By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Inspired by the culture for the culture, the second annual “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience,” is planning to set sail Nov. 13-17 from Miami to Great Stirrup Cay and Nassau, Bahamas for five days of immersion.
The initial wave of artists includes Jadakiss, E-40, Rakim, Talib Kweli, Digable Planets and AZ, along with a cast of DJs that set the tone for the inaugural cruise, including DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kid Capri, Mannie Fresh and Rock The Bells Radio’s own The Finisher Mister Cee, DJ Scratch and DJ Epps. Roxanne Shante and Torae will return as hosts.
Every corner aboard the Norwegian Gem will be utilized with themed parties, meet-and-greet autograph sessions, rap karaoke, open mic nights, and much more focusing on content, commerce and experiences that honor the culture and the core elements of hip-hop — MCs, DJs, breakers, graffiti artists — and more.
Founded in 2018 by LL Cool J, Rock The Bells is the bridge between OGs and those inspired by their groundbreaking influences. For additional information on the cabins, now on sale to the public, visit rockthebellscruise.com.
INSPIRATION: “[It] speaks to the strength and resilience of women who have endured hardships and have come out of the fire victorious and unstoppable. I remember how they overcame the impossible and survived because they were determined to be there for their families. Standing on their shoulders, I carry on. I close my eyes and see the faces of every woman in history who turned weeds into leaves of evergreen. They stand taller than the mountains. If they can do it, I can do it. Bad times make strong women. This is my mantra.” – Grammy winner JUDITH HILL paying tribute to the sacrifice and fight of the powerful women who raised her in the new single and video “Dame de la Lumière,” from her upcoming album “Letters from a Black Widow”
CLIPPETTES: Wendell Pierce (“Elsbeth,” “Jack Ryan”) has been cast to portray cantankerous publisher of The Daily Planet Perry White in James Gunn’s “Superman” now filming in Atlanta. The role was previously filled by Laurence Fishburne in “Man of Steel” and “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” …
March 8 has Leela James at The Fonda, Ashanti & Ginuwine at the Cerritos Center, Jose Feliciano at the Alex Theatre, Stone City Band at La Santa OC, Maxayn Lewis at the World Stage, Niki Haris & Donna De Lory sharing stories and song at Catalina Jazz, and William H. Macy screening “Fargo” at The Orpheum …
Also, André 3000’s New Blue Sun Live Tour begins its final two evenings at Hollywood Forever’s Masonic Lodge (on the heels of an announced headlining spot at the free Atlanta Jazz Festival to be held May 25-27 with Lizz Wright, Paquito D’Rivera, Cécile McLorin Salvant plus) …
P-Funk royalty Dawn Silva and Jeanette Perkins, Kim “Maxi” Bond of the Mary Jane Girls, and Medusa are panelists for Women of The One: Trailblazers of Funk moderated by Dawn Norfleet at UC Irvine March 9; while blues guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Stewart is at The Fonda, Charo at the Carpenter Center, the Buena Vista All Stars at The Alex, and Madonna at The Forum for two nights …
Additionally, The Troubadour hosts A Tribute to Aretha Franklin featuring David Ryan Harris, Nigel Hall, Charles Jones, Tiffany Palmer, Maiya Sykes and more …
Elton John’s Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party returns to West Hollywood Park on March 10, with Tiffany Haddish, David Furnish, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka co-hosting …
Zo! & Tall Black Guy (featuring Deborah Bond) at the Lodge Room and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the La Miranda Theatre are other options that evening …
Lamorne Morris (the “New Girl,” “Fargo” actor just cast as Garrett Morris for a series on the early years of “Saturday Night Live”) hosts An Evening of Comedy at Largo March 12 …
The 88 Show with Avery Pearson featuring Sheryl Lee Ralph & Lisa Ann Walter of “Abbott Elementary” commences March 13 at the Hollywood Improv, as Bad Bunny’s Most Wanted Tour hits Crypto.com Arena for two nights …
St Paul & Minneapolis Funk All Stars play hits from Prince, NPG, The Time, The Family and more March 14 at Vibrato Grill while Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe jams at The Venice West, Eric Bellinger sings at The Belasco, and the Billy Higgins Instrumental Jam Session is held at the World Stage.
TASTY QUIP: “They say I’m the hardest working man in show business but I wanna be the smartest working man in show business, I’m trying to get up there with Tyler Perry and Oprah and Reese Witherspoon, those are the ones making the billions. I’m almost there but they don’t work as hard as me!” – NICK CANNON to “Extra”
TC ON TV: March 8 – “Damsel” (Netflix): Millie Bobbie Brown (“Stranger Things”) and Angela Bassett top this dark twist on an old medieval tale complete with a dragon. “Wonka” (Max): Starring Timothée Chalamet (“Dune 2”) and Keegan-Michael Key. “Boarders” (Tubi): Written by BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Daniel Lawrence Taylor, the series follows the lives of five talented Black teenagers from inner-city London as they navigate life at an elite boarding school. “Friday Night Vibes” (TBS): “Ride Along 2,” “Fist Fight” “The Tonight Show” (NBC): Naomi Campbell
March 9 – “CBS Saturday Morning” (CBS): Norah Jones “Hunting Housewives” (Lifetime): Starring NeNe Leakes (“The Real Housewives of Atlanta”), Melyssa Ford (“The Joe Budden Podcast”), Denise Richards (“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”), and Kym Johnson Herjavec (“Dancing with the Stars”) as four women who find themselves stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash. “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Josh Brolin, Ariana Grande
March 10 – “The Oscars” (ABC): Jimmy Kimmel returns to host for a fourth time to be followed by a bonus episode of “Abbott Elementary.” “Unsung” (TV1): Cold Chillin’ “Uncensored” (TV1): Ja Rule
March 12 – “Wildcard Kitchen” (Food): Eric Adjepong (“Top Chef”) hosts this high-stakes culinary card game set in the network’s test kitchen late at night. “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Ledisi
March 13 – “Tamron Hall” (Syn): Angela Bassett, Carl Anthony Payne, Sandy Kenyon “Kelly Clarkson” (Syn): Ruben Studdard, Deion Sanders “The Amazing Race” (CBS): Host Phil Keoghan kicks off the 36th season welcoming 13 new teams to Puerto Vallarta on the journey of a lifetime.
March 14 – “Comic View” (BET+): Mike Epps is host of producer Kevin Hart’s reboot of the stand-up comedy franchise. Look for Tommy Davidson, DC Young Fly, Tony Roberts, Bresha Webb, Tacarra Williams and Tip “T.I” Harris this season. “Taylor Swift/The Eras Tour (Taylor’s Version)” (Disney+): The hit filming of the landmark tour with four additional acoustic songs. “Girls5Eva” (Netflix): Renée Elise Goldsberry is back as part of the one-hit wonder ’90s girl group attempting a comeback. “Justice, USA” (Max/Disc+): Common is executive producer of this 360-degree insider’s view of Nashville’s criminal justice system. “9-1-1” (ABC): The former hit Fox series moves to a new network to kick off a night featuring the returns of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Station 19.”
END QUOTE: “Four hundred years of forced labor and never receiving any compensation for it. Now you have the gall to try and prosecute and charge taxes to the descendants of a broken people that you are responsible for causing the breakage. … In truth, the entire United States should, by default, become the property of the descendants of slaves. But since you do not have the ability [or] the courage to do it, let’s try this in court. … We’re gonna bring you down.” – TERRENCE HOWARD prior to being ordered to pay $1 million in back taxes
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 attastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
