

Jonathan Abrams
Posts

After Allegations, Smokey Robinson Show Goes On as Planned
The 85-year-old Motown star performed for an adoring crowd and made no mention of the claims against him at his first concert since being named...

Rhiannon Giddens Reflects on Biscuits and Banjos Festival
A new North Carolina festival founded by the musician Rhiannon Giddens highlighted Black string music and flaky treats.

The Uncertain Future of South Carolina’s “Porgy and Bess” House
When George Gershwin visited a cottage in Folly Beach, S.C., in 1934, “Porgy and Bess” came to life. But will it remain a historic artifact...

ASAP Rocky Found Not Guilty of Shooting Former Friend in Assault Trial
The rapper had faced two felony counts of assault with a firearm in connection with a 2021 altercation in Los Angeles.

Paquita la del Barrio, Whose Songs Empowered Women, Dies at 77
In unflinching ballads that spoke of the pain men can cause women, the Mexican singer often relied on what she learned in her own relationships.

What to Know About ASAP Rocky’s Assault Trial
The rapper rejected a plea deal and will stand trial on two counts of felony assault stemming from a 2021 shooting in Hollywood.

Wendell Pierce and Courtney B. Vance on James Earl Jones’s Influence
The two actors talk about how the stage and screen great was a one-of-a-kind inspiration to them, and many others.

The Story Behind Juvenile’s ‘Back That Azz Up’
Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up” was a 1999 hit that brought twerking and New Orleans bounce into the mainstream. Here’s the story of how it...

Rico Wade, an Architect of Atlanta Hip-Hop, Dies at 52
As one-third of the production team Organized Noize, Wade nurtured the careers of Outkast, Goodie Mob and Future from the confines of his mother’s basement,...

‘Freaknik’ Documentary Invites Viewers to Black College Spring Break
A new Hulu documentary delves into the legendary Atlanta event and surfaces relics of 1980s and ’90s culture that were essential to partygoers.