Category: Entertainment

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No, Billy Porter Did Not Give RuPaul ‘Side-Eye’ At Emmys

Billy Porter slams reports that he gave RuPaul side-eye during Emmy Awards

Billy Porter slams reports that he gave RuPaul side-eye during Emmy Awards Folks love to stir up stuff even when there’s nothing there. Speaking to reporters backstage at the Emmy Awards last night after his historic win as ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series,’ Billy Porter was asked about some Twitter activity that imagined him giving some side-eye during RuPaul’s acceptance speech for winning the trophy for ‘Outstanding Reality-Competition Series.’ This was the screen capture folks were bouncing around the Twitterverse:

But when a reporter from Essence brought up the minutes-new meme, Billy shut that down and quick. “Let me make this clear right now in this room to everybody. Right now. There was never a side-eye coming from me. There’s never anything negative coming from me. You’re never going to get from it. Okay. It’s all love, all love, it’s all positivity. Don’t come to me with that mess. They can catch me and it can look like a side-eye, [but] RuPaul is a friend of mine. I am so proud of him. I stand on his shoulders. I stand on his shoulders. He is doing it. He paved the way for me, so there’s never a side-eye about that.”

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Billy Porter Makes History Winning ‘Best Lead Actor/Drama’ At Emmy Awards

Billy Porter wins the Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role - Drama for 'POSE;

Billy Porter wins the Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role - Drama for 'POSE; “And the category is: Love!” Making history tonight, Billy Porter won the Emmy Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work as ‘Pray Tell’ in the ground-breaking FX series POSE at the 2019 Emmy Awards. Quoting James Baldwin, he began his thank yous, “It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I’d been taught about myself, and half-believed, before I was able to walk on the earth as though I had a right to be here. I have the right – You have the right – We ALL have the right!” He then acknowledged the men nominated in his category which included Bob Odenkirk, Jason Bateman, Kit Harington, Milo Ventimiglia, and Sterling K. Brown: “It is an honor to be up here breathing the same air that y’all breathe.” After thanking his cast members and his team, he turned to the co-creator of the show: “Ryan Murphy! Ryan Murphy! Ryan Murphy! You saw me and believed in us! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Porter closed his thanks saying, “We as the artists are the people that can change the molecular structure of the hearts and minds of the people who live on this planet. Please don’t ever stop doing that. Please don’t ever stop telling the truth!” POSE, also nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, made its mark from the get-go with the largest transgender cast in the history of television. Having won a Tony Award for his performance as ‘Lola’ in the hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots, and a Grammy Award for the show’s original cast recording, tonight’s honor moves Porter just an Oscar shy of an EGOT. Watch his joyful acceptance speech below.

Afterward, Porter became emotional backstage when asked how his win can empower the LGBTQ community. “Visibility and representation are the only things that create change,” he told reporters. “It’s when we are visible that we have the power to create empathy through the way we tell stories. I know that being black and gay and out and being in this position and speaking in the position that I get to speak from is the change. I hope that young, queer people of all colors can look at me and know that they can.”

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It’s Not Just The Coffee That’s Hot

At a new coffee shop in Seattle, it's not just the coffee that's steaming hot

At a new coffee shop in Seattle, it's not just the coffee that's steaming hot At a new coffee shop in Seattle, there’s more than just coffee that’s hot. The recently opened Dreamboyz Espresso employs shirtless male baristas to serve up coffee drinks with a sense of fun (and maybe some extra foam). Brandon Peters of Dreamboyz Espresso The owners of the coffee shop previously operated a LadyBug Bikini Espresso shop in the same location which offered an all-female staff in bikinis to brew the java. Apparently, the ‘bikini barista’ thing began in the Oregon/Washington state area in the 1990s. But the LadyBug shop closed within a year due to lack of business, so the owners decided to switch things up from bikinis to ‘bare-istas’ clad in Chippendales-style bow ties and short-shorts. Ja'Shaun of Dreamboyz Espresso Now, things are hopping at Dreamboyz as folks are driving from outside Seattle just to order some Joe from a shirtless Joe. With the slogan “Hot Guys Serving Hot Coffee,” what more could you want for your caffeine fix?

One of the shirtless hunks of Dreamboyz Coffee, Ja’shaun Williams, told local news station KIRO7, “Everyone’s been very appropriate and respectful.” Brandon Peters told Capitol Hill Seattle Blog, “I worked at a Starbucks a couple of years back, enjoyed being a barista, however it wasn’t enough money, so when I saw this opportunity, I was like, in a way, I get to bring those things together.” If you can’t make it to the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, check out the Dreamboyz Espresso Instagram below. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Zq8VFggAg/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B2WuYgqAFPS/ https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ki9s9A6VX/  

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Billy Porter Makes An Entrance (Or Three) On ‘The Late Late Show’

Billy Porter sings 'I Will Survive' on The Late Late Show with James Corden

Billy Porter makes an entrance on The Late Late Show with James Corden To say that Emmy Award nominee Billy Porter ‘dropped by’ The Late Late Show with James Corden on Wednesday could be one of the great understatements of the week. After his fellow guest, Kirsten Dunst, entered through the show’s curtains looking lovely as ever and took a seat on the interview couch, Corden introduced the POSE star. Enter Hurricane Billy. Adorned in a gold lamé cape (which became wings a la his Met gala fashion statement), Porter made his way down the stairs towards the stage only to u-turn and head back behind the curtains. Sporting a new rainbow robe and a bouquet of roses, Porter re-emerged to make his way through the audience again. And he’s not done yet! Dropping the robe to reveal a purple, glitter jumpsuit, Porter runs to the band to shake a tambourine like a pro. He’s then carried on a platform, in Cleopatra-style, to the stage by two shirtless muscle hunks. The crowd goes wild, but Corden – feigning outrage that time has been taken from Ms. Dunst – dismisses Porter from the stage. “Fine, James, fine!” says Porter as he exits. But wait – there’s more! Billy Porter sings 'I Will Survive' on The Late Late Show with James Corden As Corden attempts to interview Dunst, music swirls, curtains open and Porter launches into a spectacular disco-tastic performance of Gloria Gaynor’s iconic “I Will Survive” complete with hunky dancers and roller-skaters. Watch Billy Porter’s lesson in how to make an entrance below.

In a later segment, Porter is back on the couch as Corden asks the Tony Award winner about turning 50 this Saturday, just a day before he could make history as the first openly gay black man to win an Emmy Award for ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama.’ “I feel great,” says Porter. “I have to say, everything that people say about getting older, that it gets better – is the truth.” “I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been, I’m experiencing a type of success that I didn’t even know how to dream of,” he added. “It’s really, really remarkable.” “And – the best part about it is – once you get to a certain age you have zero f*cks to give about anything or anybody! Period.” “It’s the greatest feeling in the world – the shackles are off,” he declared. “Say what you want – I’m gonna do me, and I’m gonna do it ’til I’m dead!”

Make sure to tune in to the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night, September 22, at 8 pm ET on Fox.

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Out Music: Cazwell “Duo Lingo”

Screen capture from Cazwell's latest music video "Duo Lingo"

Screen capture from Cazwell's latest music video "Duo Lingo" Out rapper Cazwell‘s new music video, “Duo Lingo,” featuring Tom Bike and Mad Science, is a veritable Latin go-go buffet. Cazwell says the inspiration for the collaboration came after “using the Duo Lingo app on his phone trying to learn Spanish and failing miserably.” He’d been chatting with Tom Bike about working on a project together and thought a Spanish/English rap would be cool. Filmed in West Hollywood’s FuBar, the music video features thong-clad adult performers like Beaux Banks, Fernando Figuero and Abel Pirela. “I wanted to make sure the bar looked like a hole-in-the-wall dive bar, as grimy and as ratchet possible,” says Cazwell. “We all have a hustle. Some people get their hustle on social media or on the go-go box and some people do it on Wall Street. I respect everyone’s grind. These boys have a lot of discipline and work very hard.” I previously covered Cazwell’s “No Selfie Control” music video here. Hit play but note – totally not suitable for worktime viewing 🙂

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Madonna Premieres ‘Madame X’ Tour In Brooklyn

Matt Rettenmund's front row ticket to Madonna's Madame X concert

Madonna premiered her Madame X concert in Brooklyn last night Madonna premiered her Madame X concert tour last night in Brooklyn, and Boy Culture’s Matt Rettenmund had a front-row seat for the event. Even posting his report at 2:50 am, Rettenmund’s clever wordplay comes through as he details his adventure at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House. I won’t include all of his thoughts on the more-intimate-than-usual Madge-fest, but here’s how he sums up the event:

Sometimes, when Madonna does a lot of new material in a show, I can see how it may be offputting to casual fans. I defy anyone with an open mind and open ears to begrudge her the desire to air these new gems. With just enough nods to her past, Madonna is too busy reveling in the present and making plans to go into the future to get mired down by deep cuts and too many of yesteryear’s hits.

There is always next time for a hits tour.

Madame X is one of the biggest gambles Madonna has ever taken as a live performer (oh, I take it all back, what if she sang “Gambler”?), and it’s one that pays off in the form of a show that perfectly showcases her musicality, her curiosity, her understanding of how to hold an audience and her resolve to be an artist who instigates, who “disturbs the peace,” who leads and whose legacy is always whatever comes next.

The Queen of Pop has announced 17 performances at BAM (through October 12) before taking the show on the road. Click over to Boy Culture to read the full blow-by-blow account of the concert including the night’s setlist.

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Sen. Kamala Harris ‘Slow Jams The News’ On The Tonight Show

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) becomes the first woman to ‘slow jam the news’ on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (above). Via StereoGum:

Jimmy Fallon’s longest-running comedy bit is Slow Jam The News, the thing where he and the Roots bust out Barry White impressions and attempt to make jokes out of topical subjects. Brian Williams used to do the sketch all the time, and Barack Obama did it a couple of times as president — including, most recently, in the summer of 2016. And now Harris, one of several Democratic primary hopefuls attempting to bring back that old Obama magic, took part in it.

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Indie Artist Morgxn Remembers Childhood Wonder ‘A New Way’

I’ve been meaning to share this acoustic version of “A New Way” by alt/pop artist Morgxn for a while now. While he dropped the full studio version of the song and music video back in late June (you can view it here), it was this stripped down, reimagined iteration that captured my attention as he ruminates on the theme of childhood innocence lost and reframes the storytelling in the most charming way.

I don’t know how I got lost, don’t know how I got caught I don’t want to feel anxious anymore And I want to feel like we’re young, want to feel like we’re bold I don’t want to feel anxious anymore

In the song, Morgxn mentions two ages – 14 and 19. Earlier this year, he shared the significance of those times in his life with Billboard:

Fourteen was an age where I was wistful and naive. I played with toys in the bathtub longer than I should ever admit in an interview [laughs]. I wore a Superman cape to school not on Halloween, at an age that is probably not safe to admit either. That was where 14 came from, I felt youthful and that anything was possible.

Nineteen was the first time I was living on my own and I was all like, “I’m 19 and living on my own, this is fucking awesome!” And it was, because I was finally able to come out at 19, but I was finally able to honestly look at myself and say, “You might be into boys.” They were just two places in my life where I wasn’t so concerned with anything except for living my best life.

I’m quite taken with the acoustic version of the song and the music video. Charming, wistful, pensive and open. Who wants to help build a cardboard castle? (And yes, that is his real brother at the end of the video…) Find more info on the rising indie pop artist by clicking over to his official website here.

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Exclusive: Milan Gianni’s Soulful Take On “How Do You Sleep?”

Out singer/songwriter Milan Gianni drops his new music video, a rich, soulful cover of the Sam Smith hit, “How Do You Sleep?” Gianni’s earliest musical influences include Michael Jackson and Prince, but you can definitely hear some Beyoncé in his approach to R&B/soul. After attending the prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Gianni is now in the recording studio working to release his debut EP later this year. We chatted with the handsome artist about the new single, his musical inspirations and how his training comes together in approaching the recording process. The Randy Report: Congratulations, Milan, on the debut single, “How Do You Sleep?” – what was the inspiration for recording the song? Milan Gianni: The inspiration came when I woke up super early one morning. Usually in the morning when I first wake up I go listen to new music. That’s when I seen that Sam Smith had just released a new music video for his single “How Do You Sleep?” and I was taken away to another place. A place where I visualized myself having a breathtaking music video on a beach and shooting it with male dancers in a similar style to Sam but with my own spin on it. I was so inspired and the fire was ignited. I instantly connected with the overall message of the song. I’ve been though a lot of situations dealing with relationships so I could relate to this on some many different levels. Also, I felt It would be an amazing song to showcase my voice. I told myself I’m gonna commit to record the song and shoot my own music video right away.

TRR: How would you describe your sound? MG: I would have to say at the core it’s all about smooth, buttery vocals that express intense emotion accompanied with tracks that have heavy chord and drum progression. Vocal arrangements are everything to me, so making sure I have backgrounds that add lots of texture and depth to my sound is a must. TRR: From start to finish, how long did this first track and music video take to bring to fruition? When did you know it was ‘done?’ MG: To bring this creation to life from start to finish it actually took  one month. I got the idea for the music video on July 11th, recorded the song the last week of July  and then shot the video on August 11th. After more than 12 hours of editing with my amazing videographer and it couldn’t have came out more perfect. I was in love. This was my first music video so it was super important to me for it to be just the way I envisioned in my mind. I knew it was officially done because I remembered specific angles and movements I did when we shot so I knew when I had all the shots  I wanted. I don’t know a lot about effects, lighting and things of that nature, so with the help of my director & videographer we collectively came together as a team and made the final decisions.

TRR: What’s your favorite part of making music? MG: My favorite part about being an artist is being able to perform live and create stories that people can relate to. It’s always been my dream as a little boy to have my own huge budget music videos so it felt super amazing and empowering to finally shoot my first of many to come. It hasn’t been a easy road to get here so I’m just so thankful to have such amazing support around me. It truly keeps me going. I feel being a recording artist is a special gift, and I just want to touch people and let them know that they’re not the only ones who experience certain things. We are all people and we go through the same things. That’s what brings us together. TRR: You have a background in musical theater – how do you think that impacts your approach to recording/making music? MG: Yes, having a musical theater background definitely influences every part of my artistry. The way I think, breathe, and move. The way I write my songs, record my songs, come up with music video and live performance concepts, etc. I really dive deep and use my acting training to ensure I’m being true to the character and moment that I’m portraying. Really understanding my intention. I learned all of that from musical theater. TRR: Who were your collaborators and how did you decide who to work with? MG: When it came to my collaborations it was a super easy process. I’ve been in the process for about the past 2 years of recording my debut EP, so I’ve been building my team. My sound engineer [Kay’Vion] he’s so amazing and always in such high demand, but he did me a huge favor and gave me an emergency session so I could get the track recorded. Next, I contacted my choreographer [James Alonzo] and he’s been with me basically since day one when I moved to New York City and started this journey so he was an obvious choice. He’s taught at all of NYC’s prestigious institutions. Then I had reached out to my videographer [Danny Simeon] we had already discussed working on a project, so we just secured the dates. He has such an amazing eye when he shoots and can capture anything and bring it to life. My director, Lauren Miller, has a lot of experience in the industry as a performer in front of the camera, but this is her debut taking a step behind it. Then theres my hairstylist/ Bestie/ Boss babe [Ashlyn Shaw] who was an obvious choice because the way she lays her clients and handles her business – I knew I had to have her on board. We were back forth and forth back regarding my hair so it was very interesting process lol. We definitely made an amazing choice though. The look we were going for was “If Pocahantas had a brother.” Then last, but not least, I can’t forget my amazing PR team [Cierra & Shania] who both have been such a huge missing part of the puzzle for me. They have a natural instinct to be on trend with what’s the best strategic move I should making next. It’s super crazy and can be a lot being an independent artist so I truly appreciate all of their efforts to help run this machine I’ve built. TRR: Who are your music inspirations? What artist would you love to collaborate with today? My first love was Michael Jackson, and then I discovered Beyoncé when she was in Destiny’s Child and I just fell in love. The way they just got on stage and could literally transform into this super hero almost made me fall in love. It was like they were introverted in their real lives and on stage so loud and in command and one with the music, stage and production. As I grew as a vocalist I searched for people who had similar tones and textures to their voice as mine, and I fell in love with Brandy and Tank. The way they connect their soul to each and every riff run and word. You feel it and it hits you different. I then dove into studying them. I also have a deep love for Lady GaGa, Prince, Rihanna and Missy Elliot. Always pushing the edge with their images and keeping you guessing what’s next. They really create iconic fashion moments with each song and it’s a lifestyle when they have a look they’re going with. Creating musical sounds so innovative and that are way beyond their time. Never afraid to press the envelope and setting the trend for artist for years to come. This is where my inspiration comes from and what I aspire to be. When asked what artist I would love to collaborate with I definitely have a long list for sure, but my top choices would be Missy Elliot, Summer Walker, Stefflon Don, Aboogie, JoJo & 6black. Check out the music video for ‘How Do You Sleep?’ above, and make sure to follow Milan Gianni on Instagram here.

(images via screen capture/YouTube – some editing was made for clarity)