- Created on 31 May 2013
DanceAfrica Presents Giwayen Mata Dance, Drums and Vocals
The 20th Anniversary celebration of Giwayen Mata, an award-winning, soul-stirring, all-sistah, dance, percussion, and vocal ensemble, will take place in Atlanta June 13 through 16 showcasing an array of experiences that embrace songs, rhythms, instruments, and dances celebrating the beauty and richness of African cultures.
DanceAfrica Atlanta, hosted by Giwayen Mata [which means Elephant Women] in collaboration with the Atlanta University Center Consortium, is a weekend of festival events that includes workshops, symposia, concerts, presentations, the African Marketplace, topped off with the Elephant Leaders Awards Gala honoring some of the masters of dance.
A children's lecture-demonstration will be presented on Thursday, June 13, from 10:30 a.m. through noon, at Morehouse College's King Chapel featuring Dr. Chuck Davis of the African American Dance Ensemble and Brother Assane Konte of KanKouran West African Dance Company.
The highlight of DanceAfrica Atlanta will be concerts at Morehouse's King Chapel on Friday and Saturday evenings, June 14 & 15. Festivities open on Friday with a tribute to Baba Atu Murray, longstanding griot and drummer recognized both nationally and internationally.
The concert line-up offers the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, DC-based KanKouran West African Dance Company, Soweto Street Beat, Uhuru Dancers, Manga Dance Company, Giwayen Mata, and many others. A full day of dance and drum workshops will be held in Read Hall at Spelman College on Saturday, June 15. On Saturday night, following the concert, artists and guests will enjoy a "Midnight Class" taught by Dr. Davis; and party to the sounds of DJ Kemit at Dance 411 Studios on Moreland AVE.
The culminating events of DanceAfrica Atlanta will take place at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, on Sunday, June 16. The Africa Marketplace takes place from 10:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. with vendors providing goods and services.
A symposium featuring dance educators, historians, pioneering artistic directors, including lunch, is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. On Sunday evening, the Elephant Leaders Awards Gala offers a salute to several masters of dance and its culture. Entertainment for the evening includes a performance by the Nimbaya percussionist's ensemble with all-female dancers from Guinea.
Ticket prices for the various events during DanceAfrica Atlanta range from $5.00 for the children's lecture-demonstration program to $100 for the Sunday evening Awards Gala. For more details and information, and to purchase tickets online, visit the festival website www.DanceAfricaAtlanta.com.
Admission to the Sunday Marketplace is free.
- Created on 31 May 2013
Hip Hop Kings of the Mic Tour Comes to Atlanta
Two-time Grammy®-winning recording artist, LL COOL J featuring DJ Z-Trip, will headline the "Kings Of The Mic" Tour, for a Hip-Hop music experience.
Joined by legendary artists Ice Cube, Public Enemy and De La Soul, "The Kings Of The Mic" tour will visit Atlanta on Tuesday, June 4 at 7:30 PM. Tickets start at $45 and go on sale Friday, March 22 at 10 AM. To purchase tickets visit www.FoxAtlTix.com, call 855-ATL-TIXX (855-285-8499) or at the Fox Theatre ticket office.
This tour underscores the authentic Hip-Hop music base, with these artists bringing their music to fans across generations.
First introduced to the world in 1984 as a Def Jam Records flagship artist, LL is the first rap artist to amass ten consecutive platinum-plus selling albums. For three decades, LL has continued to influence hip-hop with rap ballads that captivate generations of audiences.
After penning memorable lyrics on N.W.A's groundbreaking songs, including "Straight Outta Compton," Ice Cube left the group at the peak of its popularity – a move that led him to one of the most successful careers in music history. As a solo recording artist, Ice Cube has sold more than 10 million albums while remaining one of rap's most respected and influential artists.
In early 2012, Public Enemy kicked off their 25th anniversary by staging a free concert in downtown Los Angeles' notorious Skid Row. Just a few blocks away at the Grammy Museum, a special exhibit was being installed in their honor.
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres. With its playful wordplay, innovative sampling, and witty skits, the band's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, has been called "a hip hop masterpiece."
- Created on 29 May 2013
Shawty Lo Blames Oxygen Network For Failed Reality Show
Controversial Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo and his 10 baby's mothers and 11 children would have been showcased for all to see on his Oxygen one-hour reality program “All My Babies’ Mamas,” however, due to a resounding number of complaints, it was unceremoniously canceled. Now, Lo is blaming the network for giving the show a negative name, according t
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- Created on 29 May 2013
7 Things We Found Out From Oprah and Tyler Perry
Tonight at 9 p.m., the Tyler Perry era takes its second bow on the OWN Network. Perry has two scripted shows scheduled to debut this week – the 2-hour debut of the drama "The Haves and the Have Nots," last at 9 and tonight , the first episode of "Love Thy Neighbor" is set to air at 9 p.m.
Sixteen episodes of "The Haves" are on schedule and 26 of "Love Thy Neighbor." This represents a new day on OWN, as this is the network's first foray into scripted dramas after successes with reality shows like "Iyanla, Fix My Life," and "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's." Oprah and Tyler got together this morning on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show" and here's what we learned from their conversation.
1. IT WAS TYLER'S IDEA TO COME TO OWN
OPRAH: "At the time he was thinking about dong his own network and when I was going through every single media outlet in the country labeling OWN as struggling, struggling, struggling and I was digging myself out of a hole, after just finishing the Oprah Show Tyler said 'Let me help you. You know, I could write you something. ' I was one thousand percent supportive of him starting his own network but let me just tell you it's more than a notion, starting your own network. While he was thinking about starting his own network, he said 'Let me write something for you.'"
2. OPRAH IS NOT A CONTROL FREAK
OPRAH: "Actually, I have let go. Everybody thinks I'm a control freak and that is a bad rap for me. I really try to align myself, through all my work over the years, I have a reputation as a control freak, but I'm not. I try to get good people and let them do what they do. Tyler you can attest to that, can you not?"
TYLER: "Seriously, she is a person who lets go and she lets me do what I do. I know how to lead and I also know when to follow. It is the Oprah Winfrey network and it's really great to be able to do a show like "The Have and Have Nots" and "Love Thy Neighbor" with Palmer Williams and Patrice Lovely and Hattie from my plays. Tonight is the big night of "The Haves and the Have Nots." And to be able to tell these kind of stories and let go and then have the support of Oprah and OWN behind me, it's really, really awesome. I can't wait for people to see it tonight.
All my people out there listening, you know y'all been with me from the very beginning, I need you to watch tonight. I promise you this show will not let you down. It is what I do, it is what you've done for me and all you have to do is watch OWN. Check out "The Haves and the Have Nots" tonight and tomorrow "Love Thy Neighbor." It's going to be incredible."
3. OPRAH DOESNT WATCH TELEVISION
"We're not sure we believed it when Oprah said some years back that she didn't own a TV but apparently, it's true. Whether she ever broke down and bought one or not, the woman who became one of the biggest stars in TV history does not watch much TV. She did become a fan of "The Haves and the Have Nots," though."
OPRAH: "I've watched every one of the episodes of "The Haves and the Have Nots" and I'm normally not a television watcher. But as Tyler was producing them and getting them ready for air, he would send them to me and I got myself hooked to the point of I'm like 'I'm at episode 6, where's #7?''
4. OPRAH BELIEVED IN IYANLA AGAINST THE ADVICE OF HER OWN PEOPLE
"Members of my team told me Iyanla would not work, but I knew the moment that Iyanla and I reconciled on the air that final year of 'The Oprah Show,' I knew that that was a godsend. As I was sitting there, with her, on the air on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' I knew that that moment was going to allow us to work together in the future. I believed from the beginning that that show would work. That's actually one of my favorite shows on OWN."
5. TYLER CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO HAVE MEDEA MEET SOPHIA
In a funny promo for those who can't find OWN, the two iconic fictional characters are spoofed.
OPRAH: "That was Tyler's idea, too! Tyler called me one morning. He has a plethora of ideas. He called me one morning and said "Hey I got this idea – when Madea meets Sophia. Some people say where is it, where is it they can't find OWN. So Tyler said I have this idea to help people find own. Madea's going down the road and she meets Sophia. And I told him the other day there should be more Madea meets Sophia moments. Get to work, Tyler." (For Direct TV viewers, OWN is on channel 279.)
6. TYLER IS A SPIKE LEE FAN
Director Spike Lee has been vocal in his criticism of Tyler Perry's work and Tyler has responded accordingly. But Tyler says, regardless that he appreciates Spike's work.
TYLER: "I'm a fan of Spike's, I really am. But then I have to tell him to "Go to hell."
OPRAH: "I just did an interview with Tyler and he was very complimentary of Spike. There are different stories and depending on what your background is, you tell the story from your point of view. When I did "The Color Purple" we were picketed for "The Color Purple." Black people were standing out there picketing. And now, it's really a classic."
7. TYLER'S NOT BIG ON TWITTER
OPRAH: "I love a Tweetfest." @ Oprah
TYLER: "She's going to make me tweet tonight." @TylerPerry (Despite over 2 million followers, he's only sent 500 tweets)
OPRAH: "I told Tyler we get to tweet every week and he was like 'I don't know about all that.'"
TYLER: "It just don't sound right. A 6'5 black man tweeting. Something's wrong with that. But it's all good."
Read more http://elev8.com/919541/7-things-we-found-out-from-oprah-and-tyler-perry/2/
- Created on 28 May 2013
Stars of Tyler Perry's New OWN Sitcoms Detail 'Love Thy Neighbor' and 'Haves and Have Nots'
The wait is just about over for the debut of the two scripted television shows Tyler Perry developed exclusively for the OWN network.
Executive produced, directed and written by Perry, "The Haves and the Have Nots" and "Love Thy Neighbor" will debut tonight with the expectations of boosting the network's underwhelming ratings, while bringing two scripted shows to the OWN network with its audience as the target.
Both shows are the result of a partnership between the two entertainment moguls, Oprah and Perry, who announced their merger last October.
"We had Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey for bosses," said Palmer Williams, Jr. who plays Uncle Floyd on "Love Thy Neighbor." "This is bringing back a scripted show with all this reality madness that is going on. But for us to be able to do this is developing a part of history," he added.
In the show, "Love Thy Neighbor" Perry brings some familiarity to the thirty-minute sitcom with his Hattie Mae Love character from "A Madea Christmas" and Uncle Floyd from "House of Payne."
The comedy, which is formatted similarly to Perry's "House of Payne" and "Meet the Browns," is set at the Love Train diner owned by Hattie Mae, who is played by Patrice Lovely. Hattie Mae has her hands full as the matriarch of her family and tries to hold everybody together, from her family to her customers.
However, in "The Haves and the Have Nots" Perry must have taken some notes from Shonda Rhimes. The hour-long show is reminiscent to the show "Scandal" featuring an interracial love component, sex, lies and deceit.
Crystal Fox who stars in "The Haves and the Have Nots" described the show by saying, "It's scripted television that I like to call 'delectably dysfunctional.' And when you finish watching it you have to check yourself, and I like that," she noted.
"The Haves and the Have Nots," set in Savannah, Ga., is based on the matriarchs of two different families: the Cryer family and the Young family The Cryer family is rich and powerful with about as much drama and dysfunction as they have wealth and success. The Young family, who may not be rich with money, is wealthy in their religion and virtues.
The show is set around Candace Young, played by Tika Sumpter of "Gossip Girl" and "Sparkle." Candace is the sexy vixen who befriends Amanda Cryer, played by Jacyln Betham, the daughter of John Cryer, who has been paying her for sex.
"It's gonna be one of those moments when people are like, I love you Tika, but I hate you and I'm excited to be able to get some emotion from people," said Tika Sumpter about her new role as a sexy vixen on the show. "It's fun to play sexy and sultry and not give a damn what people think and say yeah, here it is, here you go."
Kendra C. Johnson, who plays the role of Hattie Mae Love's daughter Linda, hopes that viewers, "will spend their Tuesday night and Wednesday night with us."
"The Haves and the Have Nots" will premiere on Tue May 28 at 9:00 p.m. and "Love Thy Neighbor" will premiere Wed May 29 at 9 p.m. with two back-to-back thirty minute episodes on the OWN network.
