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Negro Noir: A Fall From Grace and the Curious Case of Wigs, (Diner) Wine and Wayward Filmmaking
Movies that are “so bad, they’re good” are one of life’s unsung treasures. And like anything, adding blackness to that principle is like adding proper seasoning. Thus, I introduce you to our new series reviewing/recapping bad black movies, Negro Noir. As our queen-in-chief Danielle Belton pointed out, it’s so black, the title of the series…
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The Boat Was Rocked: Fans Rushed to Stream Aaliyah’s Music on Her Birthday as Planned, But Were Still Left Empty-handed
Hey, fam! Remember that time we all rejoiced because Aaliyah’s full discography was coming to streaming services? Sike! Cut to better days, back in December, when it was reported Aaliyah’s entire discography would be released on every major streaming platform, including Spotify, Apple Music, TIDAL and Prime Music on her birthday (she would’ve been 41…
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Watchmen Is Getting the F*ck Up Off the Pool and Will Not Return for a Second Season
A network and a show creator walk into “Abar”… and decide to end their popular and acclaimed show on a high note. It’s official, show creator Damon Lindelof is stepping away from Watchmen and will not be pursuing a second season of the series. USA Today reports: Lindelof told USA TODAY this week that he’s…
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The Neptunes, Mariah Carey and the Isley Brothers Inducted Into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
It’s time for another hall of fame induction class! This time, we’re highlighting the iconic folks with the best lyrics of all time, the Songwriters Hall of Fame! The press release gives us a history lesson on SHOF: Established in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) serves as a vital bridge between music’s past and…
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Bad Boys for Life Is So Ridiculous and That’s Not Necessarily a Bad Thing
Bad boys, bad boys, what ya gonna do, what ya gonna do when old age comes for you? Per the film’s official website: The Bad Boys Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are back together for one last ride in the highly anticipated Bad Boys for Life. “Our whole lives we’ve been…
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Jezebel: Numa Perrier on Combating the Stigma Associated With Sex Work and the Rollercoaster Ride of Film Distribution
Numa Perrier is a force. One of the things I thoroughly appreciated about the film Jezebel was that it didn’t lean on the typical exploitative hyper-sexualized stereotypes of black girls. Instead, it embraced our sexual identities like the warmest hug. But, that’s what happens when you let black women lead the way. The Root sat…
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Whitney Houston and Notorious B.I.G. to Be Inducted Into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
If you’re professionally involved in music, being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is probably the endgame for you. In 2019, Janet Jackson was added to the Hall of Fame. Well, it’s a new year and that means it’s time for yet another round of inductees! The Class of 2020 inductees are…
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Tyler Perry Says He Tried a Writers’ Room and It Was a ‘Nightmare,’ so He Can Do Bad All by Himself
When Tyler Perry decided to show off his screenwriting prowess, let’s just say it didn’t serve the inspiration he intended and the whole display ended up as dramatic as his television shows. In a recent press junket for his upcoming film A Fall From Grace (which is just begging to be a part of my…
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A Boomerang of Black Erasure: Welp, Eddie Murphy’s 1988 Oscars Presentation Is Still Relevant in 2020
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Shortly after the nominations for the 92nd Academy Awards were announced, writer Todd Spence shared an eerily relevant clip of Eddie Murphy presenting the Best Picture award at the 60th Academy Awards in 1988. As Murphy stood on the stage, he recalled what led him…
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Critics Choice Awards 2020: When They See Us Named Best Limited Series, Ava DuVernay Thanks Netflix Who ‘Let a Black Woman Do Her Thing’
So, in an effort to completely overwhelm me during an already overwhelming awards season (yes, this is about me!), the Critics Choice Awards decided to hold their ceremony the night before the Oscar nominations. However, the Critics Choice Awards had more of one thing the Oscars lacked: color. The Critics Choice Award has a shit…
