News

Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey and more are among the notable figures headlining Kamala Harris’ final rallies in Pennsylvania on Election Eve as part of her and Tim Walz’s campaign’s last Get Out The Vote organizing effort.

The two rallies will include mostly musical guests: In Philadelphia, performances or remarks will be given by DJ Cassidy, Fat Joe, Freeway and Just Blaze, Lady Gaga, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Ricky Martin, The Roots, Jazmine Sullivan and Adam Blackstone, as well as Oprah Winfrey. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh rally will include performances by D-Nice, Katy Perry and Andra Day.

The events, which will also feature Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, are part of a series of simultaneous organizing efforts the Harris-Walz campaign is spearheading in all seven battleground states.

Both rallies will be tied together in a produced national livestream to reach voters across the U.

On Monday, Sherri welcomes rapper Mc Lyte, who will discuss her album “1 of 1.” Chef Tiffany Derry will also appear, talking about the Shef F+W Festival in Dallas. The show will also feature a segment on a 72-year-old pageant contestant. Plus, Sherri’s Real Good Time Getaway segment offers travel inspiration. Plus what’s happening the […]

Sherri: Mc Lyte, Tiffany Derry...

Three film and television studios that center Black stories are coming together to produce a slate of hip-hop biopics — and they’ve announced that Queen Latifah’s will be first. Neither a writer nor director has been announced yet, but Queen Latifah herself will be one of the producers through her company, Flavor Unit Entertainment. Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Jesse Collins’ Jesse Collins Entertainment are also on board for Latifah’s biopic.

In a statement, Smith emphasized the importance of starting with the “Ladies First” artist’s story,...

Veteran radio personality Angie Martinez is set to make her directorial debut with a feature-length documentary on seminal hip-hop figure DJ Clark Kent.

God’s Favorite DJ: The Story of DJ Clark Kent will be produced in partnership with Green Leaf Productions and Mark Sparks Productions, and it will include appearances by popular acts like Jay-Z, Questlove, DJ Khaled and more.

“DJ Clark Kent is a rare gem whose influence is seen in nearly every era of Hip-Hop’s history books. With our 50-year-old culture susceptible to outside perspective and agenda, it’s important that we spotlight the heroes who push the art form with purity and authenticity. I am honored to help share Clark’s many truths with the world,” Martinez tells The Hollywood Reporter in a statement.

DJ Clark Kent

Clark Kent’s production credits include Jay-Z’s “Brooklyn’s Finest,” the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Sky’s the Limit,...

Actor-singer Kyla Pratt stars “The Memo,” a film adaptation of the psychological thriller by Minda Harts, which also features music from pioneering female rapper and musician Mc Lyte.

According to the announcement, the film is a first-hand account of the tumultuous journey of a woman navigating the corporate ladder, starring Pratt, who starred in Eddie Murphy’s “Dr. Dolittle” films and multiple television series. Mc Lyte has signed on to score the film and act as the music supervisor.

The short film is the first project from Seed Media, a multimedia company and storytelling platform founded by Valeisha Butterfield, a former top executive with Google and the Recording Academy and previously the national youth vote director for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

The film’s inspiration is explained in the announcement: “Women leaders are leaving their jobs at the most alarming rate in history,” it states, citing Forbes and the...

LL Cool J has announced his first album in 11 years, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee assembling an impressive guest list for new LP The Force.

Eminem, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Saweetie, and Busta Rhymes are just some of the talents that grace LL’s 14th studio album and first since 2013’s Authentic, with Q-Tip serving as producer on the entire project.

“We’re talking 14 tracks of straight fire, all crafted by myself and the one and only Q-Tip,” LL said in a statement.

Mister Cee, the legendary hip-hop DJ and beloved host of “The Set It Off Show” on LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells Radio, passed away. He was 57.

Join Rock the Bells Radio in honoring Mister Cee throughout the day, including during Torae’s live tribute show tonight (April 10) at 9pm Et. Rock the Bells Radio is available on the SiriusXM app and radios with a subscription or free three-month trial.

From working with Big Daddy Kane to discovering Biggie

Born Calvin LeBrun in Brooklyn in 1966, Mister Cee met soon-to-be hip-hop phenom Big Daddy Kane in high school, before being the DJ on Kane’s 1988 debut album, “Long Live the Kane.”

Mister Cee worked with several other hip-hop icons as well – including the Notorious B.I.G, when Mister Cee created the demo tape that led Biggie to sign with Bad Boy Records and co-produced the groundbreaking “Ready to Die album” (1994).

Over the years,...

As we say goodbye to January and look forward to February, now is a great time to be a subscriber to Peacock as not only is the NBCUniversal streaming service home to great movies and buzzy originals, but it also is offering collections of films and TV series to celebrate the month. For Valentine’s Day, Peacock has more than 30 new titles, including “Dear John,” “Bros”, “Girls Trip,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “The Wedding Date.” The NBCU streamer will also honor Black History Month by featuring new classics like “Bel-Air,” “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” and “Nope,” as well as timeless favorites like “A Raisin in the Sun,” “Sanford & Son,” and “Good Times.”

Peacock will also host a large swath of sporting events from multiple WWE Premium Live Events to the Six Nations Rubgy Tournament, Big Ten Men’s and Women’s basketball, and more.

From humble beginnings in Hollis, Queens, to the world stage of Live Aid, it has been more than 40 years since Run-dmc first changed hip-hop forever. Now Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons, Darryl “Dmc” McDaniels, and Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell are having their story told through a new three-part documentary series Kings From Queens: The Run Dmc Story. It premieres February 1 on Peacock. Titans of music across genres including Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Questlove, Beastie Boys, Ice-t, Chuck D, Tom Morello, Salt, Doug E. Fresh, Big Daddy Kane, Mc Lyte, and Ed Love speak about how the group inspired generations. And how they impacted the cultural landscape of the business with their unique and catchy sound. Some of the biggest triumphs such as taking hip-hop mainstream thanks to “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith are chronicled. With those proud touchtones also comes immense tragedy. Among them at the top was Jay...

As usual, in the world of entertainment news, there are always irons in the fire.

Today, we offer you a first look at Life & Beth Season 2, a joyous hello from Firehouse 118, a cancellation, and a prequel.

Keep reading the Fanatic Feed to get the latest entertainment news!

Hulu released the trailer for the upcoming second season of Life & Beth, created by and starring Amy Schumer. On Life & Beth Season 1, Beth found love. Now, she needs to nurture it and see it through.

As Beth and John’s relationship grows more serious, Beth begins to examine the possibilities of marriage and having a family as she and John seek answers to their communication problems.

Is Beth’s traumatic history with men and people she trusted from her youth destined to repeat itself?

And what is triggering her fears?

Beth does her best to keep her relationships alive...

A one night stand becomes a home invasion nightmare in the BET+ original thriller One Night Stay, which will be debuting on BET’s streaming service on Thursday, January 4.

Stephen Bishop (Being Mary Jane), LeToya Luckett (Greenleaf), and Iyana Halley (This is Us) star in One Night Stay, and Deadline debuted first look images this morning.

In the film from director Rick S. Mordecon, “Obsessive Jessica (Halley) refuses to be discarded after a one-night stand gone wrong. Instead of leaving Marcus’ (Bishop) luxurious mansion, she finds a quiet place to hide and moves in permanently. Resuming their seemingly perfect lives, power couple Marcus and Milan (Luckett) have no idea Jessica is now living with them.”

Laurissa Romain (Top Five), Robert Christopher Riley (Hit the Floor), Essence Atkins (Marlon), Lawrence Saint-Victor (Bold and the Beautiful), and Mc Lyte (Girl’s Trip) also star.

Deadline notes in their report today, “Developed...

Actors Stephen Bishop, LeToya Luckett (Greenleaf), and Iyana Halley (This is Us) have signed on to lead the BET+ thriller One Night Stay from Worldwide Entertainment and Media in association with Choice Films.

Developed by Jenna Frank and Zach Hunter under the Beautiful Orchid Media label, the pic was written by Curtis Cardwell. Director is Rick S Mordecon. The film is set for a January 4 release on BET+.

The film’s synopsis reads: Obsessive Jessica (Halley) refuses to be discarded after a one-night stand gone wrong. Instead of leaving Marcus’ (Bishop) luxurious mansion, she finds a quiet place to hide and moves in permanently. Resuming their seemingly perfect lives, power couple Marcus and Milan (Luckett) have no idea Jessica is now living with them.

Bishop is best known for his role in BET’s popular series Being Mary Jane. Luckett, a former musician and member of the RnB group Destiny’s Child,...

The Kennedy Center Honors selections for 2023 are Billy Crystal, Renee Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah and Dionne Warwick. These veteran artists were honored Sunday, December 3, in Washington, D.C. at a ceremony hosted by previous honoree Gloria Estefan (who kicked off the show with her hit song “Get On Your Feet”). CBS and Paramount+ will air the 46th annual ceremony tonight, Wednesday, December 27.

Crystal is an Emmy and Tony Award-winning comedian, actor, producer, writer and director. Fleming is one of the most highly acclaimed singers of our time, performing on the stages of the world’s great opera houses and concert halls. Gibb, of the musical group The Bee Gees, is a nine-time Grammy Award winner and an inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Latifah is a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated musician, actress, producer, label president, author and entrepreneur. Warwick’s...

Earlier this month, Billy Crystal, Renée Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah, and Dionne Warwick were feted with one of the most prestigious honors that an artist can receive in the United States when they became Kennedy Center Honorees. Now, on Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. Et, CBS will broadcast the 46th annual Kennedy Center Honors, as a host of incredible artists will celebrate the lives, careers, and contributions of this extraordinary group of artists. You can watch CBS with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. You can also watch with Paramount Plus, Hulu Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.

How to Watch 2023 Kennedy Center Honors When: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 8:00 Pm Est TV: CBS Stream: Watch with a 5-Day Free Trial of Directv Stream. 5-Day Free Trial$79.99+ / month directv.com/stream

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About 2023 Kennedy Center Honors

Past Kennedy Center Honoree Gloria Estefan...

The 2023 Kennedy Center Honors special is airing this week and it marks the 46th celebration of the arts from the nation’s capital!

Billy Crystal, Queen Latifah, Renee Fleming, Dionne Warwick, and Barry Gibb are being honored at this year’s event, which was pre-taped earlier this month at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

CBS will be airing the special on Wednesday (December 27) at 9pm Et/Pt and we have the star-studded list of performers and presenters who will appear.

The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes and celebrates individuals whose unique contributions have shaped the way we see ourselves, each other and our world. Recipients have each had an impact on the rich tapestry of American life and culture through the performing arts. Whether in music, dance, theater, opera, motion pictures or television, each Kennedy Center Honoree has a unique place in the national consciousness and their influence has...

As the 50th anniversary of hip-hop comes to a close, the Recording Academy has one last trick up its sleeve to honor the pillars of the culture.

The Academy joins forces with CBS for “A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop,” an aural spectacular that’s as much an ode to the culture as it is a documentation of it. Throughout the two-hour special, rappers and DJs from all walks of life come together to celebrate what started in the Bronx in the 1970s and spread across the world, charting its impact through a strong lineup of rappers, beatboxers, dancers, DJs and presenters.

The special, filmed at Inglewood’s YouTube Theater on Nov, 8, features a laundry list of performers spanning both decades and regions. Just a sampling of the artists: Queen Latifah, Common, Public Enemy, Rakim, Doug E. Fresh, Mc Lyte, Rick Ross, Jeezy, Jermaine Dupri, Yg, Too Short, E-40, De La Soul,...

A Grammy Salute To 50 Years Of Hip Hop is airing tonight!

The star-studded tribute celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop will air Sunday, December 10, at 8:30 p.m. Et/8 p.m. Pt on CBS and stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

The two-hour live concert special will feature incredible performances from hip hop legends and Grammy-winning artists, and promises to showcase and celebrate the genre’s profound history and monumental cultural impact around the world.

The special taped November 8 at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.

Keep reading to find out more…

A Grammy Salute To 50 Years Of Hip Hop Performers List:

2 Chainz

Akon

Arrested Development

Battlecat

Big Daddy Kane

Black Sheep

Black Thought

Blaqbonez

Boosie Badazz

Bun B

Chance The Rapper

Coi LeRay

Common

Cypress Hill

D-Nice

De La Soul

Digable Planets

DJ Diamond Kuts

DJ Greg Stree

DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

DJ Quik...

Washington — The Kennedy Center Honors was a decidedly tuneful affair, with musical talents representing four of its five recipients – vocalists and/or songwriters Dionne Warwick, Renée Fleming, Queen Latifah and Barry Gibb — along with actor/comedian/filmmaker Billy Crystal.

The program, in its 46th year, followed the traditional format that showcases tributes to each honoree by artists and celebs whose identities are undisclosed in advance. It kicked off with a lively parade of dancers down the aisles, led by emcee and former honoree Gloria Estefan and accompanied by Sheila E on drums — a first for the event. Produced again by Done and Dusted Inc., it will air Dec. 27 on CBS.

Omitted this year was one familiar staple at the event – the inclusion of brief video biographies of each honoree that emphasized their childhoods and routes to success. Instead, minimal use of videos embellished career highlights.

The tribute to Warwick led...

The newest group of Kennedy Center honorees, including comedian Billy Crystal and actor Queen Latifah, were feted Sunday night at a star-studded event commemorating their lifetime achievement in arts and entertainment.

Opera singer Renée Fleming, music star Barry Gibb and prolific hitmaker Dionne Warwick were also honored at the black-tie gala. Each received personalized tributes, including appearances and performances that are typically kept secret from the honorees themselves.

President Joe Biden welcomed the honorees to the White House before the event, saying the performing arts “reflect who we are as Americans and as human beings.”

The honorees “have helped shape how we see ourselves, how we see each other and how we see our world,” said Biden who then introduced this year’s class with a set of glowing superlatives about their work.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden then headed to the Kennedy Center to attend the festivities. The...

A New York City musician and bus driver named Terrence Thomas has filed a copyright lawsuit claiming he has not been properly credited or paid for his work on Tupac’s classic song, “Dear Mama.”

Thomas, who used to DJ and produce under the name Master Tee, claims he was instrumental in the creation of “Dear Mama.” The lawsuit cites several old interviews with Tupac, as well as handwritten credits by the late rapper, naming Thomas as the creator of the song’s original beat.

While Thomas has long been...

Now, this is a story all about how the Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff will reunite for A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop.

The live concert special, airing Sunday, Dec. 10 at 8:30 pm Et/8 pm Pt on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, will feature an on-stage reunion between Will Smith and Jeffrey Allen Townes (aka DJ Jazzy Jeff), who collaborated musically on hits like “Summertime” and co-starred together in the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

More from TVLineYellowstone's Return Finally Set at Paramount NetworkFX's Shōgun Miniseries Sets February Premiere Date - Watch an Epic TrailerHalloween Ratings: World Series Grows,...

Parents just don’t understand, and they haven’t been alone in trying to make sense of Will Smith’s angry assault on Chris Rock a year and a half ago at the Oscars. Perhaps to remind the world that he was once wholesome and didn’t have to cuss in his raps to sell records, he’s reuniting with his old compatriot DJ Jazzy Jeff for a surely noncontroversial performance at A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop.

The event, which Billboard reports will tape at YouTube Theater in Inglewood,...

Mark Howard James, better known as the celebrated hip-hop DJ and producer the 45 King, who helped craft hits for Jay-Z, Eminem, and many more, died on Thursday. He was 62.

DJ Premier first announced James’ death on Instagram, noting his death came three days after his 62nd birthday. Paul Martinez, a spokesperson for the producer, confirmed James’ death to Rolling Stone but did not specify a cause.

“His sound was unlike any other from his heavy drums and his horns were so distinct on every production,” Premier wrote. “His vinyl releases...

Joe Biden has made another gaffe.

On Saturday, the American president delivered a speech to the Congressional Black Congress in Washington, D.C., where LL Cool J and Mc Lyte were both present to receive awards.

Read More: Joe Biden To Meet King Charles At Windsor Castle After Skipping Coronation

But when it came time to talk about the two artists, Biden ended up butchering LL’s name.

“Two of the great artists of our time representing the groundbreaking legacy of hip-hop in America, LL Jay Cool J, uhhh … ” he said.

The internet immediately lit into Biden for not saying the rapper’s name properly.

Biden fucking up LL Cool J's name like the name ain't simple as shit

— ミ☆ (@lawstcuhse) September 24, 2023

pic.twitter.com/HaTKsz6W9K

— Dopemafia (@Wesley_To_FYE19) September 24, 2023

Others also criticized Biden for his comment, “By the way, that boy’s got— that man’s...

Ok, here’s the situation: Will Smith is set to host a new Audible podcast about a landmark year in hip-hop.

The erstwhile Fresh Prince will be the main voice for Class of ’88, an eight-episode series that will feature Public Enemy’s Chuck D, Queen Latifah, Run-d.M.C.’s Darryl McDaniels, Salt-n-Pepa, Rakim and Smith’s rap partner DJ Jazzy Jeff.

Timed to coincide with last month’s 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the eight-episode series produced by Wondery, Audible, Westbrook and Awfully Nice will launch October 26 on Audible and Amazon Music.

“Hip-hop has been a central part of my life for over four decades,” Smith told Deadline’s sister publication Billboard. “I’m hyped to share my firsthand experiences and those of some of hip-hop’s greatest legends as we delve into the origins of one of the most influential genres of music in history.”

Related: Will Smith Calls...

Exclusive: Actor-rapper Common and hip-hop artist Mc Lyte have signed on as co-producers in the all-new, Broadway-bound production of The Wiz, producers announced today.

The musical revival, which launches a national tour in Baltimore on September 23, will play a limited Broadway engagement this spring. Dates have not yet been announced.

“I am so blessed to be part of this production of The Wiz,” said Common, who appeared on Broadway last season in the acclaimed play Between Riverside and Crazy. “Theatre has always affected me in a way that reaches my soul and spirit, in some measure because I didn’t realize as a kid that I could dream big enough to be part of it.”

The Grammy winning rapper and composer who also shared an Oscar with John Legend for the song “Glory” from the 2014 film Selma, added, “This is a true dream come true as one of my favorite...

Vice President Kamala Harris presided over a star-studded event celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop at the VP’s official residence in Washington, DC on Saturday including performances from Lil Wayne, Common, and Mc Lyte.

The historic “50 Years of Hip-Hop” occasion, co-sponsored by the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and Live Nation Urban, was acknowledged as the “first-ever hip-hop house party at the Office of the Vice President of the United States” by Harris, who delivered opening remarks before ceding Mc duties to comedian Deon Cole.

“Hip-hop is the ultimate American art form,” the Vice President proclaimed in her welcome speech. “Hip-hop now shapes nearly every aspect of America’s popular culture, and it reflects the incredible diversity and ingenuity of the American people. It combines rhythms from the continent of Africa, from the Caribbean, from Latin America, with the sounds of soul and gospel and R&b and...

The US Vice President Kamala Harris had celebrated the 50th Anniversary of hip-hop, during which she called hip-hop the ‘the ultimate American art form’. Harris is a hip-hop enthusiast herself, and had held a massive party to celebrate the music at her residence in Washington D.C., which she called “the first-ever hip-hop house party at the Office of the Vice President of the US,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

She celebrated the anniversary party from a stage built on her lawn with a guest list of rap luminaries, including Common, Doug E. Fresh, Mc Lyte and Fat Joe.

Taking to the stage of her lawn, she told the audience: “Hip-hop is the ultimate American art form.

“Hip-hop now shapes nearly every aspect of America’s popular culture, and it reflects the incredible diversity and ingenuity of the American people,” she added.

“It combines rhythms from the continent of Africa,...

Kamala Harris marked the 50th anniversary of hip hop on Saturday with a first-of-its-kind celebration at the vice president’s residence on Saturday.

“Half a century later, it is clear, hip hop will not be erased. Hip hop is here to stay,” Harris told guests, according to a pool report.

Among those at the event, per the pool report, were Common, Jeezy, Mc Lyte, Roxanne Shante.

Among the 400 or so also present at the event were Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-ga), Rep. Cori Bush (D-mo) and Maryland Governor Wes Moore.

“This is a hip hop household!” said Doug Emhoff, the first gentleman, after he was introduced by comedian Deon Cole.

The event was held in collaboration with the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and Live Nation Urban.

Harvey Mason Jr., the CEO of the Recording Academy, told guests, “There is not a single genre that has not absorbed something essential from hip hop.

The US Vice President Kamala Harris is throwing a house party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop music, and honour its legacy at her residence in Washington D.C. Nearly 20 acts are said to be participating in this party, partnering with the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and Live Nation Urban for the event. Some of the big hip-hop names performing at the event, performers include Common, Mc Lyte, Jeezy and Roxanne Shante, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

This commemoration will mark the first time a sitting Vice President has hosted a celebration of this kind. As such, more than 400 guests — including musicians, artists, industry leaders and cultural trail blazers will be attending.

The party was scheduled for September 8, though reportedly was shifted to September 9 due to reasons unknown.

Harris will speak at the event and discuss hip-hop’s profound impact on American culture and how the genre...

Vice President Kamala Harris is throwing a house party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

Harris is partnering with the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and Live Nation Urban for the event taking place Saturday at her residence in Washington, D.C. Dozens of artists will participate, including Common, Mc Lyte, Jeezy and Roxanne Shante. Nearly 20 acts will perform.

This commemoration will mark the first time a sitting Vice President has hosted a celebration of this kind. More than 400 guests — including musicians, artists, industry leaders and cultural trailblazers — are expected to attend.

Harris will speak at the event and discuss hip-hop’s profound impact on American culture and how the genre has reached people around the world. She will also highlight and reinforce the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to celebrating the arts.

“The Recording Academy and the Black Music Collective have had a tremendous year paying tribute to...

Fifty years ago, the sisterhood of hip-hop did not yet exist. The genre was still an infant, and women were fighting to have their voices heard among the founding fathers, so competition between them was more encouraged than comradeship. Yet, five decades later, emerging artist Maiya the Don finds herself in the middle of rap's women renaissance with fellow femcees supporting her at every turn. Not every up-and-coming woman rapper can say that.

"Everybody that I've engaged with has been nothing but sweet and welcoming," the 21-year-old tells Popsugar of her newfound rap friendships.

Starting out as a beauty creator on TikTok, Maiya didn't get her first taste of fame until her big moment arrived last October. "Telfy," the Brooklynite's first hit single - a flip of Sisqo's 1999 classic "Thong Song" and dubbed the official Telfar handbag anthem - was inescapable on social media as her designer-inspired, braggadocious bars made the rounds.

Once upon a time, Lil' Kim gathered Missy Elliott, Da Brat, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Angie Martinez to record a sequel to her "Hardcore" offering "Not Tonight." Together, at the height of their careers, the seasoned rap stars and a "rookie on this all-star team" (Martinez) released their 1997 hit "Ladies Night Remix," one of the greatest female collaborations in hip-hop history. Not only did the iconic, femme-forward track dominate on radio, sweep up a 1998 Grammy nomination, and become an official girls-night-out staple, but its massive success set the tone for what future female rap collaborations would aspire to be, even to this day.

Kim's original "Not Tonight" is raunchier than its remixed anthem, as it sounds more like a sultry after-hours track where the rap star doesn't mince words about her demands for lip service - "I don't want d*ck tonight / Eat my p*ssy right." But the "Ladies Night Remix,...

Image Source: Everett Collection

Hip-hop has transformed music, and the world at large, since it was conceived 50 years ago. In a relatively short time, it's made a massive impact on every aspect of pop culture - and fortunately, there are a lot of great documentaries that chronicle the unforgettable, twists, turns, and triumphs that made hip-hop what it is today.

Many of these documentaries offer fascinating insights into hip-hop's exponential growth, such as 1995's "The Show" and 2016's "Hip-Hop Evolution," which both examine exactly how the genre became a worldwide, multibillion-dollar industry. Some of them also focus on individual artists, like 2003's "Tupac: Resurrection," a documentary narrated entirely by Tupac Shakur himself. Others focus on specific music scenes, like Ava DuVernay's "This Is the Life," which centers Los Angeles's alternative rap scene in the 1990s, while others delve into the technical aspects of hip-hop and rap, like Ice-t's...

Clover Hope is well known for documenting pop culture icons through her many cover stories, profiles, and interviews. The prolific journalist and author took her work to new heights in February 2021 when she released "The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop," her ode to the culture's female pioneers, trailblazers, and current heavy-hitters. While the book offers a visual map of more than 100 influential women in ra, and details their musical and career breakthroughs, Hope's latest version of it aims to elevate these women's legacies even more through audio.

"The Motherlode: 100 + Women Who Made Hip Hop," now an Audible Original, launched as a five-chapter audio series on Aug. 10 to dig deeper into the history and misogyny of hip-hop, propping up its "overlooked innovators and underappreciated voices" in a new form of media just in time for the culture's 50th anniversary. Created and executive produced by Hope, the audio series based on her book,...

Hip-hop Was Born In The Bronx in the summer of 1973. To celebrate the music’s 50th anniversary, “Rolling Stone” will be publishing a series of features, historical pieces, op-eds, and lists throughout this year.

Mc Lyte has been grinding since 1987, first as powerhouse Mc during rap’s golden age, then as an actor, radio personality, and entrepreneur, among other pursuits. With the new Netflix docuseries, Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop, which is out today, she got to try out a new role: executive producer. Lyte is confident...

Netflix’s Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop revisited the real OGs of the Hip-Hop movement for women and transformed Black culture through their poetry, art, and music. Directed and produced by Dream Hampton, Hannah Beachler, and Raeshem Nijhon, this groundbreaking series showcases how women reshaped the music industry and inspired generations. Despite Hip-Hop not being my favorite genre, what I appreciated about the documentary series is how it prompts us to contemplate the dedication and passion of these artists in pushing boundaries and becoming inspirations.

Even though many people around the world vibe with the music of contemporary Hip-Hop stars like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and Megan Thee Stallion, not everyone is familiar with the original trailblazers of the genre. In a male-dominated world, the story of how a woman became the first female Mc is often overlooked. However, thanks to this documentary, we gain valuable insights...

‘Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop‘ is a four-part documentary series that delves into the rich history and profound impact of women in the hip-hop genre, spanning from its early beginnings to the present day.

Hip-hop has rightfully become a cultural phenomenon, with African American women being one of its main pillars. This documentary is dedicated to them, the ladies of hip-hop, and the evolution of this music starting from the song “Rapper’s Delight” that gave it its name. It explores how this style quickly turned into a multi-billion dollar business, while also commenting on the social issues faced by African American women. Hip-Hop is a product of the inherent need to express the rights, wrongs, injustices and dreams that were deeply rooted in the struggles of the underprivileged classes.

‘Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop’, a Documentary about Women, Music and Society

“Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop...

‘Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop‘ is a four-part documentary series that delves into the rich history and profound impact of women in the hip-hop genre, spanning from its early beginnings to the present day.

Hip-hop has rightfully become a cultural phenomenon, with African American women being one of its main pillars. This documentary is dedicated to them, the ladies of hip-hop, and the evolution of this music starting from the song “Rapper’s Delight” that gave it its name. It explores how this style quickly turned into a multi-billion dollar business, while also commenting on the social issues faced by African American women. Hip-Hop is a product of the inherent need to express the rights, wrongs, injustices and dreams that were deeply rooted in the struggles of the underprivileged classes.

‘Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop’, a Documentary about Women, Music and Society

“Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop...

There are a lot of firsts associated with Mc Sha-Rock, hip-hop's "mother of the mic." The Bronx, NY, native is the first female Mc in hip-hop history and the first to sign a record deal; the first woman to battle rap; and she was among the first to spit hip-hop rhymes on national television (appearing on "Saturday Night Live" in 1981 when she was pregnant with her first child). The original member of Funky 4, which later became the Funky 4 + 1, didn't just contribute to the history of women in hip-hop - she's the blueprint.

Despite her pioneering efforts in the '70s, Sha-Rock, born Sharon Green, has hardly been given her just due as a hip-hop trailblazer. The "That's the Joint" rapper also says she was never properly compensated for her music in her '80s heyday, as she, along with other hip-hop pioneers, later sued her former label Sugar Hill Records...

Looking for your next binge-watch, or just need to fill an hour? Welcome to Your Weekly Watch List, our curated collection of the best shows on television. Here's what to watch from Sunday, August 6 through Saturday, August 12.

Two years after Hulu's Dopesick skewered Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, Netflix takes up the torch with Painkiller, a six-episode limited series starring Matthew Broderick as disgraced chairman Richard Sackler. Also this week: Only Murders in the Building investigates a murder on Broadway in Season 3, Winning Time continues the saga of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers dynasty, and Mc Lyte and Queen Latifah celebrate women in hip-hop.

Sunday, 9:00 Pm Et on HBO...

Queen Latifah gives hip-hop "a whole lot of credit" for where her legacy stands. Looking back on her emergence in the 1980s - when she introduced her vibrant Afrocentric style and women empowerment anthems to the world - the rap icon tells Popsugar she's grateful the then-budding culture embraced her authenticity. It was "a really cool time in hip-hop," Latifah says, when she and her peers "were able to make music about anything we wanted" and when "being unique and different was actually celebrated."

"We went for it as much as so-called hippies did in the '60s," Latifah recalls of her peer group's trailblazing efforts in hip-hop. "By doing that, it gave us the courageousness to try things, get out there, try to sell it, and go for it." And go for it she did.

"I'm just happy that I had that kind of mom who loved hip-hop."

Latifah,...

Hip-hop has been the gift that keeps giving to GloRilla - it's propelled her to success most new artists don't see this early on in their careers. Just a little over a year after dropping her breakout, now-platinum hit, "F.N.F. (Let's Go)," the Memphis native has added even more impressive accomplishments to her résumé. She's scored another platinum banger with "Tomorrow 2" collaborator Cardi B; released her debut EP, "Anyways, Life's Great"; performed at the 2022 American Music Awards and 2023 Grammy Awards (where she was also nominated for the first time); and, most recently, appeared in a nostalgic Sprite campaign with hip-hop heavyweights Nas and Rakim and fellow rising star Latto. And she's just getting started.

Today, GloRilla is still soaking in all of her achievements. One moment she can't get over, though, came along in February, when she shared the stage with hip-hop legends like LL Cool J, Method Man,...

Sinéad O’Connor, the fiery Irish singer-songwriter whose striking voice briefly made her an unlikely pop superstar while her bold public stances on child abuse, war, and organized religion made her a controversial figure, has died at the age of 56.

O’Connor’s family confirmed the singer’s death in a statement to Irish news network Rte. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.” No cause of death was provided.

Women in hip-hop are getting a major spotlight from Netflix next month in a new limited docuseries. Per the streamer, "Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop" aims to recall the history, impact, and influence of women in the culture, as well as "their role in the genre's 50 years by reinserting them into the canon where they belong: at the center, from day one to present day."

The trailer, which was released on July 26, plainly states that "Black women are crushing it in hip-hop right now," from "dominating the charts" to "being the ultimate influencers of the culture." So, in their own words, the docuseries gives women in hip-hop the floor to share their stories and honor the sisterhood that's contributed to their success.

The Netflix series has four installments that each feature a parade of iconic women rappers and originators, such as Mc Lyte, Queen Latifah, Rah Digga,...

As hip-hop celebrates 50 years of trailblazing this year, Netflix is spotlighting the women who have shaped the genre’s legacy with unrelenting confidence, even when it was an uphill battle to garner any respect or recognition for doing so. In the first trailer for Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop, the four-episode docuseries premiering Aug. 9, generations of artists — from Queen Latifah and Remy Ma to Tierra Whack and Latto — give each other and themselves their hard-earned flowers.

“We’ll always be stronger together than we are apart,” Queen...

Netflix has shared a trailer for its upcoming docuseries Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip-Hop, which will tell the history of the genre through a new lens, giving credit to the countless women who shaped it. Watch the trailer below.

The documentary will explain how Black women came to “dominate the charts” and become the “ultimate influences” of hip-hop culture, focusing both on pioneers of the genre as well as current-day superstars. Many influential rappers sit down for interviews, including Roxanne Shante, Mc Lyte, Queen Latifah, Rah Digga, Tierra Whack, Saweetie, and more. Notably, as commenters on YouTube have pointed out, the trailer makes no mention of Nicki Minaj, the best-selling female rapper of all time, but with four episodes, it’s still possible the series itself will correct this omission. The series is set to premiere on Netflix on August 9th.

“This timely limited doc series recontextualizes...

Hip-hop heads, rejoice: LL Cool J is about to embark on his first headline arena tour in 30 years, and he’s bringing a particularly stacked crew along with him. The rapper has curated the “F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy) Live” tour, an upcoming traveling concert — a bit like his iconic Rock the Bells festival — that also promises performances from The Roots, De La Soul, Rick Ross, and many more.

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, “The F.O.R.C.E. Live” tour will feature 18 shows each with a rotating cast of supporting acts. Each night will bring LL Cool J, The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Z-Trip to the stage, playing alongside a rotating cast of acts that include Salt-n-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Rakim, Common, Mc Lyte, Method Man & Redman, Big Boi, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Ice T, Juvenile, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Goodie Mob,...

The BET Awards were a family affair for Busta Rhymes. The rapper brought five of his six children to the June 25 ceremony, where he was honored with the lifetime achievement award for his prolific, decades-long hip-hop career. Rhymes posed on the pink carpet with his two daughters, Cacie and Mariah Smith; three sons, T'ziah, Trillian, and T'Khi Wood-Smith; and one of his nephews. The men of his family subtly coordinated in shiny brocade suits, while his daughters stunned in sparkly off-the-shoulder gowns.

When Rhymes took the stage to accept the lifetime achievement award from Swizz Beatz and Marlon Wayans, he teared up and gave a shout-out to his kids, who were cheering him on in the front row. "I'ma wear it on my sleeve. I do want to cry," the 51-year-old artist began. "My oldest child was a 3-year-old in the 'Woo-Hah!!' video back in '96. He's 30. He's right here.

The 2023 BET Awards, aka culture's biggest night, just honored a flood of heavyweight artists and rising newcomers. Winners at Los Angeles's Microsoft Theater on Sunday, June 25 included Latto, Beyoncé, Coco Jones, and more. The ceremony also honored Busta Rhymes with the lifetime achievement award.

BET released the full list of nominees back on June 8, with Drake leading the bunch with seven total nominations, including album of the year and best male hip-hop artist. Trailing behind him were nominees like 21 Savage, Lizzo, Beyoncé, Sza, Chris Brown, GloRilla (who scored double nominations in the same category for best collaboration), and many more.

Beyond handing out wins, the 2023 BET Awards was also especially exciting event as they honored hip-hop's highly anticipated 50th anniversary with a telecast of performers throughout the night. Among those who hit the stage for the hip-hop tribute were Remy Ma, Trina, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Mc Lyte, E-40, Chief Keef,...