Happy birthday

Singer Lenny Welch 79

Rapper Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (Run-DMC) 53

Remembering singer Vicki Sue Robinson (May 31, 1954-April 29, 2000)

Remembering songwriter/producer Marvin Yancy (May 31, 1950-March 22, 1985)

Rapper Waka Flocka Flame 31

Singer Ashanti is apparently working on a comeback and she looks fabulous while doing so. She recently posted a model-esque clip on Instagram of her working a roof top while wearing a sequin gown with a plunging neckline and dramatic slit. While there’s been no word on an album release date, if the instrumental track playing in the background is any indication of the music she’s been working on, it should be incredible. Back in March, the 36-year-old singer/songwriter shared the single “Lose Yourself” and discussed her new sound with Bazaar.com.  We’ll have to wait and see what else transpires from this point. Following the surprise release of his highly anticipated sophomore album “True to Self”, singer/songwriter Bryson Tiller has announced his “Set It Off Tour”, which will begin this August in Atlanta and make 25 stops before concluding in his hometown Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center. The new dates, which feature special guests H.E.R. and Metro Boomin, mark Tiller’s first headlining tour since his successful “TRAPSOUL Tour”, which sold out 47 dates in both the United States and Europe, including back to back shows at Radio  City Music Hall. This news follows a busy Memorial Day Weekend for the singer/songwriter, who surprised fans Thursday night by releasing the follow up to his debut album “TRAPSOUL” a month ahead of the initially planned June 23 release date. Pre-sale tickets for Bryson Tiller’s forthcoming tour are now available and general tickets will be available to the public on Friday, June 2 at 10 am via www.trapsoul.com and AEGPresents.com. With the purchase of any item at Tiller’s webstore, users will receive a unique pre-sale code for early access to tickets. Last week, BET announced the nominees for the 2017 BET Awards, now they’re slowly rolling out the list of performers for the event. So far, Bruno Mars, Tamar Braxton, Future, Migos and Trey Songz are confirmed performers with others to be announced soon. The 2017 BET Awards will air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on June 25,  and will be hosted by “Saturday Night Live” cast member Leslie Jones. Rapper Snoop Dogg, along with fellow rappers Method Man, Redman and B Real remix Mount Rushmore to the dismay of cartoon Donald Trump for the visual for the single “Mount Krushmore.” The animated clip finds the Mary Jane loving MCs on an explosive mission to give the national landmark, which features former U. S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, a hip hop face lift. As President Trump tries to get to the bottom of the redesign, his Secret Service agents uncover used condoms, a chicken bone and a pair of hoop earrings. Of course, twerking women and an abundance of greenery also appear in the clip, which ends with the message “To be continued.” The track appears on Snoop Dogg’s fifteenth studio effort “Neva Left”, which was released earlier this month.

Happy birthday

Singer/songwriter/rapper Thomas DeCarlo “Cee Lo Green” Callaway (Goodie Mob) 43

Remembering singer Gladys Catherine Horton (May 30, 1945-January 26, 2011-The Marvelettes)

Rapper Remy Ma 37

Singer/songwriter/rapper Lauryn Hill and rapper Nas will take their chemistry to the stage for a joint North American tour this fall. Announced by Live Nation earlier today, the co-headlining trek will begin on Sept. 7 in Chicago, IL and will visit 17 cities in the U.S. and Canada, including Toronto, Boston, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, and others before wrapping up on Oct. 11 in Vancouver, BC. Comedian Hannibal Buress and reggae star Chronixx will join the tour for select dates. Hill and Nas previously toured together on the “Life Is Good/Black Rage Tour” in 2012. If you’ve been ignoring singer/songwriter Kevin Ross, pay attention! The Motown Records signee delivered an amazing performance at the Majestic Theater in Detroit last night. The crooner captivated the crowd with performances of the singles “Be Great”, “Don’t Forget About Me” and “O.I.L.” He impressed both male and female audience members, culminating with a female fan calling his name. The songs “Pick You U”, “Don’t Go” and “Dream” kept the crowd bobbing and swaying. Regarding his journey toward seeing his dream become reality, Ross says he almost quit, wondering if the world wanted to hear his music. He acknowledges that he wouldn’t be where he is without his fans. Fans can catch him on “The Awakening Tour” when he visits their city. Following the release of his sophomore studio effort “All-AmeriKKan Bada$$” last month, rapper Joey Bada$$  will take his talents to Europe. Tickets for the MC’s tour will go on sale Friday via his official site. The trek will begin on Oct. 21 in Bristol and visit Dublin, Paris and Berlin, before wrapping up on Nov. 18 in Helsinki. “All-AmeriKKan Bada$$” debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and features guest appearances by J. Cole, ScHoolboy Q, Styles P, Nyck Caution, Kirk Knight, Meechy Darko and Chronixx.

Happy birthday

Singer Joel “Joey” Kibble (Take 6) 46

Singer/songwriter Jaheim Hoagland 39

Singer/songwriter/producer/musician Leonard Albert “Lenny” Kravitiz 53

Singer/songwriter/rapper/producer/actress Lauryn Hill 42

Rapper/actor Andre “Andre 3000” Benjamin 42

Rapper Jadakiss 42