Chance the Rapper and Vic Mensa announced over the weekend the “Black Star Line Festival” to take place in Accra, Ghana. The music & arts festival will be set in the historic Black Star Square on January 6, 2023 and aims to be a bridge between Black people and artists of the Diaspora and the globe with the continent. Chance and Vic made the announcement at Free The Youth’s flagship location. Click HERE to watch and to watch and download content for native posting.
Vic Mensa and Chance the Rapper spent the last week in Ghana with eight students from Chicago whom they brought to learn about their roots in an experiential environment. This is their second trip together this year after spending time in the country in January 2022.
During the announcement, Chance noted “When Vic and I started our careers and started touring, we did shows all over the US. Eventually we started touring in Europe, we did shows in Asia, South America, Central America, but we never had a chance to play our music for the people who support us the most. When we came here and touched down and felt the love that we received and the fans that we got to connect with, the understanding for the need for the connection became apparent to us. We need a music festival bringing major artists to Ghana. This is what we’re working to create.”
The historic Black Star Square is a monument to the political freedom that was fought for and won by Ghanaians in 1957. Ghana was the first Sub-Saharan African country to free itself from colonialism, under the leadership of its first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah –– many nations on the continent soon followed. Dr. Nkrumah was inspired by Jamaican-Born revolutionary Marcus Garvey, who believed in a free Africa and a global connection between the people of the continent and Black people globally. When Dr. Nkrumah developed Ghana’s flag and principles, he insisted that these principles were key to the forward mobility of its people.
The festival title’s origins were inspired by civil rights leader Marcus Garvey’s iconic Black Star Line. Founded in 1919, and operated by Black people, the line would link America, the Caribbean, and Africa, to global shipping and tourism opportunities. The Black Star Line was a symbol of pride, not only for Africans, but also for Black people in all ports of call. After nearly 40 years, the Ghanian government launched their fleet with the same name, in homage to Garvey, and even added a black star to the country’s new flag.
Chance has spent 2022 collaborating with artists from The Continent and The Diaspora. His new works include “Child of God,” “A Bar About A Bar” and “The Highs & The Lows” which celebrate Black artists and intertwine the worlds of art, music and cinematography –– changing the game through forward-thinking ideas that are compelling conversations and meditations on Black life.
Chance The Rapper’s highly anticipated new project, Star Line Gallery is due out later this year.
Hip hop is and will always be more than a genre of music. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a presence. It’s our culture. It has defined a generation and birthed a community of leaders, trendsetters, and icons. For 49 years, this movement that began at a birthday party hosted by DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell in the recreation room of an apartment building on Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, NYC has been our space for joy, anger, sadness, solace, camaraderie, celebration, and we believe for healing. Hip hop is the story of us, all of us, and our lived experiences and has paved the way for the needs of the community, our community, to be seen and heard. Hip hop was born out of experiences of struggle and frustration and has become the meeting place for everyone with something to say about inequality and a desire to bring equity to the masses. Hip Hop Public Health was born out of love for the community that needed help, guidance, and support to build health equity – and a megaphone and platform for underserved communities of color.
One day over a cold-pressed juice while discussing the health issues of the local community in Harlem, NYC – like access to adequate health care and doctors who looked like their patients – our founders Dr. Olajide Williams and legendary MC Doug E. Fresh began their journey to create Hip Hop Public Health. Their mission: create memorable content wrapped in hip hop and powered by science to inspire, educate and engage people and ultimately save lives.
Hip Hop Public Health endeavored to establish a pathway to literally get people moving. Eradicating health disparity in all forms has remained the driving force for all we do. Dr. Williams and Doug E. have continued delivering positive and sustainable health behavior change through the transformative power of music, art, culture, and science. Hip hop is at the core of our pursuit to build health equity through increasing health literacy and amplifying the future leaders of both public health and hip hop.
We give thanks to hip hop pioneers like Doug E. Fresh, Chuck D, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Cheryl “Salt” James, Easy A.D. Harris and so many more who have helped us by writing rhymes to work through our hardships, awkward moments, and move our bodies in celebration of our community.
And today, August 11th, we pay tribute to 49 years of hip hop. We feel no shame in our game as we honor the complicated grandeur of the music that shaped us. We continue our quest to change and save lives through our leadership, messaging, and resources. Public health needs hip hop and hip hop needs public health and our role as an organization is to keep building the collective so we can support the community, our community, in using hip hop to heal. So, here we go, yo! Here we go, yo! The scenario is cheers to 49 years of hip hop!
Meet the #RemixingPublicHealth Gala Special Guests
Join us on October 25th at the Harvard Club of New York City to celebrate with our special guests, Ashanti, Chuck D, Cheryl “Salt” James, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and host Doug E. Fresh — hip hop icons who have demonstrated their commitment to our mission of health equity for all!
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Hip Hop Public Health is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering positive health behavior change among youth and their families through the transformative power of music, art and science. Learn more at www.hhph.org
The Legendary Ernie Hudson stars as Hebert “Magic” Williams, the head of the Quantum Leap project who has to juggle taking care of his team while also answering to the Pentagon.
Hudson recently reprised his signature character Winston Zeddemore in the new Jason Reitman movie ”Ghostbusters: Afterlife” for SONY and wrapped the Bobby Farrelly-directed ”Champions” opposite Woody Harrelson. He executive produces and stars in the BET series ”The Family Business” and will next be seen in the upcoming third season of Showtime’s ”City on a Hill” and in the Catherine Hardwicke film ”Prisoner’s Daughter” opposite Brian Cox and Kate Beckinsale.
MORE ABOUT QUANTUM LEAP
It’s been nearly 30 years since Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Now, a new team, led by their physicist Ben Song (Raymond Lee), has been assembled to restart the project in the hopes of understanding the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.
But everything changes when Ben makes an unauthorized leap into the past, leaving our team behind to solve the mystery of why he did it. At Ben’s side throughout his leaps is Addison (Caitlin Bassett), who appears in the form of a hologram only Ben can see and hear. She’s a decorated Army veteran who brings level-headed precision to her job.
At the helm of the highly confidential operation is Herbert “Magic” Williams (Ernie Hudson), a no-nonsense, career military man, who has to answer to his military bosses who will not be happy once they learn about the breach of protocol. The rest of the team at the headquarters includes Ian Wright (Mason Alexander Park), who runs the Artificial Intelligence unit “Ziggy,” and Jenn Chou (Nanrisa Lee) who heads up digital security for the project.
As Ben leaps from life to life, putting right what once went wrong, it becomes clear that he and the team are on a thrilling journey. However, Addison, Magic, Ian, and Jenn know that if they are going to solve the mystery of Ben’s leap and bring him home, they must act fast or lose him forever.
Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt will write and executive produce. Don Bellisario, Deborah Pratt, and Martin Gero executive produce.
Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, will produce in association with I Have an Idea! Entertainment, Belisarius Productions and Quinn’s House Productions.
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Detroit Lions HBO Sports and NFL Films are partnering with the Detroit Lions for an unfiltered all-access look at what it takes to make it in the National Football League with HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE DETROIT LIONS.
The five-episode season debuts TUESDAY, AUGUST 9 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET) with additional hour-long episodes debuting subsequent Tuesdays at the same time, culminating in the September 6 season finale.
The first sports-based reality series, and one of the fastest-turnaround programs on TV, will debut on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max. HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE DETROIT LIONS will mark the 17th edition of the 18-time Sports Emmy®-winning series and the most acclaimed serialized sports series on television. HBO has aired 82 memorable episodes and one anniversary special in its first 16 seasons.
“We are excited about the opportunity to showcase the City of Detroit and the amazing culture we are building at the Lions,” said Detroit Lions Team President and CEO, Rod Wood. “HBO Sports and NFL Films are the best of the best and we know they will be excellent partners in sharing our story with football fans around the world.”
Camera crews will head to the Lions’ training camp in Allen Park, Michigan in the next few months to begin filming. The action will heat up in August when the cinema verité show focuses on the daily lives and routines of players and coaches.
HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE DETROIT LIONS will chronicle head coach Dan Campbell entering his second season leading the team and an intriguing mix of young emerging stars, established veterans, free agent additions and highly regarded rookie hopefuls throughout training camp and the preseason.
HARD KNOCKS: TRAINING CAMP WITH THE DETROIT LIONS will be narrated by Liev Schreiber, marking his 16th season with the show. “As Hard Knocks enters its third decade inside NFL training camps, we are both thrilled and thankful for the opportunity to feature a historic franchise like the Lions,” said NFL Films Vice President and Senior Coordinating Producer, Ken Rodgers. “The city, the culture and the coaching staff in Detroit all have an exciting energy that will make the show must-watch television this summer.”
A 30-person NFL Films crew will be at Lions’ training camp in Allen Park, shooting more than 1,750 hours of footage over the course of the series. Camera and sound crews will have unencumbered access to players’ and coaches’ meeting rooms, training rooms, living quarters and practice fields.
Winner of 18 Sports Emmy® Awards to date, HARD KNOCKS launched with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001, followed by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002, and resumed in 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs, subsequently spotlighting the Cowboys (2008), Cincinnati Bengals (2009), New York Jets (2010), Miami Dolphins (2012), Bengals (2013), Atlanta Falcons (2014), Houston Texans (2015) and Los Angeles Rams (2016). The 2017 edition chronicled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and captured the Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Serialized Documentary.
The widely acclaimed 2018 series with the Cleveland Browns earned two Sports Emmy® Awards for production excellence. The 2019 series spotlighted the Oakland Raiders as they played their final season in the Bay area before moving the franchise to Las Vegas. In an unprecedented programming move, the 2020 edition of the venerable series spotlighted both Los Angeles NFL teams: The Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. Last year featured “America’s Team”, the Dallas Cowboys, marking their third appearance on the series.
Eleven of the last thirteen teams featured on HARD KNOCKS have equaled or improved their win-loss record in the regular season. The Cleveland Browns launched the transformation of their organization
on HBO and went from a winless 2017 season to coming within half a game (7-8-1) of a .500 campaign. The 2019 season saw the Raiders improve their record to 7-9 from the previous year’s 4-12 mark. Both Los Angeles’ teams, Rams and Chargers, improved their records in 2020 with two more wins from the previous year, with the Rams making the playoffs. Last year the Cowboys won their division going 12-5 from the previous year’s 6-10 mark.
The Washington Post wrote, “Turning football players into people is what HBO’s HARD KNOCKS series does so well. The massive scope, meticulous editing and time-hopping special effects that highlight a production under massive time constraints are all impressive, but it’s the film crew’s access to NFL players that makes the program special.” NFL.com stated, “There are myriad reasons why HARD KNOCKS remains one of the best shows on television; it’s ability to show us the human side of cutdown weekend is near the top,” while USA Today wrote, “Players’ lives and their hopes and dreams play out each NFL preseason on HARD KNOCKS. It’s that month-long human drama that makes the show so profoundly compelling.” Winner of 133 Sports Emmy® Awards, NFL Films remains a gold standard in sports television, providing unprecedented access to and legendary storytelling about the sport of professional football.
NFL Films is a part of NFL Media, the owned and operated media division of the National Football League, which is comprised of NFL Network, NFL Films, the NFL App, NFL.com and NFL RedZone.
RE Classics honored Basketball Legends last night at the Red Carpet premiere. The Legends came celebrating the premiere screening of the upcoming documentary NYC POINT GODS, which premieres this Friday, July 29 on SHOWTIME.
From, Mark Jackson, Kenny Smith, Kevin Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman’s Boardroom, NYC POINT GODS is a fascinating look at the history and cultural impact of New York City point guards who honed their craft and taste for showmanship on the city’s iconic playgrounds and high school gyms of the 1980’s and 90’s, orchestrating offenses with flair and style.
The red carpet event took place at The Midnight Theatre and included the likes of:
Kenny Anderson
Rafer Alston
Mark Jackson
God Shammgod
Rod Strickland
Kevin Durant
Jayson Tatum
Paul Pierce
Tracy McGrady
Stephen Jackson
Metta Sandiford-Artest
Nancy Lieberman
Smush Parker
Niesha Butler
Sabrina Ionescu
Keep checking back for a RE Classics Video re-cap of the Red Carpet event.
About Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story
Chaz Lamar Shepherd (“Marvel’s Luke Cage”, “The Game”) will star as Marvin Sapp with Ambre Anderson (“Power Book II” “Manifest Evil”) joining him as Sapp’s wife, MaLinda Prince Sapp. The biopic chronicles the prominent gospel music artist and preacher’s Michigan upbringing, battle against teenage alcohol abuse, love for MaLinda Prince, rise in the music industry, and growth in his faith. Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story premieres Sunday, August 21st at 9/8c on TV One.
Never Would Have Made It: The Marvin Sapp Story is directed by Russ Parr and produced for TV One by Swirl Films, with Eric F. Tomosunas, James Seppelfrick, and Keith Neal serving as Executive Producers. Additionally, Marvin Sapp and Phil Thornton are Executive Producers. For TV One, Jason Ryan is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production, Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is the Senior Director of Talent & Casting and Susan Henry is the Senior Director of Original Programming and Production.
Tickets are free and will be available on the webpage beginning Friday, July 22.
To celebrate the first anniversary of the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap, our museum is hosting a block party on August 13. The day-long event will feature performances by local and national talent, presentations, and activities to explore hip-hop music and culture’s origins, elements, and influences.
The block party will feature performance during a daytime program and the evening. The daytime program will be hosted by Vic Jagger of Majic 102.3. The artists include the Alphabet Rockers, DMV Showcase curated by DJ Heat (featuring O-Slice, Phuzz, and YungManny), Mumu Fresh, and a live mixtape with J. Period and guests.
The evening program performers include The Halluci Nation and D. Smoke. There will be a dance party following the performance with a mix by DJ Spinderella.
The Halluci Nation, Highlighted Performer
D. Smoke, Headlining Performer
J.Period, Daytime DJ
DJ Spinderella, Evening DJ
Vic Jagger, Daytime Host
General admission tickets will be made available on July 22, 2022.
Engage with us on social media: @nmaahc #NMAAHCHipHop
Martin Lawrence joins the cast of AMC’s upcoming new series Demascus as a recurring guest star in three of the first season’s six episodes as Demascus’ irascible Uncle Forty, a man who has seen better days. Despite his failing health, Uncle Forty is eager to be acknowledged as the (currently self-proclaimed) patriarch of the family. Lawrence is repped by UTA, Artists First and Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown and Passman.
Demascus is a half-hour series created by accomplished writer and playwright, Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm (Boomerang) and executive produced by Mark Johnson’s Gran Via Productions (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad). Kirk Moore (American Crime, For Life) and Chisholm serve as co-showrunners. Myki Bajaj of Gran Via is also a producer. Solvan “Slick” Naim (61st Street, Power) directs and executive produces the series’ first two episodes.
From AMC Studios, the series will include six episodes debuting next year on AMC+ and AMC.
Okieriete Onaodowan (Jack Ryan, Station 19) stars as Demascus a 33-year-old Black man who goes on a journey of self-discovery using an innovative new technology that allows him to experience different versions of his own life.
Additional series regulars include:
Janet Hubert (Love Life, Pose, The Last OG) as Dr. Bonnetville, a psychotherapist with a quick wit and a smart mouth; she uses her patented blend of apathy and cutting edge technology to aid her patients on their quests for personal growth.
Caleb Eberhardt (Judas & The Black Messiah, Betty) as Redd, Demascus’ Bohemian artist best friend who is a reformed reprobate stumbling into adulthood, and he’s determined to take Demascus with him.
Shakira Ja’nai Paye (All Day and a Night, House Party) as Naomi, an alluring performer who captures Demascus’ heart and imagination during a chance meeting; she’s a haunting missed connection and he can’t stop wondering: “what if?”
ATLANTA, GA (July 7, 2022) – Bounce, the popular broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, is heating things up this summer with the return of its hit original series “Johnson,” premiering with two new episodes back-to-back Sunday, July 10th 8/7c.
Ahead of its season two premiere, Bounce will air a binge-viewing marathon of the first season of the popular dramedy Sunday starting at 10:30 a.m. ET.
The Johnson men are back together…well, almost. A couple of months have passed since the fellas had the fallout at the art gallery. This season you will see more dating adventures of four best friends and the challenges they face while confronting and finding humor in the most current controversial social issues from the Black man’s perspective, ranging from love and marriage to business, politics, and religion.
The ensemble cast is led by Deji LaRay (“Bosch”, “Greenleaf”), Thomas G. Jones (“P. Valley”, “Luke Cage”), Philip Smithey (“Switched at Birth”, “The Rookie”), and Derrex Brady (“NCIS”, “First”) with D.L. Hughley. Terri J. Vaughn (“The Steve Harvey Show”, “All of Us”) joins the show for season two.
The series is produced in partnership with Cedric the Entertainer and Eric C. Rhone’s A Bird & A Bear Entertainment, LaRay, and Jones’ Midnight Train Productions. LaRay and Jones serve as showrunners and executive producers, with Rhone, Cedric the Entertainer, and Reesha L. Archibald serving as executive producers.
Viewers can also catch up on “Johnson” and all Bounce original series anytime on Brown Sugar, Bounce’s subscription video-on-demand service. Brown Sugar is available on Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Comcast Xfinity X1, Amazon Prime Channels, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Kindle, Android and Apple smartphones and tablets, and web browsers via BrownSugar.com. Visit www.BrownSugar.com for more information.
About Bounce
Bounce (@bouncetv) features a programming mix of original series and movies, theatrical motion pictures, off-network series, specials, and events designed for African American audiences. Bounce is available to 98% of U.S. television homes free and over the air with a digital antenna, on cable, on DISH channel 359, over the top on Roku and Apple TV, and on mobile devices via the Bounce app; and on the web via BounceTV.com. Bounce XL, Scripps Networks’ newest free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel, is available on Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV Sling, and Xumo.
Bounce and Brown Sugar are part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).
Apple TV+ today unveiled a first-look at the third season of the epic, post-apocalyptic global hit series “See,” which will make its global debut on Friday, August 26, 2022. Starring Jason Momoa, the eight-episode third season will mark the last chapter of the series and will premiere with the first episode, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday.
“We are thrilled to share this epic final chapter of ‘See,’ which delivers all the intense drama, riveting action, and heartfelt emotion fans have come to expect, as well as what we think is a deeply satisfying conclusion to our story,” said “See” showrunner and executive producer Jonathan Tropper. “Building a world without sight was a particularly unique and continuous challenge that was met through the passionate and thoughtful collaboration of a phenomenally talented and perse team both in front of and behind the camera. The show has been a monumental labor of love for all involved, and we are eternally grateful for the way ’See’ has been embraced by viewers around the world.”
“See” is set in a brutal and primitive future, hundreds of years after humankind has lost the ability to see. In season three, almost a year has passed since Baba Voss (Momoa) defeated his nemesis brother Edo and bid farewell to his family to live remotely in the forest. But when a Trivantian scientist develops a new and devastating form of sighted weaponry that threatens the future of humanity, Baba returns to Paya in order to protect his tribe once more.
The series features cast and crew who are blind or have low vision and has been honored for its representation of the visually impaired, winning the Ruderman Family Foundation Seal of Authentic Representation in 2020. “See” was also recognized this year with an NAACP Image Awards nomination for star Alfre Woodard in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category.
Starring alongside Momoa in the third season of “See” are ensemble cast members Sylvia Hoeks, Hera Hilmar, Christian Camargo, Archie Madekwe, Nesta Cooper, Tom Mison, Olivia Cheng, Eden Epstein, Michael Raymond-James, David Hewlett and Trieste Kelly Dunn.
“See” is executive produced by Steven Knight, Francis Lawrence, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Jim Rowe, Jennifer Yale, Anders Engström and Jonathan Tropper, who also serves as showrunner. The series is produced by Chernin Entertainment and Endeavor Content.
The first two seasons of “See” are now available to stream on Apple TV+.
About Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. For a limited time, customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. This special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device.
