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Now that felony charges against Jussie Smollett‘s have been dropped, some of the folks who publicly abandoned him now have to eat a lil’ crow.
TMZ caught up with Empire regular Tasha Smith and she was none-too-pleased to be held accountable for her public actions.
Peep how spicy she got when asked about not supporting Jussie…
Tasha mad because she got called out for some s#!t SHE said. SMH.
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*Some On My Block and Family Matters spoilers below
Once upon a time, the biggest nerd on T.V. was none other than Steve Urkel.
The character took over the 90s sitcom Family Matters with his unabashed brilliance, his extreme clumsiness and his unweathered love for his next door neighbor Laura Winslow. The nerdy teen, played by Jaleel White, helped the show garner a massive following. Not to mention, Urkel became a franchise phenomenon, complete with his own toy doll and even a cereal brand. Finally, the nerds were getting their shine, and it was a major plus that he was Black.
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However, since the 90s, various incarnations of the Black nerd and nerds of color have popped up and upon further reflection, Steve hasn’t aged as well from when he first hit the scene in 1989.
Netflix’s On My Block is the latest show to portray nerds of color in ways that are a lot more realistic and nuanced than the Urk-man. The show, which begins its second season on March 29, takes place in Freeridge, Los Angeles, a fictional equivalent to the South Central area of L.A. The series follows four friends as they endure the typical woes of being a teenager, while also navigating a neighborhood conflicted by gangs.
Cesar (Diego Tinoco) is the suave teen of the group who finds himself deciding between gang life and an academic future. Monse (Sierra Capri) is the tomboy-ish Afro-Latina who tries to keep everyone together, while also pursuing a romantic relationship with Cesar.
Then there’s Ruby (Jason Genao), whose charming way with words can get him out of the toughest situation (or screw them up). And finally, there’s Jamal (Brett Gray), who’s trying to avoid football at all costs and pursue an urban legend of big money buried in his neighborhood.
The show balances heavy topics of gun violence, absent parents, and teen romance with an intelligent humor that’s typical of nerd characters. However, whereas shows like Family Matters thrived off the damaging attributes of nerd-iness, On My Block opts for a more complex route.
For example, watching Family Matters as an adult, one might start to realize…
Steve was kind of trash.
Although he was brilliant, Urkel wreaked a lot of havoc in the Winslow’s life with little to no accountability. He destroyed property, he constantly intruded on family business, and he often sabotaged relationships the Winslows had with other people. In many instances, he even put their lives in danger, especially Carl, the father of the family.
For example, in one episode, Carl was gracious enough to teach Steve how to drive after much resistance and after he learned that his blood pressure was high. Of course, in the midst of their lesson, Steve doesn’t listen to Carl, and he ends up backing into Carl’s garage door, destroying loads of property and putting Carl’s life in danger.
Ultimately, the blame is put on Carl for not managing his anger and for not following his doctor’s orders. Little attention is shown to Steve’s recklessness or inability to listen. On top of this, there’s no reference to whether Steve financially reimburses the Winslows for the damage he causes. We just assume a middle class family can repair their garage, no sweat. All is well in the end, and Steve is still tolerated.
Now I know what you’re thinking…this might be a little too much digging for one episode of a sitcom. However, the formula is repeated constantly throughout the series to the point where a once enjoyable character can become a complete nuisance when watching as an adult.
On My Block creates the opposite effect. The nerd-ness is vast and usually doesn’t incite terror or undeserved sympathy. These teens are held accountable to each other. They protect each other when necessary and call each other out when someone messes up.
Cesar is arguably a scholastic nerd, yet he still gets caught up in the violence of gang life, something his three friends try to get him out of.
Monse is an awkward girl, who might have some tomboy ways, but she’s still able to explore her sexuality without any proverbial shame.
Ruby is a brilliant teen who still has family responsibilities, but makes time to pursue his love interest Olivia…and even his pursuit seems healthier than the ways Steve pursued Laura. While Steve smothers Laura with his presence and might try to sabotage her relationship with other guys, Ruby listens to Olivia and treads lightly if it’s conveyed that he’s getting too intense.
Jamal also portrays a more realistic journey of a nerd. While Steve was unapologetic about being an unconventional Black man, Jamal had to put on an athletic mask so he wouldn’t disappoint his parents. It was only by the end of a later episode that Jamal decided to be true to himself and tell his parents that he didn’t like football. Amazingly, they accepted it, letting other nerds out there know that outside pressures are real but in the end, staying true can have wonderful results.
In 2019, high waters and glasses no longer signal the makings of a nerd who should get our laughs or emotional investment. Instead, nerds of color can now be complex characters with real issues, societal pressures and jeans that sit comfortably below their navels.
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Khloe Kardashian showed off a Diana Ross-inspired look for the legend’s birthday that’s getting her dragged by her Toyokalon tendrils.
Khloe popped up at L.A.’s Warwick Nightclub where Dianna was having a star-studded 75th birthday party.
And while guests like Diddy (and his mom) and Gabrielle Union showed up like this…
Source: Hollwood To You/Star Max /Contributor / Getty
Source: Hollwood To You/Star Max /Contributor / Getty
Khloe popped up with a flammable fro in tow.
Source: Hollwood To You/Star Max /Contributor / Getty
Now mind you the evening did have a disco theme—-but is Khloe over the line for her cultural appropriating Kanekalon???
Source: Hollwood To You/Star Max /Contributor / Getty
Twitter thinks so…
See more reactions on the flip.
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Source: Hollwood To You/Star Max /Contributor / Getty
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Source: Hollwood To You/Star Max /Contributor / Getty
Source: Hollwood To You/Star Max /Contributor / Getty
Source: SPW / Splash News
All of Hollywood’s Who’s Who was at the Warwick Club on Tuesday night to salute Supreme Soul Queen Diana Ross for her 75th birthday and Diddy’s daughters even got their chance to shine by dancing at the big event.
Chance and the twins also posted about their great night.
Beyoncé also serenaded the Queen on her special day.
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Disagreements on what counts as country music has swept the music world due to the viral sensation Lil Nas X and his song “Old Town Road.”
The song combines banjo sounds with Nas X’s country twang delivery. However, all of this is over a knocking trap beat.
According to Rolling Stone, Nas X released the track in December and intentionally targeted country circles. Danny Kang, who co-manages another viral country sensation, Mason Ramsey, explained Nas X’s song strategy after Kang and his team reached out to Nas X in December.
“On SoundCloud, he listed it as a country record,” Kang told Rolling Stone. “On iTunes, he listed it as a country record. He was going to these spaces, gaining a little bit of traction on their country charts, and there’s a way to manipulate the algorithm to push your track to the top. That’s favorable versus trying to go to the rap format to compete with the most popular songs in the world.”
Apparently, Nas X’s strategy worked. “Old Town Road” debuted on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart, the cross-genre Hot 100 chart AND the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also became a hit on TikTok, the app that lets users create short video clips set to music.
Despite the song’s success, Billboard wasn’t feeling its placement on the country chart. They removed “Old Town Road” from Hot Country Songs and told Nas X’s label, Columbia Records, that the song’s inclusion on the ranking was a mistake. An insider to the matter told Rolling Stone:
“Upon further review, it was determined that ‘Old Town Road’ by Lil Nas X does not currently merit inclusion on Billboard‘s country charts. When determining genres, a few factors are examined, but first and foremost is musical composition. While ‘Old Town Road’ incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery, it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version.”
The insider went on to say that race had nothing to do with “Old Town Road” being knocked off the country chart.
However, this can be hard to imagine, considering Billboard has a history of taking race into account when charting songs. For example, Billboard‘s R&B chart was once titled “race music,” while their Latin songs chart lumps a number of genres and languages together into one ethnic umbrella.
Even country radio hasn’t been too inviting to “Old Town Road.” The song recently hit radio, and according to Rolling Stone, Radio Disney Country is the only country station that plays the song.
This brings to question the freedom of songs to genre bend before they hit mainstream. While iTunes and SoundCloud might have allowed Nas X’s country tags, it seems bigger machines like Billboard and radio aren’t supporting it.
When race comes into the mix, it becomes ironic, considering many of country’s forefathers were Black artists like DeFord Bailey and Lesley “Esley” Riddle.
If a song has substantial guitar inclusion, storytelling themes and a country vocal delivery, shouldn’t that be enough to get the country tag…or are the trap beats too much?
It brings to mind country-tinged hip hop songs like Nelly‘s “Ride With Me” or even Outkast‘s “Rosa Parks.” Neither song hit the country charts, but in retrospect, would they do well in country circles if they didn’t have to strictly go through radio?
Even Young Thug brought the country feels recently with his song “Family Don’t Matter” in 2017.
An argument can be made for having metrics for traditional country music. But there also could be an opportunity for music to reach new audiences if songs weren’t limited to one genre. Country fans could witness Lil Nas X on the Hot Country Songs chart and open their horizon on the possibilities of not just country music but also rap. It could make way for a progressive sound that country lovers can either take or leave, depending on their standards.
Lil Nas X seemed to have this vision in mind with a tweet he made back in December…
He also seemed to be saddened by the news of his song being bumped from the Hot Country Songs chart…
Hit the next page to find out what people are saying about Nas X being removed from the Billboard country chart, and let us know what you think of the genre-bending track!
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Wendy Williams is keeping up a face that says everything is all good even though it appears that her life is crumbling and she’s in need of serious help.
TMZ caught her “leaving pilates” and asked about her health and if she would be seeing the new baby that Kevin Hunter just had with another woman. Wendy’s response was essentially a good look at the infinity stone-sized ring on her finger.
Peep the video below. Do you think Wendy looks ok?
Be honest. Don’t hold back.
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Isn’t she SOOOOO CUTE?! Ray J couldn’t resist sharing a video of his baby girl today. The tot was taking professional photos in a fancy dress, maybe preparing for her upcoming b-day?
At almost one-year-old, Melody has the model stare down! She was so good, she left her papa speechless.
“Look at my baby — so beautiful. Words can’t express the love.”
Melody Norwood and her famous parent are fresh off of a Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards appearance so her’s schedule’s been hectic. How cute!
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It’s been a rough couple of years Dee Barnes. The former rapper and journalist, who infamously accused Dr. Dre of beating and dragging her back in 1991, recently revealed that she is now officially homeless. In an interview with HipHopDx, Barnes shared,
“I had never asked for public help before, but I then remembered a long time ago while I was going through the assault trial in 1991 people were sending me checks for my legal fees. I never cashed any of them — not one — but knowing I had that support kept me strong enough to continue to face each court date. Right now, I am officially homeless. My goal with the campaign is to regain stability, which is imperative for survivors of any trauma.”
Dee, who became the first female hip-hop journalist to have a broadcast television show, created a GoFundMe asking folks to help her with her then pending eviction.
The account reads:
“Standing in our own truth not the definitions or the expectations is powerful, and this is my TRUTH…Yes, I did post the link to my PayPal, CashApp and GooglePay accounts asking for help because I am in the process of being evicted. This page was created as an emergency fund to stop the process and the subsequent legal fees. Even though I am facing extreme financial hardship, I keep my head up.”
So far, the GoFundMe has exceeded the $5,000 mark with a current total of $7,316. Prayers up for you, sis! If you wish to donate to the cause, you can do so here.
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This week, two major artists dared to convey something that can seem obsolete in a money-fueled entertainment industry…
I need a break.
Big Sean kicked off the self-care message on his 31st birthday with a series of revealing and inspirational Instagram posts. In the first video, Sean explained that by this time last year, he wasn’t felling like himself, and he couldn’t figure out why:
“So what I did was, I stepped back from everything I was doing, everything I had going on because somewhere in the middle of it, I just felt lost.”
When Sean realized his regular meditation wasn’t working, he decided to seek professional help.
“I got a good therapist. I was blessed enough to talk to some super spiritual people, and they made me realize one thing that I was missing in my life, and one thing that I was missing was clarity.”
After not finding what he needed from friends and family, Sean said he started rolling solo for a while to rediscover himself:
“I started doing things by myself, doing things I never thought I’d do, like going skydiving or whatever I thought was fun, just doing it. In the midst of that, I definitely rediscovered myself and found a whole new energy, and me being the source of it and not somebody else. Then I started getting back to making the music, and it started being fun again. I’m making the best music of my life.”
Justin Bieber is also team take-a-break, considering a lengthy Instagram post he made to fans demanding an album from him:
“I’ve toured my whole teenage life, and early 20s, I realized… and as you guys probably saw, I was unhappy last tour and I don’t deserve that, and you don’t deserve that, you pay money to come and have a lively energetic fun light concert, and I was unable emotionally to give you that near the end of the tour.”
Bieber, who recently married Hailey Baldwin, then went on to say that he’s taking time off to focus on his family and to finally handle “deep-rooted issues.” The Biebs says that his trust in himself and his trust in God will get him through this new phase in his life:
“Music is very important to me, but nothing comes before my family and my health. I will come with a kick a$$ album ASAP, my swag is undeniable and my drive is indescribable, his love is supernatural his grace is that reliable…. the top is where I reside period, whether I make music or not, the king said so. But I will come with a vengeance believe that.”
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A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on Mar 25, 2019 at 12:18pm PDT
To say it’s refreshing to watch artists take a break would be an understatement.
Though the music helps many of us endure our own hectic lives, burnout is real amongst the famous and talented too. It’s only right that they reach their best selves, especially if they continue sharing their art with the world.
The Biebs and Big Sean aren’t the first to speak about mental health breaks either. Hit the next pages for more quotes from artists who desperately needed some time off.
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An infuriated Arby’s manager has been arrested after shooting and killing one of their unruly customers.
According to the report from Tulsa Worldwide, Deionna Young, 25, was arrested in the shooting death of Desean Tallent, 25, in east Tulsa on Saturday evening. Police say that Tallent and Young got into an altercation Saturday evening about an hour before the shooting, according to a news release. Young was the manager at the Arby’s, where Tallent threatened and assaulted her by spitting on her.
About an hour after the initial altercation, Tallent, the unruly customer RETUNED to the location. Why?!
Police said Young got in her car and followed Tallent out of the parking lot north on Garnett Road from the store. Young reportedly fired one shot with a .45-caliber handgun, which was not licensed, at Tallent’s SUV and returned to work.
Tallent drove the SUV north to Walmart where he crashed into one of the entrances after having suffered a gunshot wound to his upper torso. He later died at the hospital.
Young is being held without bond at Tulsa County jail.
Insane!
Source: Jesse Grant / Getty
Issa Rae, Lena Waithe, Yara Shahidi, Nadeska Alexis, and Karena Evans are some of the most notable Black women shaping our media landscape today. They all came together at Complex Con in a conversation moderated by another influential voice, Jemele Hill, to discuss the valleys and peaks of life as a notable professional in entertainment.
Check out the panel below as these Hollywood power players share insight surrounding hurdles to success, navigating the industry, balancing personal life, and more.
Tammy Rivera and Waka Flocka Flame have had lots of ups and downs in their relationship over the years but the superstar couple has still managed to put their love and friendship first. Waka and Tammy stopped to respond to some of the wildest headlines BOSSIP has written about them and their marriage — and of course, the “Marriage Boot Camp” stars kept it all the way 100.
The couple also gushed on their recent vow renewal ceremony in Mexico which we’ll all get to see when “Waka & Tammy Tie the Knot” airs Thursday, March 28 at 8pm ET/PT on WE tv.
Check out the video above.
