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Everything We Know About 6lack’s Next Album
After five years 6LACK (or 6-LACK depending on who you ask) broke his veritable radio silence by dropping the title track off his forthcoming album Since I Have a Lover. Reaching over 500k streams on Youtube in less than a week, if the album performs anything like the single, three time Grammy award nominee 6lack is destined for another hit.
But what do we actually know about the new album? 6lack hasn’t given us much to go on, but if we want to talk about what we know about the album, let’s take a look at everything we already know about the artist himself.
6LACK manages to quietly fly under the radar, with very little by way of social media fodder, online scandals, or whispered gossip. He’s made songs with a variety of artists that range in genre and style – everyone from The Weeknd (who is no stranger to online scandals, if you’ve been paying attention lately) and J. Cole, to Jessie Reyez and T-Pain. His lyrics are a mixture of emotionally raw, with a tinge of dark sexuality and boastful brags. He manages to effortlessly flow between gentle and melodic to a little aggressive, and he does it all in a way that still manages to touch on a topic that music felt like it was lacking in: Love.
‘Since I Have A Lover’ Is Full of ‘Good Moods’
Since I Have A Lover is going to be an album that does all that and more.
“It’s all my good moods compressed into song format,” 6lack commented, “and I hope it makes you feel.”
If the title track of the album is any indication of what we can expect from the forthcoming album, what we can anticipate is an album that combines the ethereal warble and scratchy undertone that 6LACK is famous for with backing music that sounds effortlessly upbeat. The visual for the song begins with 6LACK falling from the sky until he crash lands into an house long abandoned. The singer crash lands, surrounded by the rubble of things freshly fallen apart. As he emerges from the wreckage and begins searching through the dilapidated hallways, he finds the doorway – and suddenly exits into a world sun soaked and full of life, color, and energy. 6LACK spends the rest of the video literally floating through the streets of Atlanta. The video ends with a transition into what we can only assume is a teaser for another song off the album.
6LACK’s crash landing in the video seems to act as a response to his meteoric rise to fame, following the old adage that one goes up must, inevitably, come down.
The singer came out of seemingly nowhere in 2017 – though if you know 6LACK’s history, you’re aware that his struggle to the top was a long time coming. His debut album Free 6LACK hit #5 on the Billboard rap charts, and earned him two Grammy nominations for best urban contemporary album, and best rap/sung performance for the song PRBLMS.
There Is A Tour Following This Release
While 6LACK and his management are keeping the album, and any spoiler alerts, tightly under wraps until it’s release on March 24th, I’m willing to bet money that this latest album will show an even more introspective side than we’ve seen from 6LACK – yet one that has a positive thread interwoven through each song.
If it makes you feel better, it isn’t just fans that are anxiously awaiting 6LACK’s return. Christopher Patterson, 6LACK’s tour manager, is just as excited about it. When I asked him about the album, he had little to say about what was to come – but he knew one thing was for sure. “I’m just ready to tour!”
Review: Untrapped: The Story Of Lil Baby
Untrapped: The Story of Lil Baby is a documentary about how the Atlanta rapper built his rap career and the things he went through while building it. He went from being a prominent name in the Atlanta streets to the Atlanta music scene. For Lil Baby, his connections to the Atlanta figures like Young Thug, Gunna and Coach K of Quality Control all had a role in taking his name to where it is today. His documentary chronicles his journey through behind-the-scenes footage spanning from his childhood to visiting his neighborhood after making it to the night he performed at the GRAMMYs.
Lil Baby’s documentary is built around how other people supported him and their roles in his journey. Young Thug and Quality Control founders Coach K and P talk about how they believed in him as a rapper and as a person. Journalist Charles Holmes talked about how his background contrasted with Lil Baby in every way but they still had an excellent interview. Drake talked about how he is one of the biggest voices of the current generation of rap. Additionally, his Mom talked about how she always knew he was different from his peers. Everyone around him was rooting for him and that pushed him to bigger and bigger opportunities and experiences.
Lil Baby’s Atlanta Connections Started His Rap Career
In Untrapped: The Lil Baby Story, we learn something surprising about the Atlanta rapper: he didn’t really want to be a rapper. He had an established name in the streets and with that came a reputation. Lil Baby was confident people already knew who he was and respected him. Also, He also knew the money he was making in the streets was quick and did not require the work that being a rapper did. Fellow Atlanta rapper Young Thug wanted him off the streets and would literally pay him to stay off of them. He saw Lil Baby’s talent and wanted to steer him towards that more. However, Lil Baby was more concerned with his reputation and thought it would be tarnished if he left the streets to pursue rap.
Lil Baby regularly visited Quality Control, a prominent rap label in Atlanta. He enjoyed just hanging out there and knew the people there well. Founders Coach K and P saw something special in Lil Baby and wanted to give him a better path. They saw the fact he had a reputation in the streets was the reason he should pursue the rap career. People would already know his name and be interested and invested in the music he was making. Coach K and P told him once he got out of jail he could sign to Quality Control and that’s exactly what he did.
His Hits were Organic
Lil Baby’s song “My Dawgs” was the first one that really took him to the next level. In the documentary, there was footage of small but supportive crowds singing the song word-for-word. The song resonated with people because of the things he was talking about and the authenticity behind them. Furthermore, “Drip Too Hard” was an even bigger hit because it featured another Atlanta artist that was on the rise – Gunna. In the doc, there was footage of him and Lil Baby performing the song at different music festivals. These crowds were even bigger than the previous ones and were giving the same amount of energy. Seeing this amount of growth in such a short period of time was very motivational to see. Lil Baby committed to the rap life even though he was skeptical of it initially and it paid off.
“The Bigger Picture” was one of the biggest songs in his career. In the documentary, there was social media footage and soundbites of people saying he was hard to understand. The CEO of Motown Records, Ethiopia Habtemariam, stated this is actually common with artists from Atlanta. This song forced these listeners to put this perspective to the side and truly focus on his words. During this portion of the documentary, footage of the pandemic was shown which included people marching/protesting while masked up. Lil Baby was amongst these people as he shot the music video for the song. He stated that he wanted to talk about what was currently happening across America. He also wanted to acknowledge black people dying from police violence is an ongoing issue. His own interactions with police played a role in the song’s formation too.
Lil Baby Respects Where He Came From
In the beginning of the documentary there is footage of Lil Baby as a child with his siblings playing in his neighborhood. After that, it cuts to Lil Baby’s children and offers a shift in perspective. He states he wants to have a real relationship with his children since he didn’t have one with his father. Later, he discussed being able to help people he knows from his neighborhood and there was footage of this as well. Seeing him drive his sports car through his old neighborhood was inspiring because without it he wouldn’t be doing that in the first place. In the final moments of the documentary he says “I’m tryna show them youngins that it’s bigger. I’m living proof…I’ll never be trapped again” Lil Baby’s documentary is a testament to the payoff a change in lifestyle can bring.
Untrapped: The Lil Baby Story is Streaming Now on Amazon Prime.
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More Things To Learn About Chloe Bailey
It’s safe to say that when it comes to the young artists in the game, Chloe Bailey takes the cake! Whether she’s killing the Gram with stimulating posts or making music that makes you move, Chloe is shaping to be a star we didn’t know we needed. After all, she is learning from Beyonce, so we shouldn’t expect anything less. We have watched Chloe as well as her younger sister, Halle, grow up right in front of us. You may think you know all about the Mableton artist, but there’s more to find out.
Here’s a few things you may not know about Chloe Bailey:
Parkwood Starts With Chloe
Parkwood Entertainment is home to Beyonce, Chloe x Halle, Jay-Z and Beyonce as The Carters, and now just Chloe herself. The “CUFF IT” singer founded the Columbia Records-backed label in 2010. The entertainment company is involved in not only music, but film, television, and artist management as well. Besides the Beyonce herself, the “Have Mercy” artist is going to be the first solo artist to have a full-length project released under Parkwood.
Beyonce signed artists Ingrid Burley and Sophie Beem to her label in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Beem signed a two-year artist development deal, therefore she is no longer with the label. Burley remains with Parkwood, but has never dropped an album. She released her EP, Trill Feels in 2016. Beem also released an EP in 2016 as well titled, Sophie Beem EP.
Chloe x Halle have put out four albums under the label, but now it’s Chloe’s turn to take a chance solo. She is set to release her debut solo studio album at the end of the month. The 23-year-old artist named her debut, In Pieces, with the lead single being “Pray It Away”. As of right now, the only feature we know of is Chris Brown as Bailey released the song and video to “How Does It Feel” last month.
Almost Won A Grammy Over Her Boss
We all know Beyonce is the queen of the Grammys. Well, she is now after collecting a couple of trophies at this year’s ceremony. There’s no doubt that Chloe will win a Grammy or two at some point in her career especially, with the mentor she has. The Houston legend can teach her a few things about collecting gold Gramaphones.
Chloe almost won her first Grammy back in 2021 for Best R&B song. Along with her sister Halle, the duo’s hit song, “Do It”, was nominated that year. Unfortunately, Chloe x Halle had some fierce competition, including their boss, Queen Bey. The “Crazy In Love” singer’s song, “Black Parade”, was nominated as well. “Black Parade” was a part of the soundtrack Beyonce created for the new version of Disney’s The Lion King. In the end, both songs were beat out by Robert Glasper’s “Better Than I Imagine” featuring H.E.R. and Meshell Ndegeoceloo.
But, on a brighter note, for an artist to be nominated for a Grammy in the same category and in the same year as their label’s founder is a historic feat.
Inspired by Mentor’s Foe
Of course, Beyonce is her inspiration, but Chloe has been influenced by Kelis as she embarks on her career. The “Pray It Away” singer has paid respects to the “Milkshake” artist in the past. Last year, in an “#AskChloe” segment on Twitter, fans took the time to ask Chloe all kinds of questions. One fan wanted to know who influences her, to which Chloe named Donna Summer, Imogen Heap, and Kelis. She mentioned Kanye as an influence as well. Also, last year on an Instagram Live session, Chloe further spoke on Kelis’s impact on her.
“Every time I put on Kelis, I feel like the baddest b****”
Kelis even inspired a few lyrics on her debut single, “Have Mercy”. Bailey also credits Kelis for being confident in her body, prompting her to feel the same. Chloe’s appreciation for the Tasty artist is respectful, but what does Beyonce think of that?
After all, Kelis did have her alter the song, “Energy”, from her album, Renaissance. Before the album was released, Kelis took to Instagram to reveal that part of her hit song, “Milkshake” was being used without her approval. Beyonce uses a small part of Kelis’s song at the end of “Energy”, to which Kelis calls it theft. The “Halo” singer had no issues taking out that part of the song and has not made any statements regarding the incident since.
It’s funny how the world works at times. Beyonce’s protégé, Chloe, is inspired by Nas’s ex-wife, Kelis, who recently had issues with Queen Bey, who is married to Jay-Z, and we all know the history between Nas and Jay-Z. Somehow some way, the Queens and Brooklyn rapper are yet again tied to each other.
Chloe Does It All
As if we haven’t already known, but Chloe is talented. She can sing, dance, act, you name it! But she also does behind the scenes work that you may not know. Chloe also writes for other artists, produces, and even designs album covers.
She is credited for writing on Willow Smith’s album, The 1st and contributed vocals to The Game’s Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind album. Bailey is also experienced in producing as well. She has received producer credit on her own songs such as “Feeling Good” and “Have Mercy”, but also produced on the soundtrack to Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time. Last year, the 23-year-old even had her hand in design, as she was involved with designing the album cover for Elliot Murphy’s Wonder.
What can’t this woman do?
Let us know if you are excited for Chloe’s debut album, In Pieces, in the comments.
Lil Nas X’s Most Streamed Songs
American rapper, singer, and songwriter Lil Nas X (Montero Lamar Hill) has solidified himself as one of the biggest artists in the world over the past three years. Before his sudden rise to fame, he had dropped out of college to pursue a career in music. At 19 years old, he was working at Six Flags and Zaxby’s, spending all of his spare time curating beats and verses in his room. The Georgia-born icon first blew up off of country rap banger “Old Town Road” in 2019. He would follow-up the hit single with the “7 EP,” before eventually releasing his debut full-length record, ‘Montero,’ in 2021.
Whether it be his fashion or his stage presence, Lil Nas has since proved that he can be alluring as a personality rather than solely for his music. One of the most in-demand touring artists out, his stage presence is up there with the likes of Tyler, the Creator or J Cole. His music videos have stirred up a fair bit of controversy, which usually means you’re doing something right. “Montero (Call Me By Your Name. Growing up on the Internet, the marketing genius has a knack for creating hits. In his short career, he already has over three tracks that have surpassed 1 billion streams.
Approaching 2 years since ‘Montero,’ the flamboyant MC hasn’t teased much about his new project. However, he’s confirmed that it will be releasing in 2023. Responding to fans on Twitter, he said that his new album will “most likely” be out this summer.
Today, we’re diving into the star-powered MC’s most streamed tracks.
Old Town Road- Lil Nas X (Ft. Billy Ray Cyrus)
A unique blend of country and trap, we may never hear as controversial and iconic as chart-topping song as “Old Town Road” ever again. The track lived at the mountain-top of the Billboard charts for a record-breaking 19 weeks, before Billie Eilish would finally dethrone him. Shockingly, “Old Town Road” was the first full song that Lil Nas ever put out. Overplayed throughout 2019 and 2020, the track sounds downright silly today. However, it’s a genuinely fantastic mix of acoustic strings and base-filled 808s.
When you blend the original and remix version, this song alone has amassed over 2 billion streams on Spotify. In fact, Lil Nas created the song with the vision of it being a hit. Purposely architecting the track amongst catchy lyrics, he wanted the track to be inherently ear-catching. Ushering in Billy Ray Cyrus for the first of many oddball remixes, the music video would amass over 1 billion views on YouTube.
Panini
Lil Nas X followed up “Old Town Road” with yet another hit single in the form of “Panini.” Similar to his debut track, it’s a 2-minute cut with a repetitive chorus that’s easy to grasp onto and yell out. Nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 2020 Grammys, the track solidified him as more than a one-hit wonder. Sampling Nirvana’s “In Bloom,” the chorus is an interpolation from the iconic Kurt Cobain.
Lil Nas would later release a remix of the track with DaBaby to capitalize on the virality of the song. “Panini” sees him branch out from his country-rap connotations, shooting for more of a traditional, trendy trap sound. There’s a definite Travis Scott or Drake influence in the production, as hi-hat whistles and a heavy 808 make their way into the mix. Far more synth-driven in comparison to “Old Town Road,” the track would keep fans guessing about what is EP would sound like.
Montero (Call Me By Your Name)
The lead single of Lil Nas X’s rollout for ‘Montero,’ the 2-minute banger features tantalizing chords and Latin undertones. Featuring Flamengo flairs and lush production, it’s a simple but effective track. Featuring sexually explicit homosexual lyrics, Lil Nas is bold about his sexuality. The song has amassed over 1.6 billion streams on Spotify. Tagged along with a boldly queer music video, the song was met with backlash from conservative detractors, who labeled the music video as harmful or immoral. However, they’re only playing into Lil Nas’s purposefully contentious narrative.
The track directly references ‘Call Me By Your Name,’ a 2007 book that was later adapted to the screen in 2017. The film takes the viewer through the complexities of a gay romance in Northern Italy, as the two struggle to open up during a time where homosexuality was largely demonized. The movie’s plot outlines the song’s lyricism, as Lil Nas states “I wanna sell what you’re buying.”
Industry Baby- Lil Nas X (Ft. Jack Harlow)
Featuring co-production chops from Kanye West, ‘Industry Baby’ is the hallmark banger off of his most recent album. An expertly crafted rap anthem, the track was nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 2021 Grammys. Sampling orchestral production, there’s a school band feel to the booming horns that kick off the track. A self-proclaimed Nicki Minaj stan, Lil Nas X was ghosted from Nicki Minaj when he reached out for a feature.
While much of the record’s subject matter sees Lil Nas discuss feelings of depression or loneliness that’s only expedited with fame, ‘Industry Baby’ is a fun exception to this. Referencing his Grammy nominations and heavy bank account, Lil Nas and Jack Harlow are flexing from start to finish. Speaking of Harlow, the Louisville-born MC delivered his best feature verse to date on the track. Two hard-working rappers who made it from nothing, the chart-topping track is a triumphant ode to their current fame.
That’s What I Want
Growing up in an era of unforgiving love-pop songs, “That’s What I Want” feels like a direct result of a kid who grew up listening to the latter era of OutKast. Featuring a more traditional pop-rock structure, it’s hard not to reminisce about songs such as “Hey Ya!” amongst romantic guitar strings and swirling synth patterns. Yet another chart-topping song for Lil Nas X, the track made him the first artist to have three tracks simultaneously in the Billboard Top-10.
The track continued to showcase him as a visual icon rather than solely a musical one. Lil Nas falls in love with a boy at a football game before later realizing that’s married. The track narratively contributes to his feelings of isolation that he associates with his homosexuality. The cowboy theme of the video is a direct reference to 2005 film ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ In the film, two gay lovers never unite due to one’s fear of being judged.
Holiday
Intended to fill the gap between his ‘7 EP’ and ‘Montero,’ “Holiday” is a Christmas-themed track that released in November of 2020. Peaking at the 25th ranked track on the Billboard Top 100, the song has since approached 500 million streams on Spotify. A celebratory track, he’s tongue and cheek with multiple hilarious bars. In addition, he continued to be creative on the visual end of things. The music video sees Lil Nas X dressed as a futuristic version of Santa Claus, existing in a cyberpunk Arctic world.
Lil Nas plays around with his songwriting on the track, stating “Hee hee! I’m bad as Michael Jackson” amongst a traditionally structured trap banger. With Tay Keith on production chops, smooth synths and direct drums populate the track. There’s a more melodic, laid-back feel to embrace the holiday aesthetic. It was a simple, but effective track that kept fans satisfied before his full-length project.
Star Walkin’
The most recent single from Lil Nas X, “Star Walkin’” is tagged to the League of Legends brand. There’s a definite overly-glossed, big budget feel to the production on the track. With hints of EDM and drill, it’s an effective banger to cater to his younger audience. The headline track for the League of Legends World Championship, the track has amassed over 250 million streams on Spotify over the past six months.
Lil Nas delivered a live performance of the track back in the November, clothed a slick white and gold outfit. Dancing from verse to chorus, it’s one of his more impressive lives performances to date. In addition, the track highlights Lil Nas’s business savvy and Internet personality. He knows how to capitalize on trends, which will solidify him as an industry-wide name for years to come.
Who Is Dwayne Wade’s Daughter Zaya Wade?
Sports fans largely consider Dwayne Wade one of the best basketball plays in recent history. However, these days many think of him as the proud father of Zaya Wade. This is because since the spotlight found Zaya, Dwayne and his wife, Gabrielle Union, have been staunch supporters of her. First, though, fans should note that Gabrolle is Zaya’s stepmother. Her mother is Siohvaughn Funches. She and Dwayne Wade were married from 2002 until 2010. Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union tied the knot in 2014.
Zaya was born in 2007. Since Dwayne Wade and Siohvaughn separated, Zaya has lived with Dwayne and Gabrielle. In addition, Dwayne has three other kids, one of which is with Gabrielle Union. He is also the legal guardian of one of his nephews. As most people know, Zaya Wade is transgender. She came out a couple of years ago and has been a public figure ever since. Of course, there has been controversy directed at the child. However, her parents support her, and she has received many kind words from other LGBT+ advocates. Zaya and her family also recently crossed a substantial legal hurdle that gives them a reason to celebrate.
Here’s a look into who Zaya Wade is and why she sparks so much conversation.
When Did Zaya Wade Come Out
Coming out and admitting your truth can be challenging for anyone to do. For Zaya, she came out publicly as transgender in 2020. Of course, the topic of transgender individuals wasn’t new at the time, but it still sparked some controversy. It was Dwayne Wade himself who announced that his child was indeed trans. This happened in February of that year, and he spoke about fearing the hate she may receive. Dwayne Wade’s daughter made her red carpet debut the next month at the Truth Awards. More recently, the basketball star even said he fears her safety whenever she leaves the house.
Since coming out as transgender, Zaya Wade has not only faced some backlash. She has been an inspiration. Of course, being only 15 currently, there is only so much she can say herself. However, Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union have done a great job supporting Zaya and speaking about transgender rights. More recently, the couple received an award at the NAACP Image Awards. In their speech, they talked about how LGBTQ+ people, especially trans people, are often left out of the conversation about equality. Their speech was seen by many as a call to action for inclusion.
Zaya Wade’s Legal Gender Change
In February of this year, the news broke that a judge granted Dwayne Wade’s daughter a huge legal victory. Zaya Wade is now legally her name. In addition, the young girl was granted a legal gender transition. This means that her birth certificate reflects her life as a girl instead of her identity before transitioning. The ruling was filed in a Los Angeles superior court. For the most part, the world seems accepting of this legal change for Zaya.
Despite general acceptance of Dwayne Wade’s daughter’s legal name and gender change, some critics have stated Zaya and her parents should have waited a few more years until she turned 18. One notable example of this was when actress LisaRaye McCoy spoke about this on her Fox Soul show and expressed doubt that this was even legally possible. In addition, of course, since before the legal gender and name change, rapper Lil Boosie has been a major detractor for not only Zaya but the LGBTQ+ community in general.
What Does Zaya’s Mother Say
Siohvaughn Funches, Zaya’s mother, has been outspoken against Zaya’s transitioning for a while now. While she hasn’t seemed hateful, she has expressed concerns that Dwayne and Gabrielle are using their child. She said as recently as last year that Dwayne is profiting from his daughter’s newfound fame. However, the ex-NBA player responded by saying she has had numerous opportunities to get to know Zaya, including speaking to her therapists and doctors and getting to know her friends. According to Dwayne, Siohvaugn has had no interest in doing so. He also stated that his ex-wife tried something similar some time ago that caused significant harm to their children.
Of course, Siohvaughn also has support in the media. Many feel she should have some say in their daughter’s public life. No one is sure why the former couple has such a contentious relationship, but it does seem that she is more traditional in her beliefs and may not be understanding even if she was in Zaya’s life more. It’s also unclear how often Zaya and her mother actually speak. She first spoke out about the idea of a legal name change back in November of 2022. It’s not uncommon for parents to not be accepting when it comes to having a transgender child, but hopefully, Siohvaughn will someday come to fully accept her daughter.
Keke Palmer: All About The Actress, Singer, And New Mom
Keke Palmer, 29, the triple threat can now add mom to her many roles, as her acting and singing have already made her a standout both in life and on screen. Making her debut in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Palmer quickly became likable from her honest and kind demeanor, making her a favored co-star to want to be around.
Keke Palmer Debuted As An Actress And Singer
Making a transition to television in the same year of her movie debut, Palmer ultimately went on to star in multiple Nickelodeon series like True Jackson, VP and Winx Club. When she displayed how raw her skill was at such a young age, Palmer continued to succeed in the industry with more serious roles that would later catapult her into the respected actress she is today. Starring in films like Akeelah and the Bee, Madea’s Family Reunion, Jump In!, and The Longshots, Palmer has spent most of her life in the film world.
When her adult life came around, so did the adult roles. No age could define Palmer on screen, as her ability has transcended into one of the greats. Taking on roles next to Tyler Perry, Queen Latifah, Whoopie Goldberg, Julia Stiles and Ice Cube, Palmer was able to gain versatile parts in films like Alice, Hustlers, and Nope. Palmer has also been a voice over actress in films like Lightyear, Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare, and multiple movies from the Ice Age franchise. Displaying even more skill, Palmer has taken her career a step further into the musical world with a 2014 role as the first African American Princess to star in a title role as Cinderella on Broadway. With Rolling Stones calling her assertive and confident with a “biting sense of humor,” Palmer stays contributing her love for acting in every role she is given.
Palmer Explains Her Love for Her Career
In an effortless steez, Palmer epitomizes true passion behind the screen saying, “I can’t even tell anyone how it feels when I’m acting, I don’t mean to say that I don’t have to try. But there’s something in my heart that explodes, and I feel like I understand. When I’m acting, I feel like so in control and so centered. This is something that I solely get from acting and music.”
Not only has Palmer paved her own way as an actress, but she has also grounded herself as a singer and songwriter. Her 2007 debut album So Uncool charted on Billboard’s Top R&B & HipHop Albums list and was released under her contract with Atlantic Records. Palmer explains her love for music with, “Whether it be in acting, music, or even in dancing, I only want to do things that I truly connect to, and with my music, it’s everything that I am.” Though she’s now signed to Island Records, Palmer has released albums Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 1, and Virgo Tendencies, Pr. 2 along with multiple singles over the course of the previous years.
Palmer Meets Longtime Boyfriend at Diddy’s Memorial Day Party in 2021
Palmer started dating boyfriend, Darius Jackson, 29, after meeting at Rae and Diddy’s Memorial Day Party in 2021. Keeping their relationship private for only a few months, the couple have remained close since their first encounter. Telling Bustle in an interview, Palmer says, “This is the happiest I’ve ever felt with someone. So why would I go out of my way to hide this person? That’s a lot more work than just living in my life and being in my life. You know what I’m saying?”
Being in the entertainment industry as well, Jackson is both an actor and fitness trainer. Attending Fresno State University on a football scholarship, Jackson continued in the footsteps of his older brother Saranus Jackson who played sports before launching his acting career in 2017 in the series Insecure. Though he hasn’t much acting fame, Jackson can be linked to the upcoming sci-fi film Dawn of the Predator as Agent Mayo. In the film, a group of agents are deployed to a robot-controlled territory, and upon their attempt to retrieve technology from an alien crash, they are faced with war against the aliens.
Palmer Gives Birth to Son ‘Leo’
Though acting and singing may have been the prevalence of Palmer’s whole life, her newest role as ‘mom’ may be her most important one yet. Palmer gave birth on February 25, 2023 to a healthy baby boy, Leodis Andrellton Jackson. Though it’s a first time being a parent for Palmer, she stays happily grateful for her experience, taking to social media to say, “”Hey Son!!!! Born during Black History Month, with a name to match! LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world baby Leo.”
Keke Palmer Has Ideas for the Future of Her Career
Though Palmer is most focused on being a new mom with her longtime boyfriend, Jackson, she still has her eyes set on new horizons after earning a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host for her appearance alongside Michael Strahan on Strahan, Sara, and Keke from 2019-2020. Palmer told Bustle she envisions herself giving back to her community in the near future by interning a plethora of young black adults for the directing and producing of films saying, “I imagine myself directing movies and producing films and having a bunch of different interns that are just in college.”
Continuing, “Young, black kids that are learning how to be a grip, that are learning how to be a DP, that are learning how to work in production, or as a designer, or people that are learning how to be a teamster, I really want to educate the young kids on the fact that you don’t just have to work in Hollywood as a performer, or as a writer, or as a director — your ass could be a crafty.”
With 20 years in the industry, Palmer has exhibited the essence of a true star. In following her own advice, “You can do anything as long as you don’t stop believing. When it is meant to be, it will be. You just have to follow your heart,” Palmer continues to thrive as a new mom still wanting to work, as her love for acting and singing is endless.
Creed III Review: Michael B. Jordan Directs A Classic
It’s this Creed III quote that resonates with audiences after the film has ended. The quote is a bit of a throwaway line for antagonist Damian Anderson, but it holds a special meaning to those who worked on the film.
Michael B. Jordan makes his directorial debut with Creed III. He joins a long list of actor-directors while trying to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with behind and not just in front of the camera (spoilers for the Rocky and Creed franchise ahead).
Anderson spent time locked away in prison after trying to help Adonis Creed. The former pulled out a gun on someone when the latter started a fight with them. Now that he’s free, he’s eager to prove that he is the champion he was on track to be.
That’s when he drops the line to Creed. He wants to be the champ, and even if he’s got a late start, it’s better than no start. That clearly refers to Anderson’s fictional situation, but also mirrors Jordan’s own real-life situation.
Jordan’s directing was a long time coming
Jordan joined the Creed franchise as an actor in 2015 with Ryan Coogler’s Rocky soft reboot. Eight years later, Jordan is in the director’s chair for Creed 3 (Creed III). It’s the first time the Black Panther star has sat in that seat, but it’s hardly noticeable.
The actor’s directorial debut comes 22 years after he debuted as a child actor in Hardball. Nevertheless, Oscar-winning directors gotta start somewhere, right?
The film stars up and coming Jonathan Majors opposite Jordan, as well as Phylicia Rashad, Tessa Thompson and Wood Harris, but it’s Jordan who shines on and off camera.
Creed III plot summary
Creed III sees the newly retired Adonis Creed enjoying his time off. He’s a loving husband to his artist-turned producer wife, Bianca, and a doting father to his deaf daughter, Amara.
He also runs the gym with his former trainer and partner, Little Duke. They work to shape the next generation of boxers and are promoting a fight between their world champion and Viktor Drago, the antagonist from 2018’s Creed 2.
When Anderson returns and tells Creed what he wants, there’s not much opportunity for it. That is, until Drago befalls an injury and the title bout is now missing a contender.
Enter Anderson, whose nickname was “Diamond Dame”, who shows his true colors by boxing as dirty as possible and defeating the world champion, Felix Chavez.
Anderson used a prison-defined body and clever tricks to get the best of Chavez and become the world’s champion, but it’s Creed that he really wants.
The two, who have a lot of anger and guilt over what transpired in the past and their lives after Anderson went into prison, agree to fight it out despite Rocky’s former protege having been retired for three years.
Michael B. Jordan shines as a new director
Michael B. Jordan stepped into the director’s chair with the confidence his character showed in his opening fight against Chavez. Creed was in control the entire time and it showed. Behind the camera, Jordan was in control the entire time.
Jordan’s style and flair bleed into this movie. It’s the most stylish boxing movie perhaps of all time. It’s also easily the most fun film to look at in the Rocky franchise.
Speaking of Rocky Balboa, Jordan took on an unenviable task of crafting the first Rocky film without its first star- the Italian Stallion himself. Stallone stepped away because of grievances with producer Irwin Winkler. That could have left a major hole in the movie.
Jordan ensured that hole was never felt. In fact, he went so far as to make this the only movie since the original that could stand alone. Yes, it flows out of the first two Creed movies and the previous six Rocky films, but it’s as accessible as the original.
Jordan’s directorial flair was on full display
The style and flair that Jordan displays in his first ever film are never more present than in the final fight. This is the most personal fight in the entire franchise. It may only rivaled by Rocky’s revenge bout against Ivan Drago for killing Adonis Creed’s father (major spoilers ahead) in Rocky IV.
As a result, Jordan made the unique decision to strip everything away. Boxing has always drawn big crowds, but for Anderson and Creed, it was just the two of them.
Jordan showed that visually by putting them in an almost colorless arena with no fans. There was no noise except for the grunts and hits each boxer landed. It perfectly showcased what this fight meant.
At a certain points, the wall of the ring turned into a prison cage like the one Anderson spent 18 years in. Another turned into the walls of the abusive group home the two spent years in.
Creed III was inspired by anime
Jordan discussed this decision with the New York Times, saying that he felt like the void was a perfect visual storytelling medium.
“Back when we would go through our first choreo, every punch would be a line: ‘What are we saying in this fight?’ That idea always stuck with me, and I just put that on steroids and infused it with anime. There was even a moment where I put subtitles in the void.”
Michael B. Jordan via The New York Times
He ultimately decided against the subtitles bit, feeling that it would be too difficult for the audience.
“Yeah, there was no sound: It was completely silent and just subtitles. I was like, ‘All right, that’s my artistic side coming out too strong! I got to remember what kind of movie I’m making, that invisible contract that I signed with the audience.’ I watched anime all my life, so I could watch and read subtitles at the same time, but a lot of people can’t do that.”
Jordan via The New York Times
Creed III: Not perfect, but really close to it
Creed III is not a perfect film. It is arguably the best in the trilogy and could rival the original as someone’s favorite, though. There are a lot of factors to that (such as Jonathan Majors giving yet another unbelievable performance), but Jordan’s leadership guided this film to an excellent place.
Majors imbues his character with a palpable rage. The audience can feel the anger at being locked up for trying to save Creed while Creed ran and escaped any punishment.
For his credit, this is probably Jordan’s best outing as Adonis Creed. The audience feels his emotions with him. The guilt he carries over what happened with Anderson comes right through the screen.
The two give performances as strong as their in-universe characters are. That, combined with excellent directing, makes for what will undoubtedly hold up as one of 2023’s best releases. That’s high praise for a movie released with almost nine full months remaining in the calendar year.
Given that this movie isn’t Oscar-bait in any way, it would be a surprise to see a Best Supporting Actor nomination thrown to Majors or a Best Director nomination for Jordan. However, they’re both worthy of unending praise.
Some actors that move into directing don’t do much. They might direct a film or two, but most remain actors. Jordan mentioned to the New York Times that he had projects in the pipeline (that he wanted Majors to join him in), so he’s absolutely going to be a director to watch in the future.
Unfortunately, he set the bar so high with Creed III. It’s hard to envision him topping it. He probably welcomes the challenge, and the audience is absolutely looking forward to it.
Here’s Everything We Know About ‘Swarm’
Swarm is a new horror series starring Dominique Fishback. The co-executive producers are Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino and creator of HBO’s Watchmen, Janine Nabers. The series is coming to Prime Video this month on March 17th. It also stars Chloe Bailey and Snowfall star, Damson Idris.
Fishback plays a fan that obsesses over a famous pop star and it consumes her life. In the trailer, it’s clear the pop star’s character is influenced by Beyonce. The “BeyHive” is one of the biggest fandoms ever. The series will first premiere at the SXSW festival on March 10th. Nabers calls it “a sister to Atlanta” while Glover says it’s “a post-truth The Piano Teacher mixed with The King of Comedy”.
Here’s everything we know so far about Donald Glover’s new series.
Dominique Fishback is Swarm‘s Star
After being told she wasn’t cut out to be an actress and denied from acting school, Dominique Fishback sure has done well for herself. She did not let those obstacles deter her as she aspired to be on the big screen. Hailing from Brooklyn, Fishback went to public schools in her neighborhood, but also took free acting classes for kids in New York. Ultimately, she was able to participate in her theater course where she learned more about acting and writing her own plays.
Fishback attended Pace University in New York and graduated with a degree in theater. With her degree and experience writing her own material in her theater course, Fishback decided to put on her own show, Subverted. Subverted was a one woman show that was written and performed solely by Fishback. After this, she took off!
Film & TV Roles Before Swarm
She landed roles in films such as Night Comes On, The Hate U Give, Project Power, and most notably, Judas and The Black Messiah. Her role in Judas and The Black Messiah as Deborah Johnson, partner of Fred Hampton, led her to be nominated for a BAFTA award as well as an NAACP Image Award. The New York native is also set to star in the third installment of the Transformers series. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is set to be released this year.
The 31-year-old has also appeared in different TV series throughout her career. Fishback has appeared in episodes of The Affair, The Americans, Blue Bloods, Royal Pains, Show Me a Hero, and most notably, The Deuce. Along with being the star of Swarm, she has a main role on the Apple+ TV series, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, starring alongside Samuel L. Jackson. All of Fishback’s hard work has been paying off as she is very busy these days.
Atlanta, FX Ties
After watching Atlanta, we know what Donald Glover can bring to the table. The four season series was certainly not your typical TV show. Glover’s ability to combine many different topics including family, Hip Hop, love, fatherhood, and friendship separates him from the rest.
In the trailer, fans can see that this series is influenced by Beyoncé as Childish Gambino continues to stick to his music roots through his film work. Swarm is bound to have hidden messages and meaningful moments just like Atlanta did. Similar to the FX series, Glover continues to make opportunities for black artists to showcase their talents on a big stage. Chloe Bailey and Damson Idris star alongside Fishback as her sister and boyfriend, respectively.
Idris and Glover have ties together before this series as both have major shows on the FX network. Idris stars in the hit show, Snowfall.
Beyoncé-Influenced
As I stated above, this series is influenced by Beyoncé. The Atlanta director is not afraid to make fun of today’s society. Throughout the four seasons of Atlanta, the “3005” rapper has created episodes surrounding topics such as blogging, social media, barbershops, and racism, and fashion. Glover has even developed storylines based on people like Tyler Perry, Drake, and Disney’s Goofy character. Now, it’s Beyoncé’s turn.
Beyonce’s fandom, the “BeyHive”, is a group everyone is familiar with. The “BeyHive” has to be the most powerful movement on the Internet. One wrong word about Beyonce and the hive will swarm. Next thing you know, you have thousands of bee emojis on your page.
As I mentioned above, Glover has the ability to make fun of topics that are a staple in not only the black community, but society as well. There’s no doubt that he’ll address the “BeyHive” in the most respectful, but awakening way.
An Obama is Involved
Wow, Malia Obama has surely grown up right before our very eyes. Now, 24, the former President’s daughter is taking her talents to the big screen. She is one of the writers on the series as this is her first writing opportunity since graduating from Harvard in 2021. Co-Creator of Swarm, Janine Nabers, told People that Malia is professional and her age really is a plus factor.
“[The main characters of the show] are in their 20s and Malia is in her 20s, so it was really great having someone like her in the room. She’s a very professional person, she’s an incredible writer and artist.”
Though this is her first job writing, the 24-year-old has been around television before. She was an intern at the Weinstein Company and on Lena Dunham’s Girls. She also worked as a production assistant on Halle Berry’s CBS series, Extant.
It’s a Small World
Paris Jackson, daughter of Michael Jackson, will appear in the series. Also, Macaulay Culkin’s younger brother, Rory Culkin, will have a part as well. It’s a small world being that Michael Jackson and Macaulay Culkin were lifelong friends. The Culkins and the Jacksons still manage to be linked together after all these years.
Let us know if you plan on watching Swarm when it premiers on Prime Video in the comments.
Chris Brown’s Best Performances
Whether you hate to admit it or not, Chris Brown is one of the greatest performers we have ever seen. Just like there is always a conversation of who’s the greatest basketball player, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or LeBron James? Or who’s the best rapper in this generation; Drake, Kendrick Lamar, or J.Cole? For R&B, the conversation is always Michael Jackson, Usher Raymond, and then Chris Brown.
Last year, at Usher’s Las Vegas residency, he brought out Chris Brown to perform, in which he called his co-collaborator for “New Flame”, a “legend”. Usher is right, Breezy is a legend. He proves he can do it all as a singer, dancer, rapper, and actor. You’re bound to get a bit of everything when you see him in concert.
Chris Brown has too many great performances to count. Whether it be on tour, the Grammys, or the BET Awards, Breezy has always left it all on the stage. Let’s take a look at the seven best performances from Chris Brown throughout his career.
7. Chris Brown sings “All Black” at 2011 American Music Awards
Although they rescinded their invitation for him to perform there in 2022, Brown hit the AMAs stage in 2011. In a performance where he solely displayed his vocal abilities, Breezy put his heart in it when he sang “All Back”. The slow ballad turned into the uptempo song, “Say It With Me”, where he put his moves on display, per usual.
6. Chris Brown Performs Hits at 2014 Soul Train Music Awards
Chris Brown’s ability to sing while dancing is what separates him from other artists. Most singers often lip sync their lyrics while performing their moves, but not Breezy. In this performance, he started off with his hit song “Yo”, where you can clearly hear his voice over the music. He transitions to his hits like “Poppin”, “Take You Down”, and “New Flame”.
As the camera points to the crowd, you can see fellow artists enjoy the song, including Tank. The R&B crooner caught himself trying to move like the Virginia artist at one point. To wrap up this set, Breezy performed his hit, “Loyal”, which got some people off their feet. Even nearing the end of his set, he still sounds good while dancing like his set just started. It’s safe to say the man is in shape.
5. Breezy Gets Intimate at 2011 Summer Jam
Chris Brown gets intimate with his fans at the 2011 Summer Jam as he starts off with “Wet the Bed”. He continues the theme by performing his slow jam, “Take You Down”. The “No Guidance” singer has always been about his fans and is known to bring women on stage. Of course, he did it at Summer Jam, too.
The woman on stage was subject to Breezy dancing and caressing her as she sat in a chair. She even experienced a few intense thrust at one point as women all throughout the stadium went crazy longing to be her.
You can see Chris put his all into this performance nearly falling to his knees as he belted out “Take You Down”.
4. 2016 iHeartRadio Awards
In a set that shows all different sides of Breezy, iHeart fans were blessed in a set that was less than 10 minutes. He starts with “Liquor” with his background dancers, but transitions to “Back to Sleep” by himself. Brown is singing to a woman on stage before jumping into “Wrist”-literally.
As he raps “Wrist”, he dances along with his background dancers, but somehow he always manages to out do them. His style is second to none. Chris and his crew break out into his pop hit song, “Yeah 3x”. Not too many artists can give you hits across different genres like Brown. And to top it all off, his clothing company, Black Pyramid, received a bit of promo during the set.
An-all around great performance by Breezy yet again.
3. Chris Brown performs in Timbs at the 2007 Grammys
Gliding down the stairs while coming out in a mask, Breezy started his performance with a step show before going in to his debut hit “Run It”. Dancing in Timberland Boots is something we haven’t seen before and Chris makes it look easy.
Just like his MTV Awards performance that year, the “New Flame” singer performed alongside two kids that might be the future Breezy. From backflips to handstands, he received a standing ovation. And to think, he did it all on a sprained ankle and in TIMBS! This could be considered his greatest performance based on the circumstances alone.
2. 2007 MTV Awards
Breezy’s first time performing at the MTV Video Music Awards was in 2007. He started it theatrically, as he acted if he was trapped in a booth. Two kids came to free him and he started dancing alongside them. As the two kids leave, his dance crew forms behind him as Breezy makes some stunning moves.
As “Wall to Wall” begins, Brown jumps from the stage to another platform and the show starts. With this being his first performance on this stage, it’s no secret that he was going to be lip syncing. As “Wall to Wall” ends, Rihanna comes out to her hit song, “Umbrella”. After a few moments, she approaches Chris and they dance together, shortly, before going their separate ways. This is one of the first interactions we see of the two young superstars.
Breezy starts his Michael Jackson impression as his DJ plays “Billie Jean” in the background. Moments like these are the reasons people say he is the second coming of MJ. He maneuvers just like Michael did when he was on stage for a few seconds before going into his hit “Kiss Kiss”. With the “Run It” artist jumping from platform to platform, moving like Michael, and dancing with Rihanna, there’s no way the crowd wasn’t entertained.
1. 2006 World Music Awards Michael Jackson Tribute
Breezy did a tribute to the King of Pop at the 2006 World Music Awards. As soon as the light hit him, the audience started cheering and did not stop. Chris comes out in the same red “Thriller” jacket Michael had on in the original video moving like MJ himself. He re-creates the video on stage following a young woman serenading her while dancing.
Of course, Chris Brown and his crew perform the iconic dance scene that’s in the “Thriller“ music video, to which the crowd couldn’t get enough of. You bet he received a standing ovation that night and he was only 16 years old!
Let us know your favorite Chris Brown performance in the comments!