By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Following last summer’s sold-out Roots Picnic: Hip-Hop Is the Love of My Life at the Hollywood Bowl, which saw the band bring their iconic Roots Picnic experience and curation of artists to the West Coast for the first time, a new event has been announced by the L.A. Philharmonic and Live Nation Urban.
A Roots Picnic Experience: Class of ’95, set to take place on June 8, will feature a lineup of A-list talent who made 1995 a year to remember in hip-hop history: Lil’ Kim, Redman & Method Man, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, DJ Quik, Raekwon, E-40, Goodie Mob, Havoc of Mobb Deep, The Roots as backing band for all guest performances, and more. Tickets are now available at hollywoodbowl.com.
TICKET WATCH: Multi-platinum, Grammy-winning music superstar, entertainer and entrepreneur Nelly is set to hit the road in 2025 with his highly anticipated “Where The Party At Tour,” celebrating the 25th anniversary of his debut studio album, “Country Grammar.”
The 54-date global tour with a Los Angeles date set for Aug. 23 at the Intuit Dome, features Nelly’s collaborators and friends such as Ja Rule, Eve, St. Lunatics, Fabolous, Jermaine Dupri and Chingy with additional surprise guests. The general sale for all countries will begin Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. local time at RealNelly.com.
After a multiple year hiatus from performing, comedian and actor Aziz Ansari is going out on his “Hypothetical Tour” beginning in February with an April 6 date at Long Beach’s Terrace Theater. Tickets go on sale Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.
IN CONVERSATION: The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures welcomes award-winning graphic designer and creative director Kenny Gravillis (“Creed” “Dune”) as he pulls back the curtain for an inside look at the making of the modern-day movie poster. His presentation will show the process of developing movie posters for top films, with a Q&A to follow. It’s all free with general admission on Dec. 14 at 3 p.m.
THE INDIES: Derrick B. Harden is star and co-director (with Crystal Moselle) of “The Black Sea,” a beguiling fish-out-of-water drama about a Brooklyn traveler who finds himself as the only Black guy in a small Mediterranean town. Hearts and minds are transformed along the way. It is playing at Laemmle Royal and Vidiots Microcinema.
“Know Your Place,” a festival winner from Iranian American writer, director and producer Zia Mohajerjasbi, is now available on demand via digital platforms. The slice-of-life drama set in present-day Seattle, follows a 15-year-old Eritrean American boy and his best friend on an turbulent errand to deliver a suitcase across town destined for a sick family member in his parents’ homeland.
TASTY QUIP: “The internet said Puffy was trying to kill me, that’s what the internet was saying. I know what you thinking, ‘Diddy?’ Hell no, I left them parties early. I was out by 9, something don’t look right. It’s slippery in here.” – JAMIE FOXX from his Netflix special “What Had Happened Was”
CLIPPETTES: The Grammy Museum brings André 3000 to its intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater for an evening discussing his 2025 Grammy Award-nominated Album of the Year, “New Blue Sun,” his career, creative process and more, with a special performance to follow on Dec. 13 …
Also that evening, comedian and Emmy award winner Dulcé Sloan (“The Daily Show”) is at the Wallis Center, bluesman Marcus King plays the Troubadour, and bassist Marcus Miller continues with three more nights at Catalina Jazz Club …
Stevie Wonder’s “Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart Tour” combines with his annual House Full of Toys drive on Dec. 14 at Crypto.com Arena. In addition, Back To Basics, featuring Raekwon of Wu Tang Clan, Souls of Mischief, Masta Ace and more, goes live at Long Beach’s Thunder Studios while Matisyahu is at the Troubadour, Michel’le at Ovation Hollywood, and “Deon Cole: Does This Work?” kicks off two nights at the Hollywood Improv …
Billie Eilish (who has been open about wanting to duet with Rihanna) begins a three-night stand at the Forum, Tony Award winner Lea Salonga performs two holiday shows at the Soraya, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra jams at the Carpenter Center, and it is Monderays with DeRay Davis at the Improv …
“Kumail Nanjiani is Doing This Again” at Largo on Dec. 17 …
On Dec. 18, Walt Disney Concert Hall presents Jennifer Hudson’s “The Gift of Love: An Intimate Live Experience” while Adam Blackstone stops at the Sun Rose for his third annual Legacy Christmas this time for two performances in one night. These shows in the past have reaped surprise performances from Anthony Hamilton, Andra Day, Eric Benét, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, October London, Coco Jones and more …
Also, Tampa, Florida’s own Doechii, nominated for Best Rap Album, Rap Performance, and New Artist gets the spotlight at the Grammy Museum for an evening discussing her album, “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” nominations, creative process and more, with a performance to follow …
For jokes, the Elliott Bros. presents the Chris Spencer-hosted Comedy Block Party at the Miracle Theater as The Laugh Factory props Tony Rock the World Wednesdays …
A cappella gospel group Sweet Honey in the Rock bring their 50th Anniversary Tour Celebrating the HolyDays, following the passing of its founder, Bernice Johnson Reagon, at the age of 81 on July 16, to the Soraya on Dec. 19.
EM-“POWER”-ED: “Roku’s reach and success in the free TV space make them the perfect launch partner for 50 Cent Action. My channel, created in partnership with Lionsgate, will deliver exactly what my audience loves to watch all in one place. We’ll be number one in no time.” – CURTIS “50 CENT” JACKSON on his just launched curated network offering his favorite movies and TV shows
TC ON TV: Dec. 13 – “Die Hart” (Roku): Another round of the Kevin Hart action-comedy series with the returning Nathalie Emmanuel. “Dexter: Original Sin” (Paramount+): This new prequel series follows the serial killer from his early years. “Carry-On” (Netflix): Danielle Deadwyler! Nuff Said! “Disaster Holiday (Netflix): A South African comedy about a workaholic dad, trying to win over his kids, during a vacation that is actually for a big work meeting. “The Jennifer Hudson Show” (Syn): Lucky Daye (“Algorithm”)
Dec. 14 – “92nd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade” (CW): Hosted by Montel Williams, Dean Cain and Laura McKenzie with performances from Jon Secada, Clay Aiken, Elliott Yamin, and more along with appearances by Kym Whitley, Raven Symoné, Lakers alum Michael Cooper and A.C. Green, and others. “Mistletoe & Matrimony” (OWN): Rhonda Baraka directs this movie starring Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut (“Chicago Med”) as a wedding planner facing holiday complications. “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Chris Rock, Gracie Abrams
Dec. 15 – “An Evening with Dua Lipa” (CBS): With special guest Elton John.
Dec. 16 – “Spare Me” (@BlackPublicMedia/YouTube): As part of the AfroPoP Digital Shorts series, Sarasota writer-director Wilderley Mauricette, who was born in Haiti, captures the terror of suffering a car break down in a sundown town (where Black travelers who found themselves after dark could be harassed, pulled over by police or physically attacked) in this film. “The Tonight Show” (NBC): André 3000 “Late Night” (NBC): Kerry Washington
Dec. 17 – “Too Hot To Handel — The Gospel Messiah” (PBS): The 18th-century masterpiece is reimagined and infused with Gospel, Jazz and R&B. “Black Comedy in America” (Vice): “Dave Chappelle” closes the first season.
Dec. 18 – “iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2024″ (ABC): With SZA, Jack Harlow, Camila Cabello, Kane Brown, Jason Derulo, and more.
Dec. 19 – “Queens of Christmas” (BET+): Teri J. Vaughn, Vanessa Bell Calloway and Essence Atkins star in this comedy about neighbors vying to win an annual competition. “Live with Kelly & Mark” (ABC): Anika Noni Rose
END QUOTE: “There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don’t expect you to save the world, I do think it’s not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call friend, engage those among you who are visionary and remove from your life those who offer you depression, despair and disrespect.” – YOLANDE CORNELIA “NIKKI” GIOVANNI JR. (June 7, 1943 – Dec. 9, 2024)
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.=
