Author: Wamala

J. Cole canceled his scheduled Sacramento performance Tuesday night following a fatal vehicle accident involving a member of his touring production crew. The incident happened early Tuesday morning when a logistics truck transporting equipment for Cole’s current tour was involved in a crash near Yolo County, California. Dreamville Records, the label founded by Cole, announced the cancellation on social media and expressed sorrow over the death. The label also extended its thoughts to the crew member’s family and loved ones. According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash involved a big-rig driver who drifted onto the right shoulder of the…

Blacc Zacc’s federal RICO trial has been pushed back to April 2027, giving the rapper’s defense team additional time to prepare for the case. U.S. District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin granted Blacc Zacc’s request for a continuance on Friday, Aug. 21. The decision moves the trial from its previously scheduled September 2026 date to April 2027. Blacc Zacc, whose legal name is Zachary Chapman, remains in federal custody as the case continues. The judge determined that postponing the proceedings serves the interests of justice and that those interests outweigh the defendants’ and public’s interest in reaching a faster resolution. The…

Award-winning music journalist Ivie Ani is adding a major new title to her résumé after being named a Culture Ambassador for Martell Cognac, marking a new chapter in her work across music, media and fashion. Ani, a New York University alum, has built a profile through journalism, strategy and cultural storytelling, with much of her work focused on identity and Black culture across the global diaspora. Now, her perspective will become part of Martell’s Culture Ambassadors platform, which centers cultural expression, storytelling and collective achievement. Lanre Odutola, Head of Culture & Partnerships at Martell, said Ani brings a distinct perspective…

King Harald V of Norway, the country’s monarch for 35 years, has died at 89 following a serious health crisis. The Royal Palace in Oslo confirmed Friday, Aug. 28, that Harald died peacefully at 6:35 a.m. local time at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet. The palace said the announcement was made “with deep grief.” Harald’s death came after a series of health setbacks. He had been hospitalized after developing a bacterial bloodstream infection and was receiving antibiotic treatment. His condition was later described by the royal household as “very serious.” The monarch’s final days drew widespread concern in Norway. Family members…

King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the longtime monarch of Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom, has died at 34 after the kingdom confirmed he had been critically ill. The official announcement came late Thursday, Aug. 27, with Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki confirming that the king died at approximately 10 p.m. while receiving medical treatment in the United States. The news came hours after the kingdom had told the public that King Oyo was in critical condition, following weeks of reports that he was receiving specialised treatment abroad. The kingdom had previously not publicly confirmed details about his…

Miguel is drawing a hard line around his family’s privacy. The Grammy-winning R&B singer has spoken out about what he says has been a difficult year for his loved ones, alleging that his family has faced racism, harassment, stalking, privacy invasions and false accusations. Miguel also said his wife, Margaret Zhang, has recently been subjected to racist and anti-Asian attacks. He did not name Zhang directly in the statement, but his comments came as the couple prepares to welcome their second child. The singer emphasized that public criticism is one thing, but targeting family members and children crosses a different…

Gladys Knight is slowing down—but the Empress of Soul is not retiring. After more than seven decades onstage, the 82-year-old music legend announced Thursday that she plans to reduce the number of performances she takes on while making more room for family and personal projects. Knight described the decision as a carefully considered step into what she called the “next stage” of her career and life. “After much soul-searching, I’ve decided that I will be easing into fewer performances,” Knight wrote. The announcement marks a significant change for an artist whose career has stretched across generations and helped define the…

Cardi B has a warning for people who are suddenly finding themselves famous: the spotlight comes with a lot more pressure than they may expect. The “Aha Aha” rapper opened up about fame, scrutiny and the psychological challenges of celebrity life in Vogue Arabia’s September issue, reflecting on what happened after she achieved the level of success she once dreamed about. Cardi said she takes pride in proving doubters wrong and reaching milestones that others had not. “I have proven a lot of people wrong over and over and over again,” Cardi said. “It makes me feel good that I…

Vic Mensa launched “The Vic Mensa Show” with a guest who knows him better than most: longtime friend and fellow Chicago rapper Chance the Rapper. The two artists used the premiere to revisit a friendship that began when they were teenagers and eventually became part of the foundation for Save Money, the Chicago collective that helped shape a generation of independent hip-hop. Mensa recalled first meeting Chance at Jones College Prep during an open mic. At the time, Mensa was a student at Whitney Young Magnet High School and had traveled to Jones College Prep to perform. He later spotted…

Yung Miami is turning up the heat on “Spend Dat,” and she’s bringing Lil Baby and Kodak Black along for the remix. The former City Girls star announced Wednesday that the highly anticipated version of the track will arrive Friday, Aug. 28, giving fans a new lineup for a song that has already made noise on the Billboard Hot 100. “Wham & Yak WTF IS UPPPPPP!! Spend Dat Remix OUT THIS FRIDAY!” Yung Miami, whose real name is Caresha Brownlee, wrote on social media, using Lil Baby and Kodak Black’s nicknames. The collaboration comes after Yung Miami spent months building…