Gladys Knight is slowing down, but the Empress of Soul is not saying goodbye. After more than seven decades onstage, the 82-year-old icon announced Thursday that she plans to perform less. Knight also wants to devote more time to family and personal projects. The decision marks a meaningful shift for a singer whose voice has defined generations of soul and R&B. “After much soul-searching, I’ve decided that I will be easing into fewer performances,” Knight wrote. She said the change reflects “the next stage of my career and life.” View this post on Instagram For Knight, that next chapter includes more time with her husband and grandchildren. “I’ll be spending more time on projects with my husband and visiting with my grandbabies,” she wrote. “I am looking forward to this new era.” Knight also used the announcement to honor the fans who carried her through decades of music. “I’d like to take a moment, in advance, to thank all my fans over this last three-quarters of a century,” she wrote. “You made a little girl’s dream come true.” “I am immensely grateful to all of you,” Knight added. “I send my eternal love back to you.” Soul Singer Gladys Knight To Ease Up On Performances But Not Retiring Her touring career is not ending immediately. The Taft Theatre still listed Knight for a Sept. 11 performance in Cincinnati as of Aug. 28. The announcement follows questions surrounding some recent performances. Videos circulating online prompted concern from fans about Knight’s appearance and stage presence. Knight did not cite a medical condition when announcing her reduced schedule. She also did not connect the decision to any specific health issue. Those concerns intensified after her son, Shanga Hankerson, questioned her touring schedule last year. He raised concerns about the demands placed on his mother. Hankerson also accused Knight’s husband and manager, William McDowell, of encouraging her to continue working. Knight and her representatives disputed those allegations. Knight responded at the time with her own assessment. “I’m sorry that my health and performances have been misrepresented,” she said. “I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well.” “I’m healthy and happy,” Knight added. Her legacy remains immense. Knight has won seven Grammy Awards from 22 nominations. The Recording Academy honored her with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. She also entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Pips in 1996. Knight’s recordings continue to resonate across generations. “Midnight Train to Georgia” remains one of soul music’s defining anthems. Now, Knight is choosing a different rhythm. Her message is not retirement. It is about making room for family, creativity and the next chapter.

Rap star Cardi B addresses the darker side of becoming one of hip-hop’s biggest stars to help guide those newly famous from falling into the same pitfalls. The “Aha Aha” hitmaker reflected on fame, pressure and public scrutiny in Vogue Arabia’s September issue. Her rise from social media personality to rap superstar brought the success she once wanted. View this post on Instagram The reality of that success, however, looks different than she imagined. “I have proven a lot of people wrong over and over and over again,” Cardi said. “It makes me feel good that I achieved things that nobody else did.” That accomplishment comes with another reality. Cardi said celebrity life carries pressures she never expected when she dreamed about becoming famous. “That’s why they say to be careful about what you wish for because you just might get it,” she said. “Being a celebrity comes with a lot.” “Sometimes I feel I didn’t apply for this,” Cardi added. Hip-Hop Star Cardi B Gives Advice To The Next Famous Star For Vogue Arabia The rapper also described fame as a psychological challenge. Constant attention can make it difficult for celebrities to protect their private lives. “You can’t really protect yourself,” she said. “You are never gonna be ready for this type of pressure, you know?” Cardi urged people dealing with similar pressures to find constructive ways to cope. She also delivered a direct warning about drug use. “You just gotta find a mechanism that works for you,” she said. “But whatever mechanism you decide on, just don’t turn to drugs, okay?” “I know it’s hard. I know it really is,” Cardi continued. “Being famous is almost like a mental game.” Cardi knows the transformation firsthand. She gained an audience through Instagram and Vine before joining Love & Hip Hop: New York in 2015. Then came “Bodak Yellow” in 2017. The breakout single turned Cardi into a dominant force in mainstream rap. Her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, followed in 2018. The project earned Cardi the Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2019. She later released Am I the Drama? in 2025, extending a career built on cultural influence and commercial success. Yet Cardi’s latest comments reveal another side of that journey. Fame delivered the recognition she chased, but it also created pressures she never anticipated. For Cardi B, becoming newly famous was only the beginning. Learning how to survive the spotlight has become part of the job.

R&B singer Kehlani has canceled two dates on The Kehlani World Tour after a sudden hospitalization left her unable to perform. She announced the cancellations Wednesday on social media. She said she developed severe pain and difficulty swallowing after two days without a show. “After two off days feeling completely normal..ive been up all night unable to swallow & in so much pain,” she wrote. “I just left the hospital & am not cleared to sing for the next two shows,” Kehlani continued. “I’m so sorry Camden & DC. My team is working on a solution.” View this post on Instagram The affected performances were scheduled for Camden, New Jersey, and the Washington, D.C., area. Both shows are part of the tour’s North American leg. Kehlani did not disclose a diagnosis. She said medical professionals had not cleared her to sing at either performance. The cancellation follows a demanding stretch of touring for the Grammy-nominated artist. Her announcement also comes after recent discussions about maintaining her well-being. The Kehlani World Tour is currently scheduled to resume Aug. 29 in Richmond, Virginia. Kehlani is slated to perform at the Allianz Amphitheater. R&B Singer Kehlani Announces 2 Rescheduled Shows On The Kehlani World Tour After Being Hospitalized The tour supports Kehlani, her self-titled fifth studio album. Released in April, the album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. The project features collaborations with Cardi B, Brandy and Usher. It represents another major chapter in Kehlani’s career. The North American tour is scheduled to continue through early October. The international itinerary will then take Kehlani to South America, Europe and South Africa. For now, the Camden and Washington cancellations leave ticket holders awaiting further information. Kehlani’s team said it was working on a solution. Her decision comes as she follows medical guidance before returning to the stage. The singer’s message offered no guarantee that the Aug. 29 performance would proceed. The Richmond concert remains scheduled at this time. Fans will have to await additional updates from her or her touring team. The sudden hospitalization highlights the physical demands of an international concert schedule. For the R&B singer, the immediate concern appears to be recovering before resuming the tour.

Vic Mensa opened “The Vic Mensa Show” with a guest whose history with him reaches back to adolescence: Chance the Rapper. The Chicago rappers used the premiere to revisit a friendship that began when they were about 14. That relationship eventually helped shape Save Money, the collective that influenced Chicago hip-hop. Mensa said he first encountered Chance at Jones College Prep during an open mic. Mensa had traveled from Whitney Young Magnet High School to perform. He spotted Chance in the school lunchroom. At the time, Mensa admitted his microphone skills had not caught up with his ambitions. Still, the meeting marked the start of a friendship that would span decades. The two later became prominent figures within Chicago’s independent rap scene. Mensa recalled one of their earliest recording sessions. They worked on a song called “Lord Release,” with Mensa’s father paying for studio time. Their loyalty also faced an early test. Mensa said older students had threatened Chance at school. According to Mensa, he responded by bringing roughly 25 people from Whitney Young. The confrontation became physical. Save Money’s Vic Mensa & Chance The Rapper Discuss Their Friendship On The Debut Episode Of The Vic Mensa Show Mensa previously described the episode during an appearance on “All the Smoke.” “Long story short, you know, found them, beat they ass, for fucking with Chance,” Mensa said. “It was just like, so we’ve been locked in since childhood.” Chance later captured that bond on his 2013 mixtape “Acid Rap.” On “Acid Rain,” he referenced the competitive edge between the two friends. “But if you touch my brother,” Chance rapped, “all that anti-violence shit goes out the window.” The friendship became part of the foundation for Save Money. The collective brought together Chicago artists who helped define a new generation of local hip-hop. “The Vic Mensa Show” now gives Mensa another platform to explore those relationships. The 24-episode series expands on his Orange Tree video series. Mensa said Orange Tree showed him the power of conversation. He described that potential through “radical ideas, humor, honesty and vulnerability.” Chance’s appearance established the tone. It also placed one of Chicago hip-hop’s most enduring friendships at the center of Mensa’s new chapter.

Yung Miami has officially announced the lineup for the remix of her hit single “Spend Dat,” enlisting hip-hop heavyweights Lil Baby and Kodak Black for the new track. The former City Girls star confirmed the collaboration Wednesday, revealing that the highly anticipated song will be released to the public this Friday, Aug. 28. The announcement comes as Yung Miami, born Caresha Brownlee, continues to build momentum for the track, which has already seen significant success on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to the official remix announcement, the Miami rapper released several alternate versions of the record in May, including versions titled “Fast,” “Booster,” “Scammer” and “Baller.” “Wham & Yak WTF IS UPPPPPP!! Spend Dat Remix OUT THIS FRIDAY!” the rapper shared on social media, using nicknames for Lil Baby and Kodak Black. View this post on Instagram While fans had previously speculated that Drake might appear on the track, the final lineup maintains a strong regional connection by featuring fellow Florida native Kodak Black. The decision to include Kodak Black has sparked significant conversation among fans due to the pair’s tumultuous history. In 2019, while Kodak Black was incarcerated, he released a freestyle that contained threatening lyrics directed at Yung Miami, who was pregnant at the time. The lyrics referenced a past relationship and suggested physical harm to her unborn child. Public concern intensified in August 2019 when Yung Miami’s vehicle was targeted in a drive-by shooting outside Circle House Studios in North Miami-Dade Fans can expect the “Spend Dat Remix” to hit all major streaming platforms at midnight on Friday. The release marks another milestone for Yung Miami as she establishes herself as a dominant solo force in the industry following the hiatus of the City Girls. View this post on Instagram

Kehlani has announced the cancellation of two scheduled tour dates this week following an emergency hospital visit. The singer, who is currently headlining a massive world tour, informed fans on Wednesday that she is physically unable to perform after experiencing sudden and severe health complications. The 29-year-old artist was scheduled to take the stage at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden on Wednesday evening, followed by a performance at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., on Thursday. Both shows have been scrapped after medical professionals advised the singer to rest her voice. “After two off days feeling completely normal.. ive been up all night unable to swallow & in so much pain,” Kehlani shared in a post on Instagram. “i just left the hospital & am not cleared to sing for the next two shows. i’m so sorry Camden & DC. my team is working on a solution.” The cancellations mark the first significant disruptions for the 33-date Live Nation run, which began earlier this month in Minneapolis. The tour is currently supporting her self-titled fifth studio album, which debuted at the top of the R&B charts and produced the hit single “Folded.” Kehlani expressed her frustration with the setback, noting that she maintains a rigorous health regimen to avoid such situations. “breaks my heart to have to ever do this,” she said. “i do everything i’m supposed to to ensure my health stays up to par & it still isn’t guaranteed.” While the singer did not elaborate on the specific diagnosis that led to her hospitalization, she has been vocal in the past about the challenges of maintaining wellness while on the road. In a recent interview, she discussed the importance of routine, meditation, and medication in managing her overall health and bipolar disorder while navigating a grueling professional schedule. Local fans in Camden were notified of the change just hours before the doors were set to open. View this post on Instagram The “Kehlani World Tour” is expected to resume its scheduled itinerary in Virginia once the singer receives medical clearance. Her team is currently exploring options for the canceled dates, though it remains unclear if they will be rescheduled for later in the year. The tour is currently slated to conclude this October in San Francisco.

Samuel Monroe Jr., whose film career began with the searing 1993 drama “Menace II Society,” has died. He was 52. His mother, Joyce Patton, announced his death on Facebook. Her message came after months of concern surrounding Monroe’s declining health. “I want to thank all of my Facebook family and friends, new and old, for praying for Samuel Monroe Jr., my son,” Patton wrote. “But today God called him home.” She asked supporters to continue praying for Monroe’s family, particularly his three children. Monroe had been hospitalized since April after developing MRSA pneumonia and meningitis. He also underwent dialysis to help manage his kidney function. “Menace II Society” & “The Players’ Club” Actor Samuel Monroe Jr. Passed Away At 52 His condition deteriorated in July. His wife, Shawna Stewart, said Monroe suffered more than 20 seizures around July 30. The seizures caused swelling around his brain, according to Stewart. She also said Monroe underwent three brain surgeries. Doctors warned that Monroe might spend the rest of his life in a vegetative state. Stewart continued asking supporters for prayers as his condition worsened. For Monroe, acting offered a lasting connection to a pivotal period in Black American cinema. His first credited film role came in “Menace II Society,” the Hughes brothers’ uncompromising portrait of Watts. The film became a defining work of 1990s Black cinema. Monroe later appeared in “Tales From The Hood” and “Set It Off.” He also appeared in the 1996 comedy “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.” In 1997, Monroe returned to familiar territory with “The Player’s Club.” Directed by Ice Cube, the film starred LisaRaye McCoy as Diana, an aspiring dancer. Monroe played Junior, Ronnie’s brother, adding another memorable performance to his growing filmography. His roles made him a recognizable presence in films that reflected Los Angeles culture and Black life. Decades later, those movies remain influential touchstones. Monroe’s family launched a GoFundMe campaign in April to help cover his medical expenses. His stepdaughter said he could require around-the-clock care. He is survived by his wife, mother and three children.

Michael Jordan’s legacy is stronger than ever with the release of the Air Jordan 41. ​The Air Jordan 41 takes signature Jordan style into the future, pushing limits with cutting-edge design and bold expression. ​Weighing nearly 10 percent lighter than its predecessor, the flagship sneaker replaces traditional leather uppers with a lightweight, breathable nano-print mesh engineered for dynamic containment and ventilation. ​Beneath the upper, the Air Jordan 41 packs elite tech—combining a full-length Zoom Strobel, a ZoomX foam midsole, and an added heel Air Zoom unit paired with a carbon fiber and TPU shank for explosive responsiveness and impact protection. ​Shifting away from traditional leather, the Air Jordan 41 replaces the 40’s classic build with nanoprinting and ultra-thin textiles. The result is a lighter, sleeker silhouette that prioritizes modern performance over legacy materials. View this post on Instagram ​Early rollout colorways draw inspiration from a gemstone narrative, featuring themes like “Ruby,” “Amethyst,” and “Opal”. ​The Air Jordan 41 prepares me for every movement; it gives me confidence in every cut, read, and possession,” says Jordan Brand athlete Napheesa Collier. “When you trust your shoes like that, it makes all the difference.” ​Leo Chang, Senior Creative Director, Basketball & Sport, Jordan Brand, shared the vision of the AJ41. ​“With the 41, we wanted to create an upper that could move with the athlete,” said Chang. “And feel lighter without sacrificing the containment and confidence they need to play at their best.” ​The Air Jordan 41 isn’t just expanding the legacy—it’s dictating the future of court tech. With the new release, Jordan Brand proves that four decades in, they still own basketball culture. Set your SNKRS alerts and prepare to take flight. The AJ41 is about to redefine performance. ​The Air Jordan 41 debuts with a limited release in China on August 28, with a global release to follow.  

The highly anticipated biopic chronicling the life of West Coast rap legend Snoop Dogg has found its matriarch. Lauren London has been cast to portray Beverly Tate, the late mother of the entertainment icon, in the upcoming film titled “Snoop.” London, 41, joins a production that is steadily rounding out its core cast. The “ATL” and “You People” star has a professional history with Snoop Dogg that dates back more than two decades. She previously appeared as a model in his music videos for early 2000s hits including “From tha Chuuuch to da Palace” and the chart-topping “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” Tate, who passed away in October 2021 at the age of 70, was a cornerstone in the rapper’s life. As a church choir director and ordained evangelist, she was credited with fostering his early musical development. She is also famously responsible for her son’s stage name, having nicknamed him “Snoopy” because of his childhood affinity for the “Peanuts” cartoon character. The film features Jonathan Daviss, known for his role in “Outer Banks,” as the titular rapper. Other key casting announcements include Myles Bullock as Dr. Dre and Camron Jones in the role of Tupac Shakur. The production seeks to capture the rise of the Long Beach native who became a global face of hip-hop culture. Snoop Dogg has frequently honored his mother’s legacy since her passing, most notably dedicating his 2025 gospel project “Altar Call” to her memory. The rapper said his mother was a guiding light who kept him grounded throughout the turbulence of his early career and the height of Death Row Records’ fame. Directed by Craig Brewer, “Snoop” will follow the rapper’s transformation from a young man in Southern California to an international superstar. The film is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on August 6, 2027. With London’s casting, the production gains an actress with deep ties to the hip-hop community and the specific era being depicted on screen. London’s recent work includes a starring role in the Netflix comedy “You People” and the action thriller “Without Remorse.” Her portrayal of Tate is expected to provide the emotional heart of the film, showcasing the spiritual and family values that influenced the “Gin and Juice” rapper behind the scenes.

Peacock is developing Hilary, a Bel-Air spinoff starring Coco Jones in the lead role. According to Deadline, the series will become Peacock’s first scripted show to get a spinoff.    Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Harlem) brings a fresh perspective to the franchise as the writer for Hilary. The project is backed by Universal Television—a division of Universal Studio Group—and Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios, the same team behind Bel-Air.  Per the proposed logline, Hilary Banks impulsively relocates to New York following a surprise job offer from celebrity chef Yvonne Durand. Eager to forge an identity separate from her Bel-Air pedigree—only to discover that carving out a career, finding genuine friendship, and navigating romance in the big city demand a surprisingly steep price.  During its four-season run, Bel-Air was a massive hit. Taking Will Smith’s iconic origin story, the series resonated with both nostalgic fans and a brand-new generation. Its record-breaking streaming numbers and critical praise cemented it as one of Peacock’s standout flagship originals.  Beyond her role in Bel-Air, Jones starred in Netflix’s Vampires vs. the Bronxand Malcolm D. Lee’s recent psychological thriller Strung. She recently wrapped production on the upcoming romantic comedy That’s Her. On the music front, her debut album, Why Not More? scored a nomination for Best R&B Album at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Oliver made history in 2017 as the first Black woman to write a $100M+ grossing film with Girls Trip. She also worked on Little, The Sun Is Also a Star, and The Blackening. Oliver created and executive produced TV hits like Harlem and First Wives Club. Her upcoming slate includes sequels to Girls Trip and The Blackening, Netflix’s adaptation of Jasmine Guillory’s The Wedding Date, the holiday film Deck the Y’alls starring Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain, and two drama series: Paper Gods (Netflix) and Not a Happy Family (Starz).