Archives: Episodes

10 Summers/Interscope Records Ella Mai is enjoying one of the greatest weeks of her life. Her self-titled debut album was certified gold, she received four Soul Train Award nominations, and a nine-time Grammy winner gave her major props.

“Mary J Blige Facetimed me and told me I’m her favorite singer at the moment,“ Mai tweeted.“BLESSINGS ON BLESSINGS ON BLESSINGS forever grateful.”

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul has won six Soul Train Awards in her career. Mai hopes to follow in her footsteps. She’s nominated for Best R&B/Soul Female Artist, and her triple platinum, breakout single, “Boo’d Up,” earned three nominations: The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award, Song of the Year, and Video of the Year.

The 2018 Soul Train Awards will be taped November 17 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas and will air November 25 on BET.

Tonight in L.A., Mai opens her final date for Bruno Mars on his 24K Magic tour; tickets went on sale today on Ticketmaster.com for her 2019 tour.

The 23-year-old singer will kick off the European leg of the trek January 8 in Birmingham, England. She’ll perform 11 shows in Europe, and will begin the North American leg February 12 in Vancouver, Canada, followed by her first show in the United States on February 14 in Seattle. The tour wraps up March 28 in San Antonio, TX.

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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Portland 128, Orlando 114
Detroit 110, Cleveland 103
Boston 101, Oklahoma City 95
L.A. Lakers 121, Denver 114

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Buffalo 4, Montreal 3
OT Nashville 4, New Jersey 3
Boston 3, Philadelphia 0
Minnesota 4, L.A. Kings 1
Columbus 7, St. Louis 4
Chicago 4, N.Y. Rangers 1
Dallas 5, Anaheim 2
Pittsburgh 9, Calgary 1
Edmonton 4, Washington 1
Arizona 4, Vancouver 1

TOP 25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
(13) West Virginia 58, Baylor 14
Georgia Southern 34, (25) Appalachian St. 14

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Houston 42, Miami 23

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JUCOSix months after coming out as pansexual, Janelle Monae has no regrets, and is happy about the positive response she’s received.

“It’s been beautiful,” she tells People.com. “I think that it’s been a very warm and loving time for all of us who are walking in our truths. And I’ve always hoped, by sharing my stories, that people will feel more comfortable walking in their truths. And feel like it’s not a heavy burden, you know — that you do have support.”

The 32-year-old entertainer is enjoying success in music and film, including winning a Screen Actors Guild Award for her role in Hidden Figures. For her next movie, Monae is voicing the character of Peg in the live-action film Lady and the Tramp. The cast also features her close friend, Tessa Thompson, who appeared in her music videos for “Dirty Computer,” and “Make Me Feel.”  

“Tessa is an exceptional actress, first of all,” says Monae. “To have her on the Dirty Computer project as my friend and someone I respect as a black woman in this industry was a dream.” 

Monae also appears in the movie Welcome to Marwen, opening in December, and is now shooting the Harriet Tubman biopic.

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Ida Mae AstuteNext month, Michelle Williams is returning to Broadway, in the Tony Award-winning musical, Once On This Island.

The former Destiny’s Child member will play the role of Erzulie in the production from November 30, to June 2, 2019.

“I am totally overjoyed to return to Broadway and excited to join the cast of Once On This Island,” Williams said in a statement. “Taking on the role of Erzulie, the Goddess of Love, speaks to my heart.”

She adds, “The musical is such a moving, inclusive, spiritual journey that is needed in these times. It feels just right to represent love.” 

The Caribbean-flavored production tells the story of a peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of the island. When they are separated. Williams’ character, Erzulie, helps them reunite.

The 38-year-old singer also appears with her fiancée, Chad Johnson, in the reality series Chad Loves Michelle, which premieres November 3 at 9 p.m. on OWN.

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Tim Warner/Getty Images(PROVO, Utah) — The shocking murder of University of Utah track and field athlete Lauren McCluskey has prompted an outpouring of support beyond the school’s Salt Lake City campus.

Utah Jazz player Donovan Mitchell honored McCluskey — who was killed on campus Monday night — by writing her name on his sneakers for Wednesday’s game.

“This one really hit home to me,” Mitchell told NBA TV. “I have a little sister, you know. In today’s world, you know, women have to be protected more.”

“She was defenseless — couldn’t do anything about it,” he said of McCluskey. “And for a man to do that, that’s terrible. For me, I just wanted to be able to dedicate this game to her and her family.”

When the University of Utah football team plays UCLA in Los Angeles Friday, the Utah players will have a decal for their slain classmate on their helmets.

UCLA is expected to hold a moment of silence before the game.

At Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, student athletes wore red in McCluskey’s memory.

The tragedy unfolded Monday night when McCluskey, a 21-year-old senior and communications major, was allegedly killed by ex-boyfriend Melvin Rowland, according to authorities. Rowland fled the scene and later killed himself, authorities said.

McCluskey, who was found dead in her car, was on the phone with her mother just before the shooting, her mother, Jill McCluskey, said.

“I heard her yell, ‘No, no, no!’ I thought she might have been in a car accident,” Jill McCluskey said in a statement. “That was the last I heard from her.”

McCluskey had dated Rowland, 37, who was not a student, for about one month, said Jill McCluskey.

Rowland, a registered sex offender, had allegedly lied about his name, age and criminal history. When her daughter learned about his criminal history, she ended the relationship on Oct. 9, Jill McCluskey said.

Lauren McCluskey also “complained to University of Utah police that she was being harassed,” according to her mother.

“We did have a case where there was a police report filed on the 12th and the 13th,” University of Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy told reporters Tuesday. “It was assigned to a detective. The detective had been in contact with Ms. McCluskey, and they were working on the case with our suspect at that time.”

University police did not contact the Utah Department of Corrections about Rowland, correction spokeswoman Kaitlin Felsted told ABC News.

Rowland was convicted of forcible sexual abuse and enticing a minor over the internet. He was sentenced to prison in 2004.

He was released in July 2012 but re-incarcerated twice for parole violations.

He was most recently released in April 2018. Rowland had missed his September inspection appointment but was in contact with his parole officer and they had rescheduled the meeting, Felsted said. Rowland’s department of corrections supervision was set to expire in May 2019.  
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ABC/Randy HolmesKanye West revealed that Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla $ign will be featured on his next album, Yandi.

Kanye said on the Raq Rants show on BET that the song with Minaj deals with the double standard for men and women regarding sex.

“Nicki just rapped on a song that we’re talking about that’s dealing with body-shaming,” West said.

“I’m taking two stigmas at once because I love taking stigmas and flipping them to a positive,” he continued. “One of the stigmas is that men, the more people we sleep with, the higher our score goes. With a woman the more people they sleep with, people consider that, to be the lower their score goes.”

Kanye’s upcoming album, Yandhi, was originally scheduled to be released September 29. However, he decided to go to Africa to record more material, and now plans to release the project on November 23.

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David Becker/Getty Images via ABCFollowing a series of Instagram comments accusing her of looking lighter in recent photos, Kelly Rowland is shutting down rumors that she bleached her skin.

“I am not the one to bleach my skin. Nor do I want to bleach my skin. Nor do I have to bleach my skin,” she says in an Instagram video.

Her followers debated whether or not she’s telling the truth.

One person commented, “I don’t care what anyone says. Kelly skin is about 3 shades lighter. With all due respects. Even with lighting it’s not that deep brown anymore.” 

Another person responded, “She made a post just for people like you! So, she’s dark three photos ago, now bc of this one shoot, she’s bleaching? It’s the lighting in the shoot!! Think people!!”

The former Destiny’s Child member insisted, “It’s not for me. So, don’t go saying stupid stuff like that. You ever thought it could be the lighting?”

The Grammy-winner ended her video asserting her blackness. “I am still chocolate. Forever chocolate. Proud to be chocolate.”   

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Jo Hale/RedfernsTracy Lauren Marrow, better known as Ice-T, was arrested after failing to pay a toll on the George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and New York City.

ABC News affiliate WABC reports that the rapper and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actor was arrested Wednesday morning after he used an E-ZPass lane without a working tag.

Police also issued Ice with a summons for not having a license plates and registration.

Ice-T later took to Twitter to speak out about the incident.

“I love how people think just because I ACT like a cop on SVU I get special treatment from real cops… lol,” he wrote in one tweet.

He then later added, “What I have noticed is that ANY slightly negative news about you.. Will bring your Haters out to party . Lol.

Ice-T currently stars on SVU as Sgt. Odafin Tutuola.

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BETBruno Mars and H.E.R. lead all artists for the 2018 Soul Train Award, with six nominations each.

SZA received five nods, followed by Cardi B, Ella Mai, and Daniel Caesar, who each received four nominations.

Erykah Badu will be honored with the Legend Award, and Faith Evans will receive the Lady of Soul Award. The show will be hosted by Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold, who starred together with Martin Lawrence in the ’90s sitcom Martin.

The 2018 Soul Train Awards will be taped November 17 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas and will air November 25 on BET.

Here are the 2018 Soul Train Awards nominees:

BEST NEW ARTIST

Daniel Caesar
Jorja Smith
Kali Uchis
Leon Thomas
Normani
Queen Naija

SOUL TRAIN CERTIFIED AWARD

Ashanti
Jorja Smith
Ledisi
Lenny Kravitz
MAJOR
Tamia

BEST R&B/SOUL FEMALE ARTIST

Beyoncé
Ella Mai
H.E.R.
Mariah Carey
SZA

BEST R&B/SOUL MALE ARTIST

Bruno Mars
Childish Gambino
Daniel Caesar
John Legend
Khalid
Tank

BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

Andra Day
Kirk Franklin
Lecrae
Snoop Dogg
Tori Kelly

RHYTHM & BARS AWARD (BEST HIP-HOP SONG OF THE YEAR)

Cardi B – “I Like It” featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin
Childish Gambino – “This is America”
DJ Khaled – “No Brainer” featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Quavo
Drake – “In My Feelings”
The Carters – “Apes**t”

SONG OF THE YEAR

Bruno Mars – “Finesse” (Remix) featuring Cardi B
Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up”
H.E.R. – “Every Kind of Way”
SZA – “The Weekend”
The Internet – “Come Over”

ALBUM/MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR

Chloe X Halle – The Kids Are Alright
Chris Brown – Heartbreak on a Full Moon
H.E.R. – H.E.R.
Leon Bridges – Good Thing
Miguel – War & Leisure
The Internet – Hive Mind 

THE ASHFORD AND SIMPSON SONGWRITER’S AWARD

“Finesse” (Remix) – Written by Gene Hernandez, Belcalis Almanzar, Chris Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Ray McCullough, Klenord Raphael, Jeremy Reeves, James Yip, Ray Romulus (Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B)
“Summertime Magic” – Written by Donald Glover, Ludwig Goransson (Childish Gambino)
“Best Part” – Written by Ashton Simmonds, H.E.R., Riley Bell, Matthew Burnett, Jordan Evans (Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R.)
“Boo’d Up” – Written by Ella Howell, Dijon McFarlane, Joelle James, Larrance Dopson (Ella Mai)
“Focus” – Written by H.E.R., Darhyl Camper, Justin Love (H.E.R.)
“Broken Clocks” – Written by Solana Rowe, Cody Fayne, Adam Feeney, Ashton Simmonds, Thomas Beesley (SZA)

BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE

Bruno Mars – “Finesse” (Remix) featuring Cardi B
Chris Brown – “Tempo”Ciara – “Level Up”
Hood Celebrityy – “Walking Trophy”
Janet Jackson – “Made for Now” featuring Daddy Yankee

BEST COLLABORATION PERFORMANCE

Bruno Mars – “Finesse” (Remix) featuring Cardi B
Daniel Caesar – “Best Part” featuring H.E.R.
John Legend – “A Good Night” featuring BloodPop
Khalid featuring Ty Dolla $ign and 6lack – “OTW”
SZA – “Doves in the Wind” featuring Kendrick Lamar

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Bruno Mars – “Finesse” (Remix) featuring Cardi B
Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up”
H.E.R. – “Avenue”
SZA – “Broken Clocks”
The Internet – “Come Over”

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Republic RecordsDrake celebrated his 32^nd birthday Tuesday night in L.A. with a 2000s themed party and guests including Diddy, Chris Brown, and French Montana.

The bash at Goya Studios featured spiked Slurpees from 7/11, a Blockbuster Video wall, and cars from the MTV show Pimp My Ride, according to E! News. Drizzy dressed as one of his favorite rappers, Fabolous, and paid tribute to him with an Instagram photo caption, writing, “One of my biggest inspirations in rap. Loso.”

The “In My Feeling” rapper showed love to his mother, Sandi Graham, with a special room filled with flowers and photos of them over the years. Drake also played songs from the 2000s in the DJ booth with help from Swizz Beatz.

Guests received lottery tickets, and the ladies went home with Chanel bags. Airbrushed T-shirts commemorating Drake’s birthday were also available. The birthday boy blew out the candles on a cake inspired by the Motorola Timesport pager.

Drake continues his Aubrey and the Three Migos tour with shows Friday, Saturday and Monday in Oakland.

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