By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Three-time Grammy winning singer-songwriter and producer Maxwell will receive the Legend Award, with multi-platinum singer/songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and author Ashanti earning the Lady of Soul honor at the 2021 “Soul Train Awards” airing for the first time from Harlem’s world-famous Apollo Theater Nov. 28 on BET and BET Her.
Besties Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold will return as co-hosts for the ceremony also recognizing Ciara and Russell Wilson and Marley Dias with Soul of Justice honors.
This year’s performers include Bruno Mars & Anderson.Paak’s Silk Sonic, Ari Lennox, Leon Bridges, Summer Walker, Fred Hammond and more; with special appearances by Ja Rule, Fat Joe, El DeBarge and PJ Morton.
Taking the stage as presenters: Normani, Hosea Chanchez and Wendy Raquel Robinson (“The Game”), Mack Wilds, Paula Patton and the cast of “Tyler Perry’s Sistas.”
Participants in the annual Soul Cypher will include D-Nice, Musiq Soulchild, Jac Ross, Koryn Hawthorne, Elle Varner and Tone Stith.
H.E.R. leads the 2021 “Soul Train Awards” nominations with an impressive eight nods, followed by Jazmine Sullivan and Chris Brown with six nominations each. Wizkid and TEMS are the third highest with five nods each, followed by Blxst with four nods.
In celebration of Soul Train’s 50th anniversary, “DJ Cassidy‘s Pass The Mic: BET Soul Train Edition” will immediately follow with nearly 20 legendary R&B and Hip-Hop icons, 11 of whom appeared on the show during its run. Look for superstars Charlie Wilson, Stephanie Mills, Jeffrey Osborne, Melle Mel, Gloria Gaynor and Kurtis Blow to drop some bars.
TICKET WATCH: Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, headlines his first stadium performance in five years Dec. 9 for a Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert at the L.A. Coliseum. This show will also bear the fruit of the summit called by J Prince to squash a longtime beef with Drake, who will make a special guest appearance.
“I believe this event will not only bring awareness to our cause but prove to people everywhere how much more we can accomplish when we lay our pride aside and come together,” said Ye. For more info on Hoover and the event, visit lacoliseum.com.
FOOD TRAILS: For five years we have drooled at some of the locations prominent on HBO’s “Insecure” starring Issa Rae. The show’s location manager Carolyn Schultz recently took the lid off the show’s favorite eateries shown to THR.
West Adams’ hip West African and Southern cuisine spot Alta Adams; Leimert Park’s Worldwide Tacos, Hot + Cool Café and female Black-owned Swift Café; and classic ‘50s diner Pann’s are on the list.
Bryant Terry, the James Beard Award-winning chef, educator and author of the magnificently bound new volume “Black Food,” will convene with California-based chefs Naz Deravian and Andrea Nguyen for ALOUD Cooks, an online event series curated by Leslie Jonath on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. with tickets at Eventbrite.
With contributions from more than 100 Black cultural luminaires from around the globe, Terry’s book moves through chapters exploring parts of the Black experience, from Homeland to Migration, Spirituality to Black Future, offering delicious recipes, moving essays like “Jollofing with Toni Morrison” by Sarah Ladipo Manyika, and arresting artwork.
Kevin Mitchell, the first African-American chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of Charleston, shares some of his expertise in the new book, “Taste The State: South Carolina’s Signature Foods, Recipes & Their Stories” with David S. Shields.
Here you will find the authentic blueprints and origins of beloved dishes that have become staples such as Hopping John, Fritters, Boiled Peanuts, Red Rice, Spoonbread, Banana Pudding (which Mitchell confirmed is prepared in these parts with a Meringue topping), Shrimp & Grits and so much more. It is available through the University of South Carolina Press.
TASTY QUIP: “Back then, I gotta tell you, one of the reasons why I didn’t do the second one is because of the weed. Because I said, ‘Man, that movie became a phenomenon. I don’t want everybody smokin’ weed.’ I never really told people this because I kinda forgot about it but it was one of the reasons why I didn’t do it. Because I said, ‘I don’t want to represent everyone smokin’ weed.’ I kinda made it more personal than a movie and that’s one of the reasons I said, ‘Nah, I don’t want to keep doing that character.'” – CHRIS TUCKER on not returning as Smokey in the ”Friday” sequels to Shannon Sharpe
CLIPPETTES: Grammy award-winning bassist and singer Stephen Bruner aka Thundercat and Friends gives a show Nov. 27 at the Shrine; as Judith Hill’s “Baby I’m Hollywood World Tour” plays the Troubadour …
The Observatory OC hosts the renowned DJ Quik on Nov. 29 …
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones will discuss her new book, “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story,” with NY Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida on Nov. 30 at The Montalban …
Lady Blackbird, the British singer dubbed “the Grace Jones of Jazz” will visit the Grammy Museum Dec. 2 for an intimate conversation and performance; while Mayer Hawthorne’s “Rare Changes Tour” hits The Wiltern, and The Platters sing their classics at the Coach House.
TASTY QUIP: “I think one of the big things that has helped television and entertainment change for the better are the streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu. If you think about the content that they have, they are often times outside the purview of race or gender. They just make great, compelling characters that anyone wants to watch no matter what the characters are, no matter who we are.” – KAL PENN (“Harold & Kumar,” “House”) to CNN
TC ON TV: Nov. 27 – “Merry Liddle Christmas Baby” (Lifetime): A welcome Kelly Rowland holiday movie co-starring Bresha Webb (“Run The World”). “Nash Bridges” (USA): Don Johnson and Cheech Marin reprise their roles in this movie reboot of the cop series that originally aired for six seasons on CBS.
Nov. 28 – “Super Soul Sunday” (OWN): Oprah Winfrey chats with Dr. Bruce Perry. “One Last Time: An Evening With Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett” (CBS): Filmed at two sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall in August to celebrate Bennett’s 95th birthday and final concert appearance. “Miracle In Motor City” (Lifetime): Tia Mowry portrays an overzealous church Christmas pageant producer who inadvertently promises to deliver Motown legend Smokey Robinson. “The Waltons’ Homecoming” (CW): Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. have roles in this reboot of the Depression-era family drama narrated by original “John Boy” Richard Thomas. “The Real Housewives of Atlanta Porsha’s Family Matters” (Bravo): A spinoff taking us inside the sudden controversial engagement of Porsha Williams.
Nov. 29 – “The Black Pack: We Three Kings” (CW): A holiday extravaganza featuring the many talents of actor Taye Diggs, and singer/songwriters Ne-Yo and Eric Bellinger. The trio will be joined by guests Tank and Sevyn Streeter. “Welcome To The Christmas Family Reunion” (Lifetime): With Vanessa Williams and Wendy Raquel Robinson. “Adventures In Christmasing” (VH1): Kim Fields is executive producer, co-writer (with Rhonda Baraka) and star of this movie with Eva Marcille and Kel Mitchell.
Nov. 30 – “Mo Amer: Mohammed In Texas” (Netflix): In his hometown of Houston, the comic takes on pandemic panic, disappointing Bradley Cooper, hummus appropriation and the subtle art of cursing in Arabic.
Dec. 1 – “The Power of The Dog” (Netflix): Awards season alert! Jane Campion (“The Piano“) directs this psychologically tinged western starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirstin Dunst. “Beebo Saves Christmas” (CW): With the voices of Yvette Nicole Brown and Ernie Hudson (“Ghostbusters”) as Santa Claus. “Don’t Cancel Me with Amara La Negra” (Fuse): The “Love and Hip Hop” star ventures into the streets of Miami to have honest conversations about topics many consider taboo.
Dec. 2 – “Baking It” (Peacock): If you love Maya Rudolph, Andy Samberg, grannies, baking, cash prizes and the holidays, then this is the show for you. “Queen of The Universe” (Para+): RuPaul‘s new global singing contest with judges Vanessa Williams and Leona Lewis. “Santa Inc.” (HBO Max): This adult animated series features the voices of Craig Robinson and Gabourey Sidibe. “Annie Live!” (NBC): Starring newcomer Celina Smith along with Taraji P. Henson, Tituss Burgess, Nicole Scherzinger and Harry Connick Jr. “Music Box” (HBO): “Listening To Kenny G” “The Bitch Who Stole Christmas” (VH1): With Anna Maria Horsford, Charo and Ross Matthews.
END QUOTE: “It’s no reason why I shouldn’t have it. 2022 is a new year. It’s a new me. And I think it’s all about the sexy. I will get People’s Sexiest Man Alive. You can bet your ass on that. Paul Rudd, you got lucky. You know, you’re welcome. I did my campaign in Thailand. I think that’s the problem. Like I didn’t do it in the states. So I think in Thailand I’m definitely the Sexiest Man Alive. I did it in the wrong environment, so I’ll switch it up and I’ll make sure it’s in the states next time.” – KEVIN HART to Page Six
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
