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Q×A with Page Kennedy

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ACTOR & RAPPER PAGE KENNEDY JOINS 360 MAGAZINE FOR SOME Q&A

By: Heather Skovlund-Reibsamen

Page Kennedy is well known as a rapper and actor within our entertainment industry. Kennedy’s recent acting skills brought him to play “Duck” on Netflix’s “The Upshaws”, one of their newest series to hit streaming platforms starring alongside Kim Fields (Regina Upshaw), Mike Epps (Bennie Upshaw), and Wanda Skyes (Lucretia). He is also known for his roles in “Blue Mountain State”, “Weeds” and his comedic genius skits shared on Instagram and TikTok.

Kennedy’s self-titled album ‘Page’ was released in February 2021 featuring heavyweight rappers Xzibit and Method Man is available now on all streaming platforms – make sure you go check it out!

360 Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing Page Kennedy where we discussed “The Upshaws”, his character ‘Duck’, music, and his fitness journey. We had an amazing conversation about his media roles, the love for Eminem, and also found out that we both favor Cardi B because of the way she represents herself: “Cardi B makes me feel like I know her”, said Kennedy.

Read on to hear about our conversation with Page!

Your Netflix series, “The Upshaws”, came out today- how do you feel about working with it?

PK: I love it, you know I was a part of it, and I still watch the series multiple times. I can’t get tired of it. I can just go to any episode and watch it- it has so many great jokes and the characters are diverse, and they bring their own style, energy and creativity. I think it’s the funniest show on TV.

How is it working with the cast?

PK: Working with the cast is great. You know, you got legends there. You’ve got Kim Fields, the ultimate foremost legend, Mike Epps who is a comic genius, Wanda Skyes- comic genius. They are good people, and everybody is happy to be here, so it makes it fun.

Do you feel that you have any similar traits to your character Duck within yourself?

PK: I’ve been asked that question and, let me see, I look at Duck as a different character than what I typically play. The only similarity that I see between me and Duck is his loyalty. He is loyal to a fault. You know, he spent 7-10 years in jail where he could have gotten less time where he could have ratted out his friend who could have been his co-defendant, but he just took it. I think I have a loyalty like Duck. Other than that, he’s a little different than me.

Let’s talk about your latest album. How did you feel about the creative direction within the videos for “Fear” and “Safe”? How did you work through the process of such a real and raw album?

PK: I wanted to make use of all of my talents to create an art- that was my goal. My goal was to take the amalgamation of talents that I have to coalesce to create art that could be ubiquitous forever. You know, that’s what I feel I accomplished because things are great 20 years from now and it’s still going to be great. You can still listen to Biggie because it’s incredible, it’s timeless and that’s what I wanted to do. I feel like I accomplished that.

Can you tell us about the song “Shine”?

PK: I think that the album needed some respite because it’s very heavy and after you listen to Fear and Safe, it’s so cumbersome that you need some respite. And so that’s what Shine provides. It still takes a look at how difficult 2019 was personally for me and then 2020 was for everyone. The face of darkness, there is light after, and I wanted to show that the Devil will not take that light away. We will shine.

Can you tell us about your album cover?

PK: The cover of the album is confluence of tragic incident of black Americans who have had their lives taken from them at the hands of police brutality. That confluence is to show that they are me. You know, they all make up me; I am the same as them and so I wanted to, through me, show them. Wait until you get to the song “Flowers”, that is my favorite song on the album.

At the end of some of your videos, there is mention of voting- what are you trying to show viewers?

PK: So, creating Fear was so I could galvanize the troops to go vote because we can’t just yell from the rafters “We are being disrespected”, “We are being overlooked”. We have to actually get in the dirt and, you know, do things that cause change. Our biggest voice was our vote. The virality of those videos was to have the embolism of to vote throughout the video. To help people want to get out and vote after they see the deleterious effects of what fear can do on both sides so that’s why you see that throughout the videos.

Let’s talk about your fitness journey. What motivated you to get started?

PK: I got tired of looking at myself in movies and TV fat as hell and I was more attractive in my head than I was externally, so I wanted to match that.

So, there’s a lot of excuses that I think many people use such as “I can’t afford to go to the gym” or “I hurt too much to do this”. How did you push past your own excuses?

PK: I have an additive personality so once I get into something, I’m locked in and I got my mind right and ready. I had help, a tool to help me out with the point of why I was overweight which was my addiction to food. And so, I got gastro sleeve surgery which made my stomach smaller so that I couldn’t overeat. That helped. That was like the catalyst to help me and the working out thing- I already had that down. I had challenges where I would workout 100 straight days and another challenge where I went a straight year of working out without missing any days. My mind was already set to go to the gym, I just needed to get the food stuff right.

Do you still workout consistently?

PK: Yep, I’m still in it. Even when the gyms were closed, I found a way to get the workout in.

What advice would you offer somebody as far as starting out on their journey? If they were with you and undecided about their journey because of lack of motivation.

PK: I would say to make it something that is a part of your daily life that you don’t have a choice of. You don’t have a choice if you need to go to the bathroom or not, you don’t have a choice whether you like eating or not. These are things that must happen regardless of what you want or not. So, if you make the gym or workout a part of that, you take the lack of motivation away. We can have things taken away for us and see how resilient we could be. If you’re in jail or in a weight loss camp or anywhere that caused your free will to be taken away and you are forced to do something, you can do it because you have to. So why have to be in a situation where some other exterior force forces you to when you have a mind and brain that is going to be the thing to make you do it anyway.

Do you have a specific meal plan?

PK: Sometimes, yes. I go in spurts. Some weeks I have no carbs and no sugar. Then some weeks I am a little looser. I just try to be moderate because I could easily go really far one way or really far the other way. It’s not until I’m actually preparing for something that I go super crazy. Other than that, I just try and stay in striking range.

Do you allow yourself to have treats?

PK: Yep, probably more than I should.

What kind of workouts do you do?

PK: Well, when I get off the phone with you, I have a trainer, so I am going to the gym. Wednesday is leg day, which sucks. I work out with a trainer 3-4 days a week and then two other days I have an Oculus virtual reality thing that I do a supernatural workout on or I ride my bike for 20 miles to the beach on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Is there anything else that you’d like to talk about or anything that you’d like to share with our readers?

PK: I just want them to the importance of the album “Page” and how it’s important to everyone in the world right to be aware of everything that happening right now and everything that’s going on. And that if this album was released by a bigger artist, it would be a Grammy-nominated type of album – that’s how important this album is. I just implore everyone to continue to listen to it and check it out because I think it’s necessary. That’s the main thing that I want- and watch “The Upshaws” on Netflix streaming now.

Global Card Game Market

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Global Card Game Market to Hit $6.8B Value by 2025

Over the years, the global card game market has witnessed steady growth and acceptance among players, despite huge competition from digital entertainment sources. However, as millions of people started spending more time indoors amid the COVID-19 lockdowns, the entire sector surged in 2020, with revenues rising by 16% YoY to $5.6bn.

According to data presented by 123scommesse.it, after a slight drop in 2021, the global card game market is expected to continue growing and hit a $6.8bn value by 2025.

Revenues to Jump by 23% in Four Years

The main product in the card game market is a card deck that comes in many varieties. Besides standard decks, the segment includes individual decks for games like Uno, Tarot, or Lexicon and collectible and trading card games like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering.

Between 2012 and 2017, the revenues of the global card game market jumped by 50% to over $4.1bn, revealed the Statista Consumer Market Outlook. The steady growth continued in the following years, with revenues rising to $4.8bn in 2019, a 17% increase in two years.

However, as lockdowns forced people across the globe to spend more time indoors, revenues jumped by 16% YoY to $5.6bn in 2020, the most significant annual increase so far.

The Statista data indicate the global card game market is set to witness a slight contraction this year, with revenues slipping to just under $5.6bn. However, this figure is expected to jump by 23% in the next four years, with the entire market reaching over $6.8bn value.

China and US to Generate One Third of Total Card Game Revenues in 2021

Analyzed by geography, China represents the world’s largest card game market, expected to generate $1.2bn in revenue, a slight increase compared to last year. However, statistics show that the Chinese market grew by 18% since the pandemic stroke. By 2025, Chinese card game revenues are expected to jump to $1.5bn.

The Indian market, as the second largest globally, is forecast to hit $706 million in revenue in 2021, up from $694 million in 2020. In the next four years, this figure is set to reach almost $980 million.

The US card game market, as the third largest globally, is forecast to generate $623 million in revenue this year, down from $637 million a year ago. However, the US market is expected to continue rising in the following years and hit $682 million in value by 2025.

Read the full story here.

Bio-inspired Muscle Growth

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Bio-inspired scaffolds help promote muscle growth

Rice University bioengineers adapt extracellular matrix for electrospinning

Rice University bioengineers are fabricating and testing tunable electrospun scaffolds completely derived from decellularized skeletal muscle to promote the regeneration of injured skeletal muscle.

Their paper in Science Advances shows how natural extracellular matrix can be made to mimic native skeletal muscle and direct the alignment, growth and differentiation of myotubes, one of the building blocks of skeletal muscle. The bioactive scaffolds are made in the lab via electrospinning, a high-throughput process that can produce single micron-scale fibers.

The research could ease the burden of performing an estimated 4.5 million reconstructive surgeries per year to repair injuries suffered by civilians and military personnel.

Current methods of electrospinning decellularized muscle require a copolymer to aid in scaffold fabrication. The Rice process does not.

“The major innovation is the ability to prepare scaffolds that are 100% extracellular matrix,” said bioengineer and principal investigator Antonios Mikos of Rice’s Brown School of Engineering. “That’s very important because the matrix includes all the signaling motifs that are important for the formation of the particular tissue.”

The scaffolds leverage bioactive cues from decellularized muscle with the tunable material properties afforded through electrospinning to create a material rich with biochemical signals and highly specific topography. The material is designed to degrade as it is replaced by new muscle within the body.

Experiments revealed that cells proliferate best when the scaffolds are not saturated with a crosslinking agent, allowing them access to the biochemical cues within the scaffold matrix.

Electrospinning allowed the researchers to modulate crosslink density. They found that intermediate crosslinking led to better retention of fiber alignment during cell culture.

Most decellularized matrix for muscle regeneration comes from such thin membranes as skin or small intestine tissue. “But for muscle, because it’s thick and more complex, you have to cut it smaller than clinically relevant sizes and the original material properties are lost,” said Rice graduate student and lead author Mollie Smoak. “It doesn’t resemble the original material by the time you’re done.

“In our case, electrospinning was the key to make this material very tunable and have it resemble what it once was,” she said.

“It can generate fibers that are highly aligned, very similar to the architecture that one finds in skeletal muscle, and with all the biochemical cues needed to facilitate the creation of viable muscle tissue,” Mikos said.

Mikos said using natural materials rather than synthetic is important for another reason. “The presence of a synthetic material, and especially the degradation products, may have an adverse effect on the quality of tissue that is eventually formed,” he said.

“For eventual clinical application, we may use a skeletal muscle or matrix from an appropriate source because we’re able to very efficiently remove the DNA that may elicit an immune response,” Mikos said. “We believe that may make it suitable to translate the technology for humans.”

Smoak said the electrospinning process can produce muscle scaffolds in any size, limited only by the machinery.

“We’re fortunate to collaborate with a number of surgeons, and they see promise in this material being used for craniofacial muscle applications in addition to sports- or trauma-induced injuries to large muscles,” she said. “These would include the animation muscles in your face that are very fine and have very precise architectures and allow for things like facial expressions and chewing.”

Co-authors of the paper are Rice graduate student Katie Hogan and Jane Grande-Allen, the Isabel C. Cameron Professor of Bioengineering. Mikos is the Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

The National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Ford Foundation supported the research.

Read the abtract here.

This news release can be found here.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter.

MK xyz × Sweet Spot

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RISING R&B STAR MK xyz’s NEW EP SWEET SPOT OUT NOW

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “ONE TIME” HERE

After being discovered by Tricky Stewart , amassing nearly 10 million total streams, and garnering praise from Bustle, Wonderland Magazine, FLAUNT, and more, Florida-born triple-threat, R&B singer, songwriter and dancer MK xyz uncovers her highly-anticipated debut EP entitled Sweet Spot today. It showcases all her talents and makes an unapologetic statement from MK xyz as an artist who is here to stay.

Listen HERE via Epic Records.

She celebrates the arrival of the six-track project with the music video for the new single “One Time” directed by Madeline Kate Kann. The Hitmaka produced track has an accompanying visual full of throwback vibes between its scenes of skateboarding in the rain, showstopping dance routines, and fly nineties fashion. Meanwhile, she flexes her impressive range over skittering 808s just as the hypnotic hook takes hold and the energy heats up.

About her Sweet Spot EP, MK xyz said, “The XYZ is the Sweet Spot. No labels, no expectations, where we say FUCK the rules. A sexy, yet sweet balance of any and everything.”

Watch it HERE.

EP opener “Dennis Rodman” formally introduces the 22-year-old as she delivers sharp verses and dunks on the clever hook about dating and rebounds. She leans into bass on “Air It Out” with flirty fire, while “GEAUX” seesaws between a thick bounce and a propulsive chorus. Check out the full tracklisting below.

Making headlines and expanding her influence, MK xyz also starred in the new Beyoncé x Adidas#ImpossibleIsNothing campaign spot.

Check it out HERE.

MK xyz hits the Sweet Spot in 2021.

Dubbed by Wonderland as a rising R&B star “for her fierce lyricism and captivating dancing ability,” MK xyz is undoubtedly an artist to watch. After releasing her debut single “Pass It” with artist G-Eazy this past July, MK xyz has received critical acclaim from outlets such as Wonderland, Flaunt, Bustle, Lyrical Lemonade and more. MK xyz initially caught the attention of producer and songwriter Tricky Stewart after posting videos of herself covering songs like the Smokey Robinson’s “Cruisin'” and Daniel Caesar and H.E.R.’s “Best Part” in 2017. Now signed by RZ3 Recordings, the singer and dancer is poised for a breakout year in 2021.

TRACKLISTING

1. Dennis Rodman

2. Air It Out

3. One Time

4. She Knows

5. GEAUX

About MK xyz

MK xyz has her eyes set on redefining R&B, and she’s doing it all on her own terms. The 22-year-old has already established herself as a triple-threat (she flips between rapping, singing, and dancing with ease) ever since the release of her 2020 singles “Lost” and “Pass It” featuring G-Eazy. Since then, she’s received praise from critics like Bustle, Rated R&B, Flaunt and Wonderland.

The artist creates an addictive fusion of R&B, hip-hop and pop, which is best showcased in her debut EP, Sweet Spot. Anchored by the breezy lead single “One Time,” the EP reflects her feminine and masculine sides. There’s also production from OG Parker (Migos, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Chris Brown) and frequent collaborator Hitmaka (Drake, Chris Brown, Ty Dolla $ign). With the release of Sweet Spot and her future music, MK xyz hopes that her self-expression and push for queer inclusivity inspire others to realize their inner superpower.

Media’s New Currency

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What Marketers Need to Know About Media’s New Currency

Source Digital, a leader in providing innovative video advertising, is helping marketers to stop wasting money

It’s estimated that digital advertising grew 12% over the last year, as many people were at home more during the pandemic. With billions being spent on trying to reach people as they watch videos, it only makes sense that marketers turn to new technology to advance key messaging to targeted consumers. Source Digital is leading the way in helping them maximize their revenue with media’s new currency: SAMs or Source Activated Moments. The innovative platform is helping companies stop wasting money and get more out of their video advertising efforts.

“Many marketers are frustrated because they are spending more and more on digital advertising but are not seeing the results they want,” explains Hank Frecon, the chief executive officer of Source Digital. “This is where we come in. We have helped many of these companies gain more control of their digital marketing efforts to get a result that justifies their expenditure. We are here to help to grow their business, and at the same time give consumers what they are looking for in a seamless way.”

Many advertising campaigns are being switched to Source Digital’s patented platform. The new platform gives businesses what they have needed all along, which is a way to offer their products or services to customers that have indicated interest, during videos. Here are five things to know about this new way to reach consumers through digital advertising with SAMs:

New media currency (SAMs) focuses on not disrupting the viewer. People love to watch videos, but they have been turned off by the ads that interrupt what they are watching. Having a platform that will seamlessly allow you to watch a video without ad interruption but still allow the marketer to promote something without stopping their video makes a world of difference.
Many businesses turning to the new media currency are able to greatly increase their revenue, because Source Digital is offering them an entirely new inventory to access to help grow their business.
Rather than traditional advertising working with particular networks, the new method of advertising works across platforms. This makes it easier for marketers to reach more people without having to put in more effort.
The more you know about the audience, the more you can tailor ads to them and improve engagement. The new media advertising platform helps advertisers get more insight into the audience, so they can use that to improve user experience and increase engagement.
The new currency is completely changing how online video advertising is done, and it’s doing so for the better. We all learned a lot from the prior ways that video ads were done, and that information has helped to create a better experience for all moving forward.

“We see the way our platform is helping to transform the efforts put forth by marketing teams,” added Frecon. “We look forward to helping many others get on board. It’s a more efficient way of reaching your audience, increasing profits, and in getting the most from your investment.”

Source Digital’s platform quietly works in the background, gathering important data points about the person, so that it can provide a better user experience and increase engagement. Source Digital has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies to help create a more engaging and effective video advertising experience. To learn more, visit Source Digital.

About Source Digital, Inc.

Developed by seasoned technology leaders and inventors, Source Digital delivers a new era of contextual commerce and advertising. Offering the first in-video, contextually driven, frictionless acquisition experience, Source Digital’s technology allows content creators, owners, brands, and retailers to seamlessly engage with viewers across any device or screen in real time. An immersive approach to interactive video, Source Digital’s patented technology inspires brand loyalty organically through continuous, personalized engagement, reducing audience drift while yielding nuanced measurements and substantially increased avenues for monetization.

The Temptations Celebration

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THE TEMPTATIONS KICK OFF 60TH ANNIVERSARY YEARLONG CELEBRATION WILL INCLUDE NEW ALBUM, VIDEOS SERIES, AND COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS

Motown/UMe is pleased to announce the kickoff of the 60th Anniversary celebration of the legendary, Grammy Award-Winning Temptations. The Temptations are one of the most revered and prolific musical institutions of all time. Motown luminaries, The Temptations, are today, one of the most iconic, bestselling brands in the entertainment world. With Otis Williams, the founding and sole surviving member of The Temptations, their popularity is ever-increasing and their track record of continuing to sell decades worth of history-making music is breathtaking.

The Temptations signed their first contract with Motown on May 15, 1961. The members of the group at the time of the initial contract signing with Motown consisted of Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin and Elbridge Bryant. By 1964, the group had evolved into what became known as the world-famous “Classic Five”—Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin and David Ruffin.

Now 60 years later on May 15th, 2021, to commemorate and mark this historic occasion, the Temptations’ 60th Anniversary campaign is being launched and will run through June 2022. The year-long campaign includes national and international concert tours, an upcoming Anniversary album, new video series, and celebratory events along the way, including the re-opening on October 16th of the Broadway musical, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, based on Otis Williams ‘personal journey plus recognition of Otis Williams’ 80th birthday on October 30th.

The Temptations’ 60-year legacy spans generations. What began in Detroit in 1961, when a remarkable combination of soulful voices united, was the genesis of an epic journey that has introduced multiple superstars to the world and produced some of the greatest musical masterpieces in the Modern Era.

Otis Williams stated, “I’ve been blessed to take this journey with Shelly Berger, my manager and dear brother, and with all my brothers-the Temptations. Now, to be the last one standing from the classic lineups can be hard sometimes, but I know God left me here for a reason, and that was to continue to share with new generations of fans, the great music that we started back in that two-story house in Detroit, known as Hitsville USA. Music is a universal language, and I know our music, throughout the years has brought people joy, comfort and sometimes even hope. I truly hope that was our greater purpose on earth. Some of the greatest moments in my life have been watching countless fans, from different walks of life worldwide, come together around any one of our songs. Reaching this milestone in my career hasn’t always been easy but it’s gratifying to know that our fans have always been there, every step of the way. I am truly grateful to each and every one of them. We, plan to go back on tour later this summer and, me and my brothers, Ron Tyson and Terry Weeks, Temptations for the past 38 years and 24 years respectively, along with Willie Greene, Jr., and Mario Corbino look forward to sharing this special anniversary with all of you.”

President & CEO, UMe Bruce Resnikoff said, “The Temptations evolution during the 20th and 21st centuries is one of the greatest American music stories of our generation. They are among the most legendary artists in the business, and their meteoric rise to superstardom exceeded all expectations and changed the course of music history, here and around the world. It is a tremendous honor to recognize not only the group’s legacy, artistry and distinguished catalog of music, but also the sole-surviving member of the classic group, Otis Williams, who continues to carry the torch forward for fans today.”

Shelly Berger, the Temptations long-time manager, added, “This is a landmark moment. We wish to thank the venerable Bruce Resnikoff for taking this journey with us and for years of unwavering support. This trailblazing experience with the Temptations, and Otis in particular, is still exhilarating and rewarding sixty years later. To work with a group as gifted as the Temptations, I quickly realized early on that I was at the epicenter of music entertainment globally. Our journey together, throughout the group’s evolution, has been and continues to be a treasure trove of memorable experiences. The Temptations’ music is timeless, and Otis’ tenacity, genius and vision has been the glue that has remained at the heart of the group since the very beginning.”

The Temptations story is undeniably, a road map through American history. The group’s distinguished heritage, influence and contributions to African American and American culture in general, and to the global music landscape is awe-inspiring. The Temptations were pioneers. They were among the first African American groups on mainstream television programs in the 60’s. The phenomenal television exposure popularized their music and coupled with the support of DJs across the country, led to chart-topping success, not only on R&B lists but on Billboard Hot 100 charts too. On their renowned Motortown Revue bus tours during the height of the civil rights and voting rights movements, they often faced racism and discrimination first-hand, but they were not detoured. Instead, they raised their voices with songs that were socially relevant in the country. Many of those songs are still meaningful today. Their songs were also an inspiration to American soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War. Quite often, on concert tours, the Temptations are welcomed by Military Veterans sharing stories about the inspiring effect of their music.

In the 70’s, the rising Black middle class fueled growth in arts and entertainment for Black Artists and the Temptations were among the groups at the forefront of that wave. Their influence on mainstream and global artists, such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Annie Lennox, Jose Feliciano, and others, is notable. Artists who have recorded Temptations’ songs these past 60 years reads like a “Who’s Who” of the music recording industry. By the 80’s, the Temptations’ resilience is visible and singular. They launch a reunion tour that unites David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks with the lineup at the time, and headline on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever network television special. Before the decade is out, they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

As the 20th Century nears its end, the Temptations send a message to the world that they like their album Phoenix Rising, will keep rising up and singing their way into the hearts of fans. They win several more awards and both “My Girl,” what many call their magnum opus, and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” are inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, in 1998 and 1999, respectively. In the decades to follow in the 21st Century, the group is awarded their fourth GRAMMY for their “Top 20” R&B chart album, Ear-Resistible, awarded Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance and they receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the group’s fifth GRAMMY.

In addition to The Temptations’ phenomenal catalog of music, it is worth noting that the group’s famous choreography, sophisticated style and wardrobe revolutionized stage performance in the music world forever. Their famous trademarks, the Temptations’ walk, and the well-known four-headed microphone, both inventions of their own, are indelibly stamped on their enduring legacy for eternity.

The Temptations:

The Temptations ranked #1 in Billboard magazine’s most recent list of Greatest R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of All Time and the group appears in the magazine’s list of 125 Greatest of All Time Artists. In September of 2020, the editors of Rolling Stone magazine commented that the Temptations are “Indisputably the greatest black vocal group of the Modern Era…,” and listed the group’s Anthology album among the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The Group has sold millions of albums and has won five Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Temptations have been inducted into the Grammy, Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues Music, and Vocal Group Halls of Fame. They have a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Apollo Theater’s Walk of Fame. The Temptations delivered Motown’s first-ever GRAMMY at the 11th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in 1969 for Best Rhythm and Blues Performance by a Duo or Group, Vocal or Instrumental for the song, “Cloud Nine.” They have released countless gold, platinum and multi-platinum chart hits, many of which are considered American masterpieces. They have 16 #1 R&B chart albums, 44 Top 10 R&B chart hits, including, 14 #1 R&B singles, plus four Billboard #1 singles.

Universal Music Enterprises:

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) is the global catalog and special markets division of Universal Music Group. Working closely in concert with UMG’s record labels, territories, and operating companies, UMe provides a frontline approach to catalog management, an emphasis on strategic marketing initiatives and creating opportunities in new technologies.

Nicki Minaj × Beam Me Up Scotty

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NICKI MINAJ RELEASES LANDMARK 2009 MIXTAPE BEAM ME UP SCOTTY ON STREAMING PLATFORMS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER TODAY

FEATURING THREE BRAND NEW TRACKS “SEEING GREEN” WITH DRAKE & LIL WAYNE, “FRACTIONS” AND “CROCODILE TEETH (REMIX)” WITH SKILLIBENG

Listen HERE

Nicki Minaj, the most successful female rapper of all time, unleashes her groundbreaking 2009 mixtape, Beam Me Up Scotty, on streaming platforms for the first time today. This year marks the 12-year anniversary of the iconic collection, and the first time she has blessed fans with its commercial release.

Listen HERE.

The seminal mixtape cemented Nicki as a future icon when it initially landed on April 18, 2009.

Recognized as an undisputed landmark release, Beam Me Up Scotty launched Nicki’s first hit “I Get Crazy” [feat. Lil Wayne]. At the time, the song vaulted into the top 20 of the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart and top 40 of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Beyond reworking notable hits such as Soulja Boy Tell’em’s “Donk,” DJ Khaled & T-Pain’s “Go Hard,” and V.I.C.’s “Get Silly,” the 23-track opus heralded Nicki as an elite rapper with expansive vision and earth-shattering promise. Her signature flow scorched originals such as “Kill Da DJ” and “Keys Under Palm Trees” and placed her in grasp of the throne as Queen…

Expanding the original tracklisting, she also locks and loads Beam Me Up Scotty with standalone anthems “Boss Ass Bitch (Remix)” and “Chi-Raq” (with G Herbo) as well as three brand new tracks including her new song “Seeing Green” (with Drake & Lil Wayne), “Fractions,” and “Crocodile Teeth (Remix)” (with Skillibeng).” Check out the full tracklisting below.

Recently, Nicki’s hit “Anaconda” passed 1 billion views on YouTube. She’s the first female rapper to accomplish such a feat on a solo track and now has six music videos with over the billion-view mark.

This year, Nicki will also release a new docuseries coming to HBO Max. The series is directed by six-time Emmy nominee Michael John Warren, who made his directorial debut with Jay-Z’s “Fade to Black.” Each of the six half-hour episodes of this untitled project will explore Nicki’s brilliantly creative mind and tell the story of her personal and professional journey. With complete honesty, Nicki will guide viewers through the most challenging and fulfilling times in her life, navigating highs, lows and misguided agendas in her stratospheric rise to fame and her journey to motherhood.

Until then, experience Beam Me Up Scotty again or for the first time now and stay tuned for more from Nicki Minaj.

TRACKLISTING:

Seeing Green (with Drake & Lil Wayne)
Fractions
Crocodile Teeth (Remix) [with Skillibeng]
Chi-Raq (with G Herbo)
Boss Ass Bitch (Remix) [with PTAF]
Intro
Itty Bitty Piggy
I Get Crazy (feat. Lil Wayne)
Kill Da DJ
Nicki Minaj Speaks
Slumber Party (feat. Gucci Mane)
Shopaholic (feat. Gucci Mane, Bobby V, & F1Jo)
Gotta Go Hard (feat. Lil Wayne)
Nicki Minaj Speaks #2
Best I Ever Had (Remix)
Keys Under Palm Trees
Silly
Easy (feat. Gucci Mane & Rocko)
Nicki Minaj Speaks #3
Envy
Can Anybody Hear Me?
Still I Rise
Beam Me Up Scotty

About Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj has set the tone in music, fashion and beauty for more than a decade – making history and building her superstar personal brand along the way.

Minaj was the first Woman with 100 Billboard Hot 100 Hits, with an astounding 114 entries total to date (the most among female hip-hop acts), two #1 hits, 59 top 40 Hot 100 hits (also a record among female hip-hop acts), and 19 top 10 Hot 100 hits (another record among female hip-hop acts). She also holds the record as a songwriter for the “Most Billboard Hot 100 Entries Among Women in the 2010s.” Recently, Nicki’s hit “Anaconda” passed 1 billion views on YouTube. She’s the first female rapper to accomplish such a feat on a solo track and now has six music videos with over the billion-view mark. Celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2020, her landmark debut Pink Friday sold over 375,000 copies in its first week, according to MRC Data, – the largest sales week for a female hip-hop artist since Lauryn Hill in 1998.

In addition to music, Minaj has made numerous TV and film appearances, including as a judge on “American Idol” along with film roles in 2014’s “The Other Woman” alongside Kate Upton, Cameron Diaz, and Leslie Mann and 2016’s “Barbershop: The Next Cut.” She’s also done voiceover for “Ice Age: Continental Drift.” What’s more, she’s had high-profile deals with Fendi, Adidas, H&M, Diesel, Mercedes-Benz, Sprint and Pepsi, released a nail polish collection with OPI and was the face of MAC’s Viva Glam campaign. Her branded lipstick, according to Racked, was the brand’s highest-selling Viva Glam lipstick of all-time. Not to mention, she is a co-owner of TIDAL, and her BEATS 1 QUEEN radio show stands out as “the highest-rated show in Apple Music history.”

After a decade since Pink Friday introduced her to the mainstream, 2020 was another big year for Nicki Minaj with two number ones on the Billboard Hot 100. These achievements further sealed her place in history among the most influential artists ever.

NICKI MINAJ SOCIALS

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Katy Perry × Electric

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FAN CLUB TICKET PRESALE LAUNCHES TODAY FOR KATY PERRY’S PLAY AT THE THEATRE AT RESORTS WORLD LAS VEGAS

Katy’s First-Ever Las Vegas Residency Opens December 29, 2021 And Includes New Year’s Eve And New Year’s Day Performances

The fan club ticket presale for Katy Perry’s PLAY her first-ever Las Vegas residency launches today, May 17, at 10am PST. As its name suggests, the eight-show run at The Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegaswill offer audiences a much-needed break from the intense times of the past year. Packed with hits from throughout Katy’s career, the shows will deliver a transcendent sensory experience with vibrant visuals and numerous surprises. PLAY will open on Wednesday, December 29, and include exclusive New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day performances.

“I think we’re all ready to play and what better place to play than Las Vegas? says Katy Perry. Vegas is in my blood. My grandmother was a seamstress for showgirls and my aunt was a dancer in the Folies Berg before she became an ordained minister. I’m excited to carry on the family tradition and bring a bold, playful experience to audiences who, like me, have been yearning for the communal experience of live entertainment.”.

Dates for Katy Perry’s PLAY are as follows:

December 29, 31, 2021

January 1, 7-8, 12, 14-15, 2022

Tickets, plus VIP and premium ticket packages, for all eight shows will go on sale to the public beginning Monday, May 24 at 10 a.m. PDT at AXS.

Citi is the official presale credit card of the headliner opening engagements at The Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas. Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets from Tuesday, May 18, at 10 a.m. PDT to Sunday, May 23 at 10 p.m. PDT through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details, visit Citi Entertainment.

Katy who has amassed a cumulative 50 billion streams alongside worldwide sales of over 48 million adjusted albums and 135 million tracks is one of the founding headliners at Resorts World Las Vegas. the Strip’s new 3,500-room luxury destination, which opens June 24. The Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas, a 5,000-capacity, world-class theatre will open its doors in November 2021 and is exclusively programmed and operated by Concerts West / AEG Presents. A joint development between Resorts World Las Vegas and AEG Presents, the multi-level venue will be home to Las Vegas’s largest and tallest performance stage, with the furthest seat only 150 feet from the stage.

Celebrating joy and resilience, Katy’s PLAY shows will echo the themes of her new album, SMILE, which the Los Angeles Times hailed as quintessentially Perry: buoyant, playful, neon pop. USA Today observed, Perry’s newfound joy and contentment come through on much of Smile, which contains some of her catchiest and most carefree songs since 2013’s Prism. Last week, Katy unveiled her collaboration for, Electric, which she recorded exclusively for Pokemon 25: The Album, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of Pokemon.

KATY PERRY UNVEILS NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO “ELECTRIC” IN COLLABORATION WITH POKEMON

Track Is From Pokemon 25: The Album Compilation, Set For Fall 2021 Release

Limited Edition Electric Merchandise Line Launches Today

View Music Video Here

Pokemon’s 25th-anniversary celebration continues with today’s release of iconic recording artist Katy Perry’s new single and video, Electric. Katy, whose love for all things Pokemon dates back to childhood, when she played the original video games on her Game Boy, created the track especially for Pokemon 25: The Album, which will be released this fall by Universal Music Group’s Capitol Records. There’s no reason that this life can’t be electric, sings Katy in the anthemic track, which celebrates the joy inherent in pursuing a dream, buoyed by the love and support of friends. Katy’s collaborators on the song include The Monsters & Strangerz and Jon Bellion who teamed up with her on Daisies, a song from her new album Smile and Bruce Weigner. Listen to Electric here.

The official video for Electric helmed by Carlos Lopez Estrada, who directed the Disney feature film Raya and the Last Dragon received a YouTube Premiere with a fan watch party earlier today. The clip follows Katy and Pikachu as they take time out to enjoy nature and reflect on how they have evolved over the years. After a day of exploring, the pair stop at a lighthouse to meditate. Falling into a reverie, they’re taken back in time to the earliest days of Katy’s career. Thanks to encouragement from her friend Pikachu, Katy goes from busking at a farmer’s market to her first club performance. View the video, which was shot in Hawaii, here.

When I visited the Pokemon Café 9; while touring Japan, I got so nostalgic. It took me back to my junior high years. So, when I got the call to be a part of the 25th anniversary celebration alongside Post Malone and J Balvin, I was elated, says Katy Perry. The song’s themes resilience, igniting your inner light have guided my life and also parallel Pokemon’s story and characters. Pikachu is the evolved form of Pichu, so in the video, you see the younger version of me with Pichu and myself in the present day with Pikachu. We both evolve yet retain a sense of playfulness.

Katy Perry has created a vibrant anthem to help us celebrate 25 years of Pokemon with Electric, an amazing song about recognizing one’s own journeys and evolving, said Colin Palmer, vice president of marketing, The Pokemon Company International. We also hope fans around the world enjoy seeing Pikachu team up with Katy in the music video for Electric’s which is a wonderful visual accompaniment to the inspirational song.

A playful Electric-themed merchandise collection was also unveiled today. Explore the offerings of the limited edition line here: Katy Perry Electric Merch . It’s all part of P25 Music, a massive, yearlong music campaign from The Pokemon Company International in partnership with Universal Music Group. Fans can keep up with the latest news for P25 Music and more celebrations across the franchise on Pokemon’s 25th anniversary website at Pokemon 25. The upcoming P25 Music compilation album can be pre-saved at Capital Records.

2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour

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2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour Ramps Up with May 20 Virtual Event

Hosted by urban car culture icon, DUB magazine, and presented by Mobil 1, the next North American leg of Legends Tour will be live May 20
Streaming will kick off at 5:00 PM PDT on both the Hot Wheels and DUB magazine Facebook pages
Both Canadian and U.S. contestants will once again see which build has the most garage spirit

The 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour burns on with the next North American virtual event Thursday, May 20. Returning for another tour, DUB magazine—world renowned for its coverage of urban car customs and celebrity vehicle features— is back to co-host the show.

Open to fans across the United States and Canada, Hot Wheels is ready for the next epic round of custom car submissions. Once again, this event winner will go on to compete for a chance to see their build become immortalized as the next 2021 Hot Wheels Garage of Legends inductee and have their custom vehicle 1:64 die-cast model sold in Walmart stores around the world.

Presented by Mobil 1 and sponsored by Walmart, Dynacraft and Milestone S.r.l, this next stop in the world’s largest traveling car show will be available on the Hot Wheels and DUB Facebook pages starting at 5:00 p.m. PDT. Host Jarod DeAnda will be joined by an array of automotive enthusiast judges, including his co-host, professional racer and stunt driver Collete Davis, Hot Wheels designers Ralph Benitez and Kevin Geralez, as well as DUB magazine co-founder and SEMA’s ‘2020 Person of the Year’ Myles Kovacs. Each will be looking for the entry that best embodies authenticity, creativity and garage spirit.

To watch this premiere automotive livestream event, visit the Hot Wheels Legends Tour Facebook Page or the DUB Magazine Facebook Page.

Dates for future stops will be announced soon, and fans may register or learn more about the Hot Wheels Legends. Live events will be returning to U.S.-based Walmart stores this summer.

A winner has emerged for the 2^nd North American stop of the 2021 Hot Wheels Legends Tour!

Paul Kalenian of Santa Fe, New Mexico and his 2020 Lulu will go on to compete with other regional winners from around the world later this year for a chance to have his custom car become the next Garage of Legends inductee and made into a 1:64 Hot Wheels die-cast toy.

About The 2020 Lulu

The Lulu is a one-of-a-kind, fully street legal, race-inspired ride. Garage built–from sketch to street–in just seven months, this heli arc, all aluminum monocoque/bulkhead design features a rear, structurally mounted turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 325 hp and 24 PSI. The brain child of 70-year-old Paul Kalenian, it loosely replicates Mickey Thompson’s 1963 Harvey Aluminum race car. To date, Lulu has already clocked 5,000 miles.

Other outstanding competitors from tonight’s stop included:

1965 Ford Econoline
1962 Ford Falcon
1966 Novetta
1964 Chevy Nova Wagon
2007 Jaguar XK
1998 Honda CR-V / Fiberfab GT40 Avenger Kit Car
1949/2008 Ford/BMW
2020 Chevy C8 3LT Z/51
1996 F250

Hot Wheels Legends Tour 2021 winner: The Lulu image via Taylor Vande Beek (Extension PR) for use by 360 Magazine

Legalizing Immigrant Essential Workers

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ROUNDUP: Senate Subcommittee Hearing Energizes Advocates for Legalizing Immigrant Essential Workers This Year

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety held a hearing, chaired by Sen. Alex Padilla titled “The Essential Role of Immigrant Workers in America.” In response to this unofficial kick off of the next stage of the immigration debate, immigration advocacy organizations released statements highlighting the important roles immigrants play in our economy as essential workers and especially during national challenges, like the unprecedented pandemic. The hearing underscored why providing them a pathway to citizenship would not only be the right thing to do for them and their families, but also our country.

Read key excerpts from the statements below:

We Are Home Campaign:

This is our opening salvo in a renewed push to make legalization and citizenship a reality for essential workers in the next 100 days — including DACA, TPS, and Farmworkers. They are the backbone of key sectors in our economy and valuable contributors to our nation. With the support of the majority of the American public, and the collective power of our movement, we will work with Democrats to ensure that we legalize as many people as possible after decades of inaction.

We are grateful for the leadership of Senator Padilla, Senator Menendez, Sen. Schumer, Speaker Pelosi and other Democrats who are working to advance this goal. Unlike what the Republicans may lead you to believe, the moment is now. There is a legislative path for immigration reform either through reconciliation or through the Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. We are ready to make sure our essential workers are able to live their lives with dignity and free from fear, and to that end we will hold both Democrats and Republicans accountable.

National Immigration Forum:

Immigrant workers make up 17.4 percent of the labor force in the United States, and they have played a crucial role amid the pandemic. Across numerous sectors, immigrants are doing essential work on the front lines fighting Covid-19 and keeping the nation safe. Immigrants—faithful to their entrepreneurial spirit—have kept our country fed, healthy, and moving forward thanks to their work in health care, food supply, transportation, and other vital jobs.

The Forum believes that if our economy is to recover from the setbacks Covid-19 presented, we need immigrant workers operating at full steam. Hence, we urge Congress to pass immigration reforms to deal with the existence of the millions of people already living and working in the United States, many of whom are essential workers standing alongside American-born workers to help with Covid-19 response and recovery. The Forum endorses legislation that would allow essential workers—such as agricultural and health care workers—to earn permanent resident status and the possibility of citizenship.

National Immigration Law Center:

Today’s hearing is an important step forward, as we continue to urge Congress to seize this critical moment and provide a long overdue pathway to citizenship for essential workers, immigrant youth, people with temporary protected status, and, eventually, all undocumented immigrants in the U.S. As we move into a recovery from COVID and build back our nation, we must recognize that there is no recovery without immigrants.

Church World Service:

For far too long, Dreamers, farm workers, TPS holders and many more immigrant workers have waited for Congress to deliver an opportunity to pass a meaningful, permanent solution that provides a path to citizenship. CWS joins nearly 1,000 faith organizations, faith leaders, and people of faith urging the Biden administration to include a pathway to citizenship for essential immigrant workers, farmworkers, people with DACA, TPS, and DED, and their families in the upcoming recovery packages prioritized through reconciliation […]. CWS urges the Biden administration and Congress to secure a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants, including essential workers, immediately.

FIRM Action:

More than five million undocumented essential workers have risked their health and lives throughout the pandemic to keep the country from completely collapsing. They take care of our kids and elderly, keep our hospitals and public spaces clean, and they are the workers–in the fields and grocery store aisles–who are responsible for feeding the nation. Congress has the ability to create this path and use any and all vehicles available to make it a reality–including via reconciliation. Denying them a pathway to citizenship is irresponsible and cruel.

Make the Road:

The country’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic depends on Congress advancing legislation that delivers on its promise of long overdue relief to millions of DACA recipients, TPS holders and undocumented essential workers. With broad support across the country, Congress must deliver a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants as part of the reconciliation process. Before and throughout the pandemic immigrant essential workers put their life on the line to keep our communities safe and sustain our economy. It is time Congress values their work, honors their sacrifices, and recognizes their contributions by keeping them safe from deportation and separation from their families. To Build Back Better, Congress must take decisive action to move forward a path to citizenship for essential workers by passing the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act without any harmful provisions that criminalize our people.

CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights):

Undocumented immigrants are workers, taxpayers, consumers, entrepreneurs and neighbors, fueling our economic growth as a nation at every step. Year after year, they add trillions of dollars to our GDP and contribute to federal, state and local coffers with their taxes.

But during this past year, they have done even more: they have kept us safe even as they risked their own health to keep the country running. Some of them have even lost their lives in that effort. This bill would look after their families.

The least we can do as a nation is to see that sacrifice, acknowledge it, and reward them with the path to citizenship so many of them have sought for decades. They have our gratitude, but they deserve more: they must have the legalization that will allow them to keep contributing to this nation, now in the full sunlight of a fairer system–not in the shadow of fear and deportation.

United We Dream:

Over five million undocumented people continue to put their lives on the line to keep our communities and families healthy, fed, and safe amidst the pandemic. Despite facing increased risk of exposure to COVID-19, millions of undocumented people remain excluded from federal relief and recovery efforts, and in several cases have been denied vaccines in states like Florida and Texas because of their immigration status.

With immigration status being one of the most significant barriers preventing communities from fully recovering from COVID-19, passing a pathway to citizenship for essential workers, immigrant youth, TPS holders, and farm workers is relief. Until all undocumented communities are protected permanently, we will not fully recover. Senate Democrats must do everything in their power to act swiftly to deliver a pathway to citizenship for millions now! This includes adding a pathway to citizenship for millions in the American Jobs Package and moving it through the budget reconciliation process.

Center for American Progress:

Providing these essential workers with permanent legal status will allow them to realize their full potential, to realize their American dreams. This is not only part of a just, inclusive, and robust post-pandemic economic recovery for all Americans, but can be done without increasing undocumented immigration to the U.S. Immigrant essential workers who lack permanent legal status deserve more than our recognition and our praise; they have earned a pathway to citizenship. They have kept us fed by working in our nation’s food supply chain. Workers deemed essential today should not live with the uncertainty and fear of deportation tomorrow.

With each day that goes by without meaningful immigration reform the fear of deportation or separation due to immigration status sits as an added burden on the shoulders of millions of immigrant essential workers and their families. Indeed, immigrant essential workers who lack permanent legal status have earned a pathway to citizenship. A pathway to citizenship for these workers is crucial not only for just keeping families together, but also for an inclusive and robust post-pandemic rebuilding of America.

America’s Voice:

Immigrant workers are essential workers and it’s time our country values their work, sacrifices, and contributions by providing a path to citizenship. We cannot continue to simultaneously treat essential workers as both essential and deportable.

In his short time in the Senate, Sen. Padilla has taken an important leadership role on immigration and as Chair of the Immigration Subcommittee. Today’s hearing marks a new phase in the debate that underscores Democrats’ consensus that this is the year to finally achieve a popular breakthrough on citizenship and for Democrats to use their majority to change lives, strengthen the country and engage America’s immigrants fully in our recovery from COVID-19 and our recovery from the Trump years.

We Are Home is a nationwide campaign to fight for immigrant communities on three fronts: prioritizing and demanding a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in America; a moratorium and overhaul of interior enforcement; and broad affirmative relief from deportation. We Are Home is co-chaired by Community Change/Community Change Action; National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA)/Care in Action; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); United Farm Workers/UFW Foundation; and United We Dream.