The Apollo Theater has unveiled this year’s honorees for its Spring Benefit, the theater’s largest annual fundraising event, set to take place on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, the renowned creative force in music, will be presented with the inaugural Legacy Award. Multi-platinum global superstar and eight-time Grammy Award winner, USHER, will be honored with the Icon Award at the celebratory benefit concert.
“I am humbled to receive the inaugural Legacy Award. The theater has been a constant symbol of excellence in Black entertainment for nearly a century. So for The Apollo to honor my legacy feels nothing short of amazing,” shared Babyface. USHER expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s an honor to be receiving this award from such an iconic and historic cultural institution in New York City. I’m humbled to be this year’s recipient and look forward to seeing everyone soon.”
As The Apollo marks its 90th anniversary, the evening will also showcase special appearances by Hip Hop legend Big Daddy Kane. Music Direction will be led by GRAMMY and EMMY Award-winner Adam Blackstone, with additional performers to be announced.
Babyface will be officially inducted into The Apollo’s Walk of Fame on Monday, June 10 at 11:30 am, a day before the Spring Benefit. He joins a prestigious list of Apollo Walk of Fame inductees, including Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Patti Labelle, and Mary J. Blige. Each inductee receives a plaque installed under the Theater’s iconic marquee on 125th Street.
“The Apollo has stood as an enduring beacon in Harlem, nurturing artists and fostering education,” said Michelle Ebanks, President & CEO of The Apollo. “The Spring Benefit will be an unforgettable evening celebrating our ongoing legacy and honoring our cultural icons.”
Proceeds from the event will support The Apollo’s year-round artistic, education, and community programs. The organization remains committed to projecting the African American narrative through arts and culture.
In a landmark move, The Apollo is set to expand with The Apollo Stages at The Victoria at 233 West 125th Street. This expansion and the restoration of its Historic theater solidified Apollo’s role as a pivotal institution in Harlem and New York City.
The Spring Benefit starts with red carpet arrivals at 5:00 PM, followed by the Benefit concert and awards ceremony at 7:00 PM. The evening concludes with the event’s legendary afterparty designed by Apollo board member, Bronson Van Wyck.
For more information on the event and ticket purchases, visit here. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements on special honorees and performers.
It seems that yet another domino has fallen in the federal P. Diddy sex trafficking investigation.
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Remember Brendan Paul? He is the scrawny little white boy who was arrested at Miami Opa Locka Executive Airport around the same time Diddy’s multimillion-dollar mansions in Miami and Los Angeles were raided.
He was arrested after federal agents intercepted Diddy’s private plane at the airport.
On Wednesday, Paul was charged with one felony count of cocaine possession, according to People.
Brian Bieber, Paul’s attorney, entered a plea of not guilty during a hearing Tuesday at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami, Fla.
In a statement to People, Bieber said, “We will be dealing with this case in the courtroom, not the court of public opinion.”
When Paul was arrested in March, it was alleged that he was Diddy’s “drug mule,” who is someone who is paid to transport illegal drugs across borders.
In Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones’ lengthy 73-page complaint, which can be read here, Jones alleged that Paul “acquires and distributes Mr. Combs guns and drugs.”
Jones also claimed that he witnessed Paul bring illegal drugs onto flights between Miami, Los Angeles, Virginia, London, and the Caribbean on multiple occasions during his time with Diddy.
If you recall, in that same lawsuit, Jones also claimed that Combs threatened, drugged, and sexually harassed him. He further alleges that he recorded audio and video of Diddy and his staff engaging in “illegal activity.”
Before his connection with the Bad Boy Records founder, Paul, 25, played basketball at Syracuse University for two seasons. As a walk-on, Paul only appeared in 16 games during his freshman and sophomore years and averaged 0.2 points per game.
After his sophomore year, he transferred to Fairmont State University, where he played two more seasons.
Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a roundtable Thursday on criminal justice reform with Kim Kardashian and four Black and brown recipients of recent pardons from President Joe Biden.
The vice president invited Kardashian to hear from formerly incarcerated citizens Bobby Lowery, Jesse Mosley, Beverly Robinson, and Jason Hernandez, who shared their personal stories of how they turned their past with law enforcement into purpose as entrepreneurs and community leaders.
“I’m a big believer in the power of redemption,” said Harris inside the White House Roosevelt Room. “Everybody makes mistakes. And for some that might rise to the level of being a crime, but is it not the sign of a civil society that we allow people a way to earn their way back and give them the support and the resources they need to do that?”
The vice president’s convening marks the final days of Second Chance Month, an observance that raises awareness about the impacts of incarceration and promotes the importance of creating second-chance opportunities for those who have served their time to reenter society as contributing citizens.
Kardashian, a reality star and years-long criminal justice advocate, said she came to the White House to hear from the four pardon recipients about their journeys through the criminal justice system and learn more about how she can be “helpful” and “amplify” their stories.
“There’s so many people that are in your position that can use the inspiration,” said the 43-year-old starlet. “I’m so honored to be here to continue this fight and to learn more every day. Every visit. Every administration.”
Kardashian is no stranger to the White House. The star famously visited President Donald Trump to advocate for prisoners and formerly incarcerated individuals, including Alice Johnson, who was released from prison after initially serving a life sentence. During her remarks on Thursday, she said her visit to the Trump White House inspired her to go to law school to learn more about how she can help others.
Reality television star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian speaks during a roundtable discussion on criminal justice reform hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on April 25, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
During her remarks, Harris highlighted the actions the Biden-Harris administration has taken to make criminal justice reform more just for Americans, particularly those who are Black and brown.
The vice president announced the finalization of a Small Business Administration rule that will remove most restrictions on loan eligibility based on an individual’s criminal record. She also highlighted the administration’s expansion of Pell Grants for the people who are currently incarcerated.
Sitting alongside Haris and Kardashian, Lowery, Mosley, Robinson, and Hernandez shared how they first learned about their recent pardons. Each spoke to the joy, some tearfully, about what the relief meant to them and their families.
Mosley, a real estate investor, described the process of filling out the paperwork to apply for a pardon, saying it “wasn’t a hard process.” He shared that he ultimately wants to become a probation officer. Mosley even hinted to the vice president about helping him make his aspirations a reality, to which Harris, in jest, said, “I picked up what you were dropping!”
Robinson, who owns an educational facility that academically prepares children from 14 months to 5 years old, said she had to go to the playground to “scream to the top of my lungs” when she learned that her pardon was approved.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden marked Second Chance Month by announcing pardons for 11 individuals convicted of non-violent drug offenses, including the four who joined Harris on Thursday. Biden also commuted drug-related sentences for five other individuals.
“Many of these individuals received disproportionately longer sentences than they would have under current law, policy, and practice,” Biden said in a statement. “The pardon recipients have demonstrated their commitment to improving their lives and positively transforming their communities.”
The president added, “The commutation recipients have shown that they are deserving of forgiveness and the chance at building a brighter future for themselves beyond prison walls.”
Biden said his clemency actions, including pardons he issued for non-violent marijuana convictions in October 2022 and December 2023, reflect his “overarching commitment to addressing racial disparities and improving public safety.”
The president vowed to continue reviewing clemency petitions and “deliver reforms in a manner that advances equal justice, supports rehabilitation and reentry, and provides meaningful second chances.”
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks after signing legislation giving $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan in the State Dining Room at the White House on April 24, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist, said criminal justice reform actions taken by the Biden-Harris administration present an opportunity to tell a “good story” to the American public as the president and vice president seek reelection in November.
Biden and Harris’ historic win in 2020 came on the heels of nationwide Black Lives Matter protests where as many as 26 million Americans participated in demonstrations calling for police accountability and criminal justice reform following high-profile police-involved deaths of unarmed Black Americans, including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Since entering office, President Biden has sought to take executive actions on criminal justice reform in the absence of legislation from a divided Congress.
“Some parts of the Biden criminal justice reform they would tout include steps to decriminalize marijuana use and possession, executive orders to reform police procedures like chokeholds, and to attempt to end the use of federal private prisons,” said Payne, a former campaign operative for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, Payne said Biden and Harris have to make sure their message and record on criminal reform, among other important issues important to Black voters, is “clear and persistent.”
“Partnering with a high-profile messenger like Kim Kardashian will help them do that,” he noted.
“It’s important to remind voters who is fighting for whom,” said Payne. “At a time when Donald Trump and his MAGA allies are calling those convicted of crimes on Jan. 6 “hostages,” having the vice president meet with someone notable like Kim Kardashian to discuss criminal justice reform is a helpful split-screen contrast.”
Payne said Vice President Harris’ Wednesday roundtable also helps “elevate” her on “an issue with great salience in many communities across the country.”
Kardashian thanked Harris for her “deep commitment to second chances” and also thanked President Biden for “all the commutations and the pardons that are happening.” She said creating pathways to make the lives of formerly incarcerated people easier, like providing access to small business loans, is “life-changing.”
At the end of the roundtable, the vice president acknowledged that there remain “many aspects of the system that create obstacles and barriers to people being able to fulfill” their dreams and aspirations.
She added, “We have to help people earn their way back and invest in their capacity.”
Elisabeth Moss, star of the upcoming spy TV series “The Veil,” revealed that she suffered a broken vertebrae while filming a stunt for the show. The incident left her briefly unable to move and lying on her back on a roof in Istanbul for two hours.
Moss shared the details of the accident in a recent interview with Variety. In “The Veil,” premiering on Hulu on April 30, Moss portrays Imogen, an MI6 agent on a mission to thwart a terrorist attack. The second episode features Imogen chasing a lead through Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, where she is attacked on a rooftop.
“The [scene] you see in the show is actually the second time we shot it, about six weeks later,” Moss explained. “The first time we shot it I hit a wall the wrong way, let’s just say, and ended up lying on the roof for a couple of hours.”
Producer Denise Di Novi was by Moss’s side during the ordeal, waiting with her for medical assistance. Di Novi commented, “I felt so bad for her. She is underselling how hard a lot of the stunt was that she did.”Despite the injury, Moss was determined to continue filming. She even appeared in a scene the following day, although she had limited mobility due to her condition.
Fans can watch Moss’s performance in “The Veil” starting April 30 on Hulu.
Tracee Ellis Ross How-To | PATTERN Beauty Leave-In Conditioner
Healthy hair is the opposite of dry and frizzy, which is why you shouldn’t step out of the shower on wash day before applying a leave-in conditioner. Applying a leave-in to your hair while it’s wet can provide added moisture after washing and make the detangling process a lot easier.
Actress and Pattern Beauty founder Tracee Ellis Ross swears by the leave-in conditioner from her line to lock and seal in moisture, leaving hair that bounces and behaves beautifully.
In recent years, it feels like wellness or “self-care” has landed on everyone’s personal ‘Top 5’ list of priorities. From superficial practices like manicures, facials and massages to healthy practices like clean eating, exercise and therapy, wellness routines have taken over the social media streets. Nevertheless, while the seemingly collective prioritization of self-care has encouraged more people to pour into themselves, the trend remains an aspirational lifestyle to many.
The reality is that popular wellness tips are not always accessible, especially for people living outside of a specific tax bracket. So, does that mean self-care is reserved for certain socioeconomic groups?
“‘Hood Wellness’ is essentially my experiences with communal care,” Gordon told theGrio. “It’s broken into three sections: care and body, care and intersectionality, and care community and activism. Throughout each of these sections, I and other contributors really interrogate and explore the different ways that our lives [have been] impacted by lack of support or having actual support.”
As a longtime self-care advocate, Gordon has participated in several popular wellness trends, like hot yoga. Still craving something more, the author quickly realized that trendy, IG-ready wellness activities were not enough.
“I was cute with it, but I was absolutely miserable. It was during that time that I realized what I thought I knew to be true about wellness really wasn’t at all,” she explained. “I wanted to get into therapy and do what I called ‘ugly healing.’”
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After years of relying on self-care and wellness to navigate poverty, addiction, and discontent, Gordon acknowledged her struggles and asked for help in doing battle with them. With the help of her community, the New York native relocated to Florida, where she was not only able to get the help needed for her physical and mental healing but also create a three-day retreat in her home for those seeking affordable mental health support.
Completely altering her views on wellness and communal healing, Gordon’s experience unveiled the power that can be found within community. As a queer Black woman, she was particularly interested in the ways healing modalities present themselves within marginalized communities. While the term “hood wellness” partially refers to her own budget-friendly approach to self-care, Gordon explains that “hood” represents more than just a socioeconomic status.
“The hood is really multifunctional in the sense that in literal terms [it represents] my location. Where I live has everything to do with my ability to care for myself…my hood plays a part in my safety and my comfort, my amenities and all of that,” she said. “So housing is always going to be a conversation [that comes up,] but also, ‘hood’ comes up in its communal sense.”
Going beyond the inner-city connotations often associated with the word “hood,” Gordon’s philosophy highlights the community that can be found within a neighborhood.
“In any hood I’ve ever been to, there are always people who become sources of information and resources. Whether you’re trying to cash in your food stamps, or you need to know which bus goes to what building, there is always somebody in that tenement, or on that block or in that neighborhood that would [offer a little bit of guidance],” Gordon explained, adding, “it is in those ways, where [a] hood becomes unique.”
Understanding the nuances of the Black experience, the Kirkus Star-awarded book features the tales of other contributors recounting their own physical and mental wellness journeys, showcasing how wellness practices can impact one’s relationship with their body, identities and rights. From terminal illness and police violence to embracing gender identity in a society that consistently undermines and attacks trans and queer rights, each story reflects current America’s extreme political, racial, and gender climates while challenging similarly oppressive systems deeply rooted in the health and wellness industries.
“As their stories unfold, we see this pattern where some voices are underappreciated because of their intersection, and that impacts not just the community, but also the individuals,” said Gordon, highlighting the contributions of activists like Claudette Colvin and Tarana Burke in the book. “It’s in this way that wellness tends to intersect and really have an impact on us based on our identities, our communities, and how much [we] have to actually fight for [our] rights.”
Significantly, Gordon is clear that “Hood Wellness” is not a wellness guide. Describing herself as an “explorer who takes good notes” instead of an expert, the author hopes her and other contributors’ wellness explorations inspire readers to explore what the concept of self-care and wellness might look like for themselves.
“My wellness is hood; my wellness is ugly. I like candles and bubbles and all that s–t. But also, I like the unique information that I [can] only get from home…from community,” Gordon explained. “I want people to know that ‘Hood Wellness’ is truly an experience. It is funny. It is thought-provoking. It’s emotional on both ends. And I think that people are going to be really surprised by how inspired and entertained they walk away.”
Haniyah Philogene is a multimedia storyteller and Lifestyle writer for theGrio covering all things culture. With a passion for digital media, she goes above and beyond to find new ways to tell and share stories.
The highly anticipated film ‘BOY KILLS WORLD’ is set to release exclusively in theaters on April 26, 2024. Directed by Moritz Mohr, the post-apocalyptic martial arts thriller boasts an all-star cast led by Bill Skarsgård, alongside Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, Yayan Ruhian, Andrew Koji, Sharlto Copley, and Famke Janssen. The voice of “Boy” is narrated by the talented H. Jon Benjamin.
Skarsgård takes on the role of “Boy,” a young man who embarks on a path of vengeance after his family is brutally murdered by Hilda Van Der Koy, portrayed by Famke Janssen. Van Der Koy is the unstable leader of a corrupt post-apocalyptic dynasty that has left Boy orphaned, deaf, and voiceless. Guided by his inner voice, inspired by his favorite childhood video game, Boy trains under a mysterious shaman played by Yayan Ruhian to become a deadly weapon.
On the eve of the annual culling of dissidents, Boy is unleashed into a world of chaos, committing brutal martial arts acts that stir up mayhem and bloodshed. As he navigates this dystopian landscape, Boy finds himself joining forces with a desperate resistance group, all while engaging in spirited arguments with what appears to be the ghost of his rebellious younger sister.
Our correspondent Unique Chapman had the opportunity to speak with Famke Janssen, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, Andrew Koji, and director Moritz Mohr about the film.
Written by Tyler Burton Smith and Arend Remmers, ‘BOY KILLS WORLD’ is produced by industry veterans Sam Raimi, Roy Lee, Simon Swart, Alex Lebovici, Stuart Manashil, Wayne Fitzjohn, Zainab Azizi, and Dan Kagan.
With its gripping storyline, intense action sequences, and stellar cast, ‘BOY KILLS WORLD’ promises to be a cinematic experience that fans won’t want to miss. Don’t miss the chance to catch this thrilling adventure exclusively in theaters starting April 26, 2024.
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In his new book, “The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft Exploitation, And Dispossession In America,” Historian Andrew W. Kahrl reveals the myriad of ways that the tax system screws over Black Americans.
And trust us, you’re going to want to hear about it.
Kahrl explains that as a result of a series of housing and tax policy decisions, Black Americans end up paying inflated property tax rates.
According to the paper, property tax assessment of homes owned by Black people were consistently higher, relative to the final sale price, than homes owned by white families.
In his book, Kahrl notes that not only do Black families pay more than their share of property taxes, they also receive fewer services. He argues that while these policies began as an intentional practice, now it has more to do with systemic issues.
“What we often see now is bias or favoritism toward certain types of property and property owners, like high-end development,” Kahrl told the Guardian. “The wealthy may have greater access to political leverage, or they’re better able to utilize the tax appeals process. It’s not necessarily an assessor who’s conniving to overtax certain populations anymore.”
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A woman who sued Mississippi’s capital city over the death of her brother has decided to reject a settlement after officials publicly disclosed how much the city would pay his survivors, her attorney said Wednesday.
George Robinson, 62, died in January 2019, days after three Jackson police officers pulled him from a car while searching for a murder suspect.
The Jackson City Council on Tuesday approved the payment of $17,786 to settle the lawsuit that relatives of Robinson filed in state court in October 2019, WLBT-TV reported. City documents said the settlement was not an admission of liability by the city or the three officers named in the lawsuit. Robinson was Black, as are the three officers.
The payment to the relatives — including Robinson’s sister, Bettersten Wade — was approved on a unanimous vote. Wade’s attorney, Dennis Sweet III, released a letter Wednesday saying that the city of Jackson violated a confidentiality agreement that was part of the settlement. Sweet said that because of the public disclosure and because the city “appears to claim or infer some sort of perceived victory,” Wade intends to continue suing the city.
Sweet said Robinson’s family reached a separate “substantial settlement” with an ambulance company.
Councilman Kenneth Stokes said he thought the city settlement was too small, although he voted for it.
“I’m saying it just sends the wrong message about human life, especially Black people’s lives,” Stokes said. “I think a step in the right direction would’ve been to pay the family a little bit more.”
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The lawsuit alleged that the three officers “brutally, viciously and mercilessly beat Mr. Robinson by striking and kicking him.”
“Mr. Robinson had not committed any crime, was not the subject of any active warrant, and was not a threat to himself or any person in the area,” the lawsuit said.
Robinson had been hospitalized for a stroke days before the police encounter and was on medication, Wade has said. He had a seizure hours after he was beaten, and he died two days later from bleeding on his brain.
Second-degree murder charges against two of the officers were dropped in the case. In August 2022, a Hinds County jury convicted former detective Anthony Fox of culpable negligence manslaughter — and then in January of this year, the Mississippi Court of Appeals overturned Fox’s conviction. A majority of the appeals court wrote that prosecutors failed to prove Fox “acted in a grossly negligent manner” or that Robinson’s death “was reasonably foreseeable under the circumstances.”
Wade is the mother of Dexter Wade, who was run over by an off-duty Jackson Police Department officer in March 2023.
Dexter Wade was buried at the Hinds County Pauper’s Cemetery. But it was October before his mother was told about the burial.
His body was exhumed Nov. 13, and an independent autopsy was conducted. A wallet found in the pocket of his jeans contained his state identification card with his home address, credit card and a health insurance card, said civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Wade’s family.
On Nov. 20, Dexter Wade’s family held a funeral for him, and he was buried in another cemetery.
Lola Brooke has been the center of attention this week, as she continues to enchant audiences with her electrifying personality. The highly awaited official music video for “Shelter Baby (Be That Bitch),” a highlight single from her debut album, “Dennis Daughter,” premieres today.
“Shelter Baby” serves as a cornerstone of Lola’s musical journey, offering a raw and introspective look into her life within the shelter system. Produced by Reefa Music, the track’s haunting yet dynamic beat serves as the perfect backdrop for Lola’s poignant storytelling. Drawing from her personal experiences, Lola sheds light on the profound impact of the shelter system, as previously detailed in a 2023 profile feature with New York Magazine.
The music video, directed by Ben-Marc, showcases Lola in a striking Jean Paul Gaultier ensemble, embodying the essence of empowerment and self-assurance. Against a backdrop of mesmerizing visuals, Lola exudes confidence as she embraces her identity and asserts her presence with unapologetic fervor.
In contrast to seeking sympathy, “Shelter Baby” celebrates Lola’s journey of self-discovery and resilience. The juxtaposition of infectious beats and introspective lyrics underscores Lola’s authenticity and refusal to conform to societal expectations. With unwavering determination, Lola asserts her mantra to “be that bitch” from the very beginning.
Last week, Lola Brooke further solidified her presence in the music scene with the release of the deluxe version of *Dennis Daughter* and the unveiling of the music video for “Neighborhood Hero.” Alongside these milestones, Lola announced her inaugural headline tour, aptly titled the ‘Back To Business Tour.’
Spanning nine cities, including Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, and her hometown of New York, the tour promises to be a testament to Lola’s rising prominence and unwavering commitment to her craft.
