L egendary songstress Aretha Franklin left an indelible mark in the realm of music and even after her death the Queen of Soul is still being awarded for her pivotal contributions. According to Rolling Stone , Franklin was posthumously honored with a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation. Aretha Franklin was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize Special Citation “for her indelible contribution to American music and culture” https://t.co/8r1WkjHE2P pic.twitter.com/5oCEODbh9s — Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) April 15, 2019 The Pulitzer Prize—which was created in 1917—is an award given to trailblazers in journalism and the arts. Franklin’s honor was historic as it was the first time that a woman artist received a Special Citation in Pulitzer’s history. As a recipient of the award, she joins a list of influential music artists who have been given Pulitzer Prize Special Citations in the past including Duke Ellington , Bob Dylan , John Coltrane , and Rodgers & Hammerstein . Franklin’s loved ones are grateful that she has received this recognition and believes that it speaks volumes to how she has forever changed the landscape of music. “Aretha is blessed and highly favored even in death. She’s continued to receive multiple awards — she’s received almost every award imaginable and now to get the Pulitzer Prize, it’s just amazing,” her niece Sabrina Owens said in a statement, according to the Los Angeles Sentinel . “Aretha continues to bless us with her music and just paving the way for women going forward. It’s thrilling. She would be so happy right now. She was just very gifted and talented, and the world is still recognizing that.” News about the honor comes weeks after the film Amazing Grace hit theaters. The documentary-style project captures Franklin and the Watts-based New Bethel Baptist Church choir in January 1972. “Amazing Grace is the heart and soul of Aretha Franklin,” Owens told Variety . “This film is authentic and is my aunt to her core. Our family couldn’t be more excited for audiences to experience the genius of her work and spirit through this film.” SEE ALSO: Aretha Franklin Timeline: Milestones And Achievements By The Queen Of Soul Detroit Museum Honors Aretha Franklin’s Legacy With New Exhibit [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3850824″ overlay=”true”]
Source: picture alliance / Getty Samsung shocked naysayers who believed it was impossible to make a smartphone with a foldable screen because it defied logic when it unveiled the Galaxy Fold. Reviewers who have gotten their hands on test devices are now reporting the phones in their possession are breaking. This is not the news Samsung wanted to hear after releasing its very impressive Galaxy S10 family of phones. For the most part when the Galaxy Fold was revealed, and tech enthusiasts got to experience it reactions were favorable to the technological marvel. With the $2,000 phone’s release on the horizon, reviewers were finally able to get their hands on the device, and Samsung’s worst nightmare is happening the phones are “breaking” with the screens malfunctioning. My colleague opened the Galaxy Fold and it started doing this. So, long answer to your question @WilfredFrost , the hinge doesn’t seem very rugged after all. After two days: pic.twitter.com/Z1F8iwjURa — Todd Haselton (@robotodd) April 17, 2019 A unit sent to CNBC broke just after 2 days of use, Mark Gurman who works for Bloomberg News says his device is “completely broken and unusable.” Dieter Bohn’s of The Verge stated his test Galaxy Fold developed a “bulge” along the crease of the phone in effect causing two perpendicular lines of broken lines that made its way from where the problem began to edge of the phone’s screen. After one day of use… pic.twitter.com/VjDlJI45C9 — Steve Kovach (@stevekovach) April 17, 2019 Another reviewer by the name of Mark Gurman tweeted his phone might have malfunctioned because he removed a protective layer of transparent film that was not supposed to come off. In his defense, it does look like one of those screens that are placed on new devices to protect the screen from scratches and breaks while being shipped. The phone comes with this protective layer/film. Samsung says you are not supposed to remove it. I removed it, not knowing you’re not supposed to (consumers won’t know either). It appeared removable in the left corner, so I took it off. I believe this contributed to the problem. pic.twitter.com/fU646D2zpY — Mark Gurman (@markgurman) April 17, 2019 YouTube tech reviewer Marques Brownlee almost made the same mistake and noticed his phone immediately “spazzed and blacked out” on him before he could ultimately take it off. He was given a replacement device by Samsung. PSA: There's a layer that appears to be a screen protector on the Galaxy Fold's display. It's NOT a screen protector. Do NOT remove it. I got this far peeling it off before the display spazzed and blacked out. Started over with a replacement. pic.twitter.com/ZhEG2Bqulr — Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) April 17, 2019 Luckily for Samsung, this issue occurred before the phones global release, but it’s odd they did not express to reviewers not to remove the plastic film. In a statement, the Korean tech giant stated it will inspect those malfunctioning units “thoroughly” and that the protective covering is part of the display and is meant to protect the phone from “unintended scratches.” They also add that placing any adhesives to the main display will even break the phone as well. The company does promise relay that information to customers when the Fold is released. Statement from Samsung: pic.twitter.com/Me0XkoPMAE — Todd Haselton (@robotodd) April 18, 2019 Not good news for the company especially when it comes trying to sell a $2,000 phone. But being that this issue was discovered before the smartphone’s launch, it’s not on the level of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 exploding fiasco Samsung had to endure. — Photo: picture alliance / Getty
Source: The Billboard Music Awards 2017 Featuring: DJ Khaled Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States When: 21 May 2017 Credit: Apega/WENN.com DJ Khaled apparently has another one. He is scheduled to close out the 44th season of one of the most iconic comedic platforms in history. As spotted on Deadline the We The Best mogul is slotted to be the musical guest on the final episode of Saturday Night Live’s 2019 run. Hosted by actor Paul Rudd of Ant-Man fame, DJ Khaled will take the stage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The late night variety show made the announcement via their Twitter account. And now…for the final time this season…
Fans were aghast after rapper Kodak Black was a no-show to his own concert, canceling after they had waited for hours. Even his team was at a loss to explain it. But it turns out, however, that he had a very good excuse for ghosting them. Kodak couldn’t perform because he was too busy being arrested. Wednesday night, TMZ reported that Kodak Black had abruptly canceled a Boston concert at the last minute. After waiting for hours at the House of Blues only for Kodak the cancel and police to clear out the venue, fans were pissed. TMZ reached out to multiple members of Kodak’s team to find out what was up. Bizarrely, no one seemed to know why the gig was canceled, where Kodak was, or how to contact him or those traveling with him. He had just played another show on Saturday night. Within just a few days, he had ghosted his own people. Hours later, however, the mystery of Kodak’s absence had been solved. In the wee hours of Thursday morning, TMZ reported that Kodak had been arrested. The rapper was arrested at the U.S. border on weapons charges and on drug charges. Apparently, Kodak and three companions were stopped by a U.S. Customs Agent on Wednesday. Customs discovered the contraband and arrested him. The specific charges were criminal possession of a weapon — which is a felony — and misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Multiple sources spoke to TMZ about it and explained some of the context. For whatever reason, between Kodak’s Saturday show in Detroit and his Wednesday show in Boston, he’d gone silent … and to Canada. He was caught at the border on his way back the U.S. and allegedly had at least two guns in his possession. Yikes. He was held on a $20,000 cash bond or a $40,000 bond. At slightly more reasonable hours on Thursday morning, TMZ obtained further specifics. According to police, Kodak and two others attempted to reenter the United States at the Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge. They were traveling in a Cadillac Escalade and had only a temporary California registration. Apparently Kodak himself was driving (literally what’s the point of being a celebrity, then?). Officers allegedly discovered weed on him and decided to search the entire vehicle. During the search, they allegedly found a Glock 9mm pistol, though no one in the Escalade declared ownership of it. And then there was the car accompanying them — a Porsche with three occupants. The Porsche’s driver admitted to police that he was in possession of two loaded handguns. … And then a third was found in the vehicle’s trunk. You know what else was in the trunk? More marijuana. According to a law enforcement source, one of the guns had an odd and even alarming design. “AK-style handgun with a 30-round magazine,” the source describes. “It looks like an AK, but it’s a handgun.” Stetson President and Madarrow Smith were arrested for criminal possession of a weapon. The driver of the Porsche, named Jeantony Saintmelus, was arrested for both criminal possession of a weapon and for possession of marijuana. Kodak was too busy being arrested to attend his show in Boston. His tour bus did show up to that venue, however. It ended up being surrounded by a massive crowd of furious fans who protested his no-show status. Perhaps now they’ll understand that he intended to make it, but it apparently wasn’t as high a priority as doing crimes. View Slideshow: Happy 4/20 From Celebrities Who Smoke Weed Errrrrrrday
The queen of Hip-Hop Soul and Godson are about to put on for the culture. Nas and Mary J. Blige will be hitting 22 cities together throughout the summer. According to Billboard the two New York natives have announced a joint tour that is set to commence Thursday, July 11. Produced by Live Nation the two will co-headline the dates throughout the concert series. Stops include Atlanta, Charlotte, St. Louis, Houston, Dallas, Toronto and two performances in Las Vegas. You can see the full itinerary below. 7/11 – West Palm Beach, Fla. @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre at the S. Florida Fairgrounds 7/13 – Tampa, Fla. @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the FL State Fairgrounds 7/14 – Jacksonville, Fla. @ Daily’s Place 7/16 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park 7/20 – Atlantic City, N.J. @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena 7/21 – Virginia Beach, Va. @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater 7/24 – Charlotte, N.C. @ PNC Music Pavilion 7/25 – Raleigh, N.C. @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek 7/28 – Detroit, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theatre 7/31 – St. Louis, Mo. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater 8/2 – Houston, Tx. @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 8/3 – Austin, Tx. @ Austin360 Amphitheater 8/6 – Kansas City, Mo. @ Starlight Theatre 8/9 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Ak-Chin Pavilion 8/14 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Shoreline Amphitheatre 8/16 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ The Joint 8/17 – Las Vegas, Nev. @ The Joint 8/20 – Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amphitheater 8/22 – Dallas, Tx. @Dos Equis Pavilion 8/25 – Tuscaloosa, Ala. @ Tuscaloosa Amphitheater 8/31 – Syracuse, N.Y. @ St Joseph’s Health Amphitheater 9/1 – Boston, Mass. @ Xfinity Center 9/10 – Toronto, Ontario @ Budweiser Stage Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 19 th starting at 10AM local time at LiveNation.com. Citi card members will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning Wednesday, April 17 th at 12PM. Photo: Prince Williams
Source: Prince Williams / Getty Former Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta star Tommie Lee’s extensive rap sheet is coming back to haunt. Her criminal past was cited for her being denied entry into a mental health program, instead of a possible jail sentence. Reports TMZ : We broke the story … the ‘Love & Hip Hop’ star submitted a petition in her child abuse case to allow her to get treatment for a serious mental illness, which she claimed she was diagnosed with around the same time she was charged with child abuse in Georgia. Tommie got her answer — no can do. According to a new legal doc obtained by TMZ … the Assistant District Attorney determined Lee’s criminal history and background — along with other evidence, facts and allegations — “make her an inappropriate candidate for an accountability court.” Back in January, Tommie was indicted on multiple child abuse charges and she’s facing up to 54 years in prison if she is convicted. She did herself no favors when she reportedly showed up drunk to a hearing in March . — Photo: Getty
F inally some good news for Wendy Williams . After years of not speaking to radio personality Charlamagne, who she gave his big break in New York City radio, they are patching up their relationship. “The Breakfast Club” host called her last night, according to Wendy on her talkshow this morning. SEE ALSO: Some No Name, Pitchy R&B Singer Disrespected Keith Sweat And Gets Demolished On Twitter Williams revealed, “I get back to reading my book and my phone rings again. No, it wasn’t [DJ] Boof, it was Charlamagne. Charlamagne wanted to take me for dinner. So, look. So, he says the night and he says the time and I said ‘I can’t go, I’m going out with Boof for dinner.’” She continued, “Hold on, hold on. So, Charlamagne says, ‘well, I know Boof, why don’t we both take you out?’ So, I said, ‘I’m reading I have my book here, why don’t you call Boof?’ Boof, did he call you? Alright good, so I’ve got a double date.” Watch below: Reportedly, they stopped speaking when Hunter became upset that Charlamagne was introducing Sharina Hudson , Hunter’s alleged mistress, who reportedly gave birth to their child last month, to other men. The chips are falling hard for Kevin Hunter. On April 13, Aveon Falstar, a former artist of Hunter, alleged on the podcast “ unWineWithTashaK ” that he had a sexual relationship with him throughout last year. He accused Hunter of abuse and said his attorneys sent a “pre-suit” demand letter that addressed sexual assault and sexual humiliation. He admitted to asking for an undisclosed amount of money. Watch the interview — it is graphic: Hunter attorney have denied all allegations. Kevin Hunter and Wendy Williams are divorcing after nearly 22 years of marriage. SEE ALSO: All The Ways Cops Are Still Trying To Cover Up LaQuan McDonald’s Execution Outrageous! Figurines Of White Cherub Crushing Head Of Black Angel Removed From Dollar Store Meet Jogger Joe, The Man Who Took Racist Cue From BBQ Becky In Tossing Homeless Man’s Clothes [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3838917″ overlay=”true”]
Source: BreCreative Media / BreCreative Media You know what’s better than a girl’s trip? A girl’s retreat! And this July (July 25-28), members of The Baddie Brunch and The B is for Boss will join forces for “Baddies and Bosses Take Cancun,” a networking retreat in Cancun, Mexico for ambitious millennial women of color! Take a break from your boss life and treat yourself to a relaxing vacation where you and other Baddies and Bosses can celebrate, collaborate, slay and socialize while drinking margaritas by the beach or pool. This three-day all-inclusive getaway will instantly become the vacation of a lifetime as the whole experience has been curated specifically by and for black women between the ages of 21-35. While the itinerary is yours to personalize, there will be group dinners, mixers, a boat party and a relaxing spa day where you and your girl gang can recharge, regroup and be ready to take your careers to the next level. You’ll leave with a renewed sense of self, a refreshed vibe and stronger friendships that’ll last a lifetime. You don’t want to miss it! For more information on this unforgettable experience, visit: https://www.baddiesandbosses.com/ RELATED STORIES: Here’s Why Your Self-Care Regimen Needs A Female Empowerment Retreat HELLO WORLD: The Reinvention Of São Paulo
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty “To me, we are the most beautiful creatures in the world, Black people.”—Nina Simone. When Beyoncé dropped “Formation” back in 2016 , I knew that something about her had changed. Or maybe it didn’t. Perhaps that “newly perceived” pro-Blackness had always been there, she just wasn’t “allowed” to show it to the world. There’s a moment in the new Netflix documentary ‘Homecoming’ that may reference that time, when she may have not felt free or empowered to speak her truth as an artist. “As a Black woman, I used to feel like the world wanted me to stay in my little box. And Black women often feel underestimated,” she says. Well, if anything is clear, it’s that Queen Bey is emancipated from the restraints that were once placed on her. Gone are the days of her being safe and appeasing her white fans, the same fans that could easily consume her R&B music in one breath and deny her Blackness in another. Because regardless of Coachella’s overwhelming whiteness and Bey being the first Black woman to headline the concert series, her Blackety Blackness and the aesthetic and power associated with HBCUs were front and center. And like everything she does at this stage of her career, that too was intentional. “Instead of me pulling out my flower crown. It was important that I brought our culture to Coachella,” Beyoncé stressed, adding, “Creating something that will live beyond me, that will make people feel open and like they’re watching magic.” See, on that stage, Beyoncé was home, reliving the old days when her young “country ass” would watch the “battle of the bands” and how she once yearned to graduate from an HBCU like her father. You know, before her other passions took her in a different direction. However now, at the age of 37, it feels as if she’s come back home to herself, all while paving a new path, crafting a different narrative and meaning. Not just in her music, but in the world. I’d say that if “Formation” was the inciting incident and “Lemonade” was the rising action, #Beychella is the beautiful and unapologetic climax of this amazing story. And for those wondering why revisiting “Homecoming” is so necessary, the answer is simple. Beyoncé didn’t just do this for herself or for Blue. She did this for the culture. She did this for us. The two-hour and seventeen minute “Homecoming” digs deeper than what we giddily streamed on YouTube in the wee hours of the morning last year. It gives us behind the scene footage of the tireless work and intense planning that went into this cultural masterpiece. Who knew that one performance translated into eight grueling months of planning and rehearsals. Not to mention, all the precious time Bey took away from mothering, bonding and breastfeeding her baby twins, Rumi and Sir . But that was the sacrifice she was willing to make in order to give Black folks some much-needed joy. When you see just how persistent Bey was in “building things from the ground up,” we see how this joyful perfection was constructed. Not only did she handpick every dancer herself, she “picked every light, the fabric of the steps, the height of the pyramid, the shape of the pyramid,” reminding us that every “tiny detail had an intention.” No wonder she described herself as “super specific,” but you have to be when you have a vision this grand. While we see Bey be the creative beast we’ve always known her to be, we also get glimpses of her being a mere mortal like the rest of us. In one scene, which I’m glad didn’t get edited out; she’s expressing her frustration to a room of lot of men about how her notes for the show were not being applied, repeatedly. Remember: Bey may be a bawse and the one signing the checks, but she’s also a #BlackWomanAtWork, which can also mean being overlooked and ignored. In addition, throughout the film she speaks openly and freely about the toll her “unexpected” pregnancy took on her body and the journey it took for her to get to a place where she could perform, and perform to her expected incredibly high standard. “My body went through more than I knew it could. I was 218 pounds the day I gave birth,” she confides, adding, “I had an extremely difficult pregnancy. I had high blood pressure. I developed toxemia, preeclampsia.” Fearing for the life of one of her twins she had an emergency C-section, only months later finding herself on that soundstage, pushing herself further than she’d ever done. In one scene, we see her like we’ve never seen the seasoned performer before: Curled up on the floor, clutching at some spasming muscles in her belly, looking defeated. Yet, somehow, she dug deep and persisted. But the most transformative takeaways from “Homecoming” aren’t just Beyoncé’s physical journey, her incredible work ethic or her overall greatness. It’s that her show was a celebration of every last Black body on stage and every last Black body that consumed the performance. An act I would argue is overtly political, especially when you think about how often our bodies are overpolicied and scrutinized by the state and beyond. To be great, and see that greatness reflected in you and the institutions and the legacies you hold dear is powerful and affirming. Not to mention, liberating. “It was important for me that everyone that had never seen themselves represented felt like they were on that stage with us,” Bey explained. Adding, “Rejoice in the imperfections and the wrongs that are so damn right. I wanted everyone to feel thankful for their curves, their sass, their honesty – thankful for their freedom.” See, for her, the stage was this utopia, a space with “no rules,” where “none of us were marginalized.” A place where Black folks, our rich history and our divine excellence weren’t perceived as a threat or a problem. Instead, that glorious shine was welcomed with open arms. And that right there is what home is supposed to feel like, an unconditional love, a profound sense of safety and utter familiarity. And if it doesn’t feel that way, Beyoncé’s “Homecoming” reminds us that we have the agency and the will to create our own homes, wherever we damn well choose and in our own flawless Black image. RELATED NEWS: Beyoncé’s Netflix Documentary ‘Homecoming’ Revisits Beychella, Black Twitter Gets In Formation Queen Bey Brings Out A Whole New Wardrobe For #BeyChella Part Two Twitter Loses Its Mind Over #BeyChella [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”3026045″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Jeffrey Mayer / Getty via MadameNoire No, hell has not frozen over, but it seems a miracle has happened — or better yet, maturity. Singers Brandy and Monica are going on tour together, along with a list of other popular Black female performers, as part of Live Nation Urban’s new “Femme It Forward” concert series. According to Variety , the series will be full of all-female live performances, panels, comedy shows and more, and a portion of proceeds are going to be given to organizations who focus on the advancement of women. Stars featured, aside from Brandy and Monica, include Cardi B, Teyana Taylor, Jill Scott, City Girls, Ashanti, Mya, Keri Hilson, Faith Evans, Jorja Smith, Amerie and more. So far, confirmed shows are going from April through October, but more will likely be added. View this post on Instagram Introducing Femme It Forward! A series of multi-format, multi-market events throughout the year that celebrates the depth, power and talent of women in music and entertainment. #FemmeItForward #LiveNationUrban A post shared by Live Nation Urban (@livenationurban) on Apr 16, 2019 at 12:56pm PDT As for the two women mentioned, they will be performing together on July 19, July 20 and October 17 in Los Angeles, Concord, Calif. and Dallas. They are the headliners for concerts featuring Mya, Keri Hilson, Lil Mo, Amerie and Ashanti. It’s about to be the late ’90s and early ’00s all over again. Join Our Text Club To Get The Latest Music, Entertainment, Contests And Breaking News On Your Phone. Text BALTIMORE to 24042 to join! But hopefully that won’t include the drama that came with that time for Brandy and Monica. Both women have had their issues in the past, including getting in an actual physical altercation back in ’98. They were able to overcome them for a time, citing their children as reasons to bury the hatchet. However, that mea culpa fell apart after talks about doing some shows, promoting their second collaborative effort, the single “It All Belongs To Me,” didn’t come to fruition. “I just honestly think Monica and I are in a different place with our music,” Brandy said in 2012 about why touring together had fallen through. “And my vibe is a little different this time around so I don’t know. I definitely feel like the fans would want a tour from us, but I don’t know, I just feel like I’m being pulled in a different direction. I’m definitely still open to it, but right now I’m looking in a different way right now for me.” Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit From there, it seemed the two had a one-sided beef, with Brandy throwing all sorts of jabs at Monica, dating back to 2016 when everyone was doing the #SoGoneChallenge and the years that followed. There were odd snapchat videos, social media comments, petty attempts to prove who was closer to Whitney Houston, and changing the lyrics to “The Boy Is Mine” to “The Song Is Mine.” However, Monica tried to stay above the drama, calling Brandy an “amazing person” while performing last summer. “I want to thank my sisters in music, they started the same time I did,” she said. “How many of y’all love and adore the late, great Aaliyah? She was special. One in a million for sure. And I want y’all to make some noise for the woman — this is the only Grammy I ever won in my whole life. Only time they called a Black girl from the country to the big stage was with this amazing person, Ms. Brandy Norwood. See the thing is, if we lift each other up, we can do a whole lot,” she said. “This is in honor of everyone lifting each other up. I’m going to do this song for my sisters tonight, for the one that’s absent and the one that’s still traveling around the world doing her thing.” And just earlier this year, Brandy seemed to have changed her tune, sharing a post of herself and Monica in “The Boy Is Mine” video with a positive caption during Black History Month: View this post on Instagram #BlackHistory #PowerfulWomen #TheBoyIsMine #BrandyAndMonica #Darkchild @monicabrown @rodneyjerkins @fredjerkins @bigshiz #Legacy A post shared by b r a n d y (@4everbrandy) on Feb 8, 2019 at 4:33am PST So it looks like the time has come for them to get over their issues and make music — and money! Monica is certainly excited about the chance to do a few shows on the same bill as her old friend. In an Instagram Story, she reposted a story from Necole Kane that said “It’s about time!!!” in reference to the tour news. Monica responded, “Yasss!” [ione_media_gallery src=”https://92q.com” id=”4036521″ overlay=”true”]
