Friday marks the 100th birthday of James Baldwin, one of the most iconic figures in American literature and society, and one of the most treasured by the Black community.  His work so masterfully unpacked social issues, from what freedom must mean for all Black people—to all people—more than a generation after his death in 1987, that we can hear him in the work of Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé today.

As much as it was his orchestration of words, it was also how deeply intentional and how deeply specific he was with those words, ensuring every single one was earned.  His commitment to be fiercely dedicated to the truth as he knew it, sat with it, studied it until he finally danced with it on the page for us, allowed him a fearlessness in his exploration of race, sexuality, Americanism and oppression.

On Kendrick Lamar’s first defining album, To Pimp a Butterfly, for instance, we hear the echo of Baldwin’s reflections on systemic racism and the struggle for Black liberation. Lamar’s poignant lyrics and evocative storytelling mirror Baldwin’s incisive critique of American society.

Similarly, Beyoncé’s Lemonade visual album channels Baldwin’s exploration of Black identity and resilience, weaving a narrative that celebrates Black culture while confronting the pain inflicted by racial and gender oppression.

Source: James Baldwin At 100: His Genius Influenced Black Musicians

Source: M. Phillips / Getty

Black women continue to shape the landscape of the arts and are making power moves in the process. According to CNN, Janet Rollé was recently appointed to serve as CEO and Executive Director of the American Ballet Theatre.

The appointment is historic as it marks the first time a Black woman has sat at the helm of the company in its 82-year history. Rollé has dedicated her entire career to using the arts as a form of creative expression. She used the life lessons she’s learned through dance—which she started at the age of 8—to navigate every chapter of her journey.

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“Through dance, I learned how to be a professional, the value of discipline and technique, and my love for the creative process. These lessons have always been at the core of my professional life and work,” she said in a statement, according to the news outlet.

Before being selected to lead the American Ballet Theatre, she served as the general manager of Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment. She produced poignant projects that include “Black Is King” and the songstress’ historic Coachella performance. Rollé also was an executive at CNN Worldwide.

Source: Janet Rollé To Become The First Black Woman To Lead The American Ballet Theatre

Jay-Z’s recent induction into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was a family affair!

In an adorable video, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter made a rare appearance in a pre-recorded video tribute to Jay-Z that played during his induction into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last month. The annual ceremony aired last night (Saturday, Nov. 20) on HBO and honored all of the 2021 inductees, including Jay-Z.

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The tribute video that featured more than 30 other celebs as they honored the legendary emcee was just released online and in the adorable clip, we see proud wife Beyoncé and proud daughter Blue Ivy recite popular Jay-Z lyrics with ease. “Gather ’round hustlers. ‘Cause it’s about to go down,” Beyoncé said while 9-year-old Blue Ivy said, “Congrats S. Carter, ghostwriter. You paid the right price, so we just make your hits tighter,” reciting an altered version of the 1998 track “Ride or Die,” before adorably bursting out laughing. Other celebrity participants included Kevin Hart, Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina King, Kerry Washington, and more.

Check out the full video below.https://www.youtube.com/embed/N5uIy7y3VNk?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Former president Barack Obama was also part of Jay-Z’s induction as a pre-recorded video of the former POTUS talking about Jay-Z was shown before the celebrity-packed video aired. “I’ve turned to Jay-Z’s words at different points in my life, whether I was brushing dirt off my shoulder on the campaign trail, or sampling his lyrics on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on the 50th anniversary of the Selma march to Montgomery,” the former POTUS said. “Today, Jay-Z is one of the most renowned artists in history and an embodiment of the American dream.”

Source: Beyoncé And Blue Ivy Carter Help Induct Jay-Z Into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

By Victor Omondi

This past weekend marked Music Television’s (MTV) 40th anniversary. In celebration of the anniversary, Rolling Stones listed down a hundred of the greatest music videos ever released. Beyoncé’s ‘Formation’ topped the list.

The video, directed by Melina Matsoukas, came to many as a surprise, as it was released a few days before its performance at the Super Bowl 50 halftime show. The video debuted at just the perfect time – during Black History Month – loaded with a powerful message about Black culture.

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The magazine termed Beyoncé as one of the most important artists. “If Beyoncé’s self-titled visual album established her as one of the greatest artists of all time, her surprise-released ‘Formation’ video (and ensuing album Lemonade) marked her as one of the most important,” the magazine wrote.

More into the video, Queen Bey decried the malady of police brutality, referenced Hurricane Katrina, and boasted of her Creole background as well as her country’s roots. She also took pride in her Black skin color.

As it always happens when an artist takes a bold step to decry social injustices, the song and video faced a lot of criticism, as some said she was spreading anti-police messages.

Source: Rolling Stone: Queen Bey’s ‘Formation’ Is The Best Music Video Of All Time

Daniel Obasi is Nigeria’s fast-rising Instagram fashion sensation. 

The multi-talented young creative, at merely 25, has already shot portraits for Billboard and the New York Times, and styled fashion editorials for Dazed and Vogue Portugal.

Through Instagram, Obasi has established relationships with kindred spirits from the worlds of art and fashion. Last year, Instagram helped take Obasi’s career to the next level — he received a direct message from Beyoncé’s creative director, Kwasi Fordjour, saying that he was interested in involving Obasi in Beyoncé’s upcoming project, which, Obasi later recounted and described as “Unbelievable.”

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The undisclosed Beyoncé project would turn out to be the “Black Is King”, pitched by the singer as a celebration of “the breadth and beauty of Black ancestry,” the star-studded visual album features a mix of African creators and performers, and those from the diaspora, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

Looking at this young talent’s previous personal projects, “Black Is King” — an Afrofuturist vision of a world where African traditions are foregrounded and celebrated — was a fitting commission.

In Obasi’s work, he combines the traditional, the contemporary and the imaginary to create a Nigeria freed from the social and political limitations of reality. Afro hair, brown eyes, dark skin, and beautiful local garments abound, the diversity of sexuality and gender is embraced.

Obasi sees many aesthetic and thematic similarities between “Black Is King” and his current project. According to him, “Black Is King” is a contemporary piece talking about changing the African narrative. It is a story of Africa, and it is best told by Africans.