G Herbo currently has one of the hottest projects to drop this year. He chopped it up with Eddy “Precise” Lamarre of rolling out and touched on his relationship with Juice Wrld, seeking therapy and PTSD.
Stream “I’m Dreaming (Don’t Wake Me)’ by Precise
Oprah took a tumble while in LA during her speaking tour. The 66 year-old media mogul was right in the middle of explaining what her meaning of wellness is.
“So here’s my definition of what wellness means to me. This is my definition, not yours. It’s just an idea because you’re going to be defining it for yourselves.
‘Wellness to me means all things in balance, and balance doesn’t mean all things are equal or at peace at all times.’ said Winfrey
By the time the final hiss of the letter “s” left her lips Winfrey was laying in a face full of stage. The irony is uncanny and hilarious.
I know this should not be funny. I am concerned for her well being. But, part of me wonders if this is some karmic nudge telling Oprah to back up off us brothers.
Oprah and her best friend Gayle King have been accused of targeting successful Black men while they are alive and in their death.
Most recently Gayle King received death threats for her line of questioning in an interview with WNBA legend Lisa Leslie. In the wake of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna’s death in a helicopter accident, King found it appropriate to ask Leslie about Bryant’s sexual assault case. Leslie maintained her composure and stated that she did not know Kobe to be the type of man who would assault women.
The internet, specifically Snoop Dogg was not so forgiving. Snoop addressed King’s questions and called her a profanity laced name. Snoop has since apologized.
Russell Simmons, Bill Cosby, R Kelly and Micheal Jackson (who is dead) have all come under the scrutiny of Winfrey and King. While Charlie Rose and Harvey Weinstein, white men, accused or have been convicted of similar crimes, who are close friends of King and Winfrey do not experience the same type of scrutiny.
It is because of this that I can’t help but think that the ghost Michael Jackson moonwalked across the stage and caused Oprah to fall while whispering “Just leave me alone” in her ear, or maybe not.
What do you think? Did Mike do it? Share in the comments.
-Precise
Stream “A Killer Joe” by Precise
The rapper-singer and songwriter Wale visited Chicago for Black History Month at the AT&T flagship store. Wale was named “Dream In Black” 2020 Future Maker along with Clifford “T.I.” Harris and Angela Simmons. The initiative shines the light on those individuals who have added value to Black culture through their talents.
Kyle Santillian of WGCI held a fireside conversation with Wale. When speaking of his honesty as an artist, Wale shares “If you can’t talk about your truth you probably shouldn’t be making music or any art. It’s got to be honest. This music is about being honest for real.”
When asked how he feels about the state of Hip-Hop Wale stated “Its good. Hip-Hop has been evolving ever since most of us were even born. It’s evolving now. I think it’s in a good place.”
Wale closed the event out with a few of his hit songs and thanked his fans for supporting him throughout his career.
Take a look at a few pictures from the event in the gallery below.
G Herbo is having a great weekend so far. He just released his latest project ‘PTSD’ and made the cover of rolling out magazine. The Chicago rapper has been on the media circuit heavy as of late. He has been promoting his album and speaking as an advocate for mental wellness.
Herbo’s interview with rolling out was insightful and speaks to his growth as an artist and a person. “Coming from where I come from and having my accomplishments [doesn’t] come easy,” he says matter-of-factly. “A lot of people don’t see it. I had to mature and behave a certain way to even get this far. It’s been about me adjusting and maturing.”
His maturity is evident on PTSD and reflected in songs like “Lawyer Fees” featuring Polo G. Herbo takes account for his position in life and how it affects his actions and the relationships around him.
Check out PTSD below.
Stream “Im Dreamin” by Precise below
Waka Flocka took to Everyday Struggle to share his thoughts on a few things. When discussing why he stopped rapping and transitioned into business he said something very surprising.Check out what he said in the video below.
Stream “That Ol’Boom Bap” by Precise
Lynching is now a federal hate crime in the United States. This comes 65 years after Emmett Till was murdered by a racist white mob in Mississippi.
The bill was introduced by Illinois state rep Bobby Rush. The Congress has been trying to issue anti-lynching legislation for 120 years to no avail. Today the Housed passed the measure with a vote of 410-4.
“The importance of this bill cannot be overstated,” said Rush, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. “From Charlottesville to El Paso, we are still being confronted with the same violent racism and hatred that took the life of Emmett and so many others. The passage of this bill will send a strong and clear message to the nation that we will not tolerate this bigotry.”
The bill will now go to the White House. It is expected that President Trump will sign it.
https://twitter.com/repbobbyrush/status/1232760281123696641?s=21
-Precise
Stream “Speak Life” by Precise
Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty on two of five potential sexual assault charges. Each charge carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The disgraced movie mogul found himself in the middle of the #Metoo movement when a litany of actresses came forward to speak to Harvey’s behavior.
A jury of 12 convicted Weinstein on one count of committing a criminal sexual act and one count of rape. These crimes are potentially connected to the allegations of Mimi Haley or Jessica Mann.
The 67 year-old Weinstein looked straight ahead as the verdict was read. The verdict was delivered after five days of deliberation.
Weinstein was found not guilty on two counts of predatory sexual assault.
-Precise
Stream “A Killer Joe” by Precise below
Barbara Elaine Smith, also known as B. Smith has died. B. Smith was a renaissance woman. Smith started her modeling career with Ebony Fashion Fair, and was the first Black model to be featured on the cover of Mademoiselle magazine in 1976. She was a restaurateur, an author and a Lifestyle guru. The Pennsylvania native took full advantage of her God given gifts. Her most recent book was one she wrote with her husband Dan Gasby in 2016 called Before I Forget, detailing her struggles with Alzheimers.
Her husband made the announcement of her passing via instagram.
“B. died peacefully Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 10:50 pm, of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease in our home in Long Island, New York. She was 70.” Gasby posted.
Smith went public with her disease in July of 2014. There was some controversy surrounding the fact that Gasby started a relationship with another woman while taking care of his ailing wife whom he has been married to for 27 years.
Gasby went public with the relationship and suffered backlash. Gasby went public with the relationship and suffered backlash. In an interview with Al Roker on Today, Gasby said that Smith insisted he make the relationship public.
“Because that’s what Barbara asked me to do, to talk about it,” he said. “It spun out of control to ‘I’m having an affair. This woman, because of who she is, is taking B’s money. We’re abusing B. B wouldn’t want this.’ These people have never even talked to B.” said Gasby
Smith will be best remembered for her show B. Smith With Style that debuted in 1997. Always the picture of style and grace Smith would share tips for home decor and recipes. The show aired for a decade on NBC stations in more than 90% of U.S. households and in 40 countries. Smith was a Lifestyle pioneer. She had a talent for decor and her first home collection debuted and Bed Bath and Beyond in 2001. Her line, named The B. Smith with Style Home Collection was the first line by an African American Woman to be sold with retailers nationwide.
Smith leaves behind her husband and her step daughter Dana.
-Precise
Stream “Speak Life” by Precise below
Joelle Lamarre is a world renowned soprano. Her voice is emotional, powerful and clear. Her performances around the world have been met with great praise and acclaim. In the summer of 2019 Lamarre made her debut in California when she joined The Long Beach Opera for the World Premier of Anthony Davis Central Park Five.The Singerprenuer reviewed, “… with Joelle Lamarre expertly lending her exquisite soprano to play mother to two of the boys, as well as singing the role of the crime’s victim from offstage.”
In 2017 Lamarre created The Violet Hour. The Violet Hour explores the career of Leontyne Price the internationally acclaimed soprano who was the first African American to become a leading performer at the Metropolitan Opera. Lamarre explores Price from her early life up until her final performance of the opera Aida at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1985.
In February of 2020, Lamarre launched a campaign with 3Arts to raise funds in order bring her play The Viiolet Hour to a wider audience via a new cast, crew and new producers.
We spoke to Lamarre about The Violet Hour and why its important to share the story of Leontyne Price.
Why did you write The Violet Hour?
The independence of being a black woman in the 50’s and 60’s in the United States is so important to me. It’s important to express, show and to allow other people to understand what it means to be a single, black and a female entrepreneur. Leontyne Price is the epitome of that and it need to be shared.
What is the importance of this workshop you are creating?
I want to honor Leontyne, but I felt something was missing in the first iteration of the show. So I asked myself: How can I get Leontyne’s story to the level of excellence that she so deserves? What is next for The Violet Hour?
So I was given an opportunity with 3Arts to have a campaign, and raise $5,000 and 3Arts matches 1/3 of that $5,000. With funding from this campaign, I’ll assemble workshop readings with professional teams to refine and mount the piece. The first phase will be with a dramaturg, director, and music director to help shape the script and notate changes. Then I’ll hire a cast of singers and actors to learn the piece as key performers. Finally, I’ll bring the crew together for an open-book performance that will be documented and presented to possible producers. This will help expand people’s knowledge of Leontyne’s extraordinary contributions to opera and the music industry in this country.
Talk about the representation of Black faces in Opera. Why is it necessary?
As an artist, Leontyne Price had a larger-than-life presence and a regal demeanor that inspired and touched people deeply, including myself. Early in my career I used to study performance recordings and interviews she gave. I knew I wanted to do a recital one day to honor her, but her story was also important to me as a single, Black woman, and entrepreneur. For me, Leontyne is the epitome of that.
The Violet Hour production traces Leontyne’s extraordinary journey from the beginning of her career to her final performance of Aida at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1985. For this performance she received a 42-minute standing ovation, the longest in the Met’s history. This piece is ready to be a complete dramatic work that reveals the full scope of Leontyne’s power and what it is to be a live artist of her caliber.
What’s next for you?
This work. My job right now is not to give up on making this show better and to continue to connect my work of the Violet hour with an audience that will appreciate the art that she brought to this world. My intention is to have a workshop where I’m able to discuss the development, growth and how I can work to make this experience a loving, fulfilling experience that is full of understanding, empathy, compassion, and complexity.
What words do you have for those looking to go into theatre?
So here is what I have to share: it’s important when you’re trying to do or go somewhere in your career to really ask yourself how is it that I want to move in my career? Where do I see myself going? because if you can find that, then you can create steps to get to that.-
-Precise
Stream “I’m Dreaming (Don’t Wake Me)” by Precise below.
Erykah Badu raised a few eyebrows when she announced a few weeks ago that she would be selling incense created from her cut up and burned underwear via her new online store. Badu’s World Market launched on February 20, 2020 at 2:22 pm. Her incense “Badu’s Pussy” sold out 19 minutes later.
Badu has been known to mesmerize men with her feminine wiles. She has now taken it to a whole new level. Her Badu’s World Market twitter page shared the good news.
Ms Badu is clearly pleased via her response on instagram.
The world is changing and soon Ms Badu will have the entire world under her spell. “Badu’s Pussy” is taking up space all up in 2020.
-Precise
Stream “It’s On Me” by Precise below
Precise 