BET goes back to school to revive the nostalgic reality series “COLLEGE HILL: CELEBRITY EDITION.” In the reimagined new season, celebrities will live together and join the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Texas Southern University as students. Nene Leakes, Ray J, Lamar Odom, Big Freedia, Stacey Dash, DreamDoll, India Love, and Slim Thug will head back to class to expand their educational horizons. Premiering Summer 2022, the 8-episode series will explore college life through a celebrity lens while showcasing the unique cultural and academic experience of HBCUs. Despite their respective fame and notoriety, each cast member is committed to focusing on their higher education as a personal challenge to prove it’s never too late. Enrolled alongside current Texas Southern University students, the cast will work towards completing a specialty certificate program to cross the graduation stage. Though to triumph, like any ordinary college student, they must complete their course work along with required internships, extra credit opportunities, group projects, and more. Who will take the lead on group projects? Who will pull an all-nighter?

“We’re excited ‘COLLEGE HILL’ will be returning with a new celebrity edition of the franchise that will bring more awareness to the significance of HBCUs, which has a rich legacy and continued tradition of bolstering excellence through education for some of the brightest minds in the Black community,” said Tiffany Lea Williams, Executive Vice President of BET Unscripted Programming. “Furthermore, we couldn’t be more thrilled about filming on the campus of the illustrious Texas Southern University. We’re proud to be a part of this personal journey as the cast proves to themselves and the world that they’re up to the challenge of enriching their lives through education.”

“As the original creator and Executive Producer of ‘COLLEGE HILL,’” said Tracey Edmonds, CEO, and President of Edmonds Entertainment. “I am so elated to partner with Texas Southern University and be able to bring back this cherished franchise with an exciting new twist that I am sure will entertain and inspire new and old fans across the board. We intend to provide a fun but sometimes challenging journey that will show viewers it’s never too late to go back to school.”

“This Way Out Media is excited to partner with BET, series creator Edmonds Entertainment and Texas Southern University as we relaunch and reimagine the wildly popular ‘COLLEGE HILL’ franchise,” said Sean Rankine, CEO and Co-President of This Way Out Media, Inc. “We look forward to bringing the spotlight to HBCUs that they so rightly deserve, while entertainingly highlighting relevant conversations within the culture.”

“Texas Southern University is committed to transforming the lives of its students,” said Dr. Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, President of Texas Southern University. “It is an absolute pleasure to welcome our new Tigers to campus, where they will be immersed in TSU history, academics and student life against the background of our beautiful, urban campus. Professors expect these celebrity Tigers to attend class and successfully complete their curated multi-disciplinary academic program. National exposure highlighting the positive attributes of HBCUs benefits Texas Southern University and all institutions who share a common mission.”

Previous seasons of “COLLEGE HILL” are available to stream now on BET+.

“COLLEGE HILL” is executive produced by Tracey Edmonds for Edmonds Entertainment, Sean Rankine and Mark Seliga for This Way Out Media, and Tiffany Lea Williams for BET.

“I’ll be like this era’s Bobby Brown;” New Jersey native Jay Watts only half-jokingly muses. Described as the urban pop/R&b “It Boy”, singer/songwriter/producer JAY WATTS – is set out to ambitiously deliver on the promising genre-fusing momentum of noteworthy and infectious breakthrough single releases over the past few years with his soon-to-be-released debut EP, “Antidote.” Jay has been coming into his own in the music industry over the last several years and his hard work has paid off. Whether his beat-ballad flow of popularly streamed, hip-hop love story-like “Single Friends,” that mainstream-tinged head-boppin’ “My Dreams,” or the low-key anthemic pop-rock sheen of his Power Rangers soundtrack standout “Watch Me Walk,” which afforded Major League Baseball’s The Show exposure, and the latter grew into a heavily streamed urban success. The self-professed “King of Ratchet Pop” has confidently taken his time creating a premiere set which more than delivers on audience curiosity.

Coming from humble beginnings, he says he could be found “freestyling at the lunch tables, cracking jokes, shutting talent shows down” and front-center every single time for his family’s favorite pastime….karaoke. “I come from a family that likes get-togethers,” Jay recalls. “To this very day, they still do karaoke…singing all of the old school songs. So I originally got into it just from that. When they weren’t using the karaoke machine I would just take it into my room and experiment.” While he wasn’t taking formal music lessons, his passion and talent were so clearly evident by the time he was 12 that his mother booked his first studio session.

Now armed with a core audience, a new label home (Music Matters Entertainment/SRG-ILS Records), and a hits-worthy collection of brand-new songs which reflect immense artistic growth and a renewed sense of direction, Jay Watts is ready to take the world by storm. His forthcoming EP “Antidote” aims to not only establish him as a household name but as a musical phenomenon to be reckoned with amongst his peers…past and present. His multi-influenced, relationship-based, mainstream-ready set – produced by IKXNNX, Reefa, and 12Keys -- does boast a wide-ranging contemporary sound that’ll simultaneously conquer R&B and pop audiences starting with the smoothed-out R&B melody and slick-grooved beat ballad flow of the set’s first single, “Numb.”

Sequenced alongside similarly radio-ready joints like the immediately infectious, summer-vibe urban pop bounce of “Problemas;” his airy, late-night-creeping’ “High Notes;” the dreamy-n-bumpin’ relationship realness of “Fuck Boy” and the beat-driven, hypnotic melody of the title track. Music lovers will want to immediately listen to the infectious EP.

“My approach to the music is genuine,” he reflects, on what sets him apart from the pack. “This is simply me and my personality, and I’m not trying to fit in or follow. When all is said and done, I just want to be one of the greatest entertainers of all time.”

CEO and President of Shop Buju Banton (Reggae artists and philanthropist, Buju Banton’s clothing line), Santresa McCarthy announces the brand's debut Fashion Show and Brunch on April 10, 2022, at Lemon Grove (7610 NE 4th Court, Miami FL 33138) from 2 pm-9 pm. The Fashion Show entitled “Blessed Brunch: Rip The Runway- Red, Gold and Green Edition” includes the release of the brand's “What Drives You’ collection as well as “Crypto Rude Boys” and focuses on giving attendees a taste of the brand's new direction moving forward. The internationally known brand was founded on July 15, 2017, and consists of women’s, kids', and menswear. The entire collection focuses on creative designs collaborating directly with Buju Banton himself. Originally the brand launched artwork that focused highly on Buju Banton’s image and legacy albums, however, it has transitioned into a lifestyle brand and in true Buju Banton fashion, the brand is keen on motivating, educating, and encouraging its supporters. Buju Banton’s clothing line aims to help spread a message of love and peace. Paying homage to Africa, freedom, and liberation, as well as conscious and inspirational themes with matching reference graphics.

“When we launched Shop Buju Banton, formerly known as Everything BB, my focus was to capture who the world knows as Buju Banton's personality, creativity, and energy and express it through fashion. The music inspired everything we did. We’re excited that the company has grown and expanded to become more of a lifestyle brand. This way his fans and supporters can truly express themselves from clothing to home décor and more” says CEO and President, Santresa McCarthy.

"Santresa, has the vision, drive, and dedication needed to continue to build this brand to the next level. The Fashion Show is designed in a way that will express the core of the Buju Banton brand. Over the years, my supporters have been a driving force and we want to give them something special they will remember. Each piece was designed with the intent to motivate and move the people forward. Now is the time to come together and do something powerful through fashion” says Mark Myrie (Buju Banton).

Attendees can expect a non-traditional fashion show that infuses culture, music, food, and of course fashion. Hosted by Correy K and featuring music by Karim Hype, Rory Stone Love, Steelie Bashment, and DJ Country The Truth and sponsored by Buju Banton, “Blessed Brunch: Rip the Runway- Red, Gold and Green Edition” will give audiences a taste of what’s to come. Special guests will be making appearances throughout the night and there will also be opportunities to purchase exclusively at the event before the lines are released to the rest of the world.

Multi-GRAMMY Award-winner Stephen Marley today released his new EP Celebrating Nina: Reggae Tribute To Nina Simone via Ghetto Youths Intl, available now everywhere. Co-produced by Paul Fakhourie, mix and mastered by legendary Errol Brown, who was also Bob Marley’s engineer, this EP the biggest Reggae Blues collaboration of 2022 has arrived, as Stephen Marley celebrates Nina Simone, in a Reggae style. This new EP has seven tracks as an ode to some of Nina’s greatest hits. Stephen has been building anticipation for this release for some time. Riding on the high of single releases like Queen Ifrica’s Four Women in April of 2021, and Etana’s Young Gifted And Black in February of this year. Stephen himself has described the EP as a “tribute to the legendary American jazz singer, composer, pianist and arranger Nina Simone.” These tracks have given the audience a mere taste of what the EP has to offer but now it’s finally here.

“Celebrating Nina: A Reggae Tribute to Nina Simone”

Label - Ghetto Youths International
Executive producers - Stephen Marley / Damian Marley
All songs produced by Stephen “Ragga” Marley and Paul Fakhourie

Mixed by: Errol Brown
Distributor - One RPM
Visual Artist - WonderKnack
Release Date - March 18th 2022


Tracks:-
1. Queen Ifrica - Four Women
2. Maya Azucena - Mr. Bojangles
3. Etana - Young Gifted and Black
4. Melanie Fiona - Don’t Explain
5. Joss Stone - Here Comes The Sun
6. Cedella Marley - Misunderstood
7. Terri Walker - No Good Man
 

ABFF Ventures LLC, producer of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), today announced that its custom-built online platform, ABFF PLAY, has broadened the company’s global footprint offering studios the opportunity to reach beyond the annual film festival to showcase content targeted to Black audiences. 

The expanded ABFF PLAY serves as a virtual venue for studios, networks and streamers to promote content and engage with a curated audience of consumers passionate about Black film and television. Studio partners can maintain an exclusive channel 365 days a year on ABFF PLAY to feature trailers, host screenings and present live or video-on-demand talent interviews. The available content will be amplified across the ABFF brand’s network and social media platforms. 

“For 26 years, ABFF has showcased and celebrated Black culture, creativity and content,” said Nicole Friday, president and general manager, ABFF Ventures LLC. “The expansion of the ABFF PLAY platform is a natural extension of the brand providing an ‘always on’ opportunity for studio and network partners to reach and engage with our festival audience outside of the five-day event in Miami.” 
ABFF PLAY launched during the coronavirus pandemic providing a virtual hosting venue for the 2020 and 2021 American Black Film Festivals. The festivals’ lineup of independent films, talks, spotlight screenings, and networking events were available on the platform attracting an audience of more than 75,000 across 95 countries.  ​

Partners to date include WarnerMedia, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney, Comcast NBCUniversal, Fox, National Geographic, Starz, BBC America, Epix and ALLBLK. Powered by Endeavor Streaming, ABFF PLAY is accessible via the web, mobile apps (IOS and Android) and soon on a variety of streaming devices including Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku. 
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For more information about ABFF PLAY visit www.abffplay.com. Follow @ABFFPLAY on social media, and for the American Black Film Festival visit www.abff.com. Follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook.