Caribbean Entertainment News Round-Up – From Wyclef Jean To Nicki Minaj, Nia Long, Lorraine Toussaint, Sean Paul and Rihanna

Wyclef Jean, seen here performing onstage at the Prince Tribute Concert during 2017 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Lady Bird Lake on March 17, 2017 in Austin, Texas, says he was mistakenly arrested by the LAPD. (Photo by Hutton Supancic/Getty Images for SXSW)

By NAN ET Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Mar. 24, 2017: Here are the top stories making news on the Caribbean entertainment scene for the week-ending Mar. 24, 2017.

WYCLEF JEAN

Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean this week claimed he was arrested by Los Angeles police for “absolutely nothing.”

Jean, 47, posted video of officers putting him in handcuffs after he says he was mistaken for a man who robbed a nearby gas station. The singer apparently fit the physical description provided to police by the robbery victim and his car also matched the description of the thief’s vehicle.

“LAPD another case of mistaken identity. Black man with red bandana robbed a gas station as I was in the studio working but i’m in handcuffs?” he wrote on Twitter, along with video showing him up against a cop car.

NICKI MINAJ

Nicki Minaj latest look. (Instagram)

Trinidad-born rapper Nicki Minaj has made history by becoming the only woman with the most Billboard Hot 100 hits of all time. The Young Money rapper surpassed Aretha Franklin to take the throne. She boasts 76 overall entries while Franklin slides to second with 73. Prior to this, Franklin had the record for more than 40 years.

SEAN PAUL

Sean Paul is getting ready to drop a new single called ‘Body.’ The Jamaican-born artist, who is currently enjoying some success with a top 10 single on the Hot 100 chart “Rockabye” with Clean Bandit and British singer Anne Marie, is teaming up with American hip hop group Migos for the single.

NIA LONG

Caribbean-roots actress Nia Long  is set to star in the ABC‘s untitled spinoff from comedy series The Goldbergs. She joins Bryan Callen, Tim Meadows, Rachel Crow and Summer Parker in the pilot. Long will also have a guest-starring role on Fox’s hit Empire and recurs as Izzy on Amazon’s Hand of God.

JASON DERULO

Haitian American singer Jason Derulo is taking his love of fashion to the next level.  Derulo, 27, has partnered with Antonio Brown’s streetwear-meets-luxury sneaker brand as a co-designer for LVL XIII (pronounced Level Thirteen).

“Through everything that I’ve been doing, it’s about building Jason Derulo the brand,” Derulo told  PeopleStyle at the N.Y.C. launch for the line held at Tao Downtown. “It’s not like I’m not going to be a singer, of course – that’s my passion. But this is just another one of my passions. I love creating this stuff.”

LORRAINE TOUSSAINT

Trinidad-born actress Lorraine Toussaint (Orange is the New Black, Rosewood) has signed on to the drama thriller Fast Color.

Fast Color is directed by Julia Hart and produced by Oscar-nominated Jordan Horowitz (La La Land) under his Original Headquarters banner and LD Entertainment’s Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon (Jackie).

RIHANNA

Rihanna shows off her robe on Instagram.

Bajan star Rihanna is set to hold a third ball to raise funds for her Clara Lionel Foundation. The third annual Diamond Ball is set to go down Sept. 14 at New York City’s Cipriani Wall Street.

“New York always offers the perfect backdrop for an amazing event, which is why I am thrilled to have Diamond Ball there,” Rihanna said in a release. “It’s a great way to celebrate the Clara Lionel Foundation’s accomplishments as well as bring awareness to our mission globally. I know it’ll be a night to remember!”

Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation  and named it after her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite in 2012 with the goal to support underprivileged communities in health, education and art. The foundation has since teamed up with fashion house Dior and was even recognized when Rihanna received Harvard University’s Humanitarian Award.