Here’s a rundown of what stores are open or closed on Easter for last minute supplies. It’s always a good idea to verify individual store hours before you go.
These stores are open Easter Sunday. Here’re the hours for Walmart, Trader Joes and others (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Yes, most stores owned by Kroger will be open their normal hours on Easter, a spokesperson confirmed.
The Kroger Co. Family of Stores includes Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C Food Store, King Soopers, Kroger, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay-Less Super Markets, Pick’n Save, QFC, Ralphs, Ruler and Smith’s Food and Drug.
Selena Gomez, a global sensation, is moving her cooking skills from her home to the bustling professional kitchens of Los Angeles’ top restaurants in an intriguing culinary effort. “Selena + Restaurant,” which premieres on Thursday, May 2nd at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network promises double episodes packed with gastronomic challenges and touching moments as Gomez navigates the culinary industry alongside her best friend, Raquelle Stevens.
Gomez will learn from top chefs such as Shirley Chung, Keith Corbin, Stephanie Izard, Andrew & Michelle Muñoz, Wolfgang Puck, and Marcel Vigneron in six episodes. Each episode will highlight a charity chosen by the featured chef, with donations aimed at supporting important causes.
In the first episode, Gomez and Stevens embark on a culinary journey, joining Chef Wolfgang Puck at CUT Steakhouse in Beverly Hills. Gomez is challenged to master one of Puck’s signature dishes while also creating her spicy seafood specialty.
The journey continues with visits to renowned places such as Ms. Chi with Shirley Chung, Lemon Grove with Marcel Vigneron, Moo’s Craft Barbecue with Andrew and Michelle Muñoz, Girl & the Goat with Stephanie Izard, and Alta with Keith Corbin.
Gomez, well known for her Emmy-nominated show “Selena + Chef,” highlighted her excitement about entering the professional culinary realm, saying, “You’ll have to see if being in person helped my skills at all.”
Betsy Ayala, Head of Content, Food, Warner Bros. Discovery, applauded Gomez’s culinary journey, pointing out the natural development of her culinary education from her Emmy-nominated series to the professional kitchens of LA’s finest restaurants.
Food Network’s social media channels will feature exclusive interviews and sneak previews from each show. They can also use the hashtag #SelenaAndRestaurant to interact with other admirers.
Selena Gomez has an impressive resume as a music artist, producer, businesswoman, and philanthropist in addition to her culinary endeavors. From selling over 210 million songs globally to executive producing popular programs such as “Only Murders in the Building,” Gomez has left an everlasting influence on the entertainment business. In addition, her beauty company, Rare Beauty, and the Rare Impact Fund reflect her dedication to mental health activism.
“Selena + Restaurant” is produced by Gomez for July Moon Productions, with executive producers Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman of Sony Pictures Television’s The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC), showrunner Shauna Minoprio, and Melissa Stokes.
Sean “Diddy” Combs attends Day 1 of 2023 Invest Fest at Georgia World Congress Center on August 26, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.Photo: Paras Griffin (Getty Images)
By now, there’s no doubt you’ve probably seen, read, or heard about the latest legal drama surrounding hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. — Shanelle Genai
In April, as spring emerges, festival season also kicks off, bringing a plethora of top music and culture festivals to enjoy. From Coachella to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, the opportunities for outdoor gatherings seem endless. However, if you’re seeking an international festival experience, look no further than Jamaica Carnival.
Held in Kingston from the first to the second week of April, Jamaica Carnival remains a top cultural extravaganza attracting revelers worldwide. Featuring vibrant breakfast parties, night fetes, dawn j’ouverts, and midday road marches, it’s an annual event that continues to evolve. To navigate the plethora of activities, we’ve compiled a comprehensive Jamaica Carnival guide.
During your time in Jamaica, it’s crucial to make the most of your experience. “I would tell anybody coming to take advantage of Jamaica,” says Kibwe McGann, director of GenXs, an in-demand carnival band renowned for hosting extravagant events. GenXs curates the unforgettable road march experience on April 7, offering carnival attendees costumes, meals, beverages, entertainment, and security. Additionally, GenXs organizes an “Immortals J’ouvert” early on Saturday, April 6, as well as “XS Street,” a post-carnival road march party. Other events hosted by GenXs include “Ocean X,” the Catamaran beach fete, and “XS Sunset,“ the finale carnival fete on Monday, April 8.
“For those coming to Jamaica for carnival in Kingston, our capital city is also known as the cultural capital of the Caribbean, and for good reason,” explains Donovan White, Jamaica’s director of tourism. “Visitors can check out Devon House, which was the home of Jamaica’s first Black millionaire. Our popular Devon House I-Scream serves exotic flavors such as Devon Stout and Guava ice cream along with others. For Easter, they have created a new flavor — Bun and Cheese. Check out the street art murals by local artists along the Art Walk downtown, stop by the Bob Marley Museum to get a glimpse into the life of the legendary reggae singer in his well-preserved home, and be sure to try some of our world-famous jerk,” White adds.
Keeping that in mind, it’s important to understand that Jamaica Carnival stands out from other carnivals due to its focus on cultural elements authentic to the region; especially its legendary music.
“Take a minute and understand why we say this is one of the ’Irie-est’ carnivals in the world— emphasis on ‘Irie,’” says McGann, referencing the fact that alongside the season’s top soca hits, Jamaica’s primary musical exports, reggae and dancehall, are also prominently featured.
“Be open to new music because this is in Jamaica; we’re the originators of dancehall, and you’re gonna get dancehall on the road. So if you’re a soca purist, you may come to Jamaica and be like, ‘How come they’re playing dancehall?’ I want people to come and be very open to embracing the culture,” McGann continues.
If you’re considering joining this carnival extravaganza, note that Jamaica has been categorized as “Level 3: Reconsider Travel,” by the U.S. State Department since 2022. However, it’s important to recognize that while the advisory mainly addresses local crime, the rate of crime against visitors to Jamaica remains exceptionally low at 0.01%, according to NPR. Should you make the trip, the most convenient airport to fly into is the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston. There are several excellent and accessible hotels available, including The Courtleigh, The Pegasus, AC Hotel by Marriott, Rok Hotel, Spanish Court, and The R Hotel. For those seeking short- or long-term rentals, companies like Aspen Luxury Suites offer luxurious accommodations secured within complexes near major shopping areas, business districts, colleges, and recreational attractions, boasting panoramic views of the city.
Check out theGrio’s full Jamaica Carnival guide below.
Wednesday, April 3
Illuminate: In Jamaica, soca season runs from February to April, culminating in major carnival events on the second weekend of April, often following Easter weekend. Festivities typically start on Friday evening, but arriving a few days earlier offers a lineup of fetes to get you in the spirit.
Traditionally, Wednesday was the day for the renowned “iLoveSoca” stadium fete; it’s now moved to Monday, April 1. However, this year’s “Illuminate” party is set for Wednesday, April 3, at 8 p.m. “We have always had the idea for Illuminate and saw the opportunity to introduce it last year on Carnival Wednesday, and it was well received,” explained Andrew Bellamy, director of the YardMas carnival band and iLoveSoca, which worked in partnership with Franco and Brush1 to create Illuminate. “It was a very high-energy event with thousands of people for the first staging, so for 2024, we’re doing it again!”
Thursday, April 4
Touchdown Jamaica: An exciting and fashion-forward affair, Touchdown Jamaica embodies the quintessential soca experience of the weekend, held at Jangas, Kingston’s renowned soundbar and grill, starting at 6 p.m.
Rytz featuring Kes: The iLoveSoca and Tipsy Music Festival teams collaborate to present Rytz, an exclusive all-inclusive luxury glamour party with a live performance by one of soca’s biggest artists, Kes. Join in from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Photo: AdobeStock
Friday, April 5
SunKissed All-Inclusive Beach Cruise Party: The Sunkissed All-Inclusive Beach Cruise Party is hailed as one of the premier beach fetes and catamaran cruise events during the season. Delight in the finest soca beats from noon to 5 p.m. while cruising on the water.
Soca Starter: Renowned DJ Private Ryan releases his soca starter playlist at the start of each year, offering insight into the major tunes he predicts will dominate international carnival celebrations. Accordingly, you won’t want to miss his annual “Soca Starter” party from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Scorch Duck Work: Scorch Duck Work is a celebrated cooler fete that has made its mark in Trinidad, Barbados, and Jamaica. Join the Scorch team on Carnival Friday, April 5, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. to experience the sizzling Jamaican vibes.
Bacchanal J’ouvert — Paint Rave: One of the original j’ouverts, Bacchanal J’ouvert — Paint Rave, is a vibrant paint party held at Mas Camp in Kingston, starting at 10 p.m. and continuing until morning.
Saturday, April 6
Immortals J’ouvert: GenXs, the leading “ultra-premium” carnival band, continues to dominate soca season with exceptional events, including Immortals J’ouvert. Starting early Saturday at 2 a.m., this breakfast-inclusive event promises an unforgettable experience filled with paint, powder, water, and the finest soca tunes. Don’t miss out on this epic celebration!
Sunnation Breakfast Party: If you had to choose only one event to attend for Jamaica carnival season, it should be none other than the famous all-inclusive Sunnation Sunrise Breakfast Party. Coveted for its elegance, wide array of food options, top-notch performances, and infectious atmosphere, this breakfast party draws attendees bright and early on Saturday, starting as early as 5 a.m., to revel with friends throughout the day.
Lil Strut Jamaica: When you hear of Lil Strut Jamaica, imagine boats, bubbles, and bacchanal! As the final GenXs-approved official boat cruise before masqueraders hit the road to jump on carnival Sunday, consider this an essential cruise event from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 7
Carnival Glam Hub: Swing by early Sunday morning to experience Carnival Glam Hub with a reservation and indulge in hairstyling, sweat-proof makeup application, breakfast, drinks, professional photography, assistance with your carnival costume, and shuttle service, all under one roof. It’s your one-stop destination to ensure you’re at your best before joining your carnival band members to dominate Carnival Sunday.
(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
GenXs Road March: It’s Carnival Sunday, and the awaited moment is here. Gear up in your costume, secure your wristbands, and join GenXs on the road at 9 a.m. to parade through the streets of Kingston, cordoned off for your enjoyment.
Yard Mas Road March: Join Yard Mas and the vibrant masqueraders for a lively day on the road, taking a different route through Kingston from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with all-inclusive food, drinks, and snacks galore.
Xodus Road March: Renowned for its dancehall beats and vibrant atmosphere, the Xodus Road March is a spirited carnival procession where revelers clad in costumes revel freely in the streets, dancing the day away. Join this dynamic carnival band at 9 a.m. for an all-inclusive day of festivities.
XS Street: A new afterparty brought to you by the GenXs team, XS Street is pure dancehall vibes after the Carnival Sunday road march. Join the GenXs team starting at 6 p.m.
Monday, April 8
Ocean X: Just when you think Carnival Week is over, think again. Ocean X is the GenXs catamaran cruise that docks at Maiden Cay island in Jamaica; boarding begins at 10 a.m.
XS Sunset: The final GenXs event of the week is XS Sunset, a cooler cool-down fete, free for GenXs Masqueraders.
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Noel Cymone Walker is an NYC-based writer specializing in beauty, fashion, music, travel, and cultural anthropology. She has written and produced visuals for several notable publications such as The Recording Academy/The Grammys, The Fader, Billboard, OkayPlayer, Marie Claire, Glamour, Allure, Essence, Ebony, and more.
Jennifer Ruziscka, a seasoned high school English teacher and cheerleading coach with nearly 30 years of experience, resigned from the Springfield Local School District after being discovered on adult subscription platforms OnlyFans and Fansly. The discovery has stirred debate about professional conduct and the junction of personal and public duties.
According to WTOL, Ruziscka’s subscription accounts were classified by the district as “pornographic/sexually graphic websites,” requiring disciplinary action. Matt Geha, the district’s superintendent, said, “Springfield Local Schools was made aware of allegations where one of its teachers was participating in conduct unbecoming of a professional educator.” As a result, Ruziscka was placed on administrative leave beginning January 29, 2024, following her last day in the classroom on January 26, 2024.
According to a report by WTOL that cited an email from the superintendent to the Ohio Board of Education on February 2, an investigation into Ruziscka’s conduct began on January 26. The district attorney provided guidelines for the collection of evidence.
Ruziscka, who went by the handle ‘Jenniferssecrets’ on subscription sites, reportedly earned $74,720 per year before she resigned. In a statement acquired by 13ABC, she expressed thanks for her stay, citing praise for her dedication and innovative teaching. However, she elected not to reveal specifics about her resignation, citing a wish to avoid further harm to others’ reputations.
The former English teacher invoked Harper Lee’s renowned novel, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ to advocate for empathy and understanding. “As I have always been one who stands in the shoes of others, I hope others will now stand in mine,” she said.
The Springfield Local School District has not issued further statements regarding the matter.
Well, giddy up cowgirls and cowboys: Beyoncé’s country era-inspired album “Cowboy Carter” has officially come into town!
Black Women Had Some Major Firsts In Last Week’s Midterm Elections
Encompassing 27 songs at nearly an hour and half worth of listening time, Bey’s newly released album spans across genres and styles, delivering good on not just her country roots, but the musical roots of Black folks as a whole. With gospel, funk, blues, folk, pop and even rock influences interspersed throughout—“Cowboy Carter” isn’t just a reclamation of a genre Black artists have notoriously been excluded from. The album is an ode to, and journey through, all the genres we’ve no doubt helped create, shape, and have shined bright in as performers. It’s also a true testament to Bey’s own declaration: “This ain’t a country album. It’s a Beyonce album.”
And in true Yoncé fashion, the project includes a myriad of surprising personal and professional insights, so let’s get into it!
‘Cowboy Carter’ was Supposed to Come Before ‘Renaissance’
In a newly released statement on Friday, Bey revealed that Cowboy Carter was initially slated to be act i in her three-act project instead of “Renaissance.” Explaining her decision to switch the order, Bey said:
“This album took over five years. It’s been really great to have the time and the grace to be able to take my time with it. I was initially going to put ‘Cowboy Carter’ out first, but with the pandemic, there was too much heaviness in the world. We wanted to dance. We deserved to dance. But I had to trust God’s timing.”
She later added:
“The joy of creating music is that there are no rules. The more I see the world evolving the more I felt a deeper connection to purity. With artificial intelligence and digital filters and programming, I wanted to go back to real instruments, and I used very old ones.
I didn’t want some layers of instruments like strings, especially guitars, and organs perfectly in tune. I kept some songs raw and leaned into folk. All the sounds were so organic and human, everyday things like the wind, snaps and even the sound of birds and chickens, the sounds of nature.”
The Features and Contributions Are Even More Iconic
On Thursday, we told you that that the album would feature contributions from folks like Tanner Adell, Willie Jones, Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Post Malone. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Additional features include: daughter Rumi Carter; Linda Martell (the first commercially successful Black country artist and the first Black artists to ever play at the Grand Ole Opry in 1970); Shaboozey; Brittney Spencer; Tiera Kennedy; Reyna Roberts; The Beatles.
Contributors include: The-Dream; The Beatles; Stevie Wonder; Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams; No I.D.; Raphael Saadiq; Ryan Tedder; Chuck Berry; Jon Batiste; Ryan Beatty; Swizz Beatz; Gary Clark Jr.; Rhiannon Giddens; Khirye Tyler; Derek Dixie; Ink; Dixson; Nova Wav; Mamii; Cam; Tyler Johnson; Dave Hamelin; Jay-Z; and Taylor Swift (surprise, surprise—she’s on background vocals on “Bodyguard”).
“I think people are going to be surprised because I don’t think this music is what everyone expects,” Beyoncé explained. “But it’s the best music I’ve ever made.”
“Becky With the Good Hair” Returns…Kind Of and Gets a Warning
If you’ll remember, the insinuation of Jay-Z’s infidelity was first made public years ago when Bey sang, “you better call Becky with the good hair” on the “Lemonade” album track, “Sorry,” back in 2016.
In the lead-up to Bey’s version of “Jolene,” Dolly Parton does a fitting callback to that moment, saying in an interlude: “You know that hussy with the good hair you sing about? Reminded me of someone I knew back when except she had flaming locks of auburn hair.”
Additionally, in Dolly Parton’s original “Jolene,” Dolly essentially pleads with Jolene to leave her man alone. However, in Bey’s interpretation, there’s no pleading—just a series of warning’s reminding Jolene that she better find somewhere safe to play instead of playing around and trying to meddle in Bey’s marriage.
An example:
Jolene I’m a woman too, the games you play are nothing new. So you don’t want no heat with me, Jolene.
And later: I’m warning you woman find you your own man. Jolene I know I’m a queen, Jolene. I’m still a Creole Banjee bitch from Louisianne (don’t try me.)
‘Cowboy Carter’ Was Inspired by Iconic Westerns and the History of Black Cowboys
Though we already knew this album would have heavy country influences, on Friday, Bey revealed that the album drew inspiration from a handful of western films such as: “Five Fingers For Marseilles,” “Urban Cowboy,” “The Hateful Eight, “Space Cowboys,” “The Harder They Fall” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
“Cowboy Carter” was also influenced by Spaghetti westerns, Blaxploitation films, and “the original Black cowboys of the American West.”
Per the statement:
“The word cowboy itself was used in a derogatory way to describe the former slaves as ‘boys,’ who were the most skilled and had the hardest jobs of handling horses and cattle, alike. In destroying the negative connotation, what remains is the strength and resiliency of these men who were the true definition of Western fortitude.”
With this context in mind, it makes the inclusion of Black country singers like Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts—who are all featured on this track alongside Bey—that much more potent. Considering the impetus for this album was heavily inspired by the racist backlash Bey experienced at the CMAs five years ago, “BLACKBIIRD” is equal parts Black Girl Magic and Black History.
Louis Gossett Jr., an Oscar- and Emmy-winning actor who embodied a variety of characters in a career that spanned more than five decades, died Thursday at age 87.
The legendary actor appeared in more than 50 films and hundreds of television shows, garnering respect and acclaim along the way for roles such as Fiddler in the television miniseries “Roots,” and Sgt. Emil Foley in the film “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
A New York City native, Gossett was born on May 27, 1936, to Hellen Rebecca Gossett, a nurse, and Louis Gossett Sr., a porter. His Coney Island neighborhood in New York’s Brooklyn borough was home to other prominent artists including Gustav Blum. Harvey Keitel, Neil Simon and Arthur Miller.
A screening of “Carmen Jones” in 2023 brought together (from left) Shari Belafonte, TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, Donald Bogle, Louis Gossett Jr., Debra Martin Chase, and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs during the 2023 TCM Classic Film Festival in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for TCM)
Acting came early, but it wasn’t Gossett’s first interest. He attended Abraham Lincoln High School, where he first focused on basketball. An injury that left him sidelined led him to take an acting class. At 17, he debuted in a school production of “You Can’t Take It with You,”and his performance was so inspiring that his teacher urged him to audition for a Broadway play. He did so, landed a role in “Take a Giant Step”(1953), and won the Donaldson Award for best newcomer of the year.
Following high school, he chose to attend New York University, which offered him a basketball and drama scholarship. While in school, he took on other acting gigs, appearing in “The Desk Set” (1955) with award-winning actress Shirley Booth. Upon his college graduation in 1958, he was invited to the New York Knicks’ rookie camp. He chose to remain dedicated to his acting career and studied at The Actors Studio with John Sticks and Peggy Fury.
In 1961, Gossett landed a pivotal role in the Broadway production and subsequent film adaptation of “A Raisin in the Sun.” He also appeared in the original cast of Jean Genet’s “The Blacks.”It would become the longest-running off-Broadway play of the decade. James Earl Jones, Roscoe Lee Browne, Cicely Tyson, Godfrey Cambridge, Maya Angelou and Charles Gordone were among his castmates. He went on to appear in “Golden Boy” (1964), and later in “Chicago” (2002).
On-screen, Gossett’s career also blossomed. His credits include “The Landlord” (1970), “Good Times” (1976), “Don’t Look Back: The Story of Leroy “Satchel” Paige” (1981), “Enemy Mine”(1985), “The Principal” (1987), “Iron Eagle” film series (1986-1995), “The Josephine Baker Story”(1991), “Lackawanna Blues”(2005), and “Watchmen”(2019).
Actor Louis Gossett Jr. and his eldest son, Satie Gossett, attend the 83rd Annual Academy Awards in February 2011 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
In 1977, he won an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama or comedy series for his portrayal of Fiddler in the groundbreaking ABC miniseries “Roots.”
He made Oscar history in 1983. In 2023, Gossett celebrated the 40th anniversary of his historic Academy Award win for best supporting actor for his role in “An Officer and a Gentleman.” He was the first Black actor to win that category.
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Gossett recalled during a December 2023 press conference that he faced some tough competition that award season. His fellow nominees included Charles Durning, John Lithgow, James Mason and Robert Preston. “To be in the top five is pretty good stuff,” said Gossett, who also won the Golden Globe that year.
In addition to his Academy Award and Emmy, Gossett won another Golden Globe Award for best supporting actor in HBO’s “The Josephine Baker Story” in 1992. And in 2000, he received the Black Reels Award for outstanding directing in a television movie or limited series for the made-for-television film series “Love Songs”(1999). He joined forces with Robert Townsend and the late Andre Braugher for each to direct a short story, all interconnected through themes of love and family.
Gossett was still in demand at age 87. While it was a small part, Gossett took on with plenty of heft the role of Ol’ Mister Johnson in the movie musical adaptation of “The Color Purple,” which premiered in 2023 and earned rave reviews and award season buzz. For Gossett, it was a “blessing” to be a part of it all. “It’s just lightning in a bottle,” Gossett said about the film’s acclaim. “It’s just perfect.”
Louis Gossett Jr. (right) posed with fellow “Roots” cast members (from left) Todd Bridges, LeVar Burton, John Amos, Ben Vereen, Cicely Tyson, Olivia Cole and Leslie Uggams before the 2007 TV Land Awards at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TV Land)
When asked in a press conference in Atlanta about the decision to bring “The Color Purple” to the screen again, he lauded the novel as a “monumental piece” of art and its commitment to truth.
He told the audience: “Since I’m still here, I’m devoted to the absolute, bottom line truth about our existence together as mankind.”
Off-screen, Gossett was a dedicated social activist and educator. With the support of a grant, Gossett, James Earl Jones and Paul Sorvino began a theater group in the 1960s to help at-risk youths. In 2005, he sponsored a Los Angeles anti-violence effort called One Summer of Peace. The following year, he founded the Eracism Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating racism. The foundation provides young adults with tools to live a racially diverse and culturally inclusive life. As part of the foundation’s work, he partnered with the Rev. George Clements, a Black Catholic priest and rights activist, to develop Shamba Centers to teach Black history and culture.
Gossett is survived by his sons, Satie Gossett and Sharron Gossett.
An Unforgettable Root 100: Jon Batiste, Fani Willis, Misty Copeland & Many More Honored & Perform
Earlier this month, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed a complaint to disbar Willis over her relationship with former Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade.
“Today, I’m filing a complaint to disbar Fulton County DA Fani Willis for her corrupt actions,” wrote Willis. “should’ve been removed from her political persecution of President Trump after it was revealed she went on lavish vacations with her lover Nathan Wade. The lover she paid HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of dollars! Unfit to serve!”
The complaint, which can be made by anyone, was filed shortly after a decision by Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee — who allowed Willis to remain on the case so-long as Wade left, which he did shortly after the ruling. However clearly the Georgia Congresswoman didn’t think that losing Wade was enough.
So far, it’s unclear if the complaint went any where. Any disciplinary action taken against an attorney has to be posted on the State Bar’s website, and so far her name has been noticeably absent.
This isn’t the first time Rep. Greene has come for Willis. Earlier this year, she filed a criminal complaint against Willis for her “secret boyfriend” (i.e. Wade).
Similarly to the disbarment complaint filed by the Georgia Congresswoman, it doesn’t seem like anything came of the criminal referral. But based on her track record, it certainly doesn’t seem like we’ve heard the last of Rep. Greene’s beef with Fulton County DA Willis.
Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
2004 was a pivotal year in my life. Arguably, it’s the most significant year of my professional life; on my 25th birthday — June 3, 2004 —I published my first-ever blog post. From that point on, my life and career were never the same. While I maintained a regular day job, complete with a salary, benefits and paid time off, during the latter half of that year I began receiving opportunities to write for websites I’d previously spent most of my downtime reading. One of those spaces was Allhiphop.com, which in 2004, was one of the few hip-hop websites, and thus, a supremely popular online stop for all folks interested in the culture. Put a pin in this.
2004 was also a pretty significant year for indie hip-hop releases. March 23, 2004, is the day that one of the most classic albums in hip-hop was released, MF Doom and Madlib’s “Madvillainy,” but it was also the release date of another notable project: “Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition,” a collaborative album from rapper Murs and (at that time) new-ish on the scene producer, 9th Wonder. 9th Wonder is, of course, the producer of the vaunted North Carolina-based hip-hop group Little Brother. Murs was a rapper from the Los Angeles group, Living Legends, but I knew him from a separate collaborative album with rapper Slug (from the group Atmosphere). Slug and Murs formed a group called Felt and released “Felt: A Tribute to Christina Ricci” in 2002.
In 2004, and coming on the heels of his much-earned celebrity as a producer from Little Brother’s debut album, “The Listening,” and a placement on Jay-Z’s 2003 album, “The Black Album,” I was pretty much willing to listen to anything produced by 9th Wonder. I picked up “Madvillainy” and “Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition” on the same day, and both albums stayed in rotation for the entirety of the year (and years after, if I’m being honest). 9th Wonder’s signature production was amazing, but the thing that really stood out to me was the relatability of Murs, who despite rapping about a city I had yet to visit, and a life I wasn’t familiar with outside of movies centered in Los Angeles, dropped bars that made me feel like I could see and understand his life. I’ve always had a thing for everyman-style rappers; make no mistake, Murs (and rappers like Phonte and Blueprint from Soul Position) were lyricists of the highest order, but their storytelling and lyricism used references and ideas that felt familiar to me.
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Also, Murs has an absolute penchant for storytelling. The song “Walk Like a Man” was so cinematic that I remember thinking that somebody should take that concept and turn it into a short film, which he eventually did. Aside from the storytelling, the song has three parts, and the beat for the second part was one of the greatest beats I’d ever heard, and I still feel that way. 9th Wonder’s ability to craft an emotionally-charged beat perfectly fit Murs’ voice and, well, there’s a reason why this album was so highly rated in 2004. It’s an album full of interesting tales about life in Los Angeles as a rapper whose fanbase didn’t always match the folks whose lives would most relate to the content, something he spoke to directly on the album cut, “And This Is For…”
Because of a connection made through the blogging world, I was given my first opportunity to write a piece for Allhiphop.com in October 2004. And when I got my second chance the next month, that song was on my mindwhen I wrote an article for Allhiphop.com in November 2004. That second piece for the site was my chance to explore a topic on my mind: the way fans of hip-hop complained about everything and how the artists might receive that. The song “And This Is For…” played over and over as I wrote a piece titled “Hip Hop Confusion: And This Is For?” arguing that we as consumers and fans were never happy, and because of that, artists should simply make the music that best suited who they were at that point in life.
A decision I made in that piece further changed my trajectory. I put my email address at the end of it, and I got emails from rappers, managers, agents and people who read the piece and agreed and some wanted to work with me. Obviously the album itself didn’t change my life, but it did inspire my writing. I’ve long admired Murs’ ability to tell a relatable story. While I don’t write rap lyrics, rappers are often my go-to for inspiration because I was raised on and by hip-hop. And the song “And This Is For…” presented ideas I’d also been thinking about. And when I got the opportunity to create art that synthesized my thoughts with the topics, I did so. Is “Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition” a classic hip-hop record? Maybe not, but only because Murs wasn’t then a household name. The album is as good now as it was in 2004.
Murs and 9th Wonder collaborated on future projects and have both succeeded tremendously independently. That first project though, hit me at a time I was looking to find art that spoke to my development as a writer, and this album was one that I still look to as being foundational to my career. It helped me get onto Allhiphop.com and propel my career forward.
Now, I know who this is for.
Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio. He writes very Black things, drinks very brown liquors, and is pretty fly for a light guy. His biggest accomplishment to date coincides with his Blackest accomplishment to date in that he received a phone call from Oprah Winfrey after she read one of his pieces (biggest), but he didn’t answer the phone because the caller ID said: “Unknown” (Blackest).
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Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is speaking out against the racists who called him the “DEI mayor” after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed earlier this week. The tragedy happened early Tuesday morning when a cargo ship lost power and crashed into the bridge.
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There were six people presumed deceased, but the focus for certain conservative social media users—including Utah Rep. Phil Lyman and Florida congressional candidate Anthony Sabatini—was finding a way to blame diversity, equity and inclusion for the catastrophe.
On Wednesday, Scott sat down with MSNBC’s Joy Reid to discuss the online attacks. “I know, and we know, and you know very well that Black men—and young Black men in particular—have been the bogeyman for those who are racist and think that only straight, wealthy white men should have a say in anything,” he stated.
Scott also explained that he didn’t receive a special appointment to his position because of his race—he was literally elected to office. In fact, the 39-year-old politician served on the city council before becoming mayor in 2020. Scott won more than 70 percent of the vote.
“We’ve been the bogeyman for [racists] since the first day they brought us to this country, and what they mean by DEI in my opinion is duly elected incumbent,” he said.
“We know what they want to say, but they don’t have the courage to say the N-word, and the fact that I don’t believe in their untruthful and wrong ideology,” Scott continued.
“And I am very proud of my heritage and who I am and where I come from scares them, because me being at my position means that their way of thinking, their way of life of being comfortable while everyone else suffers is going to be at risk, and they should be afraid because that’s my purpose in life.”
Scott should be focusing on those impacted by the bridge collapse—not defending himself from racist trolls.
