MLK Day 2018: Common, Ava DuVernay, Ice-T, Maxwell & Other Celebs Praise Civil Rights Icon's Legacy

by Gil Kaufman•Jan 15, 2018 `At tha' Palace we never quit...We never fold!!

HIP HOP CULTURE | HIP HOP ARTS, LIFESTYLE AND COMMUNITY NEWS

[Tha’ Palace]: Sacramento, CA-- For many around the nation Monday (Jan. 15) was a day of reflection, action and marching in the streets to recall and celebrate the legacy of civil rights icon Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The national holiday might also serve as a time to remember King's message of reconciliation and understanding, especially in light of the latest racially charged comments attributed to Pres. Trump, who just days before reportedly referred to people from Haiti and some Central American and African nations as coming from "shithole countries."

JAY-Z: Files Trademark For Jaybo Character

While Trump defended himself on Sunday (Jan. 14) by telling reporters "I am not a racist," the international fallout and widespread condemnation for the latest racial provocation from the president was a further reminder that the work started by Dr. King six decades ago is not yet complete.

               

In celebration of King's legacy a number of prominent singers, directors, actors and civil rights figures including Common, Ava Du Vernay, Maxwell, Kirk Franklin and others took to Twitter to honor the national holiday.

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Contributing Author: Gil Kaufman

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[Film]: A John Wick TV Series Is Officially Happening

BY GREG LAING•Jan 13, 2018 ~At tha' Palace we never quit...We never fold!!

HIP HOP CULTURE | HIP HOP ARTS AND LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY NEWS

[Welcome to Tha’ Palace!]:  From its quiet, B-movie-ish beginning in 2014, the John Wick universe has quickly expanded with focus, commitment and sheer will.

The latest official addition to the franchise – which also has two movies in the bag, plus a further sequel coming and a female-led spin-off planned – is a TV series that will go by the name The Continental.

Coco: Embraced Her Booty First

Starz, which is teaming up with Lionsgate to make the series, announced the TV spinoff at the TCA winter press tour today, Deadline reports.

As the show's name suggests, it will revolve around the Continental Hotel that appears in the movies, a haven for assassins where they can (supposedly) move freely without risk of being knocked off.

E-40 Hit With Countersuit in 'Captain Save a Hoe' Trademark Battle

Chris Collins, whose promising CV includes scripts for The Wire and Sons of Anarchy, will write and act as showrunner for The Continental. Alongside him, there will be plenty of people from the films involved, with the list of executive producers including Keanu Reeves, the existing films' screenwriter Derek Kolstad, and the existing films' directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch.

Stahelski teased the series last year when it was in development, saying: "[It's] got a really good structure. It's very tied to the film [in that] it's about the Continentals all over the world, how certain people come into that world, and what happens in relation to those people, which is cool."

MLK Day 2018: Celebs Praise Civil Rights Icon's Legacy

He also addressed whether Wick himself, Keanu Reeves, would be appearing, saying: "I think he would make an appearance. I think that's part of his thing, [but the series] isn't centred around John Wick."

There's nothing further today on whether Keanu will cameo, or when we can expect to see the series. Next up in the franchise is John Wick: Chapter Three, which arrives in cinemas on May 17, 2019.

JAY-Z: Files Trademark For Jaybo Character

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Contributing Author: GREG LAING

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[Legal]: JAY-Z Files Trademark For Jaybo Character From "The Story Of O.J." Video

By Danielle Harling • Jan 15, 2018 `At tha' Palace we never quit...We never fold!!

HIP HOP CULTURE | HIP HOP ARTS AND LIFESTYLE HIP HOP COMMUNITY NEWS

[Tha’ Palace]: Sacramento, CA— Jaybo, the animated character from JAY-Z’s “The Story of O.J.” music video, is prepped to take on a life of his own now that legal docs have been filed.

TMZ reports that JAY-Z’s S. Carter Enterprises recently filed documents to trademark Jaybo, a character influenced by Sambo (featured in “The Story of Little Black Sambo,” a children’s book from 1899 that is generally considered to be racist because of its illustrations) and Dumbo (the Disney character from the 1941 film that has also been accused of making racist characterizations).

MLK Day 2018: Celebs Praise Civil Rights Icon's Legacy

Among the items Jaybo’s mug could be featured on are T-shirts, cocktail shakers, dinnerware, and blankets.

“The Story of O.J.” served as the first visual to be released from JAY’s 13th studio album, 4:44. DX also named it among the Best Rap Videos Of 2017.

The song drew some criticism, including from the Anti-Defamation League. The Jewish organization expressed its concern over the characterization of “Jewish people” owning “all the property in America” in the lyrics. A slew of rappers also took offense to JAY’s money phone putdown.

Coco: Embraced Her Booty First

In his breakdown of the song for iHeartRadio, JAY said: “The Story of OJ’ is really a song about we as a culture, having a plan, how we’re gonna push this forward. We all make money, and then we all lose money, as artists especially. But how, when you have some type of success, to transform that into something bigger.”

Despite the controversy, “The Story of O.J” is up for three Grammys on January 28: Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video.

E-40 Hit With Countersuit in 'Captain Save a Hoe' Trademark Battle

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Contributing Author: Danielle Harling

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[Double Take]: Coco Says She Paved "The Way For Thick Girls"

By Chantilly Post January 15, 2018`At tha' Palace we never quit...We never fold!!

Coco wants it known that she embraced her booty first.

[Tha' Palace]: Nicole Natalie Marrow Austin, better known as Coco, is either recognized as Ice-T's wife or a curvaceous model that has graced the monthly covers of motorcycle calendars and magazine editorials, totalling up a 21-year modelling career.

The 38-year-old, whose current Instagram feed is typically filled with her mom duties with her two-year-old daughter, Chanel, has now been interrupted by a notable throwback of her flaunting a string bikini. The lengthy caption reads in detail on how she set the standard for bodacious women "during the Kate Moss days" when stick thin models were the norm.

MLK Day 2018: Celebs Praise Civil Rights Icon's Legacy

Coco name drops big booty stars of today such as Kim Kardashian and Nicki Minaj, saying she flaunted her curves long "before the plastic surgery craze."

"During my time it was pretty much Jlo that was making waves with the derriere phenomenon and Cindy Margolis was a popular bikini model and Buffie the Body was a popular urban model," she says. "...and of course I need to give props to Anna Nicole Smith for also seeing this vision..To have booty it was considered to be fat in the modeling world.. But I helped changed the minds of what booty was."

Coco and Ice-T had their own reality series, Ice Loves Coco that ran from 2011 until 2013. After that, Ice & Coco aired for just one year in 2015.

Power Moves: Behind the Popular Trend of Releasing Two Singles at Once

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[HOT TOPIC]: 2 Chainz and Versace debut their latest sneaker collaboration.

 By Matt F  January 14, 2018 

HIP HOP CULTURE | HIP HOP ARTS  LIFESTYLE AND COMMUNITY NEWS

[Welcome to Tha’ Palace!]: 2 Chainz has long been known as one of the more stylish men in the rap game, but in 2018, he looks to be set on taking his game to the next level. As per Sole Collector, the Pretty Girls Like Trap Music star and luxury clothing brand Versace have teamed up for a new collection of sneakers that fall under the moniker "Chain Reaction." As you might expect from both those parties, these kicks are nothing if not distinctive. 

RELATED: Top 10 Hip-Hop Sneaker Collabs Of 2017

With a boxier-looking silhouette, one that is in keeping with the current footwear trends, the shoes are highlighted by some chain-style detailing (coincidence?) and bold, bright colors, the latter of which is a hallmark of both Versace and 2 Chainz's unique fashion personas. There's no telling how much or what kind of say he had in the design of the shoe, but the ATL veteran was very much involved with the sneaker's debut on the Milan Fashion Week runway, where he was on hand at the live show.

Bob Marley Primary Wave Acquires Share of Bob Marley's Music Catalog

According to WWD, the "Chain Reaction" sneakers will soon be online for purchase (think March or so), but likely only in limited quantities and perhaps even only select designs. It's a bold move for both Versace and their rapper collaborator, who might be looking to insert himself into a streetwear market that has been increasingly dominated by the titans of the rap music genre, likeKanye West. This could be a venture that, along with a new album that is supposedly in the works, makes 2019 quite the profitable year for 2 Chainz. 

E-40 Hit With Countersuit in 'Captain Save a Hoe' Trademark Battle

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[HIP HOP]: Kendrick Lamar, Drake & Stormzy Nominated For 2018 BRIT Awards

by Justin Ivey January 14, 2018 

HIP HOP CULTURE | HIP HOP ARTS  LIFESTYLE AND COMMUNITY NEWS

[Welcome to Tha’ Palace!]:  The Grammys won’t be Kendrick Lamar’s only opportunity to take home some new hardware during this awards season. K. Dot is among the nominees for the 2018 BRIT Awards, which are presented by the British Phonographic Industry.

E-40 Hit With Countersuit in 'Captain Save a Hoe' Trademark Battle

Kung Fu Kenny is up for the International Solo Artist award, competing against a strong field that includes Drake, Childish Gambino and DJ Khaled. Quavo, Big Sean and Pharrell also popped up on the nominations thanks to collaborations with UK artists.

Bob Marley Primary Wave Acquires Share of Bob Marley's Music Catalog

Hip Hop is represented in the major British categories, with Stormzy earning nominations for British Male Solo Artist and British Album Of The Year. Loyle Carner, J Hus and Stefflon Don are some of the other notables up for awards.

Stormy Daniels, the adult-film star Trump allegedly paid $130K in hush money

The 2018 BRIT Awards take place on February 21 at the O2 Arena in London. Check out the categories featuring HIp Hop nominees below.

British Male Solo Artist
Ed Sheeran
Liam Gallagher
Loyle Carner
Rag ‘N’ Bone Man
Stormzy

British Breakthrough Act
Dave
Dua Lipa
J Hus
Loyle Carner
Sampha

Critics’ Choice
Jorja Smith
Stefflon Don
Mabel

British Single of the Year
Calvin Harris Feat. Pharrell, Katy Perry and Big Sean – “Feels”
Clean Bandit Feat. Zara Larsson – “Symphony”
Dua Lipa – “New Rules”
Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
J Hus – “Did You See”
Jax Jones Feat. Raye – “You Don’t Know Me”
Jonas Blue Feat. William Singe – “Mama”
Liam Payne Feat. Quavo – “Strip That Down”
Little Mix – “Touch”
Rag ‘N’ Bone Man – “Human”

British Album of the Year
Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa
Ed Sheeran – Divide
J Hus – Common Sense
Rag ‘N’ Bone Man – Human
Stormzy – Gang Signs & Prayer

British Artist Video of the Year
Anne-Marie – “Ciao Adios”
Calvin Harris Feat Pharrell, Katy Perry and Big Sean – “Feels”
Clean Bandit Feat. Zara Larsson – “Symphony”
Dua Lipa – “New Rules”
Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
Harry Styles – “Sign of the Times”
Jax Jones Feat. Raye – “You Don’t Know Me”
Liam Payne Feat. Quavo – “Strip That Down”
Little Mix – “Touch”
ZAYN and Taylor Swift – “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever”

International Male Solo Artist
Beck
Childish Gambino
DJ Khaled
Drake
Kendrick Lamar

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[Tha' Palace]: Our Weekly Wrap Up!

By Tha' Palace Staff| January 13, 2018

HIP HOP CULTURE | HIP HOP ARTS  LIFESTYLE AND COMMUNITY NEWS

Weekly Wrap-Up!

[Welcome to Tha' Palace]: During the week, this weekly Rundown brings you the week’s trending industry news. On the weekend, we try to keep you current on the big ideas that can help you see what’s coming. Read on and join the conversation.

TODAY'S HEADLINES:

Kendrick Lamar, Drake & Stormzy Nominated For 2018 BRIT Awards

2 Chainz Teams With Versace For New "ChainReaction" Sneakers

Hot Topic(s):

Report: Why are the 2010s more difficult for female R&B singers than the '90s?

Stormy Daniels, the adult-film star Trump allegedly paid $130K in hush money

Mary J. Blige Honored With Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Lawsuits:
E-40 Hit With Countersuit in 'Captain Save a Hoe' Trademark Battle

Michael Jackson Documentary Lawsuit Moves Toward Trial

News:
How Cardi B [Achieved Stardom] as an Old-School Hitmaker for New-School Hip-Hop!

Bob Marley Primary Wave Acquires Share of Bob Marley's Music Catalog

Comment of the week: “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so let us all be thankful.”

— Buddha

Chart:

1. Perfect Ed Sheeran Duet With Beyonce
2. Havana Camila Cabello Featuring Young Thug
3. Rockstar Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage

What's your take? Join the conversations on today's stories in the comments.

Start your day with a roundup of the music news you need to know.

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