DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine

  Jason Moran Artistic Director for Jazz “This is an epic work” — All About Jazz Christian McBride, The Movement Revisited Feb. 4 | Concert Hall TICKETS FROM $39 Six-time Grammy-winning bassist  Christian McBride  presents his acclaimed opus  The Movement Revisited , a bluesy and soulful oratorio for big band, gospel choir with soloists, and speakers representing great figures of the Civil Rights movement. The words—and praises—of Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King, Jr., and President Barack Obama will be spoken and sung in this inspiring, one-night-only performance featuring vocalist  Alicia Olatuja , actor  Dion Graham  ( Malcolm X ,  The Wire ),  Howard Gospel Choir  directed by the legendary  J.D. Steele , and others. DION GRAHAM ALICIA OLATUJA J.D. STEELE Jazz Night in America  with Christian McBride “Our regular host Christian McBride happens to be a Grammy-winning bassist and composer, but he forbade...

If you know DC, you know go-go; and if you know go-go, you know one of the founding bands of the genre that has spanned cultures, generations and coasts, respectively. Experience Unlimited  (a.k.a. EU), the go-go group that has touched audiences from funk to rock (and genres in between) will come full circle when it celebrates their 50th year anniversary. The group, founded by  Gregory 'Sugar Bear' Elliott, has come a long way since their Charles Hart Middle School beginnings in 1971 having toured globally with their Billboard hit “ Da Butt ” featured in  Spike Lee’s 1988 film ‘ School Daze .’ “This is my life,” Elliott said of his long-spanning go-go music career. Elliott will not only celebrate the 50 th anniversary of the group he gave life to, but also his birthday on July 25th.  “I put a lot of time, grind, sweat and fun into this. Some of my brothers have gone on to glory with Jesus. It speaks volumes that all these musicians are celebrating wit...

  Nikole Hannah-Jones reminds us all why HBCUs were created in the first place. (July 7, 2021) -  Howard University offered an olive branch to Jones when her own alma mater, the University of North Carolina, chose not to offer this great talent in journalism a tenured professor position. [ Alumus Ta-Nahisi Coates  joins Howard roster] ICYMI, Jones is the creator of The 1619 Project, a documentary that chronicles the early institution of slavery and its role in shaping the Americas we know today. Source: The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones. The Project has garnered both acceptance and criticism. Those who support the vision understand that the truths about slavery have, throughout American history, been either whitewashed, or not taught at all, diminishing the roles and treatment of the African nations who built it. Slavery, in all fifty states (including the ‘stateless’ District of Columbia) built an economic powerhouse infrastructure that caused the United State...

Phylicia Rashad , Howard alum and recently appointed Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University, offered her sincere apologies to the university’s parents and students after showing her support this week for Bill Cosby who was released from jail on sexual assault charges.  Bill Cosby with Phylicia Rashad for The Cosby Show. (Circa 1984) Shortly after Cosby’s release, Rashad tweeted (then deleted), “FINALLY!!!! A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!” along with a picture of her The Cosby Show TV husband with raised arm and fisted stance.  RELATED: Cosby Responds Her remarks got the attention of the Twitter-sphere who, along with her employer, thought Ms. Rashad’s comments were also “insensitive.” In a statement, Howard University wrote, “… her initial tweet lacked sensitivity towards survivors of sexual assault...” One Twitter user, @chellech, questioning the allegiance of Howard University to Rashad tweeted, "I wouldn't ...

Dr. Sidney Ribeau , president of Howard University to leave esteem post, writes letter thanking esteemed educational institution. Dr. Ribeau is the 16th President of Howard University and the sixth African American to serve as its Chief Executive Officer. He was President of Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Bowling Green, Ohio, for 13 years before coming to Howard. Under his leadership, BGSU was recognized for its residential learning communities, values-based education and innovative graduate programs. The school has faced budget constraints for years. In his letter to the university community he writes: Dear Howard University Community: After careful deliberation, I have decided to announce my retirement immediately from our beloved institution and will officially leave the Presidency at the end of this year. I would like to express my profound gratitude to the entire community for supporting me and generating an atmosphere of positive collaboration over the pas...