Posts made in February 2022

Becky Hill × Galantis

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BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter Becky Hill teams up with GRAMMY-nominated dance music superstars Galantis on the new single, “Run,” released today via Astralwerks. Hill taps her full vocal range on the emotional track, which examines how fear can threaten to derail a relationship. Galantis produced the shimmering song, which stands to soundtrack the summer of 2022. Hill, MNEK, and Galantis co-wrote “Run,” which is available for download/streaming HERE.

Shot in Cape Town, South Africa, the official music video for “Run” was directed by Michael Holyk (Rag N’ Bone Man, Jake Bugg), who helmed Hill‘s official video for “Sunrise in the East.” Packed with stunning landscape shots, vibrant textures, and contrasting moods, the clip sees Hill escape the run-of-the-mill day-to-day to enjoy a romance in a sunnier climate. View HERE.

“I’m so excited to release ‘Run’ with Galantis.” says Becky Hill. “I wrote it with my best friend MNEK, whom I’ve been writing with for 10 years. The magic I felt when we first wrote my single ‘Losing’ back in 2012 I still feel to this day when writing with him. I feel like every single I release has the potential to better the last one and this is no different, especially with Galantis featuring on the record, too. With their catalog of hits with the likes of Little Mix and Years & Years, I’m very proud to be a part of another huge collaboration with them. This next phase of my artistry is an extension of me fully coming out as a pop star, but this time with a BRIT Award in hand!”

Hill teased the new collaboration while on the red carpet at the BRIT Awards, where she went on to collect the award for Best Dance Act. The fan-voted award, which saw a long-awaited return of the Dance category, after a 16-year hiatus, was presented to an ecstatic Becky by two of her previous collaborators, David Guetta (who has hailed her as “one of the very rare queens of dance music”) and Pete Tong.

Galantis has enjoyed wide acclaim after the release of their debut album, Pharmacy, which topped the Billboard Dance album chart, earned numerous Platinum and Gold RIAA certifications, and received two GRAMMY nominations. The collaborative project, led by Christian Karlsson (aka Bloodshy, one-third of Miike Snow), has worked with a remarkable range of artists, including Dolly Parton (#1 at US Dance Radio, from their third album, Church,) Little Mix, and David Guetta (on the 2021 summer smash “Heartbreak Anthem,” which debuted at #1 on the Worldwide iTunes charts and spent 13 weeks in the Top 10 of the UK’s Official Chart top ten), Years & Years, and more. Karlsson’s songwriting collaborators include Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry, and Britney Spears.

The first of a string of releases due from Hill this year, following her recent signing to Astralwerks, “Run” comes on the heels of “Here for You,” her collaboration with Wilkinson, which was written specifically for his album. After stand-out 2021 sets at Reading & Leeds and selling over 50,000 tickets for her sold-out U.K. headline tour, Hill has already announced she’ll be performing at numerous 2022 festivals. Tickets are available HERE. With an irrefutable aptitude for writing chart-smashing pop songs and a reputation as a trailblazer in the electronic music scene, Hill was the third most-streamed British female solo artist on Spotify in 2021 while her single “Remember“ was the fifth most-streamed song by a British female. “Remember”, a collaboration with David Guetta found on her debut studio album, Only Honest on the Weekend, entered the top five of the U.S. dance radio charts and was nominated for Song of the Year at the BRITS 2022. Hill has over 180 songs registered with ASCAP, impressive considering only 17% of PRS for Music’s registered songwriters are female.

Big Sean × Drai’s Nightclub

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Last night, NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes highlighted his whirlwind bachelor party in Las Vegas at Drai’s Nightclub, located on the 11^th story rooftop of Cromwell in the center of the Las Vegas Strip. Joined by a hard-partying group of about a dozen friends, Mahomes took in an explosive performance by multi-platinum artist Big Sean, who surprised the soon-to-be wed Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback by bringing him on stage along with his teammates, Travis Kelce and Orlando Brown Jr., at the end of his show.

It was hard to tell who was more excited, Mahomes or Sean, as both seemed equally thrilled to meet the other. Mahomes was seen dancing to songs like “Bounce Back” and ”Clique” from the “Kings Table,” Drai’s premiere VIP booth with luxe accommodations and unbeatable views of Drai’s LIVE’s full-length concerts.

Mahomes and his friends toasted his upcoming nuptials to fiancée, Brittany Matthews, over rounds of Clase Azul Tequila and stayed late into the night.

Drai’s also welcomed rap star Fabolous for an epic, full-length live concert on Friday. The Grammy and BET-nominated rapper jumpstarted the weekend with a sensational performance featuring top-charting hits like “Into You” and “You Be Killin Em.”

Drai’s is the only nightclub in Las Vegas that offers full-length concerts by today’s hottest artists. Every weekend, the Drai’s LIVE concert series brings big names like Gucci Mane, Rick Ross and 2 Chainz to the rooftop of The Cromwell, with unforgettable performances set to the stunning backdrop of the lights of the Las Vegas Strip. The upcoming Drai’s LIVE concert lineup can be found HERE.

Drai’s Nightclub is open Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Tickets and VIP table reservations are available on the website at www.draisgroup.com. Other special requests are available by emailing info@draislv.com.

About Drai’s Beachclub • Nightclub

Drai’s Beachclub • Nightclub takes entertainment and nightlife to new heights in an unmatched setting – 11 stories high on the rooftop of The Cromwell with dazzling views of the Las Vegas Strip. Drai’s Beachclub is a 30,000-square-foot oasis with multiple pools shaded by 10 towering palm trees, a variety of cabanas and bungalows, and two full-service bars. Inside, Drai’s Nightclub is a 25,000-square-foot palatial, multi-level club with an expansive dance floor, massive LED lighting systems, and modern technology featuring more than 7,000 square feet of the most state-of-the-art high-definition LEDs in production, including a towering 80-sided LED disco ball – the only one of its kind. Drai’s Nightclub is home to Drai’s LIVE, an unprecedented concert series that provides fans with the opportunity to see full-length performances by top performers like Wiz Khalifa, Future and 2 Chainz in an up-close setting unlike anything else in the world. Drai’s is located at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Boulevard. More information, including reservations, tickets and hours, is available at DraisGroup.com. Follow Drai’s on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – @draislv, @draisbeachclub.

About The Cromwell

The Cromwell – named a Top 10 “Best U.S. Casino” by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice, recipient of the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Awardand the first standalone boutique hotel on the famed Strip – brings an exclusive, luxury lifestyle hotel experience to the Las Vegas Strip, focusing on hospitality, amenities and personalized service. The Cromwell is the first hotel in Las Vegas to offer mobile key technology for digital, keyless entry to rooms via the guests’ iOS devices. Located on the bustling corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road – directly across from Caesars Palace – The Cromwell keeps it intimate with 188 rooms including 19 suites, a personalized virtual concierge service named Ivy, a 40,000-square-foot casino, Bound – the elevated hotel lobby bar, Interlude – a casino lounge featuring live entertainment, award-winning GIADA – the first-ever restaurant by celebrity chef and television personality Giada De Laurentiis, Drai’s Beachclub • Nightclub – a 65,000 square-foot rooftop pool and nightclub with day and nightlife experiences boasting open-air, panoramic views from 11 stories above the iconic Las Vegas skyline, and Drai’s After Hours – located at its original home beneath the boutique hotel. The Cromwell is operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR). For more information, please visit thecromwell.com or the Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas media room. Find The Cromwell on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-522-4700 ©2021, Caesars License Company, LLC.

Photo Credit: Radis Denphutaraphrechar

Bitcoin or Oil: Where to trade this year?

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Following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) war against the pandemic, many governments launched substantial fiscal and monetary stimulus measures to prevent financial repercussions. The US government stepped in at significant levels that covered a wide range of preventive measures, leading to around $2.3 trillion package designed to support specific financial markets, local and state government, and households and employers. Now we see the U.S. government lobbying in excess of $3 trillion. It has helped protect many more American-based people from pandemics and their impacts. According to Wall Street, we have a lot more generous packages that can help haunt the market and end up doing more harm instead of doing it well. Experts like Larry McDonald have been warned about the cobra effect that can help save the economy as well as cause the economic collapse. You can explore websites like the official trading website and find out more about them.

Bitcoin and Crude Oil

Several high-end stubbornness inflation and the market may find some cobra effect in the past year. Most asset classes now end with the comfort level. Bitcoin, together with crude oil-based investors, now enjoy returns that can help with previous metal-based investors that are seen coming with the year to forget. Bitcoin, with investors based on crude oil, benefits from better yields. In the meantime, too many investors based on precious metals are seen coming up with the same.

One of the critical things is that too much comes with the predictions of experts who can help get the markets perceived to be related to the same thing. If you look at the S&P 500 factors, they are 2.3 per cent. Bitcoin is now down 11 percent at an excessively rapid rate. On the other hand, you can find oil and metals to stay as one healthy commodity. Also, we’ve seen investors attracted to gold and silver in a major way. It was mostly the traditional investors who invested their money in those metals. However, some people then came forward to invest in crude oil, and now more people have a tendency to digital currencies, especially Bitcoin.

Bitcoin

The coin has remained the most neglected by most people on Wall Street and even by the top financial institutions. However, Bitcoin and digital coins eventually earned a good buzz around the market. With close to three years of a bad market, we’ve seen Bitcoin and other digital coins earn a good buzz around it. Bitcoin even touched around $70,000 last year, and so people who invested in the coin would get a good return on it. We have seen a good surge of these coins on exchanges like Coinbase. Also, Wall Street has gained an enormous push regarding Bitcoin and other digital coins. Listing seems to go very far in the market, and we’ve seen high returns from listing. We saw great players like Tesla, Square, Visa, JP Morgan and PayPal investing big into the play. However, bitcoin has crashed in recent history, with its value decreasing by 50%. However, this is a vicious cycle, and we can see that it will return with high costs.

Crude Oil

We’ve seen a good return on oil go up to about 56.4% of the market. In addition, many oil companies benefit from high returns in 2021, and good times will continue this year for crude oil. You can also trace the origin from above with gas and oil as you see the trace. For many years, we have seen Wall Street capitalize on oil and gas companies that have added liquidity to financial targets to achieve a good outcome. We can see that investment has now fallen to 60 per cent by 2014.

Conclusion

So when we hear the question bitcoin or oil? The answer might be both or one of those. Bitcoin is on the rise and has even beaten petroleum in many ways. But at the same time, its volatility brought it back to normal, and then oil is increasing.

North Ave Jax – Play Dumb

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Buzzing out of Burlington, VT, rapper, singer, and artist North Ave Jax releases his new single entitled “Play Dumb.”

“Play Dumb” catapults North Ave Jax‘s flagrant style of unapologetic and catchy lyricism as the Burlington rapper laments on the hook “Smartest thing I ever did, was play dumb.” Atop of the single’s resonant production, “Play Dumb” connects both the thrilling and hypnotic flare of North Ave Jax as he reunites with director and friend Kelly Butts-Spirito to represent the rapper’s home state of Vermont in single’s music video. “Play Dumb” presents an alternative flow to current trends and resounds a powerful message of relating to one another’s significant struggles and rigid paths in life.

Be on the lookout for more music to release later this year. He’s about to put Burlington on the map like never before.

About North Ave Jax

When you think of Vermont, you think of maple syrup, mountains, and massive amounts of snow. Moreover, its quietude typically inspires quaint lives. North Ave Jax chose a much louder path. The Burlington native took the unexpected route personally and creatively, threading deft verbal dexterity through unpredictable soundscapes punctuated by punk rock spirit, pop ambition, and even a twist of R&B. At two years old, he picked up drums and continued to play through grade school—even joining a rock band in first grade. Mom introduced him to the likes of Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while a trip to the local library actually unlocked hip-hop for him. After hearing Flo Rida‘s “Low” on library headphones, he embraced rap, listening to JAY-Z, Drake, Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Brent Faiyaz, and more. Throughout high school, basketball occupied the bulk of his time, yet he still managed to ignite a handful of viral freestyle videos from the lunchroom. Kicked off the basketball team in senior year, he dropped out of school. One night in 2021, he wound up recording in a friend’s makeshift closet studio. Hunger to succeed drove his delivery from the jump. Serendipitously, an acquaintance FaceTimed LVRN Co-Founder and President Tunde Balogun and played him Jax’s music. A day later, the label flew him to Atlanta in order to ink a deal. Now, North Ave Jax introduces a scorching signature style on a series of 2021 singles and more to come.

Shenseea × 21 Savage – R U That

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It’s a big week for rising global artist Shenseea. On the heels of her debut album release, the young artist and songwriter has shared a new offering featuring 21 Savage titled “R U That.” The track, which showcases Shenseea’s pension for hip hop, follows the release of her earlier single ”Lick“ featuring Megan Thee Stallion (over 7 million views on Youtube). Both tracks will appear on Shenseea’s upcoming project titled ALPHA, out March 11th, which is now available for pre-order HERE.

In addition to the new track dropping, Shenseea was also crowned as iHeart Radio’s “On The Verge” and Apple Music’s “Up Next” artist this week. In her “Up Next” short, Shenseea opens up about her late mother, the ambition that was instilled in her by the women who raised her, and the motivation that keeps her going: her son Rajeiro. To watch the full short, click HERE, and to listen to her Apple Music radio interview with Nadeska, click HERE.

About Shenseea

Shenseea has ascended through Jamaica’s dancehall ranks to become one of the genre’s most sought-after artists. She broke through the scene with her viral single “Loodi” feat. Vybez Kartel; the following year, Shenseea toured Europe with dancehall superstar Sean Paul. In 2019, Shenseea signed with Interscope Records (under Rick Immigrants Records) and released her first label single “Blessed” featuring Tyga (now with over 57M views on Youtube). The track which came with a music video was praised by the likes of Hypebeast, FADER, PAPER Magazine, VIBE, and more; it quickly racked up over 1,000,000 views overnight. While at work on her debut album, Shenseea has been feeding her fans with one-off singles like “Bad Habit,”, “Good Comfort,” “Sidechick Song” and more, racking millions of plays across DSPs and Youtube. In 2021, she rose up the ranks further being tapped by Kanye West to add her rap and vocal stylings to two different songs on the Grammy-nominated DONDA (“Ok Ok Pt 2” and “Pure Souls”) as well as playing her first-ever U.S. festivals with Rolling Loud in Miami and New York. With a Billboard “Up Next” title under her belt, and “rising” profile by the FADER, New York Times, The Guardian, and more, Shenseea is rapidly proving that she is a true artist to watch on an international scale.

Bastille Performs ‘Shut Off The Lights’

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Following the debut of their #1 album on the official UK charts Give Me The Future, Bastille took to the stage of The Late Late Show With James Corden to perform ‘Shut Off The Lights.’ You can watch their phenomenal live showing of ‘Shut Off The Lights’ HERE.

The stunning Give Me The Future becomes the third number one album for Bastille yet. Acquiring even more acclaim, the album, too, landed amongst Top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart, Top 15 on the Alternative Albums Chart, and Top 20 on the Rock Albums Chart. Catch the full track list below.

Everyone’s been raving about the album, with Grammy.com naming it “the British pop-rock group’s most thought-provoking album to date.” Billboard gushed about Bastille, stating, “Bastille has not-so-quietly developed into one of the most consistent mainstream pop-rock acts working today,” and Rolling Stone UK even pronounced them “one of Britain’s brightest bands.”

Bastille brings their unique and pioneering sound on tour this summer, seeing the US leg beginning on May 14 in Memphis, TN, hitting both Los Angeles and New York City throughout the course of the tour. See official list of tour dates below! Tickets are available at https://www.bastillebastille.com/.

About Bastille

Known for their modern yet elevating sound of alternative/pop/rock music, Bastille has been captivating the music industry since their debut hit ‘Pompeii’ released to the world in 2013. The mass success of this song set them up for a stunning career, allowing their first album Bad Blood sell in surplus. From this point on, Bastille continued to experiment with their sound, even delving into the genres of dance/R&B. Modernly, Bastille has pushed their music into an ethereal state with projects such as Give Me The Future. Amassing a total of 11 million records purchased, 6 UK Top 40 singles and 1.5 billion video views, Bastille continues to uplift their presence in the music industry.

GIVE ME THE FUTURE TRACKLISTING:
1. “Distorted Light Beam”
2. “Thelma + Louise”
3. “No Bad Days”
4. “Brave New World” (Interlude)
5. “Back To The Future”
6. “Plug In…”
7. “Promises” (by Riz Ahmed)
8. “Shut Off The Lights”
9. “Stay Awake?”
10. “Give Me The Future”
11. “Club 57”
12. “Total Dissociation” (Interlude)
13. “Future Holds” (feat. BIM)

“GIVE ME THE FUTURE” 2022 US TOUR DATES:
May 14, 2022                            Memphis, TN
May 15, 2022                            Oklahoma City, OK
May 17, 2022                            Mesa, AZ
May 18, 2022                            Las Vegas, NV
May 20, 2022                            Los Angeles, CA
May 21, 2022                            Paso Robles, CA
May 23, 2022                            Portland, OR
May 24, 2022                            Seattle, WA
May 25, 2022                            Bonner, MT
May 28, 2022                            St. Paul, MN
May 29, 2022                            Kansas City, MO
May 31, 2022                            St. Louis, MO
June 1, 2022                             Madison, WI
June 3, 2022                             Toronto, ON
June 5, 2022                             Washington, DC
June 7, 2022                             New York, NY
June 8, 2022                             Boston, MA
June 10, 2022                           Detroit, MI
June 11, 2022                           Pittsburgh, PA
June 12, 2022                           Indianapolis, IN
June 14, 2022                           New Haven, CT
June 15, 2022                          Philadelphia, PA
June 17, 2022                           Columbus, OH

Bastille press photo via Sarah Louise Bennett for use by 360 MAGAZINE

Queen Naija × Big Sean

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Queen Naija and GRAMMY-nominated, multi-Platinum artist Big Sean heat up the snowy streets and rooftops of New York City in the official video for their new single, “Hate Our Love.” The two Detroit natives shot the romantic visual with director Cam Busby (Wiz Khalifa, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby). DJ Envy of “The Breakfast Club” has a cameo, setting the song up as the new cuffing season classic. View “Hate Our Love” HERE. Facebook gave fans an exclusive official first look at the video the day before it was released.

For Queen, recording with Big Sean was “a bucket list collaboration.” Released shortly before Valentine’s Day, ”Hate Our Love“ amassed over 4.2 million combined global streams in its first week of release, her biggest debut since 2018’s “Karma,” which is certified Platinum. “Hate Our Love” was produced by Mike Woods (Kehlani, Kiana Lede, Yung Bleu). The single is already charting in Billboard‘s Hot 100.

Vibe observed, “Queen Naija returns to the music scene with ‘Hate Our Love,’ an ode to defending a difficult but ultimately worthwhile relationship. No stranger to defending love himself, Big Sean joins the songstress on this modern flip of Bobby Glenn’s timeless ballad ‘Sounds Like A Love Song.'” HipHopDX said, “Big Sean blesses Queen Naija’s ride-or-die new single.” BET noted, “This song is a soundtrack for anyone who wants to keep those messy crows out of their love life.” Queen paid a visit to Fox’s “The Real” to discuss the single.

“Hate Our Love” appeared on New Music Friday playlists in 14 countries around the world and has earned spins on Clara’s “Hottest Records of the Week” show on BBC Radio 1. The single impacted Urban Mainstream radio in the U.S. earlier this week. The official audio for “Hate Our Love” was deemed “viral” on TikTok, where it has more than 225 million combined views already.

Big Sean topped the Billboard 200 for the third time with his 2020 album DETROIT 2. His six-song EP with Hit-Boy, What You Expect, was released last fall. He will be performing at Coachella in April. Queen has amassed over three billion combined global streams in her career to date. Her debut album, missunderstood, entered Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart at No. 1 and earned a place in the top 10 of the Billboard 200. Nominated for a 2021 American Music Award in the Favorite R&B Album category, it includes the No. 1 hit “Butterflies Pt. 2” and the Gold-certified singles “Pack Lite” and “Lie To Me” ft. Lil Dirk. The deluxe edition of the album, missunderstood, still, includes five previously unreleased songs.

Slave Play

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By Krish Narsinghani

As of late, 360 Magazine joined Center Theatre Group’s grand post-pandemic reopening of LA’s Mark Taper Forum. What better way to kickoff the return of the arts than with the highly acclaimed drama, Slave Play. Featuring moments of explicit content, the play has sparked controversy amongst the theater community. The diverse seven hundred or so person crowd watched as the playwright, Jeremy O. Harris, primed the show sharing how he started his journey in LA as an actor, and how his first finished work at Yale is currently being watched across the nation. This Broadway hit has planted itself in Downtown Los Angeles and is here to stay, stirring heads in the entertainment space as the city continues to expand in theatricals.

Guests experiencing the play for the first time were quickly drawn in with the opening scene set on a plantation field. To have a thickening plot is an understatement. Slave Play is a must-watch for everyone of all colors and backgrounds. A perfect release during Black History Month, this art can be used for pleasure or as an educational tool to celebrate and learn about ones Blackness in a relationship. Overall, the acting and curves in the storyline had the crowd at the edge of their seat and left us in awe. The minimal stage production and use of lighting surprisingly didn’t hinder the story and allowed the acting to shine through. The intimate theater actually improved the atmosphere where attendees could better hear and witness the grit and raw emotions of the leads, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy and Paul Alexander Nolan, without the need for traditional smoke and mirrors. The two played an interracial couple that expressed a wife’s frustration with viewpoints I’d never heard. The profanity did make me feel uncomfortable at times, but it’s needed to fully encapsulate one within the character conflict plus it pushes the script to feel more alive. It’s interesting how subtle some of the dialogue is between characters and still have fans pondering days later. The play is already a hot topic of pop culture conversations amongst Angelenos and it’s only the beginning.

A handful of celebrities attended the opening night including Tracee Ellis Ross, Mara Brock Akil, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Logan Browning, Ashley Blaine Featherson, Samira Wiley, Ashley Park, Sofia Boutella, Patrick Fabian, Wade Allain-Marcus and Malia Obama. The evening finished with a standing ovation and a toast with the Taper team. Slave Play is refreshing in taste and is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys progressive media in general.

More About Slave Play

It’s the most Tony Award®-nominated play in history. It stunned off-Broadway. Then it shocked Broadway. Now, Jeremy O. Harris, “a major new voice in the American theater” (Chicago Tribune), brings his “raw, revelatory, and revolutionary play” (The Daily Beast) to the Taper, in the same production that roiled New York. Directed by two-time NAACP and Obie Award® winner Robert O’Hara, Slave Play is “one of the best and most provocative new works to show up in years” (The New York Times).

At the MacGregor Plantation, nothing is as it seems, and yet everything is as it seems. It’s an antebellum fever-dream as three interracial couples converge to rip open history at the intersection of race, love, and sexuality in 21st-century America. It’s a world where the sex is as raw as the emotions, and the twists as salacious as the truth. Don’t dare shy away from this production that “reimagines the possibilities of what theatre can give us” (The New York Times).

About Jeremy O. Harris

Full-length plays include: Slave Play (Broadway, New York Theatre Workshop, NYT Critics Pick, Winner of the 2018 Kennedy Center Rosa Parks Playwriting Award, the Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award, and The Lotos Foundation Prize in the Arts and Sciences), DADDY (Vineyard Theatre/The New Group, Almeida Theatre). In 2018, Jeremy co-wrote A24’s film Zola with director Janicza Bravo. He is the 11th recipient of the Vineyard Theatre’s Paula Vogel Playwrighting Award, a 2016 MacDowell Colony Fellow, an Orchard Project Greenhouse artist, a resident playwright with Colt Coeur, and is under commission from Lincoln Center Theater and Playwrights Horizons. Jeremy is a graduate of the Yale MFA Playwrighting Program. Jeremy is currently developing a pilot with A24 for HBO.

For info on tickets to the Slave Play, head to the Center Theatre Group’s website.

Slave Play Actors — Photo credit: Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging

Slave Play Actors Opening Night — Photo credit: Craig Schwartz Photography

Black Directory in Fashion

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Leading Racial Justice and Fashion Leaders Launch First-Of-Its-Kind Directory of Black Professionals in the Fashion Industry

Color Of Change’s #ChangeFashion Initiative and Black In Fashion Council Will Provide Brands An Easy Way To Hire Black Talent

Color Of Change and IMG’s #ChangeFashion and Black In Fashion Council announced the launch of the BIFC x #ChangeFashion Directory, the first directory focusing on increasing opportunities for Black professionals in the fashion industry. This project is the first resource to be released from #ChangeFashion to help organizations execute the goals laid out in the #ChangeFashion Roadmap. The Roadmap seeks to empower fashion industry allies to embark on the journey of systematically addressing inequity and the exclusion of Black talent.

The directory currently houses the profiles and resumes of over 300 Black professionals, featuring Black-identifying photographers, makeup artists, set designers, and more with a geographic reach that expands across the world. Brands want to make a commitment to racial justice, equity, and inclusion and our Roadmap provides a guide to do so. The directory allows brands to move beyond statements of solidarity to create an industry that fully embraces diversity and inclusion. Currently, the directory will only be available to brands that sign on to the #ChangeFashion Roadmap and have committed to working with Color Of Change to achieve racial equity within the fashion industry.

“Performative activism for racial equity needs to go out of style,” said Amity Paye, Senior Director of Communications at Color Of Change. “Black people and people of color continue to push the fashion industry forward both in the spotlight and behind-the-scenes — yet the legacy of the industry is one of racial exclusion. This directory is an invitation for the industry to easily hire Black talent and professionals after taking a pledge to commit to racial justice. Black people are not a trend to flaunt whenever it’s socially impressive. With this directory, we are calling on the industry to #ChangeFashion by moving from rhetoric to action, and by investing in Black talent and careers.”

“Too often, we hear from brands that they can’t find Black talent or that their rolodex of talent needs to be more inclusive, but they don’t know where to begin,” said Lindsay Peoples Wagner and Sandrine Charles, Co-founders at Black In Fashion Council. “We are incredibly passionate about eradicating this problem and being a resource for companies to use a more diverse roster of talent and know that resources like this will make a significant impact in the industry.”

“We cannot create meaningful change without analyzing and overhauling the systems that brought us here in the first place,” said Romola Ratnam, SVP of Social Impact at Endeavor. “With this directory, we are further democratizing industry access by providing brands a comprehensive resource to change their hiring practices and ensure there is diversity both in front of and behind the camera.”

Along with being a resource for any brand committed to addressing historical racism and systemic inequality, it also aims to help fashion organizations and companies truly change the status quo, break patterns and set new norms that empower, finance, and reward Black people in the industry. There are no excuses as to why there is not an increased presence of Black artists and talent in the fashion industry. This directory will help the industry include more Black people, putting them at the center of the work.

Learn more about the directory HERE.

Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and governments to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.

#ChangeFashion is a vertical within the Color Of Change #ChangeIndustries initiative dedicated to eradicating racism in the fashion industry. In partnership with the Black In Fashion Council, IMG, and Joan Smalls, its goal is to rally companies and talent across the fashion industry to restore equity and advance racial justice by moving from rhetoric to action.

Black In Fashion Council is a group of editors, models, stylists, media executives, assistants, freelance creatives, and industry stakeholders aiming to build a new foundation for inclusivity in the fashion industry.

Endeavor is a global sports and entertainment company, home to the world’s most dynamic and engaging storytellers, brands, live events, and experiences. The company is composed of industry leaders including entertainment agency WME; sports, fashion, events, and media company IMG; and premier mixed martial arts organization UFC. The Endeavor network specializes in talent representation, sports operations & advisory, event & experiences management, media production & distribution, experiential marketing, and brand licensing.

IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events, and media. The company manages some of the world’s greatest athletes and fashion icons, owns and operates hundreds of live events annually, and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in licensing, sports training, and league development. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports, and content company.

Anne Klein SS22 f/ Joan Smalls

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“Clothes won’t change the world. The women who wear them will.” – Anne Klein

The established American fashion brand Anne Klein joins forces with supermodel, actress and activist Joan Smalls, naming her the face of their Spring 2022 campaign.

After debuting their Spring campaign on February 11 during New York Fashion Week, Smalls is highlighted in a See It Now, Buy It Now look book/video exhibition available on the CFDA’s Runway 360 virtual stage Runway360.cfda.com.

Anne Klein’s Spring ‘22 collection can be found for purchase on AnneKlein.com.

Smalls has been named the first showcase in a multiyear campaign that is set to platform an impeccable woman and celebrity each season.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Smalls is not only a renowned supermodel. She, too, serves as an advocate, having donated 50 percent of her income to generous foundations during the second half of 2020. During 2021, she supported the #ChangeFashion program set to eliminate racism in the fashion industry.

While joining Anne Klein on their Spring ’22 collection, Smalls has another upcoming charitable project that will be revealed soon.

Effy Zinkin, Chief Operating Officer at WHP Global, owner of the Anne Klein brand, spoke on the excitement of adding Smalls to their brand, stating, “We are excited to have Joan Smalls showcase the brand this season as she exemplifies the multifaceted empowered woman Anne Klein serves. Joan’s work in the fashion community and beyond exemplifies Anne Klein’s mission and we look forward to working with her to further support charitable endeavors.”

The brand-new buyer campaign from Anne Klein showcases a series of portraits and profiles from prominent woman that use their platforms to advocate for change. Each woman uplifted through the campaign will receive commemoration in print, video and virtually, offering a wide range of marketing tactics to highlight the ways that they increase awareness for differing missions and foundations.

Upcoming for the Fall ’22 campaign is Actress Gina Rodriguez, while Anne Klein has been named for Spring and Fall ’23.

To know more about ANNE KLEIN and to browse the new collection, including Handbags, Jewelry, Shoes, Sunglasses and Watches, visit www.AnneKlein.com.

About Anne Klein

Operating as a distinguished women’s fashion brand since 1968, Anne Klein’s objective is to deliver timeless American style to women across the globe. Anne Klein herself created the brand to produce classic sportswear for women, elevating the way in which women imagine and consume clothing.

Modernly maintained presently by WHP Global, the Anne Klein brand dresses women who influence causes around the world. Anne Klein is sold throughout North America, Chine, Korea, Philippines, Mexico and additional countries. For more information, visit www.anneklein.com, @AnneKlein on Facebook or @AnneKleinOfficial on Instagram.

The Spring 2022 Collection campaign was photographed by photographer Daniel Jackson in New York City.