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Otis Williams’ Extraordinary Long Play with The Temptations

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I am unable to let you know how again and again I’ve watched “The Temptations,” a miniseries that aired during my sophomore yr in college in 1998 that chronicled the rise, rise, and fall of certainly one of my favorite vocal groups, The Temptations. The Temptations, after all, are the legendary Motown band that gave us a few of Motown’s most iconic classics, including “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “Ball of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today)” and my personal favorite, “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me),” amongst many, many others. You know The Temptations’ songs even when you do not know you already know The Temptations’ songs. Their songs have been covered by countless artists, featured in movies, and sung by choirs. And when you’re black, you are probably familiar with their version of “Silent Night.” That’s… The Temptations.

The original lineup was probably the most famous lineup of the group—David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams. And when the group had problems with David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards joined, and people six are people most of us know and might name by heart. The miniseries “The Temptations” was on repeat in my house when it first got here out on VHS. My sister Spelman bought me a VHS tape and I let it play until it popped. And then, after we all graduated from VCRs, I got the DVD. Between “The Five Heartbeats” and “The Temptations,” I probably watched one or the opposite each day for years, and I’m not exaggerating.

The Temptations took on a lifetime of its own when social media threw the world for a loop. There are just a few scenes within the film which can be perfect for visually expressing any variety of human situations. One of the web’s favorites, though, is when Otis Williams (Charles Malik Whitfield) and Melvin Franklin (DB Woodside) confront David Ruffin (Leon) about his scheming and why they’re kicking him out of the group. Otis notes that nobody is above the group and that nobody involves see David, they arrive to see The Temptations, to which David responds: “Nobody’s coming to see you, Otis!” Those seven words have develop into the stuff of legend. It’s value noting that Otis Williams (real-life member of The Temptations) is certainly one of the manager producers of the miniseries.

I rewatched the show (it’s mainly only a movie at this point) since it had been some time, and once I got to that scene, I laughed, like I all the time do, but then it hit me: If you’re going to look at The Temptations now, you’re actually going to see Otis, because he’s the last surviving member — at age 82 — of the unique Temptations. Paul Williams died in 1973. David Ruffin died in 1991, followed by Eddie Kendricks in 1992. Melvin Franklin died in 1995. I imagine those ’90s were really tough on Otis and all of the fans of the group. Dennis Edwards eventually died in 2018, leaving Otis Williams because the last surviving original member and certainly one of the explanations you’d wish to see The Temptations.

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Sure, they’ve had a ton of lineup changes, members have come and gone; they have been touring for six a long time now. But all of the individuals who were the magnets for the overwhelming majority of the songs we all know and love within the Temptations canon, well, Otis is the just one who’s still alive on those records. I’m not saying he’s outlived everyone else out of spite, but I’m saying that Otis’s longevity is impressive. Especially when the miniseries got here out, Otis and Dennis were the one guys left. He mainly needed to outlive Dennis by one other 20 years to find a way to say, “After all, they’re just coming to see me, Otis.”

By all accounts, Otis Williams looks as if an awesome guy. I’ve listened to countless interviews with him, and he’s an awesome storyteller who speaks highly of everyone within the band. But I’m wondering if he’s ever, within the quiet of a room, alone before he goes on stage, said to himself, “They’re coming to see Otis tonight.” I do know I might. Maybe he’s got good genes. Maybe he’s been maintaining a healthy diet for a long time and that is what’s kept him going. I’m sure it’s a mixture of luck, healthy habits, and the life he’s chosen. But after watching the Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance , which exposed his ultimate competitiveness and pettiness, you could have to wonder if sometimes these guys whose talent and determination prove they’re built in a different way don’t have anything to prove and might’t rest until they do.

Sure, “Ain’t nobody coming to see you, Otis” is a line from the show, however it’s taken on a lifetime of its own. I can’t let you know how again and again I’ve said it to people I do know and random strangers. It’s a component of black popular culture. I’m wondering if Otis didn’t pass though all of them to prove David fallacious. Who knows if David ever said it (apart from Otis)? Either way, Otis William remains to be alive, concert events and performances and when you plan on watching The Temptations in 2024…

…you will certainly see Otis.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Melania slammed Donald Trump with third prenup change, fueling rumors of marital drama after she dodged his kiss and claim resurfaced

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For years, there was speculation concerning the authenticity of the love between President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump. The theories intensified after Melania was caught repeatedly hiding from her husband’s public displays of affection for years.

Some imagine their relationship is solely business-related, a view that gained popularity when the New York Post reported in September 2023 that its alleged insider claimed that Melania had renegotiated her prenuptial agreement with the forty fifth president for the third time. The move followed Trump’s confirmation of his intention to hunt a second term as president after announcing his re-election campaign on November 15, 2022.

When the couple married in 2005, the initial prenuptial agreement reportedly significantly favored Donald Trump. However, since then the contract has been renegotiated not less than 3 times, with the primary renegotiation going down in 2017 and one other in 2020, when she served as apparently delayed moving to the White House – not less than that is what the New York Post claims in its unconfirmed reports. It is unclear why the thrice-married Trump would conform to loosen up his protections as part of such an arrangement.

In 2023, an alleged insider told the Post’s Page Six gossip column: “Over the past yr, Melania and her team have been quietly negotiating a brand new deal following the suspension of her contract with Donald Trump. This is not less than the third time Melania has renegotiated the terms of her marriage contract.

WASHINGTON – JULY 4: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend an event on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Trump hosts a "Salute to America" ​​celebration that includes a flyover of military planes and a large fireworks display. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – JULY 4: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend an event on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Trump hosts a “Salute to America” ​​celebration that features a flyover of military planes and a big fireworks display. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

It continued to be claimed that Melania can be increasingly concerned about Trump’s mounting legal problems. Last yr, he was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with making secret payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. That same yr, Trump was also found liable in a civil suit for sexual abuse and defamation of author E. Jean Carroll. More than a yr ago, Trump was also charged in Atlanta with attempting to overturn the presidential vote within the 2020 elections in Georgia. Trump ultimately faced federal criminal charges related to his mishandling of classified documents after leaving office and the January 6 rebel.

With all this happening against Trump, Melania obviously desired to be certain she can be secure.

“This agreement was necessary due to ongoing legal disputes that (…) (Donald) has suffered,” the source said.

However, the insider also told Page Six that the postnuptial agreement doesn’t mean Melania plans to depart Trump.

They said the revised deal would also provide money for his or her 18-year-old son, Barron Trump.

“Melania is most concerned with maintaining and increasing the considerable trust she has in her son, Barron.”

Another source backed up this statement, saying, “I know she wanted this to provide her with more money, and also – from what I understand – there is at least a set amount that Barron is expected to get.”

Fans shared their thoughts on Melania renegotiating her prenup with The Daily Beast’s. side.

One person said: “Thanks to her we managed to save him. After filing for bankruptcy five times, he will be living on Melany’s benefits.”

The second wrote: “He must secure Barron’s future before the non-existent money disappears.”

A third commenter advised: “Honey, take the money and run.”

CNN is preparing for Trump’s second visit to the White House reported that his wife doesn’t plan to live in Washington full time. Sources told the news outlet that while Melania plans to attend essential events, she will spend loads of time living between New York City – as her son Barron attends NYU there – and Palm Beach, Florida, where many of her friends live.

Her reported impending absence from the White House has sparked whispers about whether Melania is serious about her responsibilities and priorities as first lady, but that is not all. It also sparked more speculation about whether she and Trump have a blissful marriage.

Even during Trump’s victory speech, a smiling Melania avoided being kissed by her husband as he sang her praises on stage. After thanking her and expressing his appreciation for her “best-selling book in the country,” Trump moves to hug and kiss his wife, then places her hand on her cheek as she turns her head barely.

Still, Melania assures doubters that every little thing is effective in her marriage to Trump. In September, she even tried to disclaim the rumors during an interview on “Fox & Friends.”

When asked what she liked about her husband, she replied: “His essence. His humor. His personality. His kindness,” he added later. “It’s very special. His positivity. His energy. It’s unbelievable. Yes, so we’ve got a fantastic relationship.

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Jussie Smollett’s 2019 Self-Attack Conviction Overturned – Andscape

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the choice to fireside an actor Jussie Smollett conviction on charges of organizing a racist and anti-gay attack on himself in downtown Chicago in 2019 and lying to police.

The the state’s highest court ruled that the special prosecutor shouldn’t have been allowed to intervene after the Cook County state’s attorney initially dropped charges against Smollett in exchange for waiving $10,000 bail and performing community service. The ruling and appeal didn’t address Smollett’s continued claim of innocence.

Smollett, who’s black and gay, claims two men attacked him, hurled racist and anti-gay slurs and placed a noose around his neck, resulting in an enormous seek for suspects by Chicago police and sparking a world uproar. Smollett was starring in a television drama that was filmed in Chicago, and prosecutors alleged that he organized the attack because he was unhappy with the studio’s response to hate mail he received.

“We are aware that this case has generated significant public interest and that many people were dissatisfied with the resolution of the original case and considered it unfair,” Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote in a 5-0 decision. “Nevertheless, more unfair than the resolution of any single criminal case would be for this court to find that the state is not obliged to honor agreements on which people have relied to their detriment.”

Smollett’s attorneys argued that the case ended with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office dropped initially 16 counts of disorderly conduct. A grand jury reinstated the fees after a special prosecutor took over the case. The jury convicted Smollett of five counts of disorderly conduct in 2021

Emails searching for comment were sent Thursday to Foxx’s office and Smollett’s attorney, who argued that Smollett was the victim of a racist and politicized justice system.

Testimony at trial showed that Smollett paid $3,500 to 2 men he knew to perform the attack. Prosecutors said he told them what insults to shout and shout that Smollett was in “MAGA country,” an apparent reference to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign slogan.

Smollett testified that “there was no fraud” and that he was the victim of a hate crime in his downtown Chicago neighborhood.

He was sentenced to 150 days in prison, six of which he had already served released pending further notice — 30 ​​months probation and ordered to pay roughly $130,000 in restitution.

The state appeals court’s ruling upheld Smollett’s conviction, declaring that nobody promised Smollett that he would not face a brand new charge after accepting the unique deal.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis and Justice Joy Cunningham didn’t take part in Thursday’s decision.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Lil Baby didn’t just rap about change – he went to Harvard to achieve it – Essence

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 27: Songwriter of the Year Award winner Lil Baby speaks on stage on the ASCAP R&S Music Celebration on the London Hotel on June 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)

Lil Baby will not be only considered one of the most important names in hip-hop – he can also be an aspiring entrepreneur who’s serious about taking his business knowledge to the subsequent level.

The GRAMMY Award-winning rapper recently participated in Harvard Business School’s “Launching New Ventures” program, a prestigious short course designed to help entrepreneurs grow their ventures through modern strategies. The program, which will not be a level-granting initiative, focuses on key entrepreneurial tools, including opportunity assessment, competitive evaluation and developing sustainable business models, – we read on this system’s website.

For Lil Baby, born Dominique Armani Jones, the move was greater than just earning bragging rights. Known for hits like and , the Atlanta native has all the time been open about his desire to construct a legacy beyond music. As head of his record label 4PF (Four Pockets Full), he is committed to creating opportunities for artists and running a business that will not be only profitable, but in addition influential. However, he realized that running a successful label required honing his skills, and Harvard was the right place for this.

Movie shared on X On Wednesday, we got to see Lil Baby participating within the show. The clip ended on a touching note as he was presented together with his certificate of completion, followed by a surprise ceremony organized by his family.

While critics were quick to indicate that he didn’t “graduate” from Harvard – despite misleading headlines – his decision to commit to this system is critical in itself. Shows like “Launching New Ventures” offer insights that may transform corporations and help entrepreneurs overcome challenges, and Lil Baby’s presence signals his commitment to constructing a legacy that goes far beyond music. For Lil Baby, the move is an element of a broader commitment to securing his position not only as a rapper, but in addition as a mogul. His commitment to self-improvement reflects the values ​​he promotes through his music: perseverance, resilience and development.

It’s also value noting that Lil Baby’s decision to attend Harvard sends a powerful message to his community, especially Black entrepreneurs. In a world where barriers to business education still exist, his decision to pursue higher education shows that it’s never too late – or too unconventional – to take what you are promoting seriously.

As Lil Baby grows, one thing is obvious: his diligence knows no limits. Whether he’s behind the microphone or within the classroom, he proves that the important thing to success is to continually strive for more.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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