By NAN ET Editor
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. May 19, 2017: Here are the top stories making news on the Caribbean entertainment scene for the week-ending May 19, 2017:
Where Will Trinidad-Born Rapper Nicki Minaj Be This Sunday?
Trinidad-born rapper Nicki Minaj has a date this Sunday. The rapper is set to open the three-hour live Billboard Awards. Minaj will kick off the show and according to a report by USA Today, will be accompanied onstage by a list of heavy hitters including, Lil Wayne, David Guetta, and Jason Derulo.
Given the line-up, the rapper he may perform “Swalla” with Derulo and “Light My Body Up” with Wayne and Guetta. The BBMAs will be hosted by Ludacris and Vanessa Hudgens on Sunday, May 21st.
Barbados Star Rihanna Fur-Or
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has sent Barbados-born pop star Rihanna an open letter and a fake fur coat. The singer angered the group when she attended a Christian Dior event in a knee-length Dior fur coat.
Rihanna has not responded directly to date via social media but instead focused on Barbados Crop, asking fans which costume should she pick and posting one of a horse face!
PETA sent her a faux fur coat to replace the one she wore and an open letter reminding her how a real fur coat is made. The letter states: “We saw the numerous comments from fans who were disappointed to see you wearing fur at the Dior event last week. Like us, they wish you would please retire your furs and instead choose a look that kills but doesn’t actually kill anyone. Please accept this faux fur as a gift from PETA. In addition, we’d like to request that you please consider donating your furs to us. Every fur item causes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering to the foxes, minks, and coyotes who are beaten, electrocuted, gassed, and often skinned alive by the fur industry—and fur production takes a toll on humans as well.”
A Dancehall Docu
Dancehall group Major Lazer is being featured on the ‘On Stage’ documentary on Hulu. Owners of VR headsets can enjoy aspects of concerts and behind-the-scenes footage in an immersive experience. In the feature, the audience is take through the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, through the eyes of the international music group, who are accompanied by American DJ Diplo, Trinidadian DJ Jillionaire, and their tireless selector/hype man Walshy Fire. The group, according to the Star, also recounts how Jamaica and its musical styles influence and inspire their music.
Vybz Kartel Hard At Work
Jailed dancehall star Vybz Kartel seems to be hard at work on his new album, ahead of his appeal trial in February next year. Dancehall HipHop reports that Kartel and his team are pushing for a summer release or at the very least, before the appeal on February 19, 2018.
Paying Homage to the Vodou God of Water
The Brooklyn Historical Society DUMBO (BHS DUMBO) in Brooklyn, NY’s inaugural exhibition features works that pay homage to the Vodou god of water, a tradition that links to Haiti.
‘Shifting Perspectives: Photographs of Brooklyn’s Waterfront,’ features Haitian national Garry Pierre-Pierre’s ‘Celebrating Agwe: Paying Homage to the Vodou God of Water’ through September 10, 2017.
The exhibition also features 65 modern and contemporary photographs created by 25 acclaimed photographers – many of them Brooklyn-based.
Shanto & Friends
Guyanese master drummer, herbalist and cultural preservationist, Baba Shanto and friends will spotlight on the Guyana cultural tradition of Kweh Kweh, a celebration on the night before a wedding, on May 26th at the ballroom of Tropical Paradise in Brooklyn, NY.
