Last week, I told you about Russell Wilson and Ciara celebrating Russell’s $140 million new deal with the Seahawks, but now Ciara’s ex, Future, and father of her son is celebrating too…..Baby number 10!!!!. Yes! TEN!!!! That makes eight babymommas for those out there keeping track. Good timing though because Future is about to reunite with Drake on a new album. The two last teamed for 2015’s platinum selling What A Time To Be Alive, and they released the platinum singles Used To This and Where Ya At. Rumors of a sequel album came up as a result of looking into leftover tracks from the first album. But, it appears the as of yet untitled sequel to the Drake and Future collaboration will have new material and is slated for release before year’s end. Very good Future because ten children cost much money…….Happy Fathers Day!
Games People Play is a new drama coming to BET starring Sarunas Jackson, Jackie Long and Lauren London. The show is about the life of a basketball player off court. We get to see the groupies, the hanger-ons, the fame drama, the challenges and isolation of that player. Plus, we also get to see things from the perspective of the guy who should have made it but didn’t, and now he’s part of the entourage. Now in real life I talked with Jackie Long about the show, but Lauren London isn’t doing any publicity right now as she’s mourning the loss of her long time love Nipsey Hussle. Games People Play airs Tuesday at 10pm on BET.
Writer/Producer/Director John Singleton has suffered a stroke. The 51-year old Oscar nominated filmmaker remains in the intensive care unit (I.C.U.) as of press time. I spoke with Singleton two years ago when he was in Philly to promote the TV show he created and produced called Snowfall for the FX network. His career stretches almost thirty years and includes writing/producing/directing box office blockbusters and cult favorites like Baby Boy (2001), Poetic Justice (1993), 2 Fast 2 Furious(2003), Abduction (2011), Rosewood (1997) and, of course, Boyz N The Hood (1991). Boyz brought Singleton Oscar nominations for directing, making him the youngest nominee ever, and writing, making him the first African American nominated for original screenplay. Singleton is reportedly bound for rehabilitation upon his release. While the stroke is being called mild, the public has yet to learn how Singleton’s been affected. So, our prayers go up for John Singleton.
Music Mogul Diddy, a.k.a. Sean Combs, and his children grace the cover of Essence Magazine’s 49th anniversary issue. In dual covers, the 49-year old poses in one with all six of his children and in a second with his three daughters. Diddy opens up about the loss of longtime girlfriend and mother of four of his children, Kim Porter. Porter died suddenly almost six months ago of pneumonia. Diddy speaks of closing ranks to be there for his children as they all process Porter’s loss.
Is American Idol being cancelled by ABC? One of its most recent airing took in barely 3 million viewers. In the show’s heyday on FOX, Idol took in 30 million viewers. Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and, our favorite, Lionel Richie joined Host Ryan Seacrest for this American Idol revival on ABC after a big run on FOX. So what’s the problem? No one is really coming out of these singing reality shows a huge star anymore. There are so many shows and so many winners that folks aren’t embracing these new winners as in the past. No big hits or high profile projects follow these wins either. With lower viewership and the huge star salaries ABC is paying out, is it time for all involved to cut their losses?
Did Wendy Williams’ estranged husband Kevin Hunter try to poison her?!!!! Says Who?!!! Authorities are investigating an incident that happened back in January after Williams fractured her shoulder. Police went to Williams’ home after someone from her TV show called claiming Williams was in danger. At the time, Williams told cops she was fine. How times have changed. Just this month, The Queen Of All Media did an about face and served Hunter on the set of their show, The Wendy Williams Show, with divorce papers. Now after accusations of poisoning, she has cut off his access to the business and the show. Williams is seeking out a new business advisor and a financial team. Hunter was already removed from the daytime talk show where he was once an executive producer.
New music and a new book are on the way courtesy of the estate of Prince. The Beautiful Ones is a classic Price song and soon to be a book title about his life. The Purple One was working on this memoir at the time of his death three years ago. The Beautiful Ones is set to hit bookshelves October 29th and is being released with the cooperation of the Prince estate. The estate is also rolling out new music in their partnership with Warner Brothers Records. Songs that Prince wrote and produced for other artists he usually recorded himself as well, but he let them stay in the vault so the other artists could have the hit. Now to mark what would have been the legendary singer/songwriter’s 61st birthday on June 7th, the new album, Originals, debuts. This time Prince performs the songs he wrote for The Bangles (Manic Monday), The Family and Sinead O’Connor (Nothing Compares 2 U), The Time (Jungle Love), Kenny Rogers (You’re My Love) and Shelia E. (The Glamorous Life), just to name a few. Originals by Prince will be streamed on Tidal June 7th, released June 21st on all formats followed by a limited edition collectors’ Deluxe CD and Double LP on July 21st.
Lee Daniels is talking about Jussie Smollett. Daniels, the co-creator and producer of FOX’s Empire TV show, says this is. He says he worries about Smollett’s mental health and feels Smollett’s in a lot of pain. The Philly born filmmaker/producer says Smollett’s future is up in the air because the $130,000 lawsuit filed by the City of Chicago as they allege Smollett faked a racial and homophobic attack and needs to be charged monetarily for all the police work.
Meanwhile, the fallout continues over the Smollett case for Prosecutor Kim Foxx, Smollett’s lawyers and the brothers who testified they helped Smollett fake a racial and homophobic attack. First, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, whose office made the call not to proceed with charges against Smollett, has been receiving death threats. Foxx recused herself from the case earlier, but her office still did the work and ultimately made the call to drop all charges after Smollett forfeited his bail and did some volunteer work at Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago. Foxx’s office hasn’t gotten too specific about the threats other than they’re death threats with racially charged language. Next, there are the personal trainers/aspiring actors/accused co-conspirators The Osundario brothers. They are suing Smollett’s attorneys Mark Geragos and Tina Glandian accusing them of making false statements and causing emotional and economic damage as a result. Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundario claimed their one time client and friend Jussie Smollett paid them to stage a racial/homophobic attack against Smollett in January. The Osundarios, who hail from Chicago, also claim Smollett’s legal team released a series of statements defending their Smollett but harming The Osundarios’ reputations. As a result, they also claim work and opportunities in the entertainment business have dried up for both brothers.
Beyonce' has a new documentary and new surprise album! Homecoming: The Live album was released this week as Queen Bey does it again by keeping the industry on its toes. The album also contains a remake of Frankie Beverly and Maze’s Before I Let Go. Then there’s Homecoming: A Film, which is a documentary now streaming on Netflix. Beyonce’, a.k.a. Mrs. Carter, gets candid that she had a difficult pregnancy. At her pregnancy height, she weighed 218 pounds. How did she shed the weight? The singer/actress/entrepreneur took on a no carbs, no sugar, no dairy, no alcohol, no bread, no meat and no fish diet. In other words: very, very vegan. The 37-year old singer also vowed not push herself that hard again. Meanwhile, Mrs. Carter joins James Earl Jones, Donald Glover, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keegan-Michael Key, Eric Andre’ and Alfre Woodard for the live action big screen return of The Lion King in theaters Friday, July 19th.
Rihanna brings out the rainbow flavor for her cover of Harper’s Bazaar. It’s the Beauty Issue and Rih Rih is the perfect person at the perfect time. The Wild Thoughts singer has got the new Fenty make up line on its way. The cover puts the eyeliner and lashes on full display, but on social media, Fenty Beauty will only say stay tuned and wouldn’t name the products. While we wait for Rihanna’s big reveal look for her on May’s Harper’s Bazaar.
Michael Ealy and Meagan Good are reunited in a brand new project. The former co-stars from the Think Like A Man comedies are switching it up with a thriller. The Intruder follows a couple whose purchase of their dream home soon turns into a nightmare thanks to the previous owner who can’t let go. Co-starring Dennis Quaid and directed by Deon Taylor, The Intruder is due in theaters Friday, May 3rd.
Made In America 2019 has been announced with Cardi B and Travis Scott headlining. Also on the bill are Freddie Gibbs, Grace Carter, Kodak Black and Anderson .Paak. The festivities take place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Labor Day Weekend, Saturday, August 31st through Sunday, September 1st. Tickets and information can be found at madeinamericafest.com.
Jill Scott, a.k.a. Jilly From Philly, heads up the WDAS Block Party coming to The Mann. Philly’s own Jazmine Sullivan and Musiq Soulchild, plus Mase and DJ D-Nice are all on the bill at The Mann Center for The Performing Arts, 52nd and Parkside Avenue, on Saturday, June 29th. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com.
Diana Ross is on the cover of Ebony magazine. She’s celebrating her 75th birthday this month and Motown’s 60th anniversary, the legendary music label that started her career.
Dionne Warwick will release her first album in five years. Produced by her son, Damon Elliot, the album is simply entitled She’s Back. The album consists of remakes and new songs, and Warwick will duet with Kenny Latimore, Musiq Soulchild, and Krayzie Bone from Bone, Thugs & Harmony. She’s Back, will be released May 10th.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Friday, April 26th – The New Stylistics featuring Russell Thompkins, Jr., The Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston and The Delfonics featuring William Hart in concert at The Keswick Theater, Glenside, Pa. For tickets and information log onto keswicktheater.com/events/all.
Friday, May 3rd – Wayne Brady at the Parx Casino in Bensalem. For Tickets and information log onto parxcasino.com/xcitecenter
Friday, May 10th – The Mother’s Day Music Festival Weekend starring The Whispers & The Force MD’s at Caesar’s Circus Maximus Theater in Atlantic City. For more information log onto ppshows.com and for tickets log onto ticketmaster.com.
Saturday, May 11th – The Mother’s Day Music Festival Weekend starring Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Kem, Al B. Sure and Christopher Williams at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For more information log onto ppshows.com and for tickets log onto ticketmaster.com.
Sunday, May 12th – The Mother’s Day Music Festival Weekend starring After 7 and Dru Hill at Tropicana Showroom Theater in Atlantic City. Tickets are on sale now. For more information log onto ppshows.com and for tickets log onto ticketmaster.com.
Saturday, June 1st – The 2019 Roots Picnic has a new location at The Mann Music Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd and Parkside! Celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Roots album Things Fall Apart with special guests H.E.R., Raphael Saadiq, 21 Savage, City Girls and more. Log onto rootspicnic.com for more information.
Thursday, June 6th – One Nation Under A Groove-George Clinton’s Farewell Tour with Parliament-Funkadelic at the Franklin Music Hall, formerly The Electric Factory, 421 North 7th Street. For more ticket information log onto ticketmaster.com
Saturday, June 29th– Diana Ross in concert at Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto theborgata.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, July 6th– Earth, Wind & Fire in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Friday, July 12th and Saturday, July 13th– Lionel Richie in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, July 20th– Mary J. Blige & Nas in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
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.