Fans of the legendary Motown sound are in for a treat Saturday when Dennis Edwards and the Temptations perform at the Country Club Hills Theater.
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Female rappers Dessa and Psalm One raise the stakes
Female rappers have long been underrepresented in hip hop, but two artists who’ve blazed their own trails — Chicago rapper Psalm One and Minneapolis artist Dessa — will bring female rap to the forefront Monday at Downtown Sound, Millennium Park’s free summer music series.
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Author Alice Walker wants you to wake up
It’s been 30 years since Alice Walker wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “The Color Purple,” but its impact lives on through a hit movie and a Broadway musical, which is now set to hit the stage in London this fall. But Walker is not one to rest on her laurels. She continues to write novels — two of which feature characters from “The Color Purple” — children’s books, poetry and essays.
With the release of her two latest books, “The Cushion in the Road” (New Press, $26.95), a collection of essays on politics and spirituality, and “The World Will Follow Joy” (New Press, $21.95), a book of poetry, Walker wants her readers to do one thing: “Wake up” to what’s going on around them.
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Mike Epps jokes about Kanye, Obama during show
No one was safe from comedian Mike Epps, who joked about Chicago natives Kanye West, President Barack Obama and even his own family spat played out on TMZ, during his hilarious performance Thursday night at The Venue at the Horseshoe Casino.
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Paula Patton stars alongside ensemble cast in ‘Baggage Claim’
Paula Patton will star in an ensemble cast, which includes Taye Diggs and Boris Kodjoe, in the upcoming David Talbert movie,”Baggage Claim.”
Patton plays a flight attendant spurred by her younger sister’s upcoming wedding to find a husband in 30 days. Lauren London plays the younger sister and Jennifer Lewis is cast as her mother.
The film features a ton of celebrities including: Jill Scott, Tia Mowry-Hardrict, Derek Luke, Adam Brody, Djimon Hounsou, Christina Milian, LaLa Anthony, Affion Crockett and Trey Songz.
Check out the movie trailer inside.
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Kem overcomes drug addiction to become Grammy nominated artist
The R&B singer battled back from years of drug addiction and homelessness to become a two-time Grammy nominated artist.
Kem, who begin playing the keyboard at five years old and writing songs in middle school, credits his faith in God for his success.
“Music has always been a part of my life throughout my addiction,” the singer said. “My faith is my foundation and I look at my music as a ministry.”
“People hear about my struggle and what they are witnessing is a miracle,” he said. “I don’t take it lightly and I speak about it on stage where ever I go.”
Kem will be performing along with Chrisette Michele at the Valentine’s Love Affair concert Saturday at the Arie Crown Theater.
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Tony, Toni, Tone bring the swing to ‘Valentine Jam’
Couples can celebrate the holiday by dancing up a sweat at the New Jack Swing Valentine Jam Thursday night at the Arie Crown Theater.
The concert includes R&B performers from the ‘80s and ‘90s Guy; Tony, Toni, Tone; SWV; Dru Hill; and Al B. Sure.
Dwayne Wiggins of Tony, Toni, Tone said he is looking forward to performing on his birthday, which falls on Valentine’s Day.
This year also marks the group’s 25th anniversary in the music business, Wiggins said.
“Expect us to celebrate like it‘s our anniversary, no pun intended,” said Wiggins, alluding to the group’s 1993 hit single “Anniversary.”
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Sinbad finds new comedic road in ‘funkedy’
Sinbad didn’t begin his career as a clean comic but one night while performing he decided to try something different.
“Everybody was being so dirty,” Sinbad said of the other comedians performing that night. “Everybody was sounding the same and trying to be super hip. So I just switched it up and found that I was able to talk about more things clean,” said Sinbad, who has been performing since 1983. “I could still talk about sex, drugs, or anything. I just changed the words that I used.”
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Bill Bellamy has a ‘Ladies Night Out’
Bill Bellamy lucked out.
He credits his success from being in the “right place at the right time” while studying economics at Rutgers University. The former “Last Comic Standing” host began performing standup comedyon the side, and it wasn’t long before he caught the eye of Russell Simmons. The media mogul paved the way for his appearance in HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” where he’s credited with coining the now ubitiquous phrase “booty call.”
Now, nearly two decades after getting his start in the business and having success in television and film, Bellamy continues to perform standup comedy. His “Ladies Night Out” comedy tour stops this weekend at the Improv in Schaumburg.
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Brandy rocks the crowd at benefit concert
R&B singer Brandy rocked the house Saturday night at the Project Hood benefit concert at the Venue at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind..
Brandy opened the show with energetic applause for her 2002 hit “What About Us?” She kept the hits coming with long-time favorites including “I Wanna Be Down,” “Baby,” and “The Boy is Mine.”
The recently engaged singer also performed a medley in tribute to her “idol,” the late Whitney Houston. The audience sang along with such Houston songs as “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and “How Will I Know.”
“Whitney was the epitome of a songstress,” Brandy said. “Everything I dreamt of becoming. I loved her.”
The recently engaged singer told the audience that her new song “Wildest Dreams” from her latest album “Two Eleven” was about her fiancé, music executive Ryan Press.
She closed the show with a fun dance routine to her latest hit, “Put It Down” with Chris Brown.
Check out what Brandy had to say about her new album here.