World News
Iconic R&B Supergroup, New Edition to be inducted into NAACP Image Awards Hall Of Fame
The NAACP and BET announced GRAMMY® -nominated singing group New Edition will be inducted into the acclaimed NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame during the “55th NAACP Image Awards”. The Hall of Fame Award is bestowed on pioneers in their respective fields and whose influence will shape the profession for generations to come. Previous inductees include Eddie Murphy, Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Carlos Santana, Little Richard, Sidney Poitier, Earth Wind and Fire and Aretha Franklin.
GRAMMY® award-winning musician, critically acclaimed Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning and Academy Award®-nominated actor and producer Queen Latifah (series star/executive producer of The Equalizer, CBS) will return to host the prestigious “55th NAACP Image Awards” will air live on Sunday, 17 March at 19:00 WAT on BET Africa, via DStv channel 129 and GOtv channel 21.
It was also announced that legendary R&B singer and songwriter Maze frontman, Frankie Beverly will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during the NAACP Image Awards Dinner, which will be held on March 14 in Los Angeles. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to civil and human rights in addition to their contributions in the entertainment industry.
“It is our distinct honor to celebrate New Edition and Frankie Beverly–musical icons who have been instrumental in shaping our cultural landscape with their remarkable talent and enduring influence”, said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. “We recognize the power of their artistry in showcasing the enduring power of Black excellence in the arts.”
“New Edition and Frankie Beverly’s influence have laid the foundation for modern R&B, shaping the genre’s sonic landscape and resonance in numerous ways. From the acclaimed The New Edition Story on BET to our commemoration of Frankie Beverly at BET Awards 2012, we are thrilled to celebrate these musical luminaries, whose melodies are intricately woven into the very fabric of our culture,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET.
Speaking on the host’s announcement, Senior Vice President of Paramount Africa and Peer Lead, BET International, Monde Twala, said, “We are pleased to have the incredibly talented Queen Latifah back as the host for the 55th NAACP Image Awards. Her return as host ensures that this prestigious event will continue to shine a spotlight on the richness of Black excellence. The NAACP Image Awards holds a special significance for audiences across Africa, celebrating the exceptional achievements and contributions of Black artists, entertainers, and leaders who have made an indelible impact on our society”.
As one of the most successful male singing groups in R&B, New Edition has entertained audiences for more than 40 years. The group has a cumulative 30 million records sold worldwide. The group has also separately launched the breakout careers of many of the members, including Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, and Bell Biv DeVoe. In 2017, the group added an Executive Producer credit to its resumé when they released the ground-breaking, acclaimed biopic The New Edition Story. Premiering on the BET Networks, the 3-night mini-series was viewed by a record 29 million unique viewers. New Edition’s “The Culture Tour” was named the #1 R&B concert of 2022.
Trailblazing artist and prolific songwriter and vocalist Frankie Beverly has left an indelible mark on the world of music over his illustrious career spanning several decades. From his early days with Maze to his solo endeavors, Beverly’s distinctive voice and timeless compositions have garnered widespread acclaim, earning him a special place in the hearts of fans across the globe. Known for timeless hits such as “Golden Time of Day,” “Joy and Pain,” and the unofficial theme song for the summer that remains synonymous with Black culture, “Before I Let Go,” Frankie Beverly’s influence extends beyond the stage and has made lasting contributions to the cultural landscape.
The “55th NAACP Image Awards” is proudly presented by this year’s incredible partners and sponsors, including Wells Fargo, Google, Bank of America, Gushers, FedEx, Airbnb, Amazon, Diageo, Denny’s, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines.
Globally recognized as one of the most distinguished multicultural award shows, the “55th NAACP Image Awards” will continue its tradition of excellence, uplifting values that inspire equality, justice, and progressive change, and highlighting artists committed to these values.
NAACP will also recognize winners in non–televised Image Awards categories from March 11-13 on www.naacpimageawards.net, during the Awards Dinner on March 14 and Fashion Show on March 15. For information and updates, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards.
One of the most iconic annual celebrations of Black excellence, the NAACP Image Awards draws the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Previous years’ attendees and winners include Angela Bassett, Zendaya, Will Smith, Viola Davis, Beyoncé, Nicco Annan, Ruth E. Carter, Glynn Turman, Quinta Brunson, Nia Long, Keith David, Jennifer Hudson, Stacey Abrams, Tabitha Brown, Dwayne Wade & Gabrielle Union, Tems, Erica Campbell, Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak, Silk Sonic, Rihanna, Quavo, Takeoff, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Yara Shahidi, Issa Rae, Janelle Monáe, Tracee Ellis Ross, Serena Williams, Kerry Washington, Method Man, Dominique Thorne, Austin Scott, Tyler James Williams, Kyla Pratt, Jabari Banks, and many more.
Instagram: @naacpimageawards @BET |X: @naacpimageaward
Facebook: /naacpimageaward | #NAACPImageAwards
World News
Iran’s president and foreign minister killed in helicopter crash
Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, has been killed in a helicopter crash in a mountainous area of north-western Iran, the country’s state media has said.
He was travelling with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who also died after the aircraft came down on Sunday.
It was initially reported that the helicopter carrying the men and their entourage had made a rough landing in foggy conditions.
Mr Raisi, 63, was tipped as a potential successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The helicopter came down in a remote area of north-western Iran on the way back from Azerbaijan where Mr Raisi had been meeting President Ilham Aliyev.
On Monday, the Iranian Red Crescent confirmed the bodies of the president and others who died in the crash had been recovered and search operations had ended.
“We are in the process of transferring the bodies of the martyrs to Tabriz [in Iran’s northwest],” the organisation’s chief said on state television.
According to local media he had been in the area to open the Qiz Qalasi and Khodaafarin dams.
Ahead of the confirmation of the death, vigils had taken place in the capital, Tehran, with pictures showing people kneeling in prayer.
Mr Raisi, 63, was a hard-line cleric close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and was considered to be a potential successor to the 85-year-old.
His election as president in 2021 consolidated the control of conservatives over every part of the Islamic Republic.
In a statement following his death, the Iranian government said it would continue to operate “without disruption”.
A number of countries have expressed their condolences following President Raisi’s death.
In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a national day of mourning and described the Mr Raisi and Mr Amir-Abdollahian as “good friends of Iran”.
Writing on social media, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened and shocked” by the deaths.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government was “in full contact and co-ordination with the Iranian authorities” and was ready to “provide any necessary support”.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed his condolences and said the president and foreign minister were “true, reliable friends of our country”.
World News
Studio Ghibli Honorary Palme d’or of the 77th Festival de Cannes
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World News
Apple Music’s Top 100 Albums of All Time Day 2: 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Lady Gaga, Neil Young and more
For in-depth analysis of each album, archival interviews and so much more please visit the new Apple Music 100 Best microsite – updated daily at 9am PT to make it easy for fans to follow along with us.
Albums 90-81 on Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list
- 90: Back in Black – AC/DC
- 89: The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition) – Lady Gaga
- 88: I Put a Spell on You – Nina Simone
- 87: Blue Lines – Massive Attack
- 86: My Life – Mary J Blige
- 85: Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
- 84: Doggystyle – Snoop Dogg
- 83: Horses – Patti Smith
- 82: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ – 50 Cent
- 81: After the Gold Rush – Neil Young
Press Release: https://www.apple.
Apple Music 100 Best: https://100best.music.
Tomorrow we will reveal albums 80-79 on the list. Follow @AppleMusic on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X and be part of the conversation.
World News
Paris 2024 in Cannes!
The Festival de Cannes and the City of Cannes are gearing up for Paris 2024! Sports personalities and athletes will be the guests of an exceptional evening on Tuesday, May 21, for the premiere screening of Mickaël Gamrasni’s documentary Olympiques! La France des Jeux, with its most prestigious ambassador, the Olympic flame!
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World News
Usher, Solange and Travis Scott Albums Launch Apple Music’s Top 100 Best Albums of All Time list
Apple Music today announced the release of its 100 Best Albums of all time, a celebratory list of the greatest records ever made, crafted by Apple Music’s team of experts alongside a select group of artists, including Maren Morris, Pharrell Williams, J Balvin, Charli XCX, Mark Hoppus, Honey Dijon, and Nia Archives, as well as songwriters, producers, and industry professionals. The list is an editorial statement, fully independent of any streaming numbers on Apple Music — a love letter to the records that have shaped the world music lovers live and listen in.
Apple Music is bringing its 100 Best Albums to life with a countdown celebration beginning today, revealing 10 albums each day for the next 10 days, along with a brand-new 100 Best microsite, new and exclusive content, dedicated Apple Music Radio episodes, and so much more. The countdown will culminate on the final day with the reveal of Apple Music’s top 10 albums of all time during a broadcast radio special.
“100 Best brings together all the things that make Apple Music the ultimate service for music lovers — human curation at its peak, an appreciation for the art of storytelling, and unparalleled knowledge of music and an even deeper love for it,” said Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s senior director of content and editorial. “We have been working on this for a very long time, and it’s something we are all incredibly proud of and excited to share with the world.”
“Putting this list together was a true labor of love, both in that it was incredibly difficult to do and in that we are all so passionate about it,” said Zane Lowe, Apple Music’s global creative director and lead anchor for Apple Music 1. “We were tasked with selecting the 100 best — that’s practically mission impossible. But as music fans, it was also amazing to really take a minute and sit and think about the music and albums and artists that we love so much in this context. If this list sparks more debate among fans outside of Apple Music and gets people talking passionately about the music they love, then we’ve done what we set out to do.”
Introducing the Top 100 – 91 Albums
The first 10 albums, revealed today, offer a glimpse into Apple Music’s unique approach with 100 Best. With seven of the 10 records hailing from the 21st century, two from the 90s, only one from the 70s, and various genres represented, the list spotlights contemporary artists like Tyler, The Creator; Robyn; Lorde; Travis Scott; Solange; Burial; and more who have helped define this century through their music and its influence on others.
100. Body Talk, Robyn
99. Hotel California, Eagles
98. ASTROWORLD, Travis Scott
97. Rage Against the Machine, Rage Against the Machine
96. Pure Heroine, Lorde
95. Confessions, USHER
94. Untrue, Burial
93. A Seat at the Table, Solange
92. Flower Boy, Tyler, The Creator
91. Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, George Michael
“There are so many fun facts for our listeners to discover about these albums,” said Scott Plagenhoef, Apple Music’s global head of music programming. “For example, two of the records revealed today were promoted without the image of the artist, but for opposite reasons — Burial’s Untrue because the artist was still operating anonymously at the time, and George Michael’s Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 because the artist was actually retreating from fame.”
Discover, Learn, and Share with Friends
To accompany the list, today Apple Music also revealed a dedicated microsite that will update every day of the countdown, making it easy for listeners to follow along. Available now at 100best.music.apple.com, the new 100 Best microsite spotlights in-depth analysis of each album, archival interviews, and more, and makes it easy for fans to share their favourite albums with friends and on their social channels.
Explore records 100-91 of Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums at 100best.music.apple.com.
Follow Along on Apple Music Radio
Fans will also be treated to a full 100 Best Albums Radio takeover on Apple Music Hits, where round-the-clock specials with Apple Music Radio hosts and daily specials at 9 a.m. PT (noon ET) will be broadcasted, plus exclusive content will drop every day on demand on Apple Music and Apple Podcasts.
The last 10 albums will be revealed on Wednesday, May 22, with a special roundtable discussion broadcasting globally on Apple Music that features guest artists Nile Rodgers and Maggie Rogers reflecting on the list alongside Apple Music’s own Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden. Lowe will also curate a special mashup-style DJ mix featuring songs from all 100 Best Albums.
Apple Music will keep the momentum going after the countdown ends with an additional week of 100 Best Albums Radio takeover on Apple Music Hits.
All 100 Best Albums recipients will be given an award comprised of blasted anodized aluminum, sourced entirely from recycled Apple products, in a unique polished PVD gold. The design on the back of the award takes its cues from a vinyl LP record and is inscribed with the artist’s name, the album title, and the album’s year of release.
Explore Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums at 100best.music.apple.com and check back daily to discover the full list. Get exclusive content by following @AppleMusic on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and X.
World News
Ice Spice returns with “Gimmie A Light”
Today, GRAMMY® Award-nominated global superstar Ice Spice returns with “Gimmie A Light” — the first official single from her forthcoming debut album Y2K. Set for release via 10K Projects/Capitol Records, the massively anticipated Y2K is due out later this year. Go here to stream/download “Gimmie A Light,” and check out the video here.
Produced by Ice Spice’s longtime collaborator RiotUSA — who also handled production on career-defining hits like her gold-certified breakout single “Munch (Feelin U)” — “Gimmie A Light” centers on a sample from dancehall legend Sean Paul’s 2002 single “Gimme the Light.” With all the effortless star power that made her an icon soon after emerging from New York drill scene, the Bronx Baddie unleashes a two-minute anthem spotlighting her whip-smart bars, rapid-fire delivery, and potent vocal command. Slick and self-possessed, the result is a high-energy track stacked with bouncy beats and irresistible hooks.
For the video to “Gimmie A Light,” Ice Spice once again joined forces with fellow New York City natives George and Frederick Buford, aka The Evil Twins — the fast-rising filmmaking duo behind the visuals for past hits like “Deli” and “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” (her platinum-certified, chart-topping 2023 collaboration with PinkPantheress). Equal parts fantasy and hyperreality, “Gimmie A Light” places Ice Spice in a dizzying sequence of high-glamour scenarios: sipping Patrón El Alto on the dancefloor with a shiny piece of bling bearing her own likeness; posing with fat stacks of cash in her J’adore Dior baby tee; twerking in the back of a hot-pink Range Rover, surrounded by stuffed animals as the smoke-filled SUV speeds through the streets of her hometown.
Last month at Coachella, Ice Spice thrilled the crowd with a sneak-peak performance of “Gimmie A Light.” Her debut at the famed festival instantly drew raves from the likes of UPROXX, who proclaimed that Ice Spice “will almost certainly headline Coachella in the near future if her trajectory continues.”
Due out later this year, Y2K has been hailed as one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2024. With its title nodding to her birthday (January 1, 2000), Ice Spice’s full-length debut will also include her recent smash single “Think U The Shit (Fart).” The album arrives on the heels of her widely acclaimed debut EP Like..? — a 2023 release that landed on best-of-the-year lists from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and more and featured hits like “Munch (Feelin U)” and the platinum-selling “In Ha Mood” and “Princess Diana.”
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