D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died at the age of 64.
In a statement posted to social media, his family said that he died earlier this morning, surrounded by his family. He had been battling bladder cancer over the past year, and earlier this week, Tony! Toni! Toné! spoke out about concerns for his health.
“D’Wayne’s life was incomparable, and his music and service impacted millions around the world, including in his hometown of Oakland, California,” said the Wiggins family. “He was a guitarist, producer, composer, philanthropist, mentor and founding member of Tony! Toni! Tone! He was deeply passionate about providing artist development and mentorship to emerging young musicians, helping to shape the early careers of many.
“For now, we ask that you continue to respect our privacy. We mourn with you, and are deeply grateful for your love and support.”
Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Wiggins embraced his love of music at the age of 11, when he first picked up the guitar. In 1986, he formed Tony! Toni! Toné! with his brother Raphael Saadiq and their cousin Christian Riley, serving as lead vocalist and guitarist for the group. They released their first album “Who?” in 1988, but hit their mainstream stride in 1993 with their third album “Sons of Soul,” which spawned the hits “Anniversary” and “(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow.” Before disbanding in 1996, the trio established itself as one of the pillars of the New Jack Swing movement, earning five No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
As a solo musician, Wiggins released his debut album “Eyes Never Lie” in 2000, featuring guest appearances from Carlos Santana and Darius Rucker. He launched Grass Roots Entertainment, helping to nurture the careers of Destiny’s Child and Keyshia Cole, and worked with Alicia Keys on her Grammy-nominated 2003 album “The Diary of Alicia Keys” to produce “If I Was Your Woman”/”Walk on By.” On that same album, Tony! Toni! Toné! appeared on “Diary” without Saadiq.
Over the years, he had been an innovative figure in hyphy, a Bay Area hip-hop subgenre punctuated by high-energy beats and rhymes. He worked with artists and groups including Too Short, the Team, Mac Mal, Spice 1, and Casual.
Tony! Toni! Toné! most recently embarked on their “Just Me and You” reunion tour in 2023. They did not allow cell phones or recordings at the shows, but Saadiq told Variety last month that footage from the trek will be used in an upcoming documentary about his career.
Source: Variety
In this episode, we ask the comedians what were there top 5 best sports moments ALL TIME!
Plus we talk about all of the updated news happening in and around the NFL, NBA, and more!
Watch the latest episode above! Featuring comedians Rodney Perry and Daniel Dugar!
Jamie Foxx is formalizing his relationship with the almost-namesake broadcast network where he has two current series.
Fox Entertainment Studios, Fox’s studio and production arm, has signed a first-look deal with the Oscar winner and his Foxxhole Productions. Under the multi-year deal, Foxx will develop and executive produce both scripted and unscripted series projects; Fox Entertainment Studios will get the first look at any scripted series and will have exclusive rights to Foxx’s projects and producing services on unscripted shows.
Foxx and the network already have a relationship: He hosts (alongside is daughter Corinne) and executive produces Fox’s music game show Beat Shazam and is an executive producer of the drama Alert: Missing Persons Unit, which begins its third season on March 25.
“We are ready and excited to kick-start this very promising new creative partnership with Jamie as we build on Fox’s longtime association with him — initiated by our CEO Rob Wade and network president Michael Thorn,” said Fernando Szew, president and head of Fox Entertainment Studios. “Jamie is a renowned multifaceted talent, so as a studio, we want to support his tremendous creativity with access to the full scope of our genres, formats and brands. ogether we will deliver unexpected, unforgettable content to audiences everywhere. At Fox Entertainment Studios we are expanding our reach and portfolio, and this is a keystone creative partnership as we build.”
Foxx’s recent producing credits also include Fox’s We Are Family, The Burial, Luther: Never Too Much and the forthcoming Apple TV+ documentary Number One on the Call Sheet. He is repped by CAA, LBI Entertainment, Johnson Shapiro and Rogers & Cowan PMK.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
George Lopez is getting into the unscripted business.
The comedian, who is currently starring in the third season of NBC’s Lopez vs. Lopez, has partnered with Truly Original, the production company behind series such as The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Ink Master, to develop a number of unscripted projects.
The first is a feature documentary about Charlie Murphy, the brother of Eddie Murphy. Darkness: The Charlie Murphy Story will tell the story of the comedian, who died in 2017 from leukemia at the age of 57.
Charlie Murphy was a cast member and writer on Chappelle’s Show and for BET’s mockumentary series Comedy Get Down, where he traveled with Lopez on their 2017 stand-up comedy tour.
The doc, which is currently in production, is produced by Truly Original, Richard Murphy, who was Charlie Murphy’s cousin and former manager, George Lopez, and Salvador Vasquez.
The second project is described as a competitive and comedy-driven reality series.
It marks the latest partnership for Banijay-owned Truly Original, which recently struck an overall deal with The Cinemart, the company behind Netflix’s American Murder: Gabby Petito and Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal docs as well as Hulu’s Fyre Fraud.
Truly Original also produces shows including Summer House, Winter House and The Last Cowboy with executive producer Taylor Sheridan.
The move comes after Lopez, who also starred in DC Comics’ Blue Beetle, revealed last year that he was retiring from stand-up specials.
Lopez said, “Charlie Murphy was so much fun to be around, I’ve never laughed so hard, and I want everyone to see what I saw.”
“There are a ton of reasons why we wanted to team up with George on these unscripted projects, and they all come down to this: there’s nothing he can’t do,” added Weinstock and Hersh. “Beyond his renowned comedy chops, George is a seasoned producer whose star power and longevity offer a vantage point that’s rare in our business. We’re delighted to be working together and excited about the projects we’re developing.”
Truly Original EVP and Head of Development Chachi Senior added, “It all really began with Charlie and this documentary passion project that brought us together with Rich, Sal and George. Collectively, our entire team sees a big future for George in unscripted and we’re thrilled to be working together.”
Source; Deadline
Tracy Morgan and Tina Fey are teaming up for a single-camera comedy pilot at NBC — and no, this story is not a reprint from the 2005-06 development season about 30 Rock.
Morgan is set to star in a show from writers Sam Means (30 Rock, Girls5Eva) and Robert Carlock (also a 30 Rock alum) in which he plays a disgraced former football player on a mission to rehabilitate his image. Fey, Carlock, Means, and Morgan are all executive producing.
The project is the first formal pilot order NBC has handed out this season, though it has a handful of other shows in development.
The NBC pilot is the second show Morgan has committed to recently. He’s also starring in Crutch, a spinoff of CBS’ The Neighborhood that will run on Paramount+. Should the NBC pilot go to series, his deal will allow him to star in both shows.
Universal Television, where Fey, Carlock, and Means all have overall deals, is producing the currently untitled pilot. Along with those three, Morgan, Eric Gurian, and David Miner also executive produce. Rhys Thomas (Saturday Night Live) will direct and exec-produce the pilot.
NBC has renewed two of its four current comedies, Happy’s Place and St. Denis Medical, for the 2025-26 season. The network has yet to decide on the futures of Night Court and Lopez vs. Lopez.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Regina Hall teased sequels for Scary Movie and Girls Trip when she stopped by The Jennifer Hudson Show on Tuesday.
Hall, 54, portrayed Brenda in Scary Movie, which opened in 2000.
“It was easy because nobody thought it was gonna be a hit,” Hall said when Hudson asked what it was like working on the film.
When Hudson asked if there would be a sequel, Hall said, “That is what the ghosts are telling me.
She added that she heard “they’re writing something,” but she does not have the details.
“I don’t know what Brenda’s doing 25 years later,” she said.
Hudson then brought up the 2017 movie Girls Trip, which also starred Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith.
“So do you think we’ll get a sequel?” Hudson asked.
“That’s what I keep reading on the internet,” Hall responded, adding that she believes it.
Hall is also set to star in O’Dessa, which lands on Hulu on March 13.
Source: UPI, The Jennifer Hudson Show
Prepare for an epic journey with Soul Beach Music Festival Hosted by St. Maarten, announcing global superstars Charlie Wilson, Muni Long, and Cedric the Entertainer set to deliver luminous performances Memorial Day Weekend, May 21-26, 2025. Charlie Wilson is an “Icon,” but this does not truly describe the musical powerhouse whose vocal prowess began as a founding member and lead singer of the legendary GAP Band (“You Dropped the Bomb on Me,” “Outstanding,” “Party Train,” and “Burn Rubber on Me.”). As a solo artist, Wilson has topped the R&B charts with 13 number-one singles, garnered 13 GRAMMY® nominations, has a New York Times and Washington Post best-selling memoir, “I Am Charlie Wilson,” received a BET Lifetime Achievement Award, a Soul Train Icon Award, a Soul Train Certified Soul Award, and an NAACP Music Makes a Difference Award. Muni Long, GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, musician, songwriter, and entrepreneur, has resonated with fans for over a decade. “Hrs & Hrs” was named Best R&B Performance at the 65th Annual GRAMMY® Awards in 2023 from Long’s third album, Public Displays of Affection: The Album. Subsequently, Long earned a second GRAMMY® for her performance of “Made For Me” live on BET from her fourth album, Revenge. She returned less than two weeks after the ceremony to drop another undeniable hit single, “Slow Grind,” and is already making waves in the music scene. Cedric the Entertainer, American actor, comedian, and game show host, has solidified his status as one of the world’s premier performers on the stage, in film, and on television. Currently, Cedric is starring in and executive producing the CBS Television hit comedy “The Neighborhood” and co-headlining “Love & Laughter,” a residency tour, live at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. His versatile film work spans genres from memorable performances in comedies such as the hit “Barbershop” franchise and “Johnson Family Vacation” to “The Original Kings of Comedy” concert film. With his smooth delivery, larger-than-life personality, and razor-sharp wit, Cedric knows how to turn any moment into pure comedy gold and will keep the Comedy Night audience in non-stop laughter from start to finish! Rhythm meets merriment at the esteemed Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village, where the main stage is set for starlit concerts. Pack your bags and bring your crew because all roads, waves, and airways lead to the Soul Beach Music Festival Hosted by St. Maarten! This Memorial Day weekend, join thousands of globe-trotting festival goers and cultural enthusiasts for an electrifying weekend of music, comedy, and nonstop celebration.
“The return of the Soul Beach Music Festival is a significant milestone for St. Maarten, reinforcing our island’s status as a premier destination. This festival not only boosts economic growth and supports local businesses but also brings together visitors and residents for a safe, vibrant celebration of culture and entertainment—especially at a time when hotel occupancy hovers around 50-60%. Hosting Soul Beach’s 30th anniversary, 29 years after its inception right here in St. Maarten, is both nostalgic and meaningful. Its comeback couldn’t be more timely, offering a much-needed boost to our tourism and economy,” – stated Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten.
The friendly island of St. Maarten is a paradise with a pulse, where golden beaches, electric blue waters, and endless sunshine welcome jetsetters to an unparalleled playground. This island doesn’t just keep up with the wonders of the world – it creates its own magic, blending laid-back luxury with high-energy adventure. Nestled in the southern half of the island it shares with French overseas territory Saint Martin, St. Maarten’s oasis is a blend of immersive experiences sure to lift your spirit! Whether you’re indulging in world-class cuisine, exploring breathtaking landscapes, diving into thrilling water sports, or discovering hidden artistic gems, St. Maarten is a playground for music lovers and adventure seekers alike. This magnetic and multicultural Caribbean treasure invites curious travelers to glow up and rediscover their zest for life. By day, festival revelers will soak up curated happenings from land to sea, including shopping sprees in Philipsburg, gastronomic nirvana, and beach parties synced to international audiences via a live radio remote broadcast. By night, music and comedy concerts culminate with partygoers swaying to soul-stirring soundwaves from celebrity guest DJs spinning with the stars (DJ Envy, Co-host on iHeart Media’s nationally syndicated “The Breakfast Club”). Soul Beach Music Festival, Hosted by St. Maarten, is a bucket-list getaway like no other.
“I’m especially thrilled to return to our roots – the place where this incredible festival first began and home to the inaugural Sinbad Soul Music Festival. Charlie Wilson embodies multi-generational greatness, while Muni Long represents the bright future ahead. Blending the seasoned with the new creates an enduring and everlasting experience. This year is both a nostalgic tribute to our past and an inspiring glimpse into the future for our many newbies. All of this is fueled by the beauty and energy that is St Maarten. Join us for unforgettable performances, incredible food, and most importantly, to make every experience count,” said Mark Adkins, CEO & Executive Producer of Soul Beach Festival.
For information about ticket sales, accommodations, and the latest updates, sign up for CLUB SOUL BEACH by visiting http://www.soulbeach.com. Join the social community @SoulBeachMusic on Instagram and Facebook.
Mike Epps just confirmed something fans have been waiting for since 2002.
While sitting down with The Breakfast Club to promote his new comedy tour, the actor and comedian revealed that the fourth installment of the Friday film franchise has finally been green-lit after Charlamagne Tha God asked if he and Ice Cube have talked about Last Friday yet.
“He called me the other day, said we just finished the deal,” Epps said before giving the West Coast legend his flowers. “So, we doing the last Friday, man. And big shout-out to Cube; that’s another brother that has put so many brothers on, man, and don’t really get the props for it. Put me, Chris Tucker, Bernie Mac, I mean name ’em. This dude gave dudes opportunities.”
While he hasn’t seen a script for the film yet, Epps promises to continue Friday‘s legacy of introducing new comics to a wider audience. “I haven’t seen the script, but I’m pretty sure it’s good,” he said. “And we’re gonna bring in the new comics. We’re gonna put the DC Young Flys and all of them in with the OGs. It’s going to be a good a– time.”
He also remained hopeful that Chris Tucker will be on board this time around, as the actor and comedian has been hesitant to reprise his iconic role as Smokey over the years. “People still love Chris Tucker, he’s still Smokey,” Epps said. “He laid it down, he positioned me to do it. So Chris, if you’re listening, we need you, baby boy. Come on back.”
Tucker seemed open to coming back to the film franchise that made him a star when talking with Big Tigger last year, ultimately putting the onus on studio executives. “It’s studios, and they gotta want to do it, and then it’s producers and all that stuff,” Tucker said. “It’s a lot that goes with it.”
The Friday franchise started with the original film starring Ice Cube and Tucker in 1995 followed by two Tucker-free sequels: 2000’s Next Friday and 2002’s Friday After Next.
You can watch the full conversation with Epps below.
Source: Billboard
We had a chance to catch up with comedian and actor Finesse Mitchell, who is one of the very few African American comedians to ever get a chance to be a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live.
With that being said, we discovered that Finesse attended the SNL50 event that happened last weekend, and we wanted to catch up with him to give us a behind-the-scenes look at what happened and how much we may have missed that wasn’t broadcast.
Check out the interview below;
In this episode of Box Seats, we talk about the prospect of picking our best starting 5 in the NBA that we would pick for our proposed teams. We give you the reasons why we think they would dominate!
We talk about Luka’s revenge game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, plus the idea of who will be moved in the NFL that would shock the world!
All of that and more! Watch the episode above! The episode stars comedians Dave Anderson and Maurice Smith.