It’s pretty safe to say 2018 is being kind to Ed Sheeran.
In addition to making headlines last week for sailing to #1 on U.K. charts with his hit ‘River’ (with Eminem) and later announcing his engagement to longtime girlfriend Cherry Seaborn, the singer-songwriter is also celebrating news that his hit ‘Perfect,’ currently sitting at #1 on the U.S. charts, has been certified 3x platinum thanks to help from Beyonce and Andrea Bocelli.
Thanks to some handsome and consistent streaming and paid download figures, Sheeran’s not only seeing his latest hit cross into a new certification tier, but also one of its chart-topping predecessors.
Tracee Ellis Ross saw her name in headlines this week for a ‘Hollywood Reporter’ story that alleged she was getting paid “significantly less” than Anthony Anderson, her counterpart on the hit ABC series ‘Black-ish.’
The article also asserted Ross, a staunch supporter of the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements (both campaigns that encourage female empowerment and equality), was threatening to appear in fewer episodes of the show if her pay was not equal to Anderson’s.
As the report gained heat over the week, the actress took to social media over the weekend to not only deny the news, but also address the ‘Hollywood Reporter’ story head on.
“Can I get your name and number, cause I like your Steelo”
It is with this statement that R&B group 702 burst onto the scene. From The Vault journeys back to 1996, when the ladies released their debut single ‘Steelo.’
Introduced as the proteges of New Edition star Michael Bivins, the trio kinda sorta had to hit it out of the park with their first offering. And that’s exactly what they did with the Missy Elliott-assisted ‘Steelo’ – a Hip-Hop/Soul number produced by Dr Ceuss which saw them celebrate men whose swagger (or “steelo”) was on 100.
Commercially, the single fared well, especially given that it served as their debut, peaking at #32 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It even reached showed a little promise in the UK where it narrowly missed the Top 40 (#41).
However, for many a millennial, the track is perhaps most memorable for being used as the opening theme to Nickelodeon’s ‘Cousin Skeeter.’ Gifting it a second wind of sorts.
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Brian Luvar directed the band in the song’s basketball-themed video. The Vegas natives are seen getting their 90s on with synchronized choreography, matching outfits, and sass in abundance.
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We’ve long felt that 702 didn’t get garner the shine they deserved during their stint in the industry. If it wasn’t TLC‘s endless string of smashes then it was Destiny’s Child‘s dominance thereafter; all of which stopped the ladies from hitting the highs they were capable of – which is such a shame.
Anyhow, with arecent sighting together at the Soul Train Awards, it seems they are brewing something. Needless to say, we can’t wait to hear and see what they have in store.
Ciara ignited anger on some corners of the social media arena when a tweet – intended to be inspirational – was oddly interpreted by some as a dig at singletons.
Given how publicly Ci has lived her romantic highs and lows (Future, Russell Wilson, and the like), we understood her stance. And, in a bid to get in front of the rising debate, it’s one she’s expanded on in a statement addressing the drama.
The happily married singer Ciara has come under fire after she shared a video she hoped would encourage women to set higher standards for themselves when choosing partners.
Ciara said you can’t be on twitter begging for money via CashApp and expect niggas to marry you.
Iggy Azalea is on the comeback trail, but before dropping new single ‘Savior’ she seems keen to share her journey – one that’s been filled with a number of stumbling blocks.
Following a highly publisized cheating scandal, Cardi B says she and fiancé Offset aren’t “speaking like that.” However, she has chosen to speak up and out about the controversy he’s currently engulfed in.
As widely reported, the Migos star caught all sorts of heat this week he rapped the following lyric on YFN Lucci’s ‘Boss Life’:
“I cannot vibe with queers”
He’s since apologized for any offence caused and insists that he’s not homophobic, stressing that his use of the word was taken in the wrong content.
And now Cardi is backing him up. See what we mean…
Mo’Nique caught a lot of flack this week when she called for a boycott of Netflix over perceived “race and gender bias.”
Many, even some supporters, felt she went about the matter wrong and were quick to point out holes in her argument about why she was being offered less for a stand-up special than comedic counterparts Amy Schumer, Dave Chapelle, and Chris Rock.
And, despite painting the debate as one that is bigger than her and an institutional problem affecting fellow Afro-American stars, none have come forward to vouch for her cause.
