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.

RELATED:

Coalition Will Boycott Grammys Over Racism

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

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.

Read more at the Village Voice.

RELATED:

Tupac Is Back? PBS Website Hacked, Bogus Story Claims Rapper Is Alive

Sean Kingston Moved To Intensive Care Unit After Jet Ski Crash

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.

LISTEN

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

VIDEO:

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

WATCH:

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.

WATCH:

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.

Click here to view photos.

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.

Click here to read more.

RELATED:

Writer Says That Hip-Hop Is Holding African-Americans Back

White House Holds Concert Tributing Music Of Civil Rights Era

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.

Read The Whole Story