News

*Somerset, New Jersey – dfree® is the leading financial freedom movement programmed to equip the African American community with the strategies and resources to live a financially empowered life. The groundbreaking organization will host its national Homecoming Conference October 25 – 28 in Somerset, New Jersey. The conference will offer an inspiring immersion into the dfree® way of life, while providing four power packed days of faith, fun and fellowship that promote financial freedom.

While dfree® provides trainings and workshops around the country all year long, the national conference offers the opportunity to hear directly from finance and lifestyle experts who provide invaluable insights about everything from credit repair to estate planning to starting a business. The conference also offers the opportunity to hear directly from people who have transformed their lives by going through the dfree® program and following its principles. “This conference is where you come to gain information, become inspired and motivated by the successes of others, and get a blueprint of how you – regardless of your unique circumstances – can become a dfree® success story,” says dfree® Executive Director Tamika Stembridge, Esq.

Highlights of the 2018 dfree® Homecoming Conference include a community revitalization workshop with  dfree® founder and community economic development pioneer DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., a fireside chat with prodigious entrepreneurial sensations Jr. Flips (as seen on the Steve Harvey Show), a workshop offering “A Guide to Senior Living”, a financial planning panel featuring experts from title sponsor Prudential, and a sports and entertainment panel featuring professionals from Major League Baseball, Capitol Records, the WNBA and more. Panels and workshops are designed to address financial topics in a practical and holistic manner that will help attendees at every stage of life make financial decisions that will positively affect their futures. Living the dfree® lifestyle includes having fun, so there is also an exciting entertainment lineup: a Friday evening Gospel concert featuring Kierra Sheard and Hezekiah Walker, and a Saturday evening comedy show featuring Rod Allison and Lisa Mills.

The dfree® Homecoming Conference is hosted by Reverend DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., senior pastor, First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens and dfree® founder. The conference attracts pastors and ministers, community leaders, educators, students, business professionals and a cross-section of attendees with a desire to enhance their financial lives.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/rev-deforest-b-soaries-jr-s-dfree-shows-how-african-americans-can-achieve-financial-freedom/  ;

*The Geto Boys are mourning the loss of an original family member. DJ Ready Red, an early DJ and producer for the Houston-based rap trio, has died after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 53.

Red (born Collins Leysath) passed away Friday (Aug. 24), according to the Geto Boys’ Willie D, who shared the sad news via Instagram.

“He gave us our sound,” Willie D said of Red, whom he called “the Musical Enforcer” and said was “responsible for most of the production of our early stuff and all of the sound on my first album, Controversy.”

“To say that he was a pioneer would be an understatement. Red was before his time,” added Willie D.

Watch below:

In 1986, Red became the first DJ and producer for the the Geto Boys, then know as the Ghetto Boys. He left the group in 1991 when they were recording their breakout album “We Can’t Be Stopped.” As Willie D pointed out, he also produced the rapper’s first solo album, released in 1989.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/dj-ready-red-early-producer-for-the-geto-boys-dies-at-53/

*Aretha Franklin underwent a wardrobe change between her first and second public viewing days at the Charles H. Wright African American Museum in Detroit.

For her first viewing day on Tuesday, Aretha was dressed head to toe in red, a nod to her honorary membership in the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She wore a lacy ruby gown with Christian Louboutin heels, complete with matching nails and lipstick.

However, Wednesday’s mourners saw the Queen of Soul in a pastel blue dress with matching stilettos, according to reports. Officials from the local Swanson Funeral Home were responsible for Wednesday’s change of outfit, and owner Linda Swanson tells the Detroit Free Press fans can expect two more new looks for the legend, as chosen by her family, to ensure she is “resplendent in repose, as a queen should be.”

On Thursday (Aug. 30), Franklin’s body will be moved to the New Bethel Baptist Church, where her father was once the pastor, for a private visitation. The star-studded funeral will be held Friday at the Greater Grace Temple.

Ariana Grande has been added to the line-up of singers set to pay tribute at the funeral service, joining a bill which also features Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Chaka Khan and Faith Hill.

Also on Thursday, a tribute concert will be held at Chene Park Amphitheatre, where her friend Gladys Knight, The Four Tops, and Angie Stone will be among the performers.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/aretha-franklin-has-wardrobe-change-for-2nd-day-of-viewing-2-more-looks-expected/

*The free tickets for tonight’s Aretha Franklin tribute show at Chene Park sold out just 15 minutes after going on sale Monday morning. Fortunately, the show will be streamed live online for fans who are unable to make the pilgrimage to Detroit.

The show — dubbed “A People’s Tribute to the Queen” — was organized by the Queen of Soul’s family and will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday (Aug. 30), the eve of Franklin’s funeral. Chene Park capacity is about 6,000.

So far, the Chene Park website (www.cheneparkdetroit.com) is telling fans to check back today for streaming information, while local NBC news affiliate WDIA says it will host a live program that will air portions of the four-hour concert between 8 and 9 p.m.

The program for the tribute concert includes:

A jazz and blues tribute with Ralphe Armstrong, Aretha’s bassist and longtime friend, as musical director.

Performances from: Joan Belgrave, Doug Carn, Detroit’s Thornetta Davis and Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Visual montages will be presented throughout the event, including a signature portrait by artist Demont Pinder.

A dance choreographed by George Faison.

An R&B tribute with Kern Brantley as musical director. Narada Michael Walden will perform “Freeway of Love,” a song he wrote for Aretha. Performances from: Cherri Black, Steffinie Christian, Angela Davis, Gwen Foxx, Beth Griffith-Manley, Kimmie Horne, KIKO, Alise King and Tasha Page-Lockhart and Ronnie McNeir, who will perform the song he wrote for the upcoming Aretha biopic.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/here-is-the-lineup-streaming-info-for-thursdays-aretha-franklin-tribute-concert-at-chene-park/

*Looks like Prince Harry was down with the swirl long before Meghan Markle came into his life.

When photos of him posing in his boarding school dorm room recently resurfaced online, it included an image of Halle Berry on the wall above him. The Oscar-winning actress noticed the cutout of herself pinned to an embroidered rug on his wall and promptly tweeted about it Wednesday.

“Ok #PrinceHarry, I see you!” Berry tweeted with a crying laughing emoji. She added, “#HalleBerryPosta @MissyElliott,” referencing the rapper’s memorable “Work It” lyric: “Don’t I look like a Halle Berry poster?”

Berry’s picture sits among other bikini-clad women in the photo of Prince Harry’s room at Eton College, along with a stereo and a framed portrait of his mother, the late Princess Diana.

The prince was 18 when the photo was taken, not long after Berry won her Oscar for “Monster’s Ball.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/ok-i-see-you-halle-berry-notices-her-poster-in-old-pic-of-prince-harrys-dorm-room/

*LeBron James discussed the double standard for black, white athletes during the debut episode of his new HBO show “The Shop” that aired Tuesday night.

Flanked with celebs like Jon Stewart, Odell Beckham Jr. and Vince Staples, the Los Angeles Lakers forward dished about life at his mostly white, exclusive, private school in Akron, Ohio.

“Took me a while to adjust to it … I was like, I’m not f*cking with white people, that was my initial thought to white America.”

As noted by USA Today, James described a hypothetical in which a star white athlete and a star black athlete are approached by a photo-seeking fan while out in public with their families.

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“If it’s (Tom) Brady, if it’s (Aaron) Rodgers, if it’s (Peyton) Manning. And we’re doing the same (expletive), the same exact (expletive),” James began. “I’m talking about a phone is out. We’re like, ‘Yo, get that (expletive) phone out of my face. I’m with my family.’

“If we’re out with our family and we say that (expletive) and somebody posts it, and if Aaron Rodgers or one of those guys say that (expletive) and they post it, somebody’s going to be like, ‘Hey, you guys should respect Aaron Rodgers.’”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/lebron-james-took-me-a-while-to-adjust-to-white-people/

*Well now, isn’t this interesting. According to TMZ, the officer who busted rapper/actor T.I. back in May outside the guard shack of his gated community talked major trash about the rapper and his level of fame … and it was all captured on the officer’s body cam.

The footage was obtained from the Henry County officer who busted T.I. for public drunkenness and simple assault of the security guard. The video shows the officer talking to the guard, who had refused to let T.I. enter when he didn’t have his key.

The guard’s supervisor tells the cop, “That’s T.I., the rapper.” The cop repsonds, “He thinks his s**t don’t stink” and then laughs. The supervisor agreed with the officer.

TMZ broke the story, T.I. says the guard — who was eventually fired over the incident — had also cursed out Tiny when she called to say it was okay to let her husband enter their gated community.

T.I. was heated about the arrest and argued with cops after they took him into custody. He’s been charged with 3 misdemeanors … but most likely won’t face any jail time if convicted.

READ THIS/LEBRON JAMES: ‘TOOK ME A WHILE TO ADJUST TO WHITE PEOPLE’

T.I.’s attorney, Steve Sadow, was contacted about the about the body cam footage, however, he declined to comment.

He has pleaded not guilty in the criminal case stemming from his run-in with a security guard outside his gated community in Georgia.

T.I., also known as “Tip,” filed the documents last week, according to The Blast. He reportedly requested that his case go to trial, believing he can win the case if a jury hears the full story.

He’s also sought to dismiss all three charges, and argues that there was no “true threat” that fits the bill to warrant prosecution.

You can get the rest of this EURweb story, HERE.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/t-i-thinks-his-sht-dont-think-says-arresting-officer-on-body-cam-watch-listen/

*Although Aretha Franklin sang at his inauguration, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama won’t attend her funeral on Friday, their spokeswoman Katie Hill confirmed.

“Unfortunately, President and Mrs. Obama will not be able to attend Aretha Franklin’s services on Friday, but they have sent a letter, which the Rev. Al Sharpton will be reading during the service,” Hill said.

According to USA Today, Obama is to give a eulogy along with former President George W. Bush Saturday morning at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., for the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, who died Aug. 25. Bush, the Free Press previously reported, also sent a letter to be read at Franklin’s funeral service.

Thousands lined up at a Detroit museum this week to honor Franklin, as the music icon’s open casket was on public display at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History… check out the clip above.

Former President Bill Clinton will be among the speakers at Franklin’s funeral, as will former Attorney General Eric Holder.

READ THIS: T.I. ‘THINKS HIS SH*T DON’T THINK’ SAYS ARRESTING OFFICER ON BODY CAM – WATCH/LISTEN

The Obamas issued a statement following Franklin’s Aug. 16 death from pancreatic cancer.

“America has no royalty. But we do have a chance to earn something more enduring. Born in Memphis and raised in Detroit, Aretha Franklin grew up performing gospel songs in her father’s congregation. For more than six decades since, every time she sang, we were all graced with a glimpse of the divine,” it read.

“Through her compositions and unmatched musicianship, Aretha helped define the American experience. In her voice, we could feel our history, all of it and in every shade— our power and our pain, our darkness and our light, our quest for redemption and our hard-won respect. She helped us feel more connected to each other, more hopeful, more human. And sometimes she helped us just forget about everything else and dance.
”

“Aretha may have passed on to a better place, but the gift of her music remains to inspire us all. May the Queen of Soul rest in eternal peace. Michelle and I send our prayers and warmest sympathies to her family and all those moved by her song.”

The White House has not responded about whether Donald Trump or First Lady Melania Trump will attend Franklin’s farewell memorial service Friday, Aug. 31.

Bounce and Brown Sugar will partner with Bounce’s local Detroit affiliate, WXYZ-TV, for the special event, airing live and streaming WXYZ’s hometown coverage and commentary nationwide.

On the day she died, Trump told reporters: “I want to begin today by expressing my condolences to the family of a person I knew well. She worked for me on numerous occasions. She was terrific — Aretha Franklin — on her passing. She’s brought joy to millions of lives and her extraordinary legacy will thrive and inspire many generations to come. She was given a great gift from God — her voice, and she used it well. People loved Aretha. She was a special woman. So just want to pass on my warmest best wishes and sympathies to her family.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/barack-obama-unable-to-attend-aretha-franklins-funeral-sends-letter-instead/

*Kanye West returned to his hometown this week where he chopped it up with a local radio station about his infamous “slavery is a choice” comments.

Yeezy stopped by the WGCI Chicago radio station for an interview and tried to elaborate on his “non-historical opinion,” — ultimately apologizing for the hurt he caused.

“It wasn’t the actual comment. I said “400 years, it sounds like a choice — to me. To Kanye West. Not being a historian … to me, when I hear about an entire group of powerful people being held captive for 400 years it sounds like a choice to the spirit of Kanye West. Which, I think is aligned with the spirit of Harriet Tubman. Which I think is aligned with the spirit of Nat Turner. In my non-historical opinion, I feel that these are examples of people from the past who felt similar to that. Even if it was worded incorrectly in the white man’s tongue. Maybe I could have danced or I could have spoken Swahili — because even the fact that we’re having to have this conversation in English is a form of slavery. It’s not even our language, bro.”

Watch the clip above, and read what else he had to say below.

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“The thing about being called crazy, the biggest stigma that has to be broken is that you instantly get written off. But you might be the only one who knows what they’re talking about. Also what I wanna say to everyone listening right now—I have never really approached or addressed the slavery comment fully,” he continued. “And it’s not something for me to overly intellectualize. This is something about the fact that it hurt people’s feelings and the way that I presented that piece of information. I could present in a way more calm way, but I was ramped up. And I apologize. That happens sometimes when people are—I’m not blaming mental health, but I’m explaining mental health.”

Adding: “I don’t know if I properly apologized for how the slavery comment made people feel. I’m sorry for the one-two effect of the MAGA hat into the slave comment, and I’m sorry for people that felt let down by that moment. And I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to talk to you about the way I was thinking and what I was going through.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/kanye-west-now-everybodys-woke-w-donald-trump-as-president-watch/

*Jamie Foxx and his sister DeOndra Dixon, who has Down Syndrome, sit down with “Dateline” Friday to share heir amazing story and the Academy Award-winning actor opens up about what his younger sister has taught him.

“I learned how to live. Sometimes we get caught up in our world on the extras of everything – ‘Ah, the Mercedes is not the right color!’” Foxx, 50, says on Friday’s episode of “Dateline”, per People. “And then you see this girl over here, ‘I just want to live. I want to dance. I want to love.’ So she brings you back down to what life is.”

As noted by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, Dixon is no stranger to breaking barriers. The Quincy Jones Award Recipient is a Global Ambassador and a Special Olympics athlete.

Dixon shares that when her big brother isn’t around, she misses him, but Foxx asks her: “And what do you do? You text me. You say, ‘Where you at?’ And, ‘Where the money at?’”

Foxx previously spoke about his adoration for Dixon during a 2014 interview on the now-defunct “Queen Latifah Show,” Page Six also reports that the comedian even placed her in his “Blame It” video, which led to her becoming an ambassador for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. He even arranged a meet-and-greet with her favorite artist, Chris Brown.

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In related news, business manager of the stars Kevin R. Foster was convicted Wednesday of defrauding R&B singers Ne-Yo and Brian McKnight of millions through a sports beverage investment scam, nj.com reports.

Foster’s conviction came just two years after he was first indicted on wire fraud, money laundering and other charges by a federal grand jury in Ohio.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/jamie-foxx-shares-lessons-learned-from-sister-w-down-syndrome-manager-found-guilty-of-scamming-ne-yo-brian-mcknight/

*Traci Braxton has opened up about the future of “Braxton Family Values” and why Phaedra Parks joined the hit reality series this season.

She told ESSENCE that she asked the former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star to join her on an adventure to Wyoming and South Dakota to learn about the history of Black cowboys.

The duo also herd cattle and live like cowboys with former rapper Flava Flav, Tiffany “New York” Pollard, and comedian Kym Whitley, according to the report.

Braxton said the trip came about after she and her sisters had a fallout following reports that filming for BFV had come to a halt as the family refused to return until they renegotiated their contracts.

“I was down in the dumps with my sisters…and it was one of my business ventures, my Black Cowboy Whiskey,” she said, referencing the whiskey brand where she’s a brand ambassador. “And I wanted to reenact being on a ranch with black cowboys.”

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Parks told ESSENCE during a recent press junket that the two were “herding 1500 heifers for over 100 miles.”

“[We were] by ourselves, camping out, really learning about how cowboys survived. Learning about Stage Coach Mary, who was one of the only African-American women who participated in cattle herding, so it was really good. It was really good. I loved it,” she added.

To help kick the blues, Braxton planned a girls trip to the spa with Parks, reality star Natalie Nunn, and comedian Luenell.

“It reminded me of my sisters. It was nothing but girls there and it reminded me of my sisters because we got to laugh with each other and cry with each other,” she recalled.

Fans will get to see Parks and Braxton’s great cowboy adventures in the show’s seventh season as well as deets on sister Toni’s wedding to Birdman.

Traci told ESSENCE that “Toni had to put it on hold for a little bit because she’s in a movie, a new movie — her and Towanda — so Toni was like, ‘Okay. I just gotta do this movie.’”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/traci-braxton-reveals-sad-reason-why-phaedra-parks-joined-braxton-family-values/

*Mariah Carey has won a court battle against a concert promoter who claimed her no-show at their scheduled South American concerts cost them millions of dollars in damages, reports The Blast.

The lawsuit stemmed from legal action Carey originally took against FEG Entretenimientos S.A. when she claimed she was forced to cancel after she did not receive proper payment for the scheduled appearances.

The promoters countersued and accused the singer of defaming them in a tweet that read, “Devastated my shows in Chile, Argentina & Brazil had to be canceled. My fans deserve better than some of these promoters treated them.”

FEG sought $3 million — $2 million for the defamation claim and another $1 million for bailing on the concerts.

On Wednesday, the judge in the case dismissed the defamation claim against the singer, and noted that her tweet was an “opinion.” He explained that the words “deserve better” are vague and did not damage the promoters.

Mariah is personally clear of the $2 million claim, however her entertainment company may still have to pay the remaining $1 million for the scrapped shows. Her case against the promoter is also ongoing.

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Meanwhile, in other Mariah Carey news, if you missed it, the singer played cupid at her Las Vegas concert back in July when she assisted one of her background dancers in a marriage proposal.

Mimi stopped her show Sunday night at Caesars Palace and called for dancer, Manwe, to join her on stage. The two then asked for Manwe’s boyfriend, Sumeet, to join them…and a proposal ensued.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/mariah-carey-wins-2m-defamation-battle-against-south-american-promoters/

*NEW YORK –– Slick Rick, hip-hop’s greatest storyteller, and The Black Eyed Peas – whose crossover over appeal has generated sales of more than 40 million units worldwide – share a new song and video, “Constant Part 1 & 2,” released globally today across all DSPs. Rick, who celebrates the 30^th anniversary of his landmark The Great Adventures of Slick Rick in November, appears in the video.

“Constant Part 1 & 2” is the fourth Black Eyed Peas (sans Fergie) single this year. Directed by will.i.am and Ernst Weber, the clip marks the first Slick Rick-Black Eyes Peas collaboration. In the past, the band sampled the emcee’s song “The Ruler’s Back” for (2005’s “Don’t Lie,” as well as “Children’s Story (2010’s “The Beginning) and “The Show” (2015’s “Yesterday”). “Constant” interpolates a line from Rick’s classic “La-di-da-di,” and a conscious message is delivered via warm, jazzy boom-bap and hip-house.

Earlier this year Kanye West and Nas exchanged verses about police brutality over Rick’s four-word sample from “Children’s Story,” (“Cops shot the kid…”), which has become the most sampled song in hip-hop history.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/slick-rick-and-the-black-eyed-peas-share-new-song-and-video/

*DJ Khaled is now in the home furnishing business.

“My home is my castle and it’s a sacred place,” Khaled says about his new regal-flavored collection, titled “We the Best Home” by Goldition. The luxury line, inspired by his own home and lifestyle, will officially launch Thursday at El Dorado Furniture in Miami, the first brick-and-mortar store to sell the collection.

“I wanted to create something that highlighted how important our homes are to our lives — it’s where we spend time with family. It’s where we make memories. It’s where we raise our children, Khaled says in a statement.

“This line is an extension of me. I am involved in every aspect of the creative design process — choosing colors, fabrics, styles. So I give my fans a piece of Khaled in every item.”

Photos provided to Billboard from the collection show Khaled lounging in a black leather couch with a white leather base, reminiscent of old Hollywood. Khaled’s also shown in a red throne chair, flanked by golden lions. That, he says, is his favorite piece from the collection.

“They’re all my favorite, but every castle has a King and Queen. So, the throne chair is a must-have for every King in his castle. And the vanity is a major key for the Queen of the castle, so she can make sure she always looking like a queen,” he added.

View more pics from the We the Best Home collection below:

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/dj-khaled-launches-we-the-best-home-furniture-line/

*French Montana has been slapped with a lawsuit by his pool guy over a dog bite.

According to TMZ, Juan Lomeli claims the rapper’s German Shepherd, Zane, attacked him back in May, 2017, leaving him so badly injured that he was unable to work.

The plaintiff says he has no idea why the dog bit him, explaining he’d never had a problem with the canine in the six months he worked for Montana.

He’s suing the rapper for the injuries and lost earnings, according to TMZ.

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*In other French Montana news, if you missed it, he officially became a US citizen back in June, after first applying in February 2017, TMZ reported.

Born in Morocco, Montana immigrated to the US when he was 13 years old and lived in the South Bronx.

With his citizenship, he’ll now be able to obtain a US passport and vote in the next election.

“Officially a citizen today thank u allah,” he captioned a video of himself on his Instagram story.

The rapper celebrated his newfound citizenship by partying at a club.

*We’re concluding our French Montana roundup with news hearing that he also had some unwanted visitors to his Calabasas, California home in July by two armed men

According to TMZ, French and several other people were home at the time. It’s not known yet if there are injuries, but the report noted that no one was hospitalized.

Police say they got a call from the rapper’s home around 9am Pacific, and the caller indicated that multiple men broke into the home a few hours earlier.

Law enforcement authorities are still investigating the incident. It’s not known what, if anything, was taken from the home.

French Montana’s home, which he bought from Selena Gomez, is in a gated community in Calabasas isn’t stranger (so to speak) to unwanted visitors. When Gomez owned the home, she had to deal with a stalker.

As of this posting, there are no suspects.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/french-montana-sued-over-2017-dog-attack/

*Michael Jackson’s estate and IMAX will team up to bring a digitally remastered version of “Michael Jackson’s Thriller 3D” into IMAX 3D, reports Billboard.

The partnership was announced Wednesday (Aug. 29), which would have been the singer’s 60th birthday. IMAX theaters across the U.S. will carry the remastered version for one week, beginning Sept. 21.

The 14-minute short film, directed by John Landis, premiered in Los Angeles in 1983, while the 3D version was first shown at the 74th Venice Film Festival in 2017.

In announcing the remastered version, co-executors of MJ’s estate say the King of Pop loved to give his fans the “latest and greatest in technology and entertainment experiences.”

Jackson died in June, 2009.

READ THIS: BARACK OBAMA WON’T ATTEND ARETHA FRANKLIN’S FUNERAL, SENDS LETTER INSTEAD

In other news about the late King of Pop, Page Six reports son Prince and daughter Paris paid tribute to their late father on what would have been his 60th birthday.

“We honor him in our own way, and I don’t really expect anyone else to understand besides this dude right here,” Paris, 20, told “Entertainment Tonight” on Wednesday of her older brother. “I’m just happy to be with him.”

They were at the Michael Jackson Diamond Celebration at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, which featured a performance of the Cirque de Soleil Michael Jackson “One” show.

Michael was honored with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation Legacy Award at the event, which Prince, 21, said “would make him prouder, I assume, than [his] musical accomplishments.”

“Being here today is definitely an awe-inspiring feeling, because our father was the King of Pop and he did so much,” Prince added. “He did so much for the music industry, but I think he put emphasis and importance on the charitable contributions to humanity that he really used his platform to [support].”

Other stars in attendance included Evan Ross, Ashlee Simpson, Angela Bassett, Usher (who also performed), Vanessa Hudgens, Tinashe, Blake Griffin, Criss Angel, Mark Ronson, Gabrielle Union and Michael’s siblings Tito and Jackie Jackson.

See star/celeb snaps from the event, HERE.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/michael-jacksons-thriller-3d-to-be-remastered-for-imax/

*Janet Jackson collected yet another career honor Thursday night.

During the 2018 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, which recognizes the songwriters, producers and publishers of the year’s most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs, Jackson was given the BMI Icon Award, which came with a surprise appearance by Missy Elliott.

According to Variety, the rapper/producer gave a speech in honor of Jackson, during which she quoted the singer’s lyrics.

Songs by Jackson were performed by Jussie Smollett (“That’s the Way Love Goes”), Justine Skye (“Let’s Wait Awhile”), Normani (“The Pleasure Principle”) and Teyana Taylor (“I Get Lonely”).

The event, held at Atlanta’s Woodruff Arts Center’s Symphony Hall, also saw Metro Boomin named Producer of Year for the third year in a row. He also earned Songwriter of the Year for his work on such songs as “Bad and Boujee,” “Bank Account” and “Mask Off.”

Song of the Year went to The Weeknd’s “I Feel It Coming,” written by Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) was awarded Publisher of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. UMPG had 15 of the most performed songs of the year.

In addition, the ceremony paid tribute to the late Aretha Franklin, who, the performance rights organization noted, “Was part of the BMI family for 50 years.” Tamela Mann sang “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” followed by “You’ve Got a Friend” in honor of the Queen of Soul.

Other performers included Atlanta rapper Derez De’shon (the 2018 BMI Social Star), H.E.R. and the 411 Dance Troupe.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/bmi-rb-hip-hop-awards-janet-jackson-honored-by-missy-elliott-aretha-franklin-celebrated/

*“Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman is among those confused by the Academy’s attempt to appease fans of overlooked box office blockbusters by introducing an Oscar for “outstanding achievement in popular film” at next February’s Academy Awards.

“We don’t know what it [the new prize] is, so I don’t know whether to be happy about it or not,” Boseman told The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘Awards Chatter’ podcast in an episode that went live on Wednesday. “What I can say is that there’s no campaign [that we are mounting] for popular film; like, if there’s a campaign, it’s for best picture, and that’s all there is to it.”

After becoming the year’s highest-grossing movie domestically and second-highest-grossing internationally to date, “Black Panther” may very well nab the popular Oscar. But the studio, which has hired veteran awards strategist Cynthia Swartz’s Strategy PR to orchestrate its Oscar campaign, is much more interested in the holy grail of best picture.

As far as Boseman is concerned, the new popular Oscar category should not deter Academy members from nominating a popular film in the best picture Oscar category. (The Academy has confirmed that films can be nominated in both categories.)

“A good movie is a good movie,” he says, “and clearly it doesn’t matter how much money a movie makes in order for it to be ‘a good movie’ [in the minds of Academy members] because if [it did], the movies that get nominated and win [which have tended in recent years to not be blockbusters] wouldn’t get nominated; and if it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter on both sides.” The actor adds, “For my money, the only thing that matters is the level of difficulty.”

Boseman continues: “What we did was very difficult. We created a world, we created a culture … we had to create a religion, a spirituality, a politics; we had to create an accent; we had to pull from different cultures to create clothing styles and hair styles. It’s very much like a period piece. … So, as far as that’s concerned, I dare any movie to try to compare to the [level of] difficulty of this one. And the fact that so many people liked it — if you just say it’s [merely] popular, that’s elitist.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/chadwick-boseman-says-black-panther-is-aiming-for-best-picture-not-new-popular-oscar/

*Flushing, NY – The Wakanda squad … just kidding … the Americans (including our honorary Asian-American) of color have shed several hopefuls during the first two rounds of play in Flushing. But those who remain are those whom most would expect to: the Williams sisters, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka.

To be fair to the fallen, its been rough out in these New York streets. Temperatures have soared to 100+ degrees on court causing unexpected upsets of top seeds (Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Andy Murray, Garbine Muguruza, etc), several early retirements, and spawning controversies that have reverberated around all of tennisdom and beyond.

As for the controversies, the USTA had to apologize for giving a female player a code violation warning for changing her shirt on court when she discovered it was on backwards, when the men can practically change their underwear out there without so much as a peep. In fact, the men have been known to elicit applause from the same actions. All feminist hell broke loose in the locker room and across social media.

Also, since the heat rule was in effect for both men and women (players get a 10-minute break between sets if the temperature reaches a certain point) a match between Andy Murray and Fernando Verdasco was suspended for the players to cool down, but during that period Verdasco was accused of strategizing with his coach. That’s a no no according to the rules. Andy Murray lost the match and made the incident “a thing” during his post match press conference, “I had to teach someone the f*cking rules,” he fumed.

Further, a player notorious for bobbing and weaving in and out of sanity during his matches, Nick Kyrgios, was allegedly given an unfair advantage by a chair umpire.  Mohamed Lahyani, an umpiring veteran, came down from his post and gave Nick an impromptu pep talk in between games when he thought he “wasn’t himself.” After the chat, Nick – who was first losing – turned things around and won the match. Many of the players have cried foul and are calling for Lahyani’s head on a platter.

So, the heat has folks going stone crazy … but there are some great things going down at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, too.

When the draw first came out, fans were up in arms about Venus and Serena being drawn on the same side of tournament. That meant one would have to eliminate the other before reaching the finals. The kicker, though, was how early that would occur – in the 3rd round. But, they had to get there first.

Venus was seeded 16th and Serena 17th, which made it possible that they could meet early. And tennis players player tennis players, irrespective of their relationship … sister, brother, mother, whatever. They’re the oldest in the draw, with Serena still trying to find her game after returning from giving birth and Venus still managing her Sjogren’s disease. Who knew if they’d even get out of the starting blocks? We’re dealing with the Williams Sisters, though, and obstacles are their motivation.

Long story short, they both did what they needed to do to set up another historic “sister 2 sister” duel. Tournament brass loves it, TV partners love it and the fans are over the moon about it.

Here’s how they did it:

Venus Williams was up first on Armstrong, taking on Camila Giorgi, a feisty Italian who’s as nimble as a field mouse and can hit blazing winners from anywhere on the court. But Venus is no chopped liver with power and movement … she’s just 38 and it was 900 degrees out there. So, it was anybody’s match.

But Venus didn’t win seven Grand Slams on just looks. She knows how to play the game and use her strengths to expose her opponents’ weaknesses, which she did with Giorgi. She shuffled around the court most of the match as if she were gonna fall over dead … until just that right time to pounce. She was expert at conserving her energy and only came alive when she felt like she could win the games needed to win each set and it worked brilliantly. She closed the match in 2 sets, 6-4, 7-5.

She did her part; it was time for Serena to do hers.

Serena Williams hasn’t won the US Open since 2014, but she’s won it six times, making her the reigning queen of New York. So, any match she plays is gonna be on center court, inside Arthur Ashe stadium, and likely at night. That was the case on Wednesday and her opponent was Carina Withtoft (GER). According to the commentators, her opponent was “just as big and strong” as she was, BUT she didn’t have the tennis pedigree of the 23-time Grand Slam champion. Sure, Serena is still a little rusty, but she didn’t make it look that way, smothering the German out, 6-2, 6-2 in a lavender tutu. Her serves were firing, her ground game was sound and her roar was mighty during the victory.

Serena’s triumph set up yet another historic meeting between the legendary siblings.

It will be Venus and Serena’s 29th match against one another, 17 years after playing the first professional match to ever be broadcast live during prime time, men or women. And this forthcoming meeting is being featured during the 50th anniversary of the US Open. It’s milestone after milestone, after milestone for the two, which is not lost on the USTA or the fans.

“It’s early in the tournament, so both of us are going to be looking forward to continuing to play better,” Venus said of the upcoming match. “The last time we played there was an unfair advantage, it was two against one [laughs].”

Sloane Stephens, the girl with the target on her back this year (defending champion), also won her round two match on Ashe during Wednesday’s day session. She faced Ukranian, Anhelina Kalinina.

Sloane’s quest to defend her title made her a little weak in the knees to start the match and Kalinina initially took advantage. The Ukranian won the first set, then the two engaged in a dog fight. The American came to life and was determine not to go down in flames in the second. Sloane is a great defensive player and when her back is against the wall she knows how to defend her way out of it. She defended her way to the US Open title last year, so it’s never over with her until the big-boned lady sings.

After the defend champion took the second set just by a nose, she took advantage of the 10-minute heat rule to get her mind – and her stomach right. She ate a few Sushi rolls during play suspension then came out firing on all cylinders. Kalinini wilted and Sloane closed out the third set and the match, 6-4, 5-7, 2-6.

Her next opponent is Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

Madison Keys got it done in straight sets over over fellow American Bernarda Pera, on Armstrong while Taylor Townsend and Frances Tiafoe were fighting for their tennis lives. She struggled a bit in the first set, trading lengthy service holds, but she finally squeaked by her tenacious opponent, 6-4. Once she got that first set under her belt, the nerves subsided and the free swinging commenced. Madison sailed to a final scoreline of 6-4, 6-1 and moved on to face diminutive Serbian, Aleksandra Krunic, in the third round.

Naomi Osaka also came out with her guns ablazing and easily blasted Julia Glushko of Israel off the court. The final score was 6-2,-6-0, a beatdown born in Japan, but made in New York.

Taylor Townsend bowed out of singles play on Thursday night. She was taken out by Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, a former French Open champion, on a packed outside court. Her credentials don’t hold a candle to the feisty 10th seed, but she earned some valuable stripes during the defeat. She took the first set in a dazzling display of steadiness and defense turned to offense, lost the second, but found the nerve to come back from a break down and almost take the decider. It wasn’t until the critical ninth game in the third that she dropped her serve and allowed Ostapenko to go up 5-4 and serve it out 6-4, 3-6, 4-6. She fought a great fight, but just couldn’t make it over the hump.

Frances Tiafoe was also overcome by his opponent, Alex De Minaur of Australia. Tiafoe was never really in the match to begin with, dropping the first two sets 4-6, 0-6, but found the temporary will to earn him the third, 7-5. The surge wouldn’t last, however, as he was broken straight out of the gate in the fourth and never recovered. De Minaur proved too much to handle – he was like a human backboard – and took the match 6-4, 6-0, 5-7, 6-2. It was Tiafoe’s first 2nd round appearance.

So, the usual suspects remain, the Williams Sisters, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and newcomer Naomi Osaka (with an asterisks) to “colorfully” represent the USA. All are fully capable of being left standing with the trophy in the end, so if you’re into betting …

The Williams sisters showdown will air on ESPN tonight (8/31) at 7pm EST.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/soul-of-the-us-open-williams-sisters-continue-making-history-venus-vs-serena/

*Eminem comes for Donald Trump, the Grammys and the media on his new studio album “Kamikaze,” his 10th full length album, dropped by surprise on Thursday night.

The follow-up to 2017’s “Revival” features album art that tips a hat to the Beastie Boys’ cover of their 1986 album “Licensed to Ill.” The 45 min, 13-track release includes Slim Shady’s takes on Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble,” Playboi Carti’s “Woke Up Like This,” Young M.A’s “Oouu” and L.L. Cool J’s “I’m Bad.”

Two “skits” on the album are voicemails between the rapper and his manager Paul Rosenberg. In the first one, Rosenberg says he’s listened to the new album and asks Eminem: “Are you really going just to deride everybody who, you don’t like what they have to say about you or the stuff you’re working on? I don’t know if that’s really a great idea, it’s like what’s next, ‘Kamikaze 2,’ the album where you reply to everybody who didn’t like the album that you made replying to everybody that didn’t like the previous album? It’s a slippery slope, I don’t know if it’s really a good idea.”

Other topics and personalities covered on “Kamikaze” include Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, the Grammy Awards and the press, which Em calls out for trashing “Revival.” Addressing that in his midnight tweet announcing the album release, the rapper wrote, “tried not to overthink this one,” and added the middle finger emoji.

Joyner Lucas, Royce Da 5’9″, and Jessie Reyez also feature on the album, which Em executive produced alongside Dr. Dre. The work als includes Eminem’s track for the upcoming “Venom,” starring Tom Hardy and Riz Ahmed.

Additional production credits include Mike Will Made It (“Greatest” and “Fall”), Illadaproducer, Ronny J, Jeremy “Backpack” Miller, Boi-1da & Jahaan Sweet, Tay Keith, Tim Suby, Fred Ball and S1 for S.K.P. Inc. The album was recorded and mixed at Detroit’s Effigy Studios.

“Kamikaze” can be heard on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, iTunes and other digital providers.

View the full track listing and stream the album below:

The Ringer
Greatest
Lucky You (feat. Joyner Lucas)
Paul – Skit
Normal
Em Calls Paul – Skit
Stepping Stone
Not Alike (feat. Royce Da 5’9′)
Fall
Kamikaze
Nice Guy (feat. Jessie Reyez)
Good Guy (feat. Jessie Reyez)
Venom – Music from the Motion Picture

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/eminem-drops-new-surprise-album-kamikaze-i-tried-not-2-overthink-this-1/