanti recalls. “I FaceTimed everyone I know … I was overjoyed and shocked and surprised and happy kind of like all in one.”
She says she felt similar emotions after learning they were expecting their first child together and confirms she’ll give birth before their wedding, which she hopes takes place around a beach, sunshine and palm trees.
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After the success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die re-solidified Will Smith as a box office draw following that infamous Oscar slap, ABC Audio has confirmed that Sony Pictures has lined up its next vehicle for the Academy Award-winning actor.
Smith is attached to Resistor, an adaptation of Daniel Suarez‘s bestselling cyberthriller Influx.
The script was written by Bullet Train veteran Zak Olkewicz; Oscar-nominated American Hustle and Top Gun: Maverick screenwriter Eric Singer wrote its most recent draft, the studio says.
The plot is under wraps, but Suarez’s book centers on a particle physicist who unlocks a gravity-defying technological breakthrough, only to find himself the target of a shadowy organization known as the Bureau of Technology Control.
Smith is also co-producing the project through his company Westbrook, along with Todd Black, with whom he worked on Seven Pounds, The Pursuit of Happyness and Emancipation, via Black’s Escape Artists shingle.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die has made $215.5 million globally in its first 10 days of release, Sony Pictures points out.
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Peacock has just dropped the trailer to the fourth season of Kevin Hart‘s chat show, Hart to Heart, and as always, he’s giving fans a front row seat to “great conversation” with “some of Hollywood’s biggest names.”
In the fourth season, Hart brings to the table Ben Affleck, Cynthia Erivo, Niecy Nash, Andy Samberg, Judd Apatow and comedian George Lopez.
In the snippet, Kev reminds People‘s Sexiest Man Alive Affleck that he was the runner-up that year, and also talks regrets with the actor-director; Lopez confesses to befouling a bed at a Hollywood get-together; and Niecy busts Kevin’s chops about the free food on the show.
Hart also thanks Apatow for giving him a shot in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, leaving the writer-director to joke, “I’m glad I wasn’t wrong about you. What if you were a disaster?”
The fourth season of Hart to Heart premieres Thursday exclusively on Peacock.
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