#MAGFAB: SEVERANCE Star Tramell Tillman For Variety Magazine on His First Emmy Nomination, Coming Out and More
In a new cover story for VARIETY, SEVERANCE breakout Tramell Tillman speaks with Chief Awards Editor Clayton Davis about his historic Emmy nomination as the first openly gay Black man to be recognized in the supporting actor drama category. He also talks about working with Tom Cruise on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — THE FINAL RECKONING, SEVERANCE theories about his character Milchick, bringing HBCU culture to the iconic drum scene in Season 2, his coming out story, and more.
Tillman on learning about his Emmy nomination: “I was shaking all morning, and I kept telling myself, ‘I just want it to be over. I want 11:30 to come and go so I can just know and move on with my life.’ I kept telling myself, ‘Tramell, no matter what happens, it’s OK. It’s all right. It’s not the end of the world.’…My manager had set up a Zoom link for the team — if it went our way, everyone could hop on and celebrate, and if it didn’t, there was no pressure. So when the list came out, my manager says, ‘Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series: Tramell Tillman from “Severance!”’ and I was jumping up and down. That’s when my team revealed their screens, and they all had ‘Tram-Emmy’ shirts on.”
On whether he feels the pressure of potentially historic win: “Do I feel a weight? No. I feel honored to join the legacy of these incredible storytellers. I’m ambitious and would love an Emmy, but I’ve learned it’s not up to me.”
On working with Tom Cruise on “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning”: “On my first day, I filmed the doughnut-garage scene. I had gotten the script only the day before, and I was shaking in my boots. I was taken by his strength, grace, humility and passion. Definitely passion.”
On theories that Milchick is a prisoner as well: “I can understand that theory. It’s hard for me to answer because there are so many questions that I have about the character myself. What scares me is his potential. How he moves his eyes, how he moves his head. Everything is methodical.”
On bringing his HBCU experiences to the drum scene in Season 2: “When I learned there’d be a celebration with a band, I didn’t want to reinforce a stereotype of ‘Every season the Black man dances.’ They understood. I wanted Milchick’s movements to feel intentional, not random; this wasn’t a co-worker who just showed up to kickline for no reason — it followed his being policed over vocabulary, terrible paintings and boardroom disrespect. Yes, it celebrates Mark, but this is also a moment for Milchick: Just like Tramell needed to be seen, Milchick needed to be seen. It was very important for me that this character did not shy away from his Blackness. I asked if we could infuse HBCU energy — that’s how we got that style. That celebration was for him. That was him reclaiming joy. I knew it would feel authentic.”
On the long hiatus between seasons and what caused the delays: “I was a little nervous if the fans were going to come back. There’s no telling, and there’s so much quality programming out there. But I knew that we had to finish. I knew that there was too much invested in this show for it not to finish. It was just a matter of when and whether the fans would stay with us. I’m grateful that they did…The delay was outside of our hands. The first season, it was a pandemic. Second, we had two strikes. We’re a show that doesn’t rush. We want to take our time. This show needs that. I think the more we do it, we find our groove. We know who these characters are to a certain extent. We know how they move.”
On his coming out story: When Tillman was in his 20s, he turned to his mom and said a truth that has matured quietly inside him for years. “Mom, I’m bisexual,” he says to her, his eyes fixed on the road.
“Well, how’s that going for you?,” she replied. Tillman laughs softly at the memory now. No dramatic climax or emotional hug followed, he says. Just the acceptance of a deeply religious woman who was, and still is, the closest to him in the Tillman family.
Some years later, a second conversation follows, more direct this time, with no ambiguity: “I’m gay.”
This time, her response lands with different gravity, not laced with judgment, but with fear. “I don’t want this to ruin your career,” she told him. “I don’t want you to be blackballed. I don’t want you to be pigeonholed.” This isn’t disapproval; it’s preparation and protection from a mother who knows how the world punishes those who dare to live truthfully — especially a Black man.
“Anyone you bring home, I will embrace him as my son,” she then said.
On being the first Black man to finish the University of Tennessee’s MFA program: “The head of acting warned it might be a deal breaker — I’d be the only Black person in that program, and nearly the only Black male among faculty, staff and students. I thought, ‘Hey, free education; I’ll learn.’ But I didn’t grasp what I was signing up for until I moved there. It was never intimidating — more frustrating, over- whelming and isolating. I endured being called the N-word, followed and taunted with ‘White power!’ There were countless microaggressions. When I reported incidents, some in the community would say, ‘Well, I didn’t see it,’ or ‘I didn’t think it was racist.’”
On his religious upbringing: Sundays looked like the “First Baptist Church of Highland Park. Every Sunday, we were in church and dressed for church. We weren’t allowed in the living room — that was for fancy moments. We had this beautiful crushed-velvet blue couch with gold accents. Music always played in our household, but on Sundays, church music. So we would go from Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Tupac, Biggie, Janet on weekdays to Sunday morning: Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin, Mississippi Mass Choir. That was our way of making sure that we kept the Sabbath holy.”
However, his mother and father had different views on faith.
“My mom used church as a coping mechanism, but my dad rejected it. He’d say, ‘I’m not anti- white; I’m pro-Black, and I don’t see why I need to worship a white Jesus.’ He hated hymns that talked about being ‘washed white as snow.’ There was this stark dichotomy when it came to faith in the home, because my mom really believed in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and my father believed more in community and self-reliance. He stopped going to church with us. When we would go to early-morning service, he would say, ‘Oh, y’all going to get God out the way early.’ Even as a kid, something about that made me bristle.
I felt that God and the art saved my life. I’m a person who still prays and believes.”
On not feeling seen for who he truly was as a child: “There were moments that I felt release or freedom through the art form, because I could get away from the negativity. For me, acting was a vessel to escape, to avoid, to run away. Dancing was a way for me to allow my body to be free and express itself. Singing was a way to be heard in a different way, to allow myself to be loud. A lot of my childhood was about survival. I had to learn how to survive, produce and be excellent. I think with all those pressures, there weren’t moments where I felt seen, because I didn’t know who I was. I was hiding behind singing, acting, dancing, writing, performing. I’m always a little jealous when people talk about their first crush or first kiss — I don’t remember those.”
On his dream project: “I’d adapt African folktales and fairy tales, cast- ing Colman Domingo, Mahershala Ali, Lupita Nyong’o, Sterling K. Brown, Jeffrey Wright, David Oyelowo, Michael B. Jordan and Nicole Beharie.”
In a new cover story for VARIETY, SEVERANCE breakout Tramell Tillman speaks with Chief Awards Editor Clayton Davis about his historic Emmy nomination as the first openly gay Black man to be recognized in the supporting actor drama category. He also talks about working with Tom Cruise on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE — THE FINAL RECKONING, SEVERANCE theories about his character Milchick, bringing HBCU culture to the iconic drum scene in Season 2, his coming out story, and more.
On whether he feels the pressure of potentially historic win: “Do I feel a weight? No. I feel honored to join the legacy of these incredible storytellers. I’m ambitious and would love an Emmy, but I’ve learned it’s not up to me.”
On working with Tom Cruise on “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning”: “On my first day, I filmed the doughnut-garage scene. I had gotten the script only the day before, and I was shaking in my boots. I was taken by his strength, grace, humility and passion. Definitely passion.”
On theories that Milchick is a prisoner as well: “I can understand that theory. It’s hard for me to answer because there are so many questions that I have about the character myself. What scares me is his potential. How he moves his eyes, how he moves his head. Everything is methodical.”
On the long hiatus between seasons and what caused the delays: “I was a little nervous if the fans were going to come back. There’s no telling, and there’s so much quality programming out there. But I knew that we had to finish. I knew that there was too much invested in this show for it not to finish. It was just a matter of when and whether the fans would stay with us. I’m grateful that they did…The delay was outside of our hands. The first season, it was a pandemic. Second, we had two strikes. We’re a show that doesn’t rush. We want to take our time. This show needs that. I think the more we do it, we find our groove. We know who these characters are to a certain extent. We know how they move.”
On his coming out story: When Tillman was in his 20s, he turned to his mom and said a truth that has matured quietly inside him for years. “Mom, I’m bisexual,” he says to her, his eyes fixed on the road.
“Well, how’s that going for you?,” she replied. Tillman laughs softly at the memory now. No dramatic climax or emotional hug followed, he says. Just the acceptance of a deeply religious woman who was, and still is, the closest to him in the Tillman family.
Some years later, a second conversation follows, more direct this time, with no ambiguity: “I’m gay.”
This time, her response lands with different gravity, not laced with judgment, but with fear. “I don’t want this to ruin your career,” she told him. “I don’t want you to be blackballed. I don’t want you to be pigeonholed.” This isn’t disapproval; it’s preparation and protection from a mother who knows how the world punishes those who dare to live truthfully — especially a Black man.
“Anyone you bring home, I will embrace him as my son,” she then said.
On being the first Black man to finish the University of Tennessee’s MFA program: “The head of acting warned it might be a deal breaker — I’d be the only Black person in that program, and nearly the only Black male among faculty, staff and students. I thought, ‘Hey, free education; I’ll learn.’ But I didn’t grasp what I was signing up for until I moved there. It was never intimidating — more frustrating, over- whelming and isolating. I endured being called the N-word, followed and taunted with ‘White power!’ There were countless microaggressions. When I reported incidents, some in the community would say, ‘Well, I didn’t see it,’ or ‘I didn’t think it was racist.’”
On his religious upbringing: Sundays looked like the “First Baptist Church of Highland Park. Every Sunday, we were in church and dressed for church. We weren’t allowed in the living room — that was for fancy moments. We had this beautiful crushed-velvet blue couch with gold accents. Music always played in our household, but on Sundays, church music. So we would go from Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Tupac, Biggie, Janet on weekdays to Sunday morning: Shirley Caesar, Kirk Franklin, Mississippi Mass Choir. That was our way of making sure that we kept the Sabbath holy.”
However, his mother and father had different views on faith.
“My mom used church as a coping mechanism, but my dad rejected it. He’d say, ‘I’m not anti- white; I’m pro-Black, and I don’t see why I need to worship a white Jesus.’ He hated hymns that talked about being ‘washed white as snow.’ There was this stark dichotomy when it came to faith in the home, because my mom really believed in the teachings of Jesus Christ, and my father believed more in community and self-reliance. He stopped going to church with us. When we would go to early-morning service, he would say, ‘Oh, y’all going to get God out the way early.’ Even as a kid, something about that made me bristle.
I felt that God and the art saved my life. I’m a person who still prays and believes.”
On not feeling seen for who he truly was as a child: “There were moments that I felt release or freedom through the art form, because I could get away from the negativity. For me, acting was a vessel to escape, to avoid, to run away. Dancing was a way for me to allow my body to be free and express itself. Singing was a way to be heard in a different way, to allow myself to be loud. A lot of my childhood was about survival. I had to learn how to survive, produce and be excellent. I think with all those pressures, there weren’t moments where I felt seen, because I didn’t know who I was. I was hiding behind singing, acting, dancing, writing, performing. I’m always a little jealous when people talk about their first crush or first kiss — I don’t remember those.”
On his dream project: “I’d adapt African folktales and fairy tales, cast- ing Colman Domingo, Mahershala Ali, Lupita Nyong’o, Sterling K. Brown, Jeffrey Wright, David Oyelowo, Michael B. Jordan and Nicole Beharie.”
Cool!
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes shuts down season 17 return speculation
Okay, reality TV fans, we need to talk. NeNe Leakes just dropped a bombshell that has literally everyone shook, and if you’re a die-hard The Real Housewives of Atlanta stan like us, you might want to sit down for this one.
The queen of one-liners and iconic shade just confirmed what we were all secretly dreading: she’s definitely not coming back for Season 17 of RHOA. But here’s the kicker – it’s not because she doesn’t want to. Plot twist alert!
So here’s what went down, and honestly, the drama is already off the charts. When entertainment blogs started buzzing about Kim Zolciak and Sheree Whitfield potentially making their grand return to our screens, NeNe decided she wasn’t about to let rumors run wild.
Instead of staying quiet (because let’s be real, when has NeNe ever stayed quiet?), she jumped straight into the comments section and served us some hard truths. The reality? Producers never even reached out to her about coming back. We’re talking zero communication, no offers, nada.
This revelation hit different because it completely flips the script on what we thought was happening behind the scenes. We were out here thinking maybe NeNe was done with the drama, but turns out the drama was done with her.
The queen of one-liners and iconic shade just confirmed what we were all secretly dreading: she’s definitely not coming back for Season 17 of RHOA. But here’s the kicker – it’s not because she doesn’t want to. Plot twist alert!
So here’s what went down, and honestly, the drama is already off the charts. When entertainment blogs started buzzing about Kim Zolciak and Sheree Whitfield potentially making their grand return to our screens, NeNe decided she wasn’t about to let rumors run wild.
Instead of staying quiet (because let’s be real, when has NeNe ever stayed quiet?), she jumped straight into the comments section and served us some hard truths. The reality? Producers never even reached out to her about coming back. We’re talking zero communication, no offers, nada.
This revelation hit different because it completely flips the script on what we thought was happening behind the scenes. We were out here thinking maybe NeNe was done with the drama, but turns out the drama was done with her.
Let’s pause for a hot second and remember who we’re talking about here. NeNe Leakes isn’t just any cast member – she’s basically the blueprint for what a reality TV personality should be. We’re talking about someone who gave us legendary moments that are still being quoted years later.
From day one, this woman understood the assignment and then some. Her confessionals? Iconic. Her feuds? Legendary. Her ability to serve looks while serving drama? Unmatched. She didn’t just appear on our screens; she owned them completely.
The fact that she’s not being asked back feels like a major miscalculation, and fans are already letting their feelings be known across every social media platform imaginable.
Twitter is basically on fire right now, and Instagram comments are getting spicy. People are expressing their feelings with the kind of passion usually reserved for sports championships or celebrity breakups. The general consensus? This decision makes absolutely zero sense.
Long-time viewers are pointing out that RHOA without certain foundational personalities feels like trying to make pizza without cheese – technically possible, but why would you even want to? Some fans are threatening to boycott entirely, while others are cautiously optimistic about seeing how the show evolves.
With major cast shake-ups happening and familiar faces potentially returning while others get left behind, Season 17 is shaping up to be unlike anything we’ve seen before. The addition of former cast members like Kim Zolciak and Sheree Whitfield suggests producers are banking on nostalgia to carry the season.
But here’s the thing about reality TV – chemistry can’t be manufactured. The magic happens when personalities naturally clash and connect in ways that feel authentic. Trying to recreate past dynamics without key players feels risky at best.
NeNe‘s absence represents more than just missing one personality – it’s about losing a voice that helped define what the franchise became. Season 17 is going to be a major test of whether the RHOA formula can survive without some of its most essential ingredients.
Honestly, we’re already planning our viewing parties, but there’s no denying they’re going to feel different this time around without the usual energy and familiar faces we’ve come to expect.
#MusicNews: Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton Are Going on Tour Together!
R&B vocalists Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton have unveiled additional dates for their co-headlining tour.
Powered by North American Entertainment Group, the 15-city arena tour kicks off Jan. 23, 2026, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
From there, the North Carolina natives will visit Houston, Tampa, Baltimore, New Orleans and more before wrapping up May 2 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Tickets for Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton’s tour go on sale Friday (Aug. 15) at 10 a.m. local time.
The two sangers have been on the road throughout the year, with upcoming stops in Baton Rouge, Atlanta, Cleveland and more.
The tour follows the release of Fantasia’s gospel single “Have Your Way,” released April 28 via gamma. The stirring track was written by her brother Ricco Barrino and produced by Brandon Jones and Brad Moody.
In 2024, Fantasia joined award-winning musician Adam Blackstone on “Summertime,” a song that she originally performed on her winning night of American Idol season three. The updated version will appear on Blackstone’s new album, Humble Magic.
Aside from contributing to The Color Purple soundtrack, Fantasia last released an album in 2019. Sketchbook, her first project under her Rock Soul label, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.
Sketchbook included the top-five R&B hit “Enough” and the T-Pain-assisted “PTSD,” later reissued with a remix featuring Tank and The Bonfyre.
As for Hamilton, he released his empowering single “QUEEN” in October 2024. Regarding the Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal-produced track, Hamilton shared, “I’m surrounded by QUEENS. I was raised by QUEENS. Some who never knew their value or the influence they had on me. It’s not only my duty as a Black King, but my right to celebrate, support and respect them. I was birthed by a QUEEN.”
“QUEEN” marked Hamilton’s first release since his 2021 album, Love Is The New Black. The project included “You Made a Fool of Me,” also produced by Durpi and Seal. The emotionally-charged track peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
Regarding Love Is The New Black, Hamilton explained, “When creating this album, I wanted people to feel. I’m going into a new era and mindset expecting greatness, love, and peace. I wanted this album to feel like what was missing throughout the pandemic. This is the restoration. We’re making this thing called life, sexy, beautiful, and powerful again.”
Since releasing Love Is The New Black, Dr. Anthony Hamilton has collaborated with Eric Roberson (“Lessons Remix“), LaToya London (“On Everything“), Louis York (“Alone A Lot“), ScarLip (“Lord Please”) and Omari Hardwick (“Page 1”).
See Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton’s tour itinerary below.
Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton’s 2025-2026 Tour Dates
Sep 12 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
Sep 13 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
Sep 26 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Raising Cane’s River Center Arena
Sep 27 – Bossier City, LA @ Brookshire Grocery Arena
Oct 10 – National Harbor, MD @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Oct 11 – National Harbor, MD @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Oct 17 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
Oct 18 – Norfolk, VA @ Scope Arena
Oct 31 – Cleveland, OH @ Wolstein Center, CSU
Nov 1 – Chicago, IL @ Credit Union 1 Arena
Nov 29 – Indianapolis, IN @ Corteva Coliseum
Jan 23, 2026 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
Jan 24, 2026 – Huntsville, AL @ VBC Propst Arena
Feb 13, 2026 – Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena
Feb 14, 2026 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
Feb 15, 2026 – Austin, TX @ H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
Feb 20, 2026 – Savannah, GA @ Enmarket Arena
Feb 21, 2026 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
Mar 27, 2026 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
Mar 28, 2026 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Apr 3, 2026 – Pensacola, FL @ Pensacola Bay Center
Apr 4, 2026 – Macon, GA @ Macon Coliseum
Apr 17, 2026 – New Orleans, LA @ UNO Lakefront Arena
Apr 18, 2026 – Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena at the BJCC
May 1, 2026 – Fayetteville, NC @ Crown Coliseum
May 2, 2026 – Greensboro, NC @ First Horizon Coliseum
R&B vocalists Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton have unveiled additional dates for their co-headlining tour.
Powered by North American Entertainment Group, the 15-city arena tour kicks off Jan. 23, 2026, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
From there, the North Carolina natives will visit Houston, Tampa, Baltimore, New Orleans and more before wrapping up May 2 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Tickets for Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton’s tour go on sale Friday (Aug. 15) at 10 a.m. local time.
The two sangers have been on the road throughout the year, with upcoming stops in Baton Rouge, Atlanta, Cleveland and more.
The tour follows the release of Fantasia’s gospel single “Have Your Way,” released April 28 via gamma. The stirring track was written by her brother Ricco Barrino and produced by Brandon Jones and Brad Moody.
In 2024, Fantasia joined award-winning musician Adam Blackstone on “Summertime,” a song that she originally performed on her winning night of American Idol season three. The updated version will appear on Blackstone’s new album, Humble Magic.
Aside from contributing to The Color Purple soundtrack, Fantasia last released an album in 2019. Sketchbook, her first project under her Rock Soul label, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart.
Sketchbook included the top-five R&B hit “Enough” and the T-Pain-assisted “PTSD,” later reissued with a remix featuring Tank and The Bonfyre.
As for Hamilton, he released his empowering single “QUEEN” in October 2024. Regarding the Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal-produced track, Hamilton shared, “I’m surrounded by QUEENS. I was raised by QUEENS. Some who never knew their value or the influence they had on me. It’s not only my duty as a Black King, but my right to celebrate, support and respect them. I was birthed by a QUEEN.”
“QUEEN” marked Hamilton’s first release since his 2021 album, Love Is The New Black. The project included “You Made a Fool of Me,” also produced by Durpi and Seal. The emotionally-charged track peaked at No. 3 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
Regarding Love Is The New Black, Hamilton explained, “When creating this album, I wanted people to feel. I’m going into a new era and mindset expecting greatness, love, and peace. I wanted this album to feel like what was missing throughout the pandemic. This is the restoration. We’re making this thing called life, sexy, beautiful, and powerful again.”
Since releasing Love Is The New Black, Dr. Anthony Hamilton has collaborated with Eric Roberson (“Lessons Remix“), LaToya London (“On Everything“), Louis York (“Alone A Lot“), ScarLip (“Lord Please”) and Omari Hardwick (“Page 1”).
See Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton’s tour itinerary below.
Fantasia and Anthony Hamilton’s 2025-2026 Tour Dates
Sep 12 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
Sep 13 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
Sep 26 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Raising Cane’s River Center Arena
Sep 27 – Bossier City, LA @ Brookshire Grocery Arena
Oct 10 – National Harbor, MD @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Oct 11 – National Harbor, MD @ The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Oct 17 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
Oct 18 – Norfolk, VA @ Scope Arena
Oct 31 – Cleveland, OH @ Wolstein Center, CSU
Nov 1 – Chicago, IL @ Credit Union 1 Arena
Nov 29 – Indianapolis, IN @ Corteva Coliseum
Jan 23, 2026 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
Jan 24, 2026 – Huntsville, AL @ VBC Propst Arena
Feb 13, 2026 – Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena
Feb 14, 2026 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
Feb 15, 2026 – Austin, TX @ H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
Feb 20, 2026 – Savannah, GA @ Enmarket Arena
Feb 21, 2026 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
Mar 27, 2026 – Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
Mar 28, 2026 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall
Apr 3, 2026 – Pensacola, FL @ Pensacola Bay Center
Apr 4, 2026 – Macon, GA @ Macon Coliseum
Apr 17, 2026 – New Orleans, LA @ UNO Lakefront Arena
Apr 18, 2026 – Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena at the BJCC
May 1, 2026 – Fayetteville, NC @ Crown Coliseum
May 2, 2026 – Greensboro, NC @ First Horizon Coliseum
#HipHopNews: De La Soul Dropping New Remixes For ‘Mosaic Thump’ 25th Anniversary
To commemorate the group’s fifth album, the Long Island legends offer fans new releases and a chance to remix one of their biggest singles.
De La Soul is celebrating 25 years of Art.Official.Intelligence: Mosaic Thump. The album dropped on Aug. 8, 2000 and is one of the legendary Long Island group’s most acclaimed works. The project was the follow-up to their 1996 classic Stakes Is High, and the 4-year gap between projects was the longest between albums for the group at the time. Now, in recognition of Mosaic Thump’s silver anniversary, De La Soul is dropping new remixes and limited edition vinyl.
On Aug. 8, De La Soul is releasing new remixes for the hit “All Good?, ”featuring Chaka Khan, from acclaimed producers Can 7 and MJ Cole. And on Aug. 29, a limited-edition 7” vinyl of “All Good?” backed with “Oooh.” featuring Redman is dropping.
De La has also partnered with SoundCloud’s global creator platform for a Creator Remix Activation, enabling producers worldwide to access stems from “All Good?” and craft their own remixes.
Art.Official.Intelligence: Mosaic Thump was one of De La Soul’s most unique and boundary-pushing albums, with high-profile collaborations with stars like the aforementioned Chaka and Redman; as well as Busta Rhymes, Pharoahe Monch, Beastie Boys and Xzibit. The project was also the first to feature their longtime producer Supa Dave West; and it was initially intended to be the first part of a trilogy – AOI: Bionix was released in 2001 before the trilogy idea was scrapped.
De La Soul saw a major streaming milestone earlier this year when the group gained 15 million listeners after being added to the streaming listing for “Feel Good Inc,” the 2005 smash hit from Gorillaz that features De La. “Feel Good Inc” was a standout track on Gorillaz’s classic album Demon Days. Co-produced by Danger Mouse, the track went all the way to No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and landed at No. 2 in the United Kingdom. It won the Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration.
For the Mosaic Thump anniversary, De La is also appearing on Talk Shop Live on Thurday., Aug. 7 at 7pm EST, for a live conversation with the group and a behind-the-scenes look at the album.
De La Soul is celebrating 25 years of Art.Official.Intelligence: Mosaic Thump. The album dropped on Aug. 8, 2000 and is one of the legendary Long Island group’s most acclaimed works. The project was the follow-up to their 1996 classic Stakes Is High, and the 4-year gap between projects was the longest between albums for the group at the time. Now, in recognition of Mosaic Thump’s silver anniversary, De La Soul is dropping new remixes and limited edition vinyl.
On Aug. 8, De La Soul is releasing new remixes for the hit “All Good?, ”featuring Chaka Khan, from acclaimed producers Can 7 and MJ Cole. And on Aug. 29, a limited-edition 7” vinyl of “All Good?” backed with “Oooh.” featuring Redman is dropping.
De La has also partnered with SoundCloud’s global creator platform for a Creator Remix Activation, enabling producers worldwide to access stems from “All Good?” and craft their own remixes.
Art.Official.Intelligence: Mosaic Thump was one of De La Soul’s most unique and boundary-pushing albums, with high-profile collaborations with stars like the aforementioned Chaka and Redman; as well as Busta Rhymes, Pharoahe Monch, Beastie Boys and Xzibit. The project was also the first to feature their longtime producer Supa Dave West; and it was initially intended to be the first part of a trilogy – AOI: Bionix was released in 2001 before the trilogy idea was scrapped.
De La Soul saw a major streaming milestone earlier this year when the group gained 15 million listeners after being added to the streaming listing for “Feel Good Inc,” the 2005 smash hit from Gorillaz that features De La. “Feel Good Inc” was a standout track on Gorillaz’s classic album Demon Days. Co-produced by Danger Mouse, the track went all the way to No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and landed at No. 2 in the United Kingdom. It won the Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration.
For the Mosaic Thump anniversary, De La is also appearing on Talk Shop Live on Thurday., Aug. 7 at 7pm EST, for a live conversation with the group and a behind-the-scenes look at the album.
Brian McKnight Says Jaguar Wright Is Ducking Him; Turns To Arizona Newspaper For Help
Brian McKnight is over chasing down Jaguar Wright in person and now he wants to take it to the press — literally.
The R&B vet is asking a judge for the green light to serve Wright through ads in The Arizona Republic after she allegedly ducked every attempt to hand-deliver his defamation lawsuit.
According to McKnight’s legal team, they’ve rolled up to her Phoenix spot six different times since May, and it’s been a whole lot of nothing.
Sometimes the blinds were cracked, but nobody answered. Another time, someone inside claimed no one named Jaguar lived there. Certified mail?
That flopped, too.“It is apparent that [Wright] is evading service. Given that [McKnight] made reasonable attempts to serve [Wright] and [Wright] is evading service by refusing to answer the door or open the door, or to sign the return receipt, service by publication is necessary to provide notice of [McKnight’s] complaint,” McKnight’s lawyer Ryan Saba said.
Bryan McKnight slapped Jaguar Wright with the lawsuit back in April, accusing her of spreading absurd lies online. He says she made up serious allegations, like claims that he abused his ex-wife Julie McKnight and hired sex workers just to harm them as he was freaking off with them.
The lawsuit calls her statements totally false and damaging, and says she launched the attacks on purpose to wreck his name.
Wright, who’s known for going off on Hip-Hop stars like Jay-Z and Beyoncé, has a rep for throwing out accusations.
In this case, she also claimed Julie McKnight was her cousin — something Brian says is made up, too.
Wright clapped back after the lawsuit hit, calling McKnight a “scumbag” and saying she’ll be a “nightmare” for him.
Now McKnight wants to serve her through the paper. Under California law, if someone’s ducking service and all other options fail, a judge can say, Cool, run an ad in a paper once a week for four weeks.
The judge will soon decide whether McKnight can hit publish on those legal classifieds. If so, Jaguar might see herself in the Sunday paper while sipping her morning coffee.
Brian McKnight is over chasing down Jaguar Wright in person and now he wants to take it to the press — literally.
The R&B vet is asking a judge for the green light to serve Wright through ads in The Arizona Republic after she allegedly ducked every attempt to hand-deliver his defamation lawsuit.
According to McKnight’s legal team, they’ve rolled up to her Phoenix spot six different times since May, and it’s been a whole lot of nothing.
Sometimes the blinds were cracked, but nobody answered. Another time, someone inside claimed no one named Jaguar lived there. Certified mail?
That flopped, too.“It is apparent that [Wright] is evading service. Given that [McKnight] made reasonable attempts to serve [Wright] and [Wright] is evading service by refusing to answer the door or open the door, or to sign the return receipt, service by publication is necessary to provide notice of [McKnight’s] complaint,” McKnight’s lawyer Ryan Saba said.
Bryan McKnight slapped Jaguar Wright with the lawsuit back in April, accusing her of spreading absurd lies online. He says she made up serious allegations, like claims that he abused his ex-wife Julie McKnight and hired sex workers just to harm them as he was freaking off with them.
The lawsuit calls her statements totally false and damaging, and says she launched the attacks on purpose to wreck his name.
Wright, who’s known for going off on Hip-Hop stars like Jay-Z and Beyoncé, has a rep for throwing out accusations.
In this case, she also claimed Julie McKnight was her cousin — something Brian says is made up, too.
Wright clapped back after the lawsuit hit, calling McKnight a “scumbag” and saying she’ll be a “nightmare” for him.
Now McKnight wants to serve her through the paper. Under California law, if someone’s ducking service and all other options fail, a judge can say, Cool, run an ad in a paper once a week for four weeks.
The judge will soon decide whether McKnight can hit publish on those legal classifieds. If so, Jaguar might see herself in the Sunday paper while sipping her morning coffee.
Spike Lee Reverses Course On Saying Goodbye To Denzel Washington
Spike Lee reversed course in New York, stepping back from earlier comments that his fifth movie with Denzel Washington would mark the end of their decades-long collaboration.
At a Cannes Film Festival press conference in May, Lee had suggested that their upcoming thriller Highest 2 Lowest would likely be their final joint project.
But when asked about that statement during the film’s U.S. premiere, the Oscar-winning director made it clear he’s no longer so sure.
“I said that before, but I got my mind right,” Lee told The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m open to work with Denzel Washington and this not be the last film of the dynamic duo, D and Lee.”
The pair’s creative partnership spans more than 30 years, beginning with 1990’s Mo’ Better Blues and continuing through Malcolm X, He Got Game and Inside Man.
Their latest effort, Highest 2 Lowest, marks their first collaboration in nearly two decades.
During the Cannes event, Lee hinted at Washington’s possible retirement as a reason for the farewell tone.
“I think this is it — five. He’s been talking about retirement, so… Even though he just did another deal. I thought you said you were retired Denzel, what’s up?! But those five films together, those stand up,” Lee said.
Highest 2 Lowest is a modern English-language retelling of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low.
In the new version, Washington plays a powerful music executive who becomes the target of an extortion plot after his driver’s son is mistakenly kidnapped.
Lee revealed that the idea didn’t start with him.
“(He) had gotten the property and he sent it to me; he said, ‘Spike read the script. If you like, let’s go.’ I read it right away, called him up, I think the next day and said, ‘Let’s go.’ It happened like that,” he said.
The film also features performances from Jeffrey Wright and A$AP Rocky. It will debut in select theaters before hitting Apple TV+ on September 5.
At a Cannes Film Festival press conference in May, Lee had suggested that their upcoming thriller Highest 2 Lowest would likely be their final joint project.
But when asked about that statement during the film’s U.S. premiere, the Oscar-winning director made it clear he’s no longer so sure.
“I said that before, but I got my mind right,” Lee told The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m open to work with Denzel Washington and this not be the last film of the dynamic duo, D and Lee.”
The pair’s creative partnership spans more than 30 years, beginning with 1990’s Mo’ Better Blues and continuing through Malcolm X, He Got Game and Inside Man.
Their latest effort, Highest 2 Lowest, marks their first collaboration in nearly two decades.
During the Cannes event, Lee hinted at Washington’s possible retirement as a reason for the farewell tone.
“I think this is it — five. He’s been talking about retirement, so… Even though he just did another deal. I thought you said you were retired Denzel, what’s up?! But those five films together, those stand up,” Lee said.
Highest 2 Lowest is a modern English-language retelling of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low.
In the new version, Washington plays a powerful music executive who becomes the target of an extortion plot after his driver’s son is mistakenly kidnapped.
Lee revealed that the idea didn’t start with him.
“(He) had gotten the property and he sent it to me; he said, ‘Spike read the script. If you like, let’s go.’ I read it right away, called him up, I think the next day and said, ‘Let’s go.’ It happened like that,” he said.
The film also features performances from Jeffrey Wright and A$AP Rocky. It will debut in select theaters before hitting Apple TV+ on September 5.
Todd Bridges Recalls Rick James Being Tapped For His Intervention: “He Took Half My Drugs And Left!”
Diff’rent Strokes star Todd Bridges recently reflected on the time in the ’80s when Eddie Murphy enlisted Rick James to stage an intervention for his drug use.
While appearing on The Patrick LabyorSheaux podcast, he explained that it all started when The Pickup star noticed he was spiraling. “Eddie was like, ‘Man, we gotta get Todd some help. He’s trippin’. We gotta find somebody who knows about drugs.’ Everybody’s naming Rick James. ‘Send Rick James over there!’”
The plan might’ve worked if the “Brick House” singer wasn’t getting high, too. “Rick comes to my house, opens his car door, and all this smoke comes out,” he further explained the moment. “I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’” he added, noting that the funk legend was “getting higher than [he] was at the time.”
Rick James receives the Heritage Award at ASCAP’s 17th Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 28, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
“Rick was wild, so when Rick spoke, you listened. He said, ‘Let me see your stuff.’ I showed him my drugs and he goes, ‘Man, that’s too much. I don’t want you killing yourself… let me take half of that so you don’t kill yourself,'” he hilariously continued.
Then, as Bridges remembers, James started flirting up a woman on his couch who he once dated. “I’m ready to kill Rick at this point. I’m like, ‘What kind of drug intervention was that? He took half my drugs and left!’”
While visiting the Allison Interviews podcast in January, Bridges spoke candidly about the deep wounds that fueled his addiction such as being molested as a child, growing up with an alcoholic father, and enduring years of police harassment even while simply going to work.
“God healed my heart,” he said on a serious note. “He healed a lot of pain… I developed a chip on my shoulder and became angry with everything around me.” Drugs, he explained, became a way to numb the hurt until he finally grew tired of repeating the same destructive cycle and decided to fight for his life.
Three decades later, Todd Bridges made it clear that he believes anyone can heal from addiction, even if their first “intervention” was led by the late, great Rick James himself.
See Todd Bridges speaking on the unforgettable drug intervention her had with Rick James above.
Diff’rent Strokes star Todd Bridges recently reflected on the time in the ’80s when Eddie Murphy enlisted Rick James to stage an intervention for his drug use.
While appearing on The Patrick LabyorSheaux podcast, he explained that it all started when The Pickup star noticed he was spiraling. “Eddie was like, ‘Man, we gotta get Todd some help. He’s trippin’. We gotta find somebody who knows about drugs.’ Everybody’s naming Rick James. ‘Send Rick James over there!’”
The plan might’ve worked if the “Brick House” singer wasn’t getting high, too. “Rick comes to my house, opens his car door, and all this smoke comes out,” he further explained the moment. “I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’” he added, noting that the funk legend was “getting higher than [he] was at the time.”
Rick James receives the Heritage Award at ASCAP’s 17th Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 28, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
“Rick was wild, so when Rick spoke, you listened. He said, ‘Let me see your stuff.’ I showed him my drugs and he goes, ‘Man, that’s too much. I don’t want you killing yourself… let me take half of that so you don’t kill yourself,'” he hilariously continued.
Then, as Bridges remembers, James started flirting up a woman on his couch who he once dated. “I’m ready to kill Rick at this point. I’m like, ‘What kind of drug intervention was that? He took half my drugs and left!’”
While visiting the Allison Interviews podcast in January, Bridges spoke candidly about the deep wounds that fueled his addiction such as being molested as a child, growing up with an alcoholic father, and enduring years of police harassment even while simply going to work.
“God healed my heart,” he said on a serious note. “He healed a lot of pain… I developed a chip on my shoulder and became angry with everything around me.” Drugs, he explained, became a way to numb the hurt until he finally grew tired of repeating the same destructive cycle and decided to fight for his life.
Three decades later, Todd Bridges made it clear that he believes anyone can heal from addiction, even if their first “intervention” was led by the late, great Rick James himself.
See Todd Bridges speaking on the unforgettable drug intervention her had with Rick James above.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott Fires Back At Trump’s Attack On Black Cities Amid D.C. Federal Takeover
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is calling out Trump‘s attack on predominantly Black and brown cities amid the President’s federal takeover of Washington D.C..
“It’s very notable that each and every one of the cities called out by the president has a Black mayor,” Scott said on CNN Monday night (Aug. 11). He pushed back against Trump’s criticism of cities he intends to takeover next including Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Baltimore. “They’re so far gone,” Trump said of the cities’ crime rates.
Mayor Scott refuted the claim, explaining, “Most of those cities are seeing historic lows in violent crime.” He credited the feat to “holistic public policy.” Adding, “Maybe we are too far gone. Too far gone from the broken right-wing policies of zero-tolerance policing and all the things that did not make our city safer for all those many years.”
Trump is deploying the National Guard in the nation’s capital because he claimed it’d been “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, globing mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, and we’re not going to let it happen anymore.”
Mayor Scott, on the other hand, stated, “We know that having the military there is not the way to do [reduce crime]. The way to drive down violence in cities has been proven. Mayors across the country have brought together law enforcement, the legal community, the actual community, community violence intervention work to reduce violence across this country and cities to lows that we have not seen in decades.”
He also believes Trump could “learn a lot from us.” He explained, “We’re safer than we have been in decades, in my lifetime, in most cities. That’s something that each of these mayors should stand on [and] something the president should be coming to work alongside them to continue that partnership.”
Scott also feels Trump’s forceful tactics and subsequent threats are a “distraction.” He continued, “The president does not want the American people to hear him answer questions about the economy or the Epstein files.”
Both D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and NAACP President Derrick Johnson have reacted to Trump’s latest antics. Johnson stated, “There’s no emergency in D.C., so why would he deploy the National Guard? To distract us from his alleged inclusion in the Epstein files? To rid the city of unhoused people? D.C. has the right to govern itself. It doesn’t need this federal coup. This president campaigned on ‘law and order,’ but he is the president of chaos and corruption.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Bowser expressed, “This is a time where community needs to jump in, um, and we all need to, to do what we can in our space in our lane to protect our city … and to protect our autonomy, to protect our home rule, and get to the other side of this guy, and make sure we elect a Democratic house so that we have a backstop to this authoritarian push.”
“It’s very notable that each and every one of the cities called out by the president has a Black mayor,” Scott said on CNN Monday night (Aug. 11). He pushed back against Trump’s criticism of cities he intends to takeover next including Chicago, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Baltimore. “They’re so far gone,” Trump said of the cities’ crime rates.
Mayor Scott refuted the claim, explaining, “Most of those cities are seeing historic lows in violent crime.” He credited the feat to “holistic public policy.” Adding, “Maybe we are too far gone. Too far gone from the broken right-wing policies of zero-tolerance policing and all the things that did not make our city safer for all those many years.”
Trump is deploying the National Guard in the nation’s capital because he claimed it’d been “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, globing mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, and we’re not going to let it happen anymore.”
Mayor Scott, on the other hand, stated, “We know that having the military there is not the way to do [reduce crime]. The way to drive down violence in cities has been proven. Mayors across the country have brought together law enforcement, the legal community, the actual community, community violence intervention work to reduce violence across this country and cities to lows that we have not seen in decades.”
He also believes Trump could “learn a lot from us.” He explained, “We’re safer than we have been in decades, in my lifetime, in most cities. That’s something that each of these mayors should stand on [and] something the president should be coming to work alongside them to continue that partnership.”
Scott also feels Trump’s forceful tactics and subsequent threats are a “distraction.” He continued, “The president does not want the American people to hear him answer questions about the economy or the Epstein files.”
Both D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and NAACP President Derrick Johnson have reacted to Trump’s latest antics. Johnson stated, “There’s no emergency in D.C., so why would he deploy the National Guard? To distract us from his alleged inclusion in the Epstein files? To rid the city of unhoused people? D.C. has the right to govern itself. It doesn’t need this federal coup. This president campaigned on ‘law and order,’ but he is the president of chaos and corruption.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Bowser expressed, “This is a time where community needs to jump in, um, and we all need to, to do what we can in our space in our lane to protect our city … and to protect our autonomy, to protect our home rule, and get to the other side of this guy, and make sure we elect a Democratic house so that we have a backstop to this authoritarian push.”
Minnesota Teen Says Buffalo Wild Wings Server Demanded She ‘Prove’ Her Gender While Trying To Use Women’s Restroom
A Minnesota teen is taking action after a troubling encounter at a Buffalo Wild Wings.
Gerika Mudra, 18, filed a charge of discrimination Tuesday (Aug. 12) against the Owatonna restaurant, claiming a server followed her into the women’s restroom and demanded she “prove” she was a girl.
According to Gender Justice, the organization representing Mudra, the employee banged on the stall door, saying, “This is a women’s restroom. The man needs to get out of here.”
When Mudra responded, “I am a lady,” the worker said, “You have to get out now.” Mudra then unzipped her hoodie to show she had breasts.
The teen, a lesbian who is not transgender, said, “She [the worker] made me feel very uncomfortable. After that, I just don’t like going in public bathrooms. I just hold it in. I want to be able to use the bathroom in peace.”
Sara Jane Baldwin, senior staff attorney at Gender Justice, emphasized that the employee’s actions violated Minnesota law even though Mudra is not transgender: “Businesses have a legal obligation not to just have anti-discrimination policies on paper, but to train staff and ensure that those policies are followed in real time. When that doesn’t happen, the business is liable for the harm caused.”
A Minnesota teen is taking action after a troubling encounter at a Buffalo Wild Wings.
Gerika Mudra, 18, filed a charge of discrimination Tuesday (Aug. 12) against the Owatonna restaurant, claiming a server followed her into the women’s restroom and demanded she “prove” she was a girl.
According to Gender Justice, the organization representing Mudra, the employee banged on the stall door, saying, “This is a women’s restroom. The man needs to get out of here.”
When Mudra responded, “I am a lady,” the worker said, “You have to get out now.” Mudra then unzipped her hoodie to show she had breasts.
The teen, a lesbian who is not transgender, said, “She [the worker] made me feel very uncomfortable. After that, I just don’t like going in public bathrooms. I just hold it in. I want to be able to use the bathroom in peace.”
Sara Jane Baldwin, senior staff attorney at Gender Justice, emphasized that the employee’s actions violated Minnesota law even though Mudra is not transgender: “Businesses have a legal obligation not to just have anti-discrimination policies on paper, but to train staff and ensure that those policies are followed in real time. When that doesn’t happen, the business is liable for the harm caused.”
Wendy Williams’ Lawyer Denounces ‘False’ Dementia & Aphasia Claims + Demands Proof & Challenges Guardianship Motives
Wendy Williams’ attorney is pushing back against claims that recent medical tests confirmed she has dementia and aphasia, calling the reports “false” and the work of someone “with a vested interest in keeping Wendy trapped under this excessive and restrictive guardianship.”
Joe Tacopina told TMZ the leak is “a total violation of Wendy’s rights as a human being” and challenged anyone to produce the actual report and a doctor “willing to go under oath and face cross-examination by me so the truth can be exposed.”
Tacopina said neither he nor Wendy has seen the report cited by People, which quoted anonymous sources claiming the tests showed frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, a diagnosis she first received in 2023.
Court-appointed guardian Sabrina E. Morrissey recently disclosed that Williams underwent a series of exams and asked the court to delay her lawsuit against A&E over the “Where Is Wendy Williams?” documentary until the guardianship court rules on her case.
Sources previously told TMZ Wendy proved competent after taking capacity tests.
Joe Tacopina told TMZ the leak is “a total violation of Wendy’s rights as a human being” and challenged anyone to produce the actual report and a doctor “willing to go under oath and face cross-examination by me so the truth can be exposed.”
Tacopina said neither he nor Wendy has seen the report cited by People, which quoted anonymous sources claiming the tests showed frontotemporal dementia and aphasia, a diagnosis she first received in 2023.
Court-appointed guardian Sabrina E. Morrissey recently disclosed that Williams underwent a series of exams and asked the court to delay her lawsuit against A&E over the “Where Is Wendy Williams?” documentary until the guardianship court rules on her case.
Sources previously told TMZ Wendy proved competent after taking capacity tests.
Carrie Underwood Reportedly Struggling To Maintain Her 400 Acre Farm In Tennessee Due to MAGA policies
Carrie Underwood is allegedly finding farm life tougher than expected.
RadarOnline.com reports the country star is struggling to maintain her 400-acre farm in Tennessee. A source said, “It’s become too much for her to maintain, and she’s getting no sleep because she’s up at the crack of dawn taking care of all these animals,” referring to her chickens, horses, and sheep, as well as the property’s fruit trees, greenhouse, and multiple gardens.
The insider added, “She’s shoveling hay, weeding, fertilizing, harvesting, and then there are the repairs that never end. It doesn’t help that she’s had a hard time finding and keeping hired hands.”
Despite the struggles, Underwood’s 13.4 million Instagram followers mostly see the picturesque side of farm life. The source noted, “It’s picturesque on social media. Behind the scenes, it’s far from idyllic.”
Da Brat and Judy to Publish Memoir The Way Love Goes
Da Brat and Jesseca “Judy” Harris-Dupart are telling all about their sweeping love story the hip-hop legend, 51, and her wife will release an inspiring book titled The Way Love Goes: A Guide to Building a “Beaurtiful” and Everlasting Relationship early next year. The book will be published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
"We're beyond excited to finally share our story in this book," Da Brat and Judy told PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. "It's raw, it's real, it's us-full of love, lessons, laughter and everything in between.”
The couple said they “have poured our hearts into these pages just being ourselves and living our lives as we do daily.”
“True love and longevity is about commitment, communication, understanding and sacrifice. We hope readers thoroughly enjoy our journey and how we sustain a happy and successful partnership,” they continued.
Described as “part memoir and part relationship guide,” Da Brat and Judy will dive into their relationship and experience with parenthood in the candid book. They welcomed their son, True Legend Harris-Dupart, together in July 2023.
The Brat Loves Judy stars met in 2017 before Da Brat openly identified as LGBTQ+. They went their separate ways and reconnected at a festival a few years later, after which, the "Not Tonight" rapper publicly came out.
The pair confirmed their relationship in March 2020 and tied the knot two years later.
"Told in Da Brat’s signature Chicago tone, and Judy’s distinctive New Orleans patois, they each take turns detailing common relationship challenges, from sharing successful and meaningful communication to creating balance to coping with jealousy—and how they conquered them,” the synopsis teases.
A press release for the book stated that it features "candid memories, heartfelt insights and actionable relationship advice," and reveals the couple’s "golden rules for finding and holding on to lasting love."
Da Brat and Judy, a beauty entrepreneur, will also narrate an audiobook.
"Many readers are going to be surprised, in the most wonderful ways, at the joy, honesty, humor and 'real-ness' on every page of this testament to the power of love and friendship," Patrik Henry Bass, Executive Editor for Amistad Group, said in a statement.
Da Brat, born Shawntae Harris-Dupart, released her first studio album Funkdafied in 1994. Singles from the LP include the title track, "Fa All Y'all" and "Give It 2 You." The singer also supported Mariah Carey on her 2000 Rainbow World Tour. She is also credited as the first solo female rapper to ever sell a million records on the Billboard charts.
Judy is the founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope Hair Products. She has a nonprofit, KaleidoKares, dedicated to supporting communities with various relief efforts.
The Way Love Goes: A Guide to Building a “Beaurtiful” and Everlasting Relationship will be published Feb. 3, 2026, and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.
Venus Williams has her own Barbie Doll!
When Mattel approached Venus Williams to make her own Barbie for the Inspiring Women Series, the American tennis legend was given free rein to select any outfit to be immortalized in.
Williams, whose resume is long as her 6-foot-1 frame, had many moments to choose from throughout her trailblazing career. She could've selected the first of her seven Grand Slam singles titles at Wimbledon in 2000 or opted to memorialize her first of four Olympic gold medals at the Sydney Games that same year. Williams could've even took it back to the 1999 French Open, where she won the first of her 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her little sister Serena Williams in their iconic braids and colorful beads.
But Williams ultimately selected her win at the 2007 Wimbledon tournament and not for the reason you may think. It was the first year the women's and men's singles champions earned equal prize money at Wimbledon, a cause that Williams championed long before her win.
"Wimbledon 2007 was a huge moment in my career — not just because I won, but because of what was happening off the court," Williams told USA TODAY Sports ahead of her Barbie's release on Aug. 15. "Championing for equal prize money wasn’t just about me, it was about pushing for change for all women in sports. To see that moment honored with a Barbie doll is incredibly special. I hope it inspires young girls to speak up, believe in themselves, and know they have the power to change the game too."
Venus Williams: 'My Barbie doll told my story'
Williams said seeing her own Barbie marked a "full-circle moment." When she didn't have a tennis racket in her hand during her early years training alongside father, Richard Williams, and sister, Serena, Venus channeled her creative energy into giving her dolls one-of-a-kind makeovers.
"I’ve always loved being creative, even as a kid, I used to sew clothes for my dolls," Williams recalled. "Seeing (my) finished doll was so surreal — it made me realize this doll represents something much bigger. It’s about inspiring young girls they can dream big and break barriers too."
Breaking barriers is Williams specialty. Two years before she triumphantly hoisted Wimbledon's Rosewater Dish for the fourth time in 2007, Williams met with officials from Wimbledon and the French Open. They were the two Grand Slams that didn't pay equal prize money at the time. When no change came from the meeting, Williams refused to leave the ball in the officials' court. She penned an article in The Times at the start of the 2006 tournament titled: Wimbledon has sent me a message: I’m only a second class champion.
Williams' article was the catalyst for Wimbledon and the French Open to change. Both tournaments announced equal prize money for all competitors, beginning in 2007. Williams went on to win her sixth major singles title at Wimbledon that year and was the first woman to win the same purse as male champion Roger Federer.
"My advice to any woman, not just advocating for equal pay but also advocating for themselves, is this: always bet on yourself and keep pushing, no matter how tough it gets," Williams told USA TODAY Sports. "There’s so much power in believing in yourself. When you use your voice, you create space for others to speak up too and that can create real change."
Venus Williams collaborated 'closely' on Barbie
Williams' Barbie is wearing a two-piece white set identical to what she wore to defeat France's Marion Bartoli, 6–4, 6–1, in the 2007 Wimbledon final. Her "Inspiring Women Series" doll also features Williams' accessories from the match, including her green gem necklace, dangly earrings, wristbands and visors, in addition to Reebok tennis shoes. (Williams signed a multi-million dollar deal with Reebok in 1995 at age 14 after walking away from Nike because she believed she could earn more, as depicted in the 2021 biopic, "King Richard.")
Don't forget about her racket and tennis ball.
"Venus chose that outfit herself actually, so she collaborated really closely with our talented Barbie design team," Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel, told USA TODAY Sports. "They (worked) closely throughout the entire process of designing the doll to ensure it accurately reflected her appearance and her personal style."
Berger said Williams' involvement with creating her own Barbie "added that personal touch to capture her impact as an athlete and an advocate. It's a moment that's important not only for the sport, for women, for fans, but to Venus personally."
The release of Williams' Barbie doll comes days ahead of the 2025 U.S. Open, where Williams is teaming up with fellow American Reilly Opelka in mixed doubles. She recently returned to competition for the first time in 16-months at the D.C. Open in July.
"Coming back to D.C. reminded me how much I truly love this game," Williams said. "I’ve always stayed true to myself and played on my own terms. For me, excellence has no limits — I play because I love the process, and fully embrace each moment."
Williams, 45, earned a straight sets victory over World No. 35 Peyton Stearns in the opening round to become the oldest player to win a tour-level singles match since 2004. Williams fell short in the second round against Magdalena Frech and made a quick, first-round exit at the Cincinnati Open, but she nonetheless celebrated being able to play "healthier than ever."
"Reconnecting with that feeling, along with the energy and support of the fans, was truly something special," Williams added.
Williams, whose resume is long as her 6-foot-1 frame, had many moments to choose from throughout her trailblazing career. She could've selected the first of her seven Grand Slam singles titles at Wimbledon in 2000 or opted to memorialize her first of four Olympic gold medals at the Sydney Games that same year. Williams could've even took it back to the 1999 French Open, where she won the first of her 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her little sister Serena Williams in their iconic braids and colorful beads.
But Williams ultimately selected her win at the 2007 Wimbledon tournament and not for the reason you may think. It was the first year the women's and men's singles champions earned equal prize money at Wimbledon, a cause that Williams championed long before her win.
"Wimbledon 2007 was a huge moment in my career — not just because I won, but because of what was happening off the court," Williams told USA TODAY Sports ahead of her Barbie's release on Aug. 15. "Championing for equal prize money wasn’t just about me, it was about pushing for change for all women in sports. To see that moment honored with a Barbie doll is incredibly special. I hope it inspires young girls to speak up, believe in themselves, and know they have the power to change the game too."
Venus Williams: 'My Barbie doll told my story'
Williams said seeing her own Barbie marked a "full-circle moment." When she didn't have a tennis racket in her hand during her early years training alongside father, Richard Williams, and sister, Serena, Venus channeled her creative energy into giving her dolls one-of-a-kind makeovers.
"I’ve always loved being creative, even as a kid, I used to sew clothes for my dolls," Williams recalled. "Seeing (my) finished doll was so surreal — it made me realize this doll represents something much bigger. It’s about inspiring young girls they can dream big and break barriers too."
Breaking barriers is Williams specialty. Two years before she triumphantly hoisted Wimbledon's Rosewater Dish for the fourth time in 2007, Williams met with officials from Wimbledon and the French Open. They were the two Grand Slams that didn't pay equal prize money at the time. When no change came from the meeting, Williams refused to leave the ball in the officials' court. She penned an article in The Times at the start of the 2006 tournament titled: Wimbledon has sent me a message: I’m only a second class champion.
Williams' article was the catalyst for Wimbledon and the French Open to change. Both tournaments announced equal prize money for all competitors, beginning in 2007. Williams went on to win her sixth major singles title at Wimbledon that year and was the first woman to win the same purse as male champion Roger Federer.
"My advice to any woman, not just advocating for equal pay but also advocating for themselves, is this: always bet on yourself and keep pushing, no matter how tough it gets," Williams told USA TODAY Sports. "There’s so much power in believing in yourself. When you use your voice, you create space for others to speak up too and that can create real change."
Venus Williams collaborated 'closely' on Barbie
Williams' Barbie is wearing a two-piece white set identical to what she wore to defeat France's Marion Bartoli, 6–4, 6–1, in the 2007 Wimbledon final. Her "Inspiring Women Series" doll also features Williams' accessories from the match, including her green gem necklace, dangly earrings, wristbands and visors, in addition to Reebok tennis shoes. (Williams signed a multi-million dollar deal with Reebok in 1995 at age 14 after walking away from Nike because she believed she could earn more, as depicted in the 2021 biopic, "King Richard.")
Don't forget about her racket and tennis ball.
"Venus chose that outfit herself actually, so she collaborated really closely with our talented Barbie design team," Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel, told USA TODAY Sports. "They (worked) closely throughout the entire process of designing the doll to ensure it accurately reflected her appearance and her personal style."
Berger said Williams' involvement with creating her own Barbie "added that personal touch to capture her impact as an athlete and an advocate. It's a moment that's important not only for the sport, for women, for fans, but to Venus personally."
The release of Williams' Barbie doll comes days ahead of the 2025 U.S. Open, where Williams is teaming up with fellow American Reilly Opelka in mixed doubles. She recently returned to competition for the first time in 16-months at the D.C. Open in July.
"Coming back to D.C. reminded me how much I truly love this game," Williams said. "I’ve always stayed true to myself and played on my own terms. For me, excellence has no limits — I play because I love the process, and fully embrace each moment."
Williams, 45, earned a straight sets victory over World No. 35 Peyton Stearns in the opening round to become the oldest player to win a tour-level singles match since 2004. Williams fell short in the second round against Magdalena Frech and made a quick, first-round exit at the Cincinnati Open, but she nonetheless celebrated being able to play "healthier than ever."
"Reconnecting with that feeling, along with the energy and support of the fans, was truly something special," Williams added.
Issa Rae Announces Book Tour for ‘I Should Be Smarter Now’
Issa Rae is hitting the road to promote her new essay collection, I Should Be Smarter Now, out Aug. 26 via Amazon Original Stories. The follow-up to her 2015 bestseller The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl features six essays on topics including the building of her media empire. The tour kicks off Sept. 8 in Philadelphia, with stops in Washington, D.C., and Dallas before closing Sept. 24 in Detroit.
Presale tickets are available starting Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET.
Marshawn Lynch Announces Debut Cookbook “Yeast Mode”
NFL legend Marshawn Lynch is bringing his larger-than-life personality to the kitchen with “Yeast Mode,” his debut cookbook. Known as Beast Mode on the field, Lynch promises the same bold energy in his recipes, describing the book as deep-fried and audacious.
“What’s hannin??? On 8/18 I’m droppin my very 1st cookbook, YEAST MODE! I know yall gonna enjoy baking it as much as I enjoyed making it. Pre-order at Link in,” Lynch announced.
The release marks his first foray into publishing, offering fans a taste of his unique culinary style.
NFL legend Marshawn Lynch is bringing his larger-than-life personality to the kitchen with “Yeast Mode,” his debut cookbook. Known as Beast Mode on the field, Lynch promises the same bold energy in his recipes, describing the book as deep-fried and audacious.
“What’s hannin??? On 8/18 I’m droppin my very 1st cookbook, YEAST MODE! I know yall gonna enjoy baking it as much as I enjoyed making it. Pre-order at Link in,” Lynch announced.
The release marks his first foray into publishing, offering fans a taste of his unique culinary style.
Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' Track List, Album Artwork & Release Date Revealed!
Taylor Swift has revealed all the details about her upcoming album The Life of a Showgirl!
The 35-year-old singer’s upcoming 12th studio album is going to be released on October 3.
It looks like the main version of the album will be the “sweat and vanilla perfume portofino orange glitter” version.
Four different limited release deluxe CDs are also on sale right now for the next 72 hours, or until supplies list. There’s the “sweat and vanilla perfume” edition, the “it’s frightening” edition, the “it’s rapturous” edition, and the “it’s beautiful” edition.
Taylor revealed that the album was produced alongside Max Martin and Shellback, who she worked with on her early pop music from Red, 1989, and Reputation.
The full track list has also been revealed, including one collaboration.
Check out the tracklist below!
1. The Fate of Ophelia
2. Elizabeth Taylor
3. Opolite
4. Father Figure
5. Eldest Daughter
6. Ruin The Friendship
7. Actually Romantic
8. Wish List (Wi$h Li$t)
9. Wood
10. CANCELLED!
11. Honey
12. The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
The 35-year-old singer’s upcoming 12th studio album is going to be released on October 3.
It looks like the main version of the album will be the “sweat and vanilla perfume portofino orange glitter” version.
Four different limited release deluxe CDs are also on sale right now for the next 72 hours, or until supplies list. There’s the “sweat and vanilla perfume” edition, the “it’s frightening” edition, the “it’s rapturous” edition, and the “it’s beautiful” edition.
Taylor revealed that the album was produced alongside Max Martin and Shellback, who she worked with on her early pop music from Red, 1989, and Reputation.
The full track list has also been revealed, including one collaboration.
Check out the tracklist below!
1. The Fate of Ophelia
2. Elizabeth Taylor
3. Opolite
4. Father Figure
5. Eldest Daughter
6. Ruin The Friendship
7. Actually Romantic
8. Wish List (Wi$h Li$t)
9. Wood
10. CANCELLED!
11. Honey
12. The Life of a Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
'Captain America' Star Anthony Mackie Kisses Mystery Woman in London
Anthony Mackie was playing Captain Smooch on the streets of London -- caught locking lips with a mystery woman who looked very pleased with her assignment!
You see the pics -- and let’s just say the "Captain America: Brave New World" star was in full smooth-operator mode in Notting Hill Tuesday ... getting handsy and swapping spit in a steamy embrace with the blonde babe.
The PDA-packed makeout sesh was a two-person show -- zero cares given. At one point, the Hollywood hunk even copped a smooth handful of her dress as they really went for it!
It’s unclear if this was a longtime fling or a flirty first-time spark -- but either way, the chemistry was undeniable.
Clearly, Mackie’s soaking up his London downtime while filming the upcoming flick "Avengers: Doomsday."
And LBR -- the Marvel star divorced his wife Sheletta Chapital back in 2018, so it's good to see him suiting up again ... both on and off the battlefield!
Anthony Mackie was playing Captain Smooch on the streets of London -- caught locking lips with a mystery woman who looked very pleased with her assignment!
You see the pics -- and let’s just say the "Captain America: Brave New World" star was in full smooth-operator mode in Notting Hill Tuesday ... getting handsy and swapping spit in a steamy embrace with the blonde babe.
The PDA-packed makeout sesh was a two-person show -- zero cares given. At one point, the Hollywood hunk even copped a smooth handful of her dress as they really went for it!
It’s unclear if this was a longtime fling or a flirty first-time spark -- but either way, the chemistry was undeniable.
Clearly, Mackie’s soaking up his London downtime while filming the upcoming flick "Avengers: Doomsday."
And LBR -- the Marvel star divorced his wife Sheletta Chapital back in 2018, so it's good to see him suiting up again ... both on and off the battlefield!
“South Park” releases shocking alternate ending to controversial Kristi Noem episode
Two weeks after first pointing a firehose of blistering criticism at the Donald Trump administration, South Park is still going full bore against Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
The animated adult comedy series first turned its sights on the controversial Trump appointee in the Aug. 6 episode "Got a Nut," which depicted Noem as an unhinged dog-murdering psychopath. Both Noem and Trump have publicly objected to the ways South Park portrayed them, but that's only made the flame of their animus burn brighter.
The official South Park X account shared a new credits scene for "Got a Nut," which viewers who exclusively tuned into the episode's broadcast premiere may have missed after the episode moved onto Paramount+
After 20 straight minutes of brutal satire sending up Noem as a plastic surgery-addled, opportunistic, cold-blooded, photo-op obsessed dog killer, South Park decided what "Got a Nut" needed was more canine carnage.
In the new credits scene, Noem surreptitiously peeks over her shoulder while hobbling into a pet store. She unloads magazine after magazine into the shop's furry tenants, which let out blood-curdling screams and whimpers. One tiny survivor breaks free and attempts to flee, but Noem leaps through the doors and buries three rounds into its face and abdomen, which gush blood.
Notably, Noem has not objected to the dog-killer component of her animated persona, a reference to a segment of her 2024 memoir No Going Back, in which she describes personally killing her family dog, Cricket, because of the pet's "aggressive personality."
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement czar, who has overseen the unconstitutional and widely unpopular expansion of brutal immigration raids since Trump returned to office in January, responded to South Park's apparent criticism of her appearance two days after "Got a Nut" first aired.
"It's so lazy to constantly make fun of women for how they look," she said in an Aug. 8 podcast appearance. "If they wanted to criticize my job, go ahead and do that, but clearly they can't... They just pick something petty like that," she said, adding that "only the liberals and the extremists do that."
The version of "Got a Nut" that aired on Comedy Central originally concluded with a surreal sequence in which Noem's face slid off her head and slithered into the clubhouse at Trump's Palm Beach, Fla., resort, Mar-a-Lago. Her team of aestheticians eventually captures the sentient mass of skin cells and re-adheres it to her head, after which she proudly poses with one foot atop a soapbox, rifle in hand
South Park has also gone after Trump himself, depicting the president in the season 27 premiere as begging Satan to sleep with him and berating an artist for painting him with a small penis.
"The left's hypocrisy truly has no end — for years they have come after South Park for what they labeled as 'offense' content, but suddenly they are praising the show," a White House spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly. "Just like the creators of South Park, the left has no authentic or original content" to premiere.
South Park is now streaming on Paramount+.
The animated adult comedy series first turned its sights on the controversial Trump appointee in the Aug. 6 episode "Got a Nut," which depicted Noem as an unhinged dog-murdering psychopath. Both Noem and Trump have publicly objected to the ways South Park portrayed them, but that's only made the flame of their animus burn brighter.
The official South Park X account shared a new credits scene for "Got a Nut," which viewers who exclusively tuned into the episode's broadcast premiere may have missed after the episode moved onto Paramount+
After 20 straight minutes of brutal satire sending up Noem as a plastic surgery-addled, opportunistic, cold-blooded, photo-op obsessed dog killer, South Park decided what "Got a Nut" needed was more canine carnage.
In the new credits scene, Noem surreptitiously peeks over her shoulder while hobbling into a pet store. She unloads magazine after magazine into the shop's furry tenants, which let out blood-curdling screams and whimpers. One tiny survivor breaks free and attempts to flee, but Noem leaps through the doors and buries three rounds into its face and abdomen, which gush blood.
Notably, Noem has not objected to the dog-killer component of her animated persona, a reference to a segment of her 2024 memoir No Going Back, in which she describes personally killing her family dog, Cricket, because of the pet's "aggressive personality."
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement czar, who has overseen the unconstitutional and widely unpopular expansion of brutal immigration raids since Trump returned to office in January, responded to South Park's apparent criticism of her appearance two days after "Got a Nut" first aired.
"It's so lazy to constantly make fun of women for how they look," she said in an Aug. 8 podcast appearance. "If they wanted to criticize my job, go ahead and do that, but clearly they can't... They just pick something petty like that," she said, adding that "only the liberals and the extremists do that."
The version of "Got a Nut" that aired on Comedy Central originally concluded with a surreal sequence in which Noem's face slid off her head and slithered into the clubhouse at Trump's Palm Beach, Fla., resort, Mar-a-Lago. Her team of aestheticians eventually captures the sentient mass of skin cells and re-adheres it to her head, after which she proudly poses with one foot atop a soapbox, rifle in hand
South Park has also gone after Trump himself, depicting the president in the season 27 premiere as begging Satan to sleep with him and berating an artist for painting him with a small penis.
"The left's hypocrisy truly has no end — for years they have come after South Park for what they labeled as 'offense' content, but suddenly they are praising the show," a White House spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly. "Just like the creators of South Park, the left has no authentic or original content" to premiere.
South Park is now streaming on Paramount+.
Spirit Airlines warns of financial turbulence could shut down in 12 months!
Spirit Airlines is facing serious financial trouble, warning investors that it might not survive the next 12 months.
In its August 11 earnings report, the airline pointed to “weak demand” for domestic leisure travel and too many available seats in the market, problems it expects will continue through the rest of the year.
This comes just five months after Spirit exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 12. Since then, the company has tried to improve its offerings with a Premium Economy option and cut costs, including furloughing pilots in July. But Spirit says it’s not seeing the financial turnaround it needs quickly enough, adding there is “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue operating beyond a year.
For travelers, it raises the question: will Spirit weather the storm, or will its bright yellow planes be grounded for good?
In its August 11 earnings report, the airline pointed to “weak demand” for domestic leisure travel and too many available seats in the market, problems it expects will continue through the rest of the year.
This comes just five months after Spirit exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 12. Since then, the company has tried to improve its offerings with a Premium Economy option and cut costs, including furloughing pilots in July. But Spirit says it’s not seeing the financial turnaround it needs quickly enough, adding there is “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue operating beyond a year.
For travelers, it raises the question: will Spirit weather the storm, or will its bright yellow planes be grounded for good?
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
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