My favorite musicals are:

1. Sophisticated Ladies
2. Dreamgirls
3. Purlie
4. Carmen Jones
5. The Wiz

It’s been an amazing year for Lil Durk. The Chicago native has held his own in a series of high-profile appearances that have done their part in buoying the young artist’s growing catalog. In that same respect, Durk hasn’t shied away from lending his starpower to a handful of younger voices. It’s a characteristic that isn’t foreign to his career. In his most recent appearance, fans can catch Durk lending a tough assist to Detroit native Tay B on his single “Stashbox.” Tay B has done an incredible job generating a steady buzz in his hometown, cultivating a career poised for the mainstream at any moment. With “Stashbox” he clocks in his biggest release so far, pairing the single with a visual, giving fans all the infectious vibes needed in the process. In the video, Tay can be seen sporting Christian Dior, spitting some of his hardest flows to date. Durk, who appears on screen dressed in a bright orange and white ensemble, rounds out the perfect partner for B, both visually and sonically. It’s clear that they have an electric on camera chemistry. Equipped with confident and consistent cadence, Tay goes on the offense. His catchy and memorable punchlines continue throughout as Durk annihilates the chorus in typical Duriko fashion. Watch the”Stashbox” video below.

This song is the property of Columbia Records.

This song is the property of T Grizzley.

Terry Sanchez Wallace Jr., known professionally as T Grizzley, is an American rapper/singer/songwriter from Detroit, MI. He is known for the singles “First Day Out”, “No Effort”, “Colors” and “From The D To The A.” Following his release from prison in 2016, Wallace released his debut single “First Day Out” via You Tube. The song gained over two million views in less than three weeks, and led to Wallace signing with 300 Entertainment and Atlantic Records in 2017. After releasing several mixtapes and singles throughout 2017, Wallace released his debut album “Activated” on May 11, 2018, which peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. Wallace is a gamer and began streaming to fans on the video streaming platform Twitch in 2020.

This song is the property of Alexander Morris.

Alexander Morris is an American singer/songwriter/producer who is best known as the lead singer of The Four Tops. He is also a solo artist. He recently released the two sided single “Change Coming/”Love’s Knocking.”

Happy Birthday

Remembering singer Willie Albert “Al” Goodman (March 31, 1943-July 26, 2010-The Moments/Ray, Goodman & Brown)

Brothers Al and Ty, known professionally as The Chestnut Brothers, are musicians with a mission. That mission is to use their music to spread love. Sometimes that mission leads them to write songs like “Come To Me.” Other times the brothers feel compelled to write songs like “Traveling On”, a spirit filled number where they declare their faith that God’s love will allow them to overcome all challenges as they make their way through life. Then there’s “Stop The Violence”, a cut that has become The Chestnut Brothers’ theme song. On that song, their love for the community and their people compels them to write a song about the violence they see and announce their desire to make a change. Those are all original numbers, but the brothers have done a remake of a soul classic for their latest single. The Rev. Al Green released “Let’s Stay Together” in 1972. The original, with its tight horns, and Green’s voice straddling the line between Saturday night and Sunday morning, is the definitive of the Memphis sound as produced by Hi Records. “Let’s Stay Together” is one of those tracks that conjures up good times. Backyard picnics on summer weekends or a bunch of friends having a good time at a card party. That’s the spirit that Al and Ty want to capture on this upbeat version that has the sound of 1980s keyboard driving funk fused with a little 1970s blues guitar work. While the song is about two people trying to hang in there through all the ups and downs that come with a relationship, it perhaps carries a deeper meaning during this time of national unrest and reckoning. Still Al and Ty think “Let’s Stay Together” is the musical balm we all need. Listen to “Let’s Stay Together” below.

This song is the property of Irving Music, Inc/O.B.O. Al Green Music, Inc.

Here’s my Spotify playist.

1. No Plans For Love D-Nice Ft. Ne-Yo & Kent Jones
2. Leave The Door Open Bruno Mars & Anderson.Paak
3. Cascade Stokely & The Bonfyre
4. Hold Us Together H.E.R. & Tauren Wells
5. Kiss Of Freedom J. D.’s Time Machine
6. Lois Lang Acantha Lang
7. He Don’t Know Nothing Bout It Jam & Lews Ft. Babyface
8. Fight For You H.E.R.
9. Soft Words Maysa
10. Radio Deborah Bond
11. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough Jennifer Hudson
12. Send For Me Brother Reggie
13. Friendship After Love Delious
14. Dance Toni Braxton
15. The Best Things Kindred The Family Soul
16. I’m All You Need Miracle Thomas
17. Angel Terisa Griffin
18. Speed Of Love Kelly Rowland
19. Set Me On Fire Sevana
20. Born To Be A King Lamone

Actor/comedian Eddie Murphy won the Hall of Fame Award during the prime-time telecast of the 52 Annual NAACP Image Awards, which aired on CBS, BET and several other stations last Saturday. The iconic actor/comedian received an Image Award for Entertainer of the Year in 1990. Murphy received his first Emmy Award last September for his return to Saturday Night Live. Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman won NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress and Actor, respectively, in a motion picture for their Oscar-nominated performances in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. However, that film lost the award for Outstanding Motion Picture to Bad Boys For Life, the third installment of the Will Smith/Martin Lawrence franchise. Davis and Boseman each won a second Image Award this year. Davis won for ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder. Boseman won Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture for Da 5 Bloods. In the music categories, announced March 25, Jhene Aiko’s “Chilombo”, which was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of the Year, won Outstanding Album. Beyonce was named Outstanding Female Artist for a record-extending sixth time. Drake won Outstanding Male Artist for, surprisingly, the first time. Beyonce won four NAACP Image Awards this year, more than anyone else. Megan Thee Stallion, Chloe x Halle, Jon Batiste and Marsai Martin of ABC’s Black-ish each won two. D-Nice took home the Entertainer of the Year Award. In March 2020, the rapper began hosting “Homeschool At Club Quarantine” on Instagram live as a way for people to come together during the pandemic. D-Nice has received several honors this past year. He won a 2020 Webby Award for Artist of the Year. He was also one of the recipients of the Shine A Light Award during the 2020 BET Awards. Here’s a complete list of 2021 NAACP Image Awards. This encompasses the awards presented on the prime-time telecast and during five nightly pre-telecast sessions.

Overall Awards

Hall of Fame Award
Eddie Murphy

Entertainer of the Year
D-Nice

Chairman’s Award
Rev. D. James Lawson

Presidents Award
LeBron James

Social Justice Impact
Stacey Abrams

Motion Pictures

Outstanding Motion Picture
Bad Boys For Life

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Outstanding supporting actor in a motion picture
Chadwick Boseman – Da 5 Bloods

Outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture
Phylicia Rashad – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Outstanding ensemble cast in a motion picture
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Outstanding breakthrough performance in a motion picture
Madalen Mills – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

Outstanding breakthrough creative (motion picture)
Nadia Hallgren – Becoming

Outstanding independent motion picture
The Banker

Outstanding international motion picture
NIGHT OF THE KINGS

Outstanding writing in a motion picture
Radha Blank – The Forty-Year-Old Version

Outstanding directing in a motion picture
Gina Prince-Bythewood – The Old Guard

Outstanding animated motion picture
Soul

Outstanding documentary (film)
John Lewis: Good Trouble

Outstanding short-film (live action
Black Boy Joy

Outstanding short-film (animated)
Canvas

Outstanding character voice-over performance – motion picture
Jamie Foxx – Soul

Music

Outstanding female artist
Beyoncé – “Black Parade”

Outstanding male artist
Drake – “Laugh Now, Cry Later”

Outstanding duo, group or collaboration (traditional)
Chloe x Halle – “Wonder What She Thinks Of Me”

Outstanding duo, group or collaboration (contemporary)
Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé – “Savage Remix”

Outstanding album
Chilombo — Jhené Aiko

Outstanding soul/R&B song
“Do It” – Chloe x Halle

Outstanding hip hop/rap song
“Savage Remix” – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé

Outstanding new artist
Doja Cat – “Say So”

Outstanding producer of the year
Hit-Boy

Outstanding music video/visual album
“Brown Skin Girl” – Beyonce’ feat WizKid, SAINt JHN, Blue Ivy Carter

Outstanding soundtrack/compilation album
Soul original motion picture soundtrack – Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste and Tom MacDougall

Outstanding gospel/Christian song
“Touch From You” – Tamela Mann

Outstanding gospel/Christian album
The Return – The Clark Sisters

Outstanding jazz album – instrumental
Music from and Inspired by Soul – Jon Batiste

Outstanding jazz album – vocal
Holy Room – Live at Alte Oper – Somi

Outstanding international song
“Lockdown” – Original Koffee

Television

Outstanding drama series
Power Book II: Ghost

Outstanding comedy series
Insecure

Outstanding talk series
Red Table Talk

Outstanding reality program/reality competition or game show
Celebrity Family Feud

Outstanding variety show (series or special)
VERZUZ

Outstanding news/information (series or special)
The New York Times Presents The Killing of Breonna Taylor

Outstanding children’s program
Family Reunion

Outstanding animated series
Doc McStuffins

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Regé-Jean Page – Bridgerton

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Viola Davis – How To Get Away With Murder

Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series
Clifford “Method Man” Smith – Power Book II: Ghost

Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series
Mary J. Blige – Power Book II: Ghost

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Issa Rae – Insecure

Outstanding actor in a comedy series
Anthony Anderson – black-ish

Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series
Deon Cole – black-ish

Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series
Marsai Martin – black-ish

Outstanding performance by a youth (series, special, television movie or limited-series)
Marsai Martin – black-ish

Outstanding writing in a comedy series
Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You – Ep. 112 “Ego Death”

Outstanding writing in a drama series
Attica Locke – Little Fires Everywhere – Ep. 104 “The Spider Web”

Outstanding writing in a television movie or special
Geri Cole – The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special

Outstanding directing in a comedy series
Anya Adams – black-ish – Ep. 611 “Hair Day”

Outstanding directing in a drama series
Hanelle Culpepper – Star Trek: Picard – Ep. 101 “Remembrance”

Outstanding directing in a television movie or special
Eugene Ashe – Sylvie’s Love

Outstanding short form series – comedy or drama
#FreeRayshawn

Outstanding performance in a short form series
Laurence Fishburne – #FreeRayshawn

Outstanding short form series – reality/nonfiction
“Between The Scenes” – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Outstanding documentary (television – series or special)
The Last Dance

Outstanding character voice-over performance (television)
Laya DeLeon Hayes – Doc McStuffins

Outstanding television movie, limited-series or dramatic special
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Outstanding actor in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special
Blair Underwood – Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Outstanding actress in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special
Octavia Spencer – Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Outstanding host in a talk or news/information (series or special) – individual or ensemble
Trevor Noah – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Outstanding host in a reality/reality competition, game show or variety (series or special) – individual or ensemble
Steve Harvey – Celebrity Family Feud

Outstanding guest performance – comedy or drama series
Loretta Devine- P-Valley

Outstanding breakthrough creative (television)
Raynelle Swilling – Cherish the Day

Television or Motion Picture

Outstanding directing in a documentary (television or motion picture)
Keith McQuirter – By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem

Outstanding writing in a documentary (television or motion picture)
Melissa Haizlip – Mr. SOUL!

Outstanding literary works

Fiction
The Awkward Black Man – Walter Mosley

Nonfiction
A Promised Land – Barack Obama

Debut author
We’re Better Than This – Elijah Cummings

Biography/autobiography
The Dead Are Arising – Les Payne, Tamara Payne

Instructional
Vegetable Kingdom – Bryant Terry

Poetry
The Age of Phillis – Honorée Jeffers

Children
She Was the First!: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm – Katheryn Russell-Brown, Eric Velasquez

Youth/teens
Before the Ever After – Jacqueline Woodson

Special Awards

Activist of the year
Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony

Youth activist of the year
Madison Potts

Spingarn medal
Misty Copeland

Founder’s
Toni Vaz

Sports award I
Stephen Curry

Sports award II
WNBA Player’s Association (Nneka Ogqumike accepting on behalf of WNBAPA)

Key of life
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett

Happy Birthday

Stanley “MC Hammer” Burrell 59

This song is the property of Neek Bucks.

Neek Bucks is an American hip hop artist from Harlem, New York City. He rose to fame in 2018 following the release of the albums “El Barrio” and “El Barrio 2”, doing everything independently and garnering millions of streams on all streaming platforms. He recently released the album “Neighborhood Hov.” He collaborated with rapper Benny The Butcher on the single “Pain.”