18

Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, has dropped a scorching new single titled “Dancing In The Flames.” This fiery track is the first official taste of his highly anticipated upcoming album, “Hurry Up Tomorrow“. While we’re still waiting for a concrete release date for the full album, this new single is definitely setting the stage for what promises to be another explosive musical journey.

The Weeknd teamed up with director Anton Tammi to create a visually stunning music video for “Dancing In The Flames.” What’s even more impressive is that the entire video was shot using the new iPhone 16 Pro! Talk about pushing the boundaries of mobile filmmaking.

“Hurry Up Tomorrow” is the third installment in The Weeknd’s trilogy of albums, following the critically acclaimed “After Hours” and “Dawn FM.” The artist himself has described this final chapter as “the creative apex of the project.” Last week, Tesfaye gave fans a sneak peek of several songs from the new album during a live stream from a gig in São Paulo.

So, get ready to dance in the flames with The Weeknd as we eagerly await the release of “Hurry Up Tomorrow.”

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Allen Media Group’s HBCU GO, the leading media provider for the nation’s 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Procter & Gamble are joining together to celebrate HBCU culture.

The partnership includes a commercial campaign titled “THIS IS HOW WE HBCYOU,” which will run during the 2024 football season. The partnership also features the “2024 HBCU GO Sports Pre-Game Live Kick-Off Show,” HBCU GO’s first-ever live, on-campus show leading up to the biggest games of the season, including the Southern Heritage Classic on Saturday between Tennessee State and Arkansas Pine Bluff.

“P&G truly understands the valuable, untapped audience that HBCU GO can deliver,” said Byron Allen, founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group, parent company of theGrio. “This new super-charged partnership with HBCU GO highlights P&G’s continued efforts to reach audiences through Black-owned media partners in authentic ways, such as HBCU Education and Culture.”

Eric Austin, vice president of Global Marketing & Media Innovation at Procter & Gamble, said, “We strive to meet the unique needs of all consumers. Together with Allen Media Group’s HBCU GO, we are able to authentically connect and support Black consumers — in everyday life, with superior brand innovation at relevant cultural moments.”

The P&G #HowWeHBCYOU brand commercial campaign, which AMG produced, recognizes the importance of supporting HBCU schools and students to foster their success and continued growth.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to lead this HBCU-themed commercial ad campaign for P&G,” said Kash Alexander, executive producer of programming at theGrio. “At theGrio, we are dedicated to telling authentic news stories highlighting the excellence of Black people. Now we’re also excited to make our mark in the brand production space with compelling narratives.”

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The “2024 HBCU GO Sports Pre-Game Live Kick-Off Show,” hosted by Jasmine McKoy, former Carolina Panthers Safety Tre Boston and HBCU Gameday’s Tolly Carr, will give fans of the four major HBCU football conferences live access to all the interviews and game strategy as well as a taste of HBCU culture. 

In addition to the Southern Classic on Saturday, the show’s schedule includes:

Oct. 12: Bethune Cookman vs Alabama A&M, Homecoming;
Oct. 19: Arkansas Pine Bluff vs Grambling State, Homecoming; 
Oct. 26: Jackson State vs Bethune Cookman, Homecoming; 
Nov. 9: Mississippi Valley vs. Jackson State.

For more information about HBCU GO, visit HBCUGO.TV.

21

Academy Award-winning screenwriter Barry Jenkins’ latest project, The Fire Inside, is making waves at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The biopic, which chronicles the life of boxing legend Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, has garnered rave reviews from critics.

Directed by Rachel Morrison, the first woman to be nominated for the Best Cinematography Oscar, The Fire Inside stars Ryan Destiny as Shields and Brian Tyree Henry as her coach. The film follows Shields’ journey from a young girl in Flint, Michigan, to becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing.

The Fire Inside is more than just a sports film. It’s a poignant exploration of resilience, determination, and the challenges faced by female athletes. The film delves into Shields’ personal struggles, including the pressures of fame, the demands of training, and the sacrifices she had to make to achieve her goals.

The film’s cinematography is particularly noteworthy, capturing the intensity and emotion of the boxing matches while also showcasing the beauty of Shields’ hometown. Morrison’s direction is both powerful and sensitive, allowing the audience to connect with Shields on a deeply personal level.

The Fire Inside is a must-see for fans of sports films, biopics, and inspiring stories. It’s a testament to the power of human spirit and the importance of never giving up on your dreams.

The film’s release coincides with an Olympic year, a fitting time to celebrate Shields’ historic achievements. Shields, who won her first gold medal at the age of 17, has become a symbol of perseverance and determination.

The Fire Inside is produced by Jenkins and Elishia Holmes, with Morrison, Shields, and several others serving as executive producers. The film is set to hit theaters on December 25, 2024, from Amazon MGM Studios.

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It was an awkward day in “Club Shay Shay.” 

Yesterday, NFL player turned TV personality Shannon Sharpe went viral after thousands of his Instagram followers heard him engage in a sex act on Instagram Live. After unknowingly broadcasting the intimate moment on his social media, Sharpe addressed the situation in an “emergency” episode of his show “Nightcap” with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. Kicking off the episode on a lighthearted note, Sharpe followed his usual intro, “I’m your favorite unc,” with “at least I used to be your favorite unc,” jokingly acknowledging what transpired on social media. 

“Obviously I am embarrassed,” Sharpe said in a more serious tone. “[I’m] someone that is extremely, extremely private and to have one of your most intimate details, the audio heard for the entire world to hear, I’m embarrassed for a number of reasons.” 

Acknowledging his responsibility as a public figure with connections to large brands like ESPN and as a father, Sharpe explained how disappointed he was with himself about what transpired. 

“Even when I’m behind closed doors, I still try to remain a level of professional [decorum], although I’m in the privacy of my own home, and I’m very disappointed in myself, not for the act — there are millions and billions of consenting age that engage in activities. But to have your most intimate detail on the audio to be heard…I let a lot of people down,” he added. 

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Despite social media speculations about the ordeal, Sharpe emphasized that “this was not staged.” According to the “Nightcap” co-host, he had thrown his phone on the bed before engaging in the leaked activities without even realizing that his phone had started an IG live. It was not until his phone started lighting up with calls from friends that Sharpe realized something had happened. 

“I’ve never been on IG Live; I’ve never turned IG Live on, so I don’t know how it works,” he claimed, explaining how his friend Jamie Fritz was the one to get ahold of him and tell him what was going on. “He said, ‘uh Shannon, you on IG Live.’[…] Now I’m starting to get agitated because you call me and say I’m on IG Live when I know I didn’t click myself on IG Live, and he said they can hear me I said ‘hear me doing what’ [and he said] said ‘it sounds like you were having sex,’” Sharpe recounted. “Man, my heart sank…it dropped.” 

While the people on his social media team sprung to action, turning off the Live and posting a since-deleted Instagram story post saying that the star’s account was compromised, Sharpe ultimately decided that honesty was the best policy. 

“I called my agency, I called ESPN [and] I said ‘I just got to tell them the truth. My phone wasn’t hacked. It wasn’t a prank; it was me being a healthy, active male,” he said. 

While the co-hosts joked about the way this situation should shut down any speculations about Sharpe’s sexuality, he says the worst part of the situation is the fact that his family and friends will have to answer for his actions. 

“After it happened I just remembered everything my grandfather and my grandmother said. They said ‘Boy you messed it up, now clean it up,” he concluded.  

16

Hold onto your seats, music fans—Dua Lipa is back, and she’s bringing her ‘Radical Optimism Tour’ to stages around the globe in 2025! The sensational 3x GRAMMY and 7x BRIT Award-winning artist just announced over 40 new tour dates, spanning Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe, and the UK, with South American dates to be revealed soon.

This announcement comes hot on the heels of Dua’s breathtaking debut headlining performance at the Pyramid Stage during the 2024 Glastonbury Festival. The BBC hailed her set as a masterclass in precision, and the fervor for her shows has never been higher, as evidenced by her swift sell-out of two consecutive nights at London’s legendary Wembley Stadium in June 2025.

The ‘Radical Optimism Tour’ will ignite this fall with stops in Asia, including Singapore, Jakarta, Tokyo, and more, before concluding in Seoul, Korea on December 5. The tour officially kicks off in Melbourne, Australia on March 20, 2025, and will take Dua through Sydney, Auckland, Madrid, Hamburg, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Dublin, Toronto, Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Seattle, wrapping up on October 16.

Fans eager to secure their tickets can jump on the artist presale starting Thursday, September 19 at dualipa.com. General ticket sales begin Friday, September 20, with different presale opportunities for American Express cardholders and other regional presales.

Dua Lipa’s ‘Radical Optimism,’ released May 3, 2024, has already made waves, topping charts in 11 countries and earning rave reviews from The New York Times and Vogue. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exhilarating journey—Dua Lipa is set to deliver a tour that will be talked about for years to come!

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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.

One day last fall while teaching a class at Howard University, I found myself troubled by some of the work a few of my students turned into me. There’s no need to get into the specifics, but let’s just say, I felt some type of way — RIP to Rich Homie Quan. My class felt it so I shut down the class and let everybody go early. Anyway, the next class I showed up wearing triple black (otherwise known as all black) Nike Air Force 1 Lows. One of my students, who is also a sneakerhead, noticed my shoes and said something to the effect of “Oh, that’s what type of time we’re on??” I went on to lecture my class about taking kindness for weakness and mistaking my desire for them to succeed with a willingness to accept mediocre work. It wasn’t a fun class that day though we all walked away clearer about my expectations and their effort. I was exhibiting black Air Force 1 energy, and they knew it. 

Black Air Force 1s are legends of the shoe game. Whereas the all-white Nike Air Force 1 Low is a beloved shoe worn by people from 8 months to 80, when people think of their black counterpart, they think of sinister, nefarious, angry and destructive behavior. Every person who wears black Forces isn’t committing a crime, but everybody committing a crime is wearing (or has worn) black Forces. That last statement is probably not true, but it also could very well be true. Black Forces are synonymous with the type of people who are over things and who are about that life; they’re either about to show you that they mean business or have already done so and you know better than to mess with them anymore. Black Air Force 1s are the shoes of the person who bucks the system and all inside of it. 

So it came as no surprise to me when Kendrick Lamar dropped an untitled single on Instagram (the streets are calling it “Watch the Party Die”) whose cover art was worn, beaten black Air Force 1s. It’s Kendrick Lamar’s first song since his summer heater and potentially the best diss record of all time, “Not Like Us.” The shoes on the IG post might as well be the ones with which he stomped all over Drake’s credibility and cool; Kendrick’s entire run of diss records aimed at Drake’s post “Like That,” was giving black Air Force 1 energy. 

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The song itself is interesting in that it almost feels like the thoughts of a dude walking down the street whose shoe of choice is black Air Force 1s. Kendrick is fed up with, well, all of you. Maybe even me, too. He is annoyed by fake individuals and people who aren’t about anything, the men out here who have nothing to offer to the women out there. He’s a thinking man now who is on his way to destroy and rebuild the game because, well, maybe he feels like he’s the only one who can. That’s definitely black Air Force 1 energy.

He is also conflicted. He wants to have empathy for those individuals who just don’t seem to know better. He’d like to pray for them but … he has on black Air Force 1s. He’s about that action and pushing the line for those that matter to him most. He also realizes the cost of his fame, celebrity and artistry is his peace. Those same frauds out there being a menace to the community through their music and life will attack him because he has something to give. 

Again, Kendrick sounds like a man whose work and action are about purpose and doing the work and he’s stuck in an industry full of people who don’t care about anything more than destruction. He had to take out Drake for being the very personification of that thing. Look, I have no idea if this is what Kendrick is truly thinking on a day-to-day basis as he goes to the studio (or at all), but if we were to find out later he raps in those same shoes he put on the cover of this song, I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s a man who has it all and who also realizes what that means. That’s what I get from this song: Kendrick, who may or may not be preparing to release a new album — he tends to drop songs as precursors to his albums — is tired of everybody. 

Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Kendrick is an artist and just participated in and was the victor of the most significant rap battle we’ve had in ages. He’s having, what seems to be, the best 2024 ever. AND now he’s the headliner of the Super Bowl in New Orleans. But I guess that’s kind of the point; no matter how far up you are, you can’t stop being yourself, and Kendrick is ready to put that work in on all of you who are making the game worse for those coming up next. 

Kendrick says it’s time to watch the party die. I suppose he will be doing so in his black Air Force 1s because that is 100% the energy he’s giving. 

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).

6

The Real Housewives of Potomac is set to return for its ninth season on Sunday, October 6th at 8 PM ET/PT. 

Fans can anticipate another thrilling season filled with drama, glamour, and the iconic Potomac lifestyle. Episodes will be available for streaming on Peacock the following day.

This season, the Potomac crew is back and better than ever! Our favorite powerhouses—Karen, Gizelle, Ashley, Wendy,and Mia—are returning with even more drama and glamour. Joining the fun are two fabulous newcomers: Stacey Rusch and Keiarna Stewart. Stacey, a former QVC host, is embracing a new chapter as a single mom. Keiarna, a successful entrepreneur, is ready to bring her vibrant energy and no-nonsense attitude to the group. Get ready for a season filled with laughter, friendship, and plenty of Potomac flair!

But that’s not all! Jacqueline Blake is back in the fold, and newcomer Jassi Rideaux joins as a friend of the housewives, bringing even more energy to the group.

This season delves into the personal journeys of the cast members as they navigate new endeavors and confront challenges. Karen Huger, a prominent figure within the group, addresses the aftermath of a recent incident, seeking to share her perspective with her peers. The season will explore her resilience and determination as she strives to overcome this obstacle.

Meanwhile, Gizelle Bryant is thriving, balancing dating life and her wellness initiative, GNA Fusion, in honor of her late father. She’s also mending fences with some of the ladies, but don’t expect the usual reconciliation—Gizelle’s always full of surprises!

Ashley Darby is officially done playing games. She’s diving headfirst into single motherhood, navigating her divorce, and jumping back into the dating scene with style. And as a co-owner of GNA, she’s got plenty on her plate—but she’s handling it all with grace and a whole lot of fun.

Wendy Osefo might be retiring her professor title, but she’s not slowing down one bit. Heading to the White House and living her best life, Wendy is embracing her upcoming 40th birthday with open arms, showing that life really does get better with age.

Mia Thornton’s life is as complicated as ever. She’s in the middle of a divorce from Gordon, and her sizzling new romance with radio personality Inc is heating up. But with the ladies questioning her every move, Mia is finding it harder than ever to know who has her back.

Stacey Rusch is bringing a fresh energy to Potomac! As she adjusts to life after divorce and balances motherhood, her story is sure to be heartwarming and inspiring. And Keiarna Stewart is on a roll, building her business empire and planning a future with her partner, Gregory. While there may be a few bumps along the way, Keiarna’s determination and bright spirit are sure to shine through as she finds her place in the group.

Get ready for a wild ride in Season 9! Expect plenty of laughs, tears, and Potomac drama as friendships change and new ones form. This season’s gonna be a total blast.

Tune in on Oct. 6 to catch all the fun and drama of The Real Housewives of Potomac—we know we’ll be watching!

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