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The loss of the black stars signals the end of an era – Andscape

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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.

Keith “Murph” Murphy is a senior editor at VIBE magazine and a frequent contributor to Billboard, AOL and CBS Local magazines. The veteran journalist has appeared on CNN, FOX News and A&E Biography, and is the writer of the men’s lifestyle book “The XO Manifesto.”

This article was originally published on : andscape.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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