According to a news release, Smith, 53, was appointed to her new role in early November. She replaced former CEO Kathie Trembath, who worked as her mentor and has retired after nearly two decades with the organization. As the newly […]
A new report from the Human Rights Campaign has revealed yet another disturbing statistic in the rate of violence against transgender people in the U.S.
According to the report, at least 33 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been fatally shot or killed in other ways since November 2022. So far, in 2023, at least 26 transgender have been killed, the report adds. In 2022, the Human Rights Campaign revealed that a total of 41 transgender people were murdered.
It is becoming increasingly difficult for recent college graduates to find employment. They are one of the brackets of the population struggling the most with their job search since January 2021. The unemployment rate for recent graduates is at 4.4 percent – a number higher than the overall jobless rate, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
According to Bossip, the highly anticipated event was held on Saturday at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, featuring the Southern University Jaguars and the Grambling State University Tigers. The annual game started in 1932 when both teams battled it […]
A Michigan woman has opened the first Black woman-owned vinyl record shop in her city.
Della Marie Levi officially made history when her store, Della Soul Records, opened its doors for business on Nov. 4 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It’s a childhood dream that finally came to life for Levi, who grew up listening to her father’s vinyl record collection.
“I’ve always loved music. My father was a record collector growing up. He loved vinyl records. He was in the special zone whenever he listened to his vinyl records,” Levi said in an interview with WoodTV.
Jean Knight, the funk singer behind one of the genre’s biggest hits, 1971’s “Mr. Big Stuff,” has died. She was 80 years old.
The singer’s longtime friend and former Louisiana Music Commission executive director, Bernie Cyrus, confirmed the news to Rolling Stone.
“She was the first person we appointed on the board when we took it over and we had a long relationship with her and she was just fabulous,” Cyrus told the outlet. “She was always willing to get involved with good causes and help out.”
He added that her biggest hit, “Mr. Big Stuff,” “was just so universal. “People remember it. And look, so many people covered it. But nobody did it like Jean.”
Knight was born in New Orleans and started singing shortly after graduating high school. She captured the attention of several bands in the area, who would later back her up live. In 1965, she recorded her first song, a cover of Jackie Wilson’s “Stop Doggin’ Me Around.” The demo led to her securing a recording contract with Jet Star/Tribe record labels. She grew as an artist and built a fanbase over the next few years.
Everything changed in 1970 when she started working with record producer Wardell Quezergue. The two penned “Mr. Big Stuff” in Malaco Studios in Jackson, Mississippi. Knight worked as a baker then, and the track was a smash hit, selling over 2 million records and going double platinum. “Mr. Big Stuff” earned Knight a Grammy nomination.
“‘Mr. Big Stuff’ is better to me now than 31 years ago,” Knight said in 2002 of the royalty checks she received from the song. “All I have to do is sit at home and wait for the mailman.”
Knight was featured in countless films and TV shows following the success of “Mr. Big Stuff,” including Spike Lee’s Crooklyn, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Simpsons, and The Deuce. She charted the charts again in 1972 with “Carry On.” She continued to chart over the years with “You Got the Papers (But I Got the Man),” a collaboration with producer Isaac Bolden and his Soulin’ label, and “My Toot Toot.” In 2007, her song “Do Me” was featured on the Superbad soundtrack. She was inducted into the Louisiana Music Commission Hall of Fame that same year.
Simone Biles celebrated her husband Jonathan Owens’ first NFL touchdown with a sweet social media post on Thanksgiving Day. Ultimately, the Green Bay Packers defeated the Detroit Lions 29-22. According to the 28-year-old safety, it was his first touchdown since high school, which made it even more special.
Afrobeats is seemingly everywhere these days. The genre’s infectious rhythms representing the African Diaspora and its associated cultures have emerged as one of the most popular categories in the music industry.
Afrobeats is not a monolithic genre; it encompasses many sounds and styles where different artists can bring their unique styles. The popular genre is a fusion of various musical styles, including traditional African rhythms, hip-hop, dancehall, reggaeton and soca. The melting pot of sounds makes the music appealing to various audiences worldwide.
According to Pan African Music, the Nigerian boy bands of the ’90s, including Trybesmen, The Remedies and Plantashaun Boiz, are credited as some of the earliest Afrobeats artists. Their distinctive rhythms over rapid drum patterns mixed with relatable lyrics created a new sound that has evolved over the years and reached far beyond Africa.
Digital streaming platforms and social media have allowed artists and fans to share and discover music online, contributing to the genre’s widespread appeal. Artists like Wizkid, D’banj, Mr.Eazi and Davido have dominated the playlists and music charts. Several Afrobeats artists have worked with some of the music industry’s biggest names, including Beyoncé, Drake and Future.
Tems, Burna Boy and Tiwa Savage have broken records and made history with Afrobeats as the catalyst, but some new musicians are making a name for themselves in the popular music style. Here are some Afrobeats artists you should keep your eyes and ears on in 2024.
The Paris Olympics are only months away, and Team USA Gymnastics is preparing for the event. The competition will see the long-awaited return of Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas to the sport. Promotion for the Olympics is underway, and other team members are stepping out to represent U.S. participation.
Janelle Monáe is the latest celebrity to get caught up in a viral moment with Usher.
The two entertainers sparked a buzz after meeting at a recent concert in Las Vegas. Monáe went to Instagram to share clips of her intimate interaction with Usher. One of the clips showed Usher serenading Monáe with “Superstar” as she posed on a railing at the concert. Multiple other videos showed the pair continuing to dance for an extended time while being applauded by the crowd. Usher also shared Champagne with Monáe while singing “There Goes My Baby.”
“we bl(ush)ed in vegas💋 🖤 thank you @usher🖤 1 of 1. incredible show,” Monáe wrote on her Instagram.
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