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‘Sis Said No’: Tracy Chapman Sues Nicki Minaj for Using Unauthorized Sample
I guess it’s safe to say Tracy Chapman isn’t a Nicki Minaj fan. According to TMZ, the multiple Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter is suing the “Barbie Dreamz” rapper, alleging that Minaj illegally used the song “Baby, Can I Hold You (Tonight)” for her unreleased single, “Sorry,” featuring Nas. The ongoing saga started in June of this…
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Paint It Black: The British Fashion Awards Announce 2018 Nominees, and Black Models Dominate
Black beauty continues to disrupt and redefine the fashion industry, this time dominating the Model of the Year category at the upcoming British Fashion Awards, which announced its nominees on Tuesday. Contenders for the title at this year’s ceremony, which will take place on Dec. 10 at London’s Royal Albert Hall, include 2017 winner Adwoa…
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Smoke x Mirrors: Kelly Rowland Debuts a New Collab (It's Not the One You're Expecting)
After weeks of teasing a possible duet with BFF and fellow former Destiny’s Child member Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland has indeed dropped a new collaboration … and it’s all smoke and mirrors. No, for real. It’s a collaboration with eyewear brand Smoke x Mirrors. The singer has released a 10-piece, four-frame limited capsule collection, available exclusively…
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British Vogue’s Edward Enninful Threw Spike Lee a Blacktastic Party, and Our Invite Got Lost in the Mail
Clearly, we need to remind Edward Enninful of our address. On Saturday, Oct. 20, the editor-in-chief of British Vogue hosted a dinner for filmmaker Spike Lee in London, in honor of the BlacKkKlansman director “who has given so much to the creative industry over the three-and-a-half decades he has been working within it,” as written…
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The Great Race: The Hennessy x Pyer Moss Capsule Collection Honors a Black Champion Cyclist
Champion cyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor may not be known to the masses, but he was a pioneer in his sport. He was one of the most recognizable athletes in the world at the turn of the 20th century, having earned seven world records by 1898. As The Root’s own Genetta Adams wrote in 2013: In…
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Right On! A Cultural Classic Makes Its Comeback
Every so often, those of us of a certain age at The Root will mention Right On! magazine—and inevitably, someone much younger will say, “What’s that?” But if you were a black child coming of age between the early ’70s to the mid-’90s, Right On! was likely a cultural touchstone, covering the African American entertainment…
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Sculptor Simone Leigh Becomes 12th Artist to Win Guggenheim’s Hugo Boss Prize
Black excellence has been awarded again. On Thursday, the Guggenheim Museum awarded its coveted Hugo Boss Prize to Brooklyn, N.Y.-based artist Simone Leigh. The Hugo Boss Prize recognizes achievement in contemporary art. Leigh, a Chicago native of Jamaican descent, works in various media but was recognized for her work in ceramics, which incorporates traditional African…
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Cardi B Warmed Hearts With a Winter Coat Drive—and You Can, Too
When the temps sharply dropped in New York last week, Cardi B literally handed out some warmth. The Bronx-born star was spotted at the Marlboro Houses housing project in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Gravesend last Thursday, giving out free winter coats to those in need. As expected, crowds swarmed to see the reality star-turned-rapper, with…
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Shadow Play: ‘Tis the Season for Shimmering, Saturated Looks for Eyes
Of the many trends we saw come down the Spring-Summer ‘19 runways during Fashion Month (which we’ll unpack in a separate post), one of the most major—an emphasis on eyes—is ripe for right now. As the temps drop, makeup is getting more dramatic. Bold eyes and lips are making a big impact this fall and…
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Hat Tip: Carmelo Anthony Debuts New Collaboration with Goorin Bros.
His first outing with the Houston Rockets may have been less than stellar, but Carmelo Anthony’s other debut seems quite promising. Melo may be best known for his headbands, but the NBA star also loves a hat, as evidenced by his latest collaboration with hat makers Goorin Bros. The second Carmelo Anthony x Goorin Bros.…
