Conversations conducted by Shawn Grant with leading figures of entertainment and sports culture.
SHANNON THORNTON, P-VALLEY'S MS. MISSISSIPPI, TALKS PREPARING FOR HER ROLE AND THE SHOW'S SUCCESS
Ahead of the season-closing night at The Pynk, Ms. Thornton reflected on the two-year road to the airing of P-Valley, her role as Keyshawn/Ms. Mississippi, her hopes for the character in the future, and more.
KAMAIYAH TALKS BECOMING HER OWN BOSS, NEW MUSIC, AND FALLOUTS WITH YG AND KEHLANI
Kamaiyah has already had a whirlwind career, in this conversation she details what’s next now that she has left her recent label situation.
D.L. HUGHLEY TALKS ‘THE LAUGH EXPERIENCE’ AND ADJUSTING COMEDY TO THE DIGITAL WORLD
In conversation, D.L. Hughley shows a flawless availability to transition from real-life topics to jokes, while covering his new digital ventures, dealing with coronavirus stay-at-home orders and more.
BARTON FITZPATRICK ON GROWING UP IN CHICAGO AND HIS ACTING AND SINGING CAREER
You may have seen him as Reg on The Chi, but Barton Fitzpatrick is a total package. He sings, acts and took a moment to appear live and discuss his Southside Chicago roots and how COVID-19 impacted Hollywood.
WINSTON DUKE TALKS STARRING IN NEW MOVIE ‘SPENSER CONFIDENTIAL’
Winston Duke talks about his crazy shooting schedule beginning with Avengers and how he expanded the ‘Spenser Confidential’ character of Hawk alongside Mark Wahlberg.
KYLE KUZMA TALKS FOOT LOCKER’S WEEK OF GREATNESS AND LAKERS EARLY SUCCESS
In his third year, Kuzma is the last remaining piece of the young core drafted in the pre-King James Lakeshow era and is now a focal point. James referred to Kuzma as “a huge piece of the Lakers’ puzzle” earlier this season and it shows.
ANTHONY DAVIS ON BEING AN ALL-STAR IN CHICAGO AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK TO HIS HOMETOWN
Before taking the floor at the United Center for NBA All-Star Weekend, Anthony Davis talked about the importance of giving back to his hometown and what it means to wear an All-Star jersey in Chicago.
H.E.R. ON MAKING AN IMPACT IN THE BAY AREA, CREATING NEW MUSIC AND MORE
If you ask H.E.R. about her deepest loves in life, among the list of responses you will receive is her home, the Bay Area, and of course, music. Both topics radiate as she speaks after hosting Bay Area music students for a session at the Oaktown Jazz Workshop.
DAMIAN LILLARD TALKS ‘BIG D.O.L.L.A.’ ALBUM AND UPCOMING NBA SEASON
Portland Trailblazers superstar Damian Lillard has many nicknames: Dame, Dame Time, Big Game Dame, and most recently, Logo Lillard. This past summer, after sending the Oklahoma City into roster purgatory and making a run at making the NBA Finals, Lillard shifted his attention to a different name: Dame D.O.L.L.A.
ZAYTOVEN TALKS FINDING NEW TALENT, PARTICIPATING IN REMY PRODUCERS SERIES AND NAMES STARTING 5 PRODUCERS
Remy Martin invaded Chicago on Thursday, August 22 for the latest edition of Season Six of Remy producers. Hosted at TAO Chicago, Grammy-award winning producer Zaytoven was the lead judge for the competition, joined by Chicago’s own Young Chop and Season Five winner Milo, who recently produced Big Sean’s “Overtime.”
DRUMMA BOY TALKS CONTRIBUTING TO ‘I GOT THE HOOK UP 2’ SOUNDTRACK AND PUTTING ON FOR THE SOUTH
Drumma Boy has been crafting the sound of Hip-Hop for nearly two decades. The Atlanta native has been one of the keys to the sound of the South, partnering with Jeezy, Gucci Mane, and whoever else needed some heat for their upcoming work. One of the forefather producers of Trap, Drumma Boy has both the talent and the business acumen to transcend his career to the heights that it currently is. He isn’t just a producer but a full-on industry titan that can be the focal point of any artist’s project and deliver whatever is needed to fulfill a vision.
RYAN HENRY SHARES ON ADJUSTING TO REALITY TV LIFE AND SHOWING A DIFFERENT SIDE OF CHICAGO
Walking into the new 9Mag Tattoo Shop is quite the experience. Located steps away from the shop that fans have grown to know as the hub of Black Ink in the Midwest, the new space is nothing short of impressive. Flanked by an army of TVs, elevated glass booths, comfortable couches and plenty of space for artists and patrons to feel comfortable, the new digs are evidence of what hard work and a brilliant mind for business can result to. That mind belongs to Ryan Henry, owner of 9Mag and star of VH1’s Black Ink Crew: Chicago.
VAN JOHNSON IS USING THE ART OF TATTOOS TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY AND IMPACT HIS COMMUNITY
Fans of VH1’s Black Ink Crew: Chicago may notice that the show is returning a little earlier in the year than previous seasons. That’s due to the success of the reality series, holding down the top spot on the cable network. Last we left our favorite Chicagoans, relationships were fractured and a shop dismantled. But for Van Johnson, when the cameras cut, the work picked up. Part owner of the Cold As Ice tattoo shop, located in the same building as 9Mag, the past few months that have yet to be televised served as a growth period personally and professionally.
PUSHA T TALKS ‘1800 SECONDS’ ALBUM AND HIS STACKED 2018
If you are looking for an MVP in Hip-Hop during 2018 Pusha T holds a resume as impressive as any other rap star. The G.O.O.D. Music President was the lead-off album for a run of albums from his roster that dominated headlines for a month, DAYTONA now finds itself topping year-end lists after receiving months of critical acclaim. That run of albums included Kanye West, Nas, Kid Cudi and Teyana Taylor and displayed the effortless balance of artist and executive. King Push would go on to tour the world, selling out dates and invigorating Hip-Hop crowds, there was also emerging from that lyrical rift with you know flawlessly. That should be enough for Pusha to kick back and let the keys of “Hard Piano” soundtrack the closing of a banner year, right? Of course not.
DJ KHALED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENTING CHILDREN TOWARD SUCCESS AND ASAHD’S NEW JORDAN COLLECTION
Asahd Khaled is by far the most popular child in Hip-Hop — the entire world if we’re being honest. The first child of renowned musician DJ Khaled has transitioned from baby to mini-mogul in just a matter of two years. His recently launched “Jordan x Asahd” Holiday Collection with Kids Foot Locker shows the entrepreneurial spirit and brand that’s being established within the titan toddler, an effort that is equally collaborated on by his parents.
FAT JOE SHARES ON WATCHING SNEAKER CULTURE GROW AND 90’S HIP-HOP
Fat Joe has been around since the early 1990’s and been killing it every step of the way. With classic albums under his belt and anthems ringing off clubs, stadiums and your favorite music venue every decade, Joe is undoubtedly one of the kings of the game.