POLITICAL | URBAN | ENTERTAINMENT | GOSPEL | HISTORY & CULTURE

  BMW2026 Opens with Africa Day Celebration, Mzansi Atlanta Creative Industry Expo, Walk of Fame Honors, Jack the Rapper Remix, Presidential Leadership Conversations, and “An Era of Soul” Salute to 30 Years of Black Music Excellence Atlanta, GA — (May 8, 2026) — One hundred and five years ago, the Harlem Renaissance changed Black culture forever redefining music, art, business, intellect, and global influence through the power of Black creativity.  Today, Atlanta picks up the baton. Black Music Week Atlanta 2026 (BMW2026) launches May 25 through June 6 as the official cultural bridge into Black Music Month, positioning Atlanta as the modern global capital of Black music, creativity, innovation, and cultural commerce. Presented by Unite Atlanta and the Black American Music Association (BAMA), this year’s expanded celebration introduces what organizers are calling the beginning of the “Atlanta Renaissance,” a citywide movement uniting music, culture, business, techno...

Vocal dynamo  Tasha Page-Lockhart has a gift of turning a moment into a message.  On her latest release the message is clear -- God is  on the way. "He's on the Way" is the lead single on her first solo album since 2017’s  The Beautiful Project .  “ He’s on the Way ” (Giftbox Music Group / Tyscot Records) has been released on all digital music platforms and has racked up over 50,000 streams globally. The early success has also earned the track a No. 10 debut placement on  Billboard’s  Gospel Digital Song Sales chart. The modern R&B/Hip-Hop flavored track was written and produced by Page-Lockhart with Charles “Ollie” Harris who has been collaborating with the Motor City native for a decade on songs such as her former  Billboard  Top 20 smash, “Over and Over.” The song is already opening new doors for the BET  Sunday Best  Season 6 contest winner. The afternoon host  JusNik  of New York City’s legendary R&B radio sta...

  “BEYOND THE GATES” WHAT TO WATCH: MAY 11-MAY 15, 2026 CBS welcomes you inside “BEYOND THE GATES.” Below, please find episode descriptions for Monday, May 11-Friday, May 15, 2026. “BEYOND THE GATES” airs weekdays (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00-2:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+*.  

Rapper Teams With Freeway Rick Ross To Transform Regional Staple–Boosie Bash–To A Worldwide In-Home Viewing Experience   YFN Lucci, Plies, YK Niece, Sexyy Red, Big Boogie, H3adBand, BG, Baby Mel, And Flau'Jae Headline Hip Hop Festival Is southern rap super star  Boosie Badazz  quietly becoming the most influential ‘Southern Network’ in media? A livestream collaboration with  Freeway Rick Ross  is set to disrupt digital, offering an in-home pay-per-view experience for  Boosie Bash VII . “You can party in your living room,” says Boosie, the creator of the annual Louisiana festival now in its seventh year. “Invite your friends, cousins; Bash with us at home!” WATCH: Boosie Badazz Talk About Live-streaming The Concert His online presence, a masterclass in “unfiltered entertainment,” was recently at the center of viral debate with VLAD TV, a podcast platform popularized by Lil Boosie (rapper’s OG moniker). A self-contained reality show, ...

  Lavelle Dontae to Host the Red Carpet as BET Honors the Power, Influence, and Impact of Black LGBTQ+ Excellence BET today announced the return of the BET Black + Iconic Soirée, set to take place on  Saturday, May 23, 2026 , at  MGM National Harbor in Oxon, Maryland . The annual event continues its mission of honoring and celebrating the intersectionality of the Black and LGBTQ+ communities, recognizing cultural leaders, and fostering collective impact. Emmy-nominated actress, producer, and advocate  Laverne Cox  will serve as host for this year's Black + Iconic Soirée, bringing her signature voice, visibility, and cultural influence to the evening. Comedian and content creator  Lavelle Dontae  will host the red carpet, setting the tone for the night ahead. The Black + Iconic Soirée brings together luminaries, advocates, and changemakers for an intimate evening of recognition, reflection, and celebration. Through powerful storytelling, performances, a...

A group of South Carolina House lawmakers is pushing to strip funding from South Carolina State University after students successfully protested Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette’s selection as commencement speaker — a move critics say is an abuse of legislative power. Students at the historically Black university staged a peaceful demonstration last month after President Alexander Conyers announced Evette as the keynote speaker. Many objected to her long‑standing opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion programs, arguing she was not an appropriate choice to address Black graduates about achievement and opportunity. The protest prompted the university to remove Evette from the program. Evette publicly blasted the decision, calling the students a “woke mob,” despite no reports of aggression or disruption during the demonstration. Now, five Republican members of the South Carolina House are backing a proposal to defund the state’s only public HBCU in response to the controversy. Evette has voi...

  Mona Austin is a Washington, D.C.-based multimedia journalist and the founder and creative director of Jireh Communications Group, established in 2002. She is known for her work as a White House and Congressional correspondent, with a focus on political, entertainment, faith-based, and lifestyle content. Austin has been a journalist since 2002, starting her career in community news at a small paper in Colorado. She has since worked as a nationally syndicated web and radio journalist, contributing to outlets such as EURweb, Essence, AXS, and The Slice News, where she serves as a White House reporter. Her reporting covers a wide range of topics, including significant political events like President Joe Biden’s infrastructure grants for marginalized communities, Dr. Jill Biden’s 2023 Africa visit, and the federal charges against police officers in the Breonna Taylor case. She also reported on cultural and political stories, such as Deion Sanders’ appointment as a college football c...