Notizie

Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hillcreator Mike Judge's underrated 2009 comedy is making its way up the streaming charts.

Per Flix Patrol, 2009's Extract starring Jason Bateman and Mila Kunis has officially reached the number ten spot on the list of the top ten streaming movies available on Paramount+. Although the film still has a long way to go before it overtakes the likes of Top Gun: Maverick or the whopping four South Park titles that stand above it on the list, it doesn't seem like Extract is going anywhere anytime soon.

Written and directed by Mike Judge, Extract stars Jason Bateman as Joel Reynolds, the owner of Reynolds Extract, which produces various flavoring extracts for use in the food and beverage industry. Despite his overtly successful business, Joel finds himself detached and despondent, which isn't helped by a series of mishaps that land his company in the local press.

Ben Affleck will always prove popular with audiences, highlighted most recently by the stellar streaming performance of his high-octane new sequel, The Accountant 2. Now, one of the actor's more forgotten entries in a filmography stacked with big-budget projects is getting love in the streaming charts, namely the comedy movie Extract, directed by Mike Judge in a 2009 follow-up to the beloved Office Space. The film stars Affleck as the stoner friend of Jason Bateman's Joel Reynold, alongside the likes of Kristen Wiig, Mila Kunis, and more.

As of August 3, 2025, Extract is one of the ten most-streamed movies on Paramount+ in the US, joining an impressive list of other titles currently catching the eye. Extract has entered the list at #8, ahead of both South Park (Not Suitable for Children) and Matthew McConaughey’s 2011 legal thriller The Lincoln Lawyer. At #7, 2022's The Infernal Machine is proving popular, with A Walk Among the Tombstones...

The 1980s were a critical time for the comedy film. This included coming-of-age comedies from the decade's legend, John Hughes. In this era, Hughes put out movies such as The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

In addition to Hughes, who was considered essential to crafting some of the period's sensibilities, another big name in comedy in that decade was Leslie Nielsen. The actor kicked off the decade with a bang by playing a key character in the 1980 movie Airplane!. This farcical parody comedy was well-received and made over $83 million at the box office on a $5 million budget.

Airplane! is lauded as a classic today, persisting through time after over four decades. As for Nielsen, the actor had a prolific career in the industry that extended throughout the '80s and '90s. He lived to be 84 years old, passing away in 2010.

Nielsen also had...

One of the most well-known movies featuring Academy Award winner Mel Gibson has found its online audience, 25 years after enjoying a solid theatrical run. The acclaimed actor and director's epic war drama The Patriot is now a streaming hit on Paramount+.

Via FlixPatrol, The Patriot is in the Top 10 of Paramount+'s movie chart in the United States -- ranking sixth on the list. The historical film is sandwiched between films such as Extract and Mean Girls. Meanwhile, the streamer's chart is topped by the Jack Quaid-led action comedy Novocaine.

The Patriot was set in 18th-century South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. Gibson portrayed Benjamin Martin, an American colonist who fought in the French and Indian Wars, but opposed fighting against Great Britain. However, he was swept up in the Revolutionary War after his home life was disrupted and one of his sons was murdered by a ruthless British...

Writer-director Mike Judge may be best known for creating the animated MTV series Beavis and Butt-Headand Fox’s King of the Hill, but he’s also an accomplished filmmaker. Ten years after his cult classic Office Space (1999) was released, Judge wrote and directed the Jason Bateman-led comedy Extract. It had been dominating Paramount+’s streaming charts as of late, but per FlixPatrol, Extract has now fallen to the No. 4 spot in Paramount+’s Top 10 Movies in the U.S.

Extract fell three spots to the No. 4 slot as of July 2. Monster Summer, Jack Quaid's action-comedy Novocaine, and Top Gun: Maverickhave now pushed ahead of Extract. The movie is ahead of films like Mean Girls, Norbit, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Daysin the Top 10 Paramount+ ranking.

Oscar-Winning Actors Featured in Extract

The movie, which follows Joel, played by the Emmy-winning Jason Bateman, the owner of a factory that produces flavor extracts.

King of the Hill creator Mike Judge’s 2009 comedy featuring Ben Affleck was forgotten soon after release, but the 16-year-old movie has now become a streaming hit in the US. Judge’s animated 1990s MTV show Beavis and Butt-Head offered a less-subtle form of humor than the creator’s later live-action Affleck collaboration, but it certainly made more of a lasting impression, getting a reboot in 2022.

The original success of Judge’s giggling, music-video-mocking slackers led to his big network breakthrough, the animated Fox comedy King of the Hill, which itself opened the door for him to embark upon a movie career. 1999’s Office Space went on to be a cult classic, while Judge’s 2006 film Idiocracy has become a cultural touchstone, thanks to its uncannily prophetic depiction of a future society slowly sinking into a mire of environmental destruction, runaway consumerism, anti-intellectualism, and general apathy.

Mike Judge's Extract Lands...

The largely forgotten 16-year-old comedy created by Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge has found newfound success on streaming.

Directed by the creator of several iconic adult cartoon series, including Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hill, Judge's 2009 live-action comedy film Extract has become a streaming hit. The film climbed to #2 most streamed film on Paramount+ U.S.Extract stars Jason Bateman as Joel Reynolds, the founder of a company specializing in making flavoring extracts. The film had an $8 million budget to work with and ultimately grossed $10.8 million at the global box offices. Despite the lukewarm financial success, Extract was generally positively received and currently has a 62% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Extract is a satire showing the company's questionable working conditions. When an accident results in one of Joel's employees, Dean Slade, played by Ben Affleck, losing a testicle, Cindy, a con artist played by Mila Kunis, steps in to capitalize on the incident.

Luke Wilson wants to make an Idiocracy sequel with Mike Judge. Idiocracy's future has become closer to reality in the past decade. The film portrays a society that has let the bar drop, with intelligence discouraged and infrastructure collapsing.

Luke Wilson has revealed he has an idea for a sequel to his 2006 comedy Idiocracy, and he has been trying to get director Mike Judge to make it. Beavis and Butt-Head creator Judge has directed only four films in his career, but only the well established franchise offering of Beavis and Butt-Head Do America was truly financially successful during its initial theatrical run. But, to varying extents, his other movies, Office Space, Extract, and Idiocracy, have all gone on to achieve a solid cult classic status.

If any of those three original projects has consistently received requests and circulated for a sequel, it's the lowest-grossing by a country mile: Idiocracy. With that film's star,...

Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. This week, Billie Eilish leans into the existentialism of the Barbie movie for its soundtrack, Karol G enters her “bichota season” in her new electrifying track, and Gucci Mane enlists Lil Baby to set the next generation straight. Plus, new music from Troye Sivan, Pink Pantheress, Rita Ora, and more.

Billie Eilish, “What Was I Made For?” (YouTube)

Karol G, “S91” (YouTube)

Gucci Mane feat Lil Baby, “Bluffin” (YouTube)

Pink Pantheress,...

Rob Moose, a violinist and composer who has arranged music for everyone from Miley Cyrus to Anohni and the Johnsons, collaborated with some of his famous friends on his upcoming first solo release, the EP Inflorescence. The latest single, “Extract,” finds him teaming with Sara Bareilles. The full EP comes out on Aug. 11.

The song feels like a cross between easy listening, as Bareilles croons, and orchestral new music. “To say at least I’m alive seems so melodramatic,” she sings as orchestra strings flutter behind her on the track.

The second season of original series “Almost Paradise” is set to premiere on Freevee on July 21. When hypertension forces DEA agent Alex Walker (played by Christian Kane) into early retirement, he moves to the Philippines in hopes of a quieter life. But unfortunately for him, he can’t avoid danger. Soon, the local police ask him to help solve a series of serious crimes.

Watch the “Almost Paradise” Season 2 trailer:

Also coming to Amazon’s free streaming service in July is the incredibly meta action series “Ze Network.” In the show, David Hasselhoff plays himself as he takes a gig at an English-language theater in Germany — and we all know that Germans love David Hasselhoff. However, once there, he is recruited into an elite society of super-spies, who must work together to prevent a dangerous plot from striking the nation.

Check out the trailer for “Ze Network”:

The Coen Bros.

The 16th annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood event welcomed a constellation of stars — working both in front of and behind the camera — to the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon. The luncheon honored Danielle Deadwyler (Till), Dominique Thorne (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Tara Duncan (president of Freeform and Onyx Collective), Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King) and Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary).

Hosted by actor Boris Kodjoe, the event italicized the contributions Black women have made in film and television — particularly this year, but also across eras and generations. Essence magazine’s existence as a platform for Black representation since 1970 found kinship with Hollywood, an industry of images. At the event, many attendees acknowledged how the forward-thinking vision of Essence‘s founders is akin to the work Black creatives in entertainment are doing presently.

Thorne, who began her acceptance speech with a prayer in the form of a letter to God,...

We're beginning to sound like a broken record, but the Oscars still can't figure out how to reward Black talent. On Jan. 24, the Academy announced the 2023 nominations, which included plenty of first-time honorees, history-makers, and overdue accolades. However, the most glaring flaw among the nominee list was the complete shut out of women directors (specifically Black women) and Black actors in lead categories - which continues to be a repeat offense from the Academy. Remember #OscarsSoWhite?

Every year, film enthusiasts hold their breath to see if the Oscars will put together a nominee pool that isn't solely made up of all-male, all-white, or otherwise non-inclusive contenders, but the sad reality is that this time of year always brings some disappointment. There is reason to celebrate: the 2023 Oscar nominations proved to be a great year for Asian American actors, per "Everything Everywhere All at Once"'s 11 nods and Hong Chau's...

Janet Jackson looked stunning in a bra and sheer top. Picture credit: @ImageCollect.com/Xavier Collin/ImagePressAgency

Janet Jackson rocked a bra and sheer top as she got ready to a tune from K-pop superstars BTS.

The 56-year-old legend showed she still has the figure for the outfit as she posted a video of her preparations to Instagram.

The clip saw her direct her assistant over how to arrange her long braided hair as a BTS track played in the background.

She told her 6.9million followers, “A little getting ready bts for u guys.”

The video ends with her donning a long black coat.

It has attracted more than 162k likes.

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Choreographer Danielle Polanco popped up in the comments section saying, “You know I’m into the house beats in the background.”

Picture credit: @janetjackson/Instagram Janet Jackson...

Halle Bailey has featured in her boyfriend PontiacMadeDDG’s new music video for his song ‘If I Want You’. Bailey, 22, played the role of the rapper’s lover in the video, reports People magazine.

The clip posted on YouTube also features several scenes where the couple was seen getting intimate with each other.

According to People, at one point in the sultry footage, the pair were filmed locking lips while together in a bedroom.

“Everyone go watch ‘if i want you’ by @ddg it’s out now you might see a familiar face,” the singer and actress wrote in an Instagram post to promote the video.

In an interview with Essence as the cover star for the outlet’s September/October 2022 issue with sister Chloe Bailey, Halle — who is set to star as Ariel in the upcoming live-action ‘The Little Mermaid’ — opened up for the first time about her relationship with Ddg,...

Halle Bailey had some hesitation before deciding to pursue a career outside of her duo project with her older sister in Chlöe x Halle. On Monday, Bailey graced the cover of Essence and spoke about what propelled her decision to do things on her own, including starring in The Little Mermaid and The Color Purple.

“I was so nervous to do something on my own,” Halle said of joining the Disney live-action. “I was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do it without her.’ I’m so used...

Prime Video has released the official trailer for Season Three of Making the Cut. Returning to Prime Video on August 19 in its most competitive season yet, hosts and executive producers Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn search for the next great global fashion brand. The new season will drop two episodes each week, culminating in an epic finale on September 9, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Making the Cut is once again on a mission to find the next great global fashion brand. Season Three of the fashion-competition series, hosted and executive produced by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, will return August 19 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. Actress and House of Harlow 1960 creative director Nicole Richie and fashion pop icon and Moschino creative director Jeremy Scott will return as judges, with pop superstars Chloe x Halle, A-list stylist Jason Bolden, and...

Exclusive: Hulu Originals today named Kelci Parker to the newly-created role of Vice President, Animation as the streamer continues to expand its slate of adult animated originals.

In her new role, Parker will oversee both development and current programming efforts and will report to Jordan Helman, head of scripted content, Hulu Originals. Series in the adult animated space under the Hulu Originals banner include Koala Man, Solar Opposites, Hit-Monkey, and Futurama.

Parker joined Hulu in July of 2020, and has served as the lead development/current programming executive on Hulu’s most watched comedy Only Murders in the Building, as well as Life and Beth, How I Met Your Father and the Marvel animated projects Modok and Hit-Monkey. She also cultivated relationships with up-and-coming comedic talent including Dewayne Perkins, Caleb Hearon, Holmes Holmes, Naomi Ekperigin, Biniam Bizunah, and Opey Olagbaju.

In November 2021, Parker was promoted to VP of comedy originals at Hulu.

Showtime’s comedy pilot based on the 1999 film “The Wood” has set its main cast, Variety has learned exclusively.

Vince Staples, Xavier Mills, Karen Obilom, Melvin Gregg, and Essence Renae will star in the pilot, with Richard T. Jones and Tamala Jones set to reprise their roles as Slim and Tanya respectively from the film.

Rick Famuyiwa, who wrote and directed the film, will direct and executive produce the pilot. It was ordered at Showtime in August 2021. The show is described as an honest look at friendship and dating from the perspective of three young Black males born and raised in the gentrifying L.A. suburb of Inglewood. The trio’s struggles to balance fatherhood, ambition and loyalty force them to question if they are growing apart, or closer together.

Staples (“Lazor Wolf”) will star as Jamal, an aspiring photographer from Ladera Heights, who has been cut off by his...

The 2022 BET Awards were held on Sunday night, recognizing the best in music, film, TV and sports.

Empire alum Taraji P. Henson (pictured above) presided over this year’s awards, which took place at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Ahead of the ceremony, rapper/singer Doja Cat had notched the highest number of nominations (with six), followed closely by rapper Drake and R&b singer Ari Lennox, who each earned four nods. (Unfortunately, all three musicians went home empty-handed.)

More from TVLineSistas Recap: Bayo's Secret Comes Out -- And It's Not What We ExpectedSistas Recap: Zac Risks It All for Fatima,...

The 2022 BET Awards nominations were announced on June 1, with Doja Cat leading the way. She earned six nominations, followed by Drake and Ari Lennox with four apiece. These nominations were decided by BET’s Voting Academy, which is made up of entertainment professionals in music, television, film, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, influencers, and creative arts. Scroll down for the complete list of BET nominees.

SEE2022 MTV Movie and TV Awards nominations list: All categories for Scripted and Unscripted

Doja Cat and Drake are up for top honors for Album of the Year for “Planet Her” and “Certified Lover Boy,” respectively. There they face Silk Sonic (“An Evening with Silk Sonic”), H.E.R. (“Back of My Mind”), Tyler the Creator (“Call Me if You Get Lost“), Kanye West (“Donda“), and Jazmine Sullivan. Sullivan is the reigning champ for the original version of “Heaux Tales”; if she prevails again,...

Doja Cat leads the pack of 2022 BET Awards nominees with six nods, followed closely behind by Ari Lennox and Drake, who each nabbed four.

Doja Cat dominated the music categories at the annual award show with an album of the year nomination for “Planet Her,” plus nods for best female R&b/pop artist and female hip-hop artist. Her duet with Sza, “Kiss Me More,” is up for video of the year and best collaboration. Doja Cat is also nominated for a BET Her award for her hit record, “Woman.”

Lennox’s four nods include best female R&b pop artist; a BET Her nomination for “Unloyal” with Summer Walker; as well as video of the year and BET Her nods for her song “Pressure.” Drake’s nominations include best male hip-hop artist; best collaboration and video of the year for “Way 2 Sexy,” featuring Future and Young Thug; and album...

Things got scary in the fourth episode of HBO Max's ballroom competition series, "Legendary," but guest judge Issa Rae came prepared. This week, each one of the houses put together a performance piece inspired by a classic horror film for the "Whorror House" theme. The results were the perfect mix of spooky and dazzling. However, Rae stole the show thanks to her tribute to the late Aaliyah's role in "Queen of the Damned."

In the 2002 film, which was based on the novel of the same name by Anne Rice, Aaliyah played Queen Akasha, the first vampire. The regal role proved the R&b singer was a rising film star thanks to the way she commanded the screen. Sadly, Aaliyah died in a plane crash on Aug. 25, 2001, just a few months prior to the film's February 2002 release.

Two decades later, her performance lives on, and it's clearly still inspiring...

Exclusive: Gersh has signed actor, writer and producer David Koechner (Anchorman) for representation.

Koechner is perhaps best known for his turn as Michael Scott’s pal Todd Packer on NBC’s The Office, and as the Anchorman films’ Champ Kind. He currently co-hosts A&e’s America’s Top Dog and plays Bill Lewis on ABC’s The Goldbergs, having recently appeared on ABC’s Bless This Mess, CBS’s Superior Donuts, Showtime’s Twin Peaks, Comedy Central’s Another Period and IFC’s Stan Against Evil. Koechner voices recurring characters on Fox’s American Dad, as well as on Netflix’s series F is for Family and The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants. Recent projects on the film side include the dramedy Then Came You with Asa Butterfield, Maisie Williams and Nina Dobrev; Sean McEwen’s dramatic comedy Braking for Whales with Tom Felton and Wendi McLendon-Covey; Roman White...

Fox Sports and Twitter are expanding a partnership to feature previews and live pre-game shows for every FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 match.

Twitter announced the Fox agreement at an in-person Digital NewFront presentation in NYC, its first public outing since the board accepted an offer from Elon Musk to buy the company and take it private, raising questions about how it will be run and by whom.

“It has been a quiet month at Twitter,” said Jp Maheu, head of Global Client Solutions, raising a laugh from an audience of assembled advertising and brand execs. “So really there’s no better time for us all to get together.”

The social media platform also unveiled a new streaming series with E! and collaborations with Revolt Media, Conde Nast and others (list below).

Fox is the official FIFA World Cup English-language broadcast rights-holder...

Discovery+ is set to launch a new docuseries focused on Black food history in America from producer Viola Davis, featuring scholar and cookbook author Caroline Randall Williams as host, Variety has learned exclusively.

The four-episode show, titled “Hungry for Answers,” will follow Williams as she travels the country, “uncovering the fascinating, essential, and often untold Black stories behind some of America’s classic and emblematic food and spirits,” per the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer. “From the spicy, crisp flavors of Nashville Hot Chicken to the warm, dulcet taste of Tennessee Whiskey, Williams is out to uncover the origin stories of these quintessential American offerings, as well as surface the truth when it comes to the equity, or in most cases inequity, regarding the recognition and reward, and lack thereof, for the true founding contributors throughout history. ‘Hungry for Answers’ is a food show but it is not just a food show,...

When it comes to blocking out haters, Niecy Nash is a pro. The Claws star recently made history with her wife, Jessica Betts, as the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of Essence magazine. On the April 11 episode of E! News' Daily Pop, she revealed her secret for ignoring other people's criticisms. "People are always gonna be critical no matter what you do, no matter who you're with," she told hosts Nina Parker and Essence Atkins. "They are always going to find something to say. But whatever they would have to say don't trump me being happy, baby, when I close that door, because that's what I focus on." Nash called her wife "the...

And the award for cutest couple on the Oscars red carpet goes to . . . Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts. The couple - who tied the knot in August 2020 - attended the award show for the first time together on March 27. Nash stunned in a ruffled pink gown with a high leg slit and carried a clutch purse that read "Wifey For Lifey," while Betts wore an off-white suit, metallic-threaded shirt, and white bow loafers. They shared some tender moments while making their way into the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, walking hand in hand and putting their love on display for the cameras.

Nash and Betts's date night at the Oscars comes just one month after they made history as the first same-sex couple to grace the cover of "Essence" magazine. Opening up about their relationship to the publication, Nash said, "The least of my attraction is gender. What I was and...

“Deep Water” has arrived. The long-delayed erotic thriller, which was shot back in 2019, is finally getting released, much to the delight of fans of Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck.

The two star in the film as an unhappily married couple whose relationship hits even rockier waters when the wife’s lovers keep going missing, and the husband becomes the primary suspect.

Based on the Patricia Highsmith novel of the same name, the film marks “Fatal Attraction” and “Flashdance” director Adrian Lyne’s first film in 20 years, following the release of another erotic thriller: “Unfaithful.”

But many may be wondering, how can you watch “Deep Water?” Everything you need to know is below.

When Does “Deep Water” Come Out?

“Deep Water” was released on March 18.

Is “Deep Water” Streaming or in Theaters?

“Deep Water” is being released on streaming, and the only way to watch it is on Hulu with a subscription.

It’s no surprise to hear that we are huge fans of Quacks of Quedlingburg here at Nerdly. We’ve already reviewed both the base game and the prior expansion; The Herb Witches. In the latest expansion, Quacks of Quedlingburg – The Alchemists, the game is lifted from being the relatively straightforward experience that is accessible to almost anyone, to being something a little more thoughtful. The basic Quacks of Quedlingburg recipe remains, but now players are also tasked with putting their potions to the test with “real” patients. And by real, I mean the kind of patients you’d expect in Quacks – those with giant ears, chicken eyes or carrot noses, for example.

This is achieved through the addition of an extra board for each player, each of which depicts a distillation kit with an empty space in the middle and a series of numbers leading to an essence flask.

After the viral success of his appearance on a remix of the WizKid track “Essence,” Justin Bieber is continuing his foray into the world of Afrobeats as he joins rising African artist Omah Lay on the new single, “Attention.”

The Colin Tilley-directed video follows Bieber and Omah Lay as they party near a bonfire, accentuating the sensual beat and lyrics of the vibey track. “Should I drink up, smoke up,” they sing in the chorus. “I need some freedom, freedom/Show me a little attention.” This isn’t the...

Daniel Kaluuya, Regina King, Mary J. Blige and more took home acting awards during the final night of the non-televised NAACP Image Awards.

Kaluuya won outstanding supporting actor in a motion picture for his role as Fred Hampton in “Judas and the Black Messiah,” whereas King took home the actress award in the same category for playing Trudy Smith in “The Harder They Fall.” Blige, hot off her halftime show performance at the Super Bowl on Feb. 13, won for supporting actress in a drama series for her role in “Power Book II: Ghost.”

Ava DuVernay’s “Colin in Black & White” was awarded outstanding television movie, limited series or dramatic special, while “Queen Sugar” won for drama series. On the film side, “Coda” took home the award for independent motion picture, “Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power” won for best documentary and “Encanto” was honored with the award for animated motion picture.

Eve is officially a mom! The "Queens" star and Grammy-winning rapper gave birth to her first child with husband Maximillion Cooper on Feb. 1 and shared the exciting news on Instagram. On Feb. 10, the new mom shared a photo of her son wrapped in a blue blanket in a basket. Eve revealed her son's name is Wilde Wolf Fife Alexander Somers Cooper. In a heartfelt caption, she wrote, "Words can't describe this feeling ✨✨✨." See the adorable photo of Wilde below.

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A post shared by Eve @therealeve...

Issa Rae, whose five-season run with HBO’s “Insecure” came to a close with a finale this weekend, has dipped more than a toe into the music business. She’s started her own record label, Raedio, and is producing a new show about aspiring rappers, using her existing career to help launch music ones. But rather than come off as thrilled about branching out into another industry, Rae is making it sound like she’s entered a den of vipers.

Asked if the music biz is “a place where good ideas flourish,” Rae answered: “Absolutely not. It’s probably the worst industry I’ve ever come across,” she told the Los Angeles Times’ Mikael Wood in a Q&a about her personal and professional experiences with music.

“I thought Hollywood was crazy,” Rae continued. “The music industry, it has to start all over again. There are lots of conflicts of interest.

When Nigerian musician Fireboy Dml thinks of his earliest influences, a few names come to mind. There was Passenger, the English folk/indie band turned solo artist, that led him to fall in love with American artist Jon Bellion. Then there was the legendary Afrobeats star Wande Coal whose intentional lyricism within the contemporary scene shaped how he approaches songwriting. But most notably, there was Ed Sheeran, whose songs inspired Fireboy to learn how to play the acoustic guitar, an instrument that, many years on, has remained a core part of his sound.

Wizkid has brought three Made in Lagos: Deluxe Edition tracks to life in a new short film. Directed by Kuukua Eshun and Wizkid himself, the work showcases the celebrated singer’s keen fashion sense and commitment to dazzling cinematography.

Functioning as an extended music video, Made In Lagos (Deluxe) illustrates his newest tracks: “Anoti,” “Mood” featuring Buju, another Nigerian act, and “Steady.” Its worlds are those of vivid neons and pastels, ethereal woodlands, sandy plains, and modelesque women. While there’s a loose plot, in which Wizkid pursues a graceful stranger,...

Following their collaboration on “Ginger,” Burna Boy Wizkid join forces yet again for “B. d’Or,” a collaboration first revealed during Wizkid’s sold-out run at O2 Arena in London earlier this month. The song takes its name from the Ballon d’Or, a prestigious professional soccer trophy for extraordinary male players, and finds the Nigerian superstars exchanging slick boasts in their native Pidgin and Yoruba dialects.

With its urgent strings and sharp percussion, the boisterous new track was produced by P2J, a prolific Afropop and hip-hop producer who...

Wizkid and Tems appeared virtually on The Tonight Show to perform their joint single “Essence.” Performing in an empty arena, the pair offered a soulful rendition of the track, complete with sultry dance moves.

“Essence” is the hit single off Wizkid’s most recent album, Made in Lagos, which dropped in 2020. The musician told Rolling Stone there was no specific vision for the song. “I remember that day,” he recalled. “I had, like, six producers in the room. I was recording the last song on the album, and, yeah, Tems...

The Soul Train Awards hosted its annual celebration in the historic Apollo Theater in New York on Sunday night. Presented by BET, the pre-taped award show featured performances by prominent stars in R&b and gospel.

Hosted by Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell, the award show aims to celebrate the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment.

The 2021 edition of the awards show featured performances by Silk Sonic’s Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, Ari Lennox, Lucky Daye, Fred Hammond, Tone Stitch, Musiq Soulchild, Ashanti, Leon Bridges, Elhae, Summer Walker and Maxwell.

Singer Jazmine Sullivan notched two trophies by winning both Best R&b/Soul Female Artist and Album Of The Year for Heaux Tales. Normani won her first award for Best Dance Performance and honored other female artists in her speech. Later, Ashanti was decorated with the Lady Of Soul Award before performing onstage with Ja Rule and Fat Joe.

The Soul Train Music Awards honor the best in R&b and hip-hop, being one of the few peer-voted awards left in music besides the Grammys, CMAs, and ACMs. The awards have a significant correlation with the Grammys when it comes to R&b categories, with most of the Album of the Year winners at the Soul Trains going on to win with the recording academy. In such a competitive year for R&b due to the likes of H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, Silk Sonic, and Giveon, let’s take a look at who is likely to win at the ceremony airing on BET and VH1 on Sunday, November 28.

Album of the Year

Album of the Year is the most prestigious award, and for good reason. Past winners include R&b classics of the past decade like Beyoncé’s “Lemonade,” Frank Ocean’s “Channel Orange,” and Bruno Mars’s “24k Magic.

Hulu announced that “The D’Amelio Show” has been renewed for a second season.

The unscripted series follows social media stars Dixie and Charli D’Amelio and their parents Marc and Heidi as the family navigates the transition from a normal life into overnight celebrity status. Season 1, which debuted Sept. 3, saw the family settle into life in Los Angeles after moving to the city to further their careers after Charli, at 16, and Dixie, at 20, became two of the biggest names on TikTok for their dancing and singing, respectively.

“The D’Amelio Show” is executive produced by Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman on behalf of The Intellectual Property Corporation, as well as showrunner Sara Reddy.

Also in today’s TV news roundup:

First Looks

Amazon Prime Video debuted a first look at Season 4 of “The Marvelous Ms. Maisel.” The series follows Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a Jewish housewife in 1950s New York City...

It’s no secret that award shows often struggle with diversity. Moments like #OscarsSoWhite and #GrammysSoMale have been responses to the constant disrespect some award shows have shown to marginalized groups, particularly women and people of color. In particular, the Grammys have had a rocky relationship with representation, struggling less with who they nominate and more with who wins. A lot of people have also felt like the Grammys relegate artists of color — especially Black artists — to “Black” categories like R&b and rap, while going for pop, rock, and country more often in top categories. But this year, with a landmark number of diverse artists from every part of the world eligible for consideration, how could 2022 Grammys diversity turn out?

Hip-hop has had an amazing year. Two of the biggest music events of the year just happened: the releases of Kanye West’s “Donda” and Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy,...

Afrobeats heavyweight Wizkid just dropped the deluxe edition of his fourth album, Made in Lagos, imbuing the final days of summer with more tropical grooves. The original version of the album arrived last fall, earning adoration from critics and fans alike. And that appreciation only grew with time. For many, the record’s breakthrough single “Essence” became the soundtrack to an optimistic reemergence after a dark and isolated winter. The track, replete with rhythm and longing, offered an exciting alliance between Afrobeats veteran Wizkid and the promising up-and-comer Tems; the...

Drake spent another week on top of the Artists 500 chart — a position he has inhabited for 30 non-consecutive weeks, more than any other artist. He pulled in over 116 million streams. “Wants and Needs,” a collaboration with Lil Baby, was his top track.

Taylor Swift was a distant second on the chart, earning nearly 89 million streams in the latest tracking week. Impressively, she’s been in the Top Five on the Artists 500 for an entire year. Doja Cat fell just behind Swift at Number Three, powered by the success of hits like...

The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber’s hit song “Stay” secured a sixth consecutive week atop the Rolling Stone Top 100 Songs chart for the week of August 13th through 19th.

The track racked up 28.2 million song streams to help it move a projected 231,000 units. It also became the second song of 2021 to stay at Number One for six straight weeks, following Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U.”

Coming in once again at Number Two was Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow’s collaboration, “Industry Baby,” while behind them Lizzo’s new single,...

This year, the song of the summer debate hasn’t raged in any significant way, but for a subset of young, hip, mostly Black people, Wizkid’s “Essence” was the only contender. “Essence” is the fourth single from the Nigerian superstar’s fourth studio album and second with RCA, October’s Made in Lagos. We sing it to ourselves and each other tenderly, wrapped in the warmth of its tropical R&b. “You don’t need no other body,” coos Tems, the Naija newcomer who opens the track with a gentle love-crazed longing.

The Kid Laroi’s “Stay” repeated at Number One on the Rolling Stone Top 100 Songs chart for a third consecutive week. “Stay,” which features Justin Bieber, was challenged by another collaboration: “Industry Baby,” the latest track from Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow. “Stay” had the edge in on-demand audio streams — 27.2 million relative to Lil Nas X’s 26 million — which allowed the Kid Laroi to stay on top, even though “Industry Baby” earned more downloads (10,400 to 8,700).

The brassy “Industry Baby” was produced by Lil Nas X’s regular collaborators, Take a Daytrip,...

Nigerian singer Wizkid has announced a North American tour in support of his album Made in Lagos, released last October. The 17-date run will kick off in Boston on September 10th and conclude in Montreal on January 22nd, 2022. Ticket sales will go live on Friday, July 9th at 10 a.m.

Wizkid’s Made in Lagos features 14 tracks with African and Caribbean influences, and guests include Burna Boy, Skepta, Damian Marley, H.E.R., Ella Mai, and Terri, a signee to Wizkid’s Starboy Entertainment imprint. In April, Wizkid dropped the video for...

In a competitive situation involving multiple bidders, Will Packer Media and Kinetic Content, a Red Arrow Studios company, have secured the rights to Tia Williams’ novel, Seven Days in June to adapt for television.

The book, just released June 8 by Grand Central Publishing, debuted on The New York Times Best Seller Fiction list.

A seductive romance about star-crossed lovers, the novel follows Eva Mercy, a successful erotica author and the daughter she’s raising on her own in Brooklyn. Unbeknownst to Eva, the love of her life is about to return — and she hasn’t see him since their affair ended abruptly, fifteen years ago.

Chris Coelen, CEO of Kinetic Content along with President and Partner Melissa Myers will team up with producer Will Packer and Carolyn Newman, Head of Will Packer Media Scripted Television, to adapt the novel for television and executive produce the project. Williams also will executive produce.

Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research announced today that they will host The Angel Ball Summer Gala on Friday, August 20, 2021 in Southampton, NY to raise funds and awareness for cancer research.

Hosted by songwriter Denise Rich and her daughters, Daniella Rich Kilstock and Ilona Rich Schachter, Gabrielle’s Angels will take their renowned Angel Ball out east for the first annual Angel Ball Summer Gala.

The event will honor Simone I. Smith, Designer & Co-Founder Simone I. Smith jewelry; and legendary model Maye Musk. Money raised from the in-person event will benefit Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, which funds the best and brightest early career scientists whose research focuses on finding less toxic treatments for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other related blood cancers. The evening’s Dinner Chairs are Mary J. Blige and Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch. Additional performers, presenters, and Dinner Chairs to be announced,

Simone I. Smith...