Michelle Obama reveals her reaction to her daughter, Malia, dropping her family’s surname. In 2024, Malia Obama, now known as Malia Ann, made her directorial debut with the short film The Heart at the Sundance Film Festival. “I mean, it is very important for my kids to feel like they’ve earned what they are getting in the world, and they don’t want people to assume that they don’t work hard, that they’re just naturally, just handed things,” Michelle Obama tells actress Kate Hudson on her Siblings Rivalry podcast with her brother, Oliver. “They’re very sensitive to that — they want to be their own people,” she adds. “We [she and Barak Obama] were like, they’re still going to know it’s you, Malia, But we respected the fact that she’s trying to make her way.” Michelle Obama Reveals How Therapy Helped Her In This Stage Of Her Life In other news, last month, Michelle Obama opened up about the positive experiences she gained with therapy. Appearing on the podcast On Purpose with Jay Shetty, along with her brother Craig Robinson and her co-hosts on the IMO podcast, the former First Lady revealed that she needed therapy as a “tune-up” as she moves through the next phase of her life. “At this phase of my life, I’m in therapy right now because I’m transitioning,” Obama said. Obama went on to acknowledge that she completed “a really hard thing” by keeping her family “intact,” as President Barack Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha have been in the public eye for almost two decades. For the first time in years, she can make decisions just for herself. “I’m an empty nester, my girls are in…you know, they’ve been launched,” Obama said. “And now, for the first time, as I’ve said before, every choice that I’m making is completely mine.”

Earlier this week, Samuel L. Jackson sat down with the Mad Sad Bad podcast. In a shocking revelation, the veteran actor revealed he didn’t understand Kendrick Lamar’s intention behind the halftime show until dress rehearsal. “I didn’t know what they were doing,” he tells host Paloma Faith. “It was kinda trippy because it wasn’t until dress rehearsal that when I looked up, and I looked on that stage, and I go, ‘Oh sh*t, that’s a flag. Ah, f*ck, we’re being revolutionaries.’ Because I wasn’t listening or paying attention.” Being a “revolutionary” isn’t entirely foreign to Jackson. Along with being an award-winning actor, he has a long history as a civil rights activist — so much so that Jackson even served as a pallbearer at Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral. He continued, “Something about me or my persona has put me in the right place at the right time… in a lot of different moments in my life. And I have to accept that that’s what I’m meant to be sometimes: an agent of change, whether I know it or not.” He added, “I wanna be on the right side of history in terms of what’s going on, and sometimes it’s not by choice.” NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Samuel Jackson and Kendrick Lamar are seen onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) SiR Says Kendrick Lamar And Drake’s Beef Caused His Show To Be Cancelled In other Kendrick Lamar news, TDE singer SiR was unfortunately caught in the middle of Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s feud, and it ultimately led to a scheduled concert in Toronto last year being canceled. “So the venue in Toronto, which was partially owned by Drake, canceled the show completely,” Sir revealed to the crowd. “Then when we tried to switch venues, the next venue was like, ‘Nah, we ain’t f*cking with it, I ain’t taking no motherf*cking chance.” At the time of the show’s cancellation, SiR took to Instagram to apologize to fans for the unfortunate situation. “So sorry to my Toronto fans. The show has been canceled. We’re working on rescheduling for a later date,” he wrote on social media. “For those wondering, we sold that show out. It was canceled by the venue. Not sure why. My apologies again to those that came just to see me.” However, SiR wasn’t the only Top Dawg Entertainment artist to have trouble selling out shows in Canada. Last year, ScHoolboy Q had one of his shows in Toronto at the height of K-Dot and Drake’s war of words.

In an Instagram post on Thursday (Jun 5), Michelle Obama shared the cover for the upcoming book, The Look, which chronicles her journey with fashion, hair, and beauty. “During our family’s time in the White House, the way I looked was constantly being dissected — what I wore, how my hair was styled,” Michelle begins in the post’s lengthy caption. “For a while now, I’ve been wanting to reclaim more of that story, to share it in my way. I’m thankful to be at a stage in life where I feel comfortable expressing myself freely — wearing what I love and doing what feels true to me. And I’m excited to share some of what I’ve learned along the way.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) She continued, “It’s a reflection on my lifelong journey with fashion, hair, and beauty. Inside, you’ll find some of the outfits that have meant the most to me, but more importantly, the moments that I lived through in them — big and small, personal and political, historic and ordinary — that were as memorable as the clothes themselves.” “You’ll also get to know the incredible team that supported me through it all and defined my look — my thoughtful stylist @MeredithKoop, my talented makeup artist @CarlRayMUA, and my wonderful hairstylists @JohnnyWright220, @YeneDamtew, and @KitchenTalkwithNjeri. Each of them brings their own story, heart, and perspective to this journey,” the former First Lady added. “The Look is about more than fashion. It’s about confidence. It’s about identity. It’s about the power of authenticity. My hope is that this book sparks conversation and reflection about the ways we see ourselves — and the way our society defines beauty,” she continued. The book is scheduled for release on November 4. Pre-orders for The Look are currently available at michelleobamabooks.com or wherever books are sold.

On Saturday (Jun 7), Cardi B shared an Instagram Story post of her attending her new beau, Stefon Diggs’ annual youth football camp. The camp, which was held at the University of Maryland, “offers youth football players the opportunity to learn from the four-time Pro Bowl wideout, with hands-on instruction, photo opportunities, and autographed items,” per Sports Illustrated. Rumors about the couple began circulating last October. Back in February, TMZ caught footage of the pair at an undisclosed Miami hotel. A few short months later, in April, the Invasion of Privacy rapper finally confirmed that she and New England Patriots wide receiver were, in fact, dating one another. Earlier this week, the two finally made it Instagram official. Source: Instagram/iamcardib Source: Instagram/iamcardib In other news, Cardi B recently revealed how tough things got with Offset before they decided to get a divorce last year. On her X Spaces, she described the mental strain she experienced during the final stages of their relationship. Cardi shared, “I don’t think people understand how tired I was … I was mentally drained. I couldn’t eat—I was getting frequent headaches. I was literally losing my mind. I gave [him] chances after chances.” She also admitted, “If I was still there, I was gonna end up going to jail. Cause I was gonna end up killing him, seriously, with my own bare hands. It was just getting too much.” Offset recently reacted to Cardi’s new romance with NFL star Stefon Diggs after footage showed them getting affectionate on a yacht. In one video, Cardi dances provocatively while Diggs playfully spanks her. Amid their ongoing divorce, Offset took to social media to dismiss the relationship, posting, “Good roll out n PR.”

In a recent Instagram post, Lizzo teased a new rap song she’s been working on. The post, which comes in the form of a short clip, shows Lizzo scantily clad in a slinky two-piece while wearing an all-black ski mask. “Like I said, I’m that b*tch hoe/Black truck, a** poking out tha window,” she raps. “You wanna play games n*gga, I’m Nintendo/And if you ain’t talking bout money, no Nintendo/We hoochie, coochie popping, we get this sh*t rocking/And boy if you ain’t on yo job, imma clock it.” Just late last month, the “Special” singer dropped off a remix to PlutoNotDaBratt’s viral “Whim Whamie” track. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lizzo (@lizzobeeating) Lizzo Honors Pride Month With Moving Performance Of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ In other news, to kick off Pride month, Lizzo gave an electrifying performance at the WeHo Pride Festival, where she paid homage not only to the queer community but specifically to Black transgender women. “The next song is dedicated to you,” she told the crowd. “And most importantly, Black trans women…without their fight, we wouldn’t be able to celebrate today.” The singer then gives an emotional rendition of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” The track, popularized by actress and singer Judy Garland, appears in the 1938 classic Wizard of Oz. Lizzo also shared a clip of the performance on her Instagram, writing: “Happy Pride to the beautiful LGBTQIA+ community. As this month begins, let us remember there would be no pride without the black trans women & trans women of color who fought against the systems that tried to erase them. In honor of that fight, we have to continue to take a stand against that very same system that threatens our rights to bodily autonomy and liberation. We ain’t free till we all free. I love you.”

Timbaland has doubled down on his plan to launch an AI artist through his company Stage Zero to bring forth a new music genre known as artificial pop, or A-pop. Now he is facing backlash. Taking to Instagram on Friday (June 6), the iconic producer addressed the controversy swirling around the announcement of his first AI-generated artist, TaTa. “I know I’m trolling, but let’s have a real conversation,” Timbaland wrote in his post. “I love my independent artists. This doesn’t mean I’m not working with real artists anymore.”  “And nah, I don’t train ai off y’all music,” he explained. “This just means more creativity for creators.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Timbo the King (@timbaland) Tim also posted a video of music executive Ray Daniels saying AI artists will be the new wave in the record industry.  “Why the fuck wouldn’t you?” Daniels said in the video. “Mickey Mouse is an AI character. Donald Dunk is an AI character. Bugs Bunny is an AI character.” “You guys are looking at it wrong,” Daniels continued. “He’s gonna make a character that he can have sing songs and sell products. That’s all these cartoonists and young kid TV shows are doing anyway, so why are y’all mad at him?” In the comments section, many disagreed with Timbaland and Daniel’s views on AI-generated music. “You call it trolling, but the moves you are making are not jokes,” British DJ Shy FX wrote in the comments. “They are choices, and they come at the cost of real artists who are already fighting to be seen and heard.” “You showed your colours when you attempted to make a song using Biggie’s AI-generated voice,” he added. “You made it even clearer by partnering with Suno, whose founder has been very vocal about wanting to replace musicians, not support them. And now this? This isn’t disruption. It’s a cash-in.” Rob Markman, a noted hip-hop journalist, took issue with Daniels’ point about the creation of the beloved Disney character.  “Mickey Mouse was created by a human, drawn by a human, written by a human, voiced by a human… not the same,” Markman wrote. “None of those things the guy mentioned (Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny) are AI characters; those are characters created, written, and animated by PEOPLE. Do you not see the resounding rejection you’re facing for this?” Markman added.

Ryan Coogler has called Spike Lee one of his biggest inspirations and recently declared that his classic film Malcolm X, released in 1992, is the most important American film in history. During an interview on Carmelo Anthony’s 7 PM in Brooklyn show, Coogler shared how Lee’s epic film greatly influenced his cinematic vision and showed the possibilities of filmmaking. “I think that Malcolm X is the most important American film ever made. No question,” Coogler said, emphasizing its cultural weight over widely regarded classics like The Godfather and Citizen Kane. “I don’t think they were as important Americans as Malcolm X was.” Coogler lauded Lee for his direction and for curating an incredible cast that included Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Giancarlo Esposito, and Lee himself. The film for Coogler brought “Malcolm X’s legacy to life.” “The fact that they made that movie when they did, that it opens like it opens—nothing lights you on fire like that,” he continued. When it comes to his own film Sinners, Lee praised Coogler’s work, saying he created a brand new genre. Coogler shared that the Oscar winner’s words meant the world to him so much that he shed tear.s “So for me to give Spike [Lee] a cinematic experience. I’m just paying him back with interest, bro,” Coogler said. “ It meant the world to me to hear him say that. I cried, bro– I had to hide my–he was jumping around like–I was wiping tears out of my eyes, bro. I’m sh*tting in the IMAX theater showing Spike Lee the movie. He likes it?”

Cam’ron recently revealed that he wrote “I Really Mean It” the classic Dipset hit, for Lil Kim. During the latest episode of his sports talk show, It Is What It Is, Cam said he wrote the song with “Queen B” in mind, but she wasn’t feeling it.  “I did write a song for Lil’ Kim and she didn’t want it, and the lyrics changed, and I ended up keeping it for myself,” Cam shared. Thankfully for Cam it worked out because the “I Really Mean It” became a hood classic with the production Just Blaze and of the group’s his signature songs. “It was one of my biggest records, but I wrote ‘I Really Mean It’ for Lil’ Kim. Same format, and she didn’t like it,” the Harlem rapper said. “That’s one of the best things, ’cause that’s one of my close-out songs, to be totally honest with you, and she didn’t want the song. I’m happy she didn’t.” Cam and Kim’s creative relationship goes back to 1996 when he wrote “Crush On You” featuring Lil Cease.  As the the secondKim’s debut album Hard Core and produced by Andreao “Fanatic” Heard, “Crush On You” was Cam’s first ghostwriting credit. Elsewhere in the episode, Cam also revealed that he was behind 3LW’s biggest hit “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right)”. The song reached number 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2000. “I wrote for 3 Little Women. The single, I’m in the credits, I wrote that. ‘Promises, promises’? That’s me,” Cam explained. “I penned that joint. We’re real creative, just tap in, man.”

Amerie made a triumphant return to the stage this Black Music Month, honoring the 20th anniversary of her beloved sophomore album Touch with a special Tiny Desk concert. The performance, which premiered June 6th, was a soulful celebration of her timeless sound and a reminder of the magic she brings to R&B. Backed by D.C.’s own Backyard Band, Amerie delivered a vibrant, live set that pulled from both All I Have and Touch. Her setlist included “Talkin’ to Me,” “Why Don’t We Fall in Love,” “Mine,” “I Just Died,” “Rolling Down My Face,” “Talkin’ About,” and of course, “1 Thing.” The mini-concert captured the essence of her signature style—blending go-go beats, jazzy horns, and silky vocals into something that still feels like summer. The performance was part of NPR’s month-long tribute to Black music, spotlighting albums that have reached milestone anniversaries. “This year feels like the perfect time to stop and revere some of the greatest albums in Black music,” said Tiny Desk host and producer Bobby Carter. “These artists might not be the first you hear in the pop culture conversation, but they are crown jewels in Black culture. These are our icons.” Carter credited last year’s Chaka Khan performance as the inspiration. “She reminded us that she’s been making music for 50 years,” he said. Amerie’s return comes after a seven-year hiatus. In March, she dropped her single “Mine,” produced by Grammy-winner Troy Taylor, and announced a 2025 album in the works. Fans can also catch her on the road with Keyshia Cole for The Way It Is 20th Anniversary Tour. With fresh music, a tour on the horizon, and a legacy worth celebrating, Amerie is showing the world her impact is far from over.

Halle Bailey has broken her silence amid her ongoing custody battle with DDG over their one-year-old son, Halo. As tensions rise, she’s now responding directly to his claims that her past mental health struggles made her a danger to their child. According to Billboard, Halle is denying DDG’s allegations that she posed a risk due to past threats of self-harm. In a new court declaration, she reportedly told the judge that DDG’s statements are misleading and distorted. “His declaration has exaggerated, lied and misconstrued for the court, not only the history of our relationship, but our parenting and my mental health,” she said. The court previously granted Halle full temporary custody and a restraining order ahead of a June 4th hearing. That hearing was postponed after DDG filed a competing case, bringing up her past mental health history. Halle, however, says she’s been open about her mental health journey and has taken steps to prioritize her well-being. “I have been very vocal about my anxiety, depression, and previous thoughts of suicide,” Halle wrote. “Without waiving the psychotherapist-patient privilege and physician-patient privilege, I have reached out to my doctor and received treatment to address these issues. I have been and remain 100% available and capable as a parent to our son, Halo.” She also said most of the incidents DDG referenced took place in 2022 and 2023—when she claims she was left “emotionally devastated” by his behavior. “Had Darryl really been concerned about my parenting, he would have taken action prior to this time. This is cold retribution to embarrass, humiliate and caused me additional emotional distress,” she added. DDG recently filed an emergency motion to block Halle from traveling to Italy with Halo, but the judge denied it. A partial restraining order on abuse allegations was granted.