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15 Dec 2023

Rick Ross Vows to Get Into ‘Best Shape’ of His Life to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro in 2024

There’s a reason Rick Ross is called The Boss. He aims high and always delivers. At least that’s his plan for 2024, when the “Rich Forever” MC says he plans to make good on his 2022 vow to climb Africa’s tallest mountain — and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world — Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro.

In an Instagram Story on Wednesday (Dec. 13) Rozay said he and his trainer are working hard to get in shape to take the trek up one of the world’s Seven Summits in early 2024.

“I mentioned on the podcast last year we was climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro,” Ross said while out on an early-morning jogging, referencing his announcement in 2022 on the Full Send podcast that he planned to spend this year getting in shape for the challenge. “It’s official. Early 2024 it’s going down. [We’re getting in the] best shape of our lives [for this]. Promise I won’t fall out on you muthaf–kas. Promise. And guess what?,” he added between hard breaths about his plan B should things go sideways. “I swear Imma wear my watch and if I pull that pin on it, in one hour that helicopter will be there for us.”

The hike does not require technical climbing or mountaineering skills, but it is a challenging five-to-nine-day trek through five climate zones, in which the trekkers move from a rainforest at the base, through an alpine desert and up to a frigid glacial zone at the peak of the dormant volcano, where there is 49% less oxygen than at base camp. More than 35,000 adventurers attempt the trek every year, with only two-thirds completing it due to altitude sickness and other health problems. On the podcast, Ross said he planned to give himself 12 days to make it to the top.

While he’s not training, Rozay has been in the studio working on his joint album with Meek Mill, Too Good to Be True. The 17-track effort will have the pair joined by Future, DJ Khaled, Fabolous, Teyana Taylor, The-Dream, Jeremih, French Montana and more on the album, as well as a reunion of Ross, Mill and Wale on the song “Fine Lines.”

Watch Ross training for his climb below.

15 Dec 2023

ESPN Exec Raina Kelley Becomes VIBE’s New Editor-In-Chief

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2023 American Black Film Festival - Best Of ABFF Awards Ceremony

Source: Mireya Acierto / Getty

Veteran ESPN executive Raina Kelley has agreed to become the new editor-in-chief of VIBE beginning next year.

According to Variety, Raina Kelley will join the lauded Hip-Hop and R&B publication, VIBE, as its new editor-in-chief. Kelly was formerly the editor-in-chief at Andscape, ESPN’s digital hub covering the intersection of culture, race and sports.

Prior to that role, Kelley had worked as a media commentator and writer, beginning with Newsweek and its website Newsweek.com, which she joined as an assistant editor in 2003. The veteran was also the managing editor for The Undefeated, the predecessor to Andscape, as well as a senior editor for ESPN The Magazine when she joined the company in 2011.

“Vibe was founded to put hip-hop and other forms of Black expression on the record as world-dominating art forms,” said Kelley in a statement “It is my absolute pleasure and honor to step in as Editor-in-Chief of this venerable brand and to expand its coverage into other areas beyond music — everywhere hip-hop is already ascendant.” She will begin Jan. 2, and work from VIBE’s offices in New York City, reporting to Ramin Setoodeh and Cynthia Littleton, who are editorial directors of VIBE as well as co-editors-in-chief at Variety.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Raina to the Variety family,” said Setoodeh and Littleton in a press release. “Raina brings with her an incredibly rare set of skills and experiences across politics, sports, and media. She will be instrumental in maintaining Vibe’s unique voice of authority and infusing her perspective into all of our initiatives. We look forward to Vibe’s exciting evolution ahead.”

Kelley takes over for Datwon Thomas as he enters into a new position as the editor-at-large for VIBE and the executive producer for talent at Dick Clark Productions. The moves coordinate with VIBE joining the Penske Media Corporation in 2020, which includes other notable publications such as Billboard, Variety and the Hollywood Reporter.

15 Dec 2023

Simu Liu Taps Into Some Serious Kenergy During ‘I’m Just Ken’ Performance in L.A.

Barbie star Simu Liu is not ready to stop feeling the Kenergy. The actor who played a rival Ken to Ryan Gosling’s abtastic Ken in Greta Gerwig’s Oscar-nominated box office blockbuster busted out a solo version of the theme song from the movie’s signature dance number, “I’m Just Ken,” at an intimate show at Los Angeles’ Hotel Café on Wednesday (Dec, 13).

According to a video of the gig he posted on X, Liu instructed the crowd, “If there’s one thing that I want each and every one of you to take away from this show tonight in your hearts it’s that you’re enough,” he said the to 100 or so fans in the house as a keyboardist played some piano mood music behind him. “I want you to do this with me now. I want you to close your eyes, and I want you to put your hand on your heart, and I want you to repeat after me, okay?: I. Am. Kenough.”

They, of course, did as he instructed and Liu then busted into the first verse of the track written by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt in a strong, soulful voice over a jazzy arrangement. He later admitted, however, that like the real world in the movie, something was a little off.

“The most Ken thing about this is that I forgot part of the words to ‘I’m Just Ken.’ What a great night!!!!,” Liu wrote on X after he fumbled the chorus line “Where I see love she sees a friend,” smiling and mumbling a nonsense phrase where the lyric should have been. He made up for it by taking off his leather jacket and showing off his guns in a tank top to whoops from the audience.

The consummate professional laughed off the flub, asking, “Are you ready to feel the Kenergy with me tonight? Let’s do this! You are Kenough, you are Kenough!” He also busted out the choreo from the movie’s insane dance dream sequence and belted out the lyrics while literally flexing all over the place and letting out a primal scream mid-song.

“I’m Just Ken” debuted at No. 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August, giving Ryan Gosling his first entry on the 100 tally.

This isn’t Liu’s first singing rodeo. The actor released his debut four-track EP, Anxious-Avoidant, in Novmeber, which includes a song co-written by the Jonas Brothers’ Joe Jonas, “Break My Heart.”

Check out Liu’s performance below.

15 Dec 2023

Jung Kook and Usher Dance the Day Away in Sleek ‘Standing Next to You’ Remix Video

Jung Kook and Usher set the dance floor on fire in the new video for their remix of the BTS star’s “Standing Next to You.” In this case, a moodily lit abandoned warehouse flooded with daylight stands in for a club, but either way, the dynamic duo fill the space with slick move after slick move.

The clip opens with JK and his crew bopping out to the song’s driving disco beat, with the K-pop star ready for action in studded black pants and a matching vest over a white T-shirt. If you ever wondered how much influence BTS’ members have taken from Michael Jackson when it comes to their dance style, this visual is all the proof you need that they’ve obsessively studied the late King of Pop’s every heel flick, crotch grab and hip pop.

After Jung Kook and his six male dancers pull off slow-motion body rolls while popping and locking, the singer takes center stage in the cavernous space shot through with shafts of light as they help hold his mic stand while he hits sky-high falsetto notes. After a barrage of slick moves, Usher comes into the frame to pull off some of his OG maneuvers, looking like a nightclub Terminator in wide-leg black pants, a cropped black leather jacket over a black tank, black gloves, shades and, of course his shining “U” medallion.

Nimbly sliding across the floor with his patented fancy footwork, Ush joins the JK gang and they stand next to each other and vibe it out, with the two men putting on a hip-swivel clinic for the song’s final minute before walking off with a handshake.

The “Standing” remix dropped earlier this month featuring a new verse from Usher — with a “Yeah!”-themed tease of the video coming shortly after — a few weeks before JK announced that he would be the latest member of BTS to begin his mandatory South Korean military service alongside fellow BTSer Jimin. At this point, all seven members of the group — who are expected to return from a break in 2025 — have either enlisted or are preparing to enlist.

Watch the “Standing Next to You” remix video below.

15 Dec 2023

Keyshia Cole to Headline ‘Love Hard’ National Tour

Keyshia Cole, whose slate of hits includes “Love,” “Let It Go,” “Heaven Sent” and “I Remember,” will headline the forthcoming “Love Hard” tour. Joining the singer/songwriter on the 24-market trek is fellow Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Trey Songz with featured guests Jaheim and K. Michelle.

Presented in partnership with the Black Promoters Collective (BPC), the Love Hard tour will kick off Feb. 22 in Macon, Georgia. Stops along the way include Atlanta, Chicago, Brooklyn,  Houston, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, before the tour wraps in Southaven, Mississippi on April 14.
In a press release, Cole said, “I am beyond excited to announce the Love Hard tour and to be collaborating with the Black Promoters Collective. This tour is a true labor of love and I’m looking forward to connecting with my fans, sharing new memories and healing through music.”

Noted BPC president Shelby Joyner, “Keyshia Cole ignited the music scene with a passion in R&B reminiscent of the soul singers of the past. Her captivating tone and lyrical prowess instantly drew me in. I am thrilled to join forces with her on the Love Hard tour, where the legacy of soulful storytelling continues to unfold.”

Earlier this year, Cole’s life and career were spotlighted in the Lifetime-produced scripted biopic Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story. Presently working on her eighth studio album, the Grammy-nominated artist is also featured on the soundtrack for the upcoming theatrical musical The Color Purple and on an anticipated collaboration with Nicki Minaj and Monica for the deluxe version of Minaj’s The Pink Print 2 album.

Songz notched his first Hot 100 top 10 with “Say (Aah)” featuring Fabolous in 2010. The Grammy-nominated singer’s other hits include “Bottoms Up” featuring Nicki Minaj, “Can’t Be Friends,” “I Invented Sex” featuring Drake and “Neighbors Know My Name.”  Fellow Grammy-nominated artist Jaheim is known for fan faves such as “Put That Woman First,”  “Fabulous” and “Ain’t Leavin’ Without You.”  And K. Michelle, the singer-songwriter behind songs such as “Love ‘Em All,” “V.S.O.P.” and “Can’t Raise a Man,” scored a No. 1 Adult R&B Airplay hit last year with “Scooch.” The latter song is from Michelle’s self-proclaimed final R&B album, I’m the Problem.

Tickets for the Love Hard tour will be available to the general public today (Dec. 15) at 10 a.m. local time here.

14 Dec 2023

Megan Thee Stallion & Reneé Rapp Are Cold, Shiny, Hard Plastic on ‘Not My Fault’: Stream It Now

So you agree? You think Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion are really pretty?

On Friday (Dec. 15), the pop singer and rap icon joined forces to release “Not My Fault,” their hotly anticipated new collaboration off the soundtrack of the forthcoming Mean Girls remake. Sampling an audio clip from the original 2004 film — in which Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) yells at her best friend Janis (Lizzy Caplan) that “it’s not my fault that you’re, like, in love with me or something” — Reneé and Megan flex their “hot girl” status throughout this slick dance track.

Rapp kicks things off with a “steal your girl” approach to the song, insisting, “It’s not my fault/ You came with her but she might leave with me.” As the singer ratchets up the sexual tension (she casually asks “can a gay girl get an amen?” in the song’s second verse), Megan jumps in to boast her accolades. “B—h so bad, dudes thought I was A.I., ballin’ like eight/ Stick to the motherf—in’ money like a stapler, stack like Jenga,” she spits in her verse. “It’s funny how the mean girl open all the doors/ I been told y’all, I’m the Black Regina George.”

“Not My Fault” was first announced by Megan earlier this week via a post on Rapp’s Instagram account. In a teaser clip, the “Cobra” rapper announced that she and the “Snow Angel” singer had “a new song coming out for Mean Girls.” Rapp then subsequently posted the cover art for the new single, showing the pair baring it all in a room filled with plastic mannequins. “meg told me to put my a– out so I put my a– out,” Rapp wrote about the art on X.

Rapp stars in the Mean Girls reboot as the queen bee of North Shore High School Regina George, reprising her role from the Broadway musical on which the film is partially based. The film arrives in theaters on Jan. 12.

Check out Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Not My Fault” below:

14 Dec 2023

Joshua Ray Walker Reveals Colon Cancer Battle, Sets Surgery Date

Texas singer-songwriter Joshua Ray Walker has revealed he is battling colon cancer and will be undergoing surgery in January. Walker, who released his album What Is It Even? earlier this year, took to social media on Thursday (Dec. 14) to update fans on his health battle.

“I have been dealing with some health issues this year that have made my quality of life on the road and off pretty brutal lately,” he wrote. “Even though my prognosis isn’t what I would have hoped for, it is a huge relief to have some answers and a course of action moving forward. Basically, my doctors have found a localized cancer in my colon, and I will be undergoing surgery to remove part of my colon on January, 3rd. Luckily, we found it early, and it’s likely I’ll make a full recovery without further treatment. This is great news, but I will need to take a few months off after the surgery to recover.”

In September, Walker opened two concerts for The Killers but soon was forced to cancel some of his shows in October after being diagnosed with appendicitis. Walker recorded those live performances opening for The Killers and released the humorously titled live project I Opened for The Killers and All I Got Was Appendicitis in October.

“This is deeply disappointing and frustrating, but I’ve consulted with my doctors and I have been advised that after some setbacks during the healing process I need more time to rest before getting back on the road,” Walker said in an Instagram post announcing those show cancellations earlier this year.

In his new post, Walker also revealed that he will release a new song, “Thank You for Listening,” at midnight and shared a performance video of the song.

“I’ve had the idea for ‘Thank You For Listening’ for a while now, but it has definitely been colored by what’s been happening in my life throughout the process of creating it,” he said in the social media post. “What started as a simple “thank you” to my fans, ended up having a much deeper meaning, including my mortality, but this is in no way a goodbye. I’m going to fight with everything I have, and my odds are great. All I ask is for your patience and healing thoughts during this time.”

He also thanked his fans for supporting his music and standing by him.

“I can’t believe what I’ve been able to accomplish because of your support,” Walker said. “That is what this song is about. I would have written songs and continued to play them to empty bar rooms forever, but because of you I’ve been able to accomplish more than I ever could have dreamed. I still can’t believe that people want to hear my songs. So “Thank You For Listening”, and we’ll get through this together. This song is for you. Love y’all!”

Walker released his debut full-length album, Wish You Were Here, in 2019. He followed with 2020’s Glad You Made It and 2021’s See You Next Time. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2022. His album What Is It Even? featured Walker covering hits made famous by several female pop artists, including “Cuz I Love You” (Lizzo), “Halo” (Beyonce), “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” (Whitney Houston), and “Joshua” (Dolly Parton).

See Walker’s post below:

14 Dec 2023

Pennsylvania Reps Name 2023 the State’s Taylor Swift Era

Pennsylvania is in its Taylor Swift era — legally!

On the multi-Grammy winner’s birthday (Dec. 13), a resolution from the state’s House of Representatives voted 103-100 to name 2023 as the Taylor Swift era in the singer’s home state, according to Associated Press.

The resolution noted Swift as a person who “transcended the role of pop star,” adding that she “shines as a role model of courage, self acceptance and self-determination, persisting in the face of personal and professional obstacles and challenges.”

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Swift celebrated her own birthday by gifting fans with the digital release of her Eras Tour film on Wednesday, writing on Instagram: “I had the time of my life fighting dragons with youuuu. Celebrate 34 with me by watching The Eras Tour (Extended Version) including ‘Long Live,’ ‘The Archer’ and ‘Wildest Dreams’ at home!” To finish her message — which included emojis for each song title — Swift wrote, “PS troll me all you want about my excessive and literal millennial emoji use but A) no one’s prouder to be a millennial and B) it’s my bday and today I am exempt!”

She also threw a star-studded birthday party with her celebrity friends including Blake Lively, Zoë Kravitz, HAIM, Gigi Hadid, Antoni Porowski, Sabrina Carpenter, Jack Antonoff and more.

14 Dec 2023

Kodak Black “Facetime Hiding,” Doe Boy & Benny The Butcher “Bad Days” & More | Daily Visuals 12.14.23

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Last week Kodak Black was pinched by authorities in Florida after police found him in possession of Percocet and cocaine, and while he awaits the consequences over the incident the man isn’t stopping from dropping off new work for his faithful followers.

Coming through with some new visuals to “Facetime Hiding,” KB hops in a whip with his team riding beside him and strolls through the streets of Florida before hitting a pool party where some voluptuous young women welcome him to the wet and wild soiree.

Back up North, Doe Boy and Benny The Butcher connect for a block banger and in their clip to “Bad Days” the two hold down the streets in the dead of night and let the street lights show just how the ice around their persons glisten when at the proper angle. Impressive.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from JayDaYoungan featuring Boona, 4side Bg, and more.

KODAK BLACK – “FACETIME HIDING”



DOE BOY & BENNY THE BUTCHER – “BAD DAYS”



JAYDAYOUNGAN FT. BOONA – “UP 2 ME”


https://youtube.com/watch?v=dVEnpr_mZgQ&version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

4SIDE BG – “NYC 4SS FREESTYLE”



MECHANIC T.I.D – “BOSS MAN”



TRIPPIE REDD – “1716 OSAGE”



LIL FLIP – “WORTHING WESLEY”



KALAN.FRFR – “AIN’T NOTHING”



14 Dec 2023

Billie Eilish & Kate McKinnon Spread Christmas Cheer in New ‘SNL’ Promo

Kate McKinnon and Billie Eilish are feeling festive leading up to their Saturday Night Live episode this weekend (Dec. 16), and the duo chatted with Ego Nwodim about some of their favorite things about the holiday season.

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While Eilish and Nwodim gushed over holiday lights and decorations, McKinnon chimed in with her unusual festive favorite activity. “The hibernal solstice,” the comedian shared. “When the Earth strays furthest from the sun, shrouding us in darkness.”

With Nwodim offering the Rockefeller Tree instead of McKinnon’s dark thought, and Eilish suggesting that ice skating rinks make the season bright, the SNL alum shared how much she loves the “Yule alter, the root vegetables, the birthday of the unconquered Sun God Mithra — and, of course, candy canes.”

SNL alum and Barbie star McKinnon — who in the past has delivered hilarious impressions of everyone from Justin Bieber to the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg — returns to Studio 8H to host for the first time on Dec. 16. Eilish, whose song “What Was I Made For?” for the Barbie soundtrack has been nominated for five 2024 Grammy awards — will be the musical guest for the third time.

Saturday Night Live airs on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET, and streams live on Peacock. Watch the new promo video below.