Q-Tip Makes HISTORY At the Kennedy Center

Q-Tip is making history with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

He has been tapped as artistic director for the the Center’s inaugural Hip-Hop Culture series for the 2016-17 season. The Hi-ARTS partnership features six different events from July through June 2017.

“With Hip Hop constantly changing and evolving, it is easy to forget the history and legacy that precede it,” Q-Tip said in a statement. “I want to begin at the beginning of the Culture to help people see its roots, better understand its present, and responsibly create its future.”

“In our role as a national cultural institution, we feel it is vital to recognize all of the performing arts in our programming,” Kennedy Center president Deborah F. Rutter said in a statement. “The history of Hip Hop and its development as an art form, and the complexity and importance of its impact on the arts landscape driving social and cultural awareness, has inspired us to have a more formal connection with our ongoing programming. By launching this series, we strive to spotlight these powerful traits through each program and to make them part of the Kennedy Center fabric as we look into the future.”

Source: AP

The first set of programs are as follows.

  • Brave New Voices Youth Summit: July 12-16; Family Theater & Concert Hall
  • All The Way Live!: Oct. 12-16; Family Theater,
  • Words, Beats & Life Teach-In: Nov. 3-5; Terrace Gallery
  • Top Notch: Nov. 5; Grand Foyer
  • DJ Spooky: Rebirth of a Nation: May 23, 2017; Eisenhower Theater
  • /peh-LO-tah/: June 5-11, 2017; Family Theater

For full program and ticket information, head to the Kennedy Center’s website.

Kendrick Lamar Set to Top Charts with Surprise Album

kendrick lamar untitled thatgrapejuice

Kendrick Lamar surprised the masses when he released his latest project “Untitled.” The new project is a follow up to chart-topping, critically acclaimed set ‘To Pimp A Butterfly.’  Untitled features appearances from Bilal, SZA, Cee Lo Green, and many more.

The set is predicted to top the charts and sell anywhere between 175-185k.  Kendrick is still riding the wave after winning 5 Grammy’s a couple weeks ago.

Chart position:  #1

kendrick-lamar-untitled-unmastered-surprise-new-album-compressed1-compressed

 

Kanye West Vows to Never Release a Physical CD Again!!

Kanye West

Kanye West is saying goodbye to CD’S and possibly forever. Yeezy expressed his sentiments via his favorite outlet, Twitter.

He stated, “I was thinking about not making CDs ever again… Only streaming,” he tweeted. “The Yeezus album packaging was an open casket to CDs r.i.p. uuuuuuum, so there it is… No more CDs from me.”

He plans to only release future music via streaming services via TIDAL, which premiered his latest classic  The Life of Pablo.

West went on to vent, “Why do people not want me to be me?” he asked. “I want people to be the best version of themselves and I will be the best version of me. Growing and learning but not being told to stop …not being stunted. please avoid trying to talk me out of being me in the future.”

Bobby Brown Fuels Rehab Rumors?

Last week there were rumors Bobby Brown had checked himself into rehab to deal with drug and alcohol issues.

Bobby just fueled the rumors.

One week after the rehab rumors Bobby Brown has canceled his show in South Carolina claiming his gastroenterologist ordered him to rest.

 

 

Bankroll Fresh Shot and Killed in Atlanta

Up and coming Atlanta rapper Bankroll Fresh was shot and killed at a recording studio early Saturday morning.

From WSBTV,

The shooting happened a little after 11 p.m. Friday, at the Street Execs Studios on Defoor Place.

The Fulton County medical examiner confirmed 28-year-old Trentavious White, known as Bankroll Fresh, was shot while inside the studio.

White was then transported to the hospital where he later died.

Police say they collected more than 50 shell casings inside and outside the recording studio.

Street Execs is home to performing artists such as 2Chainz, Travis Porter, Yung Dolph, CAP 1 and DJ E Studd.

Bobbi Kristina Brown Cause of Death Revealed

Yesterday a judge ruled the autopsy report for Bobbi Kristina Brown must be unsealed after a request by a news agency.

The cause of death has now been revealed.

According to the coroner Bobbi Krisinta Brown died as a result of “Immersion of face in water complicating mixed drug intoxication.”

“The drugs involved included marijuana, alcohol (ethanol), benzoylecgonine (a cocaine-related substance), benzodiazepines (medications used for sedation or to treat anxiety), and morphine.”

“It could not be determined from toxicology tests whether the morphine resulted from heroin use. The other question which arises is manner of death. In other words, did death result from natural causes such as disease, an intentional act such as suicide or homicide, an unintentional cause (accident), or in an undetermined manner when a more specific manner of death cannot be established.”

The news agency, WXIA, wanted the records for a report on the heroin epidemic in Bobbi Kristina’s upscale Atlanta neighborhood.

Apparently the number of affluent young people who have died from heroin overdoses, including three of Bobbi Kristina’s friends, has dramatically increased in recent years.

While investigating WXIA found Bobbi Kristina’s autopsy report was the only overdose death located in the hot zone that was sealed.

Blood Stained Knife Found at OJ’s Estate?

In a shocking turn of events a retired police officer claims to have recovered a blood stained knife found buried at O.J. Simpson’s old Rockingham Estate..

From TMZ

A construction worker found a knife buried on the perimeter of the former O.J. Simpson estate … and it’s currently being tested by the LAPD in a top secret investigation … law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

The story is incredible. We’re told a construction worker found the knife years ago — we have heard several different stories, ranging from “several years ago” to 1998, when the house was demolished. The weapon is a folding buck knife.

Our law enforcement sources say the construction worker took the knife to the street, where he saw an LAPD cop. He told the officer where he found the knife and the cop took it.

Turns out the cop — who worked in the traffic division — was off duty at the time, working security for a movie shoot at a house across the street on Rockingham. Our sources say the officer took the knife home and kept it … kept it for years.

In late January of this year, after the cop retired from the LAPD, he contacted a friend who worked in LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division (RHD). The cop told the friend about the knife and said he was getting it framed to put on his wall. He wanted his friend to get the DR (Departmental Record) number for the Nicole Brown Simpson/Ronald Goldman murder case, which he planned on engraving in the frame.

We’re told the friend was indignant, and told his superiors. The brass was outraged and demanded that the retired cop turn the knife over, which he did.

Our sources say the knife is currently being tested for hair and fingerprints. It will be moved to the Serology Unit next week, where it will be tested for DNA and other biological evidence.

One source familiar with the investigation tells us, cops who eyeballed the knife think it could have blood residue on it, but it’s hard to know without testing because it’s extremely rusted and stained. The investigation is top secret. It’s been logged into the LAPD’s computer system outside the official case file to maintain security. Our sources say, since O.J. was found not guilty, it’s still an open case. That means cops can continue investigating, but O.J. cannot be prosecuted again — double jeopardy.

Sage the Gemini Exposed, Says Relationship with Jordin Sparks was a Publicity Stunt

Last week struggling R&B singer Sage the Gemini publicly begged his ex-girlfriend, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, for a second chance then conveniently dropped a new single the next day.

Now audio leaked by a different ex-girlfriend shows it was all a big publicity stunt at Jordin’s expense.
In the audio Sage is heard telling his other ex the whole relationship with Jordin started as a publicity stunt and that in the end she was so annoying he wanted to stab her.
Listen below.

Comes in at the 12:16 mark.

 

K. Michelle Admits Boyfriend Leaked Idris Emails

Last year a very personal email from K. Michelle to actor Idris Elba leaked online.

Now we know K’s ex-boyfriend Bobby Maze from Maryland was behind the leak. Monday night on K. Michelle: My Life on VH1 K admits Bobby stole her phone and was holding it for ransom for what turned out to be a bag full of fake jewels.

Throughout the episode K talks about Bobby threatening to leak her personal emails if she didn’t return his jewelry.

Check the alleged email below:

The email, which was sent to Fameolous reads:

Hey Denzel, Guess what?!? I don’t hate you any more. And I don’t want to destroy you or the penis that was inside of me. I made a vow to myself that I would never contact you again because I feel as if my friendship was taken for granted but I drank a bottle and honesty is what I am all about tonight. I miss your face in my hot pocket. I don’t want to further incriminate you and I know you probably don’t trust me but I don’t want to further incriminate you.

I don’t know if I was in love with you but I feel like you were sent to me to show me that I deserve better than basketball players. More than anytime I miss the encouragement of my friend. Yes, I wrote my album about you but that’s what I do but I have to write about the things that affect me because not many things affect me. I date, I screw, I conquer, I am over it. You inspired and made me to write songs. Sorry if my selfishness and convenience may have affected your family. I questioned myself a million times as to if I was doing the right thing but I felt you never questioned yourself as to if you were doing right by me. I guess I am the story of every angry black woman, but the difference is, I don’t want to see you destroyed and through every interview if you noticed, I never wanted to destroy you as a person and a man. This is not an attempt to get you back, but more to cleanse my soul. I know it’s going to take time for you to trust me again and for me to trust you, but I just want to get to a place of healing and move past this in a mature fashion. I am not expecting a response via email, however, I would like to say these things to you on the phone. My phone number is (310) 000-0000. Wishing you all the best and continued success.

And PS, you didn’t have to block me on Instagram like I did you

Best, K. Michelle