Solange Knowles announced the release of her compilation album, 'Saint Heron.'

The album, scheduled for release under Knowles' Saint Records, will feature 12 tracks from several R&B artists , including Jadie J, Cassie and Kelela. 

"With Saint Heron, I really wanted to celebrate and continue to cultivate the community for genre-defying R&B artists, and I'm really excited for us to come together through the compilation as a new movement for music."

The album's first single will feature Kelela with 'Go All Night.'

Take a listen (below) :

The Braxton sisters are back with another drama-filled season.

"Viewers can pick up where the series last left off - with the shocking revelation that Traci's husband may have cheated on her and fathered a secret illegitimate child. Traci will not only confront her husband, but also her sisters , for the part they played in making the rumors even more public," WE announced. "Trina faces her own marital troubles and makes a heart-wrenching decision to file for a divorce from husband Gabe. This proves to be one of Trina's hardest challenges, because Gabe isn't willing to give up on their marriage yet."

'Braxton Family Values' returns on November 14 at 9 pm on WE.

Check out this season's extended trailer (below):

Dom Streater is the first African American to win  'Project Runway.'

The 24 year old Philadelphian wowed judges Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen, and guest judge Kerry Washington, with her 'Retro-Redux" Collection.

"It's a huge deal for me. I'm poor. I mean I'm working two jobs, people." Streater said.

Before winning the fashion competition, Streater worked as a hostess and also took care of animals to make ends meet.

As the winner, she will receive an 2014 Lexus IS 350; $150,000 cash; an opportunity to create and sell a Belk collection; a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine; and more.

Maya Angelou accepted a lifetime achievement award from the Norman Mailer Center on Thursday night.

The legendary poet was honored at a benefit dinner organized by the Mailer Center and writers colony.

Angelou was introduced by her former Random House editor, Robert Coomis, who encouraged her to write her best-selling book, "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings."

She reminisced on her transition from segregated Arkansas to literary stardom.

"Imagine it," she said. "a town so prejudiced black people couldn't even eat vanilla ice cream."

Pulitzer Prize Winner Junot Diaz and Journalist Michael Hastings also recieved awards from the Mailer Center.

Director Oliver Stone confirmed that Oscar winner Jamie Foxx will star in his new MLK biopic.

The authorized film will showcase the legendary leader's life.

"We are looking for a way to relate to this extraordinary man," Stone said.

Stone is known for his controversial biopics on George W. Bush, John F Kennedy, and Richard Nixon.

Foxx worked with the award-winning director in the 1999 film, Any Given Sunday.

Steven Spielberg is slated to produce the film along with members of the King family.

Rap pioneers LL Cool J and N.W.A. have been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The list of nominees also includes Peter Gabriel, Nirvana, and KISS.

"This year's nominees represent the broad definition of  'rock 'n' roll' and include an array of artists whose fans are deeply passionate about the possibility of induction, " said Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame CEO Joel Perseman.

Fans can vote for their favorite artists at rockhall.com/vote.

The BET Hip Hop Awards honored Rapper MC Lyte with the 'I am Hip Hop Award.'

The award, previously won by Russell Simmons and Grandmaster Flash, was presented by Rapper Eve. 

"She set the precedent for female freestylers,' Eve said. 'I'm truly honored. She has meant so much to me in my career.'

MC Lyte is known for her 80s hits : 'Lyte as a Rock,' RuffNeck,' and 'Poor George.'

Watch her acceptance speech (below):

She will star in a new reality show, titled Hip Hop Sisters, on BET. 

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will hold a screening of the Rwandan documentary, 'Finding Hillywood.'

The Academy website describes the film as an inspiring documentary that displays the 'power of cinema as a catalyst for healing and change.'

Read the website's synopsis of the film (below):

The film centers around Ayuub Kasasa Mago, a local filmmaker whose mother died in the 1994 genocide. A coordinator for the Rwanda Film Festival (now in its' 9th year), Mago leads a crew that travels from town to town for Hillywood, the section of the festival that presents locally made movies out doors on giant inflatable screens, bringing joy and inspiration to tens of thousands in Rwandan communities. 

The screening will take place on October 21 at 7 pm at the Academy Theater in New York City.

VH1 released a supertrailer for its' latest TV movie, CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.

The film will document the triumphs and struggles of the best selling female group.

Keke Palmer, Drew Sidora, and Lil Mama will star as the legendary trio.

"We basically took them under our wings and we shared a lot of stories with them," Chilli said. "We spent a lot of time with them, and they were very observant when it came to looking at how Tionne and I interact with each other, the chemistry, that we naturally have."

Catch the girls in action (below):


CrazySexyCool will premiere on Monday, October 21 at 9 PM ET on VH1.

Maxine Powell, the woman who developed the charm and style of Motown's biggest artists, died on Monday.

Powell directed Motown's Finishing School and taught artists -  like The Jackson Five, The Supremes and Smokey Robinson - how to speak, dress and treat their fans.

"She brought something to Motown that no other record company had," Motown founder Berry Gordy said. "She was a star in her own right -- an original. She will always be remembered for her style and class, and she instilled that into Motown artists by teaching them how to walk , talk and even think with class."

Powell was honored by Gordy and former Motown artists at the record label's museum in August.

"It didn't matter who you became during the course of your career -- how many hits you had , how well your name was known around the world,"  Smokey Robinson said. "Two days a week when you were back in Detroit you had to go artists' development. It was mandatory."

In August, Powell said that she would 'teach until there's no breath left in my body.'

She was 98.

(Source)

Kelly Rowland released the video for her latest single, 'Dirty Laundry,' on Monday.

The single documents Rowland's involvement in an abusive relationship.

"It was very emotional. It took me days to record," she told Billboard. "I had to get past being so upset and actually sing this song, not sob through it. I always hope that music can inspire someone, the same way other artists inspire me. Dream said, 'I want to write you a record so that people will know exactly who you are , underneath it all.'"

Watch the video (below):

Harvard University has created the Nasir Jones Hip Hop Fellowship in honor of the legendary rapper Nas.

The fellowship, created by the Hip Hop Archives and the W.E.B. Dubois Institute, will fund scholars and artists who are connected to the Hip Hop world.

"I am immensely over-the-top excited about the Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship at Harvard. From Queens, NY to true cultural academia. My hopes are that freed for knowledge, art, self-determination and expression go a long way. Ir is a true honor to have my name attached to so much hard work, alongside great names like Henry Louis Gates, Jr and W.E.B. Dubois and to such a prestigious and historical institution, and all in the name of music I grew to be a part of."

Nas is celebrated for his conscientious lyrics and deep thinking. He is most known for his hits, "If I ruled the World (Imagine That)," "Sweet Dreams" and "I can".

To learn more about the Nasir Jones Hip Hop Fellowship and Harvard's Hip Hop Institute, click here.

Stevie Wonder is putting his foot down!

The legendary singer is refusing to perform in the State of Florida until it abolishes its' Stand Your Ground Law.

George Zimmerman, the man who fatally shot Trayvon Martin and claimed self defense under the controversial law, was recently acquitted on all charges sparking outrage across the United States.

Wonder announced his decision to boycott in Quebec City, Canada on Sunday.

"The truth is that —  for those that we have lost in the battle for justice, wherever that fits in any part of the world — we can't bring them back," he said. "What we can do is we can let out voices be heard. And we can vote in our various countries throughout the world for change and equality for everybody. That's what I know we can do."

Watch Wonder's announcement (below):

The first trailer for the Nelson Mandela biopic, 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom,' has been released.

The video features a voice-over from Idris Elba, who plays Mandela in the film, saying:

"I have walked a long way to freedom. It have been a long road, and it's not over yet. No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin. People learn to hate. They can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart."

The movie will present the journey of Nelson Mandela from childhood to South Africa's First Black President.

It will open in U.S. theaters on November 29.

Watch the trailer (below):

Rapper Young Jeezy released a Trayvon Martin tribute, titled 'It's a Cole World,' hours after George Zimmerman was acquitted for the 17 year old's tragic death.

"I am in no way shape, form, or fashion trying to capitalize off of the latest series of events," he said. "These are my true feelings and my form of expression about it."

Listen to the track (below):

Harvey Weinstein, CEO of The Weinstein Company, accused Warner Bros. of bullying on 'CBS This Morning' on Tuesday.

"One hundred and twenty two times in the history of movies, titles have been used and repeated," he said. "And our understanding with Warner Bros. was that this was just going to be a simple process that it always is. Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy have a movie out called 'Heat'. Jason Statham is shooting a movie called 'Heat,' Bob Deniro and Al Pacino made a movie called 'Heat,' and 10 years before that Burt Reynolds made a movie called 'Heat.'"

Weinstein believes that Warner Bros is upset over The Weinstein Company's ownership of 'The Hobbit' and  is using 'The Butler' to obtain rights.

He added, "I was asked by two execs at Warner Bros, which I'm happy to testify to, that if I gave them back the rights to 'The Hobbit' they would drop the claim for a 1916 short? This was used as a bullying tactic. This was the big guy trying to hit the small guy."

Warner Bros denies any correlation between 'The Hobbit' and this battle.

'The Butler' will open in theaters on August 16.

R&B Group SWV is coming to your TV screen with a new reality series.

 The series, titled SWV-Sisters with Voices, has been picked up by WeTV.

 "The journey of SWV is the kind of real and personal comeback story our viewers love to see," said WeTV's Lauren Gellert. "These dynamic women experienced enormous success together,then it fell apart. United again, the stakes are higher than ever, and so-at-times- is the drama and tension. We can't wait to present this fresh, new series to WeTV viewers."

 The trio, known for hits like 'Weak' and 'Right Here/Human Nature,' broke up in 1998 before reuniting in 2005.

 SWV-Sisters With Voices will hit television screens in early 2014.

 Will you be watching?

R&B singer Ciara is back on the music scene with her new self-titled album.

The album, released on July 9, features collaborations from artists like B.o.B, Nicki Minaj and Future.

Ciara spoke about the album on Chelsea Lately  last Tuesday.

"On this album, my fans get to have a new experience and it's about knowing me more and just me with a different twist. I don't wanna say I'm being somebody else, I just sound a little different," she said.

In celebration of her album release, she created video snippets for 4 tracks off the record including Livin it Up and Read my Lips.

"I did video snippets of many of the songs on the album for my fans so they can have the best experience of my music," she said. "I wanted my fans to see the music for the first time while they are also hearing it," she said.

Check out the snippets(below):

Ciara Premieres an Exclusive Video With Us! by glamour

Idris Elba is a trouble maker in the latest poster for Mandela: Long Way Home. 

The film will follow the Former South African President's journey from teen to international freedom fighter. 

Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Zolani Mkiva, Jamie Bartlett, Lindiwe Matzshikiza, Deon Lotz and Tony Pheto will also star in the biopic.

It will hit U.S. theaters on November 29.

Tracee Ellis Ross launched a 'Hair Love' campaign last week.

The actress was inspired to create the campaign after seeing an Instagram meme with a caption saying, "The moment you realize you don't have Trace Ellis Ross's hair."

Despite being flattered by the gesture, Ross created a video encouraging fans to be proud of what they've got.

"I don't want you to want my hair. The reason I don't want you to want my hair is I'm the school of love what you got. For me, the reason my hair was such a battle was because I was trying to make it something it wasn't. I wanted the hair that somebody else had," she said. 

She added, "I love that you love my hair but I only love that you love my hair if it's an inspiration for you to love your hair."

Watch the inspiring video (below):

(Source)