Gallant to Play Afropunk & Made in America; DJ Khaled & Friends Set for BMI Awards: R&B/Hip-Hop Briefs

Gail Mitchell
·1 min read
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Rising alternative R&B star Gallant has been added to the lineups of both the Afropunk Festival (Aug. 28 in New York) and Made in America (Sept. 3 in Philadelphia). Both stops are part of his ongoing tour featuring Prince protégé Eryn Allen Kane. Upcoming Gallant dates include several sold-out shows, among them: New York (Aug. 31, Bowery Ballroom), Toronto, Canada (Sept. 9, The Mod Club), Los Angeles (Sept. 22, Fonda Theatre) and San Francisco (Oct. 21-22, Great American Music Hall). Also a passionate gamer, the Red Bull Sound Select artist recently tested his Super Smash Bros. skills against William “Leffen” Hjelte, Red Bull’s Super Smash Bros. Melee athlete who plays for Team SoloMid. Watch the two play and bond:

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Comedian/actor Chris Tucker will host the 2016 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, taking place for the first time in Atlanta on Sept. 1. DJ Khaled & Friends will open the ceremony, during which Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Toni Braxton will be presented with the BMI President’s Award. Also slated to be on hand at the Woodruff Arts Center’s Symphony Hall are Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Big Boi, Tamar Braxton, Rae Sremmurd, Kent Jones and Rich Homie Quan. In addition, BMI will reveal the winner of its Social Star Award, whose three contenders are Joey Bada$$, Lil Dicky and Logic.

Jennifer Holliday, Dreamgirls’ original Effie White, will return to Broadway on Oct. 4 as Shug Avery in Tony Award-winning musical The Color Purple. The Tony- and Grammy Award-winning actress/singer succeeds Heather Headley, who completes her run in the role on Oct. 2. Holliday’s latest album is The Song Is You.

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