Just When You Thought She Couldn't Get Any Better...

...Announced via her Facebook page, Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter hits us with a visual album!!!!

Post by Beyoncé.

Who in the music industry has ever done this, E-VER? (In my Kanye voice) Nothing more needs to be written. Prepare for greatness people; there truly are levels to this artful entertainment thang. Go Bey!

The self-titled full visual album is available on iTune right now. Songs can be purchased individually on December 20th.

Waddy Weekend Wrap - Mon 12/9

Nelson Mandela - My condolences go out to the family and friends of Nelson Mandela as well as the people of South Africa and those who passed away fighting alongside him to end apartheid. Although he was the former President of South Africa, his lifelong dedication to the freedom rights of his people transcends across a global spectrum as well as an intergenerational lifeline. After news of his passing began to spread through social media wildfire, I saw several posts from friends disgusted by their child's lack of knowledge. Their child had no idea who Mandela was, let alone what he fought for and continues to stand for. I thought, there is no way our younger generation does not know of Nelson Mandela. To my surprise, when I told my little sister that Nelson Mandela passed away, she asked me, "Who's that!?" All I could do was shake my head in shock. So of course I had to tell her all of what I knew about him. Since the school's aren't teaching it, it's up to us. I don't even know why I was even surprised. My high school didn't even offer African American history until the end of my sophomore year. Forget about the history of any "minority" group who contributed to American history. It's as if no "minorities" are a part of American history unless they're the enemy. RIP Nelson Mandela (1918-2013). I pray for a world where my future children and grandchildren will know all there is to know about their history. "What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice." - Carter Woodson

Soul of Her Shoe - Frankie Darcell of WDAS-FM has implemented a book club as part of her radio presence here in Philadelphia. For the first Book Club Meetup, 3 books were spotlighted including Sunny Anderson's Sunny Kitchen: Real Food for Real Life, Massi J. Smith's Mischievemakers, and Soul of Her Shoe by Okitchy Robertson. Check out the footage from that night.

I read Soul of Her Shoe this past Saturday night. Yup, that's how a 23 year old single young woman spent her Saturday night and it was fabulous! Soul of Her Shoe introduces 8 women all described as different types of shoes based on their personalities. There's the stiletto (diva), slipper (lazy), sneaker (hood rat), pump (mysterious), clog (bitter), and the boot (b**ch), along with the flip flop and sandal. Aside from some of the repetitiveness in the presentation of each shoe, it was a very good read, a real page-turner. Robertson is planning to continue the book into a 3-part trilogy series. I'm interested to see if she'll transform it into a play. As I was reading, I could see the book in visual form. I will say though, I didn't find myself relating to any of the characters; I'd describe myself more as a wedge, a mix between a flat and a heel, a combination of sporty and girly. LOL! Loved the book!

Call Me Crazy, But... - Sevyn Streeter's new EP album Call Me Crazy, But... was released last week. I had the chance to listen to it in whole over the weekend and absolutely loved it! Seven tracks from Sevyn! She reminds me of a mix between Kelly Rowland and Aaliyah, but still her own unique self. I predict a successful musical career from Sevyn. Check out these pics from her release party.

Thanks Drake - In other news, Drake announced his plans to build a recording studio inside Philly's Strawberry Mansion High School. The critics came out quick, asking why Drake didn't decide to contribute something a little more "universal" like books, a library, or even computers to reach more students. Well Drake is in the music industry and he's giving back to the students interested in a field that's often forgotten in conventional schooling, the arts. Some students learn best through music and other art forms. I hope the teachers are able to use it for educational purposes as well as extracurricular fun. Kudos to you Drake, please see this through.

Interview with Filmmaker Michael Dennis

Michael Dennis and Latifah Waddy

I had a chance to interview CEO & Founder of film company ReelBlack, Michael Dennis. He talked extensively about his screenplay, 2Pac is Alive. Stay up to date on the latest from Mike D and ReelBlack here.

Let me know your thoughts. Do you think 2Pac is still alive? Do you think he faked his own death?

Meet Momma Pope

I am super excited about tomorrow night's new episode of Scandal! It airs at 10pm on ABC. #ScandalThursday

Kerry Washington & Khandi Alexander
Hollywood Reporter (ABC/Richards Cartwright; Charley Gallay/Getty Images)

At the end of last week's Scandal, we found out that the president may have shot down an airplane that Olivia's mother was aboard. Furthermore, Olivia's own father , Rowan (played by Joe Morton), may have been behind the entire operation. But who is Momma Pope?

Well, get  ready for a flashback episode to meet Maya Lewis (She never took the Pope name). According to Hollywood Reporter, Khandi Alexander (Treme, CSI: Miami, The Corner, ER) will play the matriarch and Yara Shahidi (Imagine That, Salt) will portray a young Olivia.

Aww, look at the cute, dysfunctional Pope family.

                                  

*Final 4 photos (C) Getty Images: Joe Morton/Rowan Pope (top left), Khandi Alexander/Maya Lewis (top right), Kerry Washington/Olivia Pope (middle center), Yara Shahidi/Young Olivia (bottom center)

Waddy Weekend Wrap (11/1-3/13)

Gabby News - Gabrielle Union is gracefully covering the December issue of Essence Magazine. The Being Mary Jane star just celebrated her 41st birthday this past Tuesday! Speaking of Being Mary Jane, BET re-aired the movie edition Sunday night after Black Girls Rock! 2013. The Being Mary Jane series debuts at the top of the 2014 year on January 7th.

Essence Magazine

Passing on the Cheer - On Saturday, My 6 year old niece participated in her first cheerleading competition ever! Her team did an amazing job! Check out the video for yourself! They came in 1st place! I was more proud to see her joy in cheerleading. Her confidence has truly grown throughout the cheer season and I'm glad she's caught the cheerleading bug!

What a good Hart - Kevin Hart donated 500 computers to local Philadelphia Schools and Recreation Centers. Some computers went to 8 Philly, while the remaining went to rec centers across the country. Hart was at Allen M. Sterne Elementary School Friday afternoon with Mayor Michael Nutter. Word has it, Hart will continue to contribute to his hometown's school district. He said, "I will be involved in building our public school system up and getting it back to a place where we can stick our chest out and say we are Philadelphia, and our school system is doing the right things."

Kevin Hart & Legislative Aide Jason Dawkins at Sterne

Black Girls Rock! 2013 - The 3rd annual Black Girls Rock! aired last night on BET. I had the chance to attend the taping on October 26th with Cappuchino from Philly's Power99. It was PHENOMENAL!

Latifah Waddy

Some of the highlights from the night included the performances from Amber Riley (Glee) and Kelly Rowland ft. Sevyn Streeter, along with Philadelphia's own Patti LaBelle. The Community Activist Celebrant was Ameena Matthews who gave a powerful, true acceptance speech. It was so lengthy that BET had to the cut a lot of it down for the television program. Fortunately, an extended Black Girls Rock will air tomorrow night at 7:30pm on BET. It is a must-watch! Below is a video from our red carpet experience during the night of the taping. Check it out below!

Power99/Latifah Waddy

Waddy Watch: Jonathan and Wayne Lewis of Atlantic Starr

I remember my 10-year-old self helping my mom clean the living room. She'd be vacuuming with the stereo turned up loud. Secret Lovers. Always. When Love Calls. Circles. Send For Me. Those are just some of the songs from legendary R&B group Atlantic Starr that I heard coming from the speakers. I'd shout over the volume, "Mom, turn it down!" Of course she wouldn't. She was in the groove! Now-a-days, as we clean together, both of us attempt to sing the lyrics at the top of our lungs, probably out of tune. Haha! The moral of the story is that Atlantic Starr has some of the most timeless music in R&B history and it's intergenerational.

Recently, I had the chance to interview brothers and Atlantic Starr group members Jonathan and Wayne Lewis. In the video below, they reflect on their past performances, speak on the current state of the music industry, and tell us what we can expect at their upcoming show right here in Philly.

Insight from Filmmaker Charles Murray

Latifah Waddy and Charles Murray

With TV titles like Sons of Anarchy, Criminal Minds and NYPD Blue under his belt, Writer, Producer and Director Charles Murray is certainly one to learn from. I had a chance to sit down with him and he talked about his new film Things Never Said, his parents, and offers some valuable advice. Take a listen to our interview below be sure to catch Things at the AMC Lowes Cherry Hill movie theater as its only playing in our area through Thursday.

Waddy Weekend Wrap (10/18-21/13)

Chargers Cheerleaders - Check out my cheer squad's performance during halftime of the final regular season game! Next up for my girls, competition on Sunday!

Things Never Said - Charles Murray's latest film hit select theaters this weekend. It's a compassionate tale about a married woman yearning for a career as a poet while dealing with life's struggles. The film tackles issues such as domestic abuse, infidelity, low self-esteem, and more. Things is playing at the AMC Lowes Cherry Hill movie theater. Hurry and make a trip to the theater because this indie project is playing in our area until Thursday only. I have to get to the theater to see this film myself. It looks so good! Omari Hardwick and Shanola Hampton star. Check out the trailer below!

Today's the day! - The TLC biopic, CrazySexyCool, premieres on VH1 TONIGHT at 9pm. Lil Mama, Drew Sidora and Keke Palmer headline this cast. Rolling Out Magazine released photos from Palmer's spread. Let's just say, Keke is owning her grown woman! Go 'head girl!

Annie returns - Produced by Jay Z & Will Smith, this modern day remake of the classic orphan tale is slated for a Christmas Day release in 2014. Jamie Foxx and young budding actress Quvenzhane Wallis star in the new project. Smith's daughter Willow was first announced to take on the title role. Instead of being Annie, she told her dad, "How about I just be 10." I'm looking forward to Quvenzhane to tackle Annie.

Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhane Wallis filming Annie in New York (Source: NY Post/Raymond Hall/FilmMagic)

In Film Today

Filmmaker Charles Murray's latest project Things Never Said is now playing at the AMC Loews Cherry Hill movie theater and stars Omari Hardwick and Shanola Hampton. This morning from 11am - 2pm, Murray will offer a filmmaker workshop. Having worked on successful projects like Sons of Anarchy, Criminal Minds, and NYPD Blue, just to name a few, Murray is certainly one to learn from. He's been writing professionally for roughly the last 12 years. Register for the workshop here . The cost is $10. It's all happening at the Art Sanctuary (628 S. 16th Street at Bainbridge).

Charles Murray (Left) and Michael Dennis (Right)

Also happening today, Founder and CEO of ReelBlack, Michael Dennis, will take part in Philly Pitch 2013, a screenplay pitch competition for his own work, 2Pac is Alive, along with 7 other finalists. The finals are at Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom Street) from 3-5pm. Hear Mike's pitch and cheer him on! Admission is free, but registration is highly recommended. Click here to register.

My interviews with both Charles Murray and Michael Dennis are coming soon!

Just Invented The Voice - Matthew and Donald Schuler

I had the pleasure of sitting down with brothers Matthew and Donald "J.I" Schuler (the J.I stands for Just Invented). You may have seen Matthew on this season's NBC The Voice. He made history on the show when he won over all  4 team coaches with his rendition of Young the Giants' Cough Syrup. Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, and Blake Shelton all turned their chairs almost simultaneously within 10 seconds of Matthew's performance! Returning coach Christina won him over. J.I's new EP album Music in Motion was recently released on iTunes. The brothers discuss music, faith, family, J.I's track Send Me Some Love, and Matthew's addiction! Check it all out below!

From left to right: J.I, Latifah Waddy, and Matthew Schuler

           

Be sure to connect with J.I (@DonaldSchulerJr) and Matthew (@MSchulerMusic on Twitter & @Schuuuuler on Instagram) to stay up to date on their work. Catch Matthew on The Voice Monday and Tuesday nights at 8pm on NBC with #TeamXtina.

"The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete"

Jennifer Hudson is making her way back to the big screen in George Tillman Jr.'s The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete. Tillman also directed Soul Food and Notorious. In Mister and Pete, two teenage boys team up on a quest of survival as they are left to fend for themselves after both of their mothers are taken into police custody. The two youngsters attempt to stay out of the path of child protective services in the streets of Brooklyn. From the looks of the trailer, Skylan Brooks and Ethan Dizon put on great introductory performances. Other cast members include Jeffrey Wright (Cadillac Records), Jordin Sparks (Sparkle), and Anthony Mackie who worked with Tillman on Notorious as Tupac Shakur. The film opens in select theaters tomorrow. It's definitely on my weekend watch list. Make it a part of yours. It looks exceptional!

"Waiting" for Adrian

Adrian Marcel just released a black-and-white video for his single "Waiting." I had been waiting for this for a couple of months now ever since I was first introduced to his music back in June. I had the pleasure of attending the 2013 BET Awards to work with Cappuchino of Power99.  In the days leading up to the main event, we were apart of the Radio Remote Room. Artists, actors, and many other influential individuals in the entertainment industry made their way through the room. When BET Music Matters artist Adrian Marcel stopped at our Power99 table for an interview, Cappuchino was able to get him to give us a live sample of his upcoming work. He sang a snippet from his song "Waiting." Check out his live sample in the video I did below. Then watch his new video for "Waiting."

Part 1
Take a look at BET Awards 2013 Radio Remote (Part 2)

MARY Christmas! - LISTEN

I know it's only October, but we're finally getting a taste of Mary J. Blige's new Christmas album.

The first single, her rendition to the classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" definitely puts us in the mood for the holiday season. Take a listen for yourself.

A Mary Christmas is scheduled for release next Tuesday, October 15th. It's never too early for Christmas music in my opinion. I've been listening to Kem's What Christmas Means album since it hit the shelves last October. Speaking of Kem, I hear he's set to re-release his holiday album. What Christmas Means - Deluxe Edition will be available October 29th and will include all 10 original songs with 4 new tracks.

Waddy Weekend Wrap (Oct. 4-7, 2013)

See Beyonce every month next year - Starting today you can purchase Beyonce's 2014 Official Calendar. It's the first calendar for Blue's mommy and comes just in time for the holidays. Check out the centerfold photo below! In case you don't want to buy it online, the calendar will be available for purchase in stores starting Tuesday October 15th.

Photo Credit: Herring & Herring, US Magazine

Kevin Hart + ABC - ABC is working on a half-hour comedy special based on Kevin Hart's stand-up act. The project will focus on a divorced couple attempting to maintain a friendship for the sake of their children. There's no word on if or when the program will air, but ABC is definitely in the works for a pilot. While Hart will not play the lead actor, he's likely to have a recurring role in addition to his executive producing duties.

Filming in The City of Brotherly Love - Philly Writer and Director Jamal Hill is filming his current project right here in our city. Brotherly Love stars KeKe Palmer and Quincy Brown in the lead roles, along with Romeo, Logan Laurice, Macy Gray, Cory Hardrict, Malik Yoba, and Nafessa Williams. Williams also starred in Hill's Streetz which premiered on BET last year. Brotherly Love focuses on 3 brothers living in West Philly, one of whom is a basketball player at Overbrook High School.

CrazySexyCool - Speaking of KeKe Palmer, she's starring in the VH1 biopic documenting one of the biggest girl groups in R&B music, TLC. Palmer will channel Chilli while Drew Sidora and Lil Mama will act as T-Boz and Left Eye, respectively. CrazySexyCool airs Monday October 21st at 9pm on VH1. I am beyond excited for this movie!

   

Get More: TLC, CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story

Eagles #1 in NFC East - Really? Yes, really. Our Philly Eagles defeated the New York Giants Sunday afternoon 36-21 and after this week's NFL results, the Eagles have landed at number 1. #SuperBowlBound


Has D. Woods stumbled upon a "Gold Mine?" - Former Danity Kane member, D. Woods released a video to her new single, Gold Mine. It's never been a secret that D. Woods wanted to pursue a solo career so when DK announced their return on the MTV Video Music Awards Red Carpet, it was no surprise that D. Woods was not a part of the reunion. Check out the video and tell me what you think of her comeback.

"The [Scandal] Storm is Coming"

SCANDAL THURSDAYS ARE ALMOST HERE! Who leaked Olivia and Fitz's affair? How will Olivia handle being the scandal herself? What's her relationship like with her dad? Remember that jaw-dropping shocker on last season's finale!? What's Jake Ballard's real story? There are so many questions that must be answered in this upcoming third season! It all kicks off locally on ABC at 10pm on October 3rd. Can't wait? Check out the promo pics below, appropriately themed "The Storm is Coming."

Scandal cast

Scott Foley as Jake Ballard

Jeff Perry as Cyrus Beene

Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant

Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant

Katie Lowes as Quinn Perkins

Columbus Short as Harrison Wright

Joshua Malina as David Rosen

Darby Stanchfield as Abby Whelan

Guillermo Diaz as Huck

Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope

*All photos courtesy of ABC

J. Cole Brings The Drama!

J. Cole has finally released a video for his latest single "Crooked Smile." I've been waiting for this! Check out the video below. Your emotions will run high! Trust me. My favorite element is that there are no flashy, fast paced, musical performances. It's like a mini drama with the track as background music. It's all about the storyline. I'm not giving away any details, you have to watch it for yourself. Props to J. Cole on his acting skills.

Video (C) 2013 Roc Nation LLC

The Gabrielle Douglas Story

The Gabrielle Douglas biopic is in the works with Lifetime! At the age of 14, gymnast Douglas - with the difficult permission of her mother - chose to leave her family and move to Iowa to train with Coach Liang Chow. Chow lead Douglas to two Olympic Gold medals, becoming the first African American to win an all around Gold medal. She also won a team gold medal.

The TV movie will feature Imani Hakim as the 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Remember Hakim as little Tonya on Everybody Hates Chris? Well, she's all grown up now.

Regina King is slated to play Douglas' mom, Natalie Dawkins, while S. Epatha Merkerson will play her grandmother. It's being said that Douglas herself will make an appearance in the film. Recently, the 17 year old Olympic Champion, left Coach Chow's gym in West Des Moines, Iowa to move to Los Angeles with her family. She's now training on her own and hopes to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Jaheim - Baby Baby Baby!

Jaheim recently debuted the new video for "Baby x3." It's the second single off his album Appreciation Day in stores now. "Baby x3" picks up where his first single, "Age Ain't a Factor," ended; with LisaRaye McCoy, Vivica A. Fox, and Cynthia Bailey all featured. Bailey was cast in "Baby x3" as well and the story's not over just yet. There is sure to be a continuation of this storyline. Do you think Jaheim is making an R&B comeback? Check out both videos for yourself and share your thoughts.

Waddy Weekend Wrap (9/13-15/13)

Frankford Chargers - Our Frankford Chargers 105lbs team took on the Blackhawks Athletic Club for their first night game of the season. Unfortunately, our little guys were defeated. Good news; my cheerleaders did a great job during their halftime routine! Their competition is just around the corner. In football, we take on the Titans next.

Chargers vs. Blackhawks

Robin Thicke Tour - Robin Thicke announced his upcoming Spring 2014 tour with Jessie J and DJ Cassidy. The three will tour across the country from February 21st to March 29th. Although not stopping in Philadelphia, they will be making their way to Camden at the Susquehanna Bank Center on February 21st and Atlantic City at the Borgata on March 2nd. Tickets go on sale to the public this Friday at 10am, but you can win free tickets here.

It's a party, it's a party, it's a party, ehhh - In the weeks leading up to the Mayweather v. Canelo boxing match, everybody and their momma were having or attending fight parties. I went to one with my friends, and my mom and dad went to one with their friends. While we came back telling each other how great the parties were, the same couldn't be said of the fight itself. Mayweather won each of the 12 rounds with no real excitement from either component during the match. Money Mayweather did walk out with Lil Wayne and Justin Beiber. R&B Singer Tank sang the U.S. National Anthem.

"Jersey Strong" - A new reality show from Pivot premiered Saturday night. No, it's not about life after Sandy. The show centers on the lives of two African American women in Newark, NJ. Jayda is a former gang-banger turned community activist and Brooke is a litigation attorney who happens to be lesbian. The two women met when Jayda was on trial for robbery and Jayda successfully defended her. A former member of the Bloods gang, Jayda is engaged to a former Crips gang member. When I first heard of this new reality show, it sounded like a story that's been told before, but from a new, authentic perspective. Belisa Balaban of Pivot said, "Often the stories of our cities are told by outsiders, but this is a view from the inside, told in the voices of people who live this life." I haven't read any reviews since the show premiered; I'm waiting to see it for myself.

"Too Much" for Drake - Drake debuted his new song "Too Much" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this weekend. After watching the performance below, is Drake having problems with the people around him? To me, it sounds like some may be trying to get at his wealth and fame. I guess he is going to have to find some new friends after all. Watch for yourself and let me know what you think in the comments section below. His new album Nothing was the Same hits stores next Tuesday, September 24th.

Video Source

Eagles Home Opener - The Eagles put up a good fight yesterday afternoon, but they fell short by 3 points. The San Diego Chargers came out on top with the 33-30 win. I could have been at that game, but after seeing the loss, eh I was over it. Bill Davis and his Eagles defense have some work to do. Better luck next time. They face former head coach Andy Reid and his Kansas City Chiefs Thursday night.

Miss America - Nina Davaluri became the first contestant of Indian decent to win the Miss America pageant. She is also the second consecutive winner from the state of New York. Davaluri will receive a $50,000 scholarship for her win which she says will be used for her medical school expenses. Shame on those who shared negative comments just moments after her win. Some made the stereotypical and racist remarks about Indian Americans working at convenient stores like 7-11. Others even went so far as to try to tie our new Miss America to terrorism. Vanessa Williams even received hate mail when she became the first African American crowned in the pageant in 1984. No one ever associated the former (majority) Caucasian winners with slavery as slave owners. Forget the haters and negativity; I ain't mad at you girl! Congrats. It's great to see the Miss America pageant grow into a more diverse and open competition.

Image Source: USA Today

The Butler Still Hanging On - After 5 weeks in theaters, Lee Daniels' The Butler has reached the $100 million mark. Only two African American directors have done so before - John Singleton with 2 Fast 2 Furious and Tim Story with both Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Latifah on TV!

...Actress and Rapper Queen Latifah that is. She's back!

Image Source

The Queen previously hosted The Queen Latifah Show in 1999 - 2001. According to a release, this new installment, produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, will include "celebrity interviews, human interest stories, comedy, pop culture, and musical performances. It is expected to showcase Queen Latifah's talents, blending comedy and music into her hosting duties." The Queen Latifah Show debuts today on CBS at 3pm locally here in Philadelphia. Among her first guests are Willow Smith, Alicia Keys, and John Travolta.

Waddy Weekend Wrap

This is a look back at my past weekend highlights - what I did and what caught my eye.

 

Powerhouse 2013 - All week long, listeners anticipated the Powerhouse 2013 lineup announcement. Power99's Rise & Grind Morning Show finally broke the news Monday morning. This year's performers include Kendrick Lamar, Mario, Ace Hood, Chris Brown, Big Sean, Sevyn Streeter, Yo Gotti, and of course Philly's own Meek Mill. K. Michelle will serve as the night's co-hostess. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (9/14) at 10am, but the presale starts Friday (9/13) at 10am. Stay tuned to Power99; you know more performers are sure to be added to the lineup. It's all going down Friday October 25th at The Wells Fargo Center.

Click the photo above to purchase tickets 

Top (from left to right): Ace Hood, Sevyn Streeter, Mario
Middle: Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar
Bottom: Yo Gotti, Meek Mill, Big Sean, K. Michelle

Top 5 Songs of the Week - Radio jocks counted down this week's top 5 songs on WDAS and Power99. Check out the music videos for the top 5 songs and find out if your favorite song made the countdown.

Oh Yeezus, Kanye's Coming to Philly - On Friday Kanye West announced his upcoming tour. "The Yeezus Tour" will travel through the country during the Fall and Winter seasons. Kicking off the 23-stop tour on October 19th, Kanye will be joined by Kendrick Lamar on most dates. "The Yeezus Tour" is rolling through Philly on November 16th at The Wells Fargo Center. Unfortunately, Kendrick won't be in attendance. Instead, a "special guest" will fill in for Philly (but remember, you can see Kendrick in Philly a month sooner at Powerhouse). Check out more tour dates here. Tickets go on sale this Friday (9/13).

More Hip Hopping Through the Country - Kanye's Roc-A-Fella big brother, Jay Z also announced a  tour on Friday. "The Magna Carter Holy Grail Tour" is finally making its way through North America. It kicks off November 16th, makes it's way to Philly on January 29th at The Wells Fargo Center, and ends in State College, PA on January 31st. Tickets for his tour go on sale this Thursday (9/12), a day before Kanye's tickets.

Jay Z Meme - Jay Z is also making his way through the web. Ever since the photo below was released, social media members have been photo-shopping Jay in various scenarios.

Beyonce and Jay Z on vacation in Stromboli, Italy

Here are some of my favorite Jay Z memes.

Hello Football Season - The Dallas Cowboys came out with a win over the New York Giants in the 1st Sunday night football game of the 2013 NFL season. The score was 36-31. Then our Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Redskins on the road in their season premiere Monday, 33-27. The Eagles come back to The Lincoln Financial Field to take on The San Diego Chargers this Sunday at 1pm. Now I don't want to speak too soon, but Chip Kelly may be on to something. E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!

Little Athletes - The season for Pop Warner little league athletics began for many Philadelphia children this weekend. My neighborhood team, the Frankford Chargers, took on the North Philadelphia Aztecs. I've cheered from the time I was 8 years old and all the way through college. For the first time, I'm coaching cheerleading. Our 105lbs cheer team, many of them in their 1st year of cheerleading, did fairly well during their first game. 

 

Frankford Chargers 105lbs Cheereading Team with Student Demonstrators (Center)

Congrats to our corresponding 105lbs football team who defeated the Aztecs 7-6.

Frankford Chargers 105lbs Cheerleading and Football teams

Next up, The Chargers take on the Blackhawks.

Bruno Mars to perform at Super Bowl XLVIII halftime - With the NFL season under way, fans are already predicting their team's slot in the Super Bowl. No matter which football teams face off against one another, one thing we know for sure, is that Bruno Mars will be performing at halftime. Word has it, we can expect more performers on the halftime stage and even more performances in the area during Super Bowl week. The big game is scheduled for Sunday February 2, 2014.

 

ICYMI: The Dell - Throughout the summer, Patty Jackson of WDAS-FM hosted The Dell Music Center's Summer Concert Series. Each week, I had the privilege of attending each show with Patty to film, along with Abraham Dunmeyer. In case you missed the summer concert series, ALL of our weekly highlights are on Patty TV. Check out what you missed or take a trip down memory lane if you were a part of our Dell audience this summer.

The state of our schools - Summer is coming to an end and we know what that means: it's time for the kids to head back to school. As the summer months went by, it seemed each Philly resident's curiosity intensified to know what would happen with our schools. With the new school year just underway, Patty Jackson sat down with the superintendent of the Philadelphia School District, Dr. William Hite. Check out the video on Patty TV.

Saying goodbye to a Philly radio legend - At the age of 58, E. Steven Collins passed away of a heart attack. The news came as a shock to family and friends across the Philadelphia region. Heard across the Philly airwaves, Collins spent time as a radio personality, national sales manager, and a newsman. Collins devoted most of his time off the mic to community issues and affairs. Although Collins is gone, one thing is for certain, he will never be forgotten.

Photo Credit: NBC Philadelphia

The Return of DK!

4 of the 5 original "Show Stoppers" are back. That's right, DANITY KANE HAS RETURNED, but with the exclusion of D.Wood AND Diddy. Dawn, Aubrey, Andrea, and Shannon made the official announcement Sunday night on the MTV VMA Pre Show. While on the red carpet, the ladies announced, "We're back," and that their new single, "Rage," will be coming "very soon." They said what they had already told the world through social media.

Many fans - myself included - had anticipated the return of Danity Kane, and while their return is HUGE news, we were hoping for a little more during the live telecast. Give us the date of the new release or upcoming tour dates perhaps; something more than what we already grasped from Twitter and Instagram.  Nevertheless, I'm ready for new DK music!

Lee Daniels' "The Butler" Premiere

The Butler had its Philadelphia premiere at The Kimmel Center on Monday July 29th. Directed by Lee Daniels and written by Danny Strong, the film tells the story of real-life White House Butler, Eugene Allen, who served through 8 presidencies. Not only is the storyline compelling as it parallels the African American experience in this country, but the cinematography is excellent. From the framing, set designs, and lighting to the music, editing, and costuming - it was all superb and appropriate. And I didn't even get to the acting yet! Check out this WDAS/Patty TV footage from the screening.

The talent amongst The Butler cast is incredible! It's undeniable! With Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey accompanying Daniels and Strong, Oscar nominations are sure to come. The film also stars Cuba Gooding Jr., David Oyelowo, Yaya Alafia, Lenny Kravitz, Jane Fonda, Robin Williams, Mariah Carey, David Banner,  Michael Rainey Jr., AND Jesse Williams. AND MORE! When you see this movie, you will laugh, you will cry, you're heart will hurt, and you'll leave the theater feeling uplifted. Lee Daniels and Danny Strong have succeeded in creating a great film!

The Butler is in theaters NOW and it is certainly a MUST-SEE!

Day 3: The BlackStar Film Festival

Saturday was another day in downtown Philly for The BlackStar Film Festival!

To start, I attended the "Black Women, Body Image, and Hollywood" panel. Drexel University's Dr. Yaba Blay of the Africana Studies Department moderated. Panelists included Michelle Trotter (Actress and Model), Ellen Domingos (Actress and Advocate), Stacey Sargeant (Actress, Producer, and Director), and Lisa Cortes (Director and Producer). Before the conversation began, the audience viewed Sargeant's short film Though I'm Not Perfect and Cortes' Imagine A Future, previously shown on BET.

From Left to Right: Dr. Yaba Blay, Michelle Trotter, Ellen Domingos, Stacey Sargeant, Lisa Cortes

Though I'm Not Perfect focuses on the impact that negative comments had on a particular dancer and her experience with an eating disorder as a result.

Imagine A Future takes a look at black beauty and one student's journey to discover herself and what makes her beautiful.

During the panel discussion, all sorts of topics came up - some included casting in Hollywood, eating disorders, and being a plus size model. One thing in particular that I took from this panel was that if the media does not affirm who I am, if they don't portray who I am or what my culture truly is, then I have to do it myself. I need to affirm that I am beautiful. I need to show others in my community that they are worthy. And through film, I plan to let my race know that they matter. If the media doesn't show who we really are as a people then it's my responsibility to my race as an aspiring filmmaker to do so. That's also the job of anyone else who wants to see accurate representations of African Americans on film. If you want to see it, make it happen. Whether you write, direct, edit, or act in a production that accurately portrays us or if you want to produce it - just help make it happen so that the little black boy or little black girl next to you doesn't have to say, "How come Bob [or Jane or Mariana] doesn't look like me or even talk like me?" I love my black folk and it's time we see more true, mirror reflections of who we are as a people.

That's not to say that we are all saints and that there aren't any African Americans who live sinful lives, but that comes with every race of people. However, we tend to see a more negatively highlighted portrayal of African Americans on screen than we do from our non-African-American counterparts.

Later in the evening, Nairobi Half Live was screened. In this film, directed by David Tosh Gitonga, an aspiring actor from Kenya, Mwas, ventures off to the city of Nairobi to hone his craft and pursue his career. He soon falls into the arms of a local gang. His new life in Nairobi forms into 2 - one living as a carjacking thief & the other preparing to act in an upcoming theater production. The 2 worlds eventually collide, and at an unfortunate cost.

With the current portrayals of African Americans in the media and entertainment itself and who our youth try to emulate, accurate representations are at an all time high.

The next blog post will take a look at day 4 of The BlackStar Film Festival and reflecting on the festival in its entirety!

#BlackStarFF Day 2

The start of the BlackStar Film Festival (Day 1) took a look at the current state of black film with the screening of Black Film Now. With that, festival participants discussed the limited representations and rare opportunities for the African American community in film.

When our presence isn't prevalent, we become irrelevant. When true depictions of African Americans are scarcely portrayed in the media, our stories, our identity, and our culture becomes insignificant to the masses. It's up to us to come together to support and create truthful representations of us on screen.

#BlackStarFF Day 2 served as a response to the previous day's insights. It began with a panel discussion titled "By Any Means Necessary: Producing Independent Film." The panel included remarks from Producer Nekisa Cooper, Nefertite Nguvu of Hollywood Africans, Spike Lee of 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, Lendl Tellington of HyLo Boutiques, and Dennis Dortch and Numa Perrier of Black&SexyTV. Writer Nzinga Kadalie Kemp served as the moderator.

Top (from left to right): Nekisa Cooper, Nefertite Nguvu, Spike Lee, Lendl Tellington, and Numa Perrier
Bottom: Spike Lee (Left) and Latifah Waddy (Right)

When asked why they produce, the majority of the panelists said it was to support black film, to bring many truthful and untold stories to the screen. It's not so much that they choose to produce, but they do it out of necessity. Again, when our presence isn't prevalent, we become irrelevant.

 In order to see OUR stories, we need producers, sponsors, donors - just overall financial support - from others and definitely from our own people.

Too often, individuals who set out to enter the film industry aspire to be on the creative end. They want to direct, write, shoot, act, etc. However, without the necessary financial backing and business background, how can you expect to see your project in production? Someone has to produce and put up the funding. Together, we can make it happen. WE can all take part in green-lighting the much needed positive, accurate, and heartwarming representations of us in the media through film.

Spike Lee himself is now using Kickstarter to seek funding for his next project. Critics wondered why a filmmaker as acclaimed as Lee turned to Kickstarter, a site normally associated with beginners seeking funding for a future project. This is what Lee had to say during the panel.

The second day of the festival also included a screening from Tanya Wright, works from youth filmmakers, and many more.

Tanya Wright (Left) and Latifah Waddy (Right) at The 2nd Annual BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia

You might remember Tanya Wright from her role as Theo Huxtable's girlfriend on The Cosby Show. Currently, Wright stars in HBO's True Blood and brought her new project Butterfly Rising to #BlackStarFF. A book and film, Butterfly Rising is the first transmedia project written by, directed by, and starring an African American female. It's an artistic, mythical, creative, and compelling look at family, fantasy, reality, love, grief, and more after two women hit the open road together. She did a remarkable job at presenting and dealing with each theme throughout the film's entirety.

The youth films presented topics such as the impact of the Philadelphia Public School closings, high school pushouts, the Stop and Frisk policy in New York, self empowerment, Seventeen magazine's claim of diversity, and more.

Youth Filmmakers

This festival has been uplifting and inspiring thus far. Thanks to BlackStar for showcasing all of this remarkable talent and fostering the necessary discussions here in Philadelphia. It is definitely helping to strengthen my passion, my plans, and my ideas.

Yet again, when our presence isn't prevalent, we become irrelevant. It's time for a revolution. I'm ready to take action through film. Are you?