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2019 Oscars: Tracee Ellis Ross to Present Nominations
Living embodiment of a sunshine’s rays Tracee Ellis Ross will be bringing her golden aura to present the nominations for the 91st Academy Awards. She’ll be joined by Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick). According to The Hollywood Reporter, a whopping 347 feature films will be competing to secure a finalist spot in the running for…
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Watch: Fast Color Trailer Shows Black Mamas Really Are Superheroes
When was the first time you realized your black mama was a superhero? I think this became more apparent for me in hindsight (particularly, in adulthood, when I could fully appreciate how badass she is) when I mused over the way she was able to hold shit down even when it seemed bleak—and I mean…
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Happy 88th Birthday to the Only Mufasa We'll Ever Acknowledge—James Earl Jones
Iconic thespian and dream-narrator-of-my-life-story James Earl Jones is a universal treasure. Born on January 17, 1931, the man, the myth, the legend graced the world with his presence. And that voice—speaking of which, I’m pretty interested in finding out when Jones hit puberty. Did the voice arrive at the typical prepubescent stage or was he…
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2019 Grammys: Cardi B and Janelle Monáe Will Perform—Expect Money Moves and an Afrofuturistic Wondaland
The Recording Academy has announced its first round of performers to hit the stage on music’s biggest night. According to a press release, Cardi B and Janelle Monáe are among that primary roundup of performers, along with Camila Cabello, Dan + Shay, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes and Kacey Musgraves. Cardi doesn’t have any gramophones at…
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Yes, Cardi B Went from Shaking That Ass to Speaking on Politics in the Same Day
Cardi B makes multifaceted moves. The lovable rapper took to Instagram to discuss politics on Wednesday, January 16 after her feature in the City Girls’ music video for their single, “Twerk” dropped. Speaking of—that video? The answer is “yes.” That same day, Cardi also decided to post a rant about something all of us want…
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We May Not Know God’s Plan, but Drake Reportedly Plans to Take a $10M Residency in Vegas
Drake may be taking his hotline bling to the gambling capital of the country —Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the “Nice for What” sing-song rapper performed a 30-minute set in Sin City and hinted at his plans to set up shop to the exuberant crowd. “Vegas! When I came back, I…
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Miss You: On Aaliyah’s 40th Birthday, I Reminisce on the Stanning of the Hair Swoop
Hi, I’m Tonja and I grew up stanning Aaliyah so damn hard, I wanted to be her. Following Lifetime’s Surviving R. Kelly, Aaliyah’s name is (unfortunately) once again inextricably linked to R. Kelly’s tarnished web. So, for what would have been her 40th birthday—on the day of her birth, at the very least—I wanted to…
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R. Kelly Is Facing Eviction, Hot and Fresh Out the Kitchen
R. Kelly’s (self-inflicted) issues are compounding. Next up? Arrears. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the R&B singer has to pay more than $173,000 of delinquent rent to his landlord as well as court fees and he has a week to do it… or risk eviction. January 21 is the fateful day, to be exact. So,…
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Soulja Boy Tells 'Em…He Taught Drake Everything He Knows?
So, I was lollygagging on Twitter (half my job, half bullshitting) minding my timeline’s business when I saw “Soulja Boy” in the trending column. One of the possibilities was his reported beef with Nintendo. Toggling between morbid and messy, I curiously clicked on the name and realized he recently appeared on The Breakfast Club. Turns…
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R. Kelly’s ‘Goons’ Reportedly Stepped in the Name of Boxing Gloves to Attack Dave Chappelle Over Skit
Along with giving voices to many survivors, Surviving R. Kelly also pointed the mirror toward society and how it (and we) upheld a culture that allowed the enabling of a toxic man. Chappelle’s Show co-creator and co-writer Neal Brennan recently appeared on The Breakfast Club to discuss the doc, as well as one of the…
