Month: February 2023

[WATCH] Happy Birthday Langston Hughes ‘I Dream A World’

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hughes

I’ve never shared this, but I lived in Langston Hughes house in Harlem,NY in the 90’s. I was a 10-year-old insecure child that had just reconnected with her mother after being apart nearly seven years. My mom lived in Langston’s house with her lover who’s family owned Langston’s former home. They were the perfect family with two kids and welcomed me with opened arms. I grew up playing on his piano, toying with his broken typewriter and reading things he left behind. I marveled over artifacts he kept in his home and their family became my own.

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Langston Hughes home in Harlem

Fast-forward to today I am a black female journalist sharing my own stories influenced by the legacy Langston Hughes left behind. His work as a poet, social activist, novelist, playwright will forever be honored as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance.

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127th street between 5th and Madison

Check out this first ever video recording of this beautiful song “I Dream a World” by composer Damien Sneed with opera star Will Liverman, and Damien at the piano.

Will portrayed the leading role of Charles Blow in the Met Opera’s production of Fire Shut Up In My Bones, the first opera by a Black composer staged at the Met in its entire history.

On February 15, Will Liverman will make his Lincoln Center solo recital debut, performing a program that portrays the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of the Black experience through poignant texts and expressive musical settings. The recital includes select songs from his Grammy-nominated album Dreams of a New Day—Songs by Black Composers.

Happy Birthday Langston, we honor you.

I Dream A World
By Langston Hughes

I dream a world where man
No other man will scorn,
Where love will bless the earth
And peace its paths adorn
I dream a world where all
Will know sweet freedom’s way,
Where greed no longer saps the soul
Nor avarice blights our day.
A world I dream where black or white,
Whatever race you be,
Will share the bounties of the earth
And every man is free,
Where wretchedness will hang its head
And joy, like a pearl,
Attends the needs of all mankind-
Of such I dream, my world!

The post [WATCH] Happy Birthday Langston Hughes ‘I Dream A World’ appeared first on The Source.

Gisele Bündchen Reacts To Tom Brady’s Announcement

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Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady went through a very public divorce in the Fall of 2022. Overall, it was one of those divorces that ended fairly quickly. Neither party put up much of a fight, and there were no back-and-forths in the media. Instead, the two simply went their separate ways. Additionally, Gisele and Tom continue to co-parent their children together. Needless to say, it is an arrangement that both parents seem to be fine with. Although, it certainly saddened fans when they learned that these two were going to split up.

Today, Tom Brady announced that he would be retiring from the NFL. Interestingly enough, some felt like Brady’s longevity in the NFL is what caused his divorce in the first place. Regardless, it is clear that Brady is happy with his decision. “I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first,” Brady said. “I won’t be longwinded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year, so really thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me.”

Gisele Bündchen Reacts

Subsequently, Brady ended up getting a kind message from his ex-wife. As you can imagine, many of his peers commented on the above Instagram post. However, we’re sure the message from Bündchen came as a bittersweet moment. Although, it is important to note that she kept it short. In the comments section, she simply wrote “Wishing you only wonderful things in this new chapter of your life.”

Now, Brady will get to work with the likes of Fox Sports where he is estimated to make $37.5 million per year. It is a wild contract that pays him more per year than he made in the NFL. Having said all of that, it is clear that Brady is going to be living that good life. Let us know what you think of Brady’s retirement decision, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

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Lizzo Is A ‘Special’ Superhero Looking To Protect The World From Danger In Cinematic New Video

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No one must’ve told card-carrying Bey Hive member Lizzo that Beyoncé would be announcing the Renaissance World Tour today. Either way, fans of pop music divas saw a double victory today as Lizzo shared her new video for the single “Special” off her album by the same name.

The track deviates from Lizzo’s signature dance track pacing that propelled her into pop superstardom. However, the song’s message directly ties back to her empowerment ethos. On “Special,” Lizzo opens up about how constant online bullying, which is often tied to fatphobia, hurts her. But, at the end of the day, she, like the others who unfortunately experience the same type of hate, must find the strength to keep going.

In the accompanying video, director Christian Breslauer takes this concept to the next level transforming Lizzo into a superhero, who’s on a mission to protect others from those vile perpetrators. As the visual often shows, Lizzo flies back home after a long day of saving the world and immediately removes her super-suit, an added layer of protection shielding her from the haters. However, as Lizzo removes the armor, which exposes her vulnerability, she’s immediately met with hate while singing, “Woke up this morning to somebody in a video / Talking about something I posted in a video / If it wasn’t me, then would you even get offended? Or Is it just because I’m Black and heavy? / Y’all don’t hear me, though.”

That’s followed by the line, “Fame is pretty new, but I’ve been used to people judging me / That’s why I move the way I move and why I’m so in love with me,” letting the world know this vicious circle of hate is the driving force behind her confidence.

As Lizzo navigates the world, she switches between the attacked and the protector until she fully embraces her mission, but getting there isn’t easy. In several parts of the video, Lizzo is ridiculed for her advocacy and rallied against it despite serving as an inspiration to many. However, as Lizzo sings in the lines, “Could you imagine a world where everybody’s the same? / And you can cancel a girl / ‘Cause she just wanted to change / How could you throw f*ckin’ stones / If you ain’t been through her pain? / That’s why we feel so alone / That’s why we feel so ashamed, ” her efforts will be met with resistance, but she must power through.

The chorus, “In case nobody told you today / You’re special (special) / In case nobody made you believe / You’re special (special) / Well, I will always love you the same / You’re special,” serves not only as words of encouragement for Lizzo but for everyone on the same path.

Watch the full video above.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Missy Elliott & A Tribe Called Quest Are The First Hip-Hop Acts Nominated For This Year’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

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Missy and ATCQ

Hip-hop legends Missy Elliott and A Tribe Called Quest are nominated for the 2023 class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Both, respectively, are among over a dozen names with hopes of notable induction. Iconic rapper Missy Elliott and legendary rap group A Tribe Called Quest are among the 14 acts nominated for the […]

The post Missy Elliott & A Tribe Called Quest Are The First Hip-Hop Acts Nominated For This Year’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame appeared first on SOHH.com.

3 Michigan Rappers Have Been Missing For 10 Days After Performance Is Canceled

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​​Detroit police said they’re investigating the disappearance of three rappers who’ve been missing for 10 days. Per CNN, police identified Armani Kelly, 28, Dante Wicker, 31, and Montoya Givens, 31 as the missing individuals. Police said the three men went missing after a scheduled performance was canceled. Michael McGinnis, commander of major crimes of the Detroit Police, said promoters canceled the Jan 21st show. However, friends and family grew concerned after not hearing from them since.

“It’s our understanding that the performance got canceled, and from there – we just have a whole lot of unanswered questions that we are trying to find out,” McGinnis said. He confirmed that they “stopped having activity” the following morning on Jan. 22nd. McGinnis explained that the investigation began with Kelly’s mom who became extremely active in the case. She reportedly filed a missing person report the next day before tracking down her vehicle through OnStar. McGinnis said she found the car in Warren, MI, and police later recovered the car on Jan. 23rd by police. 

DETROIT – JULY 18: A Detroit police car sits on a downtown street on July 18, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

By Jan. 27th, the case gained significant attention on social media. Once Kelly’s mom began to spread the word of her son’s disappearance, friends of Wicker and Givens also filed missing person reports. The case turned into a multi-agency investigation including departments from Detroit, Oscoda, Melvindale, and Warren. McGinnis also stated that the investigators from homicide and missing person departments are also helping try and find the three individuals.

Armani Kelly, who goes by the name Marley Whoop, reportedly called his fiancée, Taylor Perrin, around 5 p.m. to inform her the club canceled the show. Perrin explained that by 9 p.m., text messages stopped delivering to his phone, per the NYT.  She said it became increasingly worrisome, especially since they didn’t live in the same city and relied on their phones to communicate.

Fans knew Kelly as Marley Whoop, while Givens rapped under the name Jugg. We’ll keep you posted on any further updates on the case. 

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Doja Cat Says Comparing Shaved Head To Britney Spears Is “Disrespectful”

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After turning heads at Paris Fashion Week, Doja Cat is back to address a few controversies with Variety. The Hot Pink star is known for her hits as well as her viral moments online. While she’s stormed the charts—most recently with her Elvis smash “Vegas”—Doja has also found her quirky personality criticized by social media users. As we have witnessed over the years, the rapper’s style can change from one day to the next. The internet lit up when she shaved her head, and a similar reaction exploded when she rid herself of eyebrows.

Read More: Doja Cat’s Paris Fashion Week Style Choices Continue To Entertain Fans

Quickly, people compared the new buzzcut to Britney Spears. The Pop icon infamously shaved her head after a heated run-in with the paparazzi back in 2007. The public fired off claims that Doja was having some sort of breakdown moment, but it’s an assertion that disturbs her.

The comparison rubs Doja the wrong way—more for how it continues to paint Spears negatively. “It’s so incredibly disrespectful for people to be minimizing what Britney went through,” the singer told Variety. “And make a joke out of something that was very serious and a big deal in her life. Every time I see a comment like that, I can’t compute what’s happening, other than it’s just an awful thing.”

Read More: Instagram Gallery: An Ode To Doja Cat’s Eyebrows

Doja further detailed why she decided to switch things up and rid herself of her hair altogether. “But other than that, when I shaved my eyebrows off and I shaved my head, I remember thinking, ‘Get this sh* t off of me,’ because I needed to change something,” she said. “I wasn’t working out and wasn’t really taking care of myself in the way that I wanted to. I was like, ‘I need to do something,’ so I just chopped it all off. And I could see the shape of my head. I could see my whole face. I can see my ears, now that I don’t have a wig that’s glued to my forehead.”

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Kanye West’s 2024 Campaign Has Received Zero Donations: Report

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Kanye West’s 2024 presidential campaign has yet to receive a single official donor. The news comes from a filing submitted Monday which was obtained by The Daily Beast. The campaign, officially registered as “Kanye 2020,” also reported spending $142,000 in expenses over the last three months of 2022.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 21: Kanye West is seen on October 21, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

While West hasn’t officially filed his candidacy with the FEC, he’s been vocal about planning to run for president in 2024. Back in November, he posted a video on Twitter, revealing that he had asked former President Donald Trump to be his running mate.

“I think the thing that Trump was most perturbed about, me asking him to be my vice president. I think that was like lower on the list of things that caught him off-guard,” Ye said in the video. “When Trump started basically screaming at me at the table telling me I was going to lose — I mean has that ever worked for anyone in history. I’m like hold on, hold on, hold on, Trump, you’re talking to Ye.”

At the time, West was working with Nick Fuentes as well as Milo Yiannopoulos. The filing reports two payments for Yiannopoulos: one for $9,955 and another for $40,000. Ye also paid Fuentes $9,026.46 and $5,693.41 in travel reimbursements. West later reportedly fired Yiannopoulos, who had been working as a campaign manager for the rapper.

The political failing also comes after a string of erratic behavior from Ye, who praised Adolf Hitler and made numerous other antisemitic remarks. If Kanye West continues with his 2024 campaign, it will be the second time he runs for president. His last campaign, in 2020, finished with just 60,000 votes.

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