NEWS

BEYONCÉ’S COWBOY CARTER

Beyoncé, who has won the most Grammys ever, has set numerous records with her Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records release of her 8th studio album, Cowboy Carter [CC]. It’s the most streamed album in one day on Spotify for 2024. CC’s industry disruption is due to its 76.13 streams.

The remake of Dolly Parton’s Jolene, Protector f/ daughter Rumi Carter, Smoke Hour f/ Willie Nelson, and the duet with Miley Cyrus II Most Wanted has been highly praised by listeners.

Although the Queen has received massive pushback for not being an actual country music artist, the Bey Hive has fired back by reminding naysayers that she hails from the South. ABC News broadcasted a segment that documented her impact in the entertainment industry, highlighting her four performances at the Houston Rodeo from 2001 to 2007 (both solo and with Destiny’s Child).

Mrs. Carter’s entry into Western has brought about more attention and streams for a group of black and marginalized artists who have been ignored by the community for decades. Historically, country music is deeply rooted in African culture and black music. It is derived from bluegrass, hymns, and jug bands. Furthermore, the banjo is a musical instrument that is rooted in West African culture. A biracial musician from Greensboro, Rhiannon Giddens, who has been awarded a Grammy and Pulitzer Prize, uses a riff on the minstrel banjo for the Texas Hold’em intro. It has created a frenzy on TikTok with a line dance challenge. Moreover, Robert Randolph plays steel guitar on the emotionally charged yet epic 16 Carriages.

Manhattan Beach native Tanner Adell collaborates on Blackbiird (a remake of The Beatles), and it sounds good. She even called upon the magnificent Raye, a six-time Brit Award-winning artist, to help write Riverdance.

Overall, Beyonce is a powerful performer who continues to transcend. Her immense talent is undeniable, and regardless of whether you respect her entry into the southern secular arena, she continues to conquer.

Despite the craze surrounding Cowboy Carter, Beyonce gracefully hosted a CD signing at Tower Records in Shibuya, Japan, with her longtime bodyguard Julius, publicist Yvette Noel-Schure, and husband Jay-Z present.

Another heartfelt moment is when FAMU yodeling scholarship recipient, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and CMA performer K. Michelle tweeted a heart-felt letter bundled with a bouquet of flowers from Beyoncé. It acknowledged the former R&B diva’s transition to pop country and how both of them have had to endure harsh criticism in the male-dominated field.

SKAIWATER + LIL NAS X

Burgeoning artist/producer, skaiwater, unveils “light!” with multi-platinum award-winning artist Lil Nas X, marking Nas’ first solo feature collaboration with another artist. Produced by 9lives, the new rendition delves into the theme of young love, shedding ‘light’ on the hidden toxicity that often lurks beneath the surface. Between skaiwater’s fresh, unique storytelling and Lil Nas X’s magnetic presence, the duo is unmatched as they effortlessly fuse distinct, vibrant, and innovative styles. Of the track skaiwater shares “‘light!’ came together at the end of 2023. I wanted to try my hand at a revival of the jerk wave and when Nas heard the record he immediately wanted to put a verse down. As a longtime friend, I think him and I feel like this was the right time to collaborate.” Listen to the track HERE via Good Talk/Geffen.

Accompanying the track is a music video that transports viewers into an alternate reality where skai, Lil Nas X, and others are transplanted to a video game universe. Much like a 2-player game, relationships present challenges that must be overcome together. We navigate through levels or stages, drawing lessons from our experiences, and occasionally hitting the restart button to move forward. Watch the video HERE, premiering today at 1pm ET. skaiwater and Lil Nas X’s collaboration stretches back to early days of social media. Their friendship blossomed, eventually leading to fruitful musical collaborations. Notably, skai’s involvement in Lil Nas X’s “Holiday” marked a significant milestone in their partnership which later led to skai joining Nas’ UK and European “Long Live Montero” tour.

In 2022, skaiwater experienced a breakout year with the release of their 11-track project, rave. This project included standout tracks like “boys don’t cry” and “miles,” featuring Lil Uzi Vert. rave resonated strongly with audiences, garnering millions of streams and making its mark on various music charts, including those on TikTok and Spotify.In the past year, skaiwater shared several tracks, including “emo hotel,” “good things,” and “good things 2” featuring Tana. These releases received support from Our Generation and RIFF Magazine, both of which praised their music for its “hypnotic beats,” attention-grabbing qualities, and “slick lyrics.” Now, with the arrival of “light!,” skaiwater is signaling a new wave of music that’s yet to come.

PHOTO CREDIT: DAVID DICKENSON

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Zeitz MOCAA Honorary Award

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) proudly announces the recipients of its Zeitz MOCAA Honorary Award for Artistic Excellence and Zeitz MOCAA Honorary Award for Philanthropic Achievement. These honourable awards recognise exceptional individuals who shape the landscape of contemporary art in Africa and will respectively be presented to artist Wangechi Mutu and collector Louis Norval at Zeitz MOCAA’s highly anticipated Gala evening on Sunday, February 11, 2024. The Gala is the museum’s annual fundraiser in support of its curatorial and education programming.

Koyo Kouoh, Executive Director, and Chief Curator of Zeitz MOCAA emphasises the significance of these awards, stating “The Zeitz MOCAA Honorary Awards are a tribute to visionaries whose contributions are essential to the thriving contemporary art scene on the Continent. Their impact resonates far beyond artistic realms, inspiring positive change and fostering cultural dialogue.”

Honorary Award for Artistic Excellence: Wangechi Mutu

Wangechi Mutu, a luminary in contemporary art from Africa, will be honored with the Zeitz MOCAA Award for Artistic Excellence. Her work, featured in esteemed institutions globally, encapsulates a powerful exploration of the female form as a site of cultural expression and empowerment. Mutu, a founding member of the Zeitz MOCAA Global Council, is leaving an indelible mark on art history.. In her words, “Art is an ancient language older than text, capable of envisioning the future of the entire world.” Mutu’s transformative sculptures and collages have earned her a place as a vital voice in the global art scene.

Laudator: Adrienne Edwards, Curator of Performance and Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Whitney Museum of American Art, commends Mutu’s groundbreaking work and celebrates her as a true visionary.

Honorary Award for Philanthropic Achievement: Louis Norval

Louis Norval, recognised as one of the world’s top 200 art collectors, will receive the Zeitz MOCAA Honorary Award for Philanthropic Achievement. A distinguished figure in business and culture, Norval’s commitment to the transformative power of art has been unwavering. He is a founder of the Norval Foundation, dedicated to preserving and promoting modern and contemporary African art, which stands as a testament to his passion for sharing art with all.

“Art is part of everyday life, and we’d all be poorer and society so much worse off if we didn’t have art as part of our lives.” commented Louis Norval

Laudator: Frank Kilbourn, Chairperson of Strauss & Co. Fine Art Auctioneers applauds Norval’s impact and his legacy of inspiring positive change in both business and culture.

The Gala evening promises to be an immersive experience featuring scenography inspired by the works of renowned artist Athi Patra Ruga. Guests will be entertained by captivating performances by Simphiwe Dana and Nobuhle Ashanti Trio. The event includes an exclusive live and virtual Auction facilitated by Strauss & Co with works by internationally recognised artists: William Kentridge, Senzeni Marasela, Mary Evans, Zandile Tshabalala, Unathi Mkonto, Kemang Wa Lehulere, Abdoulaye Konaté, and Alfredo Jaar. All proceeds from the Gala will support the museum’s curatorial and education programs.

The Zeitz MOCAA Gala 2024 is proudly supported by Gucci, BMW, Strauss & Co, Ruinart, Viviers Studio, Hatem Imam at Studio Safar, Tandym Print PTY (ltd) with print facilitation by Philip Kannemeyer, Condé Nast South Africa, Hazendal Wines, and Young Presidents’ Organisation (YPO).

ANTHONY RUBIO + NYFW

BTS

Fotografiska NYC hosted an epic evening of memorable proportions presented by Anthony Rubio.

It was a night to remember with some of the most iconic pups and poodles adorned in avant-garde pieces carefully crafted by the esteemed host.

The audience celebrated a new book release, previewed a sneak peek of the ‘dogumentary,’ and enjoyed one of the most illustrious shows of NYFW.

Visit Anthony Rubio‘s CFDA Runway360 platform profile HERE.

Photos: Manonce

DOLCE&GABBANA MEN’S FW24

WATCH

The Dolce&Gabbana Fall/Winter 2024 Men’s Collection, Sleek, tells a story of elegance and of the handmade; a sartorial essay, predominantly in black, which is, together with the attention to detail, part of the all-Italian DNA of Dolce&Gabbana.

The intention is to elevate the power of tailoring, focusing on a quality capable of distinguishing itself from the rest.

Authentic garments, characterized by perfect cuts and delicate proportions which are found above all in jackets and coats. A clean and elegant look that even the youngest are approaching.

Dolce&Gabbana fashion has deep roots. This Collection reflects the change that Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana perceive and aims to recover values through quality expressed in all its forms.

Color scheme: black, white, grey, camel, denim

Front row guests included Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sanchez (their son Nikko Gonzalez walked the show), André Lamoglia, Jason Fernandez, Franco Masini, Maria Pedraza, Blanco, Simone Susinna, Fabio Quartararo, Noah Beck, Jacob Rott, Quavo, Lucien Laviscount, and Juju Shuster.

Korean talents included Rowoon, DPR Ian, Younghoon, Hyunjae

Thai talents included Force, Book Kasidet

Fotografo: Stas Komarovski

Stylist: Karl Templer

Hair: Guido Palau

Makeup: Pat McGrath

DOLCE&GABBANA MEN'S FW24 VIA 360 MAGAZINE.

FACE TO FACE

A Conversation with Ken Gonzales-Day and Erika Hirugami

The Claremont Lewis Museum of Art will present a public program on Thursday, January 18, at 5:00 pm. “Face to Face in Conversation,” will feature artist Ken Gonzales-Day and Erika Hirugami, Founder & CEO of Curator Love, Co-Founder of the UNDOC+Collective and professor at Claremont Graduate University. They will discuss their respective projects and the past, present, and future of cultural representation. More conversation and refreshments to follow the presentation.

The exhibition Face to Face: Ken Gonzales-Day presenting photographs that explore the history of race and its representation will be on display through January 21 at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art in the historic Claremont Depot at 200 W. First Street. For more information, visit http://clmoa.org.

LATTO + FORBES

ATL-based Grammy nominated rapper Latto gives back to her community at her third annual Christmas In Clayco event for her Win Some Give Some Foundation. The global superstar donated over $500k worth of gifts, some through donations or sponsorships from brands such as UGG, Savage x Fenty, Apple, Liquid Death, Wingstop, Wrap Snacks, HALLS, Camille Rose and more. The event comes a few days prior to her official “Latto Day” (December 18) proclaimed by the county, who also honored her with the key to city as well.

Withover 1 billion streams worldwide across all platforms and accolades continuing to rack up from her success, it’s clear that Latto has set the stage to become a global superstar. The release of her hit RIAA-certified 3x Platinum single “Big Energy”in September 2021 has made Latto inescapable. She went on to make history with the single as the first female rapper to ever have a #1 record at Pop, Rhythm and Urban Radio with the same single. Overall, she’s also the first female artist in 12 years to accomplish this feat, joining the company of Rihanna (“Rude Boy”), Alicia Keys (“No One”), Beyoncé (“Irreplaceable”), Mary J. Blige (“Be Without You”) and Mariah Carey (“We Belong Together”), the last five to previously achieve this. Since then, she has won various awards including: “Best New Artist” at the 2022 BET Awards, “Best New Artist” at the 2022 People’s Choice Awards, Variety Hitmakers “Breakthrough Artist” Honoree, 2023 Billboard’s Women in Music “Powerhouse Award,” “Song of the Summer” for “Seven” with Jung Kook at the 2023 MTV VMA Awards,and “Best Female Hip-Hop Artist” at the 2023 BET Awards. In addition to all the awards Latto has racked up over the past few years, she was also nominated at the 2023 Grammy Awards for “Best New Artist” and “Best Melodic Rap Performance” (for “Big Energy (Live) and has graced multiple print covers in 2023 alone such as Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone “Musicians on Musicians” Issue with Snoop Dogg, XXL Magazine – which included a video component for XXL’s first-ever all female cypher curated by Latto (that trended on Youtube and went viral) – and a digital cover for Forbes ’30 Under 30’ as the call out for the Musicians section.

Latto just wrapped a summer festival run in Europe that included Wireless Festival (London), Roskilde Festival (Denmark), Rolling Loud Germany, and more. She also attended Milan Fashion Week where she went to various shows including Robert Cavalli, Etro, Blumarine, Diesel and GCDS. With the release of her latest singles and collaborations plus working on her next album, the next chapter of Latto’s career will have more new music, more vibrant visuals and more big energy from The Biggest.

Keep Up With Latto:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latto777/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Latto

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latto777

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/latto777

Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday 2

‘Nicki Minaj reminds of why she’s Queen‘ — VLOW

GLOBAL ICON AND THE QUEEN OF HIP-HOP NICKI MINAJ RELEASES HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM PINK FRIDAY 2

LISTEN HERE: https://nickiminaj.lnk.to/PinkFriday2PR

Photo Credit: Charlotte Rutherford

SOCIALS
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ART HEARTS FASHION

Art Hearts Fashion and Love of Urban Design Are Hosting Iconic Fashion and Art Events For Art Basel 2023

Love of Urban Design (LOUD) Will Bring Miami Art Week to Coral Gables this week on Wednesday, Dec. 6th, 2023 from 6PM to 11PM with the LOUD Fashion Show, Art Activation and Pop-up Marketplace Spotlighting Black fashion designers, artists and creatives alike. As an official Black of Art Miami event designated by Greater Miami and Conventions Bureau, LOUD’s fashion and art show on Dec. 6th will host hundreds of top fashionistas, creatives, fashion media, artists, art lovers and more.

Love of Urban Design™ (LOUD) is excited to bring Black Miami Art Week 2023 to the city of Coral Gables on Dec. 6th, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Bay 13 Brewery and Kitchen (65 Alhambra Plaza, Coral Gables, FL 33134) for a fabulous fashion show, art exhibit and pop-up marketplace featuring South Florida’s most innovative designers, artists and creatives. LOUD’s captivating runway fashion shows will feature four wonderful fashion and hair brands including F + F Gains Athleisure, COOL® Creative, South Florida Fashion Academy, and House of Postiche. Plus, 20+ creative Black and Afro-Latino artists will exhibit and sell artwork along with several fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands hosting at an indoor/outdoor pop-up shop. Tickets for this event are available for sale online (GA & VIP): https://www.loveofurbandesign.com/event-details/loud-fashion-show-art-activation-and-marketplace

In addition, Art Hearts Fashion will host The Art of Fashion: a Three-Day Fashion Fairytale Event Series during Art Basel 2023 from Dec. 7 – 9, 2023 to celebrate creativity, fashion and art during the world’s biggest global art festival.

Beginning on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, Art Hearts Fashion will host a fabulous fashion runway show & dinner at Fabel Miami with celebrity fashion designer Giannina Azar along with Brazilian swimwear brand Lybethras and sustainable, wearable art from Swedish designer Julie Colquitt along with a live musical performance from Sarah Micheaa and an art exhibition curated by Summer Six Gallery. Doors open at 8pm. Tickets available online.

Then on Art Basel Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, Art Hearts Fashion will host a Riverside Odyssey of Boho-Chic Marvels with runway shows at Kiki on The River from Lila Nikole, Mister Triple X, Morfium Fashion, and Black Tape Project by Drakhan Blackhart with a docked yacht party, dinner & cocktails amidst a vibrant playlist from 9pm to 2am. Tickets available online.

Finally, on Saturday, Dec 9, 2023 Art Hearts Fashion will host a pop-up fashion show and art exhibit at DREAM South Beach‘s rooftop pool lounge called High Bar (1111 Collins Ave.) overlooking South Beach featuring talented LGBTQ designers including Love For Upcycling, For The Stars Fashion House, and Willfredo Gerardo. Doors open at 7PM. Tickets available online.

Tickets available for sale online: https://posh.vip/e/miami-art-week-powered-by-art-hearts-fashion-art-basel-2023

To request influencer or media passes to any of these events, please email Samantha@Savory-PR.com for inquiries.

MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN #300

Revealed today at the Marvel: Amazing Spider-Man – Gang War Panel at L.A. Comic Con, Marvel Comics will celebrate a monumental milestone this March with MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN #300! Series writer Cody Ziglar gave fans the full scoop about this epic issue that honors the title’s legacy with a pivotal chapter for Miles Morales who took over the Ultimate Spider-Man title in 2011 before his current adventures in the 616.

The giant-sized issue will serve as a crucial turning point for Ziglar’s current run as a plot that’s been building since the start comes to its full fruition! Featuring art by some of the industry’s leading talents, including Miles’ co-creator Sara Pichelli and current series artist Federico Vicentini, MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN #18 will honor 300 issues with a grand battle between Spider-Man and his new archenemy—Rabble! Debuting in the latest run’s explosive opening arc, Rabble has been busy plotting her revenge against Spider-Man ever since she learned his secret identity! And the hyper-lethal Cape Killers led by Agent Gao, Scorpion, and Hightail are also gunning to bring Spidey down at all costs. Luckily, Miles will have backup of his own—his uncle, Aaron Davis AKA the Prowler, and his best friend, Ms. Marvel!

Miles Morales is in for the fight of his life! Rabble has stepped from the shadows of “Gang War” for a rematch, and she’s sworn bloody revenge against Brooklyn’s wall-crawler! But this time, Rabble’s out-of-control powers and desperation have her poised to obliterate far more than just Spider-Man’s life. Don’t miss this thrilling story by sensational lineup of Spider-Creators with fabulous guest stars, twists, and turns and REVELATIONS that will send your Spider-Senses reeling!

“To be completely honest it’s very surreal to be able to write Miles’ 300th issue,” Ziglar said. “This is a character I’ve been following and rooting for for almost 12 years now. There’s so much crammed into this issue and I’m forever grateful that I have been trusted to continue to carry the torch for Miles after Bendis and Ahmed.”

Get your first taste of the action in both Vicentini’s cover as well as David Marquez’s variant cover and witness Miles Morales’ fiercest trial yet when MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN #18 hits stands in March! For more information, visit Marvel.com.