culture
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Tupac: The Musical
Broadway and rap aren’t exactly two words one would ever really expect to hear in the same sentence, but it’s happening as Holler If Ya Hear Me, the Tupac Shakur-inspired musical, hits the big stage this year, the Hollywood Reporter reports. The new musical was written by Todd Kreidler, who warns that the show is…
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Macy’s to Cut 2,500 Employees
The Chicago Tribune reports that 2,500 Macy’s employees will soon be out of work as the retailer announced plans to close stores and layoff workers as a part of a cost-reduction plan. Some stores in parts of Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, New York and Utah will close in the spring, but eight new and replacement Macy’s…
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NJ Gov. Chris Christie’s Bridge Scandal
A scandal broke yesterday linking a senior member of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s staff to traffic congestion on a major bridge in September as a means of political retribution, Politico reports. The governor, a likely presidential candidate in 2016, denied and even mocked reporters months ago when questioned as to whether his staff played…
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Meet 15 Amazing Kids With Exceptional Talent
What were you doing as a child? Probably not running your own company or taking classes at the local college. We’ve gathered a list of some of the most exceptional black children in the United States and abroad. Prepare to be amazed. 1. Adam Kirby, prodigy At 23 months, Adam potty-trained himself after reading a…
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Throwback Thursday: These 6 Debuts Changed Music Forever
If the years that shook the musical landscape were measured on a magnitude scale, 1994 would rate an earth-shattering 10. Twenty years ago, six artists from the world of hip-hop and R&B dropped debut albums that not only signaled each artist’s arrival but also changed music altogether. 1. Ready to Die, the Notorious B.I.G. Released…
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Notable Members of Phi Beta Sigma
On Jan. 9, 1914, three African-American men founded Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity at Howard University. Since then the frat has produced many notable members. Here are 12 of them. 1. A. Philip Randolph Iota Sigma chapter Union organizer, civil rights leader 2. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) Lambda Sigma chapter U.S. congressman, Georgia’s 5th District 3.…
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That Study Saying Nearly Half of Black Males Get Arrested by Age 23? It’s Wrong
Here’s what a research study feels like to a black male teenager: “To be seen as a person with a name … then poof! A statistic, a memory and, to many, a shame,” said an 11th-grader named Asa Fludd. I repeat this quote often to remind social advocates and cultural critics alike that our reckless…
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Jahi McMath in ‘Very Bad Shape’ After Transfer
The situation is looking increasingly grim for Jahi McMath’s family, with her family’s attorney now reporting that her body has deteriorated so much, “we don’t know if she’s going to make it,” the Los Angeles Times reports. Jahi underwent what was supposed to be a routine tonsillectomy in early December at Children’s Hospital Oakland in…
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Dennis Rodman Sings ‘Happy Birthday’ to Kim Jong Un
Dennis Rodman seems to be enjoying his trip to North Korea, where he is helping Kim Jong Un celebrate his birthday. On Wednesday the embattled NBA star sang a rather tone-deaf rendition of “Happy Birthday” to his “friend,” which he topped off with a bow before taking part in a game between a team of…
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Kanye vs. ‘Coinye’
Kanye just can’t get a break. The “Yeezus” rapper is currently in the middle of a legal fight against a digital currency that mockingly uses his name and image, the New York Post reports. “Coinye,” as it’s called, was created by an anonymous group of Web developers, designed to rival Bitcoin, another digital currency that…