Rosario Dawson Earns Two Black Reel TV Awards Nominations

Rosario Dawson is reeling in the recognition…

The Black Reel TV Awards nominations have been revealed, with the 43-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist earning two nods.

Rosario DawsonDawson is nominated in the Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series category for her performance in HBO Max’s limited series DMZ.

She is also nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series category for her performance in Hulu’s limited series Dopesick.

Colman Domingo is nominated in the Outstanding Guest Actor, Drama Series category.

The 52-year-old Guatemalan American actor earned the callout for his work on HBO’s Euphoria.

 

Nadine Velazquez and Kasseem Swizz Beatz Dean earned a nod in the Outstanding Original Song category for their single “Nasty Girls,” from the ABC series Queens.

Velazquez, a  Puerto Rican actress/singer, earned the nod as a performer, while Swizz Beatz, a half-Puerto Rican recording artist, music producer and entrepreneur, co-wrote the single.

Latina music supervisor Mary Ramos earned a nod in the Outstanding Music Supervision category for her work on the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga.

The Black Reel Awards annually recognize the excellence of African Americans, as well as the cinematic achievements of the African diaspora, in the global film and television industry.

“This is a big transitional year for Black television,” said Black Reel Awards founder Tim Gordon. “With the conclusion of perennial Black Reel favorites like This Is Us, Insecure and Black-ish and more, it is wonderful to see that there are so many new shows, new stories and outlets willing to add these refreshing and new stories to their programming.”

Here’s a look at the nominees:

COMEDY

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • “Abbott Elementary” | Quinta Brunson, showrunner (ABC)
  • “Atlanta” | Stephen Glover, showrunner (FX)
  • “Black-ish” | Courtney Lilly, showrunner (ABC)
  • “Insecure” | Prentice Penny, showrunner (HBO)
  • “South Side” | Bashir Salahuddin & Diallo Riddle, showrunners (HBO Max)

Outstanding Actor, Comedy Series

  • Anthony Anderson | “black-ish” (ABC)
  • Don Cheadle | “Black Monday” (Showtime)
  • Donald Glover | “Atlanta” (FX)
  • Keegan-Michael Key | “Schmigadoon!” (Apple TV+)
  • Lamorne Morris | “Woke” (HULU)

Outstanding Actress, Comedy Series

  • Quinta Brunson | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Regina Hall | “Black Monday” (Showtime)
  • Issa Rae | “Insecure” (HBO)
  • Tracee Ellis Ross | “black-ish” (ABC)
  • Robin Thede | “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series

  • Jay Ellis | “Insecure” (HBO)
  • Brian Tyree Henry | “Atlanta” (FX)
  • Dulé Hill | “The Wonder Years” (ABC)
  • LaKeith Stanfield | “Atlanta” (FX)
  • Tyler James Williams | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Comedy Series

  • Zazie Beetz | “Atlanta” (FX)
  • Janelle James | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Yvonne Orji | “Insecure” (HBO)
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Natasha Rothwell | “Insecure” (HBO)

Outstanding Directing, Comedy Series

  • “Abbott Elementary” (“Ava v. The Superintendent”) | Matthew A. Cherry, director (ABC)
  • “Atlanta” (“Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga”) | Donald Glover, director (FX)
  • “Atlanta” (“Tarrare”) | Donald Glover, director (FX)
  • “The Flight Attendant” (“Drowning Women”) | Pete Chatmon, director (HBO Max)
  • The Wonder Years (“Love & War”) | Numa Perrier, director (ABC)

Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series

  • “Abbott Elementary” (“Pilot”) | Quinta Brunson, writer (ABC)
  • “Atlanta” (“Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga”) | Donald Glover, writer (FX)
  • “Atlanta” (“Three Slaps”) | Stephen Glover, writer (FX)
  • “Insecure” (“Out, Okay?”) | Issa Rae, writer (HBO)
  • “Ted Lasso” (“Do the Right-est Thing”) | Ashley Nicole Black, writer (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Guest Actor, Comedy Series

  • Reggie Hayes | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Lil Rel Howery | “South Side” (HBO Max)
  • Orlando Jones | “Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
  • Sam Richardson | “Ted Lasso” (Apple TV+)
  • Kofi Siriboe | “Insecure” (HBO)

Outstanding Guest Actress, Comedy Series

  • Quinta Brunson | “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)
  • Lizzo | “Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
  • Michelle Obama | “black-ish” (ABC)
  • Adriyan Rae | “Atlanta” (FX)
  • Da’Vine Joy Randolph | “Only Murders in the Building” (HULU)

DRAMA

Outstanding Drama Series

  • “Bel-Air” | Morgan Cooper, showrunner (Peacock)
  • “Euphoria” | Sam Levinson, showrunner (HBO)
  • “Lupin” | George Kay, showrunner (Netflix)
  • “This Is Us” | Dan Fogelman, showrunner (NBC)
  • “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” | Max Borenstein, showrunner (HBO)

Outstanding Actor, Drama Series

  • Sterling K. Brown | “This Is Us” (NBC)
  • Chiwetel Ejiofor | “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (Showtime)
  • Damson Idris | “Snowfall” (FX)
  • Omar Sy | “Lupin” (Netflix)
  • Forest Whitaker | “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)

Outstanding Actress, Drama Series

  • Tawny Cypress | “Yellowjackets” (Showtime)
  • Naomie Harris | “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (Showtime)
  • Queen Latifah | “The Equalizer” (CBS)
  • Patina Miller | “Power Book III: Raising Kanan” (Starz)
  • Zendaya | “Euphoria” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series

  • Giancarlo Esposito | “Better Call Saul” (AMC)
  • Wood Harris | “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” (HBO)
  • Adrian Holmes | “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
  • Clarke Peters | “The Man Who Fell to Earth” (Showtime)
  • Olly Sholotan | “Bel-Air” (Peacock)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series

  • Adjoa Andoh | “Bridgerton” (Netflix)
  • Coco Jones | “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
  • Audra McDonald | “The Gilded Age” (HBO)
  • Lorraine Toussaint | “The Equalizer” (CBS)
  • Susan Kelechi Watson | “This Is Us” (NBC)

Outstanding Directing, Drama Series

  • “Bel-Air” (Dreams and Nightmares”) | Morgan Cooper, director (Peacock)
  • “Better Call Saul” (“Axe and Grind”) | Giancarlo Esposito, director (AMC)
  • “Bridgerton” (“The Viscount Who Loved Me”) | Cheryl Dunye, director (Netflix)
  • “This Is Us” (“Our Little Island Girl: Part Two”) | Kevin Hooks, director (NBC)
  • “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” (“Pieces of a Man”) | Tanya Hamilton, director (HBO)

Outstanding Writing, Drama Series

  • “Bel-Air” (“Dreams and Nightmares”) | Malcolm Spellman, Morgan Cooper, TJ Brady & Rasheed Newsome, writers (Peacock)
  • “Snowfall” (“Celebration”) | Walter Mosley, writer (FX)
  • “This Is Us” (“Every Version of You”) | Kay Oyegun, writer (NBC)
  • “This Is Us” (“Our Little Island Girl”) | Eboni Freeman & Susan Kelechi Watson, writers (NBC)
  • “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” (“Acceptable Loss”) | Rodney Barnes & Max Borenstein, writers (HBO)

Outstanding Guest Actor, Drama Series

  • Colman Domingo | “Euphoria” (HBO)
  • Ron Cephas Jones | “This Is Us” (NBC)
  • Delroy Lindo | “The Good Fight” (Paramount +)
  • Jonathan Majors | “Loki” (Disney+)
  • Rob Morgan | “Stranger Things” (Netflix)

Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series

  • Rosario Dawson | “The Book of Boba Fett” (Disney+)
  • Whoopi Goldberg | “Star Trek: Picard” (Paramount+)
  • Cush Jumbo | “The Good Fight” (Paramount+)
  • Sanaa Lathan | “Succession” (HBO)
  • CCH Pounder | “The Good Fight” (Paramount+)

TV Movie or Limited Series

Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series

  • “Colin in Black & White” | Michael Starrbury, showrunner (Netflix)
  • “DMZ” | Roberto Patino, showrunner (HBO Max)
  • “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” | Diane Houslin, showrunner (Apple TV+)
  • “True Story” | Eric Newman, showrunner (Netflix)
  • “We Own This City” | George Pelecanos, showrunner (HBO)

Outstanding Actor,TV Movie/Limited Series

  • William Jackson Harper | “Love Life” (HBO Max)
  • Kevin Hart | “True Story” (Netflix)
  • Derek Luke | American Refugee (EPIX)
  • Samuel L. Jackson | “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (Apple TV+)
  • Jaden Michael | “Colin in Black & White” (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series

  • Viola Davis | “The First Lady” (Showtime)
  • Rosario Dawson | “DMZ” (HBO Max)
  • Cynthia Erivo | “Roar” (Apple TV+)
  • Zoe Kravitz | Kimi (HBO Max)
  • Wunmi Mosaku | “We Own This City” (HBO)

Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series

  • Michael Ealy | “The Woman Who in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window” (Netflix)
  • Jamie Hector | “We Own This City” (HBO)
  • David Oyelowo | “The Girl Before” (HBO Max)
  • Wesley Snipes | “True Story” (Netflix)
  • Glynn Turman | “Women of the Movement” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie/Limited Series

  • Rosario Dawson | “Dopesick” (HULU)
  • Dominique Fishback | “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (Apple TV+)
  • Regina Hall | “Nine Perfect Stranger” (HULU)
  • Moses Ingram | “Obi-Wan Kenobi” (Disney+)
  • Natasha Rothwell | “The White Lotus” (HBO)

Outstanding Directing, TV Movie/Limited Series

  • “Colin in Black & White” (“Cornrows”) | Ava DuVernay, director (Netflix)
  • “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (“Ptolemy”) | Hanelle C. Culpepper, director (Apple TV+)
  • “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (“Robyn”) | Debbie Allen, director (Apple TV+)
  • “We Own This City” | Reinaldo Marcus Green, director (HBO)
  • “Women of the Movement” (“Mother and Son”) | Gina Prince-Bythewood, director (ABC)

Outstanding Writing, TV Movie/Limited Series

  • “Colin in Black & White” (“Cornrows”) | Michael Starrbury, writer (Netflix)
  • “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (”Ptolemy”) | Walter Mosley, writer (Apple TV+)
  • “The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray” (”Robyn”) | Walter Mosley & Jerome Hairston, writer (Apple TV+)
  • “Maid” (“Sea Glass”) | Marcus Gardley, writer (Netflix)
  • “We Own This City” (“Part Three”) | D. Watkins, writer (HBO)

DOCUMENTARY

Outstanding Documentary

  • “Biography: Bobby Brown” | J. Kevin Swain, director (A&E)
  • “Black and Missing” | Geeta Gandbhir, Samantha M. Knowles, Yoruba Richen & Nadia Hallgren, directors (HBO)
  • “JANET JACKSON” | Benjamin Hirsch, director (A&E)
  • “They Call Me Magic” | Rick Famuyiwa, director (Apple TV+)
  • “We Need to Talk About Cosby” | W. Kamau Bell, director (Showtime)

VARIETY / TALK / SKETCH – Series or Special

Outstanding Talk/Sketch/Variety Series or Special

  • “The Amber Ruffin Show” | Jason Carden, Jennifer Sochko, Zoie Mancino, producers (Peacock)
  • “A Black Lady Sketch Show” | Robin Thede, showrunner (HBO)
  • Dave Chappelle: The Closer | Sina Sadighi, producer (Netflix)
  • Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel | Bo Burnham, Jerrod Carmichael, Eli Bush, Josh Senior, Matthew Vaughn, executive producers (HBO)
  • “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” | Jen Flanz, showrunner (Comedy Central)

MUSIC

Outstanding Music Supervision

  • “Atlanta” (FX) | Jen Malone, music supervisor
  • “Bridgerton” (Netflix) | Alexandra Patsavas, music supervisor
  • “Euphoria” (HBO) | Jen Malone, music supervisor
  • “Insecure” (HBO) | Kier Lehman, music supervisor
  • “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” (HULU) | Mary Ramos, music supervisor

Outstanding Musical Score

  • “Bridgerton” | Kris Bowers, composer (Netflix)
  • “Euphoria” | Labrinth, composer (HBO)
  • “Insecure” | Raphael Saadiq, composer (HBO)
  • “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” | Nicholas Britell & Robert Glasper (HBO)
  • “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” | RZA, composer (HULU)

Outstanding Original Song

  • “All I Know” (The Wonder Years) | Scotty Grand, performer; Scotty Grand, Jacob Yoffee & Roahn Hylton, writers – ABC
  • “Change” (We the People) | H.E.R. performer; Flippa, Max Moore, Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, H.E.R. & Swagg R’Celious, writers – Netflix
  • “Get It Girl” (Insecure) | Saweetie & Raedio, performers; Fresh Kid Ice, Luther Campbell, Lil’ Jon, David Hobbs, Liana Banks & Saweetie, writers – HBO
  • “I’m Tired” (Euphoria) | Labrinth & Zendaya, performers; Labrinth, Zendaya & Sam Levinson, writers – HBO
  • “Nasty Girl” (Queens) | Brandy, Eve, Naturi Naughton, Nadine Velazquez, performers; Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges & Algernod “Piles” Lanier Washington, writers – ABC

Swizz Beatz to Face Off Against Timbaland in Verzuz Battle This Memorial Day Weekend

Swizz Beatz is preparing for a showdown…

This Memorial Day weekend, the 42-year-old half Puerto Rican recording artist, music producer and entrepreneur and his Verzuz co-creator Timbaland  will show off their producing skills as they face off in a battle once again for their hit web series.

Swizz Beatz

The pair first dueled onstage in 2018 at the Hot 97 Summer Jam in East Rutherford, N.J., as part of a producer clash battle — long before Verzuz premiered virtually in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a post shared on the official Verzuz Instagram on Tuesday (May 25), the showdown was announced. “Did y’all guess who the rematch was going to be!? @THEREALSWIZZZ vs @TIMBALAND THIS SUNDAY ‼️ LIVE from @LIVMIAMI  Celebrating Memorial Day Weekend with our new #VERZUZLive .”

Beatz, né Kasseem Dean, 42, commented the post, “Let’s go then .” Timbaland, born Timothy Mosley, 49, wrote, “Alrite [sic] now .”

With Timbaland’s extensive history of producing megahits for fan-favorites including JAY-Z, Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott, Kanye West, Aaliyah, Cher and Madonna, Beatz — who has produced for Eve, Diddy, Lil’ Wayne, The Weeknd, Drake, the late DMX, among many more — is in for a tough rematch.

Since its inception, Verzuz has featured friendly competitions between Monica and Brandy, Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, Alicia Keys and John Legend, and the late DMX, who faced off against Snoop Dogg in July. DMX, né Earl Simmons, died on April 9.

Tune in on Sunday (May 30) at 8 p.m. ET to catch the Verzuz battle between Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, streaming on Instagram Live via the VerzuzTV account or Triller. It will also air on TV via FITE.

https://twitter.com/verzuzonline/status/1397184322537345026

Swizz Beatz Releases Video for His New Lil Wayne & Alicia Keys Collaboration “Pistol on My Side”

Swizz Beatz is packin’ heat

The 40-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hoprapper, DJ and record producer, whose real name is Kasseem Dean, has released the scorching video to “Pistol on My Side,” his collaboration with Lil Wayne and Beatz’s wife Alicia Keys.

Swizz Beatz & Lil Wayne

Filmed at Lil Wayne’s skate park, Weezy is in full-force, thrashing doubters with his punchy delivery. “Pistol on my side, you don’t want that thing to scream at ya/ Laughin’ when you die, boy, my pistol a comedian (brr)/ Pistol on my side, now he lyin’ like the media/ Clips longer than encyclopedias, you’re readin’ ’em,” he raps.

While Beatz amplifies the track with his resounding ad-libs, Keys is found playing the piano in the flaming clip. As Wayne fires away the remaining bars from his loaded verse, Keys flips the track with her gloomy riffs, adding an exciting close to the fiery visual.

Not only did Swizz release his long-awaited video for “Pistol on My Side,” but he also announced the track list for his forthcoming album Poison.

Set to be released on November 2, Beatz enlisted Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Young Thug, Pusha T, The LOX and more for his first project in 11 years.

For the proverbial cherry on top, Beatz recruited J. Cole to serve as the project’s executive producer.

Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys Introduce Son Genesis Ali

Swizz Beatz is introducing the world to his new son…

The 36-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer and his wife-singer Alicia Keys have shared the first photos of their new baby boy, Genesis Ali Dean.

Swizz Beatz Family Photo

Swizz Beats (real name Kasseem Dean) and the R&B singer posted images of their new child to Instagram Friday wishing blessings and love.

Genesis Ali Dean was born on December 27, 2014.

Swizz Beatz Family Photo

Keys and Dean have been married since 2010. Genesis Ali is their second child together, following their 4-year-old son Egypt Daoud.

Dean has three other children from previous relationships.

Swizz Beatz to Attend Harvard Business School

Swizz Beatz is headed to the Ivy League

The 35-year-old half-Puerto Rican hip-hop artist and record producer, born Kasseem Dean, has been accepted to Harvard Business School’s nine-week Owner/President Management Extension Program, the same one attended by AntonioL.A.Reid at the request of Clive Davis.

Swizz Beatz

Beatz, the husband of Alicia Keys,made the announcement by posting his acceptance email on his Instagram account earlier this week.

“This might be one of the happiest days of my life,” he posted on his social media account. “From BX to Harvard.”

Beatz has produced hit singles for the likes of Nas, Nicki Minaj, Beyonce and Bono. He’s also a fashion and shoe designer, art collector and tireless brand promoter who spent the 2010-11 academic year as the first “producer-in-residence” at New York University‘s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.

The HBS program awards those who pass the curriculum a certification for the course, which is aimed at CEOs and heads of companies. The price tag is $33,000 per credit, with Beatz taking three credits for a cool 100 grand, beginning next month. He’ll live in Harvard housing.

“Admission is a selective process based on professional achievement and organizational responsibility. We look for professionals who have demonstrated business talent and leadership potential,” according to the school’s official site.

The program focuses on navigating the global economy, maximizing financial resources, aligning strategies and sales and other business skills.

Keys and son Egypt will join him in the dorm on weekends, according to Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman, who interviewed Swizz on the carpet at the The Amazing Spider-Man 2 premiere. His wife performed her soundtrack song with Kendrick Lamar at the post-premiere party.

Swizz, who never went to college, started his music career directly after graduating high school.