Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X, and Jack Harlow Lead 2022 MTV VMA Nominations

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The highly anticipated “VMA” nominations for 2022 were released by MTV. They include musicians whose contributions to culture and work over the last year have changed the music business and sparked debates worldwide. This year’s nominations are led by Jack Harlow, Kendrick Lamar, and Lil Nas X with seven each, followed closely by Doja Cat and Harry Styles with six apiece, and Billie Eilish, Drake, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd (5 each).

With seven nominations each, Jack Harlow and Lil Nas X are in the lead. Their popular collaboration, “INDUSTRY BABY,” which had its world premiere live on the “VMAs” stage in 2021, also landed Kendrick Lamar his first nomination since 2018. Madonna, who has 20 wins and is the most-awarded artist in MTV history, receives her 69th nomination for “MADAME X,” making her the only artist to be nominated in each of the “VMAs” five decades. Additionally, this year’s nominations feature 26 first-timers, including Baby Keem (4), MTV PUSH artist GAYLE (2), Kacey Musgraves (2), and Mneskin (2), who all received multiple nods. Additionally, Anitta, Becky G, Dove Cameron, Karol G, ITZY, JID, Muni Long, Tems, Wet Leg, and other artists are receiving their first nominations.

The 2022 “VMAs” will celebrate the biggest names in music on August 28th, 8PM ET/PT, LIVE from New Jersey’s iconic Prudential Center and air across MTV’s worldwide footprint of linear and digital platforms in 170+ countries, reaching 422 million households in nearly 30 different languages.

Through Friday, August 19, 2022, fans can cast their votes online at vote.mtv.com for their favorites in 22 gender-neutral categories, including “Video of the Year,” “Artist of the Year,” “Best Collaboration,” and two brand-new ones, “Best Longform Video” and “Best Metaverse Performance.”

You can see the full list of nominees below.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR, Presented by Burger King®  

Doja Cat – “Woman” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Drake ft. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy” – OVO/Republic

Ed Sheeran – “Shivers” – Atlantic Records

Harry Styles – “As It Was“ – Columbia Records

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

Olivia Rodrigo – “brutal” – Geffen Records

Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records 

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment

Drake – OVO/Republic

Ed Sheeran – Atlantic Records

Harry Styles – Columbia Records

Jack Harlow – Generation Now / Atlantic Records 

Lil Nas X – Columbia Records

Lizzo – Atlantic Records 

SONG OF THE YEAR

Adele – “Easy On Me” – Columbia Records

Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Doja Cat – “Woman” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Elton John & Dua Lipa – “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” – EMI / Interscope Records 

Lizzo – “About Damn Time” – Atlantic Records 

The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – “STAY” – Columbia Records

BEST NEW ARTIST, Presented by EXTRA® Gum

Baby Keem – Columbia Records

Dove Cameron – Disruptor Records / Columbia Records 

GAYLE – Atlantic Records / Arthouse Records

Latto – Streamcut / RCA Records

Måneskin – Arista Records

SEVENTEEN – PLEDIS Entertainment/Geffen Records

PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

September 2021: Griff – “One Night” – Warner Records

October 2021: Remi Wolf – “Sexy Villain” – Island Records

November 2021: Nessa Barrett – “i hope ur miserable until ur dead” – Warner Records 

December 2021: SEVENTEEN – “Rock With You” – PLEDIS Entertainment / Geffen Records 

January 2021: Mae Muller – “Better Days” – Capitol Records UK

February 2022: GAYLE – “abcdefu” – Atlantic Records / Arthouse Records

March 2022: Sheneesa – “R U That” – Rich Immigrants / Interscope Records

April 2022: Omar Apollo – “Tamagotchi” – Warner Records

May 2022: Wet Leg – “Chaise Longue” – Domino Recording Company

June 2022: Muni Long – “Baby Boo” – Supergiant Records LLC / Def Jam Recording

July 2022: Doechii – “Persuasive” – Top Dog Entertainment / Capitol Records 

BEST COLLABORATION

Drake ft. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy” – OVO/Republic

Elton John & Dua Lipa – “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” – EMI / Interscope Records

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa – “Sweetest Pie” – 300 Entertainment

Post Malone & The Weeknd – “One Right Now” – Mercury Records / Republic Records 

ROSALÍA ft. The Weeknd – “LA FAMA” – Columbia Records

The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – “STAY” – Columbia Records 

BEST POP

Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever” – Darkroom / Interscope Records 

Doja Cat – “Woman” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Ed Sheeran – “Shivers” – Atlantic Records

Harry Styles – “As It Was” – Columbia Records

Lizzo – “About Damn Time” – Atlantic Records

Olivia Rodrigo – “traitor” – Geffen Records 

BEST HIP-HOP

Eminem & Snoop Dogg – “From The D 2 The LBC” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records 

Future ft. Drake, Tems – “WAIT FOR U” – Freebandz / Epic Records

Kendrick Lamar – “N95” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records 

Latto – “Big Energy” – Streamcut / RCA Records

Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Baby – “Do We Have A Problem?” – Young Money / Cash Money / Republic Records

Pusha T – “Diet Coke” – G.O.O.D. Music / Def Jam 

BEST ROCK

Foo Fighters – “Love Dies Young” – RCA Records

Jack White – “Taking Me Back” – Third Man Records

Muse – “Won’t Stand Down” – Warner Records

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Black Summer” – Warner Records 

Shinedown – “Planet Zero” – Elektra Music Group

Three Days Grace – “So Called Life” – RCA Records 

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Avril Lavigne ft. blackbear – “Love It When You Hate Me” – Elektra Music Group / DTA Records

Imagine Dragons x JID – “Enemy” – KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records

Machine Gun Kelly ft. WILLOW – “emo girl” – Bad Boy / Interscope Records

Måneskin – “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE” – Arista Records

Panic! At The Disco – “Viva Las Vengeance” – Fueled By Ramen / Elektra Music Group 

Twenty One Pilots  – “Saturday” – Fueled By Ramen / Elektra Music Group

WILLOW, Avril Lavigne ft. Travis Barker – “G R O W” – MSFTSMusic / Roc Nation Records

BEST LATIN

Anitta – “Envolver” – Warner Records

Bad Bunny – “Tití Me Preguntó” – Rimas Entertainment

Becky G X KAROL G – “MAMIII” – Kemosabe Records / Sony Music Latin / RCA Records 

Daddy Yankee – “REMIX” – Republic Records

Farruko – “Pepas” – Sony Music US Latin

J Balvin & Skrillex – “In Da Getto” – Sueños Globales, LLC /Universal Music Latino / Asylum Records UK 

BEST R&B

Alicia Keys – “City of Gods (Part II)” – AKW

Chlöe – “Have Mercy” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

H.E.R. – “For Anyone” – RCA Records

Normani ft. Cardi B – “Wild Side” – Keep Cool/RCA Records

Summer Walker, SZA & Cardi B – “No Love (Extended Version)” – LVRN / Interscope Records 

The Weeknd – “Out Of Time” – XO / Republic Records 

BEST K-POP

BTS – “Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)” – BIGHIT Music / Geffen Records 

ITZY – “LOCO” – JYP Entertainment

LISA – “LALISA” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records

SEVENTEEN – “HOT” – PLEDIS Entertainment/Geffen Records

Stray Kids – “MANIAC” – JYP Entertainment

TWICE – “The Feels” – JYP Entertainment

VIDEO FOR GOOD

Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart Part 5” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records

Latto – “P*ssy” – Streamcut / RCA Records

Lizzo – “About Damn Time” – Atlantic Records

Rina Sawayama – “This Hell” – Dirty Hit

Stromae – ”Fils de joie” – Mosaert Label / The Darkroom / Interscope Records 

BEST METAVERSE PERFORMANCE

BLACKPINK The Virtual | PUBG – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records

BTS | Minecraft – BIGHIT Music / Geffen Records

Charli XCX | Roblox – Atlantic Records

Justin Bieber – An Interactive Virtual Experience | Wave – Def Jam

Rift Tour ft. Ariana Grande | Fortnite – Republic Records

Twenty One Pilots Concert Experience | Roblox – Fueled By Ramen / Elektra Music Group 

BEST LONGFORM VIDEO

Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles – Darkroom / Interscope Records 

Foo Fighters – Studio 666 – RCA Records

Kacey Musgraves – star-crossed – Interscope Records / MCA Nashville

Madonna – Madame X – Interscope Records

Olivia Rodrigo – driving home 2 u – Geffen Records

Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “family ties” – Columbia Records

Camila Cabello ft. Ed Sheeran – “Bam Bam” – Epic Records

Harry Styles – “As It Was” – Columbia Records

Kendrick Lamar – “N95” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records 

Normani ft. Cardi B – “Wild Side” – Keep Cool / RCA Records

Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records 

BEST DIRECTION

Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “family ties” – Columbia Records

Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Ed Sheeran – “Shivers” – Atlantic Records 

Harry Styles – “As It Was” – Columbia Records

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records 

BEST ART DIRECTION

Adele – “Oh My God” – Columbia Records

Doja Cat – “Get Into It (Yuh)” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Drake ft. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy” – OVO / Republic Records 

Kacey Musgraves – “simple times” – Interscope Records / MCA Nashville 

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

Megan Thee Stallion ft. Dua Lipa – “Sweetest Pie” – 300 Entertainment 

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Billie Eilish – “Happier Than Ever” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Coldplay X BTS – “My Universe” – Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart Part 5” – pgLang/Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope Records

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records

Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa – “Sweetest Pie” – 300 Entertainment

The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber – “STAY” – Columbia Records

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

BTS – “Permission to Dance” – BIGHIT Music/Geffen Records

Doja Cat – “Woman” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

FKA twigs ft. The Weeknd – “Tears In The Club” – Atlantic Records 

Harry Styles – “As It Was” – Columbia Records

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow – “INDUSTRY BABY” – Columbia Records 

Normani ft. Cardi B – “Wild Side” – Keep Cool / RCA Records 

BEST EDITING 

Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “family ties” – Columbia Records

Doja Cat – “Get Into It (Yuh)” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Olivia Rodrigo – “brutal” – Geffen Records

ROSALÍA – “SAOKO” – Columbia Records

Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records 

The Weeknd – “Take My Breath” – XO / Republic Records 

LIST OF NOMINATIONS BY ARTIST 

Jack Harlow – 7 Nominations

Video of the Year: “INDUSTRY BABY”

Artist of the Year

Best Collaboration: “INDUSTRY BABY”

Best Direction: “INDUSTRY BABY” 

Best Art Direction: “INDUSTRY BABY” 

Best Visual Effects: “INDUSTRY BABY” 

Best Choreography: “INDUSTRY BABY”

Kendrick Lamar – 7 Nominations 

Best Hip-Hop: “N95”

Video for Good: “The Heart Part 5”

Best Cinematography: “family ties” 

Best Cinematography: “N95”

Best Direction: “family ties” 

Best Visual Effects: “The Heart Part 5”

Best Editing: “family ties”

Lil Nas X – 7 Nominations

Video of the Year: “INDUSTRY BABY”

Artist of the Year

Best Collaboration: “INDUSTRY BABY” 

Best Direction: “INDUSTRY BABY” 

Best Art Direction: “INDUSTRY BABY”

Best Visual Effects: “INDUSTRY BABY” 

Best Choreography: “INDUSTRY BABY”

Doja Cat – 6 Nominations

Video of the Year: “Woman”

Song of the Year: “Woman”

Best Pop: “Woman”

Best Art Direction: “Get Into It (Yuh)”

Best Choreography: “Woman”

Best Editing: “Get Into It (Yuh)”

Harry Styles – 6 Nominations

Video of the Year: “As It Was” 

Artist of the Year

Best Pop: “As It Was”

Best Cinematography: : “As It Was”

Best Direction: “As It Was”

Best Choreography: “As It Was”

Billie Eilish – 5 Nominations

Song of the Year: “Happier Than Ever”

Best Pop: “Happier Than Ever”

Best Longform Video: “Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles”

Best Direction: “Happier Than Ever”

Best Visual Effects: “Happier Than Ever”

Drake – 5 Nominations

Video of the Year: “Way 2 Sexy”

Artist of the Year

Best Collaboration: “Way 2 Sexy” 

Best Hip-Hop: “WAIT FOR YOU”

Best Art Direction: “Way 2 Sexy” 

Dua Lipa – 5 Nominations

Song of the Year: “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” 

Best Collaboration: “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”  

Best Collaboration: “Sweetest Pie” 

Best Art Direction: “Sweetest Pie”  

Best Visual Effects: “Sweetest Pie”  

Ed Sheeran- 5 Nominations

Video of the Year: “Shivers”

Artist of the Year

Best Pop: “Shivers”

Best Cinematography: “Bam Bam” 

Best Direction: “Shivers”

Taylor Swift – 5 Nominations

Video of the Year: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) 

Best Longform Video: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) 

Best Cinematography: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) 

Best Direction: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) 

Best Editing: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) 

The Weeknd – 5 Nominations

Best R&B: “Out Of Time”

Best Collaboration: “Out Right Now”

Best Collaboration: “LA FAMA”

Best Choreography: “Tears In The Club”  

Best Editing: “Take My Breath”

Baby Keem – 4 Nominations

Best New Artist 

Best Cinematography: “family ties”  

Best Direction:  “family ties”  

Best Editing: “family ties”  

BTS – 4 Nominations

Best K-POP: “Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)”

Best Metaverse Performance: Minecraft

Best Visual Effects: “My Universe” 

Best Choreography: “Permission to Dance”

Cardi B – 4 Nominations

Best R&B: “Wild Side”

Best R&B: “No Love (Extended Version)”  

Best Cinematography: “Wild Side” 

Best Choreography: “Wild Side”

Future – 4 Nominations

Video of the Year: “Way 2 Sexy” 

Best Collaboration: “Way 2 Sexy” 

Best Hip-Hop: “WAIT FOR U”  

Best Art Direction: “Way 2 Sexy” 

Justin Bieber – 4 Nominations

Song of the Year: “STAY”  

Best Collaboration: “STAY” 

Best Visual Effects: “STAY” 

Best Metaverse Performance: An Interactive Virtual Experience | Wave

Lizzo – 4 Nominations

Artist of the Year

Song of the Year: “About Damn Time”

Best Pop: “About Damn Time”

Video for Good: “About Damn Time”

Olivia Rodrigo – 4 Nominations

Video of the Year: “brutal”

Best Pop: “traitor”

Best Longform Video: driving home 2 u

Best Editing: “brutal”

Latto – 3 Nominations

Best New Artist
Best Hip-Hop: “Big Energy”

Video for Good: “P*ssy”

Megan Thee Stallion – 3 Nominations

Best Collaboration: “Sweetest Pie” 

Best Art Direction: “Sweetest Pie” 

Best Visual Effects: “Sweetest Pie”  

Normani – 3 Nominations

Best R&B: “Wild Side”  

Best Cinematography: “Wild Side”  

Best Choreography: “Wild Side” 

SEVENTEEN – 3 Nominations

Best New Artist

PUSH Performance of the Year: “Rock With You”

Best K-POP: “HOT”

The Kid LAROI – 3 Nominations

Song of the Year: “STAY” 

Best Collaboration: “STAY”  

Best Visual Effects: “STAY” 

Young Thug – 3 Nominations

Video of the Year: “Way 2 Sexy” 

Best Collaboration: “Way 2 Sexy”  

Best Art Direction: “Way 2 Sexy” 

Adele – 2 Nominations 

Song of the Year: “Easy On Me”

Best Art Direction: “Oh My God”

Avril Lavigne – 2 Nominations

Best Alternative: “Love It When You Hate Me”

Best Alternative: “G R O W”

Bad Bunny – 2 Nominations

Artist of the Year

Best Latin: “Tití Me Preguntó”

Elton John – 2 Nominations 

Song of the Year: “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”  

Best Collaboration: “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” 

Foo Fighters – 2 Nominations

Best Rock: “Love Dies Young”

Best Longform Video: Studio 666

GAYLE – 2 Nominations

Best New Artist

PUSH Performance of the Year: “abcdefu”

Kacey Musgraves – 2 Nominations

Best Longform Video: “star-crossed”

Best Art Direction: “simple times”

Måneskin – 2 Nominations

Best New Artist

Best Alternative: “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE”

ROSALÍA – 2 Nominations

Best Collaboration: “LA FAMA” 

Best Editing: “SAOKO”

Twenty One Pilots – 2 Nominations

Best Alternative: “Saturday”

Best Metaverse Experience: Twenty One Pilots Concert Experience on Roblox

WILLOW – 2 Nominations

Best Alternative: “emo girl”

Best Alternative: “G R O W” 

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[WATCH] STARZ Releases Trailer for Season 2 of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Set for Aug. 14 Premiere

STARZ Releases Trailer for Season 2 of 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Set for Aug. 14 Premiere

Starz has announced season two of Power Book III: Raising Kanan to premiere on August 14.

Raising Kanan tells the origin story of Kanan Stark and how he entered an underworld of crime via his mom, who runs the drug empire. “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” had one of the top performing first seasons in STARZ history, with an average of approximately 9M viewers across platforms in its first season.

The description for season two is below:

Raquel ‘Raq’ Thomas has gained control over the city’s drug trade, but her son is slipping away. Kanan Stark returns to Queens uncertain of his future with the family business, and because of Detective Howard’s lingering secret, he’s even more uncertain of his past. Kanan searches for the truth while Raq boldly expands the business into hostile Mafia territory. Lou-Lou has other plans that revolve around his emerging record label, but Raq isn’t about to let his side hustle get in the way of her expansion. Although Marvin remains Raq’s loyal soldier, he struggles to earn Jukebox’s forgiveness and become the father she deserves. The ties that bind this family are becoming undone, but Raq will stop at nothing to hold them together.

Power Book III: Raising Kanan stars MeKai Curtis, Patina Miller (Into The Woods, “Madam Secretary”), Omar Epps (“House,” Love and Basketball), London Brown (“Ballers”), Malcolm Mays (“Them,” “Snowfall”), Hailey Kilgore (“Amazing Stories”), Joey Bada$$ (Two Distant Strangers), Shanley Caswell (The Conjuring) and Antonio Ortiz (“High Fidelity,” “The Sinner”).

Along with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Courtney A. Kemp, Sascha Penn is back as the show’s creator and executive producer. The Power Universe series is executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson through G-Unit Film and Television, Courtney A. Kemp through her production company End of Episode, and Mark Canton through Atmosphere Entertainment MM. Chris Selak, Shana Stein, and Bart Wenrich from End of Episode also serve as executive producers. Additionally, Kevin Fox is the executive producer. The show is created by Lionsgate Television for STARZ.

You can see the new trailer below.

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SOURCE SPORTS: NFL Dives Launches New Streaming Service ‘NFL+’

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The NFL has launched into the streaming service game. The league has announced NFL+, which premiered Monday, at a cost of $4.99 per month or $39.99 for the entire year.

The subscription will allow fans to enjoy all out-of-market preseason games once the games kick off on August 4 with the Hall of Fame game, pairing the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders. That specific game won’t be televised since it is broadcast nationally.

NFL+ will allow mobile access to the local and prime-time regular season and postseason games. According to CNBC, this is the first time the NFL will operate its own service, leveraging the league’s ability to show exclusive games.

NFL+ will also have access to NFL Network shows on demand and archived programming.

“We look forward to continuing to grow NFL+ and deepening our relationship with fans across all ages and demographics, providing them access to a tremendous amount of NFL content, including the most valuable content in the media industry: live NFL games,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

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FX Shares Teaser For Its Fourth and Final Season of “Atlanta”

FX Atlanta season 4 teaser

The fourth and final season of the hit FX series Atlanta has been announced with a premiere date. A “Back to the A” teaser was released over the weekend showing the four main characters, along with many references to previous episodes throughout the series.  

READ MORE: Donald Glover Says Only ‘The Sopranos’ Can Touch The Next Two Seasons Of ‘Atlanta’

The characters are set to return to their hometown of Atlanta this season, after last season took place in Europe. Donald Glover’s series Atlanta won five Emmy Awards for the first two seasons, and season three which premiered May 10 is nominated for three more.

 Episodes from the final season are scheduled to begin in September, without a specific date announced yet.

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

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“Griner Shouldn’t Be Political Pawn” WNBA Players Exec Director Terri Jackson To Biden Admin

Britteny

Monday night, Women’s National Basketball Players Association Executive Director, Terri Jackson was interviewed on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Jackson spoke to Trevor about Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for five months. 

The Phoenix Mercury star entered a guilty plea over a week ago while saying she “didn’t want to break the law.”  The guilty plea aids as a pre-condition for consideration of a negotiated release and possible prisoner exchange between Russia and the U.S.

READ MORE: WNBA Star Brittney Griner Pleads Guilty To Moscow Drug Charges

 Griner is facing up to 10 years in prison on the charge of large-scale transportation of drugs. Less than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, which can be overturned.

Jakson explains why the WNBA was told not to respond or comment publicly when Griner was first detained. She also shared comments that many people feel Griner is being used as a political pawn. Griner “should not be a political pawn,” Jackson continued. “We are BG,” calling on the Biden administration, what comes next and much more in the clip below.

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

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Desus & Mero Split Reportedly Due to Disagreement Over Management

desus and mero

First, the Fat Boys break up, then Desus & Mero break the hearts of their online Hive. In the middle of the past week, rumors floated online that Desus & Mero were heading for splitsville. That report would be confirmed by both Desus and the network for their show, SHOWTIME, but no reason was given.

In a new report from Puck news, the break-up is connected to their longtime manager Victor Lopez, who Showtime asked to no longer come to filming or meetings due to his abusive demeanor. Lopez’s behavior was stated to have “included bullying, screaming, and generally making people on the show feel bad.”

Five sources with information spoke to Puke, revealing Lopez was asked not to return around the same time the Bodega Boys podcast wrapped up. Desus agreed with Showtime, but Mero believed he should remain loyal to Lopez.

Puck also stated the two participated separately in MLB All-Star Game activities they were booked for and did not interact. You can read the full report here.

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H.E.R. Cast As 1st Afro-Filipina To Play Belle In “Beauty And The Beast”

H.E.R.

The multi talented musician H.E.R. has been cast to play Belle in a Beauty and the Beast 30th anniversary special. The Disney special will include brand new musical performances with never-before-seen sets and costumes.  

The five-time Grammy winner said she was especially excited to portray a Black and Filipino princess in an official press release.

“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ legacy. The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle!” the 25-year-old R&B singer gushed. “I have always wanted to be a Disney princess, and I get to work with two wonderful directors Hamish Hamilton and my favorite, Jon M. Chu. It is very surreal and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Executive producer Jon M. Chu added, “With her obvious extraordinary talent and stage presence, H.E.R. is the perfect embodiment of our Belle and we are thrilled for audiences to see her in this celebration of creativity.”

READ MORE: Mary J. Blige Releases “Good Morning Gorgeous” Remix Feat. H.E.R.

H.E.R.’s casting marks the first time an Afro-Filipina woman will play the role of Belle on screen. However it won’t be her last of her on the big screen as she is set to star in the 2023 Warner Bros. adaptation of The Color Purple.

The Beauty and the Beast 30th anniversary special will air on ABC Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. ET and  streams on Disney+ the following day.

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

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‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’ Crew Member Killed on Set in Brooklyn

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A crew member for NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime series was shot and killed in New York. According to Variety, the crew member was on location for the filming of the forthcoming third season when he was killed while sitting in his car.

NYPD notes the 31-year-old crew member was sitting in his car at 5:15 am ET in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood when the shooter opened his car door and opened fire. The victim was employed by a private company that was under contract with the show. The crew member was present as set security and parking enforcement.

“We were terribly saddened and shocked to hear that one of our crew members was the victim of a crime early this morning and has died as a result,” NBC and studio Universal Television said in a joint statement. “We are working with local law enforcement as they continue to investigate. Our hearts go out to his family and friends and we ask that you respect their privacy during this time.”

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The End Of Desus And Mero Is A Loss For Hip-Hop

Johnny Carson. David Letterman. Jay Leno. Jimmy Fallon. Jimmy Kimmel. Stephen Colbert. What do all those television personalities have in common? Sure, they’re all late-night television hosts… but what else do they have in common? You see it. Even if you don’t want to admit it just yet, you do. Let’s face it: Late night is a very white occupation. And sure, there have been some exceptions; Arsenio Hall, Joan Rivers, and Chris Rock spring to mind. But for the most part, the space has been dominated largely by older, white, straight, male, former stand-up comics. And before you scroll down to the comments to write “nuh-uh,” just hear me out.

Until very, very recently, there was one huge exception to this trend: Showtime’s Desus & Mero. However, last night, the show’s creators announced on Twitter that after four seasons, the show is coming to an end. Even worse, its two hosts, Daniel Baker aka Desus Nice and Joel Martinez aka The Kid Mero, were splitting up to pursue separate creative endeavors after nearly a decade of collaborations which included the Desus vs. Mero and Bodega Boys podcasts, the Desus & Mero talk show, and even an anime, Neo Yokio. The show’s cancellation isn’t just a loss of a beloved, underrated comedic pairing — it’s a loss for hip-hop as a whole.

Before Desus & Mero, it’s hard to find too many examples of hip-hop culture in the late-night TV space. Sure there was Arsenio Hall, doing his best to bring the fashion, music, and voice of the streets to America’s living rooms in the early ’90s. But while The Arsenio Hall Show was a landmark in bringing hip-hop to mainstream audiences, it was also watered-down, polished, and presented in a way that the whole thing slicker and more palatable to those audiences. It also largely avoided political topics, although the show did come under fire for booking — or not booking — some guests that audiences found controversial.

And certainly, hip-hop music remains a draw on late-night, with The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon employing a house band that comes from the rap world in The Roots. Rappers with new projects to promote are often booked as musical guests, performing their viral hits on shows like The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live! But more broadly, the Desus & Mero show was a chance to see hip-hop as a culture on TV, in a space that not many of us get to touch. They were not buttoned up. They didn’t wear suits. Their set was modeled after a New York bodega, the type of place where you’d actually find rappers hanging out.

Decked out in fitted caps and Timberland boots, they spoke in the sometimes coded slang of the streets, with all the swagger born of growing up in The Bronx. They interviewed the rappers that the bigger shows wouldn’t; in the past year, they’ve had guests like Baby Keem, Bobby Shmurda, Cordae, and Nas — both the Queens legend who made Illmatic, and the Fox News frustrating Lil Nas X. They debuted underground crooner RMR’s “I’m Not Over You” video. And they got their non-rapper guests to open up about not just their favorite rappers (watch Yo-Yo Ma play DMX!), but all sorts of down-to-earth topics. They interviewed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in their shared borough, taking the format beyond the confines of the studio.

And, in perhaps the biggest coup for the show to date, the duo interviewed former President Barack Obama, who roasted them as naturally as if they were having the conversation on a neighborhood stoop, rather than an empty rented auditorium undoubtedly surrounded by Secret Service agents. Whatever your feelings on the man’s politics, you have to admit that the moment lent legitimacy to hip-hop (and vice versa) in a way that, whether we want to admit it or not, is nice to see after three decades of politicians and pundits blaming rap culture for everything from school shootings to the overall decline of polite society.

So, pour one out for Desus And Mero. They showed that hip-hop could belong in yet another space that wasn’t made for it, that didn’t make provisions for it, and that mostly overlooked it. They brought us — our voices, our faces, our fashion, our outlook, our language, our interests, our culture — to millions of American homes. Late-night might have gotten a little less colorful without them, but those two guys from the Bronx undoubtedly opened a door — and the next Desus and Mero are likely right around the corner.

WNBA Players Exec Director Terri Jackson Calls On Biden Admin To Bring Brittney Griner Home

brittney griner wnba russia detained wrongfully

Last night, Women’s National Basketball Players Association Executive Director, Terri Jackson was interviewed on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Jackson spoke to Trevor about Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for five months. 

The Phoenix Mercury star entered a guilty plea over a week ago while saying she “didn’t want to break the law.”  The guilty plea aids as a pre-condition for consideration of a negotiated release and possible prisoner exchange between Russia and the U.S.

READ MORE: WNBA Star Brittney Griner Pleads Guilty To Moscow Drug Charges

 Griner is facing up to 10 years in prison on the charge of large-scale transportation of drugs. Less than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, which can be overturned.

Jakson explains why the WNBA was told not to respond or comment publicly when Griner was first detained. She also shared comments that many people feel Griner is being used as a political pawn. Griner “should not be a political pawn,” Jackson continued. “We are BG,” calling on the Biden administration, what comes next and much more in the clip below.

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