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Knockouts: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson and More Kill It at the Creed II Premiere
Black excellence was once again on display last night in New York City. And while the cast of Creed II was conspicuously missing its prequel’s writer and director, Ryan Coogler, sequel writer (and Root 100 honoree) Cheo Hodari Coker was on hand, as was sequel director Steven Caple, Jr. Of course, star Michael “Bae” Jordan,…
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Obamaganza: Michelle Obama Continues Her Reign on Essence's Next Cover—in Curls!
If you feel like you’re seeing Michelle Obama everywhere these days, get used to it. With the release of her acclaimed memoir, Becoming, plus a nine-city book tour with crowds rivaling any her friends Beyoncé and Oprah might attract, she’s successfully transitioned from former First Lady to bona fide phenomenon. Very few superstars have been…
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'I Make Hits': Cardi B x Fashion Nova Sells Out Immediately—Proving Her Midas Touch
We tried to warn you weeks ago…in fact, so did she. But if you were one of the unsuccessful among the throngs hoping to get their hands on a piece of Cardi B’s collaboration with online fast-fashion mecca Fashion Nova when it dropped at midnight, you’d better start stalking eBay, because that’s likely the only…
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Independent Woman: Beyoncé Buys Out Ivy Park Co-Founder, Amid Charges of His Misconduct
Beyoncé’s Ivy Park activewear line is one of the lower profile of her many ventures. The two-year old line, available at retailers such as Nordstrom and Foot Locker, among others, will soon be leaving the shelves of English-based fast-fashion juggernaut Topshop. Launched in 2016 with the retailer’s chairman, Sir Philip Green, Ivy Park is now…
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Harpo, Who Dis Doll? An $1,100 Idris Elba Doll Fail Debuts—and Hilarity Ensues
Stringer Bell did not die for this. In an obscene case of “WTF were they thinking?” a British doll manufacturer thought they would capitalize on the crowning of Idris Elba as People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” by creating a doll in his honor. And whew, Lord … the layers on that mistake. First of…
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A First Lady and a Final Farewell: The 2 Dope Queens Podcast Ends With Michelle Obama
How do you end a highly successful podcast (turned HBO special) in a major way? If you’re Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson of WNYC Studios’ 2 Dope Queens, you interview the dopest queen around, our forever first lady turned soon-to-be bestselling author Michelle Obama. For those who didn’t know the podcast was ending, you can…
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Design Flaw: Serena Williams' GQ Cover Deserved Better Than Virgil Abloh
Serena Williams looks stunning on GQ’s latest issue, one of four in its 2018 “Man of the Year” series. She is the sole woman honored. Equally stunning was the major miscalculation made by the magazine’s editors by inviting designer of the moment, Virgil Abloh, to customize the cover, which he did by crossing out the word…
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The Hangover: We've Finally Recovered from The Root 100 Gala (and Gee, Did We Clean Up Nice)
What do you get when you put hundreds of well-dressed black folk, a great DJ, an open bar, and boundless black excellence into a trendy event space in New York City ? Well, if you’re me, you likely get a weeklong hangover, but you also get The Root 100 gala, our annual celebration of the…
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Post Megyn Kelly, The Today Show's Ratings Climb
We’d be lying if we said this news didn’t make us snicker in the slightest, so we’ll just admit it outright: In what can only be described as an exquisite demonstration of karma, the Today show has seen a ratings jump since the sudden departure of its once prized catch-turned-money pit, Megyn Kelly. In fact,…
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Chance the Movie Producer? The Award-Winning Rapper Is Set to Develop an MGM Musical
He’s best known for hit songs, industry independence, entrepreneurship and philanthropy, but the ever charismatic Chance the Rapper is about to add a new title to his growing list of credits, as producer of an original musical for Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures (MGM). Along with the legendary studio, Scott Bernstein (Straight Outta Compton) and his…
