Empire is gearing up for season two and enlisting more celebrity guest stars. Funny man Chris Rock, rock star Lenny Kravitz and songstress Alicia Keys have all signed up to make appearances in the sophomore season. Rumor also has it that High School Musical‘s Zac Efron will also make an appearance as…Luscious’ fourth son? Season 2 can’t get here fast enough! [Deadline]
Move over Andrew Jackson, there’s a new face coming to the $20 bill. Over 600,000 people submitted votes to the Women On 20s site to have Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Tubman beat out Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks and Wilma Mankiller, the first female chief of the Cherokee nation. Three bills have already been introduced into the house and senate to change the current currency. Women On 20s is encouraging people to Tweet their support of putting Tubman on the bill by using the hashtag #DearMrPresident. [Buzzfeed]
Spike Lees upcoming movie, Chiraq, will focusing on gun violence in America’s third largest city and will reportedly be presented as a musical comedy starring Kanye West. Lee says Chiraq (Chicago + Iraq) will be a modern retelling of the Greek play Lysistrata by Aristophanes, following a woman’s mission to end gang violence in her neighborhood. Jennifer Hudson, John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson will also star in the film. [Flavor Wire]
The most famous college dropout is finally getting his degree. The Art Institute of Chicago honored Kanye West with an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree.
“I am a pop artist, so my medium is public opinion and the world is my canvas,” said Kanye. “‘I’m sorry’ is something you can use a lot. It gives you the opportunity to give your opinion, apologize for it, and give your opinion again.” Congratulations, Dr. West! [Hello Beautiful]
Kendrick Lamar is being recognized for being a good kid from his mad city. The California State Senate recently honored the rapper with the Generational Icon award for his ongoing efforts to address issues affecting his community through his music.
“Being from the city of Compton and knowing the parks that I played at in the neighborhoods, I’ve always thought of how great the opportunity would be to give back to my community off of what I do in music,” he said. “So in order to do that from a city all the way to a state standpoint and have these young kids look at me at some type of inspiration it’s really an honor.” [Huffington Post]
Beyoncé and Jay Z took the time out to meet the family of the late Freddie Gray during their visit to Baltimore. The couple was in Baltimore for Prince’s “Rally 4 Peace” concert on Sunday which streamed on Tidal. Beyoncé also met with Lesley McFadden, the mother of Michael Brown, the unarmed Black teen who was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson. [NY Daily News]
