Normani

Source: Splash News / Splash News

Last week, Normani had folks buzzing with her colorful music video for her song “Motivation.” With the 2000s references, the bonkers choreography and the joyous vibes, many people had nothing but praise for the rising star.

Not too soon after the video was released, fans couldn’t help but zone in on a particular scene where Normani effortlessly bounces a ball off her knee, onto her butt, then into a helpless nearby pedestrian.

It was epic.

Peep the magic again at the 1:55 mark below.

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Now granted, the chances of Normani mastering such a move is highly unlikely. I mean….she could, considering her high level of athleticism and overall slayage. But some neat editing tricks could’ve done the job.

Regardless of whether the move was real life or music video magic, of course, folks on the Internet tried the stunt and for some people, it didn’t go too well.

Some people didn’t even bother playing with balls and chose another medium to demonstrate their craft.

Wigs went flying.

Then, there were those who hoped the challenge would move in a new direction…like using their hind parts to dribble the ball.

But finally, someone executed the challenge with skill, despite a sloppy presentation.

T.V. host Hunter March had to stunt in front of eeeveryone and bounce the ball into a nearby net.

Show off.

Normani seemed to be here for it.

*Sigh,* competition over.

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FILM 'THE MATRIX' BY ANDY AND LARRY WACHOWSKI

Source: Ronald Siemoneit / Getty

The Matrix is making a comeback and most of the all-star players are involved (thankfully!).

According to Variety, Lana Wachowski will write and direct the upcoming Matrix 4. Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss will also be reprising their roles of Neo and Trinity.

The flick will be produced and globally distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures. The chairman of Warner Bros. Picture Group, Toby Emmerich, explained on Tuesday:

“We could not be more excited to be re-entering ‘The Matrix’ with Lana. Lana is a true visionary—a singular and original creative filmmaker—and we are thrilled that she is writing, directing and producing this new chapter in ‘The Matrix’ universe.”

Along with Wachowski, Aleksandar Hemon and David Mitchell will also serve as writers. Wachowski is also producing with Grant Hill. Sources say the movie is set to start production in the beginning of 2020.

The three previous Matrix films — The Matrix, The Matrix: Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions — made a combined profit of more than $1.6 billion at the global box office. All three were written and directed by Lana and her sister, Lilly Wachowski.

“Many of the ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality are even more relevant now. I’m very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends,” Lana Wachowski said.

We’ll keep you posted as more info surfaces!

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Jay-Z Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of "Reasonable Doubt" - Inside

Source: Shareif Ziyadat / Getty

Irv Gotti Says NFL Made Jay-Z Look Like A Pawn

The heated conversation surrounding Jay-Z latest business venture with the NFL is still ringing off in every corner of the entertainment industry and even those who have long-standing relationships with Mr. Z are speaking their piece publicly.

PageSix caught up with Murder Inc. head honcho Irv Gotti and asked him what he thought of the move and he didn’t mince any words about the man he calls “brother”:

While he said that he hopes that the hip-hop idol is planning to improve the league from the inside, Gotti told Page Six, “To sit there and watch Jay talk [at their recent, widely publicized meeting] while Roger Goodell is sitting there quiet, it almost looks like the NFL manufactured and manipulated Jay to be the front and face of the bulls–t, knowing Jay is so powerful that he can make people forget about [Kaepernick and others] kneeling.”

Gotti called it “a brilliant move for the NFL” and added, “If it was a masterminded plan, then you just used Hov for a masterminded plan and made him look like a pawn in this whole f–king thing.” He added that he’s willing to see how it plays out before making a final judgment on it.

Despite the sometimes harsh criticism, most reasonable people seem to be willing to give the deal a chance to play out and see what Jay comes up with.

tameka foster

Source: amanda edwards / Getty

Many may know Tameka Foster as a stylist to the stars and Usher Raymond‘s ex-wife — but contrary to popular belief the entrepreneur has much more to offer the world. Foster and her sons have developed an animated series in honor of her late son, Kile Glover, who passed away in 2012 after a tragic jet ski incident.

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The series, entitled THE ODD LIFE OF KILE LYLES, is a ten episode 3D animated show that centers around Kile, a young boy living a normal life by day and saving the world before bedtime. We spoke with Tameka about her upcoming project and she didn’t hold anything back — especially when it comes to public support (or lack thereof).

“The hardest part about crowdfunding is that people will click and like something, but won’t donate. If each one of my 148,000 followers would donate as little as a dollar, the first episode would be funded.”

Before deciding to fund the first episode herself, Tameka met with folks at Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon (Kile’s favorite channels), and neither network fully understood the vision of what Tameka had in mind for The Odd Life.

“I don’t think they’re ready for this. I sat with Nickelodeon and I love them, but they don’t even have programs that’s even along the lines of what I’m doing. This is a little bit next level.”

So the passionate mom is taking the 2019 creative route, and relying on her fans and followers to support the project. But things haven’t been smooth sailing for the momtrepreneur.

“I feel like there’s a stigma about me because of [Usher]. People see me a certain way because of my ex husband. They think I’m just this rich person that doesn’t need anything. It costs $140,000 to make one episode and $1.4 million to do the whole season. [The campaign] has been up for two weeks, and we still haven’t met our goal. It’s a little discouraging. 3D animation is expensive.”

There’s not much representation of young, Black children in animation, which makes Tameka Foster ahead of the curve. The Odd Life Of Kile Lyles isn’t just an animated series, neither.

“There will be lots of teachable moments. We’re gonna touch on current issues. Like immigration. Kile’s best friend in the show is a girl name dream. People tease her and make fun of her name, and then she has to explain to them that her name is dream because her family were dreamers who dreamed of a better life in America.”

You can support The Odd Life Of Kyle Liles by sharing the link and donating at IndieGogo.com.  Hit the flip to see what else Ms. Foster had to say.

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Cookie don’t play that, but you already knew that…

Cookie Lyon’s Best Clapbacks

Empire’s leading lady has had some caustic comments over the years and the results have been hilarious. For five seasons now we’ve seen Empire’s Empress Cookie Lyon ether people with her words and luckily for you there’s a compilation available of her best lines.

Watch Cookie give out some tongue lashings above.

Season 6 of “Empire” premieres on FOX Tuesday, September 24 at 9 p.m. and will include Vivica A. Fox, Keesha Sharp, and actress/singer Diamond White.

50 Cent Wendy Williams

Source: Pascal Le Segretain/Santiago Felipe / Getty

What happened to the strap???

Wendy Williams Attended 50’s Tycoon Party

Wendy Williams was indeed allowed into 50 Cent’s party despite Fif’s shady behavior behind the scenes. As previously reported 50 told the world that he pettily kept Wendy out of his Tycoon party at Barcode in New Jersey and posted “B*TCH wait outside” hinting that he had security turn her away at the door.

According to TMZ however, hot girl Wendy didn’t have any issues getting into the party and walked right in alongside her son Kevin Jr. Sources told them that Wendy took little Kevin to the party to meet his icon Snoop Dogg for his 19th birthday.

Wendy and little Kev were reportedly escorted into the party by the Elizabeth, NJ police department and never interacted with 50. TMZ adds that Wendy stayed for about 20 minutes, got little Kevin a pic with Snoop and left to get food.

Nice try Fif!

WHO couldn’t get into 50 Cent’s party???

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - Season 5

Source: NBC / Getty

Gabrielle Union might find love outside her race thanks to a new flick she’s producing and starring in.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Union is partnering with writer and director Chester Tam for a new untitled romantic comedy that follows the relationship of a newly single African-American woman and a recently divorced Asian-American man.

Tam, who’s known for writing and directing the Netflix movie Take the 10, is also set to write and direct this movie. Though details are still limited, the story is supposed to show how a drunken one-night stand leads to a secret relationship that eventually goes public. The friends and family of the two leads are filled with surprise considering their dating history. The story is said to be inspired by a real-life relationship Tam experienced.

Union will produce with Holly Shakoor Fleischer alongside Tam and Trevor Engelson. There’s no word yet on who will play Union’s Asian-American love interest.

Screen Gems is the company behind the film. They secured the spec script that Union has been developing with Tam for more than a year now.

Some folks pointed out that this isn’t the first time a Gabrielle Union character has been in a relationship with a Asian-American guy. In the 2009 ABC sci-fi show Flashforward, Union’s character Zoey Andata was in a romantic relationship with John Cho‘s Demetri Noh.

Naturally, fans of Flashforward are hoping that Cho will get the lead role in this Chester Tam flick.

Union definitely wasn’t opposed to the idea.

We’ll find out what happens!

Until then, if you want a taste of Tam’s past work, you can check out his flick Take the 10 on Netflix.

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Eric Garner's Family Reacts To NYPD Decision About Police Officer Pantaleo

Source: Kena Betancur / Getty

Earlier this afternoon, NYPD Commissioner James O’Neil announced that Daniel Pantaleo, the officer who put Eric Garner in a lethal chokehold more than FIVE years ago, has finally been terminated.

“The unintended consequence of Mr. Garner’s death must have a consequence of its own,” Mr. O’Neill announced. “Therefore I agree with the deputy commissioner of trial’s legal findings and recommendations. It is clear that Daniel Pantaleo can no longer effectively serve as a New York City police officer.”

“During the struggle, Officer Pantaleo had the opportunity to readjust his grip from a prohibited chokehold to a less lethal alternative, but did not make use of that opportunity,” he continued during the press conference. “Instead, even once Mr. Garner was moved to his side on the ground with his left arm behind his back and his right hand still open and extended, Officer Pantaleo kept his hands clasped and maintained the chokehold. Mr Garneer’s obvious distress is confirmed when he coughs and grimaces.”

In the same breath, however, O’Neil still blamed Garner and showed sympathy to Pantaleo.

As we all know, Eric Garner’s death gave rise to the Black Lives Matter movement, and as Rev. Al Shaprton pointed out today although we are somewhat relieved we are not celebratory. See the Rev and Eric Garner’s family react to the news in the video clip below.

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Plus, reactions from Black Twitter on the flip.

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Ruff Ryders And Friends - Reunion Tour - Past, Present And Future

Source: John Lamparski / Getty

Let’s face it…

DMX‘s voice will forever be stamped in hip hop history thanks to his signature catch phrases (“WHAT!”), impromptu growling and off-kilter cover songs. Even in 2019, people are still celebrating a memorable moment from his 2000 hit, “What They Really Want” featuring Sisqo. 

Right off of DMX’s 1999 album And Then There Was X, the song has a signature breakdown in the second verse when DMX lists all the women he’s supposedly had a fling with.

And the list is looooong.

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Considering all these ladies came with their own personalities, some women on the Internet thought it would be fun to match a different hairstyle with the names of the ladies DMX listed. Whether braids, short cuts or a colorful wig, there’s clearly multiple hairstyles to match with Brenda, LaTisha, Linda, Felicia, and all the rest of them.

Thus, the #DMXChallenge was born.

Some folks didn’t even limit the challenge to hair. Full get-ups were showcased thanks to DMX’s varying tastes.

Black women were getting all the praise for showcasing their many styles of beauty. I mean truly, if anyone can pull off any look, it’s most likely a Black woman.

But of course, when some people saw the #DMXChallenge, they thought it was going to be something totally different….like a detailed montage of growling dogs.

But in the end, there were those who were just thankful for the inspiration Black women were serving.

Thank you Black women, DMX, and the ladies who dealt with him.

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Roc Nation And NFL Announce Partnership

Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty

Jay-Z turned the world on its head by deciding to join up with the NFL for social justice initiatives and to help dictate what the league will be doing for its halftime shows. The decision has split the entire country in half with some people thinking Jay’s move is shrewd and the others are calling him a sell out.

As the days have passed and details have spilled out, the criticisms have only grown. Now it’s coming out that he may have told Jermaine Dupri not to take the deal that he eventually agreed upon (or some version of it). The internet has been ruthless in its slander, too with memes and dragging galore.

Take a look…

…and get ready to argue.

French Montana and Khloe Kardashian

Source: London Entertainment/ SplashNews / Splash News

French Montana Says The Love He Shared With Khloe Kardashian Was Real

French Montana and Khloe Kardashian’s relationship was so on the money that the rapper says they’ll always be friends.

In an interview with Haute Living French talks relationships with Drake, Wiz Khalifa, Chinx Drugz and Khloe — who he says will always be a friend:

“I feel like we had a real dope relationship — there was no bad blood, nobody did something to somebody that we couldn’t come back from,” he revealed to the outlet, adding that the “love” they shared “was real.”

“When the love was like that, it’s always going to be like that,” he said. “Friendship after a relationship is something that’s real hard to do, and I’m glad we’ve been able to do it.”

That’s sweet, right? Well Khloe ain’t worried about nothin right now, least of all her exes. The reality star has been flossing her revenge bawwwdy on Instagram.

Hit the flip to see what we mean.

Her caption read:

♡ This summer I have been focused on ME. Me from within. Mind. Body. Soul. ♡ #focused #peace #strength

Besides daughter True, that’s definitely needs to be where her focus is. And it looks like it’s done the bawwwdy good. We don’t doubt that Khloe puts in work in the gym, but do you think she’s been getting work too? Just food for thought.

Hit the flip for more of revenge bawwwdy Khloe and baby True.

How cute is True? Looks like Khloe is rocking some “French” braids under that hat.

Poor True is gonna be Mom’s favorite dress up doll for awhile.