Month: January 2024

7 Roles Angela Bassett Should Have Won An Oscar For

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In a career that has spanned decades, Angela Bassett has delivered awe-inspiring performances that have been deserving of an Oscar. Over the years, she has consistently proved her strengths on the big screen. From her early breakthrough in What’s Love Got To Do With It to her commanding presence in blockbuster hits like Black Panther, her talent has never been in doubt. Despite this, for years, the prestigious Oscar eluded her deserving grasp. 

On January 9, 2024, at the 14th Annual Governor’s Awards in LA, the actress was awarded an honorary Oscar. However, that certainly should not have been her very first statuette, considering how many brilliant performances she has given over the years. In her dense filmography, many roles should have secured Bassett the coveted award, at least once. Here are seven of her most powerful and Oscar-deserving roles to date. 

7. Tanya Anderson (Akeelah And The Bee)

Bassett’s performance in this 2006 movie stands as a testament to her ability to bring authenticity to any role. In this heartwarming drama, she portrays the mother of the titular character, played by Keke Palmer. While the movie may not have garnered widespread acclaim, her contribution to its emotional impact is undeniable. Although Angela Bassett did not even receive an Oscar nomination for this role, her performance was certainly worthy of winning one for Best Supporting Actress. 

Read More: Angela Bassett Net Worth 2024: What Is The Oscar Winner Worth?

6. Janet Williams (Music of the Heart)

In this 1999 biographical musical drama film, Bassett portrays school principal Janet Williams. Most people would be overshadowed by starring alongside Meryl Streep. However, Bassett shines in her supporting role, delivering an understated and sublime performance. Her portrayal of Janet Williams is unforgettable, and one of the best parts of the film. Unfortunately, Angela Bassett was not recognized by the Academy for this performance and did not receive an Oscar nomination. Regardless, it remains a powerful entry in her catalog as an actress. 

5. Stella Payne (How Stella Got Her Groove Back)

Released on August 14, 1998, How Stella Got Her Groove Back is a sexy romantic comedy-drama film. In the movie, Bassett takes on the role of Stella Payne, a successful but emotionally reserved career woman. Her portrayal of Stella is a masterclass in capturing the intricacies of a character undergoing personal transformation. Moreover, she skillfully navigates Stella’s journey from a place of emotional guardedness to rediscovering love and passion. In addition, the chemistry between Bassett and co-star Taye Diggs is palpable, making the romantic narrative very believable. 

4. Betty Shabazz (Malcolm X)

After seeing Malcolm X (1992), everyone can agree that Denzel Washington deserved his Oscar nomination. However, given her performance in the film, Angela Bassett easily should have received an Oscar nomination as well. As a matter of fact, with this role, she should have won in the Best Supporting Actress category. Despite the disappointing turn of events that left her without even a nomination, Bassett’s portrayal of Betty Shabazz is a masterclass in subtlety and strength. Throughout the movie, she showcased a depth that resonated beyond the confines of the screen. 

3. Bernadine Harris (Waiting To Exhale)

Portraying a woman grappling with the challenges of a crumbling marriage and the pursuit of self-discovery, Angela Bassett shines. Without a doubt, this is one of the actress’ best performances ever. Bassett infused Bernadine with a potent mix of strength, vulnerability, and resilience as she fleshed out this character. Also worthy of note is the chemistry between the cast members, including Whitney Houston, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon. Although no Oscar buzz followed, Angela Bassett certainly gave one of the best performances of 1995 in this film. 

2. Queen Ramonda (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

While Bassett gave a stellar performance in the first Black Panther film, it was in Wakanda Forever that she shone the brightest. Playing Queen Ramonda, she put her heart and soul into this performance, and it was plain to see on-screen. Comic book movies are very rarely recognized, especially in the acting categories. However, with her electrifying performance on Wakanda Forever, Angela Bassett secured her second-ever Oscar nomination. While she did not win, many believe she was robbed, and deserved that award more than all other nominees. 

Read More: Michael B. Jordan & Jonathan Majors Show Love To Angela Bassett After Oscars Loss

1. Tina Turner (What’s Love Got To Do With It)

Bassett’s performance as Tina Turner is arguably her most lauded role to date. Many regard it to be the actress’ magnum opus, and understandably so. In this 1993 biographical film, she left it all on the floor. Her portrayal of the Queen of Rock & Roll is nothing short of a revelation. The raw emotion, magnetic stage presence, and vulnerability she brought to the character were nearly unbelievable. Certainly, it came as no surprise when Angela Bassett received her first Oscar nomination for the role. However, it surprised many when she didn’t win the award at the 1994 ceremony. Without a doubt, this role should have secured Bassett’s first Oscar win, but it unfortunately wasn’t so. Nevertheless, it remains a performance that continues to echo through the halls of cinematic history.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Jerod Mayo Named Head Coach of New England Patriots, First Black Coach in Franchise History

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Jerod Mayo Named Head Coach of New England Patriots, First Black Coach in Franchise History

Just one day after Bill Belichick moved on from the head coaching position of the New England Patriots, the franchise has named their new coach, Jerod Mayo.

The 37-year-old will be the youngest coach in the NFL and the 15th head coach in the franchise’s history.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Mayo joined Belichick’s coaching staff in 2019 as the linebackers coach. He was selected as part of a succession plan built into his contract extension last summer. Mayo becomes the first Black coach in New England history.

MAyo’s playing career was in New England, totaling 905 tackles across 103 games and won the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Mayo was part of the 2014 Patriots Super Bowl team.

“I feel like I’m prepared. I feel like I’m ready,” Mayo said in early January to ESPN. “I feel like I can talk to men, women, old, young, white, Black — it doesn’t matter. And hopefully develop those people into upstanding citizens and help them evolve. That’s how I think about it. I feel like my calling is to develop.”

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Jerod Mayo Named Head Coach of New England Patriots, First Black Coach in Franchise History first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Jerod Mayo Named Head Coach of New England Patriots, First Black Coach in Franchise History appeared first on The Source.

21 Savage Delivers Third Solo Album ‘american dream’

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21 Savage Delivers Third Solo Album 'american dream'

21 Savage has made a powerful return with his latest album, american dream, a 15-track masterpiece that delves into the multifaceted aspects of the rapper’s journey. The album kicks off with a poignant spoken piece by 21 Savage’s mother, Heather Joseph, detailing the sacrifices she made for her son to live ‘his American Dream.’ This personal touch adds a chilling and heartfelt dimension to the project.

The lead track, “All Of Me,” previously teased in the album trailer, showcases 21 Savage reflecting on his ascent to fame, acknowledging the challenges and highlighting his resilience with lines like, “I know Satan down that path, but God walking with me.” The album, boasting a diverse musical palette, sees 21 Savage at his most lyrically complete, effortlessly navigating street anthems with collaborators like Lil Durk, Young Thug, and Travis Scott.

The rapper seamlessly transitions to different styles, from R&B-tinged ballads featuring Summer Walker (“Prove It”) and Brent Faiyaz (“Should’ve Wore a Bonnet”) to brooding tones alongside Mariah the Scientist (“Dark Days”). The album marks a significant evolution in 21 Savage’s songwriting, demonstrating his versatility and comfort in various musical mediums.

The american dream rollout began in December with 21 Savage dropping breadcrumbs throughout Atlanta, unveiling altered American flags created in collaboration with visual artist Hebru Brantley. These flags, adorned with only 21 stars instead of the traditional 50, symbolize the rapper’s history and personal connection to his music. They visually represent what it means to be Black in America.

Hebru Brantley, the creative mind behind the altered flags, expressed, “In creating this piece, I aimed to encapsulate the history of 21 Savage while incorporating elements of my own personal connection to his music. The flag itself is a powerful symbol, with illustrations deeply personal to both Savage and myself, speaking to his music, experiences, and the adversities he has faced.” The album is now available for fans to experience the comprehensive journey that is american dream.

You can hear the new album from 21 Savage below.

The post 21 Savage Delivers Third Solo Album ‘american dream’ first appeared on The Source.

The post 21 Savage Delivers Third Solo Album ‘american dream’ appeared first on The Source.

Usher Gets Help From LeBron James, J Balvin, And Jung Kook To Tease His Super Bowl Halftime Show In A New Video

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Usher is currently preparing for one of the biggest performances of his storied career: the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show. (It looks like he’s even cut sugar and alcohol from his diet to make sure his body is as ready as possible for the big day.) The Super Bowl is now just under a month away, as kickoff is set for February 11. Ahead of then, Usher has hyped up his performance with a new teaser video.

The video starts with a gospel choir singing, “Peace up, A-Town down,” before the rest of the clip is soundtracked by Usher, Ludacris, and Lil Jon’s 2004 hit “Yeah!.” From there, we’re treated to various clips from throughout the years, of either Usher or other people enjoying him and/or “Yeah!.” The video ends with the tagline, “One performance. 30 years in the making.”

Pay attention and you’ll spot appearances from LeBron James, J Balvin, and Jung Kook. Usher worked with Balvin last year, teaming up with him and DJ Khaled on “Dientes.” A couple months later, he linked up with Jung Kook for a “Standing Next To You” remix. LeBron, meanwhile, was pumped last year when he heard that Usher had landed the coveted halftime gig.

Check out the video above.

Kali Uchis Creates A Gorgeous Atmosphere On New Album “ORQUÍDEAS”

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Kali Uchis is one of the more versatile Latin music artists we have going right now. The 29-year-old singer is delivering the perfect mixture of vibes on her fifth overall project, ORQUÍDEAS. Rumblings surrounding this album began back in early August of last year. One of half of the City Girls, JT, had the internet talking when she landed on the single lead, “Muñekita.” Kali would then go on to release four other tracks.

One of them had people showering her with “congratulations” comments. That is because in the music video for “Tu Córazon Es Mio / Diosa” revealed that Kali was pregnant! She is dating rapper Don Toliver and has been for quite some time. Obviously, Kali has plenty to be thankful and happy for right now. “Tu Córazon Es Mio” refers to her relationship with Don in one of the most beautifully sentimental moments on the record.”

Read More: Diddy Scenes Reportedly Removed From Yung Miami’s Reality Show Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

Listen To ORQUÍDEAS By Kali Uchis

“Pa’ ti lo haré cien mil veces más / For you I will do it a hundred thousand times more / Bien o para mal / Good or bad, you know that I’ll always be by your side.” Kali Uchis is also bring some dance-ready cuts like “Labios Mordidos” with KAROL G. Or, if you want something to kick back to, check out “Igual Que En Angel” with Peso Pluma. While this is a great release, she is not done. An album in English is also complete. Kali decided to release this first after asking fans on Twitter, “My third album & the next are both finished, one is an English album one is a Spanish album ¿what my kuchis want first?” No release date is available for it, but, hopefully, it drops sooner than later.

What are your initial thoughts on this brand-new album, ORQUÍDEAS, by Kali Uchis? Could this wind up being her best album so far, why or why not? Which songs are you gravitating toward after the first couple of listens? Do you think the album in English will be these songs, or something different? What would you prefer happen? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Kali Uchis. Finally, stay with us for the most informative song posts throughout the week.

ORQUÍDEAS Tracklist:

  1. ¿Cómo Así?
  2. Me Pongo Loca
  3. Igual Que Un Angel with Peso Pluma
  4. Pensamientos Intrusivos
  5. Diosa
  6. Te Mata
  7. Perdiste
  8. Young Rich & In Love
  9. Tu Corazón Es Mio…
  10. Muñekita with El Alfa & JT
  11. Labios Mordidos with KAROL G
  12. No Hay Ley Parte 2 with Rauw Alejandro
  13. Heladito
  14. Dame Beso // Muévete

Read More: Kanye West & Ty Dolla Sign’s “Vultures” Gets New Release Date

The post Kali Uchis Creates A Gorgeous Atmosphere On New Album “ORQUÍDEAS” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Ja Morant Provides Recovery Update

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Ja Morant posted an inspiring message to his fans as he continues to recover from season-ending shoulder surgery. “What you went thru has a purpose. So does your life. Focus on your life’s purpose and you will get thru this trying time,” Morant wrote alongside a picture of him giving a peace sign in a hospital bed. Moran’t surgery was reportedly successful and he can begin his recovery.

Morant was ruled out of the rest of the 2023/24 season after playing just nine games following a 25-game suspension. The team had gone 6-3, matching their win total in the 25 games they played without Morant. Morant’s injury only deepens the issues for the Grizzlies. At the start of the season, the team lost Steven Adams to season-ending surgery.

Read More: Lil Wayne Taps Ja Morant To Be The Next “Face Of The NBA”

Ja Morant Tells Grizzlies To “Keep Grinding”

Meanwhile, Morant told the team to “stay locked in and keep grinding” despite his injury. Morant’s words inspired the team to earn a gutsy win over the Mavericks in Morant’s first game on the sidelines. Morant was in attendance, watching from behind Memphis’ bench with his arm in a sling. However, Morant is expected to be ready to play at the start of the 2024/25 season. At the time of writing, the Grizzlies are 14-23 and are 13th in the Western Conference.

“Ja’s always going to be positive. He’s one of our brothers, and we love him to death. He’s a big part of this thing, whether he’s playing or not,” Desmond Bane told ESPN after the win over Dallas. “Everyone just feels for Ja. I mean, they know how much work he’s been putting in this season, obviously what he’s done since he’s come back just within the last couple of weeks. But these guys really care for each other and they really care for Ja, and obviously they know how much he cares for them and how he showed so much support even when he was out the first 25 games,” head coach Taylor Jenkins said.

Read More: Ja Morant Trolled Pelicans With New Orleans Dance, Not Gun Celebration

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Stephen A. Smith’s Beef With Jason Whitlock, Explained

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With feuds between Aaron Rogers and Jimmy Kimmel, and Katt Williams’ now-viral appearance on Club Shay Shay, it truly looks as though 2024 is the year of the long-form roast. In addition to these major pop culture moments that rang in the new year, it appears as though Stephen A. Smith and Jason Whitlock are embroiled in a nasty verbal back-and-forth. Though the pair once worked alongside each other as ESPN commentators, the feud has rapidly escalated from rude off-hand remarks to elongated diatribes of ad hominem assaults. Here’s a brief look into how this beef began and the current state of affairs wrought by the battle of these media giants.

Read More: Jason Whitlock Net Worth 2024: What Is The TV Host Worth?

Whitlock Coined The Term Stephen A. Myth

During an explosive segment on a January 4 episode of his series Fearless with Jason Whitlock, the right-wing social media commentator trashed Stephen A. Smith by implying his memoir Straight Shooter: A Memoir Of Second Chances And First Takes is full of lies and fabricated stories. Whitlock referred to Smith’s tale of receiving a basketball scholarship for Winston-Salem State University as “mind-blowingly preposterous” before referring to the ESPN First Take host as Stephen A. Myth.

These derogatory comments apparently began because Jason Whitlock wanted to compare his thoughts on Stephen A. Smith to similar sentiments expressed by Katt Williams regarding Kevin Hart’s status as a top comedian. Whitlock contends that Smith was put in his position not due to his talent and hard work, but as a result of nepotism from a controlling behind-the-scenes puppet master.

Smith Fires Back

Unfortunately for Jason Whitlock, Stephen A. Smith did not take these comments lying down. The ESPN host fired back on January 10 with an episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, resulting in a fiery 40-minute takedown of everything from Whitlock’s political views to his weight. During the rant, Smith divulged several behind-the-scenes stories about Whitlock’s tenure at ESPN, exposing the fact that the podcast host is highly difficult to work with and burns bridges everywhere he goes.

Smith unleashed a blaze of foul language and personal attacks, frequently referring to Whitlock as a “fat bastard,” and dubbed the Blaze TV host “the worst human being I’ve ever known.” Smith went on to say, “He is a piece of sh**. He’s the dude that’s going to have a funeral and ain’t going to be no pallbearers… I could not imagine, as a Black man, knowing our history, anything worse than a white supremacist. That is until Jason Whitlock came along. He’s worse than them. He is the worst, most despicable, lying, no-good, fat-ass human being I have ever known in my life.”

Smith even humorously stated before diving into his rant that he had already called his pastor to ask for forgiveness in advance. The ESPN host truly left no stone unturned when it comes to breaking down why Jason Whitlock’s career has stagnated over the past several years.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Seemingly Calls Jason Whitlock A “Fat Bastard” In Scathing Rant

Former Colleagues Seem To Agree With Smith

After Smith’s commentary went live, many colleagues from ESPN rushed to agree with what he had to say. Former ESPN contributor and current Atlantic journalist Jemele Hill specifically expressed unequivocal support of Smith, stating, “It’s one thing to critique people, it’s another thing to take the kind of shots that [Jason Whitlock] tends to take at people… I try very hard not to give in to it, but it gets tiresome and bothersome and irritating… what Stephen A. said was correct.”

Whitlock Responded In A Flurry Of Tweets

After being thoroughly cooked by Stephen A. Smith, Jason Whitlock returned to his Fearless desk to continue the fight. The former ESPN host shared well over a dozen posts on X (formerly Twitter) maligning Smith as an overly sensitive and feminine character. In these posts, Whitlock utilized a series of offensive language, including referring to Gary Stephens as a “m*dget” and baselessly claiming that Smith had women’s reproductive organs surgically implanted into his knees.

Many of the posts fail to make a salient point, and the common sentiment across social media seems to suggest that Whitlock is keeping the feud going to maintain relevance. For now, it seems that Stephen A. Smith has said his piece, and he likely won’t respond to Whitlock unless any new and pertinent information arises. In the meantime, Whitlock will continue to milk this feud for all its worth.

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Usher Drops First Teaser For Super Bowl Halftime Show

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Usher has released the first trailer for his upcoming Super Bowl Halftime show. Titled “One performance, 30 years in the Making”, the minute-long trailer highlights Usher’s legacy, with a collection of fans and celebrities performing the singer’s 2004 classic, “Yeah”. Usher was announced as the Super Bowl headliner back in September 2024, with the NFL debuting a skit involving Kim Kardashian.

Furthermore, Usher also announced that Super Bowl Sunday (February 11) will also mark the release of his new album. Coming Home will be Usher’s ninth studio and his first since Hard II Love in 2016. In the last seven years, Usher’s only extended project was 2018’s A, a collaborative album with Zaytoven. Furthermore, he will be hoping that Coming Home will be a return to form for his work. Hard II Love was his first album since his 1994 debut to neither peak at #1 nor receive an RIAA certification.

Read More: Elena Delle Donne Launches WNBA’s First-Ever Wine Brand

However, the Super Bowl is not Usher’s only sporting connection. In October, the singer extended an invite to the Las Vegas Aces to attend his “My Way” residency show after missing their WNBA Championship parade. “I wish I could’ve been there, but pull up to my show… I got U. Shoutout to the defending champs, the Vegas Aces. A’ja Wilson, I got your message, I see you, I hear you. Couldn’t be at the parade but wanted to send this out to you to say congratulations to you and all the lovely ladies that once again did it again. I wanted to invite you to come see the show, come see me do it my way here in Vegas. We stick together, we love one another. Congratulations on this day and I’ll see you soon,” the musician said in a video posted to social media. While Usher was unable to attend the Aces’ parade after defending their WNBA title, 2 Chainz was on hand to perform.

However, Usher’s offer led to a little bit of friendly beefing amongst the team. “A’ja hit us in the group chat talkin bout WE are invited to go see Usher, but now that I’m seeing the video…SHE was invited. Which is cool, that’s fine! But why lie to ur teammates? 💔,” Sydney Colson wrote on X. “Lolololololololol syd scores 2 points in game 4 and think she can get usher tickets awww,” Wilson shot back.

Read More: Usher Serenades Kash Doll During Vegas Set

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Tyreek Hill Goes After Jason Whitlock Amid Stephen A. Smith Feud

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Tyreek Hill has weighed in on the ongoing beef between Jason Whitlock and Stephen A. Smith, seemingly siding with the ESPN host. “Bro you shouldn’t be commenting on anything, but snacks 😂,” Hill wrote on X in response to a meme posted by Whitlock. “Dang, I spent the season promoting you for MVP,” Whitlock wrote in response to the Dolphins star.

Smith absolutely tore into Jason Whitlock after the Blaze Media personality called Smith’s memoir “fiction” and referred to the ESPN personality as “Stephen A. Myth”. “I mean it from my soul when I say this is the worst human being I’ve ever known. I don’t know of another human being worse than Jason Whitlock. He is a piece of sh-t. He’s the dude that’s going to have a funeral and ain’t going to be no pallbearers,” Smith said on his podcast. Furthermore, other current and former ESPN employees chimed in to corroborate Smith’s comments about Whitlock, who was employed by the media giant on two separate occasions.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Seemingly Calls Jason Whitlock A “Fat Bastard” In Scathing Rant

Tyreek Hill Falls Short Of History

However, Hill’s 2023 ended in disappointment. After declaring that he was going to become the NFL’s first 2000-yard receiver, he was only able to record the 7th-best season in NFL history. While had been on pace to hit 2000 yards as late as Week 12, a string of weak performances and a game missed through injury saw the record slip away from him. He finished the season with 1799 yards, the best in the league but nowhere close to 2012 Calvin Johnson’s 1964 yards.

But now Hill turns his attention to the playoffs. The wildcard game between the Chiefs and Dolphins this week is expected to be one of the coldest in NFL history. Daytime highs in Kansas City are projected at 12 degrees. However, with the game set to begin at 7pm, the temperature could be as low as -3 degrees come kickoff. There is also an expected amount of high wind chill. This could majorly affect the game and the team’s strategies. But both sides are going to want to bundle up warm. If the temperature does hit -3, then it would become the fifth-coldest game in playoff history.

Read More: Chiefs Player Gives Away Peacock Subscriptions After Fan Blackout Complaints

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