Breaking News for Black America » Entertainment

Jay-Z: 99 Problems, Same-Sex Marriage Ain’t One [VIDEO]

Newsone Staff — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:47:00 +0000

Hip-Hop mogul, co-owner of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, lyricist extraordinaire and Blue Ivy’s poppa, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, says that he agrees with President Barack Obama‘s decision to come out in support of same-sex marriage because it’s the “right thing to do,” reports CNN.

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“I’ve always thought it as something that was still, um, holding the country back,” Jay-Z said of not allowing same-sex coupled to wed. “What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business. [It] is no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination plain and simple.”

Jay-Z was interviewed on everything from the economy to his thoughts on GOP contender Mitt Romney, while in Philadelphia with Mayor Michael Nutter to announce a two-day Labor Day music festival.

Brian McKnight Gets Explicit With His Latest Release

Ruth Manuel-Logan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:36:27 +0000

Veteran R&B crooner Brian McKnight, whose melodious songs often spoke about tender and loving moments, has broken his predictable mold by previewing a sexually explicit adult mix tape that has listeners mouths gaping open, reports Billboard.

On Monday, McKnight posted a clip of the racy song on YouTube, entitled “If You’re Ready to Learn,” and many of his more prudish fans voiced their disapproval of it on his Twitter account.

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McKnight gives his fans an explanation as to why he decided to venture on this new the X-rated musical journey in the YouTube video. “There’s lots of conversations I’ve had with men, lots of conversation I’ve had with women, just about other sexual type things that I’d like to tackle,” he said. “So I’m in the middle of writing that song and I’m gonna give you a preview.”

McKnight then begins to sing the dirty ditty which goes a little something like this:

“Let me show you how your p***y works, since you didn’t bring it to me first. I have lots of things to show you if you’re ready to learn. Let me show you how your p***y works, bet you didn’t know that it could squirt. I have lots of things to show you if you’re ready to learn.”

The backlash that McKnight received actually prompted him to take the viral clip off YouTube but the move was too late; folks had already managed to spread it around like wildfire across the internet. McKnight responded to his critical fans on Twitter:

Brian McKnight ‏ @ItsBMcKnight

I’ll let u all decide should I put it back up or not some of u have said some awfully hateful things

Brian McKnight ‏ @ItsBMcKnight

funny how most of these folks have never been on my timeline when i wrote safe songs hmmmmm one sex filled song and im trending lol

Brian McKnight ‏ @ItsBMcKnight

I wrote this song crude as it may be about satisfying all women and look what happened

Brian McKnight ‏ @ItsBMcKnight

It’s funny how we listen and let our kids listen to songs about killing people and selling drugs and calling women bitches

Maybe this latest body of work, if released, will surpass McKnight’s last album, “Just Me,” which only sold 47,000 since its debut last July.

Woman Gives Birth To Twin Boys After Being Declared Brain Dead

R&B Community Protests Grammy Awards

NewsOne Staff — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:59:16 +0000

The Recording Academy announced two months ago that at least 30 categories will be either eliminated or modified at next year’s Grammy Awards.

Some of those eliminations will be five R&B categories including Best R&B Female, Best R&B Male, Best Urban Alternative Performance, Best Contemporary R&B Album, and Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.

Many members of the urban music community are angered by the Academy’s decision.

Music industry notables such as Beyonce’s dad and former manager Matthew Knowles, singers Musiq Soulchild and Betty Wright, among others, have joined an effort to persuade the Academy to reinstate those R&B categories. Simultaneously, other established artists, community leaders, record executives, and radio and TV personalities will voice their concerns at Recording Academy chapters nationwide.

The goal of the protest is to also bring spotlight on the declining recognition of R&B, Funk, Soul music on the mainstream scale. This month, the music community issued a formal statement of protest to The Recording Academy offices in Atlanta, Santa Monica, D.C., Philly, Chicago and New York.

Though the urban music community is agitated with the Academy, it contends that it respects the organization and encourages all to support it, and that its issue is solely with the awards process of the company.

Grammy’s Cut Hip-Hop And R&B Categories For 2012

Can I Live? Will Smith Dies In Online Spoof

NewsOne Staff — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:58:44 +0000

NEW YORK—Actor Will Smith is the latest black celebrity victim killed by the Internet after a story posted on FakeAWish.com gained traction around the Web and among fans on Twitter.

According to reports, Smith fell from a cliff in New Zealand; a location that’s been named in several other spoof celebrity deaths.

The “cliff” in question is Kauri Cliffs, which seems to actually be the name of a five-star resort and golf club in New Zealand that is beloved by Conde Nast Traveler. Although that hasn’t stopped it from e-killing famous people like George Clooney, Tom Cruise, and Jeff Goldblum in recent years!”

Reports of Smith’s death come at a time when another faked story claiming deceased rapper Tupac Shakur is alive and well in New Zealand recently made waves when hackers posted it on a PBS website.

TJMS: What’s On TV Next Season? Fewer African-American Actors

NewsOne Staff — Tue, 17 May 2011 03:10:47 +0000

Television critic, Eric Deggans (St. Petersburg Times), joins Roland Martin on the Tom Joyner Morning Show to discuss which network television shows featuring African-Americans have been canceled for next season.

Many of the canceled shows are favorites of African-American television viewers and depict minorities in positive roles. Some of the shows slated to be canceled include The Event, The Chicago Code and Detroit 1-8-7.

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Tjms: Tv Networks Cancel Shows Starring African-American
Actors As New Season Approaches by Roland S Martin on Mixcloud

Bishop T.D. Jakes Discusses New Movie, Jumping The Broom

NewsOne Staff — Tue, 17 May 2011 02:07:53 +0000

Roland Martin sits down with T.D. Jakes to discuss his new movie, “Jumping the Broom.” During the film’s opening week, “Jumping the Broom” earned $15.7 million, making it the number-one romantic comedy.

Roland Martin asks Bishop T.D. Jakes why does he think the movie has resonated with audiences across the country.

VIDEO:

Charlie Wilson, Vesta And Monie Love On How To Stay Relevant

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:57:13 +0000

Roland Martin sits down with Charlie Wilson, Vesta and old-school hip-hop star Monie Love about staying relevant.

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Anthony Mackie Discusses New Film, “The Adjustment Bureau”

NewsOne Staff — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:30:49 +0000

Actor Anthony Mackie is one of the hardest-working brothers in Hollywood. He starred in “The Hurt Locker,” “Notorious,” “Eagle Eye” and opposite Kerry Washington in the independent film “Night Catches Us.”

Roland Martin sat down with Mackie, a New Orleans native, to talk about his upcoming film “The Adjustment Bureau,” starting Matt Damon. An interesting discussion with Mackie about faith and free will.

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Corinne Bailey Rae Discusses Music And Pump-Aid Charity

Smokey D. Fontaine — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:34:39 +0000

From TheGrio.com:

Corinne Bailey Rae recently checked in with theGrio to talk about her new album “The Sea.”

Rae, who wrote and co-produced her sophomore project, said the experience of having more control made it feel like more of her own. This time around, her album is more personal and has a more soulful vibe. The singer and songwriter has even described her latest work as a collection of her favorite songs.

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During a two-year hiatus, Rae developed songs that became “insistent ” with her. Combining slow intimate songs, with loud playful renderings, but Rae, like her music, is diverse. She was born to a Black Kittitian father, and a white English mother.

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White House Holds Concert Tributing Music Of Civil Rights Era

Vibe Magazine To Resume Publication

Smokey D. Fontaine — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:38:37 +0000

From EurWeb

After folding in late June due to financial issues, Vibe magazine and its Web site have been resurrected by Leo Hindery’s PE firm InterMedia Partners and its luxury publisher Uptown Media, reports Reuters.

Vibe.com will be the focal point of revival plans described in the Wall Street Journal. The new publishers intend to reopen the site in coming weeks, publish a print edition at the end of the year and then go quarterly.

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