FOX News says Kendrick Lamar “has done more damage to young African-Americans than racism”

FOX News has long been a hotbed of conservative and out-of-touch views, but lately it’s been spewing something particularly gross. Instead of giving credit to the many black musicians who are doing their part to address and fight the country’s deep-seated racism, the network’s various pundits have actually been maligning them.

Last week, Sean Hannity claimed that Prince and Beyoncé’s music were “as dangerous”as the controversial symbolism of the Confederate flag. Yesterday, on FOX News’ The Five, Geraldo Rivera came to some similarly wrongheaded conclusions, saying that Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics and hip-hop in general have “done more damage to young African-Americans than racism in recent years.”

In particular, Rivera was offended by K. Dot’s excellent BET Awards performance of “Alright”, in which he stood atop a police car while rapping lines like “We hate the po-po, wanna kill us dead in the street fo sho,” and “My gun might blow.” Rivera, shirtless selfie-taker extraordinaire, called the whole affair “counterproductive” and “exactly the wrong message.” It’s an odd interpretation, for sure, considering the fact that the song is about persevering through tough times (such as racism, police brutality) and has nothing to do with inciting violence.

He capped his little analysis of “hip-hop as the real oppressor of black people” argument by saying, “We’ve got to wake up and understand what’s going on,” which is just the grandest, most ironic piece of advice.

(Also to note from this FOX segment is the female commentator who says Kendrick’s performance “didn’t excite her” or “turn her on”. Because I’m so sure that’s exactly what the Compton MC was aiming for — not to stimulate fans’ minds or draw attention to our society’s many racial and social issues, but to turn people on.)

Watch the video below. No doubt Geraldo will also take offense to Kendrick’s enlighting video for “Alright”, his rapping with high school kids, or his surprise appearanceat a free music festival for Chicago teens.

http://mediamatters.org/embed/204195

 

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announce their divorce after 10 years of marriage

SAD

After 10 years and three children together, Hollywood Director actor Ben Affleck and actors wife Jennifer Garner have officially split. They announced their split via Enews, exactly 10 years and a day after they married (which was on on June 29, 2005). According to statement released via E! News

“After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time.”

The pair have three children together; Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3. Was rooting for them!

Zayn Malik quits boyband One Direction after five years

Zayn Malik (second from left) has quit One Direction after five years with the chart-topping boyband that was formed on X-Factor in 2010. The 22-year-old singer has made the decision to bow out of the group leaving Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne & Louis Tomlinson to continue as a four-piece.

In a statement released to Daily Mail this afternoon Wednesday March 25th, Zayn said;

‘My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let you down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart.’

‘I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22 year old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world.’

                         The Best Song Ever hitmakers will record their fifth album in Zayn’s absence and will continue with the remaining dates on the band’s forthcoming world tour.

One Direction said in a second statement released to MailOnline: ‘We’re really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future. 

‘The past five years have been beyond amazing, we’ve gone through so much together, so we will always be friends.

‘The four of us will now continue. We’re looking forward to recording the new album and seeing all the fans on the next stage of the world tour.’

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell – who masterminded One Direction from five solo artists who auditioned for The X Factor back in 2010 – thanked Zayn for his commitment to the band.

He added: ‘I would like to say thank you to Zayn for everything he has done for One Direction.

‘Since I first met Zayn in 2010, I have grown very, very fond – and immensely proud – of him. I have seen him grow in confidence and I am truly sorry to see him leave.

As for One Direction, fans can rest assured that ‎Niall, Liam, Harry and Louis are hugely excited about the future of the band.’

Within minutes of the news being announced, the star’s name was trending on Twitter as the heartthrob’s fans mourned their pop idol’s departure.

Reactions ranged from heartbroken, to compassionate to angry, but the overriding emotion was devastation.

Harry Styles cries on stage in Jakarta for his friend – hours after learning he’d quit.

MITT ROMNEY IS GOING TO FIGHT EVANDER HOLYFIELD

Forget Mayweather vs. Pacquiao for just one moment. Here’s a piece of breaking boxing news for you: 68-year-old political veteran, ambassador of capitalism, former governor of Massachussetts and 2012 contender to President Barack Obama’s presidential strap, Mitt Romney, will participate in a boxing match for charity. Romney said that it would be a lot “better to provide this kind of entertainment rather than just have dinner and listen to speakers.”

And he’s not just boxing some random old dude. Romney’s going to the take on 52-year-old former heavyweight champion of the world Evander Holyfield. Holyfield has a 44-10-2 record. Romney will be wearing full protective gear: he told the Salt Lake Tribune that “It will either be a very short fight, or I will be knocked unconscious.”

Holyfield, who is famous for his legendary combats with Mike Tyson in the 90s, last fought in 2011, when he defeated Danish boxer Brian Nielsen.

The fight—which happens on May 15th— will be for CharityVision, a Utah-based organization dedicated to helping doctors in developing nations perform surgeries on people who suffer from curable blindess. One of Mitt’s sons serves as volunteer president of the organization.

Price tags on the event’s sponsorships range from US$ 25,000 to US$ 150,000.

Honestly this is when presidential candidate decide to kill him self

Listen to Kendrick Lamar: New album ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’.

The king  Kendrick Lamar has released his new album To Pimp A Butterfly on Spotify and iTunes a week early, and it couldn’t be more different from Good Kid Maad City.

Presumably fearing a full leak after the track King Kunta surfaced yesterday, K-Dot put up all 16 tracks this morning, which amount to a spiralling, deeply introspective album that is sure to polarise opinion.

Fellow celebrities are pouring out loves to him all over the twitter starting with kanye west.

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/577635990107394048

 

There are no bangers. Not a single exposed hi-hat. If you like bangers take a deep breath. Instead, To Pimp A Butterfly follows in the same vein as i and The Blacker The Berry – searing social commentary interwoven with neo-G Funk, jazz licks and wounded sax.

There isn’t such an immediately obvious narrative to it as with GKMC, though a mantra starting ‘I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence…’ and adding a new line with each passing song serves as the backbone to the album.

In a flurry of tweets, Kendrick wrote this morning: “Yesterday. March 14th. Was a Special Day. 20 yrs. Later. Keep calm. All is well. TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY.

Twitter is going crazy globally guys

Rapper Talib Kweli, Activists Distribute $100K To Help Ferguson Protesters Get Out of Jail

Rapper Talib Kweli announced that he is joining with activists to distribute $100,000 in grants to address the issue of many young Black men and women in Ferguson still lingering in jail after being arrested in protests.

It has been an ongoing problem in communities like Ferguson, where many young people were arrested but did not have the funds to put up bail money to be released.

“These are young men and women who have put their lives on hold to stand up for all of our freedoms,” Kweli, who joined protesters in Ferguson, said in a prepared statement. “The overly militarized police force in Ferguson has attempted to criminalize them by harassing and throwing them in jail for exercising their right to peaceful protest.”

Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of BlackLivesMatter movement, told NewsOne that folks on the ground “are doing work, whether they have money or not.”

“It will help people to do more work on the front lines without having to worry about money,” she said.

A crowdfunding campaign was first launched in October to provide legal support to Ferguson protesters, raising $112,052—$104,208 after 7 percent crowdfunding fees. This was far more than the initial goal of $25,000.

The first recipients of the grants received money on Friday, a total of $48,800. The recipients included $35,000 to Missourians Organizing For Reform and Empowerment (MORE), earmarked for bail funds and legal support for Ferguson protesters.

The recipients also include Ferguson’s Action Support Committee’s Revolution School, which is getting $20,000 to train and provide technical assistance to local organizers.

Selma’s Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo Team Up Again For New Movie

Selma director Ava DuVernay and lead actor David Oyelowo are teaming up for the third time to develop a film about a romance that sparked during the time of Hurricane Katrina.

Ava Duvernay, David Oyelowo (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

DuVernay will be writing, producing and directing the love story meets murder mystery flick while Oyelowo is in negotiations to produce and star in the project, Variety reported.

Both stars will be joined by Participant Media to develop the feature film.

Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King of Participant Media will executive produce the film and King says it’s the perfect time for the star-studded reunion.

“Hurricane Katrina is one of the most important social and environmental stories of our time,” King said, according to Variety. “Ava DuVernay has shown herself to be highly skilled at bringing intimacy and contemporary urgency to epic events. We have been looking for the right way to get back in business with Ava, and with David Oyelowo, and are proud to reteam with them on her original idea, which we believe will be a powerful film.”

After Selma and Middle of Nowhere, the Hurricane Katrina-inspired film will mark the third partnership between DuVernay and the Selma star.

It would also mark the fifth partnership between Oyelowo and Participant, following Middle of Nowhere, The Help, Lincoln and A Most Violent Year.

Despite some major award season snubs, Selma was an incredibly successful film, earning close to $40 million at the box office.

It took roughly $20 million to make the Oscar-nominated film, giving the team a substantial profit.

DuVernay also shared her excitement about teaming up with Oyelowo and her Participant Media family once again.

“I’m thrilled to reunite with my Participant family on this project and fortunate to work again with the always exquisite David Oyelowo,” she said, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “The story we’re interested in will explore the complexities of intimate relationships within times of chaos, while also examining the chaos itself. I’m looking forward to the journey.”

The film is currently untitled and a start date for filming has not been set.

Watch: The Book of Negroes’ Mini-Series Episode 3

When the Revolution breaks out in New York, Aminata seizes her chance and escapes to freedom in the haven of Canvas Town. The epic saga #‎BookofNegroes concludes.

The Book of Negroes mini-series airs tonight on BET.

Abducted from her village in West Africa, 11-year-old Aminata Diallo is forced into a slave coffle and must endure a horrific ocean crossing. She is brought to a South Carolina plantation where she makes herself useful by using midwifery skills learned at her mother’s side, all the while keeping the attentions of her jealous slave master, Robinson Appleby, at bay. Soon after Aminata re-encounters Chekura, a fellow slave from West Africa, and they are married in a clandestine ceremony. When their first baby is brutally abducted and sold by Appleby, she vows to return one day to her homeland.

Photos from Tyler Perry’s son’s Christening

Tyler Perry and his longtime girlfriend model Gelila Bekele (pictured right with Gayle King) christened their son Aman Perry on Sunday February 15th. The movie director had a church built at the back of his home so he could hold his son’s Christening there. Oprah Winfrey, Cicely Tyson,Oliver Ripley are among those who attended the Christening. More photos below

Hollywood stars commend Nigerian film-maker Jeta Amata on ‘Black November’

Black November” is the first film that represents a successful blend of the Nollywood and Hollywood Film Industries. If you haven’t seen this film and you are an African living in North America, then you are definitely missing out as this is a must-watch flick. This long-awaited Hollywood/Nollywood flick ‘Black November’ by Jeta Amata is now showing in LA and NY Theaters, iTunes, Amazon, and is currently being seen via Video On-Demand (VOD) on all TV cables and Satellite all over the US.

The film surrounds the events in the life of a Nigerian activist character Ebiere Penema played by Mbong Amata, which led to a face-off with Nigerian militants that held U.S. citizens in a hostage crisis. Kudos to Jeta Amata for being able to pull Hollywood’s A-List names such as Academy Award (Oscar) Nominee Mickey Rourke, Academy Award (Oscar) Winner Kim Bassinger, Satellite Award Winner Sarah Wayne, and Music Super-superstar Akon and Wyclef in this masterpiece work ‘Black November’.

Amata who continues to receive several commendations on this great movie had Award winning musician and cast Wclef Jean post a tweet “Jeta Amata u are my favorite director right now.” Award-winning Actress Vivica A Fox also tweeted “Love working with you Jeta!! U rock n make it happen.” Also Stacy Ivers, former VP of Warner Bros and Universal congratulated Jeta Amata on his Facebook wall for making “an impact in a very difficult marketplace”.
It is also not a surprise that this is the first time every major critic in the United States including New York Times, Hollywood Report, LA Weekly, Variety etc., are fully taking their time to review and comment on a film made by a Nollywood Director. Keep in mind, that they usually don’t review every film, only those that have potentials for success.

New York Dailies critic, Elizabeth Weitzman also commended Jeta Amata, “his primary storyline is evident, and well-represented by his star’s soulful performance as an ordinary girl pushed to extraordinary bravery.”

A notable critic, Guy Lodge also wrote in the Variety, “even modest exposure for this Nigerian-American co-production may encourage more native filmmakers to try.”

It is refreshing to see Africans telling our own stories in an overly-dramatic and unapologetic way, while still using international Hollywood standards.
Simone McIntyre also tweeted, “Congratulations Jeta so wonderful to shed light on this subject with the world.”

Also worthy of mention is that never has an African female activist/ hero been created and given this platform in the Nollywood Film Industry. No African director has taken such a risk and the chances taken by Jeta certainly paid off with Mbong Amata who rose to the occasion, delivered her best in the movie and refused to allow the big names to silence her opportune moment.

All the major platforms in America are shedding light on this film, and Indiewire also contacted Jeta Amata’s PR to request a story about the making of the film because they were highly inspired with the production. Click here to view the write-up.

Having E-One Entertainment also pick up this movie is another big achievement for Nollywood. E-One is the same distribution company in charge of Hunger Game & Twilight Saga, just to name a few.
This film serves as an inspiration to Nollywood directors to invest adequately into making Hollywood standard films while maintaining the authentic African story-telling roots. The audience continues to desire the blend of beloved stars from both Hollywood and Nollywood in future film productions and hopefully, Black November is the beginning of many more of its kind.

Black November is available to all on everyone’s On-Demand feature in America, so if you haven’t seen this movie, we recommend you watching it!