Posts made in July 2025

RETV rushed down to Atlantic City to cover Reggae royalty and Music Geniuses from a long blood line of insanely talented artists seeded by the Great Bob Marley.

Brothers, Damian JR. GONG and Stephen Marley’s “TRAFFIC JAM 2025” Tour presented itself to die hard fans and a packed house at Ocean Casino in Atlantic City.

We witness the finest musicians, Reggae Emcees and singers, and a spiritual uplift that cannot be relayed to you in a print format. You will have to attend a show to fully benefit from the gift that these legendary artists share.

The sold out crowd was treated with 3 hours of non stop precision including hit song after hit, sharp background vocals reminiscent of The Wailers, supreme musicianship displaying soul invading baselines, Drums, Keyboards and strings. And of course the vocals were crisp, flawless and contextually uplifting.

Damian is definitely one of the greatest Reggae Artist of all time but his microphone skills and lyrical style can easily cross over to the Greatest Hip Hop Emcees list. Now let that sink in!

Meanwhile Stephen is not far behind. On this tour, They trade off their strong suits. Stephen does most of the singing while Damian destroys the mic with perfectly timed word play and delivery.

Their special guest featured Damian’s son – Christian Marley. In true Marley form Christian stepped on stage with the confidence and family gifts which enables him to perform stress free and a high skill level. Truly a beautiful sight to see and experience.

Established Jamaican-born dancehall singer, Baby Cham performs hits from his new Album “SHERLOCK” as well as past hits like “Ghetto Story.”

Gifted American-Samoan reggae singer and songwriter. J Boog serves as the opening act on select dates.

Catch the tour in a city near you – you will not be disappointed!!

Nancy Erika Smith: “Alina Habba and I agree on one thing – no one is above the law.”

New Jersey – Newark New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey asserting claims of false arrest, malicious prosecution, and defamation against Alina Habba and DHS Special Agent Ricky Patel. The lawsuit details how both defendants, acting outside the scope of their legal authority, and with malice, orchestrated the violent arrest and public humiliation of Mayor Baraka during a peaceful visit to the Delaney Hall ICE facility.

The Complaint states that Habba “blatantly and publicly professed her plan to use the power of the office of the United States Attorney to help Republicans,” quoting her as saying: “We could turn New Jersey red… Hopefully, while I’m [interim US Attorney].” It includes a post by Habba on her personal account on the social media site owned by Elon Musk, X, at 3:05PM, before Mayor Baraka was charged, processed, or transported from the GEO property, in which Habba “falsely accused Mayor Baraka with a crime, stating NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW”.

“Alina Habba and I agree on one thing, no one is above the law,” said Nancy Erika Smith, of Smith Mullin, the attorney representing Mayor Baraka. “This administration is clearly targeting Democratic elected officials with abuse and phony charges in an effort to instill fear.

The handcuffing of an aide to Congressman Nadler in his private office is just one more example of alarming authoritarianism. I am proud to represent Mayor Baraka, who is standing up to Trump and the government agents, like Habba and Patel, who are abusing their power.”

When the charges against Mayor Baraka were dismissed, U.S. Magistrate Judge André Espinosa acknowledged the severity of the arrest:

“An arrest, particularly of a public figure, is not a preliminary investigative tool. It is a severe action, carrying significant reputational and personal consequences, and it should only be undertaken after a thorough, dispassionate evaluation of credible evidence… The hasty arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, followed swiftly by the dismissal of these trespassing charges a mere 13 days later, suggests a worrisome misstep by your Office.”

The Complaint notes that there are numerous videos and photographs of events on May 9, 2025, and states that that evidence supports Mayor Baraka’s claims that he was invited inside the gate at Delaney Hall, which is owned by the private prison company, GEO Group, by a GEO employee.

It goes on to state that when DHS agent Ricky Patel told him to leave the property, he did, yet: “Five minutes after Mayor Baraka left the GEO Group property, approximately 20 DHS agents, many armed and masked, descended on the Mayor and members of Congress without any attempt to calm fears or ensure peace.”

The Complaint further claims that Patel ordered DHS agents to “take him down,” meaning violently throw the Mayor of Newark to the ground, while “the agents pushed, shoved and assaulted the Mayor’s security team and members of Congress before violently pulling Mayor Baraka’s arms and arresting him without probable cause.

The DHS agents handcuffed the Mayor behind his back in order to effect maximum humiliation.”

24-Show North American Summer Run Starts This Thursday, July 17, With Support From Jake Wesley Rogers

– Cyndi Lauper is about to head out on the final leg of her extensive year-long Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour, with 24 North American tour dates for this summer. The cross-continent tour of outdoor amphitheaters and performing arts centers will begin this Thursday, July 17 and includes Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY on July 19 and two nights at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on August 29 and 30. Lauper recently appeared on Good Morning America and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to reflect on her farewell tour, as well as her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Tickets are available now at LiveNation.com + cyndilauper.com. The tour will also offer a variety of different VIP packages and experiences for fans to take their concert experience to the next level. Packages vary but include premium tickets, pre-show VIP lounge, specially designed VIP gift item & more. VIP package contents vary based on the offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com. American pop musician and songwriter Jake Wesley Rogers will join as the tour opener. Rogers was discovered by Justin Tranter and has previously opened for Panic! At the Disco and Kesha in addition to playing major festivals and his own headline tour.

Lauper’s international Farewell Tour – her first major headlining run in a decade – kicked off in North America last October, and included her first time ever headlining (and selling out) Madison Square Garden. Lauper’s performances have earned tremendous raves from the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Variety, Vulture, USA Today, New York Post and many more, and surprise guests including Chaka Khan, Sam Smith, and Hayley Williams. The tour just visited the U.K. and Europe, Australia and Japan.

Lauper has also been raising money for the Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights Fund at the Tides Foundation since the Farewell Tour launched last fall. So far, approximately $200,000 has been raised through direct donations fans have made at her shows and through efforts like online campaigns in partnership with FanDiem.

This summer, Cyndi Lauper has invited three leading organizations to come on the road with her to help her fans register to vote and take action on issues that matter to them. At most shows, an “Action Center” will be erected for concert goers to stop by and visit with the Human Rights Campaign, League of Women Voters, and Planned Parenthood. As Lauper always says, “knowledge is power” and she continues her longstanding efforts to ensure that the public is informed about the issues that are impacting their lives and the lives of their family and friends, as well as have opportunities to be a part of the solution. 

Lauper – the GRAMMY, EMMY and TONY-winning 

artist celebrated for her history-making albums, music videos, advocacy and ever-evolving style – developed a unique show to connect her hits with the visual art she loves. Original collaborations featuring the work of Yayoi Kusama, Daniel Wurtzel, fashion designer Christian Siriano, and Geoffrey Mac play a key role in the concert presentation. The Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour is produced by Live Nation and designed in partnership with Brian Burke Creative.

It’s been a tremendous past 12 months for Lauper, in addition to her tour and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.  Let The Canary Sing, a feature-length documentary film directed by Alison Elwood, is streaming on Paramount Plus, and she has been celebrated with appearances on Graham Norton, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the TODAY Show, Watch What Happens Liveand The Kelly Clarkson Show.  

The Empire State Buildingwas lit in canary yellow in her honor, and she has been profiled by CBS Sunday Morning, Vulture, the New York Times and Variety among many others.  She was also honored with a hand imprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood (with an introduction by her friends Cher and Bebe Rexha), and introduced Sabrina Carpenter’s performance at the MTV VMA Awards last fall.  

Raves for Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour

“Lauper is still lastingly — thrillingly — a renegade”  — 36 Things That Stuck With Us In 2024, NY Times

“Lauper has not lost an iota of her distinctive vocal power…a naturally hilarious human who effortlessly commands an audience’s attention”— Billboard

“Lauper pretty well established for all time that girls just want to be multi-faceted” —  Chris Willman, Variety 

“Lauper’s volcanic pipes are still capable of going from a whisper to a wallop” — USA Today

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN FAREWELL 2025 SUMMER TOUR DATES: 

Thu Jul 17 | Mansfield, MA | Xfinity Center

Sat Jul 19 | Wantagh, NY | Northwell at Jones Beach Theater

Sun Jul 20 | Philadelphia, PA | TD Pavilion at The Mann

Tue Jul 22 | Raleigh, NC | Coastal Credit Union Music Park

Thu Jul 24 | Bristow, VA | Jiffy Lube Live

Fri Jul 25 | Bethel, NY | Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

Sun Jul 27 | Toronto, ON | Budweiser Stage

Tue Jul 29 | Cincinnati, OH | Riverbend Music Center

Wed Jul 30 | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | Blossom Music Center

Fri Aug 01 | Clarkston, MI | Pine Knob Music Theatre

Sun Aug 03 | Milwaukee, WI | American Family Insurance Amphitheater

Tue Aug 05 | Tinley Park, IL | Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

Thu Aug 07 | Noblesville, IN | Ruoff Music Center

Sat Aug 09 | Bonner Springs, KS | Azura Amphitheater^

Tue Aug 12 | Denver, CO | Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre^

Thu Aug 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Sun Aug 17 | Ridgefield, WA | Cascades Amphitheater

Tue Aug 19 | Auburn, WA | White River Amphitheatre

Thu Aug 21 | Vancouver, BC | Rogers Arena

Sat Aug 23 | Wheatland, CA | Toyota Amphitheatre

Sun Aug 24 | Mountain View, CA | Shoreline Amphitheatre

Tue Aug 26 | Concord, CA | Toyota Pavilion at Concord

Fri Aug 29 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Bowl^

Sat Aug 30 | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Bowl^

^Non-Live Nation Date

https://cyndilauper.com/ 

ABOUT CYNDI LAUPER

Cyndi Lauper is a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning songwriter and performing artist with global record sales in excess of 50 million. Her iconic voice, influential punk glamor, and infectious live shows have catapulted her to stardom. Lauper won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist with her first album, She’s So Unusual, and became the first woman in history to have four top-five singles from a debut album including her anthem “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.” Lauper has released ten additional studio albums, featuring classics like “Time After Time” and “True Colors,” and is a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and NY Times best-selling author. 

In 2013, Lauper became the first solo woman to win Best Original Score (music and lyrics) for Kinky Boots. Lauper is also tireless in her advocacy work. She has been an activist since day one, always fighting for the underdog – especially women, the LGBTQ community, and youth experiencing homelessness. 

She has co-founded many efforts, worked with countless organizations, spoken at The White House, testified in the U.S. Senate, and raised millions of dollars in support of these causes. In the fall of 2022, in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Lauper launched the Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights Fund at the Tides Foundation, which supports efforts that advance the civil rights and health of women and girls around the globe.

Starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Jack Kesy, Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i and Keke Palmer

In the action-comedy The Pickup, a routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo.

As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.

The film also stars Eva Longoria, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Jack Kesey, Marshawn Lynch and Roman Reigns, and is directed by Tim Story.

Directed by Tim Story
Written by Kevin Burrows & Matt Mider

Produced by John Davis, p.g.a., John Fox, p.g.a., Eddie Murphy, p.g.a., Tim Story, Charisse Hewitt-Webster, p.g.a.

Run Time | 1 hr 34 mins

Rating | R

Socials:

@AmazonMGMStudios

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube

#ThePickupMovie

Bragging rights are on the line in NBA 2K26—leave no doubt

Charismatic, poised, and unapologetically themselves, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Angel Reese, and Carmelo Anthony grace the covers of NBA 2K26.

These icons, on and off the court, are swagger personified, spotlighting their unique flair across the Standard, WNBA*, Superstar, and Leave No Doubt Editions.

NBA 2K players who purchased and played NBA 2K25 are eligible for a 10% loyalty discount** when they pre-order NBA 2K26 Leave No Doubt Edition*** on the same console or platform. The Leave No Doubt Edition includes MyTEAM and MyCAREER bonus content****, 135,000 VC, Season 1 Pro Pass***** and Summer Pass (Season 7-9 Pro Passes).

Capture the aura of a superstar with the NBA 2K26 Superstar Edition, starring Carmelo Anthony. The Superstar Edition includes 100,000 VC, MyTEAM content, MyCAREER content, and up to 7 days of Early Access. Hit the court early and channel Melo’s effortlessly smooth jumpshot as you compete in The City.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 26, 2025) On Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest and most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history, roared into southeastern Louisiana. It tore through the Gulf Coast with catastrophic power, driving a massive storm surge toward the city and the people of New Orleans. With no rescue in sight, the residents who were left to face the rising floodwaters alone became heroes, fighting to survive against unimaginable odds.

Today, as the nation approaches the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, National Geographic released the trailer and premiere date for HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME, a groundbreaking five-part documentary series that offers an unprecedented, heart-pounding look at the disaster directly from those who lived through it. The series premieres July 27 at 8/7c on National Geographic with three back-to-back episodes. All episodes will be available to stream July 28 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Oscar®-winning producer Simon Chinn and Emmy®-winning producer Jonathan Chinn’s production company Lightbox (“The Diamond Heist,” “TINA”, “Whitney,” “LA 92”) and Oscar, Golden Globe® and GRAMMY®-nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s production company Proximity Media (“Sinners,” “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy”) joined forces in a powerful collaboration that combines cinematic storytelling with the clear-eyed perspective of two decades of hindsight. HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME offers the most intimate and profound exploration into the wide-ranging impacts of the disaster to date. Weaving together critical moments of the crisis and the past events that precipitated it, the series delivers an unparalleled, emotionally raw examination of the storm’s personal, political and societal fallout.

“This is far more than a story about a storm,” said executive producers Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn (Lightbox). “It’s a compelling, essential reexamination of systemic failure and the enduring consequences of decisions made before, during and after the levees broke.”

“This series goes beyond the headlines. It reveals stories of survival, heroism and resilience,” added executive producers Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian (Proximity Media). “It’s a vital historical record and a call to witness, remember and reckon with the truth of Hurricane Katrina’s legacy.”

Through unprecedented access to archival footage and gut-wrenching eyewitness testimony, HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME is a gripping historical record of the storm and its aftermath. With unflinching urgency, the series exposes how a natural disaster became a national tragedy. The riveting, moment-by-moment portrayal offers new details of how the storm and ensuing flood unfolded in real time and transports viewers into the chaos that engulfed the city in the days leading up to and following the hurricane’s landfall.

At the helm of the series is Oscar-nominated director Traci A. Curry (“Attica”). Through Curry’s commitment to bold, empowering narratives, the series unfolds directly from the residents, first responders, and officials who were in New Orleans during the disaster. Each episode is immersed in their lived experiences and their voices present a captivating and powerful retelling and a necessary correction to persistent false narratives. The partnership between Curry and the teams at Proximity Media and Lightbox signals a shift in how this story is told, centered on survivors’ voices, grounded in accountability, and focused on the enduring lessons of a tragedy.

Episodes of the new documentary series include the following:

EPISODE 1: THE COMING STORM

Premieres July 27 at 8/7c, streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu

It’s a typically vibrant New Orleans summer when Hurricane Katrina looms. Sitting in the bullseye of a Category 5, the city faces a reality check. With a delayed evacuation order, many are trapped and forced to brace for the storm’s fury. Residents recount for the first time how they navigated the impending disaster, capturing the harrowing experience of preparing for “The Big One.”

EPISODE 2: WORST CASE SCENARIO

Premieres July 27 at 9/8c, streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu

After Hurricane Katrina passed, citizens soon discovered the levees breached, quickly flooding New Orleans like a bathtub. First responders and everyday citizens jumped in heroically to save locals; many residents were forced to flee their houses for dry land. As residents braved dangerous conditions to survive, ineptitude at all levels of government was exposed as the water rose.

EPISODE 3: A DESPERATE PLACE

Premieres July 27 at 10/9c, streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu

Three days into the flood, rescue operations continue around the clock. Thousands remain trapped, as the government struggles to coordinate a rescue effort. Inside the Superdome, stories of resilience and survival emerge above the sometimes-horrific conditions. Meanwhile, media coverage shifts to emphasize disorder, focusing on looting rather than the thousands still stranded.

EPISODE 4: SHOOT TO KILL

Premieres July 28 at 8/7c, streams same day on Disney+ and Hulu

In post-Katrina New Orleans, Gen. Honoré leads rescue efforts amid pressure to use force, while local heroes tirelessly save lives. Thousands remain stranded in their homes, the Superdome, the convention center, and along the interstate as evacuation efforts continue to fail. Tensions rise while violence erupts and militias target residents.

EPISODE 5: WAKE UP CALL

Premieres July 28 at 9/8c, streams same day on Disney+ and Hulu

New Orleans’ resilient residents exit the city, forming part of the Katrina diaspora. As they navigate the uncertainty of how and when they might restore their lives, a plan for a new New Orleans takes shape. The future of the devastated city hangs in the balance as its residents struggle to return, rebuild and restart their lives even 20 years later.

HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME is a Lightbox production, in association with Proximity Media for National Geographic and is directed by Oscar-nominated Traci A. Curry. Oscar-winning Simon Chinn, Emmy-winning Jonathan Chinn, Myles Estey and Ted Skillman are executive producers for Lightbox. Oscar, Golden Globe and GRAMMY-nominated Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Peter Nicks and Kalia King are executive producers and Kelli Buchanan is co-executive producer for Proximity Media. For National Geographic, Sean David Johnson and Carolyn Payne executive produce, and Tom McDonald is executive vice president of Global Factual and Unscripted Content.

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About Lightbox

Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, Lightbox is a multi-platform award winning media company creating high quality content for an array of distribution platforms and theatrical release. It was founded by two-time Academy Award®-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man) and Emmy® Award-winning producer Jonathan Chinn (LA 92, American High). Lightbox’s recent productions include: What They Found, directed by Academy Award®-winner Sam Mendes for the BBC, The Diamond Heist, executive produced by Guy Ritchie for Netflix, The Mission, for theatrical release and National Geographic, which premiered at Telluride and the London Film Festival, BAFTA-nominated David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, which premiered at DOC NYC and aired on HBO/Max and Sky, Spector for Showtime and Sky, The Princess, directed by Academy Award®-nominated Ed Perkins, for theatrical release, HBO and Sky, which premiered at Sundance; and Emmy Award®-nominated TINA, directed by Academy Award®-winners TJ Lindsay and Daniel Martin, for HBO/Max, Sky and theatrical release. The company is currently in production on projects for a range of US, UK and international broadcasters, platforms and for theatrical release.

About Proximity Media

Proximity Media is the team behind the critically acclaimed, 2025 box-office smash Sinners starring Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld, which has grossed over $350M globally to date. Some of their past film projects include two-time Academy Award-winning Judas and The Black Messiah, Space Jam: A New Legacy and Creed III which grossed over $275M theatrically. Up next is the release of their Marvel Studios Ironheart miniseries which will release on June 24 on Disney+.

Proximity also produced the documentary Homeroom with Hulu, co-produced Stephen Curry: Underrated with Apple Original Films, A24 and Unanimous Media, as well as Anthem, with Onyx Collective as part of the company’s overall deal with Disney Television. Proximity Music produced the soundtracks for Sinners, Judas and The Black Messiah, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and the official soundtrack and score for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Creed III.

About National Geographic Content

Representing the largest brand on social media with over 780 million followers and 1.1 billion impressions each month, National Geographic Content’s award-winning and critically acclaimed storytelling inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore and care about the world through factual storytelling. National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, reaches over 532 million people worldwide in 172 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content includes Oscar®- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo, Oscar-nominated films Sugarcane, Fire of Love and Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Emmy® Award-winning franchise 9/11: One Day in America and JFK: One Day in America, Emmy® Award-winning series Animals Up Close, series Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, Life Below Zero, and Secrets of the Whales, in addition to multiple National Magazine Awards, Pulitzer Prize Finalists and Webby wins. Visit nationalgeographic.com and natgeotv.com or explore Instagram, Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit.