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Entertainment

2 mins read

Tina Turner, Queen of Rock and Roll, Dies at 83

Tina Turner, the legendary singer and one of the most influential performers in music history, has died at the age of 83.

Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, in 1939. She began her career as a backup singer for Ike Turner before branching out to begin a solo career that would see her achieve even greater success.

Her solo career was launched with the release of her 1984 multi-platinum album, “Private Dancer.” The album spawned the hit singles “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” and “Better Be Good to Me,” and won Turner a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. She went on to release several more successful albums, including “Break Every Rule” (1986), “Foreign Affair” (1989), and “Wildest Dreams” (1996).

Turner was a powerhouse performer with a commanding stage presence. She was known for her energetic live shows, which often featured elaborate costumes and choreography. She was also a gifted vocalist with a powerful voice that could belt out rock anthems or soulful ballads.

She was a pioneer for women in rock music and a true icon of music and culture. She broke down barriers and paved the way for other female artists. She was a Grammy Award-winning artist who sold over 200 million records worldwide. She was also a successful actress, appearing in films such as “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” (1985) and “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” (1993).

She retired from music in 2009, but she continued to tour and perform until 2013. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, and she received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2005.

Tina Turner was a force of nature. She was a talented singer, a powerful performer, and a survivor. She will be remembered as one of the most iconic and influential artists of all time.

2 mins read

Tyler Perry Signs Four-Film Deal With Amazon Studios

Tyler Perry has signed a four-film deal with Amazon Studios. Under the terms of the agreement, Perry will write, direct, and produce four films for Prime Video, which reaches more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

“I’m excited and grateful to start working with Amazon Studios to bring movies to Prime Video,” Perry said in a statement announcing the deal. “Jennifer Salke and the entire team have welcomed me with open arms. I’m looking forward to continuing telling unique stories and bringing my next projects to the global audiences that they reach.”

Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry

News of the deal comes amid a surge of recent successes for Perry. In 2021, Perry was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy Awards and presented the Governor’s Award at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Perry’s last three films — “A Jazzman’s Blues,” “A Madea Homecoming” and “A Fall from Grace”— were released by Netflix. “A Fall From Grace” attracted a reported 26 million viewers to the streamer in its first week, while “A Madea Homecoming” marked the 12th installment of the wildly popular franchise, in which he stars, directs, writes and executive produces.

In September, Perry released his longtime passion project “A Jazzman’s Blues,” developed from his first screenplay written 27 years ago. He also directed and produced the historical drama, which made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

@Tony O. Lawson

1 min read

Black Owned Record Stores You Should Know

In the ’60s and ’70s, there were as many as a thousand Black owned record stores. Today, only a fraction of the US’s 2,500 record stores are Black owned.

Black Owned Record Stores

That’s why today, on Record Store Day 2022, we want to celebrate the culture of the independently owned records store by highlighting some stores located around the world.

Black Owned Record Stores

Brittany’s Record Shop (Cleveland, OH)

Freshtopia (Norfolk, VA)

Halsey & Lewis (Brooklyn, NY)

HR Records (Washington, D.C.)

Black Owned Record Stores

Jampac Records (Monroe, NC)

JB’s Record Lounge (Atlanta, GA)

Moodies Records (Bronx, NY)

Maestro Records (Peckham, London)

OffBeat (Jackson, MS)

Black Owned Record Stores

Re-Runz Records (Orlando, FL)

Serious Sounds (Houston, TX)

Stokely’s Records (Valdosta, GA)

Supertone Records (Brixton, London)

The Jazzhole (Lagos, Nigeria)

 

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2 mins read

AMP Global, Empowering Creators and Giving a Voice to Music Fans Across the Continent

Three-time Emmy-nominated producer and host Derrick N. Ashong is the CEO and co-founder of AMP Global Technologies, the company behind the Take Back the Mic (TBTM) app, and The Mic: Africa, the first interactive TV format born on the continent.

This tech-enabled entertainment company helps content producers build a direct relationship with their audience and be rewarded for discovering and sharing trending content.

amp global

The “AMP-powered series”, Take Back the Mic: The World Cup of Hip Hop was the first 100% fan curated series to get an Emmy nod, becoming a back-to-back Emmy Finalist for Outstanding Interactive Programing and proving itself in the market with deep engagement, media impressions, and ROI across Mobile, Digital, TV, VR and Live media.

AMP Global also gives brands and media companies deep insight into global youth audiences.

amp global

In this interview with Lucia and Derrick, we discussed:

  • The inspiration behind “The Mic: Africa”, the first interactive TV format on the African continent
  • Why the Take Back the Mic app, is sometimes described as “Netflix meets Instagram.”
  • How the Take Back the Mic app empowers artists and creators.
  • How the pandemic influenced a key feature of the app, benefiting users.

Don’t forget to LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel!

Watch all 5 episodes of “The Mic: Africa” Season 1 and download the Take Back the Mic app at www.takebackthemic.com.

 

Tony O. Lawson


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1 min read

This Black Owned Media Company is on a Mission to Create Generational Wealth for Black Artists

Four Screens is a management, development, and production company that produces fresh new content celebrating under-represented voices.

“We give under-represented talent a chance to realize their full potential and for opening doors that have been shut or inaccessible in the past.  It isn’t enough to make diverse content, we have to change the way deals are financed, greenlit, constructed.” – Messiah Jacobs, CEO of Four Screens

The company also manages the Estate of music icon Ol’ Dirty Bastard (ODB) and boxing Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier.

In this interview with Four Screens CEO, Messiah Jacobs, we discuss:

  1. What inspired the creation of his company
  2. Empowering Black artists while they are here and after they are gone
  3. The importance of intellectual property and why Black creatives should be more business minded.
  4. The $10 billion diversity opportunity and how Four Screen is positioned to play a larger role in it.
  5. The reason behind his decision to raise money through crowdfunding.

Don’t forget to LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel!

2 mins read

Gil Scott-Heron Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2021 inductees, and among them is the pioneering singer/songwriter and poet Gil Scott-Heron who made socially and politically potent music in the 1970s that fused jazz with R&B and who—although he preferred to refer to himself as a “bluesologist”—is widely regarded as one of the earliest rappers.

Gil Scott-Heron

Recognizing Scott-Heron’s seminal role in the development of hip-hop, the Rock Hall honored him with an Early Influencer Award.

Scott-Heron is one of only a small number of Rock Hall inductees (so far) to have strong jazz connections. Over the 35 years of its existence, the Hall has also inducted Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Charlie Christian, Nat “King” Cole, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Dr. John, Quincy Jones, Nina Simone, and Dinah Washington. Only Charles, Davis, Dr. John, and Simone were inducted as performers; the others received either the same Early Influencer honor as Scott-Heron or (in Jones’ case) the Ahmet Ertegun Award for music-industry professionals.

In collaboration with keyboardist/songwriter Brian Jackson, Scott-Heron wrote and recorded 10 albums between 1971 and 1980 that featured a string of hugely influential songs, including “Pieces of a Man,” “Lady Day and John Coltrane,” “Home Is Where the Hatred Is,” “The Bottle,” “Johannesburg,” “Angel Dust,” “We Almost Lost Detroit,” and—the track he remains best known for—”The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.”

Gil Scott-Heron

Scott-Heron remained active until his death, and in 2010 released his first new album in 16 years, entitled I’m New Here. A memoir he had been working on for years up to the time of his death, The Last Holiday, was published posthumously in January 2012. Scott-Heron received a posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. He also is included in the exhibits at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) that officially opened on September 24, 2016, on the National Mall, and in an NMAAHC publication, Dream a World Anew.


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1 min read

Regina King to Produce and Star in Shirley Chisholm Biopic

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Regina King will be starring in and producing a biopic of America’s first Black congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm.

‘Shirley Chisholm’s fearless determination has been an inspiration to so many of us, and with this film, we hope to inspire many generations to come,’ King said in a statement about the project.

regina king
A political poster for 1972 United States Presidential candidate, Shirley Chisholm.

She will produce alongside her sister, Reina King, and fellow Academy Award winner John Ridley will serve as the film’s writer and director.

“To collaborate once again with my friend and mentor, John Ridley makes this decade-long journey even sweeter.”

Production on Shirley is set to begin later this year.

 

Tony O. Lawson


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3 mins read

Howard University Teams With Amazon Studios To Launch Howard Entertainment

Howard University and Amazon Studios have teamed to launch Howard Entertainment, a program designed to diversify the entertainment industry by creating a pipeline for African-American students and other marginalized populations to train and study alongside entertainment executives.

Howard Entertainment

The immersive program, which kicks off January 2020, will be two semesters and take place in Los Angeles. It will include a unique interdisciplinary curriculum and will also include hands-on work as well as an opportunity to network with Amazon’s industry partners.

It will offer Howard University students the opportunity to take academic courses during the spring semester and participate in a fellowship embedded in the entertainment industry during the summer semester. The coursework will be applied to the student’s graduation requirements.

“The vision of Howard Entertainment is to offer a one-of-a-kind experience for students interested in all aspects of entertainment, from project greenlighting, to PR and marketing, to entertainment law and finance,” said President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA. “This relationship aligns with Howard’s strategic goals of enhancing academic excellence and inspiring new knowledge.

Collaborating with Amazon Studios will enable us to marry academia and industry efforts to build a robust workforce of diverse entertainment industry leaders. With Howard’s proven track record of developing some of Hollywood’s most notable actors, comedians and musicians, this next level collaboration will enable us to have even greater impact.”

Howard Entertainment

“Amazon Studios has been working to create new pathways into the industry for talented students of all backgrounds and we are proud to team with Howard on this new program supporting aspiring entertainment leaders” adds Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios.

“As we strive to delight our Prime Video customers, we’re ensuring there are diverse perspectives and experiences around the table to help us make the best decisions in all aspects of the business.”

Howard Entertainment

To qualify, students must be enrolled as a Howard University student, must be an upperclassman or graduate student and will have to complete an application and interview to be considered for the program.

Students will be taught by Howard faculty who will be supported by Amazon Studios employees and other industry professionals invited by Amazon. This will give students to work in projects that offer “real world” application and will help students develop “work ready” skills prior to graduating.

Source: Deadline

1 min read

Black Owned Cigar Businesses You Should Know

The cigar lifestyle is not only about what type of cigar you smoke it’s also about where you smoke them. Whether you like to smoke in your den, backyard, or neighborhood cigar bar, there are Black owned cigar businesses that can serve your needs.

Black Owned Cigar Businesses

Allure Cigars

black owned cigar

Emperors Cut Cigars

black owned cigar

Bon Vie Mobile Cigar Lounge (Raleigh, NC)

Dapper D’s Cigars

black owned cigar

Tres Lindas Cubanas

El Primer Mundo (EPM) Cigars 

TG’s Cigar Lounge (Washington, D.C.)

Don Abram Harris Cigars

Cigar City Club (Atlanta, GA)

Hubbard Cigars 

 

The Cigar Bar  (Atlanta, GA)

Epic Cigars

Dignity Cigars

Havana Mix Cigar Emporium (Memphis, TN)

Battleground South Cigar Lounge (Columbia, TN)

Blue Mountain Cigars

Aphelion Cigar Lounge (Gambrills, MD)

 

-Tony O. Lawson


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