Alicia Keys

JAY-Z Adds New RIAA Certifications to Numerous Classic Singles, Including “I Just Wanna Love U”

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JAY-Z Adds New RIAA Certifications to Numerous Classic Singles

JAY-Z has added more platinum plaques to his illustrious career. Adding to the numbers, the Recording Industry Association of America added honors to six Hov singles, one of which, “I Just Wanna Love You (Give It 2 Me),” officially obtained platinum status.

Additionally, “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” is double platinum, “99 Problems” is triple platinum, “Holy Grail” with Justin Timberlake and “Run This Town” with Rihanna and Kanye West both going 6x platinum. Jay and Ye also go triple platinum with “No Church in the Wild.”

Hov also certified Alicia Keys as a diamond artist thanks to her classic NYC anthem with Jay-Z, “Empire State Of Mind.”

As of July 24, Keys earned the certification along with Jay-Z, whioc has sold over 10 million units since its 2009 release.

Keys tweeted, “Empire is diamond!!!!!!!!,” as Roc Nation made the formal announcement.

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This marks Keys’ first Diamond single and Hov’s third. His first came in 2023 with his Kanye West collab, “N***as In Paris” from their 2011 joint album, Watch The Throne. His second came back in May when Rihanna’s “Umbrella” achieved the feat.

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US Open And ESPN Partner With Alicia Keys’ ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ To Create Unique Music For 2024 US Open

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The USTA and ESPN announced a multi-layered collaboration with Alicia Keys’ Broadway Musical Hell’s Kitchen, that will see the music of this show cascade across channels and platforms over the three weeks of the US Open.

Key among this collaboration will be the utilization of a custom remix of the song, “Kaleidoscope,” from Keys’ 13-time Tony-nominated musical, created for this year’s event. This remix will be featured in the US Open Manifesto Video, produced by longtime production partner Boomshot, and debut on Opening Night of the Main Draw, August 26. It will also be seen on broadcast, both on ESPN in the U.S. and in more than 200 countries across the globe, and in Arthur Ashe Stadium and the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center throughout the course of the two weeks of the Main Draw, through September 8. The Manifesto Video is narrated by the 2024 Tony Award winner for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in Hell’s Kitchen, Kecia Lewis. In addition, two-time Tony nominee and GRAMMY-nominated actress Shoshana Bean, who also stars in Hell’s Kitchen, will perform the National Anthem on Opening night.

In addition to the manifesto video, ESPN will leverage the custom Kaleidoscope remix and footage from the USTA shoot featuring bucket drummers shot throughout New York City and on court in Arthur Ashe Stadium for their promotional campaign to drive tune-in of the 2024 US Open. ESPN Marketing is also using featured VO from Hell’s Kitchen actress Tony Award winner Kecia Lewis in the campaign.  

Partnering with Hell’s Kitchen falls directly in line with both the 2024 US Open’s marketing campaign, “Spectacular Awaits” and theme, “Celebrating the Power of Tennis.” The USTA has made a concerted effort to reach new and different audiences with the goal of growing interest and increasing accessibility to the sport, which provides unparalleled health and wellness benefits.

The ESPN Marketing promotional campaign will launch on August 20 and will run across all linear, digital, social platforms through the 2024 US Open. The Kaleidoscope track will be integrated into ESPN Production through the tournament as well.

“Creating a breakthrough musical collaboration is a concept that we are incredibly excited to make a reality for the 2024 US Open,” said Nicole Kankam, Managing Director, Pro Tennis Marketing and Entertainment. “The ability to do so in partnership with ESPN, to truly extend this across broadcast and in-event at the US Open, is an amazing opportunity. And, to be able to feature the music of Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, perfectly reflects the New York vibe and feel of our event.”

“We are thrilled to bring this unique collaboration to life for the 2024 US Open, said Rachel Epstein, VP Marketing, Live Sports and Audience Expansion, ESPN. “Collaborating with the USTA and the Hell’s Kitchen team to integrate ‘Kaleidoscope’ into our marketing efforts and broadcast allows us to elevate and celebrate all that is so powerful about the US Open – the electric tournament experience, the world-class tennis, and the unmatched vibrancy of the US Open’s home, New York City.”

“We are so excited to have the opportunity to team up with two iconic, landmark New York institutions, The US Open and Broadway in a first of its kind partnership,” said Alicia Keys, Lead Producer, Hell’s Kitchen.. “We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the USTA and ESPN under the shared goal of reaching and inspiring new audiences and using the music of Hell’s Kitchen to create connections and celebrate the 2024 tournament.” Hell’s Kitchen is currently playing at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre (225 West 45th Street) featuring a “powerhouse cast” (Variety) led by Tony Award® nominee Shoshana Bean, Tony Award® nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, Tony Award® winner Kecia Lewis, Chris Lee and Tony Award® winner Maleah Joi Moon. HELL’S KITCHEN is directed by four-time Tony Award® nominee Michael Greif, with choreography by four-time Tony Award® nominee Camille A. Brown, a book by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award® nominee Kristoffer Diaz – and the music of Alicia Keys, featuring new songs and her greatest hits.Tickets for Hell’s Kitchen are available at HellsKitchen.com and Telecharge.com and can also be purchased at the Shubert Theatre box office.

The US Open, a three-week celebration of tennis, kicks off with US Open Fan Week, which begins Monday, Aug. 19 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 25, during which the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center are free and open to the public. Fan Week includes the US Open Qualifying Tournament and numerous other events and activities. The Main Draw will take place beginning on Monday, Aug. 26, concluding with the Women’s Singles Final on Saturday, Sept. 7, and the Men’s Singles Final on Sunday, Sept. 8.

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Alicia Keys’ “No One” Earns Diamond Certification

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Alicia Keys' "No One" Earns Diamond Certification

Alicia Keys’ iconic single “No One” has earned her first solo RIAA Diamond certification, surpassing 10 million U.S. sales and streams. Keys celebrated the milestone, saying, “A song that is there for us when we need it most. Singing this song, together, all over the world is magical each and every time.” She expressed gratitude to her fans, adding, “Thank you for loving ‘No One’ the way you do! Keep singing at the top of your lungs! We’re diamond status babbyyyyy!”

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Alicia Keys Earns First Diamond Single With “Empire State of Mind” Featuring Jay-Z

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According to the RIAA, Songstress Alicia Keys is now a certified diamond artist, thanks to her classic NYC anthem with Jay-Z “Empire State Of Mind”.

As of yesterday(July 24), Keys earned the certification along with Jay-Z, whioc has sold over 10 million units since its 2009 release.

Keys tweeted, “Empire is diamond!!!!!!!!,” as Roc Nation made the formal announcement.

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This marks Keys’ first Diamond single and Hov’s third. His first came in 2023 with his Kanye West collab, “N***as In Paris” from their 2011 joint album, Watch The Throne. His second came back in May when Rihanna’s “Umbrella” achieved the feat.

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Jay-Z Surprised The 2024 Tony Awards By Joining Alicia Keys For A Spirited ‘Empire State Of Mind’ Performance

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Jay-Z doesn’t exactly have the strongest association with the Broadway world, but he still managed to wow at this weekend’s Tony Awards.

Alicia Keys’ musical Hell’s Kitchen was among this year’s nominees, so she performed during the ceremony. She began with a rendition of “Empire State Of Mind (Part II) Broken Down” before transitioning into the original “Empire State Of Mind,” during which Jay appeared on a giant screen to perform his part of the song, which got a big reaction from the audience. It turned out Jay was performing from the lobby outside of the venue, and Keys made her way out there to perform the track alongside Jay.

This actually isn’t Jay’s first Tonys experience: He was a producer of the musical Fela!, which is based on the life of Nigerian singer Fela Kuti. The show was one of the most-nominated at the 2010 Tonys, racking up 11 nods including for Best Musical. Jay said of the show at the time, “It’s an inspiration, about the power of music. Here’s a guy that’s on the other side of the world who was influenced by James Brown, who takes this thing and makes his own sort of genre of music. I just think it’s fascinating.”

Check out the performance above.

Nas Is Reportedly Helping To Develop A Musical Adaptation Of ‘Beat Street’ For Broadway

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In April, Nas honored the 30th anniversary of his highly revered debut album, Illmatic. Come Labor Day weekend, the “Got Ur Self A Gun” rapper will hit Las Vegas to celebrate the iconic project live with fans. But that’s not the only hip-hop staple Nas wants to bring back to the masses.

According to Hollywood Reporter, Nas is helping to develop a musical adaptation of Beat Street for Broadway. During the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, a 40th anniversary screening was held to revisit, Beat Street, the 1984 dramatic deep dive into hip-hop’s origins.

But that event was just the beginning. Nas reportedly delivered a speech about its importance and why he signed onto the adaption. “Beat Street wasn’t just a film,” he said. “It spread the revolution of hip-hop culture throughout the country and the world. It left an indelible mark, inspiring generations of young artists and creating new hip-hop fans alike. It’s a thrill for me to join the creative team of Beat Street, bringing the raw energy of hip-hop into the fabric of Broadway. It’s an honor to breathe new life into this iconic work and celebrate its enduring legacy.”

As far as Nas’ role with the forthcoming production, the emcee will reportedly “expand and create new material from the film’s soundtrack for the musical” in addition to his responsibilities as producer alongside Arthur Baker. Baker originally served as a composer and music producer for the original film.

The timeline for the project hasn’t been shared. But this professional endeavors marks a trend in musicians’ domination on Broadway. Both Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen and the Sufjan Stevens-inspired Illinoise, snagged several 2024 Tony Award nominations.

Usher’s Lovers & Friends Festival 2024 Has Been Canceled Due To Severe Inclement Weather

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All roads were supposed to lead to Sin City. However, if you were ready to shuffle between performance sets at Lovers & Friends Festival 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, you just crapped out.

Yesterday (May 3), while practically the entire world was focused on Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s diss exchanges, the budding live R&B event announced that it was being forced to pull the plug. On X (formerly Twitter), organizers revealed that due to inclement weather and warnings from weather experts, they decided to cancel the jam-packed day out of safety concerns.

“The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning, including dangerous 30-35 mph sustained winds with gusts potentially more than 60 mph,” read the statement. “Following advice from the National Weather Service and in consultation with local public officials, we must make the safest decision for our fans, artists, and staff, and cancel tomorrow’s Lovers & Friends Festival. This was an incredibly heartbreaking decision to make as we are aware that fans have traveled from all over the world to enjoy this incredible lineup of superstars and have been looking forward to this event for several months.”

With acts such as Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Backstreet Boys, Brandy, and of course Usher on the lineup, festivalgoers were livid and didn’t mind airing out their grievances online. Following the news, Usher took to his personal X page to express his frustration.

“Mannn…I’m just as disappointed as you are,” he wrote. “We were getting ready to turn up and celebrate today. I have to follow the orders of city officials and the National Weather Service for everyone’s protection and stand strong in my belief that everything happens for a reason.”

Without providing specifics, Usher went on to tease that he would make it up to ticket holders very soon. “I’m sorry we won’t get to see each other today,” he wrote. “But know that I am always working on something to express my heartfelt gratitude for each and every one of you who continue to support me. I’ll see you soon.”

Whatever he has up his sleeve fans surely hope it is an even larger 20th anniversary performance of his critically acclaimed album, Confessions. Online Usher shared behind-the-scenes footage of what would’ve been his headlining set at Lovers And Friends 2024, but unfortunately the public won’t have the chance to see it.

In the note issued by the festival, refunds for those who paid via Front Gate Tickets will be processed within the next 30 days. Find more information here.

Alicia Keys, Sufjan Stevens, And More Got 2024 Tony Award Nominations, While Britney Spears And Others Didn’t Make The Cut

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Alicia Keys 2024 Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show
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The 2024 Tony Awards are set to go down on June 16, at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater in New York City. Before then, though, organizers have unveiled the list of nominees today (April 31), and the music world (the part of it not traditionally or primarily associated with musicals, specifically) is well represented.

Nominated for Best Musical are Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen and the Sufjan Stevens-inspired Illinoise, along with The Outsiders, Suffs, and Water For Elephants. The Who’s Tommy is also nominated for Best Revival Of A Musical.

Maleah Joi Moon is nominated for Best Performance By A Leading Actress In A Musical for her role in Hell’s Kitchen, while Brandon Victor Dixon is up for Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Musical also for Hell’s Kitchen. The musical also spawned Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Musical nominations for Shoshana Bean and Kecia Lewis, and a Best Book Of A Musical nod for Kristtoffer Diaz.

Stereophonic, which has music by Will Butler, is also well-represented, including consideration for Best Play and Best Original Score. David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s Here Lies Love is also nominated in the latter category.

As People notes, musicals that didn’t get a nomination this year include Barry Manilow’s Harmony, the Britney Spears-inspired Once Upon A One More Time, and Huey Lewis’ The Heart Of Rock And Roll.

Find the full list of nominations here.

16-Time Grammy Award Winner Alicia Keys Debuts Video For “Kaleidoscope”

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Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys and the Broadway company of HELL’S KITCHEN today released the original music video for “Kaleidoscope,” the new songwritten for the musical HELL’S KITCHEN by 16-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys featuring Maleah Joi Moon. With Keys, lead cast member Maleah Joi Moon, and the Broadway company of HELL’S KITCHEN, the video also has a colorful cast of extras to showcase a true New York kaleidoscope of music, dance and community. Filmed entirely at Manhattan Plaza, the video is a love letter to the Hell’s Kitchen community where Alicia Keys was born and raised. From Manhattan Plaza’s courtyard to the Ellington Room where Alicia first learned to play the piano, the visual soars with the magic of the city, a world full of hopes and dreams and the long-held belief of every New Yorker that “anything is possible here.” 

The video’s director Kajal, a New York native herself, wanted to capture the rhythm and energy of the city that are the heartbeat of the song and the musical. Leading an all-female directing team, Kajal uses the lights and sounds of the city along with unique camera angles, vintage lenses, wide angles and more to bring cinematic flair to the story.  Choreography was directed by HELL’S KITCHEN choreographer Camille A. Brown. 

The cast of characters in the video were encouraged to bring their own sense of style to their wardrobe, something with their own unique sense of New York swagger. Alicia joined in — fans will see a nod to her family ties in a scene where she wears an exclusive custom-made GIANTS vest from the Dean Collection exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, designed by Savant.

“This video is so special to me, it captures the spirit of Hell’s Kitchen, the place I grew up, and the new musical we’ve worked so hard to bring to life! One that is now debuting on Broadway on 4/20! I’m so proud to showcase a place I call home, and the amazing community that helped make me who I am today,” said Alicia Keys. “It also showcases the special cast of Hell’s Kitchen who are incredible artists and have that same feeling I do, we live in a concrete jungle where DREAMS are made of! This City holds a lot of hope. I want people to feel inspired by that hope, the song, the music, the movement, the lifestyle and the video.”

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16-Time Grammy Award Winner Alicia Keys Debuts Original New Song “Kaleidoscope”

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AKW Productions is thrilled to announce the release of the original new song “Kaleidoscope” written for the new musical HELL’S KITCHEN by 16-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys. The new release produced by Breyan Isaac and Keys, and co-produced by Adam Blackstone, features vocals by Keys, Maleah Joi Moon and the Broadway company of HELL’S KITCHEN. “Kaleidoscope” – released via Alicia Keys Records – is now available on all streaming platforms. 

“Kaleidoscope” will have its world premiere performance on “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” Friday, March 22 at 11:35/10:35c on NBC.

HELL’S KITCHEN is conceived by the innovative mind of Alicia Keys, with music and lyrics by Keys, book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz, music supervision by Emmy and Grammy Award winner Adam Blackstone, music consulting by two-time Tony and Emmy winner Tom Kitt, choreography by Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown and direction by Tony Award nominee Michael Greif.

HELL’S KITCHEN will begin performances on Thursday, March 28, 2024 with an opening night set for Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street.)

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