BET Janelle Monáe has been announced as the recipient of the Spirit of Soul Award for the 2023 BET Soul Train Awards. It’s a first-of-its-kind honor, as the award show renamed its prestigious Lady of Soul category to represent inclusion and diversity. Monáe, honored for their work and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, mental health awareness and achievements in…
Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images When André 3000, one half of the iconic hip-hop duo Outkast, announced his upcoming album, New Blue Sun, fans were shocked to learn it’d include zero rap. Or as he put it, “no bars.” As part of his GQ Men of the Year video cover story, the Grammy winner opened up about his decision to leave the lyrics out of it…
Disney/Randy Holmes Yes, you read that correctly — iconic rapper Snoop Dogg, known outside of his Grammy-nominated music for his love of smoking marijuana, says he’ll be a weed smoker no more. “After much consideration and conversation with my family,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “I’ve decided to give up smoke.” He added, “Please respect my privacy at this…
Photo: Greg Gorman, courtesy Christie’s Legendary producer and musician Quincy Jones is opening up his “encyclopedic” wine collection to Christie’s auction house, with selections from around the world and some extremely rare — from 1928 and 1934, to be exact — fruit of the grape. Christie’s explains, “The sale offers wine and music enthusiasts the opportunity to…
Prince Williams/WireImage Three years after dropping her debut album, Misunderstood, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Queen Naija is back with a new EP. The R&B singer announced After the Butterflies, her sophomore album expected out on November 17. Queen wrote that she’s “so happy” to finally be releasing a project and requested fans “enjoy this body of work that was created from a…
Terence Rushin/Getty Images Congratulations are in order for gospel singer Koryn Hawthorne, who recently became engaged. The Grammy-nominated star, known for hits “Won’t He Do It” and “Speak to Me,” will soon be tying the knot with her partner and childhood friend, Hunter Register. In an exclusive spread and photo opp for Essence, Hawthorne revealed Register popped the question in New…
Ethan Miller/Getty Images via ABC Drake isn’t quite finished with music drops this year. The “Rich Flex” rapper says he’s got one more 2023 release: his new EP, Scary Hours 3. Serving as the follow-up to the first two editions of Scary Hours, Drake’s upcoming project is set to arrive off the heels of his October chart-topping eighth studio album, For…
Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for MTV Sad news for Toosii fans who await the release of his upcoming album, Jaded. The singer/songwriter, known for his breakthrough hit “Love Cycle” and his viral track “Favorite Song,” issued a music update and apology via social media, writing that the project won’t come out on its intended date of November 17. “To my fans I’m…
Prime Video Making a movie about the life and career of someone like Tyler Perry, a film and TV mastermind who’s achieved great success stemming from his groundbreaking Madea stage plays, could be a difficult task. But for the filmmakers of Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story, it wasn’t as much a feat as it was an honor to chronicle his ascent to Hollywood…
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MC Mariah Carey kicks off her Merry Christmas One and All! tour November 15 in Highland, California, and she says fans who come to see it will get a bonus: her two kids Monroe and Moroccan are going to be performing with her. Speaking to Access Hollywood about her tour, Mariah said, “I love seeing them stepping into…