Beyonce and Jay-Z blow through Philly with the On The Run II Tour and settle up. First, Jay and Mayor Jim Kenney go viral when they take a friendly photo together after coming to terms on Made In America and keeping the event in Philly and on the Parkway. The Mayor took to social media to say he enjoyed meeting the rapper/entrepreneur and was excited about the future of Made In America. Plus, Barack and Michelle Obama were spotted at the DC leg of the tour jamming out in the Skybox.
Meanwhile the other half of the On The Run Tour II, is calling the shots at Vogue. Queen Bey will grace the cover of Vogue magazine. She’s making history at the same time. Bey is not only having creative control over the cover and accompanying photo layout, but she having it done by African American photographer, 23-year old Tyler Mitchell. Mitchell shooting a Vogue cover is the first time an African American has ever done this in Vogue’s 126-year history. It’s also a good time for The Carters because along with Vogue, Made In America and The On The Run II tour, their duet album, Everything Is Love, hit the top five with the top 20 hit Apes**t.
Rihanna graces the cover of British Vogue for their September themed The Big Fashion issue. Rih Rih’s movie Ocean’s 8, the female cast-caper/heist movie, has taken in over $137 million at the summer box office.
Tiffany Haddish graces the cover of the latest issue of Glamour magazine. The 38-year old says she’s done talking about the Who Bit Beyonce controversy, and she lives by the rule No Revealing Bey Secrets. The actress/comedienne does reveal a more tragic event, a teenage trauma. At 17, Haddish says she was raped by a police cadet who lied about his age, offered her a ride home, but instead took her to his place and attacked her. Haddish says she reported the incident but didn’t share what happened after reporting the crime. The comedienne/actress says the experience made her defensive against the advances of men, including her aggressively hitting on them first, so they don’t hit on her. On the lighter side, Haddish, who is currently in theaters co-starring with Kyrie Irving and a host of NBA greats in this summer’s Uncle Drew, also said if she wasn’t in the entertainment business, she’d be a sex education teacher. Haddish says she could guarantee none of her students would catch an STD. She also makes a career challenge for herself that if Dwayne The Rock Johnson can make $65 million, then so can she. Up next, Haddish co-stars with fellow Comedian Kevin Hart in Night School coming to theaters September 28th. After that, Haddish joins Tika Sumpter (The Haves & The Have Nots), Amber Riley (Glee), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Whoopi Goldberg for Nobody’s Fool, written and directed by Tyler Perry hitting theaters November 2nd. Haddish will grace the September issue of Glamour.
Dionne Warwick speaks…….but not about her late sister Dee Dee Warwick, accused of molesting their late cousin Whitney Houston in the documentary Whitney. Instead, Dionne Warwick speaks on an observation she’s made about today’s singers. The Grammy winner says she can tell the singers, despite individual talent, are being forced to sound exactly alike. Warwick feels that is strangling the industry. She also observed you can tell Warwick, or Patti LaBelle or Gladys Knight apart immediately when you hear them, and that’s sorely lacking today. Warwick believes the personal agendas and standards of executives and pet project priorities of the record labels are responsible for holding back artists’ creativity and individuality.
Cardi B has called it quits with Bruno Mars…….on The 24K Magic Tour. Cardi took to her social media to explain to fans she needs to concentrate on motherhood. She admits she thought she could be ready physically and mentally in just six weeks and bring her daughter along too. But, Cardi now concedes she underestimated how things would go, and the doctors explained taking her newborn on the road is not healthy at all. The 25-year old also thanked Bruno Mars for being so understanding and hoped the fans could do the same and wished everyone well. Mars took to his own social media with more words of support for Cardi. Mars said her family and their health are most important, and he knows they’ll share the stage again when the time is right. He also gave his love and the love from the entire tour crew to her and the baby. Cardi and husband, Rapper Offset of The Migos, welcomed daughter Kulture Kiari six weeks ago. Cardi also let it be known that she can’t wait to finish healing and resume…..relations with her husband!
Actor Jay Ellis is departing Emmy nominated Actress/Writer/Producer Issa Rae’s hit show Insecure. The audience loved following the twist and turns in the romance of Ellis character “Lawrence” with Rae’s “Issa” character. Fans are letting it be known they want “Lawrence” to stay. There’s even a #WeLoveLawrenceToo and WHERESLAWRENCE.com fan website. But, the couple had a dramatic break up in the season finale last September. Meanwhile, don’t worry too much about Jay Ellis. The actor is using his free time for activism. Ellis recently traveled to Texas and was a speaker before a crowd of protesters over the separations of families under the Trump Administration’s immigration actions. Meanwhile, Insecure returns to HBO Sunday, August 12th at 10:30pm right after the season premiere of Ballers with Dwayne The Rock Johnson at 10pm.
Oscar Winner Octavia Spencer is teaming up with LeBron James to bring the real life story of Madame C.J. Walker to Netflix. Walker was America’s first self-made female millionaire. How did she do it? It was through her hair care products specifically targeted at African American women. Spencer and King James will team as producers, and Spencer will star as Walker in the eight-episode miniseries. James, who just signed to the L.A. Lakers and just founded an $8 million public school for children of all ages in his home town of Akron, Ohio, is on a roll. He’s also making high profile appearances covering the topics of racism, the current political climate under Trump and even weighing in support for his brothers in the NFL taking a knee in protest. No streaming date has been announced yet for The Madame CJ Walker Story.
Robin Thede’s late night news comedy show on BET has been cancelled. The Rundown With Robin Thede was BET’s answer to Bill Maher’s Real Time on HBO and Comedy Central’s Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Thede was a former head writer and performer on The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore. Thede says she’s currently developing other projects. Thede is also set to host The Television Critics Association Awards (TCA). The TCA will also honor Oscar/Emmy/Grammy/Tony Winner Rita Moreno with a Career Achievement Award salute on Saturday, August 4th.
Sanaa Lathan’s pet project, Nappily Ever After, is coming to Netflix. Lathan, who dons a shaved head for the role, plays Violet Jones, whose accident in a hair salon makes her realize she’s not living her life to the fullest. The romantic comedy also stars Ernie Hudson, Ricky Whittle and Lynn Whitfield. Nappily Ever After, based on the Tina Gordon Chism novel, begins streaming Friday, September 21st on Netflix.
The MTV Video Music Award nominations are out and brand new mom Cardi B leads all nominees with 10 nods. Beyonce & Jay-Z, The Carters, have eight nominations for A***hit off their album Everything Is Love. Drake and Childish Gambino have 7, and 6 nominations go to Bruno Mars. The 2018 MTV Video Music Awards air Monday, August 20th at 9pm on MTV.
Janet Jackson is on the cover of Essence magazine’s Sizzling Summer Styles issue for the July/August edition.
Omari Hardwick, the Star of Power, is on the cover of Ebony magazine’s July/August issue. Power airs Sundays at 9pm on Starz, and Hardwick’s new Tyler Perry movie, Nobody’s Fool with Tiffany Haddish, opens November 2nd.
Creed II starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone will be in theaters this Thanksgiving.
The stars return to the Dell Music Center, 33rd and Ridge Avenue, this summer. Tickets are on sale now and check out the lineup:
Thurs., Aug 9th – Monica/After 7/ Tony! Toni! Tone!
Thurs., Aug 16th - Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill & Ralph Tresvant with special guest Major
Sun., August 19th – The Basement Party starring Rakim, MC Lyte, Kurtis Blow, Stetsasonic, Tracey Lee, the Alumni featuring Chubb Rock, Special Ed, Dana Dane, Monie Love and Kwame
Thurs., Aug. 23rd - Patti LaBelle & Gregory Porter
Sunday, September 2nd - Patty Jackson’s Annual Party in the Park Celebrating my 35th anniversary starring Maze featuring Frankie Beverly & The Whispers and Blue Magic
For more information log onto mydelleast.org.
Spike Lee and Oscar Winner Jordan Peele have teamed up for the feature film BlacKkKlansman. The movie is based on the life experiences of African American Detective Ron Stallworth, who so successfully infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in Colorado that he became the head of the chapter. Fresh off his Oscar winning box office hit, Get Out Writer and Director Jordan Peele teams up with Spike Lee with Lee and Peele both serve as producers and Lee taking on directing and co-writing duties. The film stars John David Washington (son of Denzel and Pauletta Washington), Topher Grace (That 70’s Show), Adam Driver and the legendary Harry Belafonte. BlacKkKlansman opens in theaters August 10th.
Check out who’s coming to town:
Sunday, August 12th – Gladys Knight and The O’Jays in concert at the Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd Street & Parkside Avenue. For more information log on to manncenter.org
Saturday, August 25th – Smokey Robinson in concert at the Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd Street & Parkside Avenue. For more information log on to manncenter.org
Saturday, August 25th & Sunday, August 26th – Stevie Wonder in concert at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For more information log on to theborgata.com
Saturday, September 1st & Sunday September 2nd – Made In America 2018 starring Nicki Minaj, Fat Joe, Janelle Monae’, Miguel and Meek Mill on The Ben Franklin Parkway. For tickets and information log onto madeinamericafest.com
Sunday, September 2nd – Earth, Wind & Fire in concert at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For more information log on to theborgata.com
Saturday, September 15th – The Aubrey and The Three Amigos Tour starring Drake and Migos at the Wells Fargo Center. Log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com for ticket information.
Wednesday & Thursday, September 19th and 20th – Bruno Mars on The 24K Magic North American Concert Tour at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Saturday, September 22nd – The LIT AF Tour Hosted by Martin Lawrence featuring Deray Davis/ Deon Cole/ Adele Givens/ Benji Brown at the Liacouras Center, Broad & Montgomery. For more information log onto liacourascenter.com/events
Sunday, September 23rd– RBRM, a.k.a. Ricky/Bobby/Ronnie & Mike, a.k.a. Ricky Bell/Bobby Brown/Ronnie DeVoe/Michael Bivins at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Saturday, September 29th – Maxwell at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Saturday, October 6th & Sunday, October 7th- Mike Epps, Bruce Bruce, Jay Pharoah, Sheryl Underwood, Tony Rock and Gary Owen and more over the two days of The Atlantic City Comedy Festival on Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto boardwalkhall.com/events.
Friday, November 16th – Hall & Oates at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Saturday, November 24th - The Irresponsible Tour starring Kevin Hart at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
If you would like more info please email me at PattyJackson@iHeartMedia.com or check me out with my midday reports at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm during the day.