awards and honors Archives

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Todd Williamson/Getty Images

Jay-Z and The Go-Go's are among the list of music legends to be inducted into the 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHF) announced the New York-born hip-hop icon will be among the list of nominees to be inducted at the 2021 ceremony on October 30 in Cleveland, Ohio, reported Billboard.

He will join rock veterans The Go-Go's, Foo Fighters, singer-songwriter Carole King, Todd Rundgren and Queen of Rock n' Roll Tina Turner.

Rob Verhorst/Redferns

Turner, King and Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl are already in the Rock Hall of Fame -- King is the first person in the Rock Hall as a performer and non-performer.

Turner was previously recognized as part of R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner; and Grohl with grunge icons Nirvana.

The RRHF was criticized for not inducting The Go-Go's into the Hall sooner. The group made history in 1982 when they topped the Billboard album chart as the first all-female band that wrote their own material and played their own instruments.

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Go-Go's members (L-R) Charlotte Caffey, Abby Travis, Gina Schock, Jane Wiedlin, and Belinda Carlisle are pictured at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards.

Paul Natkin/WireImage

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will also induct rap legend LL Cool J, singer/songwriter Billy Preston, and Randy Rhoads. Electronic pioneers Kraftwerk, spoken-word poet Gil Scott-Heron and bluesman Charley Patton are joining the RRHOF under the early influence award category.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Music executive and film producer Clarence Avant, 90, aka "The Black Godfather", is the recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun award. He is pictured with Jay Z (left) and Sean Combs.

The ceremony will take place October 30 at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, with a radio simulcast on SiriusXM's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame radio channel. It will broadcast on HBO and stream on HBO Max at a later date.

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Tuesday, May 11, 2021

BACKGRID

Drake will receive Artist of the Decade honors at the "2021 Billboard Music Awards" (BBMAs), dick clark productions and NBC announced on Tuesday.

The record-breaking music superstar holds the title for most Billboard Music Awards with 27. He set the mark after taking home 12 awards in 2019.

Hosted by Nick Jonas, the BBMAs will broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 23 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC.

BACKGRID

Billboard's Artists of the Decade category ranks the best-performing artists based on activity on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and the Billboard 200 albums tally, as well as social media data and touring revenue from Billboard Boxscore, from Dec. 5, 2009, through Sept. 28, 2019.

Roger / BACKGRID

Artist of the Decade Drake By-The-Numbers:

2010 to 2020:

* Nine No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart - the most of the decade of any artist
* 33 top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100 chart - the most of the decade of any artist
* Six No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
* 18 No. 1s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart - the most of the decade of any artist
* 69 top 10s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart - the most of the decade of any artist
* 10 No. 1 albums on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart

Career Chart Records:

* Only solo male with more than 50 career weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
* A record 232 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
* A record 45 top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
* A record 22 No. 1 titles on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart
* A record 84 top 10s on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart
* A record 120 top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart

Notable Chart Stats:

* Eight No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
* Nine No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart
* 11 No. 1 albums on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart

* For the latest news on the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) visit billboardmusicawards.com and www.billboard.com/bbma.

The "2021 Billboard Music Awards" is sponsored by Rockstar Energy Drink, Security Benefit and Xfinity.

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Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images

Oscar winner Chloe Zhao and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris have been saluted among the 100 Most Impactful Asians of 2021.

The non-profit organization Gold House unveiled their annual A100 list of the top Asians, Asian-Americans, and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) who have been working to increase representation of their race and heritage in the public eye.

Honorees include K-pop stars Blackpink, H.E.R., Olivia Rodrigo, Gemma Chan, Kelly Marie Tran, and Simu Liu.

"Our leaders can no longer just be great - they must be good," said Bing Chen, president and co-founder of Gold House. "They can't just represent us in celebration - they must also elevate us when we're in pain.

"That's why this year's Gold House A100 List spotlights leaders who were excellent in achievement and eminent in activism. This is, in so many ways, the fight for our lives - and we need fighters who see that."

Those selected for the A100 were picked by a panel of judges, including George Takei, Daniel Dae Kim, Michelle Yeoh, Lea Salonga, Bob Iger, and Michael B. Jordan.

Also making the A100 list for 2021 are: rappers Anderson .Paak and Saweetie, actress Auli'i Cravalho, comedian Ronny Chieng, writer/director Lee Isaac Chung, tennis champ Naomi Osaka, TV personality Padma Lakshmi, and YouTube influencer Patrick Starr.

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Monday, April 26, 2021

Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images

British actor Daniel Kaluuya won the best supporting actor Oscar for his role in biographical drama "Judas and the Black Messiah."

Like any good son, he thanked his parents in his acceptance speech: "You got to celebrate life, man! We're breathing, walking, it's incredible. It's incredible. Like, it's incredible. My mom met dad, they had sex. It's amazing."

Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

An ecstatic Daniel Kaluuya poses with Yuh-Jung Youn (left), winner of Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "Minari," and Frances McDormand, winner of Best Actress in a Leading Role for "Nomadland."

Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S./Getty Images

This is the fourth Oscar win for McDormand, who won her first Oscar for her sensitive portrayal of a police chief in the dark comedy film Fargo (1996). Her trophy collection includes two Golden Globe Awards, three BAFTA Awards, two Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award.

Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images

Angela Bassett stunned on the red carpet at the 93rd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, April 25.

Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S./Getty Images

Tyler Perry, winner of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, poses in the press room during the 93rd Annual Academy Awards.

Troy Harvey/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

L-R) Tiara Thomas, H.E.R., and Dernst Emile II, winners of Best Original Song for "Fight For You" from "Judas and the Black Messiah," pose in the press room during the 93rd Annual Academy Awards at Union Station.

Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S./Getty Images

Chloé Zhao becomes only the second woman to win Best Director in Academy Awards history. She took home the trophy for Nomadland.

Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S./Getty Images

(L-R) Mia Neal, Jamika Wilson, and Sergio Lopez-Rivera pose backstage with the Oscar for Makeup and Hairstyling in the press room during the 93rd Annual Academy Awards

Jerritt Clark/Getty Images

(L-R): Andra Day, Tyler James Williams and Evan Ross embrace at the Spring Place's Oscars party honoring Andra Day and the cast of The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

Mark Terrill-Pool/Getty Images

The 93rd Annual Academy Awards was broadcast live from Union Station in Los Angeles, California. Only 170 guests were invited as part of the audience. Hundreds of homeless people were cleared out of the area before the awards aired. They were threatened with jail time if they didn't leave.

See the partial list of winners below:

Best Picture:

Nomadland

Best Director:

Chloe Zhao, Nomadland

Best Actor:

Anthony Hopkins, The Father

Best Actress:

Frances McDormand, Nomadland

Best Supporting Actor:

Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah

Best Supporting Actress:

Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Florian Zeller and Christopher Hampton, The Father

Best Original Screenplay:

Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman

Best Animated Feature:

Soul

Best Costume Design:

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Best Film Editing:

Sound of Metal

Best Makeup and Hairstyling:

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Best Original Score:

Soul by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste

Best Original Song:

"Fight For You" from Judas and the Black Messiah by H.E.R., Dernst Emile II, and Tiara Thomas

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award:

Tyler Perry and the Motion Picture & Television Fund

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Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Instagram.com/@wakaflocka

Former President Donald Trump presented Atlanta rapper Waka Flocka with a lifetime achievement award.

The framed certificate and gold medal were presented to Waka at an award ceremony in Atlanta, by his mentor Apostle Dr. Bridget Outlaw.

TMZ

The certificate recognizes Dr. Joaquin Jame Malphur's "lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service."

Waka, a proud conservative, grinned from ear to ear when he received his award for philanthropy and giving back to his community.

He captioned a photo on Instagram: "Lifetime Achievement Award [medal emoji] I gotta thank my pastor/big sister Apostle Dr. Bridget C. Outlaw for teaching and guiding me on this journey God got us on I'm just honored [praying hands emoji] S/O to my president!!!"

Waka's foundation, Daughter of Destiny is an outreach program that helps women by providing employment, food, housing, community resources and inner healing, according to TMZ.

Estevan Oriol/Getty Images

In September, the 34-year-old rapper posted a series of thought-provoking memes on his IG page that revealed his conservative ideologies.

In one meme Waka wrote: "How can we as a community beg the police to don't shoot but we killing each other still? We gotta ask ourself how bad do we want true freedom?"

Waka suggested that Marxist organizations, such as Black Lives Matter, use anti-police protests and riots to distract Black people from the problems that continue to plague our community.

Waka's proud mom is Atlanta philanthropist and community activist Debra Antney.

Waka and his wife, entrepreneur Tammy Rivera co-parent her teenage daughter, Charlie.

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Monday, November 16, 2020

GQ magazine

GQ magazine has named Megan Thee Stallion Rapper of the Year. The 26-year-old "Savage" rapper was chosen from a short list of rappers who don't mumble.

Megan, who is best known for her stripper anthem "WAP" with fellow rapper Cardi B, covers GQ's 25th annual Men of the Year issue.

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She said: "I want [Black women] to be sassier. I want us to demand more, be more outspoken, keep speaking and just keep demanding what you deserve."

She added: "Don't change — just get better. Grow from these situations. Don't be beating yourself up about these situations. I feel we keep this stuff in and there's some kind of way we flip it on ourselves. We didn't f--- up — we didn't do something wrong."

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It isn't clear what criteria GQ used to pick the Rapper of the Year. It must be her in-your-face attitude that scored points with the judges.

She did share her personal take on the Tory Lanez shooting that made her a household name over the summer.

"Like, I never put my hands on nobody," she told GQ. "I barely even said anything to the man who shot me when I was walking away. We were literally like five minutes away from the house."

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Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Photos by WireImage, Getty Images

Whitney Houston and Notorious B.I.G. were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame posthumously. The late icons will join rock legends Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, T. Rex and The Doobie Brothers.

Whitney, who died in 2012 at age 48, is among four artists inducted after being added to the ballot for the first time. The Doobie Brothers, Biggie and T-Rex are the others.

Whitney remains one of the best-selling artists of all time, selling 200 million albums worldwide.

Biggie, real name Christopher Wallace, is best known for his rap hits "Juicy" and "Big Poppa." His posthumous album Life After Death, featuring hits like "Mo Money Mo Problems" and "Hypnotize," is one of the few rap albums to be certified Diamond by the RIAA.

B.I.G. became the first rap artist to earn multiple No. 1 singles after his death.

He was gunned down at the peak of his career in 1997 at age 24. His murder remains unsolved.

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Friday, October 18, 2019

Leon Bennett/WireImage

Daytime TV mogul Wendy Williams was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, CA on Thursday. Wendy's son Kevin Hunter Jr., 19, was on hand to support his mother on her big day.

Leon Bennett/WireImage

Wendy, 55, fought back tears as she accepted the honor. "If I don't laugh, I'll cry, so I'll keep it light and laughter-y," she said as the crowd laughed.

It's been a rough year for the single mother of one who divorced her husband, Kevin Hunter, after he welcomed a baby daughter with his longtime mistress.

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Wendy posed with her son Kevin Hunter Jr, left, and her nephew as she was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California on Thursday.

Parisa / BACKGRID

Kevin Frazier, owner of gossip blog HipHollywood.com and co-host of Entertainment Tonight, interviewed Wendy on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Tuesday, September 17, 2019

A Nike ad campaign featuring free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick won an Emmy award for Best Commercial.

The award was handed out at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards over the weekend.

Nike picked Kaepernick to lead its 30th anniversary 'Just Do It' TV and print campaign that also featured Serena Williams and LeBron James.

Kaepernick courted controversy in 2016 when he remained seated on the bench during the national anthem. After the public backlash, he got off the bench and kneeled on the sideline.

The 30-year-old quarterback said he was protesting social injustice. But some fans noticed he waited until he was benched to become a "woke activist".

"We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward," Nike North America vice President Gino Fisanotti told ESPN after the initial backlash.

Kaepernick, who was 3-16 during his final season with the 49ers, filed a grievance against the league for colluding to blackball him -- despite the fact that he turned down at least 2 contract offers.

Kaepernick and the league settled the lawsuit for a reported $10 million.

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Thursday, September 12, 2019

Prince Williams/ATLPics.net

Sean "Diddy" Combs received a State Resolution for his Achievements in Entertainment and Business at The Georgia Entertainment Caucus Award Ceremony held at Georgia State Capital on Wednesday, September 11, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Prince Williams/ATLPics.net

The media mogul was honored for launching Revolt TV & Media, a music-oriented digital cable television network, in Los Angeles in 2013. He was also recognized for his many contributions to hip-hop music.