NEW YORK (AP) — You can call the music of Kool & the Gang funky or R&B, soulful or disco, pop or dance. What you cannot call it is partisan.

When Iowa’s delegation at this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago announced its vote for the Harris-Walz ticket, they played “Celebration.” That was the same song picked a few weeks earlier when Donald Trump reached the number of delegates he needed to win the Republican nomination in Milwaukee.

“The Democrats and Republicans, they’re both using ‘Celebration,’” Robert “Kool” Bell, bass guitarist and co-founder of Kool & the Gang marveled recently. “Our music is for everybody.”

After fueling so many other people’s political and non-political parties, it will be time for Kool & the Gang to finally celebrate when they are inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame next month in Cleveland.

“It feels wonderful, man, after all these years,” says Bell, who was born in Youngstown, Ohio. “When we first started, we didn’t know where we were going, but we loved what we were doing.”

Bell is the only living member of the original lineup, following a cluster of recent deaths, including drummer and songwriter George Brown in 2023, saxophonist, flutist and percussionist Dennis Thomas in 2021 and Bell’s composer brother, Ronald, in 2020.

“That is a bittersweet sort of feeling,” said Bell, who noted the original lineup in the early ’60s was nicknamed “The Magnificent Seven.” “And now there’s only one left — and that’s me.”

The opening of the Hall of Fame door for Kool & the Gang coincided with a change in hall leadership in 2023 that led to invites for key legacy acts like Foreigner, Peter Frampton and Cher.

On Oct. 19, they’ll join Mary J. Blige, A Tribe Called Quest, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, the late Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick, Alexis Korner, the late John Mayall and Big Mama Thornton in the class of ’24.

Rock, pop and hip-hop royalty will be on hand to help usher them in, including Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, James Taylor, Demi Lovato, Dua Lipa, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Ella Mai and Kenny Chesney.

Kool & the Gang had 12 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 including the 1980 chart-topper “Celebration” as well as “Cherish,” “Get Down On It,” “Ladies Night” and “Joanna.” They’ve been eligible for the hall since 1994.

They won seven American Music Awards and were included on the Grammy-winning soundtrack for “Saturday Night Fever” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” Several members — including Bell — were asked to sing on the mega-selling 1984 charity single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

Kool & the Gang never let go of its grip on pool parties, weddings and cookouts. The group’s “Misled” was featured in Netflix’s “Leave the World Behind” in 2023, and their music was played during this year’s NFL playoffs and Super Bowl.

The induction coincides this fall with the release of Brown’s posthumous album, “Where I’m Coming From,” a 16-track collection that shows off the drummer as a versatile multi-instrumentalist who explored Brazilian rhythms, country, cool jazz, romantic ballads and pure dance — proof that members of the Gang had lots to offer.

“I wish George was here and the rest of the original members because they well deserve this recognition,” says his wife, Hahn Brown. “These gentlemen of the band itself needs to be recognized for their body of work and the changes they made in the music industry.”

The band began in 1964 with brothers Kool and Ronald “Khalis” Bell, along with high school friends Dennis “D.T.” Thomas, Brown, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Ricky West and Charles Smith in Jersey City, New Jersey. They grew from jazz roots in the 1960s to become one of the major groups of the 1970s and ’80s, blending jazz, funk, R&B and pop.

A pivotal moment came when the group hired James “JT” Taylor as lead singer in 1979, fueling most of their ‘80s hits. The first song he recorded was “Ladies’ Night,” a tune Bell conceived of while hanging out at Studio 54 and Regine’s in Manhattan.

“I came back, I said, ‘I got a great idea for a title.’ So my brother said, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Ladies’ Night.’ He said, ‘Wow, they got one of those all over the world.’ And that was his first song.”

The group was honored with a BET Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame four years later. During the very last space shuttle mission in 2011, one of the wake-up songs was “Celebration.”

That party-time juggernaut was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016 and added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry in 2020.

Kool & the Gang have been sampled by everybody from A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B. & Rakim, Ice Cube, Kid Rock and TLC. They can be heard in DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince’s “Summertime,” Jhené Aiko’s “Summer 2020,” Madonna’s “Erotica” and Public Enemy’s “Welcome to the Terrordome.”

Last year, Kool & the Gang released a new album, “People Just Wanna Have Fun,” with the first single the infectious, happy “Let’s Party,” featuring vocals from Sha Sha Jones.

Joining Bell in the current Kool & the Gang lineup are trumpet player and singer Michael Ray; guitarist and lead singer Shawn McQuiller; and saxophonist, keyboardist and music director Curtis Williams.

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John Wick fans, rejoice! The beloved franchise is expanding its universe with a thrilling new spin-off, Ballerina. The first trailer for the film has dropped, offering a glimpse into the action-packed world of Ana de Armas’ titular character.

While many believed the fourth installment would mark the end of the John Wick saga, Lionsgate had other plans. The studio has greenlit a series of projects set within the franchise’s universe, including the prequel series The Continental. Now, fans are getting a taste of the next chapter with Ballerina.

The film follows Rooney, a young assassin played by de Armas. Orphaned at a young age, Rooney seeks revenge on those responsible for her family’s death. With a script penned by John Wick alum Shay Hatten and directed by Len Wiseman, Ballerina promises to deliver the same high-octane thrills that fans have come to expect from the franchise.

While Ballerina is a standalone film, it will feature familiar faces from the John Wick universe. Ian McShane’s Winston Scott and Keanu Reeves himself will reprise their iconic roles, and the late Lance Reddick will make a posthumous appearance as Charon.

New characters will also be introduced, expanding the world of John Wick. Joining de Armas on screen are Gabriel Byrne, Norman Reedus, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, David Castañeda, and Anjelica Huston as The Director.

Ballerina is set to hit theaters on June 6, 2025. The trailer is sure to excite fans with its stunning visuals and intense action sequences.

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Who couldn’t have seen this coming? Not that clairvoyance would have filled in the specifics: New York City’s second Black mayor being formally accused by federal prosecutors of allegedly taking bribes from the Turkish government sounds more like the plot of a Tom Clancy or Stacey Abrams political thriller than even a Miss Cleo prediction. Instead, it’s real life, and in hindsight, we had all the clues that the experiment that was the Eric Adams administration wouldn’t end well.

How, you ask? History’s been tipping us off since Day One. Adams brought a compelling backstory to his campaign to be mayor of a New York that felt like it was in crisis in the post-pandemic era. Residents were leaving, businesses were closing and a narrative that Gotham just wasn’t safe anymore took hold. Adams, a well-connected former Brooklyn borough president, was also a former cop who rose through the NYPDs ranks with stories of having himself suffered humiliation and abuse of its officers. If anyone understood how to steer the city back toward safety for everyone, he told New Yorkers, it was him.

But buying into that campaign pitch always required ignoring the omens. There was at least circumstantial evidence that Adams’s NYC address wasn’t actually where he lived. And his tough talk about how to save New York always echoed the rhetoric of other politicians who used fear–specifically the fear of crime–to gather votes and distract from disastrous flaws of either personality, politics or both.

Rudy Guiliani made his name prosecuting the New York mafia’s Five Families and promised, like Adams, that as mayor, he’d reduce street crime and make New Yorkers feel safe again. Instead, he presided over an era of gruesome and unchecked police violence, against Black men especially. Abner Louima was tortured and sodomized with a plunger by cops in a Brooklyn police station. Amadou Diallo was killed in a hail of 41 bullets by NYPD cops who couldn’t tell the difference between his wallet and a gun, which he didn’t have. We know where Guiliani ended up: disbarred from practicing law and disgraced for trying to help Donald Trump use lies and conspiracy theories to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Speaking of Trump, his own used of fear tactics–placing a full-page ad calling for the execution of five Black teenagers falsely accused and prosecuted for a Central Park rape–foreshadowed his racist, fearmongering presidency. He’s now a convicted felon, which hasn’t yet stopped him from seeking the presidency again.

Eric Adams isn’t these men, but his rhetoric on crime, safety and fear–and his fate, landing under federal prosecution–tracks. Here at The Root, we told you about how after his election, he promised to flood New York’s subways with cops, his policy of bringing back solitary confinement to Rikers Island, his argument that no one who hadn’t worn an NYPD uniform could criticize him –eliminating almost everyone in New York and beyond–and his plans to re-institute an NYPD anti-violence unit that had been disbanded over its own notorious use of violence against citizens.

We also warned about his questionable pick of a deputy mayor for public safety, who had previously resigned from the department while under federal investigation for corruption. That guy? A company he ran before Adams appointed him now figures prominently into the federal corruption investigation into the Adams administration.

In fairness, we won’t know until at least hours from now what, exactly, is in the indictment against Adams. Even then, he’ll be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, assuming the Feds’ case makes it to trial. Adams has already released a video maintaining his innocence, as is his right.

Still, it’s hard to look back and think that we hadn’t all seen this movie before and wonder why so many people went to the polls in 2021 eager to pay the high price of admission again.

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Netflix unveiled a thrilling first look at its upcoming series, Senna. The series, set to debut globally on November 29, showcases new images and a captivating poster featuring the legendary Brazilian Formula 1 driver, Ayrton Senna.

The images showcase Gabriel Leone in a captivating recreation of Ayrton Senna’s iconic pose, wearing a vibrant red jumpsuit and his signature helmet. The series also introduces pivotal figures from Senna’s life, including his parents, friends, and his legendary rival on the track, Alain Prost, played by Matt Mella.

Senna, a six-part doc, dives deep into the life of the legendary three-time F1 champ. From his early days racing go-karts to the tragic end of his career, the series follows Senna’s highs, lows, and everything in between. It’s a must-watch for any fan of racing or just a good story.

Vicente Amorim serves as both the showrunner and director, with Julia Rezende co-directing the series. Senna is produced by Gullane in collaboration with Senna Brands and the driver’s family, ensuring an authentic portrayal of the racing icon.

Meet the Characters

• Ayrton Senna – Gabriel Leone
  The legendary Brazilian driver and three-time Formula 1 World Champion, Ayrton Senna, is celebrated for his remarkable ability to overcome challenges, earning his place as one of the greatest drivers in motorsport history.






• Lilian de Vasconcellos – Alice Wegmann
  Ayrton Senna’s wife from 1981-1982, she plays a significant role in his early life.






• Jean-Marie Balestre – Arnaud Viard
  The influential President of FIA from 1986 to 1993.






• Viviane Senna – Camila Márdila
  Ayrton’s supportive sister.






• Galvão Bueno – Gabriel Louchard
  The renowned Brazilian sports commentator and friend of Senna.






• Nelson Piquet – Hugo Bonemer
  A fellow Brazilian driver and three-time Formula 1 World Champion.






• Niki Lauda – Johannes Heinrichs
  The Austrian driver and three-time World Champion was also a technical consultant for Ferrari during the 1990s.






• Adriane Galisteu – Julia Foti
  Model and TV host, and Ayrton’s partner from 1993 to 1994.






• Laura Harrison – Kaya Scodelario
  A fictional character inspired by journalists who covered Senna’s career.






• Miltão – Marco Ricca
  Ayrton Senna’s father, Milton G. T. da Silva.






• Alain Prost – Matt Mella
  The French driver and four-time World Champion is known as Senna’s main rival.






• Xuxa Meneghel – Pâmela Tomé
  A popular TV host and Senna’s partner from 1988 to 1990.






• Ron Dennis – Patrick Kennedy
  The influential McLaren Formula 1 Team Principal.






• Frank Williams – Steven Mackintosh
  The founder of the Williams F1 Team.






• Neide Senna (Zaza) – Susana Ribeiro
  Ayrton Senna’s mother.






• Rubens Barrichello – João Maestri
  Another prominent Brazilian F1 driver.






• Roland Ratzenberger – Lucca Messer
  The Austrian F1 driver is remembered for his tragic accident during qualifying for the 1994 San Marino GP.

The cast of Netflix’s Senna

Netflix’s Senna is about to drop, and it’s gonna be a wild ride. They’re digging deep into the life of the legendary racer, showing us the highs and lows, the wins and the losses. Whether you’re a racing fan or just looking for a good story, this series is gonna hit you right in the feels.

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On the first day of an Oklahoma high school’s spirit week, a group of students ruined all the fun of homecoming by using their costumes to send a hateful message.

Everyone knows how Spirit Week goes. Every day, students have a different theme to dress up for like “Opposite Day” or “Superhero Day.” Well, last week, students at Tishomingo High School were encouraged to participate in Scrabble Day by wearing a black t-shirt so they can receive a random Scrabble tile, according to The Okahoman. However, a few students thought it was funny to use their letters to send a disgusting message. Six non-Black students (including a white boy with dreads???) were captured in a photo wearing their letter which they arranged to spell out the N-word.

The photo was posted to a Johnston County Facebook group where a woman wrote the students in the picture were football players and were allegedly getting a slap on the wrist for displaying the racial slur.

“I know this is a small town, but this is coming from our young people. General influence. We should be beyond this!” the post read.

By the following Thursday, the report says Tishomingo Public Schools Superintendent Brandon Moreland issued an apology in a statement, condemning the incident.

“Racism and discrimination, in any form, will never be tolerated or accepted on our campus and is not reflective of the values of our students, school, or community. Our student body and staff include community members from all backgrounds, races, and religions, which is one of many aspects that makes our campus exceptional,” read his statement.

In another notice sent out that afternoon after classes, students were informed that the grand finale of their homecoming activities including a parade and football game were going to be canceled due to “safety and security concerns.”

The incident circulated the state so fast, Tuesday, Gov. Kevin Stitt released a statement in response to the incident.

“There’s no place for hate in Oklahoma, let alone in our schools. Those responsible should be held accountable and Governor Stitt hopes that the Tishomingo community and all Oklahomans will take this opportunity to evaluate the way they speak to each other and choose dignity over contempt,” read the statement from the governor’s office.

It’s unclear exactly what happened to the kids involved but Superintendent Moreland said immediate disciplinary action was taken.

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On Wednesday (September 25), Netflix announced its collaboration with 50 Cent’s G-Unit Film & Television for a docuseries surrounding the abuse allegations against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. The series, which focuses on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and multiple allegations of sexual assault and abuse, is currently in production, directed by Alexandra Stapleton.

The docuseries was first revealed by 50 Cent in December 2023, shortly after Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Cassie, filed a lawsuit alleging years of physical and sexual abuse. Although that lawsuit was quickly settled, more individuals have since come forward with similar accusations against the Bad Boy Entertainment founder.

In a joint statement with Stapleton, 50 Cent emphasized the importance of the project, highlighting that it aims to go beyond the headlines. “This is a story with significant human impact. It is a complex narrative spanning decades, not just the headlines or clips seen so far,” they said, according to Variety. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to give a voice to the voiceless and to present authentic and nuanced perspectives. While the allegations are disturbing, we urge all to remember that Sean Combs’ story is not the full story of hip-hop and its culture. We aim to ensure that individual actions do not overshadow the culture’s broader contributions.”

The docuseries comes at a tumultuous time for Diddy, who has faced multiple legal challenges in recent months. In addition to the lawsuit brought by Cassie, his homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by federal authorities in March, leading to his arrest. Diddy has since been charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He is currently being held at MDC Brooklyn and has pleaded not guilty to all charges, maintaining his innocence.

Proceeds from the docuseries will reportedly go toward supporting victims of sexual assault, according to 50 Cent.

The series, which promises to offer a deep dive into the allegations and the broader cultural implications, is set to provide a platform for the voices of victims, while also reflecting on hip-hop’s influence and legacy beyond individual controversies.

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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.

I’m a huge fan of Natasha Rothwell. Full stop. She was my absolute favorite character on “Insecure” because she was in many of my absolute favorite scenes on the show. In fact, whenever something isn’t going my way, I often tell people to “remember me different” in a nod to a scene where Rothwell’s character, Kelly, was tazed at Coachella and peed on herself. Even now, I laugh hard enough to draw tears watching that scene. Since “Insecure,” I’ve felt that she needed her own television show, so when the promotion for her upcoming show on Hulu, “How to Die Alone” aired, I was 100% all in. 

The show, which premiered on Sept. 13, follows Melissa (Rothwell), an airport employee at New York City’s JFK Airport whose life is pretty mediocre until she has a life-changing experience that sets her on a course to want more for herself. This “want” includes her deciding to take her first ever flight — a vacation to Hawaii to attend the wedding of the guy, Alex (Jocko Sims), that she’s in love with and that she pushed away so he wouldn’t get the chance to leave her. Rounding out the cast of characters are several other employees at JFK with varying levels of significance in the live of Mel.

And then there’s her brother, Brian, played by Bashir Salahuddin, who was absolutely HILARIOUS as Officer Goodnight on the show “Southside.” In one of Mel’s attempts at taking back some portion of her own joy, she ends up on a dating site, sees her brother (who is married) there and proceeds to catfish him, leading up to an episode that takes place during Thanksgiving that is absolutely impeccable. 

As of this writing, the show has aired six episodes (the latest being the Thanksgiving episode, “Let Fear Win”), and I’m going to go on ahead and say what I didn’t want to say out loud until now: The show started super slow, and I was very, very concerned. As a matter of course, and unless absolutely necessary, I don’t like to be overly critical of Black creative arts; anybody who knows my love for artists like Ray J can attest to this fact. I tend to find joy in the existence of Black art and creativity, and I am largely always going to default to being happy that something exists regardless of how good or bad it is. That includes any and all works written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry, a phrase I once called the scariest in all of cinematic history. 

Here’s the thing though. Because I’m such a huge fan of Natasha Rothwell, I wanted the show to be amazing because I want everybody else to love her work as much as I do. I wanted to watch the first four episodes (they all dropped the same day) and then scream from the mountaintops that everybody needed to watch this show. Except that didn’t happen for me. I found the first few episodes to be largely uneventful and not very comedic, even where they attempted to be. There seemed to be something missing and because I don’t like to speak ill of Black art, remember, I just decided to keep quiet. I was fully prepared to only have conversations about the show during gatherings, which did happen, and see what others felt about it. It seems I wasn’t alone; the few people I spoke to who had seen it felt like I did, and I saw almost zero chatter about it on any of my social media apps. It was as if the show didn’t even exist; I wondered if others were doing what I was doing; Natasha Rothwell seems to have a 100% approval rating amongst the Black community. 

And then episodes 5 and 6 dropped — “Trust No One” and “Let Fear Win” — and the development of Mel’s character and the people around her started to build. The funny turned up a few notches, and the show felt like it was hitting a stride. Episode 6, though, as I said was on another level of quality. Brian and Mel’s super contentious relationship was on full display in a very familiar way with the right amount of comedy and solid writing. Now I’m over here looking forward to the next batch of episodes because “How to Die Alone” now feels like the show I was hoping it would be out of the gate. Perhaps that’s my own fault for expecting amazing right out of the gate, but four episodes feel like enough to gauge where a show might (or might not) be going. But I’ve spoken to other people, at this point, who are also watching and, well, it seems that we all feel the same way again. The consensus is that we’re cooking with gas now. 

Now that I can exhale and say, “he’s a good man, Savannah” (in this case “How to Die Alone” would be Kenneth; though I suppose in this case the statement is actually true), I’m excited. I’ve even gone back and rewatched the earlier episodes; that’s where I’m at with this show now. Natasha Rothwell impressed me so much with her work on “Insecure” that I’ve been waiting for her chance, and she took that opportunity and is putting up a good show that I hope gets a chance to fully spread its wings. 

I’m all in on “How to Die Alone” now, and hopefully, lots of other people are, too. 

Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio and host of the award-winning podcast, “Dear Culture” on theGrio Black Podcast Network. 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).

The NPHC of Montgomery County in Maryland recently hosted its inaugural Farming for Humanity event, a powerful community service initiative aimed at highlighting the importance of agriculture in uplifting Black farmers and businesses. This event brought together people from diverse backgrounds to work in partnership with Edgefield Farm, a local farm operated by Black immigrant farmers. Volunteers of all ages participated in various farm upkeep activities, including weed snipping and crop rotation, while also attending educational stations to learn about sustainable agriculture and the contributions of Black farmers.

To honor the land and ancestors before the work began, Dr. Lorenzo Cooper York of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. (Tri Sigma Chapter) led a blessing ceremony. This spiritual moment connected participants to the deeper significance of their efforts, recognizing the legacy of Black farmers and the challenges they continue to face. The event not only provided an opportunity to serve but also created a space for reflection and appreciation of the rich history of Black agriculture in the U.S.

After a fulfilling day of work and learning, attendees were treated to delicious Jamaican cuisine from Wi Jammin, a Black-owned food truck based in the DMV area. The flavorful dishes added a festive touch, celebrating the connection between food, culture, and community. This event was a beautiful reminder of how collective efforts can support Black businesses and farmers while strengthening community bonds.