BY JANIECE CAMPBELL
What a show! On March 27th, the Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, made its annual return to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
The star-studded award show was hosted by Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes, and featured over a dozen performers and presenters. Artists such as Reba McEntire and Billie Eilish (who later won an Oscar in the category Music – Original Song) graced the stage, but Beyonce’s opening performance of ‘Be Alive’ stole the show before it could begin!
The movie Dune, starring Timothée Chalemet and Zendaya, took home the most trophies, winning six out of ten nominations in technical categories such as Film Editing, Production Design and Sound. CODA, a film with a largely deaf cast, trailed behind them, winning all three nominations including Best Picture.
Possibly the most memorable moment of the night would be Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage, after the latter made a joke referencing Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head. Jada has been open about her struggle with alopecia and hair loss. Will Smith then returned to his seat, continuing to yell expletives towards Chris Rock.
After the altercation, Will Smith accepted his first ever Oscar award for Best Actor for his role in King Richard. This makes him the fifth Black actor in history to win in the category, as well as the first in 16 years since Forest Whitaker in 2006. However, there is already speculation that Will Smith could potentially lose his Oscar due to the Academy’s conduct code, which emphasizes the importance of “fostering supportive environments” and “respect for human dignity.”
- Is Doja Cat a rapper? Rapper Remy Ma doesn’t think so!
What defines a rapper these days? Is it all about cadence and flow, do you have to experience some variation of hardships in life, or is it about having a rough and somewhat fearsome style?
Rapper Remy Ma didn’t care to explain the requirements that a rapper should check off, though she made it known that she doesn’t consider breakout star Doja Cat a rapper.
“I don’t think she’s a rapper,” Remy Ma interjected. “Let’s be clear with that. They put her in the rapper category, I don’t think she’s a rapper. But she makes dope records, and I think she’s dope.”
As a mainstream artist, Doja Cat doesn’t necessarily fit into one box. She showcases expert-level versatility, where not only does she have stellar rap abilities, she can sing and dance equally well. Her biggest hits, such as “Say So” and “Kiss Me More” have major elements of pop intertwined with upbeat rap lyrics.
After receiving countless hip-hop award nominations and even while her latest album, Planet Her, achieved 4 billion streams on Spotify which is recorded as the most-streamed album by a female rapper on the platform, there are still naysayers. This is definitely not the first time there have been arguments around her genre classification, but back in December 2021, she addressed the topic saying, “Anyone who says that I’m not a rapper is in denial. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”
- Vanessa Bryant partners with Nike to honour Kobe and Gigi Bryant
Widowed Vanessa Bryant has reached a new deal with Nike which will create apparel to honour the legacy of her late husband, basketball legend Kobe Bryant as well as their daughter Gigi, who both tragically died in a helicopter crash back in January 2020.
The first sneakers to be released will be the Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16” which will honour Gigi, as this May would mark her 16th birthday. All proceeds will go toward the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
“I am happy to announce that we will continue my husband’s legacy with Nike and look forward to expanding his and Gigi’s global impact by sharing the Mamba Mentality with youth athletes for generations to come,” Vanessa Bryant said in a news release.
The partnership announcement comes nearly one year after Kobe’s contract with Nike ended after being signed since 2003. According to CNN, the deal led to what became one of the most successful sponsorships in history, helping the company strengthen its position in the basketball arena. After Bryant died, Nike quickly sold out of his clothing and sneakers.
Nike and Vanessa Bryant will also work towards establishing a youth basketball centre in Southern California.
- What’s on TV? Upcoming shows that should be added to your list!
Feeling like you’ve watched everything on TV? Well, there are quite a few shows coming soon to your big screen that you should tap into!
- Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls is available now on Amazon Prime Video. The reality show surrounds 13 plus-sized competitors who leave their hearts on the dance floor as they fight for a spot to be Lizzo’s back-up dancers when she takes the stage at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in June 2022.
- Trivia Quest (premieres April 1st on Netflix) is an interactive trivia game that leaves the fate of the characters up to you! Based on the popular app Trivia Crack, the show will take viewers through 24 questions each day from a range of categories such as history, art, science, pop culture and more!
- The Ultimatum (premieres on April 6th on Netflix) is a new reality show coming from the creators of Love Is Blind. In this weekly series, six different couples each have the same dilemma. One partner is ready to get married, while the other is unsure. An ultimatum is issued and in eight weeks, they must commit to marriage or move on. The catch is, the couples must choose to date a new partner from one of the other couples in the meantime!
- Our Great National Parks (premieres on April 13th on Netflix) is an epic five-part documentary series narrated by former U.S. president Barack Obama. For all the nature lovers, the show invites viewers to celebrate and discover the power of our planet’s greatest national parks and wild spaces.
