“If you’re looking for lyrics, if you’re looking to cry, if you’re looking to think about life, don’t listen to hip-hop. There’s great hip-hop songs where they talk about life and they spit that real, but right now, there’s not a lot of people talking about real. Whenever I want to cry, whenever I want to sit down and have a nice cry, I’ll listen to some Bob Dylan.” About two years ago in an outlet called NewOnce, the 2019 American Music Award winner for FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP let that gem off his chest. That would be the dude Post Malone. So I’m thinking that’s either a testament to progress in the eyes of the American music consumer or either a pat on my own back for vowing to not care anymore. This was resultant to the winner of that same award in 2014, as well as FAVORITE ARTIST RAP/HIP-HOP, Iggy Azaela. Is this still an issue or am I buggin’? Should the collective I, those who echo my sentiments, shrug our shoulders and let it go or still fight the good fight. Black art without Black art!!!!! It’s upon us. 2020, what we gonna do?!
Sorry for getting sidetracked. It’s just sometimes these award shows …..Speaking of such, word just came down that the NAACP and BET Networks announced a broadcast partnership to air the 51st NAACP Image Awards. The telecast will take place from Pasadena, Ca. and will air on BET Networks for the first time ever announced by NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Leon W. Russell, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, President of BET Networks Scott Mills and Executive Vice-President, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy Connie Orlando. “We’re proud to partner with BET Networks to showcase the incredible breadth of Black excellence in television, film, music, and literature, and to bring awareness to the social justice and economic empowerment work of the NAACP,” said Johnson. “Through its diverse platforms, BET delivers culturally enriching and entertaining content to a wide and multigenerational audience. As we head into a critical 2020 election and Census, the collaboration with BET will be critical to reaching our shared communities.”
“The NAACP is vitally important, and BET Networks shares the organization’s commitment to our community and social impact,” added Mills. “With the NAACP’s half-century of history acknowledging the achievements of African Americans across entertainment and activism, this partnership allows BET to further our mission to entertain, engage and empower our viewers by delivering this cultural pillar to the communities we serve. We’re thrilled to welcome the NAACP Image Awards home to BET.”
Karen Boykin-Towns, NAACP national board of directors vice-chairwoman, is the newly appointed chairwoman of the NAACP Image Awards Planning Committee and will provide strategic guidance and leadership. Eris Sims, chief of staff, will oversee all NAACP Image Awards events and activities.
“We are excited that two storied organizations, NAACP and BET, are partnering to cultivate innovative approaches to our work and to deliver a transformative experience that inspires and empowers the Black community. This is a natural partnership and one which aligns with our strategic focus,” said Boykin-Towns. “We are confident that the NAACP Image Awards will continue to grow in both impact and legacy.”
“It is our honor to partner with the NAACP as the exclusive broadcast partner of the Image Awards, one of the most influential Award Shows in the black community,” said Connie Orlando. “We will celebrate and acknowledge the excellence and achievements of African Americans in television, music, arts and give special recognition to the artists that have thrilled us and shaped the past the year in Black culture. As we head into our 40th anniversary, it is only right to start off 2020 with this monumental partnership and bring the legacy of NAACP Image Awards to BET.”
Nominations for the “51st NAACP Image Awards” will be announced on Jan. 9, 2020. Online Public Voting Opens Jan. 9 and shuts down on Feb. 7. The non-televised award ceremony will be held on Feb. 21 and airs live on BET on Feb. 22.
More on that later. Right now, we out. Holla next week. Until then, enjoy the night life.
