Isiah Whitlock Jr., ‘The Wire Star’, Dead at 71

Isiah Whitlock Jr., ‘The Wire Star’, Dead at 71

Hollywood is mourning a tragic loss. Isiah Whitlock Jr.—best known for his roles in The Wire, Your Honor, Veep and several Spike Lee films—has died, his manager confirmed Dec. 30. He was 71. "It is with tremendous sadness that I share the passing of my dear friend and client Isiah Whitlock Jr.," Brian Liebman wrote on Instagram alongside photos of the actor. "If you knew him - you loved him. A brilliant actor and even better person. May his memory forever be a blessing."  He concluded, "Our h


O A

From Mall Brands to Moodboards: The Return of Y2K Streetwear

From Mall Brands to Moodboards: The Return of Y2K Streetwear

Contemporary fashion campaigns increasingly draw on early‑2000s or “Y2K” aesthetics to appeal to younger audiences who relate to both nostalgia and irony. These campaigns remix familiar visual codes—like glossy tech imagery, logo‑heavy styling, and exaggerated silhouettes—to create a language that feels both retro and futuristic. That shift shows up clearly in mainstream fashion coverage from outlets like Vogue, whose piece “Y2K Fashion 101: How the Millennium Started Trending All Over Again” tr


Binta B Phatty

The Return Of The Long Tour

The Return Of The Long Tour

In 2025, the center of gravity in music has shifted back to the road, with long, high‑concept tours once again driving the biggest headlines in pop and beyond. Stadium shows, extended residencies, and multi‑leg world tours have turned live music into the main event again, not just a side promo for albums. The top tier of touring has become its own entertainment category. Pop and R&B giants like The Weeknd are staging elaborate stadium productions that feel closer to an IMAX‑scale 3D movie than


Binta B Phatty

TikTok Is The New A&R: How Viral Clips Decide The Hits

TikTok Is The New A&R: How Viral Clips Decide The Hits

Short‑form video has quietly become the most powerful gatekeeper in music, turning background sounds into career‑making singles. TikTok, Reels, and Shorts are now where many listeners first “discover” songs, often before they ever see a playlist or hear radio spins. Over the past year, TikTok‑driven moments have taken bedroom producers, deep‑cut catalog songs, and experimental mashups from niche corners of the app to global streaming charts. A track that works in a 10‑second loop—whether for a


Binta B Phatty

Latest Episodes

Loading player…
Loading…

Dope

Our editors think this is DOPE

Kanye West Says “Life” Is A Fashion Trend He Regrets Partaking In New Interview

Kanye West Says “Life” Is A Fashion Trend He Regrets Partaking In New Interview

Kanye West’s latest stop in Tokyo produced another unscripted fashion moment as the rapper and designer appeared in a brief street-style interview posted November 20 by Mystery Fashion.  The clip, filmed on a crowded Tokyo sidewalk, follows the platform’s quick-hit format, but West’s presence shifts the exchange into something more revealing than a routine style check. The interview opens with AJ’s standard greeting, asking his guest to introduce himself and name his hometown. West responds wi


O A

Tom Cruise Finally Takes Home an Oscar With Honorary Award

Tom Cruise Finally Takes Home an Oscar With Honorary Award

Tom Cruise has finally received an honorary Oscar, marking a milestone in his illustrious career. The 63-year-old actor, known for his iconic roles in “Mission: Impossible” and “Top Gun,” was honoured at the 16th Governors Awards, held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles on Sunday evening. In his acceptance speech, Cruise expressed his gratitude and passion for filmmaking, saying, “Making films is not what I do, it is who I am”. He also praised the big screen as a place that sparks “a hu


O A

The U.S. Mint Has Officially Produced Its Last Penny, Ending 232 Years of Coinage

The U.S. Mint Has Officially Produced Its Last Penny, Ending 232 Years of Coinage

On Wednesday, the United States Mint in Philadelphia struck the final circulating penny, marking the end of its 232-year production. “There are an estimated 300 billion pennies in circulation — far exceeding the amount needed for commerce,” the Mint said in a formal statement. The penny remains legal tender, but new coins will no longer be released for everyday transactions. Why the Phase-Out of the Penny Happened Rising costs and shifting payment habits were cited as the chief reasons behind


O A

Read More

Explore our archive of articles, interviews, and creative projects

A$AP Rocky and Bilt Pays Tenants’ Rent In Old Harlem Apartments

A$AP Rocky and Bilt Pays Tenants’ Rent In Old Harlem Apartments

A$AP Rocky, teaming with Bilt, is leveraging his celebrity and personal history to address housing costs in Harlem, the neighborhood where he was raised.  The rapper has partnered with Bilt to pay the January 2026 rent for tenants living in his childhood apartment building. According to details shared as part of a new promotional campaign tied to his upcoming album, Don’t Be Dumb. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BILT (@bilt)  The initiative places Harlem at the center of th


O A

50 Cent Is The Most-Streamed NYC Rapper For Third Year In A Row

50 Cent Is The Most-Streamed NYC Rapper For Third Year In A Row

50 Cent is letting the numbers talk again, as it was revealed that the mogul crowned the most-streamed New York City (NYC) rapper of 2025 for the third straight year. The distinction came via music stats account Diverse Mentality, which dropped the news on December 30 after reviewing YouTube’s global streaming charts. Rather than popping champagne, 50 brushed it off like routine work. “I thought we got over this guys, it is the way it is. LOL @bransoncognac,” he wrote on Instagram.  The capti


O A

Beyoncé Becomes a Billionaire as ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour Pushes Her Net Worth Past $1B

Beyoncé Becomes a Billionaire as ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour Pushes Her Net Worth Past $1B

Beyoncé has reached a financial milestone few entertainers ever touch, officially entering the billionaire ranks. Forbes confirmed the achievement this week, placing her among a select group of artists whose careers have translated into lasting wealth. The moment follows the runaway success of her Cowboy Carter tour. This genre-bending run pushed country music into stadium-sized territory. Even by Beyoncé’s standards, the scale of the accomplishment is striking. Launched in April with a marque


O A

Actor Idris Elba Receives Knighthood At U.K. Honours, Now Sir Idris Elba

Actor Idris Elba Receives Knighthood At U.K. Honours, Now Sir Idris Elba

Acclaimed actor Idris Elba is set to receive a knighthood in the U.K., placing the globally recognized actor at the forefront of the 2026 New Year Honours list. The distinction recognizes a career defined not only by screen success but by sustained public service and charitable advocacy. The British-born actor, producer, and musician is being honored primarily for his humanitarian work. In recent years, Elba has devoted significant time to youth-focused initiatives, particularly campaigns aime


O A

Cardi B Flaunts Rare Hermès Birkin While Lip-Synching ‘Check Please’

Cardi B Flaunts Rare Hermès Birkin While Lip-Synching ‘Check Please’

Cardi B continues to promote her latest album and potentially the latest single, “Check Please,” as 2025 comes to a close with a trending new clip that features a rare Hermès handbag.  Late Friday (Dec. 26), the Bronx rapper shared a glamorous clip that quickly dominated social feeds. The video shows Cardi lip-syncing “Check Please” while posing beside a sharply dressed man. Her platinum blonde hair framed the moment with cinematic polish. pic.twitter.com/W6nOjTbAdS — Cardi B (@iamcardib) Dec


O A

Only Taylor Swift Keeps Christmas Music From Completely Taking Over

Only Taylor Swift Keeps Christmas Music From Completely Taking Over

As is the case every year, just before Christmas, the Hot 100 is inundated by holiday songs. Americans love the sounds of the season, and they show that devotion as they buy and stream their favorite yuletide cuts, and many radio stations throughout the United States switch to an all-holiday format at the same time. The combination of a huge increase in consumption of Christmas tunes, paired with massive improvements in airplay, helps some of the most famous tracks attached to the jolliest day


O A

NBA Roundup: Bucks Win on Giannis’ Return, Spurs Winning Streak Snapped by Jazz

NBA Roundup: Bucks Win on Giannis’ Return, Spurs Winning Streak Snapped by Jazz

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo made a triumphant return from an eight-game NBA injury layoff on Saturday while San Antonio's win streak was ended at eight games by the Utah Jazz. Antetokounmpo scored 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 25 minutes to lead the Bucks in a 112-103 victory at Chicago, snapping the Bulls' five-game win streak. The 31-year-old Greek star, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, made 10-of-15 shots from the floor and 8-of-10 free throws as Milwaukee improved to 13


O A

Netanyahu to Meet Trump in US on Monday

Netanyahu to Meet Trump in US on Monday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, an Israeli official said, in what is seen as a crucial visit for the next steps of the fragile Gaza truce plan. It will be Netanyahu’s fifth visit to see key ally Trump in the United States this year. His trip comes as the Trump administration and regional mediators push to proceed to the second stage of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. An Israeli official on Satur


O A

Nicki Minaj Deactivates Her Instagram Account

Nicki Minaj Deactivates Her Instagram Account

Nicki Minaj is planning to keep a low profile in 2026. Following her surprise appearance at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, Minaj has deactivated her Instagram account. Walking out with Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Minaj lauded President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance as “role models” for young men. “This administration is full of people with heart and soul, and they make me proud of them. Our vice president makes me … well, I love both of them,” Min


O A

Snoop Dogg Brings Out Huntrix, Lainey Wilson for Netflix NFL Christmas Halftime Show

Snoop Dogg Brings Out Huntrix, Lainey Wilson for Netflix NFL Christmas Halftime Show

Snoop Dogg took over for the NFL’s second-ever Christmas Halftime show on Thursday evening, enlisting a star-studded set of cameos from the likes of Lainey Wilson, the singers behind KPop Demon Hunters‘ Huntrix, and a book-end cameo from the veteran rapper’s longtime pal Martha Stewart to help him out. Netflix confirmed Snoop as the halftime performer over a week ago for the Detroit Lions-Minnesota Vikings game. The streaming service also aired the Cowboys-Commanders game earlier today, while t


O A

Oscars to Stream Exclusively on YouTube from 2029

Oscars to Stream Exclusively on YouTube from 2029

The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, will begin streaming exclusively on YouTube from 2029, marking a major shift away from traditional broadcast television. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Wednesday that it had signed a multi-year agreement granting YouTube exclusive global streaming rights to the Oscars through 2033. Under the deal, the ceremony will be broadcast live and free on YouTube, ending more than five decades of television coverage on ABC.


O A

Venus Williams Weds Italian Actor Andrea Preti

Venus Williams Weds Italian Actor Andrea Preti

Venus Williams, the American tennis superstar, has tied the knot with Andrea Preti, the Italian actor. The couple took to their respective social media pages to share photos from the ceremony that was held in Florida over the weekend. “Mr and Mrs Preti, a dream come true,” Venus wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Venus Williams (@venuswilliams) On his part, Andrea added: “Mr and Mrs Preti, it’s a kind of magic my beautiful wife @venuswilliams”. Venus looked stunning i


O A

Be the first to know

Join our community and get notified about upcoming stories

Subscribing...
You've been subscribed!
Something went wrong