Courtesy of Ladyland 2025 The Essence Festival of Culture will continue its run in New Orleans, returning to the Caesars Superdome this year for another Fourth of July weekend. Helping to celebrate are headliners Boyz II Men, Davido, Master P and Maxwell. The lineup also includes GLoRilla, Muni Long, Summer Walker, Buju Banton, Donell Jones, The Isley…
Mass Appeal Mass Appeal has announced a series of seven albums that will drop between now and the end of the year. Legend Has It… will celebrate hip-hop artists who have influenced and impacted the music and culture. It will feature albums from Nas and DJ Premier, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Big L and a special surprise guest. Mobb Deep…
Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images Bow Wow has been making music for 25 years, but his latest song, “Use Me,” sees him reuniting with Chris Brown for their third song. “It’s hard to deny nostalgia,” Bow Wow told Billboard of the track, which samples Murder Inc.’s 2000 hit “Down A** Chick.” “When you see two artists…
Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage The Atlanta-based attorney who represented Young Thug during his high-profile RICO trial is joining Sean Combs’ defense team, according to a new court filing. Brian Steel on Tuesday applied for admission to practice in Manhattan federal court, where Combs is scheduled to go on trial in May. Steel joins Marc Agnifilo,…
Coco Jones will soon drop her debut studio album, so Why Not More? press for the upcoming project? Ahead of its April 25 release date, the singer shared a video on Instagram showcasing her acting while revealing the track list. She’s captured doing her makeup while on a call, where she weaved the song names into the chat. YG…
Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy SZA‘s new business venture is beauty … but NOT BEAUTY. NOT BEAUTY is the name of the singer’s new brand, which will debut in a series of pop-up stores during SZA’s Grand National Tour with Kendrick Lamar; tickets are not required to access them. The first collection will…
Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE Devale and Khadeen Ellis have said goodbye to their podcast of 15 years, Dead A** with Devale and Khadeen, but with every end comes a new beginning. Taking its place is a new podcast, Ellis Ever After, an idea they came up with to stick around for their fans. “[The] rebrand idea came from … [our]…
Disney/Randy Holmes Snoop Dogg is ready to take us all to church. The rapper and entrepreneur announced on Instagram that he’s releasing a gospel album in late April. “April 27, I’m dropping a gospel album on Death Row Records. It’s called Altar Call,” Snoop says in the Instagram video. “You heard it first. A gospel album, April 27. God…
Tyler Mitchell/Vogue Rihanna has the approval of A$AP Rocky’s grandma. In the rapper’s new cover story for Vogue, his grandma Cathy tells the mag she always knew he “was going somewhere,” but says she’s particularly proud of the partner and father he’s become. “I’m glad that he settled down, and I’m happy with who he settled down with,” Cathy says of…
Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images A TLC stage musical is in the works. Next summer, CrazySexyCool – The TLC Musical is set to make its debut at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah, the show will feature the girl group’s biggest hits, like “No Scrubs,” “Waterfalls” and “Unpretty,” while telling the semi-biographical story of their rise…
