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K-pop fans were treated to a delightful surprise recently when Natty and Julie, members of the rising girl group KISS OF LIFE, showcased their dancing skills in a new TikTok video. The duo performed a high-energy dance routine to Tyla’s hit single “Jump,” a track that has been making waves globally for its catchy beat and infectious chorus.

In the video, Natty and Julie perfectly synchronize their moves, demonstrating their chemistry and dynamic stage presence. The setting is simple yet vibrant, allowing their talent to take center stage. The duo’s dance not only highlights their individual prowess but also their ability to work seamlessly as a team, a testament to the rigorous training and dedication KISS OF LIFE members are known for.

@kissoflife_official

❤‍🔥❤‍🔥 #KISSOFLIFE #키스오브라이프 #KIOF #JULIE #쥴리 #NATTY #나띠

♬ Jump – Tyla & Gunna & Skillibeng

Fans and followers of KISS OF LIFE and Tyla alike have been quick to shower the video with praise. Comments have been flooding in, applauding the pair’s sharp moves and charismatic performance. Many fans have noted how the dance brings a fresh, invigorating twist to “Jump,” enhancing the song’s appeal and reaching a wider audience through the TikTok platform.

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Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

For me, the greatest album in hip-hop history remains “De La Soul Is Dead,” the group’s legendary sophomore album from 1991. As I said in my piece about “Off the Wall” vs “Thriller,” a key part of a great album is having a thesis and having the songs and the sound and the vibe coalesce around that thesis. If it’s cohesive that means the songs blend together to make a statement. Hip-hop has historically given us lots of amazing, cohesive albums from Public Enemy’s “It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” to Kanye’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” to Raekwon’s “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx” to A Tribe Called Quest’s “Low End Theory” to Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” to “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” to Nas’ “Illmatic.” That’s not a comprehensive list. There are lots of hip-hop albums that are cohesive. For me, the best of them all is “De La Soul Is Dead” because the album’s thesis is even deeper than most albums that have one — “Dead” is about challenging the definition of what De La Soul is and, in that, the meaning of Blackness.

“De La Soul Is Dead” is like a sequel that requires you to see the first film to truly understand the deeper resonances of that second film. On their 1989 debut album “3 Feet High and Rising,” De La — which consists of the late rapper Trugoy the Dove, the rapper Posdnous and the DJ/rapper Maseo — introduced themselves as the hippies of hip-hop. They emerged at a time when hip-hop was still centered around urban MCs talking about life in the hood. De La was from the suburbs of Long Island, and they never tried to hide that in their music or in their vibe. But being open about who they were led people to think they were soft. Sometimes, when they were out on tour, people tried to fight the guys because they thought they couldn’t fight. Their producer Prince Paul talked about this when I talked to him for the episode of “Being Black the 80s” about De La Soul’s “My Brother’s A Basehead.” 

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But being seen as soft had an even deeper resonance, at least back in the late ’80s. At that point, it seemed like the hood was at the heart of what it was to be Black, and to be hood meant you were hard. To be hood, at least in a hip-hop context, meant you were tough as hell, world-weary, cold-hearted and ready for anything. To be perceived as not hard was a metaphor for being not really Black. 

On their second album, De La set out to break down the idea that they were soft — they wanted to reconfigure what people thought of them. I don’t know of too many albums in the history of hip-hop that are as focused on the idea of changing the way people saw the character of the group itself. Sometimes artists overtly change their aesthetic but this isn’t that. This is De La saying you don’t understand who we really are and then trying to explain who they are.

The album is filled with De La’s signature funny and eclectic samples as well as lots of great, complex rhymes from the guys and skits that add up to De La arguing, somewhat angrily, that they are not hippies and they are not soft — I can’t believe a rap group made an album saying, we know how to fight, y’all. By extension, they’re saying, yes we’re not hood, but we still have it tough and we’re still Black.

Other hip-hop albums dug deep into the challenges of living around the drug game and dealing with the police, but on “Dead” De La went into a whole different set of challenges. In one song they gave us a story about familial sex abuse. In another song, they told a story about Posdnous’s brother’s very real crack addiction. (I go deep into that on my podcast “Being Black: The ’80s.”) In another song, the guys got epically dissed when they went to Burger King. For sure, that’s not on the same level as the other songs but I’m saying the album is often about them running into problems because, hey, life in the suburbs can be tough.

“Dead” is a conversation with the audience and the critics about who we thought they were based on their first album and who they really are, which is rooted in the idea that they’re not soft. In a brilliant series of sketches, or interludes, a group of three guys finds the tape that we are listening to and critiques it. One of them hates it, which is hysterical, and one of them likes it. Of course, the one who hates it repeatedly assaults the one who likes it. This is an amazing meta-commentary on the audience around their album, the nature of hip-hop skits (which were ubiquitous back then) and the meaning of being tough or soft in the culture. 

With “Dead,” De La definitely succeeded at changing people’s opinion of them — they shed the hippie/soft label. They killed the old image of De La Soul, and they did it while making a ton of amazing songs that I love to this day. There are a lot of great albums in hip-hop history but there’s nothing quite like De La Soul’s album about De La Soul that’s meant to reconfigure what you think of De La Soul. We didn’t use the word meta back then, but if we had, “Dead” would be the ultimate meta hip-hop album.

Toure is a host and writer at TheGrio. He hosts the TheGrio TV show “Masters of the Game,” and he created the award-winning podcast “Being Black: The ’80s” and its upcoming sequel “Being Black: The ’70s.” He is also the creator of “Star Stories” and the author of eight books, including “Nothing Compares 2 U an oral history of Prince.” He also hosts a podcast called “Toure Show.” He is also a husband and a father of two.

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On the latest episode of Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, his latest guest was none other than singer Ray J.

The “One Wish” artist sat down with Sharpe for yet another nearly three-hour-long interview which ran the gamut to everything from his relationship with ex Kim Kardashian, his friendship (or lack thereof) with Floyd Mayweather, his musical career and more. Despite the fact that Ray has had his hand in various things over the years, what often stands in the forefront of his success is the myriad of viral moments he’s spawned from his off the cuff commentary in interviews. And this recent example was no different.

As the episode began to circulate online, fans were quick to express their excitement over Ray J’’s appearance, his unintentional hilarity and transparency throughout the conversation.

“Am I watching Ray J on Club Shay Shay live? absolutely,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.

“Ray J is the most unserious celebrity ever & I watch every piece of content he’s in because of it,” said another.

“My Guy Ray J the legend,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.

“Ray J said he hated going to choir practice. Now it makes sense why he sounds like he does in relation to his sister,” said another.

“Ray j a folk hero . A nepo baby blood who changed entertainment as we know it,” another added.

Over on YouTube, viewers echoed similar sentiments.

“This is the most mature I’ve seen RayJ,” one commenter wrote.

“Ray J gon give us more tea than Lipton,” another wrote.

“He’s giving crazy answers for every dumb question,” said another.

“Ray J funny and entertaining so of course I’m here,” said a commenter.

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On August 29, the prestigious Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, will host the 2024 Caribbean Music Awards, where Jamaican-born sensation Jada Kingdom will be vying for two coveted titles.

The Jamaican sensation is nominated for ‘Artist of the Year’ in the female Dancehall category and ‘Collaboration of the Year (Dancehall)’ for her hit “Turn Me On” with The 9ine, Jada Kingdom’s nominations are a testament to her extraordinary talent and significant impact on the music industry.

Jada Kingdom’s two nominations highlight her impressive achievements in 2023. This trailblazing artist has already released three singles in 2024: “What’s Up (Big Buddy),” “Top Tier,” and “Gen Z Jezebel.” These tracks showcase her knack for creating global hits with an irresistible flair, further solidifying her reputation as a leading figure in the music scene.

The star has received critical acclaim from notable publications including GRM Daily, VIBE, Hot New Hip Hop, Wonderland Magazine, TRENCH, and HOLA! Her recent releases have garnered significant attention, and her presence continues to grow internationally. Revolt recently highlighted Jada as one of “Fifteen Dancehall Artists You Need to Know,” emphasizing that her latest hits “What’s Up (Big Buddy),” “Top Tier,” and “Gen Z Jezebel” are proof of her staying power. NYLON hailed her as “Jamaica’s biggest star of the moment,” and Essence introduced her as one of the new trailblazers in Caribbean music.

Voting for the 2024 Caribbean Music Awards is currently underway on the official Caribbean Music Awards website at caribmusicawards.com and will conclude on Thursday, June 30th, 2024.

Fans and music lovers are eagerly awaiting the results as Jada Kingdom continues to captivate audiences with her dynamic performances and chart-topping tracks.

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Martin Lawrence is shutting down rumors about his health after a viral video at the Los Angeles premiere of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” left fans concerned. 

The actor, 59, appeared on Hot 97’s “Ebro in the Morning” on Tuesday, where he revealed that he is healthy and doing fine following the release of the video. In the clip, shared on social media, Lawrence is seen arriving at the L.A. premiere of his new film on a promotional bus with co-star Will Smith. Smith is seen helping Lawrence navigate the crowd and walk from one side of the bus to the other as they wave at fans. 

“Now Martin…” host Ebro Darden began during their interview. “Everybody’s talking [about] you on the balcony waving at people, [you’re] looking around, where you’re looking around? People took it like something was wrong with your health.” 

Lawrence responded jokingly, saying, “I was like, oh, this is rock concert stuff.” 

“What the hell is going on?” the actor added, referring to the large crowds outside of the premiere. “[This is] for a movie?”

Darden then asked Lawrence if there is a message he’d like to share with fans that are concerned about his health. 

“I’m fine. I’m in God’s hands,” Lawrence responded. “I’m blessed. You know, I’m glad to be waking up every day. I’m all good. No need for people to be concerned. I’m healthy as hell. Stop the rumors!” 

Lawrence reprises his role as Detective Marcus Burnett in “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” which is the fourth film in the “Bad Boys” franchise. Smith is also returning as Detective Mike Lowrey in the film, which follows the two detectives as they embark on a mission to clear their late captain’s name after he is reported to be a dirty cop working with the cartel. 

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Smith opened up about working with Lawrence during a red carpet interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the L.A. premiere. 

“When we hit the set on this movie, literally on the first day we’re going, rushing around, and Martin just said, ‘Hey man, slow down a little bit,’” Smith shared. “He said, ‘We’re going to enjoy this one,’ you know, and he sort of set that tone day one that we were going to come together and we were going to make sure we didn’t miss the beauty of this opportunity we had to work together.”

Actors Tasha Smith, Melanie Liburd, Tiffany Haddish, Vanessa Hudgens, Eric Dane, Alexander Ludwig, Ioan Gruffudd, Paola Nuñez, and Jacob Scipio joins Smith and Lawrence in the fourth installment. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, hits theaters on Friday, June 7.

4

The CW has announced that it will not be renewing “All American: Homecoming,” the first and only spinoff of the hit football drama “All American.” The series, which debuted in 2022, will conclude with its upcoming third season, premiering in July 2024.

Although the network has not provided an official reason for the cancellation, it is widely believed that financial issues played a significant role.

According to Deadline, the license fee for “Homecoming” was significantly reduced last year to between $500,000 and $750,000 per episode, and the network sought even lower fees this year.

The cost-cutting measures come as new owners Nexstar Media Group, who acquired The CW in November 2022, shift the network’s focus away from original scripted series towards more cost-effective programming such as sports and foreign imports like “Sullivan’s Creek” and “Wild Cards,” both of which are produced in Canada.

“All American: Homecoming,” which films in the United States, along with “All American” and “Walker,” is more expensive to produce. While “All American” benefits from a deal with Netflix that helps cover some costs, the streaming giant has chosen only to support “Homecoming” through its existing three seasons.

The lack of confidence in the spinoff became apparent when it was slated for a summer release rather than the network’s regular broadcast season.

“We want to thank the cast, crew, producers, NK, Marqui, and everybody at Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television for their hard work and dedication in telling these important stories for three incredible seasons,” The CW said in a statement. “The upcoming final season is the best yet and we cannot wait to share it with fans beginning on Monday, July 8.”

Showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll expressed her disappointment in her own statement:

“I’m devastated to learn that ‘All American: Homecoming’ will not be moving forward with more episodes and that this new season premiering in July will be our final one.” She continued, “However, I am so very grateful to have worked with this incredible cast and crew, led by Geffri Maya, to bring the authentic HBCU experience to your screens for the last three seasons. We made this show for the culture and thank our loyal audience and fans for taking this ride with us. We made this show so that our community, our kids (and their dreams), could be seen and celebrated every week and we are proud to say we accomplished that mission.”

“All American: Homecoming” followed Simone Hicks (Geffri Maya) and a group of students at Bringston University, a prestigious Historically Black College, as they navigated college life and pursued their dreams.

The cast included Peyton Alex Smith, Kelly Jenrette, Cory Hardrict, Sylvester Powell, Camille Hyde, Mitchell Edwards, Netta Walker, Martin Bobb-Semple, and Rhoyle Ivy King.

The cancellation of “Homecoming” is part of a broader trend at The CW, which has also seen the end of “Walker” after four seasons in May 2024, and the expected conclusion of “Superman & Lois” after its fourth season in late 2024 or early 2025. This leaves “All American,” recently renewed for its seventh season, as the only original series that predates Nexstar’s acquisition.

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If you’re looking to jumpstart any fitness goals this summer, Michael B. Jordan suggests you find community. Starting this weekend, the actor is bringing fitness hubs to communities around the country.

Today, Propel Fitness Water announced they are partnering with the actor to expand the Propel Your City Project with the launch of fitness hubs in various cities. The first hub will launch this Saturday, June 8, in Jordan’s hometown of Newark, New Jersey. Upcoming cities include Atlanta on June 22, Houston on July 13, and Los Angeles on August 3.

Speaking to theGrio about the partnership kicking off in his hometown, he said, “[It] always feels good when you’re able to get back to the place where you started and pour into the community that made you.”

Jordan said attendees can expect “an environment for them to maximize” whatever their fitness experience or expertise already may be. He said this could include yoga, hiking, running, cycling, and beyond. It’s also an opportunity to be exposed to new ways of being active.

At the Newark hub, Jordan said he’s looking forward to folks learning more about Brick City Rowing, a rowing club based in Newark.

“It’s unlikely, something that you don’t necessarily think about when you think about Newark, New Jersey,” he said.

He added how it’s an especially rare organization because they work with children of all backgrounds including Black children.

At the Atlanta hub, taking place in the city’s downtown arts district, the Atlanta Run Club will be joined by PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT, BLK Hiking Club, and Bonafide Riders Cycle Club. Later on in Houston, in the Midtown/Montrose district, social wellness organization BLK Beetles will be offering classes with Latinas Run Houston, FitMix Communities, and ZFT Run Club. The L.A. hub taking place downtown will feature WalkGood LA, founded by ​​Sheryl Lee Ralph’s son Etienne Maurice, Babes of Wellness, BlacklistLA, and Kong Fit Club.

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Jordan said he’ll know these hubs have become a success when he sees the community pull up and utilize spaces they may not have had before they launched.

“You see certain groups, and they have to make do with what they have, what’s available to them,” he continued. “So to be able to provide a facility that is up to date and current and to give them the best shot at being successful in whatever their curriculum is, I think is a win for us.”

Jordan said he joined this initiative because it aligns with his values especially as someone who has been active his whole life. His fitness journey has evolved from playing basketball on the courts of Newark as a kid and barely remembering to hydrate to growing up to train to take on some of Hollywood’s biggest action roles and develop a better diet. While basketball remains one of his favorite ways to move, the “Creed” actor has developed a love of boxing, conditioning, hiking, and swimming. 

“I think as you grow as a human, and as you mature, I think your routine needs to mature as well,” he said. 

He added that in order to maintain a regular fitness routine while keeping up with a demanding career he’s had to be disciplined even on his cheat days. 

“Right now I’m in the middle of filming, so my cheat days are a little more contained,” he admitted, before adding that they typically include, “just ordering a buffet of different foods” and watching sports. 

As a believer in cheat days, Jordan’s also a believer in giving yourself grace when adopting a new regime. 

“We all have crazy schedules, and we’re all grinding and working towards something,” he said. “But I think you do have to remember you only have one body and life is short, so you got to take care of it while you can.”

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The official trailer and poster for the highly anticipated horror film “Starve Acre” have been released today. The film, which stars Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark, is set to hit theaters and be available on demand starting July 26.

Directed and written by Daniel Kokotajlo, “Starve Acre” is based on the award-winning 2019 novel by Andrew Michael Hurley. The story is a chilling British folk horror set in the rural Yorkshire countryside during the 1970s. It centers around a couple who, after moving to an isolated house, experience their son’s increasingly strange behavior. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they inadvertently awaken an ancient evil rooted in the land.

The film’s gripping trailer teases a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere, showcasing the couple’s descent into fear and madness. Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark deliver intense performances that promise to captivate and terrify audiences.

Watch the “Starve Acre” Official Trailer Below!

“Starve Acre” is produced by Tessa Ross, Juliette Howell, Derrin Schlesinger, and Emma Duffy, and has a running time of 98 minutes. With its blend of psychological horror and supernatural elements, the film is expected to be a standout in this year’s lineup of horror releases.

“Starve Acre” Poster

Mark your calendars for July 26 to experience “Starve Acre” in theaters or from the comfort of your home on demand.

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Should we forgive Michael Richards, the actor who played Cosmo Kramer on ‘Seinfeld,’ for his 2006 N-word rant? Lately, Richards has been busy “’splaining” his nearly two-decades-old racist outburst – seemingly not out of remorse, but to sell books.

Between 1989 and 1998, Richards, now 74, played an off-beat character on the sitcom. Kramer was a little crazy but harmless, so it was jarring, even shocking, to see a video of Richards yelling racial slurs at a Black audience member during his standup routine at The Laugh Factory, a comedy club in West Hollywood.

The Black man was at least one person who heckled Richards, saying his material wasn’t funny. In response to the insult, Richards said, “Shut up! Fifty years ago we’d have you upside down with a f-ing fork up your a–.”

Richards didn’t stop there: “You can talk, you can talk, you can talk, you’re brave now mother——. Throw his a– out. He’s a n—–!” the comedian continued. He screamed the N-word four more times before walking off the stage.

Appearing Tuesday on “The View,” Richards explained, “I went into character. I work in a comedy club environment where the N-word is used a lot, and I decided I would let it loose.”

Once again, Richards expressed regret for the incident but offered no sincere apology. We’ve seen this before. Back in 2006, he appeared via live video link on “Late Night with David Letterman” with Jerry Seinfeld in the studio with Letterman to address the incident.

Even when the incident was fresh in his mind, Richards seemed unable or unwilling to issue a clear apology. Instead, his response came across like a comedy sketch.

NBC’s “Today” host Hoda Kotb asked Richards on Tuesday if he felt that he’s made amends for the incident. “I think so,” Richards responded. “Certainly getting to a place where I could forgive myself because I have to move on and be true blue about that.”

What a minute. Forgive himself? Does he know what it means to make amends?

Richards told PEOPLE that he has no valid excuse for the racist outburst and denied that he hates Black people.

“I’m not racist. I have nothing against Black people. The man who told me I wasn’t funny had just said what I’d been saying to myself for a while. I felt put down. I wanted to put him down,” he told the magazine.

Why didn’t Richards say all these things years ago? This all feels insincere because he’s promoting his new book. His memoir, “Entrances and Exits,” hit bookstores on Tuesday and touches on his racist rant and self-imposed exile after the incident.

His entertainment industry friends forgave him a long time ago. According to Richards, he has turned down two offers to host “Saturday Night Live” and declined a Hollywood Walk of Fame offer. Unlike them, we can’t forgive someone who has offered us a halfway apology out of his own self-interest.