UK THEATRE: PRODUCER GOLDIE AND FORMER EASTENDERS STAR CHARLES VENN TO STAR IN ‘KINGSTON 14’

February 24, 2014

Hit producer Goldie and former Eastenders star Charles Venn will star in the new theatre production KINGSTON 14, written by BAFTA award-winning and Olivier-nominated playwright Roy Williams (Offside – BBC, Suckerpunch) and directed by Clint Dyer (Olivier-nominated The Big Life, The Westbridge). The play also stars Brian Bovell, Ashley Chin, Gamba Cole, Derek Elroy, Trevor Laird and Tyson Oba. Story: Set in modern day Jamaica, KINGSTON 14 follows the story of James, a British police officer, who is sent to Kingston to investigate the murder of a UK tourist. James struggles to lead a proper investigation when […]

‘LOOSE WOMEN’ STAR JAMELIA TALKS RACISM IN ENTERTAINMENT AND SAYS ‘I LOVE REPRESENTING DARK-SKINNED WOMEN’

February 24, 2014

In a recent interview with The Voice Loose Women star Jameila talks about the problems she has faced in the world of UK entertainment. I’ve come against that [prejudice] on so many occasions. When I first signed my record deal, people said, ‘she’s never gonna sell because she’s dark-skinned. Only light-skinned women are gonna sell’. People said that no-one would ever see me as sexy and I’d never be on the front of any magazine – but I’ve been on the cover of […]

UK TV: WIL JOHNSON TO LEAVE SOAP EMMERDALE

February 23, 2014

I posted the news in November 2012 that ITV 1 soap Emmerdale had cast its first black family. Waking The Dead star Wil Johnson was cast to play mechanic Dominic Andrews a single parent and 14-year-old Tendai Rinomhota signed on to play his wayward teenage daughter Gemma. Now it has been announced that Wil is leaving the soap. His on screen daughter Gemma will be killed off in the coming weeks and his character will leave the Dales not long after her death. […]

TWEET OF THE DAY: ANITA BAKER

February 23, 2014

R&B has been replaced by Ego, Narcissism, the Cult of Personality… all of which has very little to do with actually "Creating Music" — Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) February 22, 2014 Well said Anita!

WIG DESIGNER SUING NICKI MINAJ FOR $30 MILLION

February 21, 2014

Via Access Atlanta An Atlanta wig designer is suing hip hop superstar Nicki Minaj for $30 million, claiming intellectual property infringement. In the civil complaint filed Friday morning in federal court, Terrence Davidson claims he and Minaj, his former client, struck a deal to form a wig-making business. But Davidson claims Minaj, whose real name is Onika Maraj, started the business without his consent or knowledge, turning it into a multi-million dollar business selling his designs. “I actually hand-made these wigs,” Davidson […]

JUMP OFF UK DEBATE: IS THE N-WORD USED TOO FREELY? (YOUNG, BLACK, BRITISH AND CLEARLY LOST)

February 20, 2014

*rubs temples* There is no point in featuring young black British folk in debates of this nature when they clearly don’t know their history or much else when it comes to the subject matter of race/heritage.   The black man who speaks at the start and says the word ‘nigger’ “doesn’t mean what it used to mean and doesn’t have the same impact”  needs a damn wake up call.  The type of wake up call that will make it CRYSTAL CLEAR to him […]

UK TV: IDRIS ELBA TO APPEAR AS JUDGE ON NEW SKY 1 TALENT SHOW

February 19, 2014

The Voice reports that actor Idris Elba will appear as a judge on a new Sky 1 talent show titled Launching People.  The purpose of the show is to ‘turn people’s dreams of making films, music, food and other passions into reality’. When asked about the project Idris said: I want to find a person to tell a story and inspire others. They might have an idea that they’re not quite sure how to take to the next level. If I represent anything, […]