Posts made in May 2022

Where will the next mass shooting take place?

In an elementary school—like Robb Elementary, where 19 students and two adults were killed? In a supermarket—like Tops Friendly Market, where 10 shoppers, all Black, were killed by a man inflamed by racist, white supremacist hatred?

In a church? In a movie theater? In a nightclub? In a Walmart?

We don’t know where, but tragically, we know that there will be another mass shooting—and another, and another, and another—if our federal and state governments continue to be held in the clutches of the gun lobby and its Republican henchmen.

You can bet it will happen. That an AR-15 or a similar military-grade assault weapon will be involved. And that Republican politicians, who pocket money from the gun industry while blocking any and all commonsense gun safety legislation, will offer empty “thoughts and prayers.”

And it will keep happening until we—the overwhelming majority of Americans from all walks of life and all political stripes who support commonsense gun laws—act together to confront the NRA, break their stranglehold on politicians, force politicians to vote, and hold them accountable for the outcome.

More than 100,000 have called for the NRA to cancel its convention—a “celebration” of gun culture—that will feature Donald Trump and leading Republicans, including Greg Abbott and Ted Cruz, in Texas this weekend. That’s right: In the state where 19 4th graders and two teachers were just massacred by an 18-year-old with an AR-15.

We’re lifting up the voices of Texas MoveOn members, supporting those who will protest the NRA convention, and investing in highly visible ads and whatever else it takes to draw attention to the Republicans’ sick devotion to the gun lobby.

In addition, more than 80,000 MoveOn members have demanded the Senate stay in session to pass gun laws that have been waiting for a vote for years, instead of taking a 10-day recess. House Democrats have already passed popular, commonsense, impactful bills—and the Senate needs to do the same.

That’s why we’re calling on Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, not to let the Senate go home—and not to let Senate Republicans race to the death cult gathering in Houston—without being forced to vote on reining in assault weapons and senseless death and destruction.

And while supporting tactics in Texas and in Washington, D.C., we’re also planning to support national actions in the weeks ahead to raise the voices of those of us—the vast majority of Americans—who are demanding political leaders act to break the hold of the NRA and pass laws that will save lives.

Nominees announced for social category “Best Musical Moment;” Details revealed for MTV’s multi-platform Creator Livestream

Epic, one-night global event airs LIVE from Los Angeles on Sunday, June 5th at 8PM ET/PT

• MTV today announced that entertainment icon and legendary DJ, Snoop Dogg aka DJ SNOOPADELIC, will return to the stage for the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards, LIVE from Barker Hangar on Sunday, June 5th at 8PM ET/PT.
• MTV also unveiled the return of the social category “Best Musical Moment” (presented by SONIC® Drive-In) and the 16 nominees competing in the category. Voting to officially open via MTV’s Instagram Stories on May 30th and closing June 3rd; the winner will be revealed live in show. 
• MTV Digital additionally revealed its first multi-platform “Who Did It Butter?” Creator Livestream on Friday, June 3rd at 4PM ET, which will air simultaneously across MTV’s Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Additional details below. 

• MTV MOVIE & TV AWARDS – PERFORMER:

o   ABOUT DJ SNOOPADELIC: An Entertainment Industry Mogul, Snoop Dogg has reigned for nearly three decades as an unparalleled force who has raised the bar as a globally recognized innovator.  Snoop Dogg is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, DJ, media personality, businessman and Icon. In addition to his extensive work in music, Snoop Dogg is a serial entrepreneur with endeavors in Web 3.0 tech, entertainment, lifestyle, global consumer brands, food/beverage and cannabis industries.

• MTV MOVIE & TV AWARDS – SOCIAL CATEGORY: MTV unveiled the return of social only category “Best Musical Moment (presented by SONIC® Drive-In)”; the 16 nominees are:

§  Bridgerton: “Wrecking Ball” 

§  Cinderella: “Million to One”

§  Cobra Kai: “The Moment of Truth” 

§  Emily in Paris: “Dynamite”

§  Encanto: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” 

§  Euphoria: “Holding Out For a Hero”

§  Heartstopper: “Dance With Me” 

§  High School Musical: The Musical: The Series: “Rose Song”

§  House of Gucci: “Disco Fever” 

§  Halo: “Original Score”

§  Last Night in Soho: “Downtown”  

§  Peacemaker: “Do Ya Wanna Taste It?” 

§  Tick, Tick…BOOM!: “Therapy” 

§  Turning Red: “Nobody Like U” 

§  West Side Story: “America” 

§  Yellowjackets: “This Is How We Do It” 

• “WHO DID IT BUTTER?” CREATIVE LIVESTREAM: Heading into Movie & TV Awards weekend, MTV will meet up with some of our favorite creators including Tefi, Boman Martinez-Reid, Ryan Mitchell and Mandii B to discuss their favorite movie and TV moments across topics like “Most Quotable Character,” “Friend Group I Wanna Join” and many others. They’ll duke it out to reveal “Who Did it Butter?” on Friday, June 3rd at 4pm ET. This marks MTV’s first multi-platform livestream to air simultaneously across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube!
• PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED NEWS:

o   The highly-anticipated 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards and Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED will air as an epic, one-night event honoring the brightest stars in movies and television.

o   Actress and musician Vanessa Hudgens (tick, tick…BOOM!) will host the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards LIVE from the Barker Hangar in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 5 at 8PM ET/PT.

o   Immediately following the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards, TV host Tayshia Adams will host the Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED, beginning at 10PM ET/PT, celebrating all things reality television. Over-the-top, funny and completely fresh, the night will celebrate the jaw-dropping, no-rules, drama-filled moments from our favorite reality shows. 

o   NOMINATIONS: MTV previously announced nominees for the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards and “Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED here. Highlights include: 

§  2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards Nominations:

·        Top Nominees: Spider-Man: No Way Home (7), Euphoria (6), The Batman (4)

·        First-Time Nominees: Inventing Anna, Moon Knight, Pam & Tommy, The Adam Project, The Dropoutand The Lost City

·        New Categories: “Best Song” & “Here For The Hookup”

§  2022 Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED Nominations:

·        Top Nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (4), Selling Sunset (3), Summer House (3)

·        New Categories: “Best Reality Return,” “Best Music Documentary,” “Best Reality Romance” & “Best Reality Star” (presented by SONIC® Drive-In)

o   SIMULCASTS: Both events will simulcast across BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nick at Night, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land and VH1 and will also air internationally on MTV in over 170 countries; the MTV Movie & TV Awards will additionally simulcast on The CW. 

o   SPONSORS: Sponsors of the one-night celebration include SONIC® Drive-In and TOSTITOS™.

o   PRODUCTION CREDITS: Executive Producers for both MTV Movie & TV Awards and the Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED are MTV’s Bruce Gillmer, Wendy Plaut and Vanessa WhiteWolf and Den Of Thieves’ Jesse Ignjatovic and Barb Bialkowski. Jackie Barba and Alicia Portugal are Executives in Charge of Production and Lisa Lauricella serves as the Music Talent Executive for both events. 

o   MORE INFO: For updates and additional information, please visit MTVAwards.mtv.com, follow @MTV on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube, use hashtag #MTVAwards and follow @MTVAwards on Facebook and Twitter.

About MTV Entertainment Group:
MTV Entertainment Group is a one of the preeminent youth media companies in the world that connects with global audiences through its nine iconic brands – MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, CMT, Pop, Logo, Smithsonian, Paramount Network and TV Land – as well as MTV Entertainment Studios, which produces acclaimed series and movies and the award-winning MTV Documentary films.

Ever since its debut in 2019, Love, Death + Robots has subverted expectations. So for Season 3, the NSFW anthology of animated stories is, again, doing something completely unexpected: a sequel.

The new episode “Exit Strategies” welcomes back K-VRC, XBOT 4000, and 11-45-G, the trio of inquisitive droids at the center of “Three Robots,” as they continue their investigation into the cause of the end of the (human) world.

“Just like any archaeologists, human, robot or otherwise, they are going on information that is piecemeal at best,” says “Exit Strategies” writer John Scalzi. “And they have to make assumptions, they have to guess, and sometimes they get it wildly incorrect. When they do, hopefully, it’s funny.”

While the original “Three Robots” episode was based on a short story by Scalzi, the acclaimed sci-fi author of the best-selling Old Man’s War series and the Hugo Award-winning Redshirts, this time around he wrote the script, too – concurrent with a short story.

Ahead of Love, Death + Robots’ Season 3 debut, Scalzi talked about revisiting these characters, why he wanted to write the script and the surprising experience that helped prepare him for the collaborative process.

How did it feel to return to these characters?

For me, the thing that was great is I wrote the characters because, years ago, a friend of mine kept poking me until I contributed to her anthology, Robots Vs. Fairies. I knocked it out in about an hour. The fact that something I did to keep my friend from annoying me has gone on to have such a long life – first in the book, then the first season, then being the only episode that is explicitly a sequel – just tickles me. And it thrills me, because the longer I’m with those characters, the more I love them.

The episode manages to make a point, without being heavy-handed. Is that a line you’re aware of walking?

Oh, absolutely. This is the thing I’m very conscious of in my science-fiction generally. Your first job is to entertain people. If they’re aware I’m coming with a point with a capital P then immediately a bunch of walls go up. My interest is less in lecturing people than it is in letting them have a good time and then once they get out the door they can think about the things that they’ve seen.

With the first “Three Robots,” Philip Gelatt adapted your short story, but here you’ve written both, right?

They were written in tandem. Because [executive producer] Tim [Miller] said, “Can we have a sequel?” So I pitched a treatment, then wrote a script, then wrote a short story that was more in the style of the original story. It was interesting to present this story in different media. Having the original animated version gave me a real solid grounding of how I wanted those characters’ personalities to proceed. XBOT 4000 is massive yet neurotic. K-VRC is enthusiastic, but not the smartest kid on the block. And then 11-45-G is basically Daria – from the MTV television series Daria. Just completely deadpan and the smartest of the group. Just having that mix of characters made it a lot easier to come back and say, “What sort of scenarios are you going to put them into?” We know the format has to basically be: “We are at the end of the days of humanity.” And they’re fascinated by human culture. So how can we continue that and not just have it be a rehash of what’s been done before? ’Cause there’s a fine line between having a mode and having a shtick.

How did you find the collaborative process of adapting your work?

I can understand why a lot of novelists don’t like it. The good news for me was before I became a novelist and short story writer, but after I’d become a journalist, there was a period of time where I was doing a lot of corporate consulting. And that consisted of coming in and saying, “What is it you need? How do you need it? Let me do it. What are your notes?” So, weirdly enough, corporate America was much more useful for me, in terms of dealing with the collaborative filmmaking process, than fiction was. That’s not to say I accepted every single note. I argued with Tim back and forth. And one of the great things about Tim, in particular, is that you can say to him: “No, I think this is bullshit, and here’s my 10-point list why.” And he will actually listen. Sometimes he’ll be like, “You’re wrong,” but you never got the feeling he wasn’t listening.

In terms of the science fiction community, how do you feel that Love, Death + Robots as a whole is perceived and valued?

To have Love, Death + Robots come out and immediately there are so many hot takes — both from the science fiction community and the people who are watching in the film-television community — has been really gratifying. It wasn’t a pebble thrown into the ocean that sinks straight down with barely a ripple. It was a big fucking splash.

Love, Death + Robots Volume 3 premieres May 20.

Episodes 1-3 of Flatbush Misdemeanors season 2 are now available on the press streaming site.

Flatbush Misdemeanors season 2 premieres on streaming and on-demand Friday, June 17 and on air Sunday, June 19 at 11pm ET/PT.

ABOUT THE SHOW
The series is created and written by Kevin Iso (That Damn Michael Che) and Dan Perlman (Cramming), who also star. FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS follows Dan and Kevin, who play two longtime friends within a richly drawn community of characters, seeking to climb out of their heads and connect with others. The series also stars Kristin Dodson (The Shivering Truth), Hassan Johnson (The Wire) and Kareem Green. The 10-episode second season was filmed in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn.

In season two of FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS, Dan, Kevin, Zayna (Dodson) and Drew (Johnson) are back in Flatbush. Picking up where season one left off, Kevin tries to distance himself from Drew’s influence, yet Dan’s connection to Drew only grows stronger. Drew tries to correct his past mistakes, but they continue to haunt him. Drew’s niece Zayna ambitiously seeks to separate herself from her family’s troubled past. Meanwhile, Dan’s stepdad Kareem (Green) continues to sell bicycles. Season two follows these characters’ unlikely and complicated relationships as they intersect through the worlds of art, drugs and bike repair.

FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS is a co-production by SHOWTIME and lead studio Avalon (Starstruck, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver). The series is executive produced by Perlman and Iso, showrunner Keith Heisler and, for Avalon, Richard Allen-Turner, Jon Thoday, David Martin and Chloe Pisello.

WATCH NOW  ›

Epic ONE-NIGHT only global event kicks off LIVE from LA on Sunday, June 5th with Movie & TV Awards at 8PM ET/PT, hosted by Vanessa Hudgens, followed by MATVA: UNSCRIPTED at 10PM ET/PT 

 In addition to MTV, the awards will also air on BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nick at Nite, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land and VH1 

**key art 

**logos 

New York, NY (May 24, 2022) – MTV today announced television host and multi-media personality Tayshia Adams (The Bachelorette) will host the 2022 Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED from Barker Hangar in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 5 at 10PM ET/PT. This year, the highly anticipated MTV Movie & TV Awards and Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED airs as an epic, one-night event honoring the brightest stars in movies and television. Both events will simulcast across BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nick at Nite, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land and VH1 and internationally on MTV in more than 170 countries. 

The Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED celebrates all things reality television. Over-the-top, funny and completely fresh, the night will celebrate the jaw-dropping, no-rules, drama-filled moments from our favorite reality shows.  

Honorees, presenters and additional details for both can’t-miss events will be announced in the coming weeks. 

For updates and additional information, please visit MTVAwards.mtv.com, follow @MTV on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube, use hashtag #MTVAwards and follow @MTVAwards on Facebook andTwitter. 

Sponsors of the MTV Movie & TV Awards include SONIC® Drive-In and TOSTITOS™. 

Executive Producers for both MTV Movie & TV Awards and the Movie & TV Awards: UNSCRIPTED are MTV’s Bruce Gillmer, Wendy Plaut and Vanessa WhiteWolf and Den Of Thieves’ Jesse Ignjatovic and Barb Bialkowski. Jackie Barba and Alicia Portugal are Executives in Charge of Production and Lisa Lauricella serves as the Music Talent Executive for both events.  

About Tayshia Adams:                                                                                                                            

Tayshia Adams, best known simply by the mononym Tayshia, is a television host and multimedia personality.  

Tayshia made her TV debut on The Bachelor in 2019, winning over the nation with her infectious energy and instantly becoming a fan-favorite, which led her to return to television that same year on the sixth season of Bachelor in Paradise. Tayshia’s captivating presence led to fan-organized social campaigns petitioning for Tayshia to become the franchise’s next lead. The fans were heard, and in the fall of 2020, Tayshia became the inspiring, groundbreaking star of The Bachelorette’s sixteenth season, in which she was the first biracial lead in the franchise’s history. In May 2021, Tayshia took home the MTV Movie & TV Award: Unscripted for “Best Dating Show” on behalf of her season, which was also nominated for a People’s Choice Award. 

It was during Tayshia’s role as lead when she realized that the role of host, and behind the scenes work that goes into it, was the most fascinating and fitting position for her. Following her season, Tayshia went on to co-host the next two seasons of The Bachelorette. Since then, Tayshia has been a guest host on shows including Entertainment Tonight and E! Daily Pop, and now, she is the host of this year’s MTV Movie & TV Awards: Unscripted. Outside of television, Tayshia has starred in nationwide commercials and campaigns for major car manufactures, fashion designers, beauty brands and athletic companies. Tayshia has graced the spreads of magazines including Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Women’s Health and more. 

The proud daughter of her African American father Desmond and Mexican mother Rosario, Tayshia feels a deep connection to both sides of her family’s roots and heritage. In her free time, Tayshia loves to travel and is passionate about fashion, beauty, interior design, her faith, volunteering, and fitness. Running, in particular, has been a pastime of hers since she was young and is now a major part of her active lifestyle. Tayshia completed the New York City Marathon in 2021 and ran in support of the non-profit humanitarian organization World Vision, for which she helped raise sponsorships for over 150 children in Kenya and Honduras. She also enjoys volunteering at her local food bank weekly with the charity Feeding America. 

A 2012 Concordia University Irvine graduate and former phlebotomist before beginning her journey in television, Tayshia is bicoastal and spends her time between Southern California and New York City. 

About MTV Entertainment Group:
MTV Entertainment Group is a one of the preeminent youth media companies in the world that connects with global audiences through its nine iconic brands – MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, CMT, Pop, Logo, Smithsonian, Paramount Network and TV Land – as well as MTV Entertainment Studios, which produces acclaimed series and movies and the award-winning MTV Documentary films.

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She is timeless… She is unapologetic. She is marvelous.

The marvelous Melba Moore who rode the music charts in the 80s now demonstrates that staying power has never gone out of style. After four decades of life on stage, her appeal is timeless with a new album – Imagine – which is climbing the charts. She is singing new songs today with a vocal range that has not dimmed with time. Her voice is powerful with purpose and passion. Her multi-octave vocal range continues to wow all who listen.

The new album, “Imagine’ –marks a return to her R&B roots. With this album, marvelous Melba Moore continues to leave nothing to the imagination because we hear her passion – clear and direct. Her conversations today reflect the struggles of many generations — from breaking barriers to transcending the waves of time. So In Love, the first release from IMAGINE, her latest offering to the musical landscape, spent 3 weeks atop The UK Soul Top 30 Chart in November 2021 and returned Moore to airwaves in the United States and around the globe. The world is ready for MARVELOUS MELBA! 

Melba Moore brings history to her new project IMAGINE and creates a relevance that we all can feel. Melba’s rich and soulful sound harkens back to her chart-topping successes the 1970s and 1980s. However, “I have lots of younger people bringing me new music,” Melba says, but stands soundly on his musical history, noting that “we’re the foundation of it.” “Since God has given me my good health and ability to continue to do my work, it’s my privilege now to say, ‘This is where it came from, this is how it was, and I’m here to pass it on to you.’ It is not only the foundation of Afrocentric culture, but it’s part of America and world history.” And Melba Moore is soundly rooted in that history!

Stepping into life – Now

The Marvelous Melba Moore has been making new waves in music for some 50 years. While she set many records over the years, her music continues to win the hearts of new generations. Ms. Moore’s 1978 dance classic “You Stepped Into My Life” continues to ignite audiences. Melba is stepping into the life of new generations with her new music and climbing the charts one step at a time.

TRACK LISTING OF IMAGINE

1. So In Love

2. Take Me Away

3. Can’t Stop The Rain

4. Imagine

5. Since I Took My Heart Back

6. Take Her Picture Down

7. Free

8. The Highest Star

9. Joy & Pain

10. Forever

Check out Melba’s “Imagine” album here

BIO – Melba Moore

Marvelous Melba is truly a triple threat in the entertainment industry — winning top honors in music, theatre, and television:

Melba Moore has done it all, twice. At the tender age of 10, Melba notes that it was then that she was introduced to music and that “I didn’t have any music in my life before my mother married my stepfather. He introduced music into our home and into my life.” From that moment forward, Melba began to develop her 5-octave, note-holding soprano that would soon bring audiences to their feet. 

Theater:

· Won a Tony Award for best featured actress in a musical for her role in the musical “Purlie,”

· Replaced Diane Keaton in the Broadway musical “Hair”

· Was first African American woman to play the female lead in the musical “Les Misérables” on Broadway.

The Newark, NJ Arts High School graduate started doing recording sessions after a chance meeting with singer/songwriter/composer Valerie Simpson (of Ashford & Simpson). That opportunity in the studio led Melba in the company of the Broadway musical “HAIR!” First in the ensemble of the show, Melba’s name was tossed into the conversation when actress Diane Keaton left the show and Melba took the female lead and broke all the rules, being the first Black woman to replace a white actress in a featured role on Broadway. 

The journey of Melba’s career took her meteorically from there to the lead of “PURLIE,” a musical adaptation of a play written by acting husband and wife pioneers Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. That role and its musical soundtrack would earn Moore a Grammy nomination as Best New Artist in 1971 and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress. The power of her presence on Broadway got Melba noticed and she became a virtual sensation. 

Television

· Starred in her own sitcom, “Melba.”

Melba Moore became so well known that network television offered her a summer variety series. Starring Melba and actor/singer Clifton Davis, who was starring on Broadway in another show, the duo, who were dating, were given the choice to bring their mass appeal into Middle America. 

Music

·  Celebrated top hits during the70s, 80s and 90s– “Falling,” “You Stepped Into My Life,” “Love’s Comin’ At Ya,” and “A Little Bit More” — and others

· Performed a special rendition of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’

·  Merged her inspirational and gospel style in many songs.

Soon after the success of the ‘The Melba Moore/Clifton Davis Show,” it was time for her soaring soprano to take her foray into the recording studio.

First signed to Buddah Records, Melba had hits like “This Is It,” “Lean On Me” and “You Stepped Into My Life,” garnering Grammy nominations and international success.

Later signed to Capitol Records, she followed that success with “Love’s Comin At Ya” and then a string of R&B hits followed, including “Read My Lips”—which later won Moore a third Grammy nomination (for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance), making her just the third black artist after Donna Summer and Michael Jackson to be nominated in the rock category. 

Hits like the #1 “A Little Bit More” with Freddie Jackson and “Falling,” a hypnotic ballad that features one of the longest held notes in recorded history. Moore would also record “Lift Every Voice And Sing” (the Negro National Anthem) at the behest of Dr. Dorothy Height, the president of the National Council of Negro Women, who wanted Moore to use her formidable talent to ensure that the song would reach a new generation.

WATCH HERE

(Los Angeles, CA – May 20, 2022) Entering what promises to be a massive era, GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Leon Thomas unveils a new single and music video entitled “X-Rated” [feat. Benny The Butcher] today. Listen to it HERE, and watch the music video HERE.

The single marks Leon’s debut music under multiplatinum artist, singer, songwriter, producer Ty Dolla $ign’s newly inked EZMNY Records, a joint label venture with Motown Records. Ty shares his excitement, stating, “Leon’s talent was just a higher level from every other singer or producer that I was hearing, and the fact that he was doing everything himself from playing bass to working Logic and Pro Tools. From the first song I heard, I knew he was one of them ones.”  

On Leon’s “X-Rated” track, a glitchy beat holds down the groove beneath warbling loops, building a layered soundscape evocative of nineties hip-hop. His vocals glide over this backdrop as he celebrates female sexual freedom in the verses before a chantable chorus, “X-Rated girl, if these walls could talk.” Meanwhile, Griselda spitter Benny The Butcher pulls up with a fiery feature. The strikingly cinematic visual, which Thomas directed, captures these vibes on-screen and includes a cameo appearance from Ty Dolla $ign.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the song, Leon shares, “X-Rated is an ode to my love of “Boom Bap” and early 90’s instrumentals. Benny The Butcher brought authentic bars and helped further the theme of this record.”

A prolific songwriter and producer, Leon’s unique sound and writing wizardry can be found up and down the Billboard charts. He’s contributed to anthems for everyone from Toni Braxton and Babyface –winning a Grammy for his writing credits on the duo’s 2014 joint album Love, Marriage & Divorce—to Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Chris Brown, Kehlani, J. Cole, Rick Ross, Ella Mai, and more. As a co-writer and co-producer, he recently powered “Pipe Down,” “Love All” [feat. JAY-Z], and “In the Bible” [feat. Lil Durk & Giveon] from Drake’s global chart-topping Certified Lover Boy album.

Also, a true vocalist and artist in his own right, Leon unveiled his debut EP Genesis in 2018, which garnered tens of millions of streams and earned him critical acclaim. He continues to be a musical force of nature with the release of “X-Rated” and a highly anticipated project due out soon. Be on the lookout for more from Leon!

WATCH HERE

Download High-Res Press Image and Cover Art HERE

ABOUT LEON THOMAS:

From writing and producing on #1 albums with chart-breaking artists to starring on hit television series, GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and actor Leon Thomas has become one of the most watched multi-hyphenate talents in the entertainment industry today. He has written and produced with the likes of Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Kehlani, J. Cole, Rick Ross, and more, and won a Grammy for writing credits on Babyface and Toni Braxton’s 2014 joint album Love, Marriage & Divorce. In 2021, Leon found himself contributing his writing and production skills to Drake’s global chart-topping album Certified Lover Boy on “Pipe Down,” “Love All” feat. JAY-Z, and “In the Bible” feat. Lil Durk and Giveon. Born in Brooklyn and raised by his vocalist mother, opera-singing grandfather, and stepfather who played guitar for B.B. King, Thomas’ musical career began early. He appeared as Young Simba on Broadway’s The Lion King at 10 years old and began working with Nickelodeon at 13, voicing The Backyardigans character Tyrone and starring in Victorious for the show’s entire run. In 2018, Leon released his debut EP Genesis to critical acclaim. He continues to expand his artistry and venture into a new era of music under Ty Dolla $ign’s EZMNY Records and Motown Records, with the release of “X-Rated” feat. Benny The Butcher and a full project due out soon.

FOLLOW LEON THOMAS

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

LISTEN HERE

(Los Angeles, CA – May 20, 2022) Elevating music to another stratosphere altogether, rising singer, songwriter, producer, and artist-to-watch Malachiii presents his debut EP, The Ascension, today via Motown Records. Listen to it HERE.

The Ascension highlights Malachiii’s artful approach as a future-facing curator, alchemizing vibes and styles into a multi-dimensional pop, hip-hop and R&B sound of his own design. Anchored by his production skills, the project boasts fan favorites including the vibey track “I’m Back,” the powerful anthem “Hold Me,” as well as the melodic “Free My Soul,” which Euphoria raved as “an upbeat listen with a mellow undertone, morphing multiple genres into one sound.” The EP fittingly closes with “Back When We Were Kids,” a nostalgic track featuring guitar riffs that seesaw back and forth between emotionally charged verses.

Speaking on his debut EP, Malachiii shares, “The Ascension is my true introduction to the world. This project is so important to me because it’s just the tip of the iceberg. The listener will get a chance to see different sides of me musically, while reflecting on my journey with “ascension” in all things in my life.”

Check out the tracklist for The Ascension below, and watch Malachiii pull back the curtain on his production process in his ‘Behind The Beat’ video series HERE and HERE. It’s Malachiii’s year, so hold on tight!

THE ASCENSION EP TRACKLIST:

1.    Elevate

2.    Hold Me

3.    What’s In Store

4.    I’m Back

5.    Free My Soul

6.    Next To Me

7.    Back When We Were Kids

LISTEN HERE

ABOUT MALACHIII

Malachiii knows joy. Over the last few years, the singer, songwriter, and producer from Southern California has demonstrated an affection for elastic flows, buoyant rhythms, and melodies lit by a magic-hour glow. This ecstatic energy has made his take on pop, hip-hop, and R&B infectious, but what makes it most special is his willingness to engage in heavy themes with a maturity and grace that belies his age. On songs like “Love Me,” his debut single with Motown Records, he delivers grinning verses, but he also ponders big questions. He’s come to understand that while his ultimate goal is to emit “love, light, positivity, and good vibes,” it’s most important to stay true to the real depths of his experience, even if it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. Malachiii grew up with the urge to perform, but it was after going on tour with GRAMMY® Award-winning composer AR Rahman at the age of 14 that he felt inspired to write and produce his own music. Over the years, his ability to translate relatable emotions into hooks earned him a publishing deal with Electric Feel (Post Malone, Iann Dior, 24KGoldn), which only bolstered his writing and producing efforts. Now, he’s stepping into the spotlight in his own right with the release of his debut EP The Ascension [Motown Records]. His hope is that his artistry will continue to resonate with listeners. “There’s very few people who have a transcendent impact on music, humanity, and culture as a whole,” he says. “That’s the type of artist I want to be.”

FOLLOW MALACHIII:

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UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – May 9, 2022 –AleXa, a K-pop artist who represented her home state of Oklahoma, was crowned the winner of NBC’s “American Song Contest.” The winner was announced live during tonight’s Grand Final as the top 10 artists took the stage one last time. 

Representing Oklahoma, AleXa’s original song “Wonderland” won America and the National Jury’s vote for best hit song. “Wonderland” has been the most streamed song from the competition with over 2.7 million streams. 

To watch AleXa’s final performance of “Wonderland”: Click here

As the winner of “American Song Contest,” the song will be supported with airplay across iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide, using the company’s massive scale and reach to introduce this new music to the masses. The winner will also appear at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, airing live Sunday, May 15 from Las Vegas on NBC.

The Live Grand Final also included special performances by “American Song Contest” hosts Kelly Clarkson and Snoop Dogg, who performed a medley of their hits “A Whole Lotta Woman” and “What’s My Name.” Grammy Award-nominated country music singer songwriter Jimmie Allen also performed his hit “Down Home.” 

AleXa is proud to represent the state where she was born and raised until the age of 21. Alex Christine, known professionally as AleXa (알렉사), is a K-pop singer, dancer and songwriter who grew up in Tulsa. A lifelong dancer, AleXa was first drawn to K-pop because of its strong performance identity. After nearly a million fan votes determined her the winner of online talent competition Rising Legends, she was one of the 96 chosen to participate in “Produce 48,” the most competitive audition show in Korea. In 2019, AleXa made her multilingual K-pop debut with “Bomb,” which has received nearly 22 million views to date and hit #7 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart. A year later AleXa released extended plays “Do or Die” and “Decoherence,” garnering wins for two of Korea’s most prestigious awards. In 2021, AleXa released Y2K-inspired “ReviveR” with dance track “Xtra,” performed the national anthem for the Los Angeles Dodgers and became the first K-pop artist to host a fan meeting in the metaverse within the action-shooter game Scavengers. 

From the producers of “Eurovision Song Contest” and “The Voice,” the all-live music competition series, hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson, featured live new music performances – representing all 50 states, five U.S. territories and our nation’s capital – competing to win the country’s vote for the best hit song. The 56 artists spanned a wide range of performers, from undiscovered talent, up-and-coming new artists, and rising stars to established and legendary icons. An incredible solo artist, duo, group or band represented each location and performed a new original song, celebrating the depth and variety of different styles and genres across America.

“American Song Contest” is executive produced by Audrey Morrissey with Propagate’s Ben Silverman and Howard T. Owens, American Song Contest, Inc.’s Anders Lenhoff, Christer Björkman, Peter Settman and Ola Melzig; alongside Gregory Lipstone, Amanda Zucker and Kyra Thompson. Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson also serve as executive producers. 

The series is produced by Propagate in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group, and American Song Contest, Inc. 

Click the link here for The Theory Magazine, Spring 2022 Edition –
www.simplebooklet.com/foxworththeoryspringforward

“Spring is the season of change, rebirth, and restoration. Many of us come out the winter freeze with hopes of beautiful weather, flowers blooming and a change for the better. I also think about the time we all have worn masks to address COVID fears and the losses in our lives due to the pandemic. Springing forward, I am looking to making new memories, creating new histories, and tackling new opportunities.”

EUGENIA FOXWORTH is the host of the twice-weekly podcast series, THE FOXWORTH THEORY, seen on YouTube every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 9 pm EDT (link here – YouTube/TheFoxworthTheory)

Check out the Spring edition of THE THEORY, Ms. Foxworth’s online magazine detailing adventures as both a podcast host and her work as a leader representing the USA in the International Federation of Real Estate (FIABCI).

Guests of The Foxworth Theory podcast include TV actor/icon Antonio Fargas, music industry attorney Kendall Minter (The 360 Deal), Faulu Mtume (son of the late two-time Grammy winning producer/artist James Mtume) and national entertainment columnist Flo Anthony, with more to come.