Tag Archives: Janet Jackson

Director John Singleton Dead at 51

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John Singleton has passed away.

The film director, screenwriter, and producer died Monday in Los Angeles. He was 51.

According to a family spokesperson, John passed away peacefully at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, surrounded by his family and friends.

“We want to thank the amazing doctors at Cedars-Sinai Hospital for their expert care and kindness and we again want thank all of John’s fans, friends and colleagues for all of the love and support they showed him during this difficult time,” the family said in a statement.

John’s family announced that they made the decision to pull him from life support earlier on Monday.

via NYT:

Singleton, 51, a native of South Los Angeles, was nominated for an Oscar for his directing in his debut film “Boyz N the Hood,” which centered on three teenagers growing up amid violence in his home city. Singleton was in his early 20s and fresh out of film school when he directed the film. He was the first African-American and the youngest person ever to be nominated for the award.

He went on to direct more than 10 films and TV series, including the recent FX crime drama “Snowfall,” about the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles. His most prominent films after his debut include “Poetic Justice” (1993), a romantic melodrama starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur, and “Rosewood” (1997), about a historical white mob massacre against a town of black residents in Florida.

Singleton has also directed episodes of “Empire,” “American Crime Story,” and “Billions.” In 1992, he directed a music video for Michael Jackson’s song “Remember the Time,” featuring Eddie Murphy, Magic Johnson and Iman.

Poetic Justice will FOREVER be my Fave! RIP Family.

Janet Jackson Honored At The 2018 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

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Janet Jackson was honored with the BMI Icon Award at the 2018 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards that took place in Atlanta on Wednesday night.

The event recognizes the songwriters, producers and publishers of the year’s most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs.

via Variety:

Metro Boomin was named Producer of Year for the third year in a row. He also took home Songwriter of the Year for his work on such songs as “Bad and Boujee,” “Bank Account” and “Mask Off.” Song of the Year went to The Weeknd’s “I Feel It Coming,” written by Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk. Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) was awarded Publisher of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. UMPG had 15 of the most performed songs of the year.

In addition, the event honored the late Aretha Franklin, who, the performance rights organization noted, “Was part of the BMI family for 50 years.” Tamela Mann sang “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” followed by “You’ve Got a Friend” in honor of the Queen of Soul.

Other performers included Atlanta rapper Derez De’shon (the 2018 BMI Social Star), H.E.R. and the 411 Dance Troupe. Songs by Jackson were performed by Jussie Smollett (“That’s the Way Love Goes”), Justine Skye (“Let’s Wait Awhile”), Normani (“The Pleasure Principle”) and Teyana Taylor (“I Get Lonely”).

Missy Elliott followed with a speech in honor of Jackson, during which she quoted the singer’s lyrics.

The event was hosted by Mike O’Neill, BMI President and CEO, and Catherine Brewton, VP of Creative, Atlanta, along with lifestyle personality Kenny Burns.

Congrats Janet! Check out a few moments from the evening below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnIU-gbFuVz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnJId4BnYn8/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=eg8uhy5eolez

Joe Jackson Has Passed Away After Battle with Terminal Cancer

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Joe Jackson, head of the music legendary Jackson family, has passed away.

He was 89-years-old.

via TMZ:

Family sources tell TMZ, Joe passed away Tuesday night in L.A.

We broke the story … Joe was hospitalized in June with terminal cancer. His family had been flocking to his bedside since. His wife, Katherine, had been at his bedside as were some of Joe’s children and grandchildren.

Joe had been battling health problems for some time now. He was hospitalized back in 2016 after coming down with a high fever. But, he bounced back not long after and was seen partying in Vegas. His health was also fragile after a stroke and 3 heart attacks back in 2015. Doctors implanted a pacemaker.

Joe may have been the most successful parent managing his children in the history of music. He, with a little help from Diana Ross, engineered the careers of The Jackson 5, and then Michael and Janet Jackson as solo artists.

The elder Jackson took a lot of heat from Michael and his siblings for abusing parenting and management practices, including physical brutality. Joe copped to it but, far from apologizing … he said his methods made his kids successful and kept them out of jail

Michael’s dad stood by him during his molestation trial. After Michael’s death, Joe was criticized for trying to make money off his son’s memory.

Joe had 10 kids with Katherine, his wife of more than 60 years. The 2 did not live together and had a strained relationship for the last years of his life, but they frequently interacted.

Black Women Are The True Pioneers Of Acrylic Nails 

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Think back to the moment when you got your first manicure or the time your mother gave you the okay to get acrylic nails. How did it make you feel? Powerful? Feminine? Grown up?

For most young Black women, getting our nails done is the ultimate act of self-love and care. And with the success of TV shows like Claws and Boss Nails, acrylic nails are having a beauty resurgence.

The modern acrylics we see today on influential stars, like Rihanna, Zendaya and Keke Palmer, are less than 70 years old. But it’s well-documented that Black women have been wearing artificial nails for decades — long before acrylics became mainstream.

Actually, you can thank a dentist named Frederick Slack Jr. for the invention of acrylics. In the 1950s, he broke his nail and used different chemicals and dental acrylics to create an artificial-looking nail to go over his old one. Of course, the trend trickled down to the African-American community and was very prominent in Hip-Hop culture in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

1966

Donyale Luna was the first Black model to appear on the cover of Vogue, and she sported acrylic nails in Twen Magazine in 1966.

1970s

Legendary singer and actress Diana Ross paired her signature red lip with red artificial nails. She soon swaped the long, round shapes she wore in the ‘70s for more of a square shape in the ‘80s. 

1979

Singer-songwriter Millie Jackson wore red talon-esque nails on the cover of her album A Moment’s Pleasure.

1980s

Olympic track star Florence Griffith-Joyner’s claws were often the topic of discussion, even more so than her athleticism. Having worked as a nail tech, Flo-Jo brought her skills to the track, wearing four-to-six inch acrylic nails.

1990s

Although many R&B stars wore long acrylic nails in the ‘90s, it was girl group SWV who was most known for it, especially lead singer Coko. As a young child, growing up in a religious home, Coko rebelliously began growing her nails long. By the time SWV hit the music scene, her curved nails often commanded more attention than her incredible voice.

1998

Janet Jackson embraced pierced acrylic nails in the ‘98 video for Busta Rhymes’ sensuous song, What’s It Gonna Be

Today, there are more than six different nail shapes, including almond, square, coffin, oval and, the increasingly popular, stiletto. Not to mention, today, nail art enthusiasts can glam their digits up with jewelry, rhinestones and different painting techniques.

This Article Was Originally Featured on Essence.com

She’s GLOWING : Janet Jackson Officially Announces Her Pregnancy & Shows Off Her Baby Bump!

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The 50-year-old music icon said, “We thank God for our blessing” and snapped a gorgeous photo of her baby bump.

This will be the first child for Janet and her husband, Wissam Al Mana.

I wish her a happy and healthy pregnancy.

She looks beautiful and is GLOWING.

Janet Jackson Steps Out with Her Baby Bump

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Janet Jackson made a rare public appearance out and about in London — and it’s the first time anyone’s gotten a glimpse of her growing baby bump.

via ET:

ET was the first to report back in May that the 50-year-old singer is pregnant with her first child with husband Wissam Al Mana, and only ET has these exclusive new photos taken Tuesday afternoon, when she was spotted out and about in London with a visible baby bump. Jackson, who is rarely photographed in public, was seen leaving the baby furniture store Back In Action wearing sneakers, dark sweatpants, a black sweater and a matching scarf and headband.

An eyewitness tells ET that Jackson arrived at the store in a chauffeured black Mercedes along with her bodyguard, her assistant and two others from her entourage. Jackson was greeted by staff, who shut the doors for her visit and seated her at a table to seemingly go over some of their merchandise. According to the eyewitness, she also strolled the store and took an interest in one of the prams.