TheGrio caught up with the Brooklyn rapper at CultureCon NYC. Rapper Lola Brooke was a featured panelist at CultureCon NYC in Brooklyn over the weekend. Host, writer and producer Dustin Ross moderated the session. The panel — From Pen to Paper: The Business of Music — also included Tiny Desk Concerts senior producer Bobby Carter and multi-platinum producer/writer Khris Riddick-Tynes. TheGrio caught up with Brooke at CultureCon and she shared advice to music artists on the come-up. Check out the full conversation above. Rapper Lola Brooke strikes a pose at CultureCon NYC on Oct. 7. (Photo by Ar ..read more

Duane “Keffe D” Davis 60, is accused of orchestrating the drive-by shooting death of Shakur that also wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight. LAS VEGAS (AP) — Duane “Keffe D” Davis is the last living suspect in one of hip-hop’s most enduring mysteries — the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. Davis, 60, is accused of orchestrating the drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip that also wounded rap music mogul Marion “Suge” Knight. Davis was arrested and indicted Sept. 29 — more than two months after police raided his home outside Las Vegas. He remains jailed on a murder ..read more

Imani Ellis is the chief executive officer and founder of CultureCon and The Creative Collective NYC. Imani Ellis is the CEO and founder of The Creative Collective NYC (a community for Black + brown creatives & creators) and CultureCon (a creative homecoming for Black and brown creatives and young professionals). CEO and founder, CultureCon and The Creative Collective, Imani Ellis speaks onstage at CultureCon NY 2023 on Oct. 7, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images) Over the weekend, theGrio caught up with Ellis at CultureCon NY ’23 to discuss what it takes to thrive ..read more

In her upcoming memoir, the actress shares new revelations about her marriage, ongoing mental health and healing journey, and “The Slap.” When Will Smith walked onstage during the 2022 Oscars and slapped host Chris Rock, the moment was shocking to many — including his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.  Ahead of the release of her memoir “Worthy,” out Oct. 17, Pinkett Smith is opening up about that moment, her marriage, and her ongoing journey with mental health in a new interview with People magazine.  Jada Pinkett Smith attends Apple Original Films’ “Emancipation” Los Angeles prem ..read more

“Black Barbie: A Documentary” premiered at SXSW 2023 earlier this year. “Black Barbie: A Documentary” is coming to Netflix. The streamer and Shondaland have acquired the film, which premiered in March at South By Southwest. Shonda Rhimes will be an executive producer on the Black Barbie documentary that Netflix and her Shondaland have acquired. Above, the writer and producer was on stage in May at a BAFTA event honoring her at the Midnight Theatre in New York. (Photo credit: BAFTA) Just as “Barbie” continues to dominate pop culture this year, Netflix and Shondaland are jumping into the convers ..read more

Luis Cruz was the third of four defendants to be sentenced in connection with the drugs linked to the death of Williams, who overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment. NEW YORK (AP) — A member of a New York City drug-dealing crew blamed for the fentanyl-laced heroin death of actor Michael K. Williams was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison. Luis Cruz was the third of four defendants to be sentenced in connection with the drugs linked to the death of Williams, who overdosed in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment in September 2021. He died four hours after authorities said he bought the h ..read more

“Spike Lee: Creative Sources” features over 350 artifacts that tell the story of the Oscar-winning, Brooklyn-bred filmmaker-writer. Spike Lee is one of the most recognizable names in the history of American film. The Academy Award winner became a mainstay in Hollywood by remaining unapologetically Brooklyn. That’s why it’s appropriate that a new major art exhibition revealing his life and work is on display at Brooklyn Museum. On Saturday, Brooklyn Museum opened its latest exhibit, “Spike Lee: Creative Sources.” This massive exhibition connects the dots of all things that make up this multi-hy ..read more

If its one thing Issa Rae has, it’s ride-or-die fans. A fellow Black woman moderating a panel at CultureCon NYC 2023 found that out over the weekend. If its one thing Issa Rae has, it’s ride-or-die fans! The multi-talented entertainment mogul sat on a panel this past weekend at CultureCon NY 2023, which ran Oct. 7–8 at the Duggal Greenhouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. There, the audience wasted no time correcting moderator Glenda McNeal for mispronouncing her name. “It’s pretty incredible,” McNeal began. “You guys know a lot about Issa” — mispronouncing it “Is-suh” — “Rae for all the incredible ..read more

The blacker the berry, the sweeter the romance! Here are some of our favorite couples on the big screen. We love a good romantic Black film. Witnessing as two unlikely characters on the silver screen fall in love or put in work to save their union really has a way of warming your soul — from Quincy and Monica fighting for their relationship on the basketball court, to Sheila driving up the mountain to save her marriage. Listen in as hosts Alexandria Ikonomi and Jahliel Thurman share some of their favorite couples from Black romance films. TheGrio is now on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Ro ..read more

TheGrio dissects Drake’s lyrics to diagnose the source behind his growing habit of sending superfluous disses toward women and his unchecked venom aimed at talking heads in the media. Millions of people would trade places with Drake. And why not? He achieved his 12th No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. He has more top 10 hits on the chart than any artist in history. Eight of his solo albums are certified platinum or more; he has millions of fans worldwide and more money than the average person can imagine.  So, what is making Drake so angry these days? This is not to say that money and succes ..read more