-
From Carmen to Nefertiti, J'Nai Bridges Is the Next Big Voice in Opera
Amid the surrealist sets, majestic costumes, soaring voices and intricate harmonies of the Met Opera’s current revival of Philip Glass’ Akhnaten, based on the 17-year reign of the revolutionary 18th Dynasty Egyptian king, one of the most striking elements is that of his famed queen, Nefertiti. Performed by mezzo-soprano sensation J’Nai Bridges (pronounced “Jah-Nay”), Nefertiti…
-
Akhnaten: A Revolutionary King Gets an Equally Innovative Opera
It’s strangely fitting that one of history’s earliest renegades has been immortalized with an opera that also defies convention—and indeed, for those unfamiliar with the music of Philip Glass, the operative word some may use to describe his opera Akhnaten might be “strange.” For the genre’s purists, the Metropolitan Opera’s production of his now 35-year-old…
-
Let's Be Real, 2019 American Music Awards: Lizzo's Teeny-Tiny Purse Was the Biggest Winner of the Night
Honestly, we don’t understand a world in which Lizzo—who indisputably had one of the biggest years imaginable in 2019—wasn’t awarded anything whatsoever at this year’s American Music Awards (or at least nominated for Artist of the Year). We admittedly had different expectations, especially after seeing the star featured in the AMAs advertising and delivering yet…
-
We Did That: The 2019 Root 100 Gala Celebrated a Decade of Black Excellence
In the increasingly fickle world of journalism, longevity is no small feat. So to be celebrating 10 years of being the leading online source of black thought, news, opinions, and excellence was a serious undertaking for The Root crew’s at our 2019 Root 100 gala—a serious undertaking that was a hell of a lot of…
-
Skye’s the Limit: Justine Skye Talks Authencity, Artistry and Her Hometown-Inspired H&M Collab
Justine Skye knows she’s a bit of a mystery. In fact, the 24-year-old singer has at times been better known for her influencer status and famous friends like Kendall and Kylie Jenner than her music, despite inking her first record deal at 19. Then came her late-2018 single, “Build,” the video to which both continued…
-
In a New Revival of Oedipus Rex, Ancient Greek Gets a Relevant Refresh
It’s been a year full of revivals in Chicago, and in an era where the Greek chorus has been replaced by the legions on Black Twitter, some might wonder what relevance a revival of Sophocles’ circa-429 B.C. tragedy, Oedipus Rex, holds for contemporary audiences. But as a new production at the University of Chicago-based Court…
-
On This Transgender Day of Remembrance, a New Campaign Reminds Us That Trans Is Phenomenal, Too
To date, 22 trans or gender-nonconforming people have been murdered in 2019; a majority of them black trans women. Today, Wednesday, Nov. 20, is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a time to not only mourn the lives we’ve lost, but to renew our focus on stemming the epidemic of transphobic violence and better respect and protect…
-
Felony, but Make It Fashion: After His Release From Swedish Prison, A$AP Rocky Has Designed Swedish Prison Uniforms
In a full-circle moment no one saw coming, A$AP Rocky is giving back to the Swedish jail that held him for several weeks this summer. Using his influence and style-savvy, the entertainer has reportedly designed new uniforms for the detainees of Kronoberg prison, which he once described as “walking into a toilet” (h/t BBC). The…
-
Orange Is the New Black’s Danielle Brooks Just Welcomed Her First Child—and Curated a Clothing Line Just for Moms
Fantastic news for Orange Is the New Black favorite Danielle Brooks: She’s now a mom! The actress/singer and her boyfriend welcomed a daughter on Nov. 16, announcing her arrival (but no name, as of yet) via a sweet post on Instagram. Preparing for one’s first child is no easy feat, but Brooks was busy as…
-
After Being Denied a School Picture Because of Her Hairstyle, a 3rd Grader Gets a High Fashion Picture Day
Here at The Glow Up, we love nothing more than a happy ending, and here’s one we’re pretty sure you’re going to love, as well: In October, we reported on 8-year-old Marian Scott, who was denied the opportunity to take a school picture after her red extension-embellished braided topknot was deemed in violation of the…
