Entertainment
Bun B’s all-American takeover celebrated black and brown talent from across the country
(Photo by Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for Crown Royal)
Legendary Texas rapper Bun B is understood not just for his solo profession, but additionally as one half of the iconic hip-hop duo Underground Kingz (UGK). His influence reaches far beyond Texas, and the “country rap” sound created by Pimp C is reaching the masses. His position earned him a coveted appearance at Black Heritage night at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. It was here that he introduced his groundbreaking “Takeover” live shows, a one-day extravaganza that brings a constellation of artists to Houston’s NRG Stadium during peak rodeo season.
During his inaugural 2022 “Takeover” event, Bun B spotlighted H-Town’s OG rap talent, assembling an all-star lineup of local stars including Lil Keke, Slim Thug, Z-Ro, Paul Wall, and even the Destiny’s Child alum LeToya Luckett. Building on this success, the following yr Bun B expanded its reach regionally with Southern Takeover, which featured iconic acts equivalent to 8 Ball & MJG, Erykah Badu and David Banner.
In 2024, the emcee took his “Takeover” concept to a brand new level with the “All-American” theme, showcasing diverse contributions to hip-hop from across the country. The event provided a glimpse into Houston’s vibrant music scene, St. Louis, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and Atlanta. The lineup included a powerhouse band that included Nelly, Eve, The Ying Yang Twins, Rick Ross, E-40 and Too Short – 33 songs and 90 minutes of nostalgic hits.
As a part of the promotion and marketing of the show, Bun B slowly and deliberately announced the names of the artists who would join him on stage for the US-wide enterprise. Before the show, Bun B announced that Canadian rapper Drake would even be at the show, but like Houston, you never really know who will show up.
In addition to showcasing these key talents on the Rodeo’s major stage, Bun B took meticulous care of each aspect of the performance. Kicking off the show with a blinding display of fireworks and pyrotechnics, it ignited an electrifying atmosphere even before the artists took to the stage. Moreover, to extend anticipation and excitement, each performer was introduced via jumbotron, setting the stage for his or her extraordinary performances. The show began with a dialogue between Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson and Shannon Sharpe, hosts of the acclaimed YouTube show, to organize the audience.
Bun B ceremoniously took the stage, opening his set along with his iconic song “Draped Up” while adorned in a cowboy hat and a custom poncho emblazoned along with his name. As the crowd vibrated to his opening song, their attention was soon redirected to the jumbotron, where charismatic Oakland resident Marshawn Lynch took over the screen. Lynch introduced each E-40 and Too Short, announcing their arrival on stage to deliver electrifying renditions of their hits including “Ghost Ride The Whip” and “Blow The Whistle”, igniting the audience with their infectious energy and undeniable stage presence .
The night was just starting, promising a marathon of unforgettable performances. Bun B brought the energy from the West Coast to the Midwest as Cedric The Entertainer virtually introduced us to iconic rapper Nelly taking the stage. With hits equivalent to “Hot In Here” and “EI”, Nelly kept the audience in suspense and emotion. The highlight then moved to the East Coast as Eve, the only female artist on the lineup, took the stage. Known as Ruff Ryders’ first lady, Eve captivated audiences together with her rousing performances of classics equivalent to “Who’s That Girl,” “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” and “Tambourine.”
After Philadelphia native Eve’s electrifying performances, the journey continued south to Atlanta, where the crowd was immersed in Ying Yang Twins’ iconic Y2K-era songs like “Salt Shaker” and “Get Low.” Despite the high-octane energy pulsing through the stadium, the night was not over yet. Moving seamlessly from Atlanta to Miami, the audience was introduced to Rick Ross by his “We The Best” co-star, DJ Khaled. Ross delivered a rousing set, specializing in his mainstream hits equivalent to “Hustlin'” and “BMF,” keeping the night moving and keeping the audience on their feet.
Given all the hits Drake and Rick Ross have had together, fans naturally assumed Drake was about to take the stage, but after the Miami native’s performance, the performance was limited to the jumbotron to receive a message from Houston’s Scarface. , which introduced the audience to Baytown, Texas rapper That Mexican OT. He performed his viral hit “Johnny Dang.”
Returning the highlight to his beloved Houston, Bun B took the moment to grace the stage with a strong performance of “Trill” in the thunderous presence of Le$, Slim Thug and Houston’s Lil Keke, whose records have served as a logo of the city’s culture. Continuing his tribute to the city’s wealthy musical heritage, Bun B delved into the archives of UGK’s groundbreaking album, , inviting the audience to a heartfelt performance of the poignant “One Day.” Accompanied by George Ryan Bingham, lead guitarist of the acclaimed TV series, the performance took on an ethereal feel as Bun B paid tribute to fallen legends equivalent to Pimp C, DJ Screw, Big Moe and Fat Pat. This touching moment was much more meaningful since it was the first performance following the premature death of Houston’s Big Pokey, who tragically died of a heart attack in June 2023.
After a brief break, Bun B himself took the stage to introduce Drake, who had long considered Houston his artistic home, since it was here, at Warehouse Live, that the artist first impressed and had his breakthrough. Drake kicked off his set with the infectious “N 2 Deep,” a nod to Bun B’s classic “Get Throwed” that blends old with recent. From there, he delved into his extensive discography, treating audiences to hits equivalent to “Energy” from , the anthemic “God’s Plan” from , and the iconic “Hotline Bling” from . The crowd was much more delighted when Drake performed “Rich Baby Daddy” from the album, culminating in a spectacular finale complete with a blinding light show and cascade of fireworks, marking the triumphant conclusion of the 2024 takeover.
As the evening drew to an in depth, Bun B graciously returned to the stage one last time, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to everyone in attendance, before launching right into a spectacular rendition of Outkast’s hit “International Players Anthem.” However, just when it seemed that the evening couldn’t get any more legendary, a surprise guest appeared on stage – none apart from DMC from Run DMC. The two hip-hop icons, accompanied by Bun B, placed on an electrifying performance, with Bun B wearing a cheeky “Bun DMC” T-shirt and adding a funny twist on an unforgettable moment.
Featuring never-before-seen hip-hop icons, this yr’s show was an enormous success, drawing the second-largest rodeo attendance this season (over 75,000 fans), just shy of Nickelback’s paid attendance of 75,036. While fans eagerly awaiting what the future holds, speculation is running rampant as to what Bun B has in store for 2025. With a wealth of talent still untapped and his takeover franchise reaching recent heights, there isn’t a doubt that the next installment guarantees to be his most spectacular yet. at the same time, he cemented his status as an elder statesman in the world of hip-hop extravaganzas.
Entertainment
What do you know about Cynthia Erivo?
With the discharge of Wicked fast approaching, it’s protected to say that Cynthia Erivo is on fire straight away.
The film adaptation of the Broadway musical (which is an adaptation of a best-selling novel based on one other novel) is about to open to over $175 million worldwide this weekend, and Erivo has just landed a significant deal.
Universal Pictures has struck a first-look cope with its production company Edith’s Daughter, Deadline reported.
“Having spent the last three years working with Donna Langley, Peter Cramer and the Universal team on Wicked, I have experienced first-hand the love and fearlessness with which they tell stories and uplift narrators,” said Erivo. “I am absolutely delighted to take the next step in our cooperation under our first-look agreement. This is not only a milestone for my production company, but also a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of diverse voices in film. I can’t wait to bring our visions to life and share them with the world!”
However, some could also be just discovering the 37-year-old from Stockwell, London (where she was born right into a family of Nigerian immigrants) or may don’t know about her background and profession to this point. There’s quite a bit to like about the Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner – and much more to grasp beneath the surface. Below we have gathered some things you have to know about Erivo, including some very necessary ones.
He is a Broadway sensation
Before Erivo became a star of the silver screen, she made a reputation for herself on the stage. The actress’ breakthrough role was the role of Celie within the musical adaptation of “The Color Purple” on Broadway. From 2015 to 2017, she delivered critically acclaimed, groundbreaking performances, winning the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
She has played several iconic black characters
Aretha Franklin, Harriet Tubman and Recy Taylor are black American historical figures immortalized on screen by Erivo, who has played all of them in movies. Shortly after her Broadway run in 2017, Erivo played Taylor in “The Rape of Recy Taylor.” She then starred as Tubman within the 2019 film “Harriet.”
In 2021, Erivo played Franklin within the National Geographic anthology “Genius: Aretha”. While critics praised her performance, Franklin’s family had a special tackle the project, claiming she was never consulted and even felt “disrespected” by the production team.
He is a queer icon
Earlier this yr, Erivo received the Schrader Award from the Los Angeles LGBT Center as a self-proclaimed member for her talent and support of the queer community.
“Acknowledging that I am queer publicly – especially in the public eye – means taking a risk to claim my freedom,” she said in her speech through which she agreed to return out as queer later in life. “It seems we prefer to see the world in black and white rather than accept the difficult (but beautiful) complexities of our humanity.”
Although it has never been explicitly confirmed, Erivo has long been considered one half of a fairly powerful Black Hollywood power couple, as she is commonly seen at red carpet events alongside fellow industry heavyweight Lena Waithe.
He has a novel sense of fashion
From shaving her eyebrows to her signature long and ornamental nails, Erivo is understood for her daring sense of fashion. Her uniqueness was even incorporated into her makeup for “Wicked.” The makeup artist used stencils to attract eyebrows and add freckles. Meanwhile, a special shade of green face and body makeup was developed to make Erivo’s melaninated skin appear “clearly” on screen, and the shade was named “Cynthia Green,” the film’s makeup artist said People Magazine. It’s value noting that despite the hours-long application process required day by day for months of filming, she also said that Erivo “never, ever, ever complained.”
She doesn’t suffer fools
Social media was abuzz this week with response to actor/podcast host Dax Shepard’s invasive query about Erivo’s signature elaborate manicure, specifically how he moves through it while using the lavatory. When footage of her interview with Shepard hit the Internet, many individuals were quick to sentence its inappropriateness, asking her how she wipes herself while having very long, jeweled nails.
“My answer is that no one wipes their ass with just their fingers. You use wipes, right? And you wipe it off,” she replied calmly.
Erivo further expressed her annoyance with this query; the one she had exhibited before.
“I understand, it annoys me. Come on, guys,” she said. “I understand, but I’m a functioning adult and I’ve never walked around smelling like… you know.”
People participating within the discussion found this query rude, disgusting and invasive. It can also be, as Erivo identified, unoriginal. In response to this viral exchange, some have responded by demonstrating how they adapt these very human processes to long fingernails – and shockingly, it’s just about the identical process we have all been doing since potty training. It’s really not that complicated.
He has some questionable tweets in his search history
When it was announced in 2018 that Erivo would play Harriet Tubman within the biopic “Harriet,” the British actress’s seemingly problematic comments made years earlier about the language of Black Americans inevitably resurfaced. As previously reported by theGrio, this compounded existing questions about the choice to forged British-born Erivo because the historical African-American hero, given what some perceived as a disdain for African-American culture.
“As for the tweets, they were taken out of context, giving me no room to explain what they meant – and they weren’t actually mocking anyone,” she explained on the time: Complex reported. “It was not intended to be (offensive) at all. It was to celebrate a song I (wrote) when I was 16.”
Speaking further about the controversy during an event on the Toronto International Film Festival, she said: “I actually have never… never spoken negatively about people because I don’t desire to; I don’t desire this energy to be passed on to others.”
She continued: “I do not think it’s good for us in any respect; I do not think it serves any purpose apart from to bring negativity into my life and yours, and I just don’t desire that.
Perhaps he has some tension with the band in “The Color Purple.”
For unknown reasons, Erivo claims she was not invited to a special screening of the musical “The Color Purple” for family and friends, which was also attended by other members of her Broadway forged. It’s a bit strange that the Tony-winning revival star wasn’t on the guest list. When asked about her apparent rejection in the course of the interview and whether it reflected her initial considerations for Celie’s role within the film adaptation, Erivo suggested she couldn’t talk about it.
Despite every little thing, he’s capable of admit his mistake
Erivo can have had mixed emotions previously as a result of questionable comments or her unwavering passion for her craft, but she is ultimately capable of admit when she was incorrect. In the lead-up to Wicked’s premiere, fan-made art got here to light that edited the film’s poster to look more like the unique Broadway Playbill, obscuring Erivo’s direct gaze with the brim of her witch hat. The actress was initially very offended, but later admitted that she can have overreacted.
“I think for me it was a human moment…” she later explained. “I probably should have called my friends, but I’m fine.”
After all, she is an expert
Say what you want, but Cynthia Erivo is robust and talented. He can also be a one that is alleged to place the nice of the team ahead of his personal glory. During a recent appearance on “Cutting room floor” podcast, she described her technique of coming into harmony together with her “Wicked” co-star Ariana Grande and the way the 2 worked together to create a unified sound fairly than resorting to diva-like behavior in an try and outshine one another.
For example, although she and Grande have very different voices, Erivo noted that what they’ve in common is way more necessary.
“I think what connects us is the way we hear music, so we can hear each other,” she explained. “And the beauty of singing with someone who can also hear is that you follow each other back and forth. We can find ways to make our textures and sounds make sense, and that’s really hard with humans.”
Erivo added: “It also signifies that you found someone completely selfless because they care about working with you, and being an element of that’s essentially the most amazing thing. When you find someone who’s committed to creating sound together, (there may be) no ego.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg Takes Over ‘Amazon Music Live’ in Season 3 Finale – Essence
Snoop Dogg attends the Los Angeles Premiere of “Gladiator II” held on the TCL Chinese Theater on November 18, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
When Snoop Dogg takes the stage at Amazon Music Live on November 29, it is the moment hip-hop fans have been waiting for. The West Coast legend ends Season 3 with a performance that guarantees to be nothing in need of legendary.
Airing after Black Friday Football at 7pm EST on Prime Video and Twitchthe show will showcase his expansive musical journey, combining chart toppers with deep cuts that defined a complete generation.
Sponsored by the brand new 2025 Nissan Kicks, fans can expect an exclusive first hearken to songs from his upcoming album ‘Missionary’, which might be released next month. The announcement comes at a critical point in Snoop’s profession and marks the following evolution of an artist who moves seamlessly between music, acting and entrepreneurship.
Amazon Music Live has change into a powerhouse of musical innovation, and Snoop’s final performance epitomizes what it’s all about. Throughout Season 3, the series featured standout moments from artists resembling Jelly Roll, who brought together country and rock stars for an epic performance, and Big Sean, who paid tribute to historically black colleges and universities together with his breathtaking tribute .
For those that wish to have fun in advance and luxuriate in the final word Snoop experience, Amazon Music has REDISCOVER Snoop Dogg playlist it’s the proper foundation. It’s a musical time capsule chronicling his journey from the Long Beach underground scene to world-famous superstardom. Each track tells the story of an artist who not only survived in the music industry, but fundamentally modified it.
With 16 Grammy nominations to his name, Snoop continues to prove that he’s greater than only a rapper – he’s a real entertainment icon. His influence extends far beyond music, touching on film, television, cannabis culture and entrepreneurship. The Black Friday performance might be the following chapter in a profession defined by constant reinvention.
The performance isn’t only about music – it’s also a presentation of, amongst others, recent nissan kicks 2025. As an official sponsor of Amazon Music Live, the compact crossover was integrated throughout the season, giving fans a glimpse of its modern style and advanced technologies through pre-show and in-person experiences on the show.
For those in the Los Angeles area, a limited variety of tickets can be found from DICE. But for everybody else, Prime Video and Twitch will bring the magic of Doggfather right to your screen. It’s a probability to see a living legend in top form, delivering a performance that guarantees to be as unpredictable and electrifying as Snoop himself.
Entertainment
Melania slammed Donald Trump with third prenup change, fueling rumors of marital drama after she dodged his kiss and claim resurfaced
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.
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.
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