Bruno Mars’s Rose-Collaboration “APT.” Notches Seventh Week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Global Charts

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It’s Lucky No. (Week) 7 for Bruno Mars…

The 39-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer/songwriter’s hit ROSÉ-collaboration “APT.” leads the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts for a seventh week each.

The song debuted as the stars’ second leader on each survey.

“APT.” rules the Global 200 with 149.9 million streams (down 7%) and 18,000 sold (down 13%) worldwide November 29-December 5.

The hit now boasts seven of the top eight global streaming weeks among songs released in 2024:

224.5 million, “APT.,” ROSÉ & Bruno Mars, Nov. 2
207.5 million, “APT.,” Nov. 9
176.8 million, “Fortnight,” Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone, May 4
162.2 million, “APT.,” Nov. 16
160.6 million, “APT.,” Dec. 7
149.9 million, “APT.,” Dec. 14
146.4 million, “APT.,” Nov. 23
132.7 million, “APT.,” Nov. 30

“APT.” concurrently tops Global Excl. U.S. with 132.6 million streams (down 6%) and 12,000 sold (down 7%) outside the U.S. November 29-December 5.

Mars and Lady Gaga’s “Die With a Smile” holds at No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S. following eight weeks at No. 1 starting in September.

The Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts rank songs based on streaming and sales activity culled from more than 200 territories around the world, as compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 is inclusive of worldwide data and the Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from territories excluding the United States.

Chart ranks are based on a weighted formula incorporating official-only streams on both subscription and ad-supported tiers of audio and video music services, as well as download sales, the latter of which reflect purchases from full-service digital music retailers from around the world, with sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites excluded from the charts’ calculations.

Jhené Aiko to Be Honored by The Revels Group at BLACK: Future. Now. Brunch 2024

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Jhené Aiko is celebrating the future now…

The 36-year-old part-Dominican and part-Spanish American R&B singer-songwriter and rapper will be honored at this year’s BLACK: Future. Now. Brunch 2024 in Los Angeles.

Aiko is among a roster of decorated music executives and artists across the industry who’ll be honored during the ceremony. Other honorees include include Cash Cobain and Rachelle Jean-Louis.

BLACK: Future. Now. Brunch 2024 is hosted by The Revels Group, alongside the Black Music Action Coalition, Amazon Music and Live Nation, announced plans for the third annual

The celebratory brunch will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15 and serve as a lead into BMAC Gala Week (starting Sept. 19).

Following her successful North American run on the Magic Hour Tour, Aiko will receive the “Brilliant Beyond” Creative Artistry Award.

The burgeoning Cash Cobain is slated to take home the “Future Phenom Now” Award while Blake Brown-Grakal will accept the “L(Eagle) Eye” Attorney of the Year Award.

“We’re super excited to be kicking off BMAC week once by celebrating the future and now of Black excellence,” said The Revels Group CEO Jamil Davis. “When I started the BFN and the Brunch my mission was to bring together a diverse room to highlight the creatives, executives and thought leaders of tomorrow that are having breakout years, or typically don’t get as much shine.”

Ana Ortiz to Star in Lifetime’s “Ripped from the Headlines” TV Movie “Nobody Dumps My Daughter”

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a lifetime project come true for Ana Ortiz.

The 53-year-old half-Puerto Rican actress will star in one of Lifetime’s highly anticipated “Ripped from the Headlines” films this fall.

Ortiz, best known for her work on Ugly Betty, will star alongside Jasmine Vega and Sheila E in Nobody Dumps My Daughter.

The original television movie will premiere on October 12th at 8/7c.

In Nobody Dumps My Daughter, after Jimmy breaks up with Theresa (Vega), her overbearing mother, Mary (Ortiz), becomes obsessed with mending their relationship after learning that Jimmy took her daughter’s virginity. Determined to reunite the couple, Mary does everything she can to convince Jimmy to change his mind… including bribing him. When her tactics fail, Mary becomes desperate and her meddling ways turn to murderous when she enlists the services of a fortune teller named Anna (Sheila E.) and a hitman to murder Jimmy in an attempt to reclaim her daughter’s purity.

The Lifetime Original is produced by Lighthouse Pictures with Gemma Martini, Jamie Goehring and Jameson Parker serving as executive producers. Stan Brooks directs from a script by Richard Blaney & Gregory Small.

Leandro Higo to Fight Defending Bellator Bantamweight Champion Patchy Mix

Posted on July 23, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Leandro Higo is officially in the mix…

The 35-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist will fight Patchy Mix in the main event of the Bellator Champions Series: Paris at the Adidas Arena when Bellator returns to Paris on November 16.

Mix is return to action to defend his Bellator bantamweight championship against Higo.

Mix (20-1) is looking to bounce back after an underwhelming split decision win over Magomed Magomedov in May.

This will be Mix’s second defense of the title that he unified when he defeated Sergio Pettis by submission in November 2023.

Mix, ESPN’s No. 7-ranked bantamweight, is riding an eight-fight winning streak.

Higo hopes to cash in on his second opportunity to capture 135-pound gold after back-to-back wins over Nikita Mikhailov and James Gallagher.

The latter he faced on short notice in a featherweight bout.

He fell short in his first attempt back in 2018 when he was submitted by Darrion Caldwell.

The co-main event features the undefeated Baissangour “Basi” Chamsoudinov (8-0) returning to home soil for a fight with Sweden’s Oliver Enkamp (11-4). This will be Chamsoudinov’s first fight since he defeated Cedric Doumbé in highly controversial fashion. The fight was stopped when Doumbe had a piece of glass embedded in his left foot and Chamsoudinov was awarded a TKO.

Maira Moneo to Fight Caroline Dubois in England Next Month

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Maira Moneo is up for a new challenge…

The 31-year-old Uruguayan woman professional boxer and WBC interim world lightweight champion will fight Caroline Dubois at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley, England, on August 3.

The victor will take a step closer to a shot at the WBC world lightweight title, held by two-weight undisputed champion Katie Taylor of Ireland, who faces Amanda Serrano in a rematch on the undercard of Jack Paul and Mike Tyson‘s fight in Texas on Nov. 15.

Taylor is also undisputed super lightweight champion and will defend those titles against Serrano.

Moneo (14-1, 3 KO), 31, from Montevideo, is more experienced than Dubois and in December 2022 outpointed two-division world champion Erica Anabella Farias.

Her only defeat came by disqualification, due to a clash of heads versus Yanina del Carmen Lescano in 2020.

Dubois (9-0, 5 KOs), 23, of London, has also signed a long-term promotional deal with U.K.-based BOXXER as she targets progressing to a world title shot later this year, or a clash with Taylor in 2025.

Dubois, who turned professional in 2022 after competing at the last Olympics, said: “I’m ready to announce myself on the big stage. I want to be world champion. I want to be fighting for world titles against the likes of [WBO champion] Rhiannon Dixon, [IBF champion] Beatriz Ferreira and [WBC and WBA champion] Taylor. I want to unify the division. I want to be undisputed and then I want to move up in weight.

“Moneo is a fight that can propel me to the next level. She is going to bring that South American mentality, tenacity and energy. She has a lot of experience. She’s going to be aggressive and nonstop punching and I’m ready and I’m excited for that.

“Every time I step in the ring, I want to do damage. I want to excite people. I want people to say: ‘Wow, that Caroline Dubois, she’s something special!’ Whether it’s a knockout or a 10-round beatdown, I want to be the standout performance of the night, and on August 3rd, I’m coming to steal the show.

“After this fight, I will be on a collision course with Katie Taylor. I will be the interim champion, her mandatory and unless she vacates, we’re fighting next.”

It will be a big couple of months for the Dubois family as Caroline’s brother Daniel makes a first defence of the IBF world heavyweight title against English rival Anthony Joshua, the former champion, at Wembley Stadium on Sept. 21.

7-16

Cherie Jimenez to Start Run as Gabi Hernandez on “Days of Our Lives” in Late June

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Cherie Jimenez’s days will be busier than ever…

The 36-year-old part Puerto Rican, Dominican and Spanish actress is set to start her run on Days of Our Lives as Gabi Hernandez, Rafe’s (Rafe’s (Galen Gering) younger sister, will start her run on June 27.

Jimenez was hired in April to assume the role of Gabi, who is also the younger sister of the late Arianna (Lindsay Hartley) and Dario (Jordi Vilasuso).

The character first appeared in 2009 on the daytime sudser.

Gabriela Rodriguez played Gabi before she was replaced by Camila Banus in 2010. Banus held the role on and off through November of 2023.

Having attended both The Professional Performing Arts School and SUNY Purchase Acting Conservatory, Jimenez recently had the lead role in Lifetime’s Angie: Lost Girls and in the sequel, Maya. Previous credits include recurring for two seasons on Banshee, as well as roles on NCIS, The Newsroom, and Pretty Little Liars.

Jimenez recently wrapped production on Man In The Long Black Coat opposite Neal McDonough, Christopher Lloyd and Dermot Mulroney.

Colman Domingo Earns Five NAACP Image Awards Nominations

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Colman Domingo is this year’s NAACP Image Awards all-star…

The nominations for the 55th NAACP Image Awards have been announced, with the 54-year-old Belizean-Guatemalan American actor earning five nods.

The awards, which honor the year’s best in Black excellence in the fields of motion pictures, television, music, books and podcasts and are voted on by the public, will be handed out March 16 in a primetime ceremony to air on BET and CBS.

Domingo scored nominations for his lead role playing civil rights icon Bayard Rustin in Netflix’s Rustin and for playing Mister in Warner Bros’ The Color Purple. He also is up for the Image Awards’ marquee prize, Entertainer of the Year.

Domingo is also nominated twice in the Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture category for his work in The Color Purple and Rustin.

Meagan Good has picked up two nods…

The 42-year-old part-Puerto Rican actress is nominated in the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series category for her work in Harlem. She’s also up for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for Buying Back My Daughter.

Ariana DeBose is nominated in the Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance – Motion Picture category for the 33-year-old half-Puerto Rican Oscar-winning actress and singer’s Wish role.

Zoe Saldaña is nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Special Ops: Lioness; Micheala Jaé Rodriguez is up for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special for her work in American Horror Story: Delicate; and Scott Mescudi is up for Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance for Young Love.

Public voting runs through February 24. Winners in non-televised categories will roll out in the week ahead of the March 16 ceremony.

Here are all of this year’s nominees:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Colman Domingo
Fantasia Barrino
Halle Bailey
Keke Palmer
Usher

MOTION PICTURE

Outstanding Motion Picture
American Fiction (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
Origin (Neon)
Rustin (Netflix)
The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Colman Domingo – “Rustin” (Netflix)
Denzel Washington – “The Equalizer 3” (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Jamie Foxx – “The Burial” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Jeffrey Wright – “American Fiction” (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
John Boyega – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Aunjanue Ellis–Taylor – “Origin” (Neon)
Fantasia Barrino – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Halle Bailey – “The Little Mermaid” (Walt Disney Pictures)
Teyana Taylor – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)
Yara Shahidi – “Sitting in Bars with Cake” (Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Colman Domingo – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Corey Hawkins – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Glynn Turman – “Rustin” (Netflix)
Jamie Foxx – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)
Sterling K. Brown – “American Fiction” (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Danielle Brooks – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Da’Vine Joy Randolph – “The Holdovers” (Focus Features)
Erika Alexander – “American Fiction” (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
Halle Bailey – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Taraji P. Henson – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
Back on the Strip (GVN Releasing LLC)
Brother (Vertical Entertainment)
Story Ave (Kino Lorber)
Sweetwater (Briarcliff Entertainment/Universal)
The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster (RLJE Films)

Outstanding International Motion Picture
Anatomy of a Fall (Neon)
Brother (Vertical Entertainment)
Mami Wata (Dekanalog)
Rye Lane (Searchlight Pictures)
Society of the Snow (Netflix)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
Aaron Pierre – “Brother” (Vertical Entertainment)
Laya DeLeon Hayes – “The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” (RLJE Films)
Mila Davis–Kent – “Creed III” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Phylicia Pearl Mpasi – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Teyana Taylor – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
American Fiction (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
Rustin (Netflix)
The Blackening (Lionsgate and MRC)
The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture
Elemental (Pixar Animation Studios)
Lil’ Ruby (Platige)
Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount Pictures)
Wish (Walt Disney Animation Studios)

Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance – Motion Picture
Ariana DeBose – Wish (Walt Disney Animation Studios)
Brian Tyree Henry – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Daniel Kaluuya – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Issa Rae – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Shameik Moore – Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Outstanding Short–Form (Live Action)
Flower (Life in Motion/Funbomb)
Gaps (Tribeca Studios)
Lucille (QTGEEK)
Rocky Road on Channel Three (Indeed)
The After (Netflix)

Outstanding Short–Form (Animated)
Blueberry (Ace Animation Studios)
Bridges (OHR Media)
Burning Rubber (Reel Black Studios)
Ego’ Curse (Exhibit Treal Studios)
Lil’ Ruby (Platige)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)
A.V. Rockwell – “A Thousand and One” (Focus Features)
Blitz Bazawule – “The Color Purple” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Choice Skinner – “A New Life” (Buffalo 8)
Dewayne Perkins – “The Blackening” (Lionsgate and MRC)
Juel Taylor – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)

Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture
Aaron Kingsley Adetola – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)
Aven Courtnery – “A Thousand And One” (Focus Features)
Calah Lane – “Wonka” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Lennox Simms – “Origin” (Neon)
Mila Davis–Kent – “Creed III” (Amazon MGM Studios)

Outstanding Cinematography in a Feature Film
Kim Miles, Julia Liu, Clair Popkin – “STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie” (Apple Original Films)
Eric K. Yue – “A Thousand and One” (Focus Features)
Guy Godfree – “Brother” (Vertical Entertainment)
Ken Seng – “They Cloned Tyrone” (Netflix)
Paul Yee – “Joy Ride” (Lionsgate)

TELEVISION + STREAMING

Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Harlem (Amazon Prime Video)
Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
The Neighborhood (CBS)
UnPrisoned (Hulu/Onyx)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Cedric The Entertainer – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)
Delroy Lindo – “UnPrisoned” (Hulu/Onyx)
Dulé Hill – ” The Wonder Years” (ABC)
Mike Epps – “The Upshaws” (Netflix)
Tone Bell – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Kerry Washington – “UnPrisoned” (Hulu/Onyx)
Meagan Good – “Harlem” (Amazon Prime Video)
Michelle Buteau – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
Quinta Brunson – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Tichina Arnold – “The Neighborhood” (CBS)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Kenan Thompson – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Roy Wood Jr. – “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
Tyler Lepley – “Harlem” (Amazon Prime Video)
Tyler James Williams – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
William Stanford Davis – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Ayo Edebiri – “The Bear” (FX)
Ego Nwodim – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Janelle James – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Sheryl Lee Ralph – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Shoniqua Shandai – “Harlem” (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Drama Series
Bel–Air (Peacock)
Black Cake (Hulu)
Found (NBC)
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix)
Snowfall (FX)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Damson Idris – “Snowfall” (FX)
Forest Whitaker – “Godfather of Harlem” (MGM+)
Idris Elba – “Hijack” (Apple TV+)
Jabari Banks – “Bel–Air” (Peacock)
Jesse L. Martin – “The Irrational” (NBC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – “9–1–1” (Fox)
India Ria Amarteifio – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
Octavia Spencer – “Truth Be Told” (Apple TV+)
Queen Latifah – “The Equalizer” (CBS)
Zoe Saldaña – “Special Ops: Lioness” (Paramount+)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Adrian Holmes – “Bel–Air” (Peacock)
Amin Joseph – “Snowfall” (FX)
Giancarlo Esposito – “Godfather of Harlem” (MGM+)
LaRoyce Hawkins – “Chicago PD” (NBC)
Wendell Pierce – “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Adjoa Andoh – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
Arsema Thomas – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
Golda Rosheuvel – “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” (Netflix)
Gail Bean – “Snowfall” (FX)
Nicole Beharie – “The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Black Girl Missing (Lifetime)
First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story (BET+)
Heist 88 (Showtime)
Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Paramount+)
Swarm (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Brian Tyree Henry – “Class of “09” (FX)
Courtney B. Vance – “Heist 88” (Showtime)
Keith Powers – “The Perfect Find” (Netflix)
Lance Reddick – “The Caine Mutiny Court–Martial” (Showtime)
Samuel L. Jackson – “Secret Invasion” (Disney+)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Ali Wong – “Beef” (Netflix)
Chlöe Bailey – “Praise This” (Peacock)
Dominique Fishback – “Swarm” (Amazon Prime Video)
Gabrielle Union – “The Perfect Find” (Netflix)
Meagan Good – “Buying Back My Daughter” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Carl Anthony Payne II – “Binged to Death” (MTV)
Damon Wayans – “Cinnamon” (Tubi)
Damson Idris – “Swarm” (Amazon Prime Video)
Don Cheadle – “Secret Invasion” (Disney+)
Jharrel Jerome – “Full Circle” (HBO | Max)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special
Aja Naomi King – “Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+)
CCH Pounder – “Full Circle” (HBO | Max)
Micheala Jaé Rodriguez – “American Horror Story: Delicate” (FX)
Phylicia Rashad – “Heaven Down Here” (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
Tisha Campbell – “Every Breath She Takes” (Lifetime)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
20/20 – Kerry Washington: Thicker Than Water – A Conversation with Robin Roberts (ABC)
The 1619 Project (Hulu)
theGrio with Marc Lamont Hill (theGrio Cable Network)
The Reidout (MSNBC)
Into America (MSNBC)

Outstanding Talk Series
Hart to Heart (Peacock)
Sherri (Syndicated)
Tamron Hall (ABC News/Disney Media Distribution)
The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts (Disney+)

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
America’s Got Talent (NBC)
Barbecue Showdown (Netflix)
Celebrity Family Feud (ABC)
Critter Fixers: Country Vets (Nat Geo Wild)
Wild ‘N Out (VH1)

Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)
A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO | Max)
A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip–Hop (CBS)
Chris Rock: Selective Outrage (Netflix)
My Name is Mo’Nique (Netflix)
Wanda Sykes: I’m An Entertainer (Netflix)

Outstanding Children’s Program
Ada Twist, Scientist (Netflix)
Alma’s Way (PBS Kids)
Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network)
Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
My Dad The Bounty Hunter (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series)
Alaya High – “That Girl Lay Lay” (Nickelodeon)
Elisha “EJ” Williams – “The Wonder Years” (ABC)
Jalyn Hall – “The Crossover” (Disney+)
Keivonn Woodard – “The Last of Us” (HBO | Max)
Leah Sava Jeffries – “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (Disney+)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Bomani Jones – “Game Theory with Bomani Jones” (HBO | Max)
Joy Reid – “The Reidout” (NBC)
Sherri Shepherd – “Sherri” (Syndicated)
Tamron Hall – “Tamron Hall” (ABC News/Disney Media Distribution)
Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Alyssa Farah Griffin – “The View” (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Anthony Anderson, Cedric The Entertainer – ” Kings of BBQ” (A&E)
DC Young Fly – “Celebrity Squares” (VH1)
Nick Cannon – “The Masked Singer” (Fox)
RuPaul Charles – “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (MTV)
Steve Harvey – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)

Outstanding Guest Performance
Ayo Edebiri – “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
Garcelle Beauvais – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
Giancarlo Esposito – “The Mandalorian” (Disney+)
Michael B. Jordan – “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
Roy Wood, Jr. – “The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Animated Series
Big Mouth (Netflix)
Gracie’s Corner (YouTube TV)
Marvel’s Spidey & His Amazing Friends (Disney Junior)
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney Channel)
Young Love (HBO|Max)

Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance (Television)
Cree Summer – “Rugrats” (Paramount+)
Issa Rae – “Young Love” (HBO|Max)
Keke Palmer – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney Channel)
Kyla Pratt – “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney Channel)
Scott Mescudi – “Young Love” (HBO|Max)

Outstanding Performance in a Short Form Series
Jessica Mikayla – Disney Launchpad Season Two (Disney+)
Kevin Hart – Die Hart 2: Die Harter (Roku)
Leslie Jones – After the Cut–The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
Nathalie Emmanuel – Die Hart 2: Die Harter (Roku)
Seth Carr – Disney Launchpad Season Two (Disney+)

Outstanding Short Form Series – Comedy or Drama
After the Cut (Comedy Central)
Die Hart 2: Die Harter (Roku)
Disney Launchpad Season two (Disney+)
Doggyland (YouTube)
I Am Groot (Disney+)

Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction
Did You Know? (theGrio Cable Network)
I Was A Soul Train Dancer (BET)
Mama Mann’s Kitchen (YouTube TV)
Ritual (PBS)
RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
Adjani Salmon – “Dreaming Whilst Black” (Showtime)
Kale Futterman – “Ginny & Georgia” (Netflix)
Michelle Buteau – “Survival of the Thickest” (Netflix)
Thara Popoola – “Sex Education” (Netflix)
Troy Hunter – “Sex Education” (Netflix)

RECORDING

Outstanding New Artist
FLO (Uptown Records / Republic Records)
Jordan Ward (Artium/Interscope Records)
Leon Thomas (EZMNY Records/Motown Records)
October London (Death Row Records)
Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

Outstanding Male Artist
Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
Chris Brown (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
Davido (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)
Jon Batiste (Verve Records)
Usher (Mega/Gamma)

Outstanding Female Artist
Ari Lennox (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
H.E.R. (RCA Records)
Janelle Monáe (Atlantic Records/Bad Boy/Wondaland)
Tems (RCA Records/Since ’93)
Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
“All Yours” – Kierra Sheard (RCA Inspiration / Karew Entertainment)
“Father’s Day” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings and RCA Records)
“Impossible” – Pastor Mike, Jr. (Rock City/Black Smoke)
“My Truth” – Jonathan McReynolds (MNRK Music Group)
“The Maverick Way Complete” – Maverick City Music (Insignia & TRIBL Records)

Outstanding International Song
“Amapiano” – Asake feat. Olamide (YBNL Nation / EMPIRE)
“City Boys” – Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
“Me & U” – Tems (RCA Records/Since ’93)
“People” – Libianca feat. Ayra Starr & Omah Lay (RCA Records/Sony Music UK/5K Records)
“Unavailable” – Davido (RCA Records/Sony Music UK)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
“Boyfriend” – Usher (Mega/Gamma)
“Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion (Hot Girl Productions)
“How We Roll” – Ciara (Beauty Marks Entertainment)
“On My Mama” – Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
“Sensational” – Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)

Outstanding Album
“Clear 2: Soft Life” – Summer Walker (LVRN/Interscope Records)
“For All The Dogs” – Drake (OVO/Republic Records)
“I Told Them…” – Burna Boy (Atlantic Records)
“Jaguar II” – Victoria Monét (RCA Records/Lovett Music)
“The Age of Pleasure” – Janelle Monáe (Atlantic Records/Bad Boy/Wondaland)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
“Creed III: The Soundtrack” – Michael B. Jordan, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis, Frank Brim (Dreamville / Interscope Records)
“Godfather of Harlem: Season 3 (Original Series Soundtrack)” – Swizz Beatz & Avery Chambliss (Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment)
“Metro Boomin Presents Spider–Man: Across the Spider–Verse (Soundtrack From and Inspired by the Motion Picture/Deluxe Edition)” – Metro Boomin (Republic Records)
“The Color Purple–Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” – Various Producers (WaterTower Music/Gamma)
“The Little Mermaid Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Alan Menken, Mike Higham and Lin–Manuel Miranda (Walt Disney Records)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
“All Things” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Recordings and RCA Records)
“All Yours” – Kierra Sheard feat. Anthony Brown (RCA Inspiration / Karew Entertainment)
“In The Room” – Maverick City Music (TRIBL Records)
“It’s Working” – Todd Dulaney (DulaneyLand / MNRK)
“JOY (Unspeakable) – Voices of Fire feat. Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album
“Brand New Life“ – Brandee Younger (Impulse! Records)
“Melusine “ – Cécile McLorin Salvant (Nonesuch Records)
“Who Are You When No One is Watching?“ – Braxton Cook (Nettwerk Music Group)
“Phoenix“ – Lakecia Benjamin (Whirlwind Recordings)
“Truth Be Told“ – Angie Wells (Cafe Pacific Records)

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
“Back To Your Place” – October London
“Good Good” – Usher feat. 21 Savage x Summer Walker
“ICU Remix” – Coco Jones feat. Justin Timberlake
“On My Mama” – Victoria Monét
“Lipstick Lover” – Janelle Monáe

Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
“All My Life” – Lil Durk feat. J. Cole (Alamo Records)
“Blue Eyes” – Vic Mensa (Roc Nation Records, LLC)
“Cobra” – Megan Thee Stallion (Atlantic/Warner Bros/Mattel and 10K Projects/Capitol Records)
“Palisades, CA” – Larry June & The Alchemist (The Freeminded Records/ALC/EMPIRE)
“Sittin’ On Top of the World” – Burna Boy & 21 Savage (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
Ciara feat. Chris Brown – “How We Roll” (Beauty Marks Entertainment
Coco Jones feat. Justin Timberlake – “ICU Remix” (Def Jam Recordings)
Dreamville, Bas & Black Sherif feat. Kel–P – “Creed III: Soundtrack” (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
Karen Clark Sheard, Hezekiah Walker, Kierra Sheard – “God Is Good” (Timeless Music Group/Roc Nation Records, LLC)
Voices of Fire – “Joy (Unspeakable)” (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
Burna Boy & 21 Savage – “Sittin’ On Top of the World” (Atlantic Records)
Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational” (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
Lil Durk & J. Cole – “All My Life” (Alamo Records)
Usher, 21 Savage, Summer Walker – “Good Good” (RCA Records/Chris Brown Entertainment)
Victoria Monét feat. Lucky Day – “Smoke” (RCA Records/Lovett Music)

Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film
“American Fiction” – Laura Karpman (Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios)
“Rustin” – Branford Marsalis (Netflix)
“The Color Purple” – Kris Bowers (Warner Bros. Pictures)
“The Other Black Girl” – EmmoLei Sankofa (Hulu)
“Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” – Jongnic Bontemps (Paramount+)

DOCUMENTARY

Outstanding Documentary (Film)
American Symphony (Netflix)
Fast Dreams (99 Ways Entertainment)
Invisible Beauty (Magnolia Pictures)
Little Richard: I Am Everything (Magnolia Pictures)
Stamped from the Beginning (Netflix)

Outstanding Documentary (Television)
American Experience (PBS)
Dear Mama (FX)
High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (Netflix)
Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only (Netflix)
Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip–Hop (Netflix)

Outstanding Short Form Documentary
Alive in Bronze: Huey P. Newton (MTV Documentary Films)
Birthing a Nation: The Resistance of Mary Gaffney (MTV Documentary Films)
Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games (ESPN)
Freshwater (Hip Hop Caucus Think 100% FILMS)
Ifine: Beauty (Dirt–Stained Roses)

WRITING

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Ava Coleman – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Brittani Nichols – Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Donald Glover, Janine Nabers – Swarm (Amazon Prime Video)
Michelle Buteau – Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
Norman Vance, Jr. – Saturdays (Disney Channel)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Carla Banks–Waddles – Bel–Air (Peacock)
Lee Sung Jin – Beef (Netflix)
Marissa Jo Cerar – Black Cake (Hulu)
Nkechi Okoro Carroll – Found (NBC)
Shonda Rhimes – Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix)

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Dwayne Johnson–Cochran – Heist 88 (Showtime)
Frank E. Flowers, Tony Rettenmaier, Juel Taylor – Shooting Stars (Peacock)
Marlon Wayans – Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me (HBO | Max)
Sam Jay – Sam Jay: Salute Me or Shoot Me (HBO | Max)
Tina Gordon, Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana, Jana Savage, Camilla Blackett – Praise This (Peacock)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
A.V. Rockwell – A Thousand and One (Focus Features)
Cord Jefferson – American Fiction (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier – They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
Maggie Betts, Doug Wright – The Burial (Amazon MGM Studios)
Marcus Gardley – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)

DIRECTING

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Amy Aniobi – Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
Donald Glover – Swarm (Amazon Prime Video)
Neema Barnette – Grand Crew (NBC)
Numa Perrier – UnPrisoned (Hulu/Onyx)
Robbie Countryman – The Upshaws (Netflix)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Alonso Alvarez–Barreda – Snowfall (FX)
Amin Joseph – Snowfall (FX)
Carl Seaton – Godfather of Harlem (MGM+)
Dawn Wilkinson – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)
Geary McLeod – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Bryian Keith Montgomery Jr. – Cinnamon (Tubi)
Chris Robinson – Shooting Stars (Peacock)
Keke Palmer – Big Boss (YouTube TV)
Numa Perrier – The Perfect Find (Netflix)
Vivica A. Fox – First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story (BET+)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
Antoine Fuqua – The Equalizer 3 (Sony Pictures)
Ava DuVernay – Origin (Neon)
George C. Wolfe – Rustin (Netflix)
Juel Taylor – They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
Michael B. Jordan – Creed III (Amazon / MGM Studios)

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Allen Hughes – Dear Mama (FX)
Bethann Hardison, Frédéric Tcheng – Invisible Beauty (Magnolia Pictures)
Dave Wooley, David Heilbroner – Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over (CNN)
Lisa Cortés – Little Richard: I Am Everything (Magnolia Pictures)
Roger Ross Williams – Stamped from the Beginning (Netflix)

LITERARY

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“Everything Is Not Enough” – Lola Akinmade Åkerström (William Morrow)
“Family Lore” – Elizabeth Acevedo (HarperCollins Publisher)
“House of Eve” – Sadeqa Johnson (Simon & Schuster)
“Let Us Descend” – Jesmyn Ward (Scribner)
“The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” – James McBride (Penguin Random House, Riverhead Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
“Black AF History: The Un–Whitewashed Story of America” – Michael Harriot (HarperCollins Publisher)
“BLK ART: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art” – Zaria Ware (HarperCollins Publisher)
“Iconic Home: Interiors, Advice, and Stories from 50 Amazing Black Designers ” – Black Interior Designers and June Reese (Abrams Books)
“The Art of Ruth E. Carter” – Ruth E. Carter Foreword by Dani Gurira (Chronicle Books)
“The New Brownies’ Book: A Love Letter to Black Families” – Karida L. Brown, Charly Palmer (Chronicle Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
“And Then He Sang a Lullaby” – Ani Kayode Somtochukwu (Grove Atlantic)
“Coleman Hill: A Novel” – Kim Coleman Foote (Zando / SJP Lit)
“Rootless” – Krystle Zara Appiah (Ballantine Books)
“The Black Joy Project – Kleaver Cruz (Mariner Books)
“The God of Good Looks” – Breanne McIvor (William Morrow)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
“Love and Justice: A Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts” – Maya Moore Irons (Andscape Books)
“Lucky Me: A Memoir of Changing the Odds” – Rich Paul (Penguin Random House)
“Nothing Is Missing” – Nicole Walters (Simon & Schuster)
“Our Secret Society: Mollie Moon and the Glamour, Money, and Power Behind the Civil Rights Movement” – Dr. Tanisha C. Ford (Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins)
“Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes” – Stephen A. Smith (Gallery Books/13A)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“Badass Vegan: Fuel Your Body, Ph*ck the System, and Live Your Life Right” – John Lewis (Avery)
“Everyday Grand: Soulful Recipes for Celebrating Life’s Big and Small Moments” – Jocelyn Delk Adams, Olga Massov (Clarkson Potter)
“Flower Love: Lush Floral Arrangements for the Heart and Home” – Kristen Griffith–VanderYacht (Clarkson Potter)
“Historically Black Phrases: From “I Ain’t One of Your Lil’ Friends” to “Who All Gon” Be There?”” – Jarett Hill, Tre’vell Anderson (Ten Speed Press)
“Livable Luxe” – Brigette Romanek (Chronicle Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“Above Ground” – Clint Smith (Little, Brown)
“So to Speak” – Terrance Hayes (Penguin Books)
“suddenly we” – Evie Shockley (Wesleyan University Press)
“The Ferguson Report: An Erasure” – Nicole Sealey (Alfred A. Knopf)
“Why Fathers Cry at Night” – Kwame Alexander (Little, Brown)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora” – Kahran Bethencourt (St. Martin’s Press)
“How Do You Spell Unfair?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee” – Carole Boston Weathorford, Frank Morrison (Candlewick Press)
“I Absolutely, Positively Love My Spots” – Lid’ya C. Rivera, Nina Mata (HarperCollins)
“Is This Love?” – Cedella Marley, Alea Marley (Chronicle Books)
“Like Lava In My Veins” – Derrick Barnes, Shawn Martinbrough (Penguin Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
“Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans” – Isi Hendrix (HarperCollins – Imprint: Balzer + Bray)
“Eb & Flow” – Kelly J. Baptist (Crown Books for Young Readers)
“Everyone’s Thinking It” – Aleema Omotoni (HarperCollins – Imprint: Balzer + Bray)
“Fatima Tate Takes the Cake” – Khadijah VanBrakle (Holiday House)
“Friday I’m in Love” – Camryn Garrett (Knopf Books for Young Readers)

Outstanding Graphic Novel
“Curlfriends: New in Town” – Sharee Miller (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
“Ms Davis: A Graphic Biography” – Sybille Titeux de la Croix, Amazing Améziane (Fantagraphics)
“Queenie: Godmother of Harlem” – Aurelie Levy, Elizabeth Colomba (Abrams Books)
“Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America” – Dr. Ibram X Kendi, Joel Christian Gill (Ten Speed Graphic)
“The Talk” – Darrin Bell (Henry Holt & Company)

PODCAST

Outstanding News and Information Podcast
SundayCivics (LJW Community Strategies)
Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn–Grant (PBS Nature)
Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams (Uppity Productions)
Into America with Trymaine Lee (MSNBC)
The Assignment with Audie Cornish (CNN Audio)

Outstanding Lifestyle/Self–Help Podcast
Black Money Tree (Texas Black Expo Inc)
Chile, Please (HONEY CHILE Entertainment)
Is This Going To Cause An Argument (Seven14Seven Media)
The Laverne Cox Show (Shondaland Audio + iHeartMedia)
The Light (Audible)

Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast
Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay (The Ringer)
Jill Scott Presents: J.ill the Podcast (iHeart Media)
More Than That with Gia Peppers (Dentsu)
The 85 South Show with Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean (The Black Effect Podcast Network)
The Bakari Sellers Podcast (The Ringer)

Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast
All the Smoke (Paramount)
Baby, This is Keke Palmer (Wondery)
Being Black: The 80s (TheGrio)
Here’s The Thing (Family Affair Media and Entertainment)
Nightcap with Unc and Ocho (The Volume)

Outstanding Scripted Series Podcast
Crimson Hearts Collide (Hallmark Media and AYR Media)
Small Victories (WGC Productions)
TwentyOne 21: A Black AF Scripted Audio Comedy (TwentyOne 21 Podcast)
Whose Amazing Life? (Wondery)
Yes We Cannabis (Audible)

Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short Form
I Am Story (AFSCME)
Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast (Hip Hop Caucus)
Reclaimed: the Forgotten League (ABC Audio)
The Greatest Day: The Epic Story Behind Hip–Hop’s Most Iconic Photograph (Audible)
Wakanda Forever: The Official black Panther Podcast (Proximity Media and Marvel Entertainment)

COSTUME DESIGN, MAKE–UP & HAIRSTYLING

Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film)
Charlese Antoinette Jones – Air (Amazon/MGM Studios)
Dierdra Elizabeth Govan – I’m A Virgo (Amazon/MGM Studios)
Toni–Leslie James, Josh Quinn – Rustin (Netflix)
Francine Jamison–Tanchuck – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Marci Rodgers, Richard Gross, Paul A. Simmons Jr. – Shooting Stars (Peacock)

Outstanding Make–up (Television or Film)
Cole Patterson, Fabiola Mercado – Bel–Air (Peacock)
Miho Suzuki – Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)
Beverly Jo Pryor, Eric Pagdin, Quintessence Patterson – Rustin (Netflix)
Carol Rasheed, Saisha Beecham, Ngozi Olandu Young, Manny Davila, Milene Melendez – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Denise Pugh–Ruiz – UnPrisoned (Hulu/Onyx)

Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film)
Shavonne Brown – A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO | Max)
Carla Joi Farmer – Air (Amazon MGM Studios)
Elizabeth Robinson – Creed III (Amazon MGM Studios)
Melissa “Missy” Forney, Sterfon Demings – A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO | Max)
Lawrence Davis, Tym Wallace, Andrea Mona Bowen, Angela Renae Dyson, Jorge Benitez Villalobos – The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Pictures)

STUNT

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film)
Creed III (Amazon/MGM Studios)
The Continental: From the World of John Wick (Peacock)
They Cloned Tyrone (Netflix)
Titans (The CW)
Warrior (HBO| Max)

OUTSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Angel Laketa Moore
Druski
Keith Lee
Lynae Vanee
Terrell Grice

Sebastián Yatra to Sponsor Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation’s Next Four-Year Prodigy Scholarship to Berklee School of Music

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Sebastián Yatra is helping educate the next generation of musical talent…

The 29-year-old Colombian singer-songwriter will sponsor the next four-year Prodigy Scholarship that will fully fund a student’s bachelor’s degree in music at Berklee School of Music starting in the fall 2024, per the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation.

Joining the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation for their annual Prodigy Scholarship is beautiful because I’m part of something that I would’ve wished for as a young kid. One of my big dreams was to study music at Berklee and although my career took a different path which I’m super grateful for, I would’ve loved to have that kind of preparation and knowledge,” said Sebastián Yatra in a statement. “I hope that the person who gets this opportunity takes full advantage of the scholarship and enjoys it to the max. I’ll be looking out for applicants that share a lot of heart and sincerity in their art.”

The foundation’s scholarship, created nine years ago, holds a maximum value of $200,000 in financial aid for music students in need. The scholarship is traditionally awarded to “exceptionally talented music students, with financial needs, to support their educational and musical aspirations,” according to the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation.

The news of the scholarship follows Yatra’s stint as a host at the 24th Annual Latin Grammys, during which he performed and expressed his passion for the Foundation on-air, encouraging global support for Latin music education. He initially partnered with the Foundation in 2019 for the Latin Grammy In The Schools program in Miami.

“Our scholarships provide more than just funds for college tuition,” said Raquel “Rocky” Egusquiza, executive director of the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation.

“The ongoing support we receive from artists such as Sebastián Yatra and our generous sponsors allows us to take it a step further and create meaningful educational and mentoring opportunities for the next generation of Latin music creators.”

In addition, Gibson Gives, the charitable division of Gibson, will provide sponsorship for three Tuition Assistance Scholarships. Each scholarship could be worth up to $10,000 and is intended for students who aim to study music, with the electric or acoustic guitar as their main instrument.

Applications for all 44 scholarships available in 2024 are now open and available to music students between the ages of 17 and 25.

For more details and/or to apply, visit www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.org.

In previous years, the Prodigy Scholarship has been co-sponsored by Latin stars including Nicky Jam (2023), Sofia Carson (2022), Juanes (2021), Julio Iglesias (2020), Emilio and Gloria Estefan (2019), Carlos Vives (2018), Miguel Bosé (2017), Juan Luis Guerra (2016), and Enrique Iglesias (2015).

Starz to Premiere Third & Final Season of Monica Raymund’s “Hightown” in January

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Monica Raymund is preparing for her swan song…

Starz has announced that season three of its drama series Hightown, starring the 37-year-old half-Dominican American actress, will be its last.

From creator Rebecca Cutter, Hightown premiered in 2020 with Raymund set as the gritty crime drama’s star.

The series is set in the beautiful but bleak world of Cape Cod and follows Jackie Quiñonez’s journey to sobriety is overshadowed by a murder investigation dragging her into its fold.

Set to premiere on January 26, the third and final season follows Massachusetts State Trooper Jackie Quiñones (Raymund) who has fallen off the wagon and her job due to it. Jackie doesn’t let any of that stop her from trying to help save many of the most often ignored and forgotten victims in Cape Cod, sex workers.

In Season 2, Quiñones finally becomes a real cop with the hope of doing some good in this world. Thrust immediately into the crime wave of deadly carfentanyl flooding the Cape, she was laser-focused on bringing down drug dealer Frankie Cuevas (Amaury Nolasco), the man she holds responsible for the death of her best friend, Junior (Shane Harper). With disgraced officer Ray Abruzzo (James Badge Dale) off the force and mired in depression, Jackie finds a new partner in Leslie (Tonya Glanz), the only other female on the force. Through it all, Jackie must walk the tightrope of sobriety as she struggles to stay above an ocean of secrets, betrayal and the shame and failure of her past.

In addition to Raymund, Dale and Nolasco, the returning cast includes Riley Voelkel, Atkins Estimond and Dohn Norwood. Imani Lewis, Mark Boone Junior and Mike Pniewski return in recurring roles while Ana Nogueira, Taja V. Simpson, Michael Drayer, Garret Dillahunt and Jeanine Serralles all guest star.

Kali Uchis & Karol G Release New Single “Labios Mordidos”

Posted on November 24, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Kali Uchis has teamed up with Karol G for a lip-biting new single…

The 29-year-old Colombian-American singer and songwriter and the 32-year-old Colombian superstar have joined voice the release the catchy new single “Labios Mordidos,” marking their second collaboration this year.

The pair previously teamed up for the highly successful single “Me Tengo Que Ir” from Karol G’s Mañana Sera Bonita (Bichota Season) earlier this year.

Produced by Manuel Lara and Albert Hype, the sweltering reggaeton cut sees the two indulging in risqué flirtation.

“The girl is on fire and sticks to me like a tattoo/ I guarantee there’s no one harder than you,” Kali seductively croons in Spanish. Meanwhile, Karol responds with her hushed coo: “I guarantee there’s no one more chimba than you … The baby is aggressive with that cute face/ That tattoo on her back left me breathless.”

“I’m so excited for the Kuchis to finally have one of my favorite songs on Orquídeas with one of my favorite artists Karol,” Uchis said in a statement. “I hope this brings everyone lots of holiday cheer and you make plenty of memories going into the new year with this song!”

During Karol G’s opening performance of the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, November 19, La Bichota teased fans with a snippet of the song.

As anticipation builds for Uchis’ fourth album, Orquídeas, due January 12, “Labios Mordidos” emerges as the third single, offering a tantalizing preview of what’s to come. The song follows the vintage bolero-style song “Te Mata” and the Dominican dembow of “Muñekita” with El Alfa and JT.

“The orchid is the national flower of Colombia, and we have more species of orchid than anywhere on earth,” Uchis said last month. “I always felt distinctly intrigued and magnetized by the flower. This album is inspired by the timeless, eerie, mystic, striking, graceful and sensual allure of the orchid. With this vast scope of fresh energy, I wish to redefine the way we look at Latinas in music.”

The album will feature more collaborations, including with Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro and more. Orquídeas is Uchis’ second all-Spanish release.

Uchis entered a total of six Billboard Year-End Charts, including the Top Latin Artists chart at No. 32 and Top R&B Artists at No. 11. In October, she concluded her Red Moon in Venus Tour with sold-out performances across the U.S.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Category Archives: Spotlight