Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Pop Out – Ken & Friends’ Was The Concert of the Year!
There’s no denying that Kendrick Lamar took over 2024 with his Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.” As if releasing the number one song that took over the radio, clubs, and social media wasn’t enough, the rapper announced his “The Pop Out – Ken & Friends” concert that had fans scurrying to buy tickets. The three-hour event took place on Juneteenth at the Kia Forum and featured performances from up-and-coming and veteran artists. The legendary Dr. Dre, Steve Lacy, Ty Dolla Sign, Dom Kennedy, Tyler The Creator, and Ab-Soul, were just a few of the many performers for the ‘Pop Out.” Tommy The Clown and his dance group, the T-Squad, also made an appearance and showcased the years of work the inventor of “clowning” has put in.
Cynthia Erivo Set A High Standard For Her Portrayal of Elphaba in ‘Wicked’
Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba in the fantasy musical Wicked was exactly what the culture needed. From her powerful vocal performances to her emotional depth, Erivo successfully embodied Elphaba’s misunderstood character through her personal and societal resilience, pain, and adversity. Elphaba’s struggles impacted many, as her “green skin” symbolizes the idea of marginalization that people of color have faced historically, many of which are still encountering today. Aside from her cinematic talent, her voice alone spoke authentically to Elphaba’s triumphs and adversity. Her hope of being accepted and optimism to live a better life in “The Wizard And I” accompanied by her powerful and vulnerable performance in “Defying Gravity” truly showcased Erivo’s range as a singer and performer. Wicked Part Two is slated for release November 2025, and many are looking forward to seeing more of Elphaba’s character growth.
Chaka Khan Celebrated 50 Years In The Entertainment Industry
On Saturday, January 27, ten-time Grammy Award winning singer, Chaka Khan celebrated 50 years in the entertainment industry at The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA. According to an article written by Gisselle Mauricio for CSULA University Times, Khan participated in a pre-show interview facilitated by executive for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Joel Flatow before she hit the stage. Mauricio stated that Khan expressed how she was excited to connect with her audience, and spoke about her activism with the Black Panther Party, seeing her fans unite because of her music, not dwelling on the past, and more. She ended the night performing some of her greatest hits. Khan’s career began in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of funk band, Rufus. Since then, Khan has won and been nominated for several awards, toured all over the world, and is considered to be one of the most influential vocalists of all time.
Jasmine Guy Received Her First Emmy Award
Actress and Singer, Jasmine Guy won her first ever Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for action series, “The Chronicles of Jessica Wu.” Known for her role as “Whitley Gilbert” in the late 1980s and early 1990’s sitcom, “A Different World,” Guy never won an Emmy for that breakout role. In January, while on the red carpet for the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards and with tears in her eyes, Guy embraced former “A Different World” co-star Darryl M. Bell with a hug telling him, “This is our Emmy.”
Tony! Tony! Tone!, Klymaxx, and Troop Lit Up The Bakewell Media “Sounds of the Soul” Stage
It’s no surprise that the Bakewell Media “Sounds of the Soul” Stage at the 19th Annual Taste of Soul turned into a nostalgic jam session. Presented by Chevrolet and hosted by 94.7 The Wave, “Sounds of the Soul” had thousands of attendees singing and completely tuned into the stellar performances by Oakland-bred r&b band Tony! Tony! Tony!, and r&b groups Troop and Klymaxx. Klymaxx’s set consisted of some of their most popular hits including “Meeting in the Ladies Room,” “Girls Will Be Girls,” Love Me,” and more. When it was time for Pasadena natives Troop to come to the stage, the audience was more than ready. The group performed their classic songs “Spread My Wings” and “All I Do Is Think of You” and shared some advice for aspiring artists. The evening was closed out by Tony! Tony! Tony! who performed many of their timeless hits including “Me & You,” “Anniversary,” “Whatever You Want,” and more.
Ol’ Dirty Bastard Honored With Documentary
The documentary, “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys,” on Wu-Tang Clan original member, ‘Ol Dirty Bastard (ODB) was released in August, and was screened at the Grammy Museum in Downtown Los Angeles. Directed by Jason Pollard and his father Sam Pollard, and produced by Messiah Jacobs and Nicole Beckett, the film explores the life and legacy of ODB. His (ODB’s) wife Icelene Jones, and son Bar-Sun Unique Jones (Young Dirty Bastard) collaborated with the producers in creating the documentary.
Apple Music Announced Lauryn Hill’s ‘Miseducation’ album As Their Greatest Album Of All Time
On May 22, Apple Music announced their 10 greatest albums of all time, and Lauryn Hill’s 1998 debut solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” claimed the number one spot. Hill wrote and produced the majority of this album all while being pregnant. She credited her pregnancy as being one of the key factors that sparked her creativity during this process. The list was created by Apple Music’s editorial team and also music experts which included Zane Lowe, global creative director and lead anchor for Apple Music 1, and Ebro Darden, global editorial head of hip-hop and r&b.
Charles Reese Celebrates James Baldwin With A Spoken Word Album
On August 2, African American writer and civil rights activist, James Baldwin would have turned 100 years old. In honor of his life and legacy, L.A.-based actor, writer, and speaker Charles Reese created a spoken word album titled, “James Baldwin & Me: A Centennial Tribute.” Each poem on the album reflects a different moment from Baldwin’s life. Reese began recording the album in March at Moon Global Studios in Inglewood, which features ideas blended together between Reese, Baldwin, Howard B. Simon, the playwright for “James Baldwin: A Soul on Fire” – a play about the late activist. Charles Reese starred as Baldwin in this play and in an interview with the Sentinel, he “described himself as a cultural architect of the legacy of Baldwin using his gifts to bring people into Baldwin’s world.”
L.A. City Councilmembers Honored The Whispers
On June 14, American vocal group The Whispers were honored by LA City Councilmembers Curren Price, Heather Hutt, and Marqueece Harris-Dawson for their contributions to r&b and soul music. The group hails from Watts, California and are known for their hit records since the 1960s, which has earned them two platinum and five gold albums from the RIAA, being inducted into the Official R&B Music Hall of Fame, and many more accolades. Original members included twin brothers Walter and Wallace “Scotty” Scott, Gordy Harmon, Marcus Hutson, and Nicholas Caldwell. Unfortunately, Harmon, Hutson, and Caldwell passed away, but their legacy continues to live on through their music.
