Issa Rae for Rolling Stone - May 2021!
Issa Rae discusses her growing TV and film empires in Rolling Stone magazine’s May cover story.
The multi-talented writer and producer estimates she has about 22 movies and shows in development — 16 of which are for HBO and HBO Max — through a five-year deal with parent company, WarnerMedia. Not to mention, she launched Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen shop, Sienna Naturals hair-care company, and her record label, Raedio.
“I’m just always thinking about work,” Rae tells Rolling Stone. “I was always like this. It was like, ‘I need to work to make sure I have the means of affording a place to live.’ [Or if] ‘this didn’t work, what’s the next thing I can do?’ I think that’s just how my mind works. That’s Capricorn [stuff]. Workaholic [ish].”
The 36-year-old is preparing the fifth and final season of her hit HBO series, Insecure, but she has way more to offer the entertainment world. “I want to be among the greats,” says Issa, wanting to be referenced with names that “roll off your tongue.”
“I have to work to do that. It’s not enough to start things,” she continues. “These businesses and all these things that I’m touching still have to be great. Anybody can do this, but can they do it well? What I’m trying to prove is that I can do it well.”
Many would call Issa Rae one of the busiest women in entertainment. She’s headlined campaigns for Cover Girl, LinkedIn and American Express as she oversees film, television and music projects and other events through her production company, Hoorae.
#RHOA: The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 13 Reunion Is Very Revealing!
After a season of holding absolutely nothing back, The Real Housewives of Atlanta ladies have even more to share. They will be spilling it all when the three-part Season 13 reunion kicks off on Sunday, April 25 at 8/7c.
Dressed in their sexiest looks ever on a Dungeon Party-inspired set, Porsha Williams, Kenya Moore, Kandi Burruss, Cynthia Bailey, and Drew Sidora are ready to reveal all when they sit down with host Andy Cohen to discuss all of Season 13's jaw-dropping moments. Marlo Hampton, Shamea Morton, and LaToya Ali will also join the group.
We've got your first look at the intense reunion, above, which shows Kenya at the center of some major drama with Porsha and with Drew. A check-in on old beefs with also be on the agenda, including if Kandi and Porsha are still cool.
Drew's husband, Ralph Pittman, will also make a special appearance at the reunion. Andy has a burning question for him: "Who or what was in Tampa for three days?"
However, it looks like the main issue at hand will unsurprisingly be the Dungeon Party Kandi organized for Cynthia's bachelorette party during the girls' trip to Isle of Palms, South Carolina and its aftermath. Andy will experience what it was like interacting with "Mistress" Kandi that night. But will we finally get to the bottom of what really happened with Bolo?
It all begins Sunday, April 25 at 8/7c, followed by Part 2 on Sunday, May 2 at 8/7c and Part 3 on Sunday, May 9 at 8/7c. Catch a sneak peek of everything coming up at the reunion, above.
Want more RHOA? New episodes air every Sunday at 8/7c
#NewMusic from Chris Brown ‘Go Crazy (Remix)’ Video With Young Thug, Future, Lil Durk, & Mulatto!
Chris Brown is still going crazy. Nearly a year after dropping the song, Chris Brown takes flight with the wild video for the star-studded remix to “Go Crazy” featuring Young Thug, Future, Lil Durk, and Mulatto.
The DAPS-directed clip opens with Breezy on a plane before he decides to jump out the emergency exit and go skydiving. Mulatto’s crazy cameo takes place in a padded cell surrounded by some pole-dancing patients, while Pluto delivers his icy verse while hanging from a cliff in the middle of the snow. Thugger also hits the slopes in full ski attire alongside his YSL brother Gunna.
LISTEN HERE
The original “Go Crazy,” which appears on Chris and Thug’s joint project Slime & B, recently topped “No Guidance” to become the longest-running No. 1 song on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.
Chris is now readying his long-awaited album Breezy and recently teased a collaboration with H.E.R., which he declared the “song of the summer.” On Friday, Thug and his Young Stoner Life collective are set to release Slime Language 2, the sequel to their 2018 compilation.
#HipHopNews: DMX ‘Been To War’ With French Montana & Swizz Beatz!
One week after his tragic death, the first posthumous music from DMX has been released. The late Ruff Ryders icon is joined by French Montana and Swizz Beatz on “Been to War” off the “Godfather of Harlem” series soundtrack. Over the booming Swizz production, X delivers an autobiographical verse about his struggles and perseverance.
“I done been to jail, I done did numbers / I donΠ΅ been to hell, I done been under,” he raps in his signature raspy growl. “Difference between a boss and a runner / Whatever you thinkin’, no way, uh-huh, I’m doin’ what you gonna.”
French Montana makes reference to The Weeknd’s Grammy snub (“Shorty jerked me off like The Weeknd at the Grammys”) and shouts out Vince Carter (“Had the block jumpin’ like Vince when he played for Toronto”).
LISTEN HERE
DMX had completed an entire album prior to his death and was planning to release it this summer. Earlier this year, he revealed some of the guests including Pop Smoke, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Alicia Keys, Usher, and Bono.
#RIP: Former Bad Boy Records Hip Hop Artist Black Rob Has Passed Away at 51!
It’s been a difficult week for New York hip-hop. On Saturday, entertainment manager Kal Dawson confirmed that Black Rob passed away at just 51 years old.
TMZ also confirmed the news, adding that the rapper passed away in a hospital in Atlanta after a reported battle with kidney failure.
Mark Curry—rapper and collaborator of Rob and Diddy’s—also shared the news. “I don’t know where to begin this, but I thank everybody for the donations,” Curry said in a video between tears. “Rob passed away about an hour ago.” He then asked Rob’s children to get in touch with him.
It appears that at some point, Diddy got in touch with Rob to see how he can help. A GoFundMe campaign was also set up to help Rob “find a home, pay for medical help & stability during these trying times,” according to the description.
The Bad Boy Records rapper was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in East Harlem. Rob was widely known for his 2000 hit single “Whoa!” from his debut album Life Story released via Bad Boy and Arista. The song later peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100.
RIP Black Rob.
Janet Jackson Auctioning Off Thousands of Personal Items For Her Birthday!
Pop star Janet Jackson auctioning off thousands of items of clothing for her 55th birthday...
According to reports Janet Jackson will be auctioning off iconic items from the 'Rhythm Nation' era including the black jacket she wore in the "Rhythm Nation" music video, a black "1814" cap and the black coat she wore during her 1990 Rhythm Nation World Tour.
The three day auction kicks off on Friday May 19 and ends on Janet's 55th birthday May 16.
The auction will include more than 1,000 personal items available for bidding live in Beverly Hills and online.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit advocacy ministry Compassion International, which supports children in need worldwide.
Janet Hubert To Recur On TBS Comedy The Last ‘O.G.’!
Aunt Viv is coming to The Last O.G. as Janet Hubert joins the cast of the TBS comedy, starring Tracy Morgan and Tiffany Haddish.
Co-created and executive produced by Jordan Peele, The Last O.G. follows Tray (Morgan), an ex-con who is shocked to see just how much the world has changed when he is released from a 15-year prison stint. After finding a place to live and new forms of income, Tray continues to meet challenges as he re-paves his way in his newly affluent Brooklyn neighborhood. TBS renewed the comedy for season 4.
The Daytime Emmy-nominee will join The Last O.G. as Miss May Miller. One of Roberta’s (Anna Maria Horsford) oldest and dearest friends and weekly bid whist partner. As Brooklyn teens they were rivals. However, in their later years they settled into a strong friendship as part of a weekly card playing foursome who weigh in on the comings and goings of Tray Barker’s (Morgan) struggle to bring positive change to his community after doing fifteen years in prison for selling crack.
While one of Hubert’s most notable roles may be The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air‘s Vivian “Aunt Viv” Banks, her credits also include The Job, The Bernie Mac Show, One Life to Live and If Loving You Is Wrong. She has also appeared in General Hospital and King Ester – she received her 2020 Daytime Emmy nomination for the latter. Hubert, who recently appeared in HBO Max’s Fresh Prince reunion, has also acted in Christmas Belles, Not Another Black Movie, No Letting Go and Mom. She is repped by DGRW.
The Last O.G. is executive produced by Morgan; Peele for Monkeypaw Productions; Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannenbaum for The Tannenbaum Company; Joel Zadak of Artists First; Owen Smith and Steve Ast. Co-executive producers include Jason Wang for The Tannenbaum Company and Win Rosenfeld for Monkeypaw Productions.
DMX Memorial Service Set for Brooklyn's Barclays Center!
A memorial service for late rapper DMX will be held April 24 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, Billboard can confirm.
Though Barclays Center is big enough to accommodate 19,000 fans for concerts, it's unclear how many people will be allowed inside the New York arena with current COVID-19 restrictions. According to a source close to the situation, Barclays is maxed at 10% capacity currently and the service will not be open to the public.
Further details for the service, first reported by TMZ, are still being ironed out, DMX's former manager Steve Rifkind told the site. According to their report, the public service on that Saturday would be followed by a more intimate church service for just X's family and inner-circle the next day, Sunday, April 25.
DMX died a week ago, on April 9, after suffering a heart attack triggered by a drug overdose. He was 50 years old.
Barclays Center opened its doors less than a decade ago, in September 2012, which was years after DMX's late '90s/early 2000s heyday, but the rapper hit the arena's stage twice: once in 2017 as part of a Ruff Ryders reunion show and in 2019 at the Masters of Ceremony concert.
HBO Max's Legendary Unveils Epic Trailer Ahead of Show's Season 2 Premiere!
HBO Max's Legendary is only getting more legendary going into its second season.
On Friday, the streaming service dropped the sophomore run's first teaser trailer and revealed that it will arrive May 6. The teaser opens with a glimpse at some of the Houses' dance routines, which is followed by a shot of judge Megan Thee Stallion strutting down the stage in a flashy, red sequined dress as she says: "It's time, bitches!"
In the next scene, host Dashaun Wesley then asks: "Let me get a beat, please."
A montage provides a look at the many incredible routines to come and the return of judges Jameela Jamil, Law Roach and Leiomy Maldonado. "Superstar," Jamil, 35, says as Roach, 42, notes, "This is why we came to Legendary."
The 10 competing Houses will go head to head in a series of dance contests and fashion showcases in order to win the $100,000 prize. And make no mistake, the "coin is real."
"You did what needed to be done!" Roach says as Megan, 26, adds, "I want the world to see that y'all is legit."
Legendary premiered on HBO Max to rave reviews in May 2020. Nearly two months later, HBO Max renewed the competition series for a second season.
"We knew we had something special," Kevin Reilly, HBO Max's chief content officer, said in a news release at the time. "Legendary was an HBO Max, day one premiere. We knew we had something special and are proud that critics and audiences alike have embraced the series. Bringing this incredible work back for a second season furthers our commitment to high quality, compelling storytelling."
HBO Max's head of original content Sarah Aubrey noted how the ballroom scene show was both "inspirational and educational" in its debut season.
"This series is truly sensational and we are humbled by the backstories of the contestants that make up the heart of the show, our illustrious MC Dashaun and judges panel, and the fantastic team at Scout," she added.
Jamil's involvement in the series initially sparked backlash before the show's premiere. In response to the criticism, the Good Place alum came out as queer.
"This is absolutely not how I wanted it to come out," she wrote in a now-deleted tweet. "I know that my being queer doesn't qualify me as ballroom. But I have privilege and power and q large following to bring this show."
Jamil added that "sometimes it takes those with more power to help a show get off the ground so we can elevate marginalized stars that deserve the limelight and give them a chance."
WATCH HERE
Legendary returns to HBO Max for its second season on May 6.
Rihanna Wears a ‘Different’ Outfit for Dinner in Santa Monica!
Only Rihanna could pull off an outfit like this!
The 33-year-old singer, makeup mogul, and fashion designer stepped out for dinner at Giorgio Baldi on Friday night (April 16) in Santa Monica, Calif.
Rihanna showed off her eclectic style in a tie-dye print coat paired with silk pants and a zebra-print, fuzzy hat as she arrived at the restaurant for a bite to eat with her friends.
The Utah Jazz Has Welcomed Dwayne Wade as Part-Owner!
Dwyane Wade is now a proud owner of The Utah Jazz. On Friday, the Utah Jazz announced that Wade would be joining the youngest ownership group in the league, which is led by technology entrepreneur Ryan Smith and his wife, Ashley. They acquired a majority interest in the team towards the end of last year.
“Dwyane is not only a basketball legend, he is also a great leader, businessman, and human being,” Smith said in a statement of his longtime friend. ”As we continue to build on the incredible legacy of the Utah Jazz franchise, we are excited to add Dwyane’s experience and expertise to the equation.”
The 39-year-old retired NBA star played 16 NBA seasons with Chicago, Miami, and Cleveland. He retired after the 2018-19 season, after securing three NBA titles. His No. 3 Heat jersey was retired last month.
Wade also praised the partnership, calling it the “perfect fit.” He says that he shares many of the same views with the group, one of which being “building a championship franchise.”
In 2019, Wade expressed joining NBA ownership and explored joining the Miami Heat leadership group. However, that deal never came to fruition.
R. Kelly Will Move to New York City for Sex-Trafficking Charges, This Summer After!
Following several pandemic-related delays, a federal judge has confirmed approval for Robert “R” Kelly to be transferred to New York City to undergo a trial where he is facing sex-trafficking charges, per ABC News.
The 50-year-old artist is facing multiple charges; the most recent charges include five counts of racketeering and four more counts of violating the Mann Act (transporting women or girls across state lines for illegal sexual activity is deemed a felony). Kelly has denied these allegations. At a recent virtual hearing, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly confirmed that the New York trial can begin on Aug. 9, though it has not been confirmed when exactly Kelly will be moving to New York.
Prosecutors in Brooklyn allege Kelly led an enterprise made up of his managers, bodyguards and other employees who helped him recruit women and girls for sex. A jury is expected to hear testimony from alleged victims, each identified in court papers only as “Jane Doe.”
Kelly has been held in federal custody in Chicago since his arrest in July 2019, where he’ll be undergoing a separate federal case involving sex pornography and obstruction, which had been scheduled to begin in September. According to a Chicago Tribune report earlier this year, one of Kelly’s attorneys, Steven Greenberg, seemed skeptical that the Chicago trial will occur as planned given the “disappointing” COVID-19 vaccination rollout in the city.
Back in November, the Chicago facility where Kelly was held was placed on lockdown due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, Kelly was involved in an altercation where an inmate attacked him last summer. His legal team has requested that their client be released on bond pending his federal trial, but all requests were denied.
“Mentally, he’s probably in as bad of shape as I’ve seen him,” Greenberg said at the time. “His mood at this point is certainly still hopeful about his case, but I think on some level he’s just very beaten down physically and mentally.”
Kelly pleaded not guilty in both the Chicago and New York cases and between the two, the artist faces many decades in prison if convicted. On Thursday, Greenberg stated his client is looking forward to the upcoming trial in New York.
Harry and William spent time together after Prince Philip’s funeral!
Brought together under the saddest of circumstances, Prince William and the Duke of Sussex put on a show of unity at their beloved grandfather’s funeral.
Reconciled for the first time in more than a year – and seen together in public for the first time since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex gave a bombshell interview to Oprah Winfrey – the brothers chatted following the 3pm ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Although they did not walk shoulder to shoulder in the procession behind Prince Philip’s coffin, they made a point of seeking each other out after the 50-minute service and walked back to Windsor Castle side by side.
Prince Harry was initially seen speaking to Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge as they left the chapel and began walking, but she then appeared to hang back so he could talk to Prince William for a few moments without her. The family had been due to return to the castle’s State Entrance in state vehicles but took the last-minute decision to walk instead.
It is thought the brothers also wanted to quell suggestions that they are barely on speaking terms after Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, told Winfrey that an unnamed member of the Royal family queried Archie’s skin tone and the Duke claimed his father and brother were “trapped” in the monarchy.
They did not appear to make eye contact at any point during the eight-minute procession as they flanked their older cousin Peter Phillips, 43, Princess Anne’s son.
Prince William, 38, entered the 15th Century church one place ahead of his brother, 36, and they were seated opposite one another during the ceremony, with Prince William next to his wife.
While the Duchess of Cambridge appeared to look over at her brother-in-law, the brothers appeared to look towards the altar or down at their orders of service throughout.
It had been hoped that the loss of their “dearest Grandpa”, whom both loved deeply, would start the process of reconciliation – and the signs on Saturday looked promising.
Before the event, sources on both sides said the Princes were keen to put their differences aside in support of their grandmother and had spoken on the telephone since Prince Harry arrived in London on Sunday.
There are reports that Kate Middleton was a key figure in brokering peace between Prince Harry and Prince William for Prince Philip's funeral.
They have not been able to spend any time together since Prince Philip died on April 9, aged 99, because Prince Harry has been quarantining at Frogmore Cottage, his former Windsor home, since he arrived at Heathrow Airport on a British Airways flight from Los Angeles.
The Cambridges, meanwhile, had been spending the Easter holidays at Amner Hall, their home on the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, with their children Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, two.
Wearing black face masks, the couple were seen leaving Kensington Palace, their west London home, late on Saturday morning before being driven the 32 kilometres to Windsor for the funeral.
Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on whether any of the Royal family would be attending a wake, with numbers limited to 15 inside or groups of up to six outdoors under the Government’s COVID guidelines.
Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Cambridges did not leave the castle until five hours after the funeral, suggesting they had managed to spend some quality time with Prince Harry and the Queen.
The last time the Cambridges and the Sussexes were seen in public together was when they attended a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020.
The pregnant Duchess of Sussex was advised against flying over for the funeral by doctors, but is understood to have watched the televised ceremony from their home in Montecito, California.
On Saturday night, a palace insider said the brothers were conscious of the “optics” of not walking together in the funeral procession and “understood the importance” of putting on a united front.
It came after a royal source revealed that they had spoken by telephone since Prince Harry arrived in Britain, grateful for the opportunity to converse while both in the same time zone. It is not known how long he will remain in the UK.
The brothers’ strained relationship has been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic preventing any face-to-face contact since the Sussexes left for the US 13 months ago.
Both had issued separate and very different tributes to their grandfather. While the sentiments were the same, the styles were contrasting, with Prince William vowing to “get on with the job” and Prince Harry paying homage to Prince Philip as the “master of the barbecue, legend of banter and cheeky right ’til the end”.
The next time the brothers are expected to be reunited in public is for the unveiling of a statue of Diana, Princess of Wales, on July 1, which would have been her 60th birthday.
Although the Sussexes’ second child, a daughter, is due in early June, sources have said it is “unthinkable” that Prince Harry would miss the long-awaited reveal in Kensington Palace Gardens.
Broadway producer Scott Rudin steps aside amid accusations of abusive behavior going back decades!
Powerful film and stage producer Scott Rudin said Saturday he will “step back” from Broadway after multiple allegations of workplace bullying.
“After a period of reflection, I’ve made the decision to step back from active participation on our Broadway productions, effective immediately,” Rudin, 62, said in a statement.
“My roles will be filled by others from the Broadway community and in a number of cases, from the roster of participants already in place on those shows.”
The stunning twist came a week after the Hollywood Reporter cited accounts of Rudin — the producer behind mega-hits such as “The Book of Mormon,” “Moulin Rouge” and “West Side Story”– throwing glass bowls, a stapler and a baked potato at former employees.
“Much has been written about my history of troubling interactions with colleagues, and I am profoundly sorry for the pain my behavior caused to individuals, directly and indirectly,” said Rudin, whose hit film productions include “The Social Network,” and “No Country for Old Men.”
Rudin, who was working on a revival of “The Music Man” at the Winter Garden Theatre, said that he is “now taking steps that I should have taken years ago to address this behavior.”
Actors’ Equity Association on Saturday called on Rudin to release employees from nondisclosure agreements in an effort to create “truly safe and harassment-free theatrical workspaces on Broadway and beyond,” Deadline reported.
“We have heard from hundreds of members that these allegations are inexcusable, and everyone deserves a safe workplace whether they are a union member or not,” continued the statement by AEA president Kate Shindle and executive director Mary McColl.
Some Equity members — who are organizing a march Wednesday to protest the producer and the industry as a whole — have been urging the union to put Rudin on a “Do Not Work” list.
At least one stage star ditched her show in protest.
Tony Award-winning “Moulin Rouge” actor Karen Olivo said this week she would not return to the Broadway show to call out what she said was the industry’s silence regarding Rudin.
“I could easily go back to the show and make a lot of money, but I still wouldn’t be able to control what I was putting out into the world,” Olivo wrote on Instagram. “And what I’m seeing in this space right now, with our industry, is that everybody is scared, and nobody is really doing a lot of the stuff that needs to be done. People aren’t speaking out.”
Ohio Teen Arrested After Having An AK-47 And Loaded Magazine In Times Square Subway Station!
An Ohio teen was found to be in possession of an AK-47 and loaded magazine in the Times Square subway station by New York Police Department officers on Friday.
Saadiq Teague, 18, of Canal Winchester, was arrested and charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree; and criminal possession in the third degree relating to an ammunition clip, according to CNN. Teague also was charged with criminal use of drug paraphernalia in the second degree.
Teague was sitting in the police station charging his phone with the unloaded gun in front of him. He was also in possession of a gas mask. The police department didn’t immediately know why the teen was carrying the weapon and the loaded magazine.
“This story could’ve had a tragically different ending, but thanks to these diligent cops, it ends with the suspect in handcuffs,” New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea tweeted on Friday.
Lil Nas X’s new T-shirt line is very controversial!
Lil Nas X is continuing to ruffle feathers following the release of his raunchy “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” music video.
The 22-year-old “Old Town Road” hitmaker’s new T-shirt collaboration with Pizzaslime includes three $33 tees that poke fun at the uproar over his video’s unabashedly queer visuals and biblical references.
One reads, “I [Heart] Jesus,” followed by another message in a much smaller font: “and that one part in the ‘Montero’ music video by Lil Nas X when he gets nasty with the devil because it was a cool form of self-expression and art.”
Another cheeky style reads, “I watched the ‘Montero’ video by Lil Nas X and all I got was this lousy shirt and now I’m also gay and love Satan.”
The collaboration follows the launch of Lil Nas X’s viral “Satan Shoes” created in partnership with MSCHF, which featured a drop of real human blood.
Priced at $1,018 per pair, the devilish kicks were decorated with a pentagram pendant and inverted crosses. They also had “Luke 10:18,” the Bible verse that references Satan’s fall from heaven, stamped on the side — perhaps a nod to how Lil Nas X slides into hell on a stripper pole in his “Montero” video.
While all 666 pairs (of course) sold out in less than a minute, they also proved polarizing, with conservative politicians, athletes and parents decrying the sneakers on social media.
Nike, which was not involved in the design, even sued MSCHF for copyright infringement and asked that the sneakers be destroyed; the Brooklyn company later agreed to voluntarily recall the shoes and offer refunds to those who’d purchased pairs.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘BAD DAY? OR A GOOD DAY?’
We all have bad days. We all have our good days. If I’m in this persons shoes, I’m having a rough time deciphering which kind of day I’m having. Just another day at Wally World.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!!!
EFREM
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