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Rosie Perez embarrassed after jumping the line to meet Barack Obama

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“Do the Right Thing” starring Spike Lee and Rosie Perez played a key role in the early love story of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.

Barack, 63, first met 60-year-old Michelle in 1989, the same 12 months “Do the Right Thing” hit American theaters.

The future First Family’s first date included watching a movie distributed by Universal Pictures.

Perez, 60, played Tina in the critically acclaimed comedy-drama which the first family saw on their first date. Lee, 67, played the lead role of Mookie. He also served as a director, screenwriter and producer.

During a recent appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Perez opened up about a clumsy conversation she had with Barack about her debut acting gig.

‘Do the Right Thing’ star Rosie Perez recalls making an embarrassing comment during her first meeting with then-US Senator Barack Obama. (Photo: rosieperezbrooklyn/Instagram; barackobama/Instagram)

The former “In Living Color” choreographer met the Democratic politician when he was still a U.S. senator from Illinois from 2004 to 2008.

“I assumed, ‘Senator, senator, senator, hello. I’m a giant fan of yours. And he said, “I’m a big fan of yours too.” I said, “Do you know who I am?” And he said, ‘Yes, Michelle and I, on our first date we saw ‘Do the Right Thing,'” Perez recalled.

The Brooklyn, New York resident continued, “I assumed, ‘Oh my God, have you ever seen my boobs?!’ I felt very ashamed. He said, “Yes, we did.” And then he asked me to campaign for him. It was wonderful.”

Rosie and Barack’s first interaction was when the actress received the Medallion of Excellence for Leadership and Community Service from Spanish Congress Club in 2008.

In 2015, Perez also told the story of first meeting Obama during an interview for the PBS documentary “American Masters: The Women’s List.” Perez also shared how she landed the role in “Do the Right Thing.”

“I met Spike Lee at a nightclub and we had an argument because he was having a butt contest in the nightclub to see which black woman could have the biggest A,” Perez said in an excerpt from the documentary.

“I found it terrifying,” she continued. “So I jumped on stage to make fun of the whole situation. The bouncer got here and took me off and took me to Spike Lee.

According to Perez, her future co-star considered that moment in the club as “fate” and expressed her desire to forged her in one in every of his movies. She credits the filmmaker with helping change the perception of her destiny.

The Obamas also admitted that Lee’s third feature film influenced their future. In 2014, Barack and Michelle praised the director in a video message during the twenty fifth anniversary celebration of “Do the Right Thing” held at the County Museum of Art in Los Angeles.

“He tried to show me his sophisticated side by choosing an independent filmmaker, and it ended up being quite a good movie – really great!” As reported by the website: Michelle said that Barack took her to a movie Hollywood reporter.

Barack chimed in, “So Spike, thank you for helping me impress Michelle, and thank you for telling a touching story. Today I have a few more gray hairs than in 1989. You don’t look like Mookie anymore. “However, ‘Do the Right Thing’ continues to hold a mirror to our society, make us laugh, make us think, and challenge us all to see ourselves in each other.”

“Do the Right Thing” received two Oscar nominations. Lee won for Best Original Screenplay, and Danny Aiello won for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Sal.

In addition to Lee, Perez and Aiello, the forged of “Do the Right Thing” also includes Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, John Turturro, Samuel L. Jackson and Martin Lawrence.

Perez endorsed Obama in the 2008 presidential race against his Republican opponent, Arizona Sen. John McCain. She too he campaigned for him in Florida. Obama won the state’s 27 Electoral College votes and have become president.

After Obama won in 2008, Perez served Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. PACHA members provided advice, information and proposals to the Obama administration on domestic and global HIV/AIDS policy issues.

“Today I’m pleased that a brand new group of experts has joined PACHA; and I look forward to hearing from the Council about our ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of HIV infection in the United States and to provide care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS around the world,” President Obama said in response to the company’s creation ARMPIT.

Perez later became a political pundit on television as a daily co-host on the 18th season of “The View.” She recalled leaving the ABC daytime talk show in 2015 as: “bittersweet.”

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Denzel and John David Washington talk about working on ‘The Piano Lesson’ under the direction of ‘Mama Boy’ Malcolm

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The Piano Lesson, The Piano Lesson film, The Piano Lesson movie, Malcolm Washington, Malcolm Washington The Piano Lesson, Denzel Washington, Denzel Washington The Piano Lesson, John David Washington, John David Washington The Piano Lesson, Pauletta Washington, Pauletta Washington The Piano Lesson, Denzel Washington family, Denzel Washington kids, Denzel Washington sons, theGrio.com

Premiering in theaters on Friday, November 8, the film adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning family drama “The Piano Lesson” is a real family affair. Denzel Washington and oldest daughter Katia Washington are executive producers of the film, which was directed by his youngest son Malcolm, in addition to oldest son John David Washington. The matriarch of the family, Pauletta Washington, and Malcolm’s twin, Olivia, also appear as younger and older versions of the same character.

IN recent interview withAdditional” correspondent Mona Kosar Abdi, Denzel discussed working with family and specifically learn how to do it his son Malcolm did this in his first foray as a feature film director.

“When he started, you know, calling it ‘Action,’ and here we go, here we go. We’ll see what he does, you know,” said the patriarch and legend of cinema. As it turned out, Malcolm was up to the challenge. “He was so prepared that there was no reason to be nervous on the first day,” Denzel added.

John David, star of “The Piano Lesson,” agreed, saying, “I couldn’t have picked a better leader to do this. I was excited to see how (Malcolm) saw the work, how he saw the words. He is a brilliant man, my brother, and yet he is very open and susceptible to ideas and cooperation. So I love that quality of his, and he definitely applied it to our work environment, so it was easy,” he continued. “I didn’t think of him as a brother, I thought of him more as who he is, which is a phenomenal director. So in that respect it was easy because I’m just a fan of his work.”

However, it was the influence of one other member of the Washington family that dominated the film; Denzel’s wife, actress and mother of 4 children Pauletta Washington.

“She was on set with us and Denzel always said she was the producer,” said the co-executive producer. Todd Black, noting that the veteran actress plays “a huge part of all four children’s lives” and guides them “with such care, guidance and a strong hand.”

Denzel had a rather different opinion about his wife’s influence on his son Malcolm, who dedicated the film “The Piano Lesson” to her.

“Where’s Dad?” the Oscar winner joked about the dedication, adding, “I’ve been waiting — it’ll keep scrolling, something else will come up.”

He added: “He – and I say this with all love and he’ll let you know – (Malcolm) is a mama’s boy. He will now be sitting on his mother’s lap.

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For John David, the experience of working along with his parents and siblings — together with Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, Corey Hawkins, Ray Fisher, Stephan James, Erykah Badu and more — was helpful as they worked to further his artistic legacy.

“We were all in the trenches together,” he said. “Likewise, we understand the traditions here, we understand the importance and importance and how relevant August (Wilson) continues to be, and it is our job to lead and uphold that message.”

Thanks to this production, the legacy of the Washington family continues to grow. “I understand, respect and take with me the artists that both my parents are, the people they were before they met, the artists they are, and I try to maintain it and instill it in every project” Jan Dawid continued. “I come to art humble, hungry and longing for knowledge. I just wish to proceed to learn, grow and expand who I will be.

“I think if I do that and attack with urgency, ferocity and ruthlessness, I think that’s how I can maintain or sustain the legacy.”

“The Piano Lesson” is now available in select U.S. theaters and might be streaming on Netflix on November 22.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Iconic GRAMMY Beauty Moments Nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards – Essence

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Before the most important night of music, official list of nominees The 2025 annual GRAMMY Awards were announced today. The most decorated Grammy winner in history with 32 nods, none aside from Beyoncé, leads with 11 nominations. This season Super Bowl performer and 16-time winner Kendrick Lamar has a shot at two more. Cardi B has the potential so as to add a tenth trophy to her mantle.

To highlight their success, artists exhibit their most historic looks of the 12 months on the Grammy Awards. In 2004, Beyoncé wore smoky purple eyeshadow that faded on her cheeks as she clutched five awards between her ring-clad fingers. Erykah Badu, nominated this 12 months for Best Melodic Rap Performance from Rhapsody, posed Angela Davis-style with metallic lips when she won in 2003.

Endorsed by Kendrick Lamar rapper Doechii attended her first Grammys of 2022 in a red ponytail with extensions and a black and metallic stiletto. Meanwhile, Cardi B 2019 Dressed Like a Flower Stem with Pearls Wrapped Around Her Updo, Afro Accessory Beats the Artist Tems lent to her 2023 buns with matching gold metallic eyeshadow.

To have a good time a few of our favourite 2025 GRAMMY nominees and get enthusiastic about their 2025 awards show looks, take a have a look at their best GRAMMY beauty moments.

Beyoncé, forty sixth Annual GRAMMY Awards

Beyoncé – nominated for 11 2025 GRAMMY Awards – opted for purple eyeshadow and a sleek hairstyle on the forty sixth Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 8: Singer/actress Beyonce Knowles poses backstage after winning 5 Grammy Awards within the press room through the forty sixth Annual Grammy Awards on February 8, 2004 on the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
Beyonce wears a 50-carat diamond ring on the suitable by Lorraine Schwartz and diamond earrings (Photo: KMazur/WireImage)

Brandy and Monica, forty first Annual GRAMMY Awards

Brandy and Monica – nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in Ariana Grande’s “The Boy Is My” – arrived in metallic lipstick and glitter eye shadow on the forty first Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
02/24/99 Los Angeles, California Brandy and Monica were all smiles on the forty first Annual Grammy Awards. (Photo: Ron Wolfson/Getty Images)

Cardi B, 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards

This 12 months’s Best Rap Performance nominee Cardi B attended the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards in a pearl hairstyle and daring eye shadow.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Cardi B attends the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Erykah Badu, forty fifth Annual GRAMMY Awards

Erykah Badu, nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance, attended the forty fifth Annual GRAMMY Awards with an Angela Davis-esque hairstyle and henna on her biceps.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 23: Erykah Badu poses backstage through the forty fifth Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on February 23, 2003 in New York City. (Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

Alicia Keys, fiftieth Annual GRAMMY Awards

Composer and lyricist Alicia Keys was nominated for best musical theater album, years after she showed off her wins with pink lipstick and a straight, raw haircut.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Singer Alicia Keys poses with the awards for Best Female R&B Performance and Best R&B Song within the press room through the fiftieth Annual Grammy Awards held on February 10, 2008 on the Staples Center in Los Angeles in California. (Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Tems, sixty fifth Annual GRAMMY Awards

Tems was nominated for three GRAMMY Awards: Best R&B Song, Best World Music Album and Best African Music Performance, and attended the sixty fifth Awards in gold eyeshadow and chocolate lipstick.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Tems attends the sixty fifth GRAMMY Awards on February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

SZA, sixtieth Annual GRAMMY Awards

Nominated for best R&B performance and best R&B song, SZA showed up in a voluminous wig and eyelashes to match the sixtieth annual GRAMMY Awards.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 28: Recording artist SZA attends the sixtieth Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images)

A$AP Rocky, 2019 GRAMMY Gala

A$AP Rocky – nominated on this 12 months’s Best Music Video category – wore his signature braids and a neat manicure through the 2019 GRAMMY gala.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – FEBRUARY 09: A$AP Rocky attends The Recording Academy and Clive Davis’ 2019 GRAMMY Gala on the Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage)

Coco Jones, sixty fifth GRAMMY Awards

Coco Jones, nominated for best R&B song and best R&B performance, showed as much as the sixty fifth GRAMMY Awards in matte lips that contrasted along with her glitter eyeshadow.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Coco Jones attends the sixty fifth GRAMMY Awards on February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Jon Batiste, 66th GRAMMY Awards

Jon Batiste – nominated for ‘Best Song Written for Visual Media’ and ‘Best Musical Film’ – showed off clean skins and places ultimately 12 months’s awards.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 04: Jon Batiste attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards on the Crypto.com Arena on February 4, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Doechii, sixty fourth Annual GRAMMY Awards

Doechii – nominated for Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance and Best Remixed Recording – sported a straightforward red ponytail on the sixty fourth Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Iconic GRAMMY beauty moments nominated for 2025 GRAMMY Awards
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 03: Doechii attends the sixty fourth Annual GRAMMY Awards on the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 3, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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There will never be another storyteller like Quincy Jones – Andscape

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One query ran through my mind about Quincy Jones. This happened long before his death on Monday became international news. But the query is straightforward, yet complex.

How did one man live?

Jones was born two months after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inauguration in 1933 and died just days before Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Meanwhile, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. he lived a unprecedented American life and had no problem telling about his journey to anyone who would listen. Jones has never seemed hooked on the highlight. Instead, his innate charisma and gift for gab took center stage. His stories were boastful, because considering who he knew and what he had experienced, how could they not?

Throughout his seven-decade profession, Jones has amassed rather a lot over 4000 songs. Many of the songs are embedded within the country’s history, and most of the artists who got here to define the sound of American music, from Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Count Basie to Donna Summer, Dinah Washington and plenty of others. The best-selling album of all time, Jackson’s, wouldn’t have been possible without Jones’ genius. Culture critic – said Bomani Jones Jones’ distinctive talent “made everyone else better.” This much is undeniable. Jones’ musical legacy is as unparalleled because it has ever been and will be.

This was partly because Jones’ music was not relegated to the studio or radio. The depth of his catalog and talent to inform stories through music also resonated deeply in film and tv. Jones’ musical imprint can be seen in culture-changing works equivalent to (Jones created the theme song), composing the film soundtrack, and A King’s Ransom more. For Jones, his assists were just as quite a few. Jones almost composed the soundtrack to the 1995 classic, but calmly directed Babyface to alter his appearance. The soundtrack became probably the most beloved in cinema history.

But what involves mind for Jones is how amazing the stories he has told over time have been. Jones’ storytelling skills were audacious. His Interview from 2018 became an easy classic because it brought back memories with everyone from Marlon Brando – and his alleged sexual proclivities – to Michael Jackson and even Donald Trumpa person he described as a “crazy f***er” and a “f… idiot” who was “mentally limited” and “couldn’t stand him.” Then 85, Jones’s grandfatherly ability to talk with out a filter led him to debate who assassinated President John F. Kennedy and his love and artistic contempt for The Beatles.

“They were the worst musicians in the world,” Jones said of the group. – They weren’t funny motherfuckers.

Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones (right) on the twenty sixth Annual Grammy Awards, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, February 28, 1984.

CBS via Getty Images

This was just the tip of the iceberg. Jones’s life and interviews could function a research masterclass. Go back through the a long time and also you will discover a man who was used at so many critical moments in American history. He once claimed that Detroit Red was his team’s drug dealer long before he became Malcolm X. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recalled vacationing with Jones at his home and family. Jones’ decision to assist starting in 1993 was a daring move that paid off tenfold and altered the way in which people checked out music magazines. became one in every of the distinctive voices of authority in hip-hop and R&B in a decade that saw each genres skyrocket in popularity and influence.

Mentoring was also a part of his story. Jamie Foxx gave Jones credit helping him properly prepare for his Oscar-winning role Jones’ best friend, Ray Charles in Późny Nipsey Hussle Listening to interviews Jones has given over time about creating the wax poetics of Hearing Jones on how he and Jackson curated the album directly led to Hussle applying the identical process to his own breakout project, Grammy nominee Tupac Shakur , who once criticized Jones for his interracial marriages, almost became Jones’ son-in-law and was engaged to his daughter Kidada on the time of his 1996 murder. Will Smith said Jones, the producer, “let me use your wings until mine are strong enough to fly.”

Left to right: Singers Ray Charles and Lou Rawls pose with Quincy Jones at a United Negro College Fund event at Chasen’s Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, December 3, 1987.

Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Trying to put in writing down every story Jones ever told and each life he touched is futile. Quincy Jones lived for 91 years, however it is unattainable to find out what number of incarnations he actually lived during this era. He was a walking wealthy man, collecting titles equivalent to jazz musician, producer, composer (in 1957 he moved to Paris to check composition with Nadia Boulanger and Olivier Messiaen), people connector, filmmaker and plenty of more. Jones used his power to empower others. He was a highly respected influencer long before social media corrupted the term. It’s much more unattainable to understand how many lives Jones modified along the way in which. The lives of celebrities and the lives of bizarre men or women were influenced by a person who made probably the most of life, in seemingly every way possible. In Jones’ case, I often wondered if he realized how invaluable his own memories were. I’m sure he did, that is why he talked about them a lot.

The historian has all the time held probably the most necessary positions within the Black community. This is how our stories are passed on. This is how immortality is achieved. I have a look at America and where it’s inevitably heading. Books are banned. It is forbidden to show history, especially black history, the precise course of events. People like Jones were necessary because he spoke the reality in a way that couldn’t be quantified.

The music he created echoes in corners of the universe still undiscovered. I hear Tevin Campbell’s lyrics from Jones’ 1989 classic “Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me)” in my head.

” Campbell sings. “.”

In a rustic where Jones has never shied away from criticism, these 35-yr-old texts resonate in a way they could never have before. We must proceed to inform ourselves that we’re closer to heaven than to hell, even when we feel the warmth of the hearth around our necks. Jones has lived this mantra for a long time, generations, and a number of other different shades of makeup that America has tried to placed on to cover its true identity. Now Jones is not any longer here. Preserving Black history is maybe the best tribute to Quincy Jones that any of us could imagine. Because now, greater than ever, their survival has never been more in danger.

Justin Tinsley is a senior culture author at Andscape. He firmly believes that “Cash Money Records Takes the Eggs in the ’99s and ’00s” is probably the most influential statement of his generation.


This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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