‘As We Speak: Rap Music’ on Trial dives into decadeslong history of weaponization of Black art

Paramount+ The new Paramount+ film As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial explores more than just the criminalization of rap lyrics in courtrooms in the United States.  Director J.M. Harper tells ABC Audio that with the documentary, he intended to highlight the decadeslong weaponization of Black art dating back to slavery.  Harper describes a scene in which rapper Kemba, who narrates and interviews prominent rap…

Normani teases new music, gears up for debut album release

Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 Presented by Amazon Prime Video Normani is gearing up for the release of her upcoming debut album by dropping a snippet of new music.  In a clip shared to a fan account on social media, the “Wild Side” singer is seen lip-syncing lyrics to a…

Music producer accuses Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual misconduct

Paras Griffin/Getty Images Sean “Diddy” Combs was hit with another sexual assault lawsuit, filed by a music producer in New York federal court Monday. The 73-page claim, brought forth by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, accuses Combs of repeated instances of sexual harassment, including the “unsolicited and unauthorized groping and touching” of his private body parts. It also says Jones was…

On this day in Black history: First Black female lawyer, M. Jackson’s first Grammy, hand stamp patent and more

On this day in Black history, February 27: — In 1872, Charlotte E. Ray graduated from Howard University Law School, making her the first Black woman to graduate from a law school. Two months later she became the first Black woman to formally practice law in the United States.  — In 1883, William B. Purvis…

Jodie Turner-Smith talks Joshua Jackson divorce, feeling “more powerful” as a mother

Lionel Hahn/Getty Images Jodie Turner-Smith is opening up about her divorce from fellow actor Joshua Jackson. “Sometimes things we really want to work just don’t end up working,” the Star Wars: The Acolyte actress told the U.K.’s The Sunday Times. “And that’s OK.” “The most important thing is that you choose what’s healthiest for you…

‘A Different World’ cast reuniting for HBCU tour more than 35 years after premiere

NBCU Photo Bank The cast of A Different World is hitting the road for a 10-city reunion tour of various historically Black colleges and universities. Taking place more than 35 years after the iconic sitcom’s premiere, cast members Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Darryl M. Bell, Dawnn Lewis, Cree Summer, Charnele Brown, Glynn Turman and Sinbad —…

Timbaland says Ye & Ty Dolla $ign’s ‘Vultures 2’ is on the way

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Timbaland says the next installment of Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign‘s triology, Vultures, is on the way.  The producer took to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday with a music update, writing, “Like I said Vulture Vol 2 OTW.” His contributions to Vultures 1, which was released in the early morning hours of Saturday, February 10,…

Mekhi Phifer on the lasting “impact” of ‘8 Mile’ + surprise at “Lose Yourself” name drop

Robin L Marshall/FilmMagic The movie 8 Mile turned 20 years old back in 2022, and co-star Mekhi Phifer tells ABC Audio he still can’t get over that. “It’s hard to believe that it’s been this long,” the star of the new thriller Lights Out says. “When you start out with these projects, you never know…