The entertainment world is at a loss for words right now as we mourn the tragic death of HipHop Mogul Chris Lighty. ...

  GLOBAL MIXX HOSTED ITS 6TH ANNUAL MUSIC FORUM Global Mixx Music Forum 2012 – “The Business of Creation” featured panels, artist showcases, Master Classes and more with top industry professionals CHICAGO, IL (Aug 30) – After a 2-year hiatus, the 6th Annual Global Mixx Music Forum hosted the ‘Business of Creation’ on Sunday August 19th, 2012 at the Zhou B Art Center, the premier venue for international ...

By Freddie Allen NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) –Thirty young, Black women shimmering platinum and white evening gowns, silver, sapphires and dandelion yellows, rubies lit the Theater of Performing Arts at the University of the District of Columbia. They prayed through perfect pageant smiles thinking: “Please don’t call my name.” It was an exciting moment that each one of them had dreamed o ...

With funky music splashed with soulful harmonies, glamorous fashion that revealed independence and the distinctive, yet ambitious dreams of three sisters trying to break away from their Detroit life in 1968, this new version of “Sparkle” is a refreshing take on the 1976 original. Although there are numerous and obvious differences from the Joel Schumacher and Howard Rosenman project, the cast successfully d ...

by Bobbi Booker Special to the NNPA from the Philadelphia Tribune When I Left Home: My Story by Buddy Guy” (with David Ritz; Da Capo, $26) tells the epic life story of one of the greatest players at the absolute nexus of modern blues. Guy recounts his journey from the “middle of nowhere” Louisiana to blues central Chicago and stages all over the world, playing with the likes of Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaug ...

by Richard B. Muhammad Special to the NNPA from The Final Call Jokes about niggras, pimps, hoes, Bebe’s kids, baby mammas and baby daddies are fine but any jokes that hint at Black suffering are strictly off limits. Chris Rock is the latest Black comedian to discover that denigrating your own people brings riches, critical acclaim and praise for cutting edge and no holds barred work. Jokes about race and Am ...

Sherman Hemsley played characters known to be wise-cracking, “Weezy” loving, “honky” calling, boisterous fools which America and the entire world laughed with kindheartedly. Sherman Alexander Hemsley, Air Force veteran and actor, was born on Feb. 1, 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, William Hemsley, worked at a printing press while his mother worked at various factories during the war. As a ch ...

Spirit has many ways of expressing itself. One of those channels of expression occurs through music; the melodic, harmonic, rhythmic voice of our soul, reflecting years of feelings and experiences. From early times it has been known as a healing force. We used it to record family histories and communicate between communities. Work songs were used to lessen the harsh conditions of a prison chain gang. Chants ...

Special to the NNPA from the Houston Style Magazine The usual outspoken, controversial comedian Wanda Sykes has been a lot quieter. She has been not so opinionated on the issues and not so vocal in the public eye. What gives? Her twin daughters. Sykes is becoming a family woman, happily spending her time catching up on the happenings on Sesame Street versus being glue to contributors on CNN. “I use to be re ...

Two of BET’s Brightest Stars are Moving on to New Adventures. Terrence J and Rocsi, the popular hosts of 106 & Park for the past seven years, will be leaving the show. Stephen G. Hill, President of Music Programming & Specials for BET Networks, confirms the news in a statement: “Today, after seven exciting years, 106 & Park hosts Terrence J and Rocsi announced that they will be leaving the show. ...