Month: June 2021

Solange has released a new short film through her creative agency, Saint Heron, this week, featuring Dionne Warwick, SahBabii, and KeiyaA.

The new film, Passage, honors the 2021 International Woolmark Prize finalists which include Bethany Williams, Kenneth Ize, LECAVALIER, Matty Bovan, Thebe Magugu, and Casablanca. Solange has previously said that she aims to use Saint Heron to spotlight underappreciated artists.

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Solange detailed her inspiration for the short film with a press release:

In continuing Saint Heron’s world-making practice, Passage further explores my interest in theatrical production through the translation of identity, spirit, philosophy and creation. Whether it be through album artwork, stage design, or filmmaking, I’ve always sought to create new visual languages that encompass the expressions my other works cannot communicate. I’m inspired to expand these processes through the Saint Heron Agency with a wider scope of collaborations and projects. To reflect on and honor the creative process with the 2021 International Woolmark Prize finalists, Passage aligns with Saint Heron’s mission to reverence creation as life, from abstraction to being. I’ve been a longtime fan of Wu Tsang’s work and to be able to work alongside her, the Saint Heron team, and all of the incredible artists and designers in the film, really fortifies the ethos of collaboration and communal creative exchange that we wish to continue to embody.

Check out Passage below.

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Emilia Clarke explained her decision to join the MCU with Marvel’s upcoming series, Secret Invasion, in a new interview with Comicbook.com. The series is set to debut on Disney+.

“I just think what they’re doing right now is so exciting and so cool, and so on the cutting edge of it. I feel like they’re like the Apple of this world,” Clarke said. “To be part of that family feels like, ‘Oh my god, I’m in the cool kid crowd. That’s so cool.’ Honestly speaking, the people that are making this are what pushed me over the line to really wanting to do it. I just think that everyone’s heart and heads are in the right place with this one.”

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While Clarke’s role has not yet been revealed, we do know that Samuel L. Jackson will star as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn will star as the Skrull Talos. The series is based on a 2008 comic of the same name.

“I grew up reading fantasy fiction, so I know that’s not the same as the actual comic book itself, but that was where my imagination lived,” Clarke said. “And so, then reading about superheroes for the first time, I’m pretty sure it was Superman that was my first ever. And Spider-Man, I kind of thought he was pretty cool. Spider-Man was the first origin story that I remember as a child reading and being like, ‘Oh wow, this is more than what’s on the page. This is a bigger world,’ and then being allowed into that.”

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Bandman Kevo, real name Kevin Ford, was arrested on five separate charges, this week, in Miami. Kevo was hit with gun possession by a convicted felon, using a firearm while committing a felony, assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, and tampering with evidence.

This week’s arrest was not the first time Kevo has been in trouble with the law. The rapper has faced a litany of charges throughout his tenured career.

In 2014, he was allegedly involved in a bank fraud scheme that took millions of dollars from financial institutions by “cracking cards.” Kevo and others would lure in victims on social media.

“If u wanna make 1900 all u would have to do is open up a citi bank account n they will give u a temp card we would be able to do it the next day from the time u get the cards … !!! u can do this every week No BS! hit me back asap!!,” authorities say Ford wrote in one online message, according to The Guardian.

Kevo was also sentenced to 22 months in federal prison for a bank fraud scheme in 2016.

Kevo is featured on Chief Keef’s “Baller In Me” remix from 2015. He recently released a single, “Stop Playing With Me,” with WillGotTheJuice.

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Vanessa Bryant celebrated her and Kobe Bryant’s eldest daughter, Natalia, graduating from high school on Instagram, Friday. 

“Congratulations Natalia! We will ALL be with you every step of the way,” Vanessa wrote in a caption of the ceremony.

Natalia’s cap was decorated in the colors of his college, the University of Southern California, as well as a quote from her father: “Everything negative — pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise.” 

Harry How / Getty Images

Speaking with People back in March, Vanessa detailed the challenges she has overcome to graduate college. “I’m extremely proud of Natalia,” she said. “On top of her own grief, she has balanced her senior year of high school, applying to colleges, nurturing her sisters, and just recently signing her own modeling contract with IMG.”

She also described Natalia as her “right-hand woman,” and called all of her daughters, “strong, resilient, respectful and kind.” 

She added: “They’re people that I would aspire to be if I was growing up with them.”

Natalia lost her father, Kobe, and her sister, Gianna, in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

After the graduation ceremony, the family celebrated with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Ciara, whom Vanessa described as Natalia’s “uncle” and “auntie.”

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Justine Skye blamed music fans on Twitter for the “state of music these days,” and promoted her upcoming Timbaland-produced album Space & Time, Friday. Skye says fans need to stop “hyping up mediocre shit.”

“Y’all be hyping up mediocre shit and then be mad at the state of music these days,” she tweeted. “Take responsibility.”

She followed up in another post: “Say whatever you want about me and my music. This album bout to shut all that talk up. I have a whole @Timbaland produced album with a Justin Timberlake feature and I’m COMPLETELY independent. I’m clearly doing something right.”

Sarah Morris / Getty Images

Skye is referencing the sixth track off of Space & Time, “Innocent,” which is set to feature Timberlake. 

Timbaland recently defended Timberlake from criticism leveled by Swizz Beatz: “He gotta admit that he love the Black culture and he gotta be on this stage,” Beatz said, claiming Timberlake should appear on Verzuz. “You took from the Black culture, you give to the Black culture. Come to Verzuz and be a part of the Black culture.”

“You did went a little hard on my brother JT though,” Timbaland told Beatz. “You went too hard, man.”

Skye recently released, “Twisted Fantasies,” a single from the upcoming album which features Rema. The Brooklyn-born singer also dropped the ballad “Intruded,” back in February.

Time & Space is scheduled to drop on June 25th.

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Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez officially ended their relationship back in April of this year. The couple, who quarantined together and were briefly engaged, reportedly ended their union because of trust issues, confirming their split in a joint statement to People. magazine. Rodriguez seemed to be in his feelings following the breakup, while Lopez has been rekindling an old flame.

J. Lo has been spotted getting cozy with Ben Affleck following her separation from Rodriguez, sparking rumors that the old tabloid-adored couple “Bennifer” was back on. Buzz surrounding their reunion began to fly even more after the two were spotted together in Miami. Now, according to multiple sources, J. Lo was spotted searching for schools in L.A., sparking rumors that she and Ben could be taking their relationship to the next level. 

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After Ben flew down to Miami to visit J. Lo, she returned the favor over the weekend by visiting Ben in L.A. Reports note the singer-actress was on a mission Friday (June 4), visiting at least one school in the Los Angeles area. The school visit could be a sign that she and Ben are thinking of moving in together. 

J. Lo spent some alone time with Ben at his home on the Westside of L.A. and was later seen parading around with her notepad. She was also spotted chatting to her ex-hubby Marc Anthony a couple of weeks back, with whom she shares her children. 

If she is planning on moving in with Ben in LA, it would make sense why she would want Anthony to be on board with the whole thing. 

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