NEWS
Kevin Durant Talks George Floyd, Black Lives Mattering & Much More
Source: Jim McIsaac / Getty Kevin Durant has proven his elite status as a basketball player but over time has shown there is far more to him than just being a stellar athlete. In a new interview, the Prince George’s County, Md. native talks about George Floyd, Black lives and why they matter, plus much more. In a new piece that appeared in The Undefeated, ESPN’s Marc J. Spears digs in and doesn’t shy away from the killing of Floyd and what role does that play in his ongoing efforts with community development and outreach. From The Undefeated: How did you react to seeing the video of George Floyd dying from police brutality? It made me think about all the previous videos we’ve seen involving police brutality. At that point, you get tired of seeing it or wondering if things are going to chan...
“Keep Telling Your Stories”: Kygo Donates $20,000 to Black Lives Matter
After taking some time to “educate” himself amid ongoing protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death, tropical house pioneer Kygo took to social media to align with the Black Lives Matter movement and announce a significant donation. Fresh off the release of his highly anticipated third studio album Golden Hour, Kygo posted a statement on Instagram, sharing the thoughts and ruminations that led to his donation to Black Lives Matter. “I’ve never experienced racism myself so I haven’t really been sure what to say, but I’ve understood that saying nothing definitely won’t help,” Kygo wrote. “Hearing and reading the stories the last couple of days from people that have experienced racism has really helped me get a better understanding of how ...
Pool Parties Have Officially Returned to Las Vegas
In nearly the blink of an eye, the world’s nightlife and music industries were decimated by the ongoing global health crisis. While fortunately, the global spread of COVID-19 is slowing in many countries, due to the risk the virus possesses; concerts, festivals, and club nights have been put on hold. Surprising to some, 78 days after shutting down, pool parties have returned to Las Vegas’ Flamingo Hotel and Casino. While casinos have reopened across Sin City, the recent aquatic gathering is the first of its kind to restore. TMZ is reporting that few guests were practicing social distancing, but the casino’s staff was required to wear masks and gloves. They have also revealed that while the pools were open for business, it appears as though attendance was low. In an effort...
Justin Timberlake Helps Open YouTube’s Dear Class of 2020 Celebration
Justin Timberlake appeared at the top of YouTube’s Dear Class of 2020 celebration, a celebrity-studded virtual party to salute this year’s graduates who can’t get together in person thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. “So 2020 decided to test you… and this is harder than any test or final you had all your life,” Timberlake said, sending in a video from what appeared to be the Man of the Woods’ cabin in the woods. “I get it – it’s not fair, it’s heartbreaking, it makes you stop and think ‘why did this happen?’ I don’t have the answers but in the face of obstacles we have the great ability to surprise ourselves with how we fight back. “I’m speaking on behalf of the world when I say, we’re impressed,” he...
Shawn Mendes Shouts Out Grads, Students Perform His Hit ‘There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back’ at ‘Dear Class of 2020′ Commencement
There’s nothing holding the graduates of 2020 back! During the ‘Dear Class of 2020’ YouTube special on Sunday (June 7), Shawn Mendes‘ hit song “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” was performed by the AMDA College of Performing Arts Choir and the Diamond Bar High School marching band. During the pretaped performance, the musicians wore blue caps and gowns with yellow tassels while marching out onto a football field to perform the song. The video then cut to the hallways of a high school, where students — socially distanced, of course — danced while wearing face masks, a nod to the coronavirus pandemic that has led to the shutdown of schools. After the uplifting song, Mendes himself appeared in a video to thank the two groups of perfo...
Janelle Monae, Kelly Rowland & More Recite Maya Angelou Poem For YouTube’s Dear Class of 2020 Celebration
Tracee Ellis Ross, Kelly Rowland, Shonda Rhimes, Yara Shahidi, Janelle Monae and more recited Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” poem during YouTube’s virtual “Dear Class of 2020″ commencement celebration on Sunday (June 7). Each woman took turns reading lines from the poem such as, “Does my sexiness upset you?/ Does it come as a surprise/ That I dance like I’ve got diamonds/ At the meeting of my thighs?” The montage also featured clips of Angelou herself, as well as Misty Copeland dancing alone in a ballet studio. Watch the clip below. [embedded content] You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Ear...
Taylor Swift Reveals Her High School Graduation Wasn’t What She Expected in ‘ Dear Class of 2020′
Taylor Swift didn’t get the high school graduation she imagined either. In YouTube Originals’ ‘Dear Class of 2020′,’ Swift addressed the graduates by telling a story of how she was on tour and couldn’t attend her own ceremony. “I know this isn’t the kind of graduation you thought you were going to be having,” she said. “I ended up getting mailed my diploma” “It wasn’t exactly what I had pictured,” she continued. But in the end, Swift hopes everyone can “expect the unexpected.” You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. E...
Billie Eilish, Chris Martin, Beyoncé and More are Participating in the Obamas’ Virtual Graduation Ceremony
The class of 2020 got totally screwed out of a traditional graduation ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Obamas are making sure they still get a proper send off. The former president and first lady joined forces with a bunch of famous people, including Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, and Coldplay’s Chris Martin to host a virtual ceremony called “Dear Class of 2020.” The event, which runs from 3pm EST / 12pm PST to 7pm EST / 4pm PST, is divided into four segments and kicks off with Lizzo and the New York Philharmonic performing “Pomp And Circumstance.” Stream “Dear Class of 2020″ and see the full itinerary below. Block 1: 3pm EST/12pm PST (approximate timing) LizzoAlicia Keys Message to GraduatesJustin TimberlakeThe SimpsonsLiza KoshyShawn MendesPresident & Mrs. Obama...
John Dolmayan Says ‘It Shouldn’t Be a Shock’ He and Serj Tankian Have Different Political Views
Anyone who listens to System of a Down’s music knows the lyrics are political, so it might come as a surprise that the band members don’t share political views. But if you ask John Dolmayan, “it shouldn’t be a shock.” “We have differing opinions in System of a Down. That shouldn’t be a shock to anybody, because you have four individuals — we’re not always like-minded and don’t always agree on everything,” The drummer explained in a 13-minute Instagram video. “But you’d be surprised at how civil our conversations are, especially between me and Serj, who seem to have the most diverging opinions on things.” “I have a lot of respect for Serj and his opinions, although I don’t agree with them very often these days,” he continued. “And that’s okay. We expand each other’s horizons — I like t...
Prince Estate Shares Poignant ‘Baltimore’ Video
Prince’s “Baltimore” may have come out five years ago, but its message rings true today. On what would have been the late icon’s 62th birthday, his estate shared a music video for the HITnRUN Phase 2 track that comprises footage from protests demanding justice for Freddie Gray and Michael Brown — two Black men killed by the police in 2015 and 2014, respectively — and the Purple One’s “Rally 4 Peace” benefit concert in Baltimore following Gray’s death. To the blind eye, these images could easily be pulled from protests spanning the globe in 2020 as the world mourns the death of George Floyd and fights for racial justice. The clip ends with a powerful quote from Prince: “The system is broken. It’s going to take the young people to fix it this time. We need new ideas, new life.” Wat...
Madonna Shows Up for Black Lives Matter Protest on Crutches
Before COVID-19 destroyed touring artists’ entire year, Madonna had already had to cancel a number of 2020 dates on her Madame X tour due to a knee injury she sustained after falling on stage in March. But this setback didn’t stop the icon from attending today’s Parliament Square march for Black Lives Matter in London, in which thousands of people showed up to demand justice for George Floyd and all victims of racially disproportionate police brutality. Pictures and videos of the star surfaced on Twitter of her hugging fellow protestors and chanting “No justice, no peace” along with them. It’s always heartening to see a very rich person listening to the people and directing their platform and clout toward a good cause, and god we all miss hugs, but we really hope she’s still taking caution...
Tom Morello Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Victory Concert’
Rage Against the Machine is the perfect protest soundtrack, and it just so happens the band’s famous “Victory Concert” turns ten years old today. Guitarist Tom Morello celebrated the anniversary on Instagram with footage from the show. “10 years ago today @rageagainstthemachine performed a free ‘Victory Concert’ for 90,000 people in Finsbury Park, England to celebrate the successful ‘people’s campaign’ that dethroned Simon Cowell’s X Factor and put Killing In The Name at THE #1 SPOT ON UK XMAS CHART (17 yrs after its initial release),” he wrote. “The band donated 100% of sales from the single to UK homeless charities and the show may go down as the greatest in the band’s history. So today i suspect it won’t be hard find a worthy target or two & tell em: #FuckYo...
