Entertainment
The loss of the black stars signals the end of an era – Andscape
2024 has been a painful 12 months by which we have now lost too many sensible cultural sparks. On September 10, Tito Jackson gave his last live performance on stage at the Circus Krone in Munich, Germany. The 70-12 months-old guitarist and vocalist was on tour as part of The Jacksons along with his brothers Marlon and Jackie and son Taryll, and the normally reserved musician experienced the moments along with his heart on his sleeve. “We’re all the same people… so we have to love each other,” the easy-minded founder of the legendary Jackson 5 told fans, wearing his signature bowler hat and a black sequined jacket.
Moving on to his 2021 single “Love one another” which featured vocalist Stevie Wonder, and Jackson’s guitar riff echoed throughout the 3,000-seat arena. It was a reminder that the third oldest member of the Jacksons and the American musical family that produced the Jackson Five; King of Pop, Michael Jackson; and younger sister Janet Jackson – has at all times been considered the most “normal” sibling of the Gary, Indiana native. Five days later, on September 15, Jackson suffered a heart attack and died while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma.
“I was surprised at how good, fluid and graceful his touch was on the guitar,” recalls lead guitarist Gregg Wright, who toured with Michael Jackson and The Jacksons on the 1984 tour. “This guy he was a blues musicianperiod. He wasn’t influenced by the blues or influenced the playing of the blues. Tito was a bluesman. You could have taken him to Louisiana or Mississippi and every part would have been tremendous.
Jackson’s death was particularly painful following the death of two-time Tony Award-winning actor James Earl Jones, who died on September 9, and the death of Maze founder and frontman Frankie Beverly, who died on September 10.
Influential rapper Rich Homie Quan, who died on September 5 at the age of 34 in an Atlanta hospital accidental drug overdosewas one of the city’s brightest stars and released hits resembling “Kind of way“, “Lifestyle“And”Flex (Oh, Oh, Oh)“
Fatman Scoop, a well-liked New York radio DJ who made a splash with hits resembling “Drop” by Magoo and Timbaland and “Lose control” Missy Elliott and Ciara in 2005 collapsed and died during a performance on August 30 in Connecticut. He was 53 years old. Earlier this 12 months, there have been other deaths in the hip-hop world, including Chino XL; Kool G Rapp’s former partner DJ Polo; Enchanting, rapper 1017 and protégé of Gucci Mane; and DJ Mister Cee.
The dance community was also left devastated after death on September 10 Michaela DePrincea ballerina who performed with the Boston Balletand in Beyoncé’s groundbreaking 2016 film. She was 29 years old. Glover the catThe 60-12 months-old singer, dancer and choreographer, who worked with Prince on his albums in addition to related tours and videos in the late Nineteen Eighties, died on September 24.
AND death of actor John Amos was officially announced this week (his son Kelly Christopher Amos said his father died on August 21 in Los Angeles). His standout roles included weatherman Gordy Howard in; iconic strong-willed dad James Evans Sr. on the classic ’70s sitcom; the elder Kunta Kinte in the miniseries, for which he was nominated for an Emmy in 1977; and as no-nonsense burger chain owner Cleo McDowell in .
Black America’s favorite uncle, Beverly and Maze, thrived after the Nineteen Sixties, when most record labels had “urban music” divisions. They have released a string of gold records, creating favorites resembling “Happy Feelin“, “Southern girl“And”Before I let go”, although they remained forgotten amongst fans and critics of white pop and rock music. Like the Grateful Dead, Maze was an anomaly: an age-defying touring band whose everlasting stage legend sometimes overshadowed its studio output.
And Jackson was elevated by black musical royalty. The Jackson 5 became the first group in history to top the Billboard Hot 100 4 times in a row:I would like you back” (1969) after which “ABC“, “The love you save“And”I’ll be there” (1970), eventually selling as much as 150 million records worldwide.
Jackson later demonstrated his guitar skills with the gold and platinum releases , released in 1976, (1978) and (1980), in addition to session work on Betty Wright’s self-titled album in 1981. However, this was a challenge for the musician at times. seriously. It became the punch line in comedian Eddie Murphy’s film “1983.” TV special .
Of course, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer would have the last laugh, achieving solo success along with his 2016 debut single “Get it, baby” which peaked at No. 20 on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart.
The impact of Jackson, Jones, Beverly and others who’ve left us in 2024 reinforces the concept that the arts are greater than just fodder for Stans to attain points for trade and bag-securing dominance. In one word… it’s timeless.
Entertainment
More proof that you’re old: Mary J. Blige’s “My Life” album debuted 30 years ago
I actually remember November 1994. I used to be a sophomore in highschool and was still very clumsy and goofy. I hadn’t yet experienced what anyone would call a growth spurt, as evidenced by the very fact that my younger sister (three years younger) was taller than me. At this point in my life, I assumed I used to be destined to be certain I had a terrific personality that would give me a romantic future. I used to be told about one young student who was in love with me, but being 15 and never big, I didn’t really trust in my ability to pursue a dating life. In 1994, I saw myself because the Steve Urkel with no unreachable neighbor.
In 1994, I had a real love: music. I kept buying cassettes and compact discs; there was at all times music around me. Listening to the newest music from anyone and everybody was my hobby. Mary J. Blige was one in every of those artists that I used to be an enormous fan of. I mean, everyone really was. Her album “What’s the 411?” was released in July 1992, so when school began in August, it was one in every of those albums that everyone was talking about. “True Love” and him one other hip-hop remix the most popular songs were on fire and you can start an impromptu jam session in my middle school dining room by simply saying “true love” out loud.
To say that the anticipation for Mary’s second album was enormous can be the understatement of the yr. I still remember being blown away by the music video for the primary single “Be Happy” on MTV and BET’s “Video Soul”. I remember this mainly because I used to be so frightened about Mary’s life standing on those rocks. Of course she survived the video session, but I used to be very concerned for her safety. I could not imagine life without Mary. I purchased this single and mainly burned a hole in it.
Then got here the monster single “I’m Goin’ Down.” The remake of Rose Royce’s single from the movie “Car Wash” (titled “I’m Going Down”) had all of the black girls in my highschool able to break up with their boyfriends so that they too could sing about it lost love – teenage hormones cause strange problems. Let me just say this for the record: Mary’s version of this song is totally amazing. Her performance on the album is known; you can hear all the experience through her vocals.
If Mary stopped making music at this point, she would already be a legend, I actually consider that. But this whole album is a radiator from start to complete. Even today, once I hearken to “My Life”, my search ends in failure; “My Life” is largely a consolation at this point in my life. From “You Bring Me Joy” to the title track to the ultimate minute of “I Never Wanna Live Without You,” this album is a portal back in time to a version of me that was interested by what life had to supply. I used to be given the vocal type of Mary J. Blige to soundtrack this journey.
It’s also crazy to think about it this manner: “My Life” got here out at a time in my life once I was already driving a automotive. Sure, I used to be 15, but my father also let me drive himself, my siblings, and my friends wherever we would have liked to go because he got bored with running errands. We just agreed that if I got pulled over, he would not know I used to be taking the automotive. Coincidentally, although I used to be in a position to use the automotive at no cost for a solid yr before I could even apply for a driving license, I failed my driving test the primary time I took it on my sixteenth birthday. You’ve never seen a father more lost and upset in his son than my father was that day. We now call my father’s facial expressions “core memory.”
If you’re reading this because you’ve got seen the words of Mary J. Blige and “My Life,” you then, like me, are in a phase of life where you’re continually reminded that you’re not only getting old, but you might actually be old. I will not be old as hell, but I’m too old to be within the club, you realize?
Fortunately, nonetheless, my journey so far in my life includes a number of the best works of musical art in existence, similar to Mary J. Blige’s 1994 album “My Life.” This album – just like the profession of its lead voice, Mary J. Blige – brings me joy.
Entertainment
Daughter of Trump supporter Hulk Hogan distances herself from family years later following racist tirade from her dad who called her then-black boyfriend the N-word
Hulk Hogan and his daughter Brooke have never had any problems in public.
The former “Hogan Knows Best” singer and reality star remained by her father’s side even after making a career-ruining sex tape that captured her father cheating on her mother, Linda Hogan, and in addition included a racist tirade a few black man Brooke was dating at the time time.
However, it looks like the “Brooke Knows Best” star has had enough and now decides that overall, it is best for her to maintain a ways between her and her family.
Her Instagram name is MizzHogan. However, she is currently known on the Internet under the surname Oleksy, the surname of her husband, former NHL player Steven Oleksy, and she or he doesn’t follow anyone from her family on web sites, including her father, mother and brother Nick Hogan. Instagram. But her father follows her brother.
While neither party has publicly revealed any details, there appears to have been something of a rift between Brooke and her family when many individuals noticed she was absent from her father’s wedding to his third wife, Sky Daily, in September 2023.
Immediately after the wedding, she wrote a message to followers on her website: “As many of you realize, I value my privacy, but unfortunately many media are guessing why I didn’t attend my father’s third wedding. Rather than leave it to speculation, I made a decision it could be higher to wrap all of it up here.
Brooke admitted that “the dynamics of the family unit constantly change over the years.”
“That being said, my family has experienced A LOT of change,” she continued. “With all of this happening in the public eye, I had to learn how to best cope with the changes that were coming, which was difficult to say the least.”
“In my own journey towards healing and happiness, I have chosen to create some distance between myself and my family and focus on the people and things that heal my heart and are consistent with my personal beliefs, goals and values,” she concluded, before finally wishing her dad “healthily”.
Hogan is suing Gawker Media LLC for releasing a 2012 sex tape that appears to feature him and the wife of radio host Bubba the Love Sponge. In the same video, Hogan used the N-word in reference to his daughter Brooke’s then-black boyfriend while admitting he was a “racist.”
“I don’t know if Brooke fucked a black man’s son,” Hulk said in a report published by Radar on the Internet in 2012. “I mean, I haven’t got double standards. I mean, I’m a racist to some extent, motherfucking n-rs. But in terms of nice people and shit and whatever.
He allegedly continued, “I mean, I’d moderately she was going to fuck some n***a than if she was going to marry a 6-foot n***a value 100 million dollars! Like a basketball player! I assume we’re all a bit racist. The fucking king of n—r.
Renewed interest in Hulk and Brooke’s relationship he resurfaced because of Wrestling Inc’s report on the father and daughter, which fans reacted to in the comments of the article.
One person said: “For her to really distance herself from him, maybe more was said and not on the video. Why would you be so strong to defend him only to distance yourself later? It seems there’s more to it. What’s even sadder is that if you say something that’s outside of your personal norm, you’re screwed. People will never just give up. As long as people remember it, it’s always there. Hogan said some stupid things about it and people may not have forgotten by the time this article came out, but now they’re reminded of it again.”
The person continued: “I ponder how much dirt the people writing these articles have and the way they might feel if the public was continually reminded of this?
Coming to Brooke’s defense, a second person added: “Looks like Brooke is getting old. She just decided to live her life and check out to achieve success. Easy to say. Well, she would not have develop into famous if it weren’t for her father. Of course, good point. But most individuals are on this position. Especially when he’s younger, he tries various things. How it’s. He seems to generally enjoy being out of the highlight. Good for her.
A 3rd added: “I hope they will heal the rift that exists between them. “I wouldn’t want to be separated from my son or daughter when they become adults.”
During 2015 sit down on “Entertainment Tonight,” Brooke defended the former skilled wrestler, assuring viewers that her father “wasn’t a racist.”
“I do not support what he said. But he’s my dad. I really like him,” she said in the video. “When you’re angry, when you’re at the worst point in your life and you’re angry at someone, you just choose words that don’t fit the situation just to air out your shorts and that’s all. Because I looked at the transcripts and thought, “Yeah, he’s pissed.” But it’s not him. He’s not a racist.”
Brooke continued, “I feel sorry for the dad, but I also feel sorry for the African-American fans and stuff because they do not know that he didn’t mean it. He takes responsibility for it and knows that he thinks, “I fucked up.” These are the consequences of what is going on.
But this wasn’t her father’s first racist tirade or his first utterance of something that shocked the world. Hogan’s biopic was cut short days after he threatened Vice President Kamala Harris in August at an event in Ohio promoting his “Real American Beer” brand.
Hulk Hogan got drunk at Thirsty Cowboys in Medina, Ohio and asked the crowd, “Is Kamala Harris a chameleon? Is she Indian?” He also asked the audience in the event that they wanted him to punch Kamala Harris.
(🎥 @TMZ ) pic.twitter.com/QTBv1zUlR3
— Art of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) August 20, 2024
“Do you want me to hit someone? Do you want me to punch Kamala Harris? I said, “Do you want me to punch Kamala Harris?” Hogan said to the large audience before mentioning one of his signature wrestling moves. “Do you want me to let go of Kamala’s leg?”
The longtime Donald Trump supporter continued to mock her heritage with hand gestures and mispronounced Harris’ name.
Entertainment
Boyz II Men brings their untold story to the big screen – Essence
Denise Truscello/Getty Images
Boyz II Men, the Philadelphia-born vocal group that defined an era with wealthy harmonies and timeless ballads like “End of the Road” and “On Bended Knee,” are finally ready to tell their story on their own terms. The 4-time Grammy Award winner is working on a biographical film that can chronicle their thirty-yr profession, a journey stuffed with chart success, brotherhood and the behind-the-scenes struggles that shaped their music.
He announced the project for the first time can be produced in association with Compelling Pictures and Primary Wave and executive produced by Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men. Compelling Pictures also releases an in-depth documentary about the group’s unparalleled dominance in the Nineties and 2000s and its continued relevance today.
“We have been waiting to find the right partners who understand our story and are willing to tell the story,” Nathan Morris shared in a press release. “Denis and Jeff at Compelling Pictures understood us from day one.”
Denis O’Sullivan () and Jeff Kalligheri (), who will produce the biopic, are in preliminary talks with screenwriters and directors to speed up the implementation of the project. The film, containing a wealthy catalog of Boyz II Men’s hits, shows the group’s path from their debut album (1991) to their current status as music icons.
“I grew up a huge Boyz II Men fan and have spent the last few years getting to know and become friends with the boys, and it’s a huge honor to help bring their unique and untold story to the big screen,” said O’Sullivan and Kalligheri. “We are thrilled to showcase the brotherhood and camaraderie, as well as the challenges and conflict, the humor and heartbreak, that accompanied the unparalleled success that Nate, Shawn, Wanya and Mike worked so hard to achieve. We think audiences everywhere will want to sing along to a sexy, fun, aspirational and uplifting celebration of friendship and artistic partnership that has stood the test of time.”
The film’s production team consists of heavyweights. O’Sullivan and Kalligheri were joined by Larry Mestel of Primary Wave, Joe Mulvihill of The Mulvi Group and Jeremy M. Rosen of Roxwell Films. Mulvihill, who has managed the group for greater than 20 years, added: “Having been with them for over 22 years, I have seen the ups and downs and all the deep emotional turmoil among people. I think people will be pleasantly surprised when they see something behind the curtain.”
More than thirty years after their debut, they continue to be the best-selling R&B group of all time, with over 60 million albums sold worldwide. The group recently celebrated one other milestone by headlining a sold-out, three-night run at the Hollywood Bowl – a triumphant return to the venue where they once performed as openers early in their profession. Thanks to hits comparable to “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” and the record-breaking collaboration with Mariah Carey “One Sweet Day”, the group can be remembered by fans for a very long time.
“Boyz II Men are one of the most influential bands of their generation. They are one of the few who transcend genre and format,” Mestel said.
As the production ramps up, fans can expect a soulful and celebratory take a look at the group’s meteoric rise and the bond that united them. As O’Sullivan and Kalligheri joked, it is a story stuffed with “doom-doom-doom-da-da” moments which are each excruciating and uplifting.
From daytime to sold-out arena nights, Boyz II Men’s journey to the big screen can be an eventful one.
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