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The Rock The Bells festival is back, and this time they’re hitting New Jersey. The LL Cool J-owned classic rap showcase announced their June 28 Class of 2025 event at Newark’s Prudential Center, with performances from Busta Rhymes, Redman, Eric B. & Rakim, Remy Ma, Too $hort, Scarface, Plies, Boosie, Fabolous, Lil’ Mo, and others. Roxanne Shante will host the event, while Kid Capri will be the show’s official DJ. Presale tickets are available from April 23 to 25, when general public tickets go on sale.

Along with individual sets, Rock The...

NBCUniversal’s Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy has sparked a defamation lawsuit from the rap mogul Sean Combs, who says the documentary features false allegations of serial murder, sexual assault and sex trafficking against him.

Combs, in a lawsuit filed on Wednesday in New York state court, points to accusations that he murdered Kim Porter, who shares four children with the singer, and had sex with minors, among other claims he’s concerned will bias potential jurors in his trial. He seeks at least $100 million.

“Grossly exploiting the trust of their audience and racing to outdo their competition for the most salacious Diddy exposé,” said Erica Wolff, a lawyer for Combs, in a statement, NBCUniversal, Peacock TV and Ample “maliciously and recklessly broadcast outrageous lies.” She added that the documentary’s producers “seek only to capitalize on the public’s appetite for scandal without any regard for the...

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been in the news since last year for all the wrong reasons, but before the controversy began, he had one of the most successful careers in the industry. During his early days, he was known to work hard and eventually became a music mogul with his own record label.

Diddy | The Ellen Show / YouTube

So, let’s explore Diddy’s past, his rise to fame, and the challenges he faced along the way. Many would be surprised to know that the man who has been accused of several heinous things, once cried due to exploiting his position.

Diddy’s early desires and struggles to be recognized Diddy | Vogue / YouTube

Diddy always desired the success and fame that came with being in the music industry, and his ambitions knew no bounds. He desperately wanted to join Andre Harrell’s company, Uptown Records (via Cheat Sheet). According to him,...

Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy, the Peacock original documentary, makes us privy to the life of one of the most controversial figures of the music industry, Sean Combs, aka Diddy. Diddy’s life was no less than a movie, but as the man climbed the ladder of success, his name started getting associated with all sorts of illegitimate activities. From sexual abuse to running a sex trafficking ring and also orchestrating the deaths of some really influential artists, Diddy was accused of everything. So, let’s find out what Diddy’s childhood was like, what sorts of accusations were made against him, and what he has to say about it.

What was Diddy’s childhood like?

Whenever you have to understand why a person reacts a certain way in a specific situation, you have to go back to his roots and try to figure out what events left...

As Sean “Diddy” Combs remains in prison awaiting his trial on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, former associates and close friends of the mogul are speaking out in Peacock’s new 90-minute documentary “Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy,” premiering on the streamer on Jan. 14.

Stream 'Diddy: The Making Of A Bad Boy' $7.99/Month

Since Cassie Ventura filed her explosive lawsuit in November 2023, Combs has been the target of dozens of lawsuits from John and Jane Does, as well as plaintiffs using real names, containing similar allegations of being drugged, sexually assaulted and threatened if they were ever to go public with their experiences. Representatives for Combs have strongly denied all accusations against him, and there have been few public interviews from accusers in the time since.

In “Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy,” his former bodyguard, an anonymous Bad Boy employee, his makeup artist,...

Sean "Diddy" Combs' case has opened a lot of suspicious Hollywood connections from Michael Jackson randomly attending his party to some tragic celebrity deaths. Now, he's also being linked with Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are seeking clemency after more than 30 years of incarceration over the murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty.

While the connection isn't as close as Diddy's intimate relationships with his former protgs, it still raises red flags about the entertainment industry. Many believe it isn't a coincidence that the music mogul has this association with the Menendez brothers, who claim to have also been sexually abused by their father. Here's a closer look at Erik and Lyle's Hollywood connections.

Jose Menendez Worked At RCA Records Where Diddy's Mentor Clive Davis Also Worked

via YouTube (Inside Edition), Instar

Eric and Lyle's father, Jose, and Diddy's mentor, Clive Davis, both worked at RCA records. Jose was transferred to the records division,...

The s*x trafficking charges against P Diddy and the alleged freak-off parties have already shaken the music industry to its core. Now, Diddy’s rival and former Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight has made disturbing allegations about the disgraced musician and the industry. Knight shared that Diddy was not only a perpetrator but also a victim of these abuses.

P Diddy in the music video of Gotta Move On | Credits: Love/Motown

Suge Knight also dropped a few names along the way, sharing victims of Diddy, his abusers, and industry giants who knew about what was going on. Knight is currently serving 28 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter for a hit-and-run that killed one and injured another person.

Suge Knight Opens Up About Abuse Against P Diddy And The Egg Test Suge Knight | Credits: Nick Leisure, licensed under Cc By-sa 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Suge Knight spoke to NewsNation...

While Diddy usually makes headlines for his chart-topping hits and lavish lifestyle, the current buzz around him has taken a decidedly serious turn. The Last Night singer, 54, has recently been slapped with some grave allegations, including charges of s*x trafficking. Known for his controversial past, he has denied all accusations and pleaded not guilty in court.

Diddy in The Breakfast Club | Credits: YouTube

Meanwhile, many celebrities are stepping forward with their own Diddy stories. Notably, Lord Jamar recently weighed in on the longstanding rumors surrounding Sean Combs’ s*xuality. He mentioned he’s heard “bisexual type sh*t since the 90s,” suggesting that these rumors might have had a hand in Diddy’s firing from Uptown Records after an alleged compromising encounter.

Lord Jamar’s Take on Why Diddy Was Let Go from Uptown Records

Before he became a household name, Diddy was just a bright-eyed talent scout under...

This article contains sensitive information involving abuse and drugs.

Fashion designer and former reality TV star Kimora Lee Simmons has been trying to tell the world about the dark side of Sean "Diddy" Combs for the past two decades, and now, the world is finally listening. The mother of five told the press about an altercation she had with Diddy in 2004, and it's only now that people are starting to hear her out.

In November 2023, Diddy's former partner of ten years, Cassie Ventura, sued him for $30 million for sexual and physical abuse. The two settled for an undisclosed amount. Nearly a year later, USA Today reported the rapper has over 120 claims coming his way after countless allegations of sex trafficking, racketeering, physical and sexual abuse, and transportation to solicit prostitution. Kimora's story is just the cherry on top of a long list of assertions against the disgraced music mogul.

The venue, a downtown Manhattan club on a side street thronged with everyone from movie stars to wannabes hoping to gain entry to the party that was still raging at 3 a.m., had been at capacity since midnight. As the editor-in-chief of Honey, a prominent magazine for urban women, I’d been ushered in long before. Inside, the crowd — a mix of artists, music and media executives, fashion designers, actors, sports stars, entrepreneurs and models — lounged in their respective red leather-clad banquettes. Bursts of shimmery light would periodically illuminate corners of the dim sexy room as leggy waitresses in black barely-there uniforms lit sparklers and delivered bottles of Cristal to various VIPs. The DJ spun hip-hop banger after banger, and I hadn’t left the dance floor for hours. Suddenly, the DJ lowered the music and our host, Puff Daddy (or Diddy or Love or Sean Combs or whatever you...

Within a span of about two years, rap legend Tupac Shakur was shot on two different occasions. While the first assassination attempt only left him seriously wounded, the next one ended up costing him his life, bringing one of the most iconic careers in hip-hop to a tragic end. Of course, the legacy he left behind is still alive in our hearts. After all, how does one forget someone like Tupac Shakur?

Tupac Shakur in a still from the music video of California Love | Credits: Uproxx / YouTube

A year after the first attempt, he sat down in an interview where he got into heavy detail about the events of the night. While the 5 gunshot wounds and the brutality were obviously excruciatingly painful, what hurt him the most were the lies being spread about him in the media.

Tupac Shakur Recalled His First Assassination Attempt Tupac in the music video of...

One of the biggest names in the rapper community, Tupac Shakur went through some rough times before his unfortunate passing in 1996. The All Eyez on Me singer faced multiple allegations and near-death scenarios while alive.

One shocking incident involved him facing five bullet wounds in an event that led to the infamous East Coast vs West Coast rivalry in the hip-hop world. On 30 November 1994, the Do for Love singer was shot five times during a robbery at Quad Studios in New York City. However, his somewhat nonchalant response in the aftermath gave fans some chuckles.

The night of the incident: Robbery or Conspiracy?

Tupac Shakur may have been a big name for the music industry, but the singer-rapper was infamous for making it into chaotic headlines. In 1994, fans worldwide were shocked when the rapper was involved in what looked like a robbery gone wrong.

Related “He would have divorced me...

September 13, 1996, was a dark day in the history of humanity. People around the world all echoed the same sentiment: They did it. They really killed Tupac. And this time, he didn’t get to walk it off.

Tupac Shakur [Credit: Death Row Records]

For the longest time, a conspiracy involving the 1995 Times Square shooting made the rapper paranoid about his life being on a short leash. Even the prison interview 2Pac gave after his sexual assault conviction began and ended on the same note – that if he was going to get killed, he wanted the world to know the truth first. Because in his heart, 2Pac believed there was a reason why people were after him:

Because if they can stop me, they can stop 30 more rappers before they even born. But there’s something else I understand now: If we really are saying rap is an art form, then we...

P Diddy (aka Sean Combs) is really struggling to keep his reputation up as one of the most renowned rappers cum record producers cum record executives in the entire entertainment industry as allegations regarding one too many issues keep on popping up against him. What’s even worse is that even previous allegations against him are resurfacing right now, including those from 2Pac.

Sean “Diddy” Combs. | Credits: Shamsuddin Muhammad/Cca-2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Going back in time to when he was still alive, Tupac Shakur made some startlingly serious accusations against Combs, before he died in 1996 but after the infamous shooting incident against him took place. And, amidst his recent arrest following all the s-xual misconduct charges against him – among others – these allegations aren’t doing the now-disgraced music mogul any good.

2Pac Had Some Serious Allegations Against P Diddy

While other old interviews and clips from the record executive...

The world of hip-hop and rap is infamous for its rivalries, which often end up culminating in the form of diss tracks and public humiliation. Bust history is a testament, that sometimes these rivalries lead to death. Over the years several bright stars of the world of music have lost their lives to shootings, and one name seems to have emerged following P Diddy’s arrest, Notorious B.I.G.

Diddy Aka Sean Combs in the Closer to God Mv | Credits: Youtube via @diddy

The rapper signed on to Diddy’s Bad Boy Records was gunned down just 6 months after his friend-turned-rival Tupac Shakur’s death. While the case remains unsolved, various claims have been made about the incident, and given below are two of them.

50 Cent Allegedly Claimed Diddy Combs Knew About Notorious B.I.G’s Shooter 50 Cent Jackson | Credit: The Late Show / YouTube

Notorious B.I.G aka Christopher Wallace died nearly three decades ago,...

A lot has happened in the years P Diddy, a.k.a. Sean Combs built himself up as one of the best producers and rappers in the music industry. He’s worked with several popular artists from the 90s through the 21st century until now. Some of the artists who worked with him were also Grammy-nominated individuals and winners of multiple other prestigious awards.

Usher and P Diddy in the music video of “I Need A Girl” Part 1 | Credits: Bad Boy Entertainment

Not only did he invest his time and effort into the music he was working on, but he also branched out into the world of business and entertainment.

According to Yahoo Entertainment, the critically acclaimed rapper boasts a net worth between $600 million and $1 billion. So let’s dive into the various investments he made over the years to attain this sort of wealth.

Bad Boy Records by P...

Kim Porter’s father is stepping forward to say he felt sickened when he saw Sean “Diddy” Combs shove, kick, stomp, and drag former partner Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in a brutal beating captured on recently unearthed hotel surveillance video.

Speaking by phone on Friday, Jake Porter says the shocking video obtained by CNN left him with a nagging concern over what his daughter may have experienced during her time with the music mogul before she died of lobar pneumonia in 2018.

“You can say I was disgusted with the video, and...

New Jack Swing pioneer Teddy Riley — who produced iconic hits including Doug E. Fresh’s “The Show” and Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative” — has announced his new memoir, Remember the Times, published by Simon & Schuster’s 13A / Gallery Books imprint.

Riley tapped music biographer Jake Brown to collaborate on the tome, which will chronicle his five decades of hits and trace the past 40 years of his influential impact on hip-hop and R&b for generations. Beyond helming earlier classics, including Kool Moe Dee’s “Wild Wild West” and Keith Sweat...

Egot recipient John Legend officially attached himself to “The Voice” coaching panel during its 16th installment, after previously giving advice as a mentor. Magic struck on his first at-bat in 2019 when he proved victorious as a coach with contemporary artist Maelyn Jarmon (Season 16), but he’s never won since. Now that the Season 24 blind auditions, battles and knockouts have concluded, can John prevail yet again on NBC’s reality TV show?

Tour our gallery above (or click here for direct access) for a closer look at Team John Legend on “The Voice” Season 24, including photos, bios and artist rankings. Also see our features for Team Niall Horan, Team Gwen Stefani and Team Reba McEntire.

See‘The Voice’ coaches ranked worst to best

1. Mac Royals (4-chair-turn) — Top 12

Hometown: Wrightsville, Ar

Mac grew up without his father, who was incarcerated for much of Mac’s childhood, but found solace in the strong female figures in his life.

Busta Rhymes and Chloe x Halle are set to be recognized at the 2023 Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards Brunch.

The event will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and pay tribute to industry icons and leaders who have left their mark on Black culture and hip-hop. The rapper, known for such classics as “I Know What You Want,” “Gimme Some More” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See,” will be recognized for his trailblazing career in hip-hop.

“This year’s Innovators and Leaders Awards Brunch holds an unparalleled significance as we celebrate the golden 50th anniversary of hip-hop,” said Joi Brown, founder and CEO of Culture Creators. “We are thrilled to honor exceptional individuals who have profoundly impacted Black culture and hip-hop while also showcasing the enduring power of this global cultural phenomenon.”

She added, “It’s a celebration of our triumphs and a testament to the limitless potential of Black culture.

Thirty years ago when Robin Thicke was 16, he recorded his first album with R&b star Brian McKnight. But the music wasn’t epic.

“[The label] was willing to put it out, but there wasn’t going to be a lot of promotion money behind it, so I said, ‘Let’s shelve it,’” he recalls.

While still recording his own music, he went on to develop his musicality by writing and producing for others, including Michael Jackson, Usher, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Jordan Knight, Brandy, Raven-Symoné, 98 Degrees, Marc Anthony, Mya, Color Me Badd, Guy Sebastian, Brownstone, Will Young, Kevon Edmonds, Ron Keating, Chante Moore and others.

But he needed to get back to making music for himself, so the early twentysomething decided he wouldn’t cut his hair until he heard his song on the radio.

“My hair grew down to my shoulders, and I ended up meeting Andre Harrell, who changed...

Sean "Diddy" Combs is thankful to everyone who helped him become the icon he is today. On June 26, the "Coming Home" rapper, 52, gave a moving tribute to all his close friends, family and loved ones while accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 BET Awards. Among those honored in his speech were his mother, Janice Combs, as well as Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell and his late ex Kim Porter, who passed away in 2018. "I just miss Kim, y'all," Diddy said. "I know we all go through grief and stuff like that in this life, you know, stay connected to God and he'll bring you out. This is not—we don't control this. But I miss Kim so much and I just want to say...

Diddy pulled out all the stops Sunday night for his epic BET Awards performance. In honor of his lifetime achievement award, the icon took us way back to the golden era of the '90s with a star-studded tribute featuring hip-hop and R&b legends like Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Lil' Kim, Busta Rhymes, The Lox, and Faith Evans, plus a surprise performance from rapper Shyne.

From his Uptown Records days to his iconic Bad Boy run, Diddy's explosive performance was everything fans hoped to see and then some. The music mogul even brought out Bryson Tiller to perform their new single, "Gotta Move On," which they previously performed at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards that Diddy hosted.

But the best moment of the iconic performance was Diddy's sweet closing number of "I'll Be Missing You," which he dedicated to his late ex-partner Kim Porter, Andre Harrell, and The Notorious B.I.G....

Diddy has revealed the name of his next album, Off the Grid Vol. 1, scheduled for release on September 24th.

“Welcome to the Love Era!” the rapper and music mogul also known as Sean Combs wrote on Instagram, in what appeared to be a callback to when he briefly went by the name “Brother Love.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Love (@diddy)

The album marks Diddy’s first major music release in nearly two years, following his contribution to the Ozuna and DJ Snake single “Eres Top,...

Mary J. Blige’s 1992 debut, “What’s the 411?,” was an instant smash that established the young Yonkers singer as a multiplatinum hitmaker, a fashion icon and the prototype for what an R&b star could look and sound like in the hip-hop era. But it wasn’t until her second album, 1994’s “My Life,” that the Blige most of us are familiar with — the heart-on-a-sleeve singer-songwriter unafraid to mine her own considerable trauma through music — truly began to take shape.

Tracing that album’s dark genesis, exploring its legacy with fans and featuring brief (perhaps too brief) performance clips from a pair of 2019 concerts Blige staged to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Vanessa Roth’s “Mary J. Blige’s My Life” has no shortage of cooperation from the subject herself (also an executive producer). But there’s a valedictory glossiness to the film that sometimes underserves the warts-and-all power of the...

Mary J. Blige has a long, illustrious career, riddled with Top Ten hits, million-selling albums, Grammys, and Oscar nominations. But there’s one project that has particular importance for her: “I have 13 albums, but my second, My Life, is my most important,” she says in a new documentary commemorating the LP, originally released in 1994. Blige sees My Life not only as the moment she “started speaking to my fans” but also as “the place where I survived.” That narrative of survival, of walking through the fire only to emerge stronger on the other side,...

Academy Award nominee Mary J. Blige revisits her landmark album, 1994’s deeply personal My Life, in a new Amazon Prime Video documentary out June 25. But no examination of her career would be complete without Andre Harrell, the Uptown Records founder who discovered Blige and signed her straight out of the Schlobohm housing projects in Yonkers, New York.

Harrell, who passed away on May 7, 2020, is featured in the doc via interviews recorded prior to his death, and Blige tells The Hollywood Reporter that she still “doesn’t have enough words” to describe his influence on her life. “Andre is ...

Academy Award nominee Mary J. Blige revisits her landmark album, 1994’s deeply personal My Life, in a new Amazon Prime Video documentary out June 25. But no examination of her career would be complete without Andre Harrell, the Uptown Records founder who discovered Blige and signed her straight out of the Schlobohm housing projects in Yonkers, New York.

Harrell, who passed away on May 7, 2020, is featured in the doc via interviews recorded prior to his death, and Blige tells The Hollywood Reporter that she still “doesn’t have enough words” to describe his influence on her life. “Andre is ...

Exclusive: WME announced today that they have signed Emmy and Grammy award-winning executive producer and showrunner, Rikki Hughes as well as her production company, Magic Lemonade for representation in all areas.

Hughes is a producer of a long list of award shows, comedy specials and independent features. She made history as the first Black female to receive an Emmy for “Outstanding Variety Special” for Netflix’s Dave Chappelle: Equanimity & The Bird Revelation comedy specials. On top of that, she scored a Grammy for “Best Comedy Album” for the specials.

She recently served as executive producer of BET’s tribute to the late Andre Harrell, Mr. Champagne and Bubbles as well as Chappelle’s latest comedy special, Sticks and Stones on Netflix. Her credits also include the HBO special All Def Comedy, Comedy Central’s Hood Adjacent, the VH1 special Dear Mama, amongst others.

Hughes was previously repped by CAA.

Fox Soul, iHeartMedia, and Motown Records are teaming on limited series Motown Countdown, which will stream each Tuesday in July.

The four-part music and talk series will be hosted by Angela Yee, who co-hosts iHeartRadio’s nationally syndicated show The Breakfast Club.

Fox Soul, a free, ad-supported streaming network, launched this year as a strategic effort by Fox to extend the audience for its stable of syndicated TV series. Original programming will be followed by two hours of Fox TV’s locally produced programming. Fox Soul is available via iOS, Android, Apple TV, FireTV or on the web at foxsoul.tv.

The four-part Motown Countdown will stream live on the platform at 10Pm Et starting July 7. Each 30-minute episode will feature a countdown of the top five “current torchbearers” in a particular category. The list of categories includes hip-hop, classic Motown, Andre Harrell-inspired hits and “songs encouraging change and revolution,...

Over a career that spans 20 years, Jesse Collins has produced a wide range of hit television series and big awards shows via his eponymous production company, Jesse Collins Entertainment (Jce). But despite his many successes, including “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and “The Bobby Brown Story,” Collins continues to mostly fly under the radar — not that he minds, given his mantra: Don’t focus on popularity and accolades. Instead work to be great at one thing, and everything else will come by default.

That “one thing” for the prolific producer? Creating great content.

“We’ve been at this for a long time, and we may not be as well-known as some of the other big producers out there, but we’re growing,” Collins said. “And there’s a lot of content that we’ve been attached to, that some people don’t even know we produced, but one day they will.

Over a career that spans 20 years, Jesse Collins has produced a wide range of hit television series and big awards shows via his eponymous production company, Jesse Collins Entertainment (Jce). But despite his many successes, including “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and “The Bobby Brown Story,” Collins continues to mostly fly under the radar — not that he minds, given his mantra: Don’t focus on popularity and accolades. Instead work to be great at one thing, and everything else will come by default.

That “one thing” for the prolific producer? Creating great content.

“We’ve been at this for a long time, and we may not be as well-known as some of the other big producers out there, but we’re growing,” Collins said. “And there’s a lot of content that we’ve been attached to, that some people don’t even know we produced, but one day they will.

Andre Harrell, the music executive who launched Uptown Records and helped usher in a new era of hip-hop flavored soul and R&b, was laid to rest on Saturday (May 23) at George Washington Cemetery in Paramus, NJ. The funeral followed a celebration of his life at Vander Plaat-Caggiano Funeral Home in Fair Lawn, NJ. Harrell died on May 7 from heart disease-related issues.

Among the attendees were artists Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige, comedian Chris Rock and executives L.A. Reid and Lyor Cohen, according to local reports.

Participants included musical performers Jodeci and gospel icons BeBe and CeCe Winans. Remarks were made by Tracy Maitland, Cohen, Mark Siegel, Rock, Blige and the Rev. Al Sharpton in addition to Harrell’s son Gianni Credle-Harrell.

Harrell played a key role in launching the careers of P. Diddy, Blige, Teddy Riley, Heavy D, Jodeci and many others, which made a television tribute on Bet,...

Jesse Collins’ film and TV production company has signed a multi-year overall agreement with ViacomCBS cable networks to produce projects across all platforms.

Under the terms of the agreement, Jesse Collins Entertainment (Jce) may provide production services for the ViacomCBS cable networks segment — including Bet, Cmt, Comedy Central, MTV, Paramount Network, TV Land and VH1 on the television side.

On the theatrical film side, the company also has a first-look on Jce’s film development projects, which could include Viacom’s film entities such as Paramount Players.

Also Read: Bet Sets 3-Part Scripted Series 'Uptown' About Famed Record Label

Jce has played an integral role in producing many of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. With a decades-long relationship with Bet, Jesse Collins, founder & CEO of the company, was the executive producer of the network’s “The New Edition Story,” a biopic on the boy band that first...

Exclusive: Jesse Collins Entertainment, the production company behind Bet’s critically-acclaimed miniseries, The New Edition Story, has signed a multi-year overall agreement with ViacomCBS Cable Networks. Under the terms of the agreement, the Jesse Collins-led company will provide production services for the ViacomCBS cable networks, which include Bet, Cmt, Comedy Central, MTV, Paramount Network, TV Land, and VH1. In addition, ViacomCBS will also have a first look at Jce’s film development projects for its film entities such as Paramount Players.

Currently, Jce has American Soul, the Bet series about young Don Cornelius and the struggle to make the dream of Soul Train come true, which is returning for a second season in May. Collins is also in pre-production on Uptown, a 3-part original scripted miniseries for Bet that will chronicle the story of producer Andre Harrell’s iconic record label, Uptown Records.

Following the success of The New Edition Story,...

Sean “Diddy” Combs penned an emotional tribute to Andre Harrell, the music executive and Uptown Records founder who died Thursday from heart failure at age 59.

“I honestly still can’t believe it,” Combs wrote on Instagram. “I’ve got to give myself the reality of this in doses. Because I can’t even handle this. I hope to God that you are all blessed to have someone in your life that loves you and believes in you like this man believed in me.… I’m going to miss him so much.

Paul “Bear” Vasquez, the “Double Rainbow” guy whose viral YouTube video reacting to a set of rainbows in Yosemite National Park shot him to fame in 2010, died Saturday. He was 57.

The Mariposa, Calif. resident gained recognition after posting an impassioned video of himself bearing witness to a double rainbow outside of his house. The sounds of Vasquez’s ooh-ing and aah-ing over the rainbows — interspersed with laughter and actual sobs of joy — captured the hearts of people all over the world.

The Mariposa County Coroner’s Office confirmed his death to TheWrap. A cause of death has not been released.

Also Read: Andre Harrell, Uptown Records Founder and Sean Combs' Mentor, Dies at 59

The famous video has garnered over 47 million views since it was posted in January of 2010.

In the video, which you can watch below, Vasquez exclaims, “Oh my god, it’s a full-on double rainbow all the way across the sky!

Sadly, another music legend has passed away. Just one day ago, the world of music lost Little Richard and Andre Harrell. On Sunday, multiple outlets reported that soul singer Betty Wright died. She was 66 years old. At this time, it's unknown what caused the legendary songstress' death. However, Chaka Khan hinted that something was wrong with Wright earlier this month. "Calling all my #PrayWarriors | My beloved sister, Betty Wright @MsBettyWright, is now in need of all your prays," Khan shared on Twitter on May 2. Wright is best known for her popular R&b hits like "Tonight Is the Night," "No Pain, (No Gain),"...

As the music world today is reeling from the news of Andre Harrell’s death at the age of 59, his colleagues and friends are celebrating the career of the Uptown Records founder. Harrell’s milestone career and personal story also are the subject of Uptown, a three-part original scripted miniseries, which was greenlighted by BET Networks in early December 2019.

Harrell was executive producing the project, which had been in pre-production when the coronavirus pandemic suspended all filming in Hollywood. The production held a series of open casting calls in December and January for performers to play 90s versions of Heavy D & The Boyz, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Kim Porter and Aaron Hall, among others.

No cast and production start date have been set for the miniseries, which originally was supposed to premiere in 2020. Because of the uncertainty over when Hollywood production will be able to safely resume,...

A miniseries about the rise of the late Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records is still in the works and moving ahead at Bet following the veteran music executive’s death. But with production throughout the television business shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, no premiere date or timetable for the start of shooting has been set.

“We are mourning the loss of a cultural icon, Andre Harrell, a chief architect of the modern hip-hop and R&b sound,” Bet president Scott Mills said in a statement. “Andre was tremendously excited about sharing the origin story of Uptown Records, and its pivotal role in the urban music landscape. With his tragic passing, Bet is committed to ensuring that the Uptown limited series event tells both the Uptown story and Andre’s story — that of the incredible music innovator, man and friend to so many.”

In December, Bet ordered “Uptown,” a...

Lenny Kravitz had just woken up when he saw back-to-back notifications that rock & roll architect Little Richard and influential Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell had both died. “My God, I hadn’t even gained consciousness yet,” he says, calling from his home in the Bahamas where he has been self-isolating since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kravitz and Harrell had known each other for years through Sean Combs, whose career was developed under Harrell’s mentorship. Kravitz and Combs were neighbors in New York City as they were both...

When Andre Harrell founded Uptown Records in 1986, he quickly honed the label’s musical approach. “Andre saw in the late Eighties how the hard-edged drama of rap music… was not incorporating all the rich cool smoothness and bright musicality that had built the house of R&b,” the longtime music executive Steve Stoute wrote in his book The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy. “The question he asked was, how can we make this less rough around the edges… the...

Andre Harrell, whose Uptown Records is considered one of the key bridges between hip-hop and R&b, died of heart failure Thursday night at his West Hollywood home. He was 59 and his death was confirmed by his former wife.

Harrell was a key to the careers of Sean Combs, Mary J. Blige, Heavy D & The Boyz, and Jodeci, among many others. His label, Uptown Records, is remembered as one of the R&b giants of the 1990s, finding a niche as a home for artists who were sophisticated and smooth, yet retaining its street edge.

Andre O’Neal Harrell was born in the Bronx on Sep. 26, 1960. He graduated from Charles Evans Hughes High School in 1978, and attended Baruch College and Lehman College.

Harrell’s career started on the performing side. He was Dr. Jeckyll, half of the rap duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, with high school friend Alonzo Brown. They had several hits,...

The world of music has lost a legend. Andre Harrell has passed away. The music executive was best known as the founder of Uptown Records—where Sean "Diddy" Combs got his start—and later he ran Motown Records. He was also the Vice Chairman at Revolt TV. "We can confirm the passing of Andre Harrell. Everyone in the Revolt family is devastated by the loss of our friend, mentor and Vice Chairman," Roma Khanna, CEO Revolt TV Media & TV said in a statement shared with E! News. "Andre's impact on Hip Hop, the culture and on all of us personally has been immeasurable and profound. May he Rest In Peace." While the all-around music legend's cause of death is...

Andre Harrell, the music executive who founded the influential Uptown Records, has died at the age of 59.

“We can confirm the passing of Andre Harrell,” Revolt network, where Harrell served as vice chairman, said in a statement. “Everyone in the Revolt family is devastated by the loss of our friend, mentor and Vice-Chairman. Andre’s impact on Hip Hop and the culture and on us has been immeasurable and profound. May he Rest In Peace.”

Harrell’s ex-wife, Wendy Credle, told The New York Times that the cause of death was heart failure.

In today’s TV news roundup, Starz has released a trailer for Season 5 of “Outlander,” and Amazon Prime Video announced casting for “The Power.”

Castings

WWE superstars Sasha Banks, Brie Bella, Nikki Bella, Alexa Bliss, Sonya Deville, Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch and Natalya have been cast as participants in Quibi and WWE’s upcoming series “Fight Like a Girl.” Each episode follows each female wrestler as she shares her life experiences with a young woman dealing with personal issues that are holding her back. WWE chief brand officer and executive producer of the series Stephanie McMahon will decide the pairings. Susan Levison, Ben Zierten, Tom Forman, Jenny Daly and Jon Beyer also serve as executive producers.

Amazon Prime Video has announced further casting for its forthcoming series, “The Power.” Adapted from Naomi Alderman‘s novel of the same name, the 10-part thriller imagines a world in which all...

Bet is exploring the story behind Andre Harrell’s iconic hip-hop record label, Uptown Records.

The network has ordered a three-part miniseries titled “Uptown,” with Harrell on board to executive produce. The series is scheduled to hit the airwaves in 2020.

Launched in 1986, following a joint venture deal with McA, Uptown Records played a key role in launching the careers of some of the most influential voices in hip-hop and R&b, including Heavy D & The Boyz, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Teddy Riley, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs, and others.

Each episode of “Uptown” will take viewers from the label’s inception to current day, featuring the music and hit-makers that helped mold the label.

“We are proud to bring the story of Uptown Records to life and celebrate the indelible imprint the label has made on the industry,...

Bet Networks has given a green light to Uptown, a three-part original scripted miniseries that will chronicle the story of Andre Harrell’s iconic New York City record label, Uptown Records, from Harrell and Jesse Collins Entertainment. Uptown is scheduled to premiere on Bet in 2020.

Launched in 1986, following a joint venture deal with McA, Harrell’s Uptown Records played a vital role in the careers of some of the most influential voices in hip hop, soul and R&b, including Heavy D & The Boyz, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Teddy Riley, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs, and many more. Each episode will take viewers from the label’s inception to current day, featuring the music and powerhouse hit-makers that helped mold what would come to be...

Bet is putting its lens on Uptown Records.

The Viacom-backed cable network has greenlit Uptown, a three-part scripted miniseries set to tell the "comprehensive" story of Andre Harrell's New York record label.

Launched in 1986, the McA division is widely considered to have helped launch the careers of hit makers including Mary J. Blige, Notorious Big, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Heavy D & the Boyz, Russell Simmons, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure and many more.

Over three nights, the series will explore the label's inception to present day, featuring music and the hit makers who helped ...

Bet has ordered a three-part scripted series about the famed record label Uptown Records, the network announced Wednesday.

Launched in 1986, Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records played a vital role in the careers of some of the most influential voices in hip hop, soul and R&b, including Heavy D & The Boyz, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Father Mc, Al B. Sure, Christopher Williams, Teddy Riley, Notorious B.I.G., Sean “Diddy” Combs and more.

“Uptown,” which will be executive produced by Harrell and Jesse Collins, will span the label’s inception to current day, featuring the music and hit-makers that defined its success and the sound of the era.

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Charles Murray, Carlito Rodriguez and Barry Michael Cooper each serve as writer on one of the three parts of the miniseries,...