THE INNER-CITY NEWS - February 08, 2023 - February 14, 2023
ASCAP Celebrates Black History Month with Weekly Series of Emerging R&B Artists Covering History’s
Most Powerful Black Anthems,
Featuring J Rome, Moxie Knox, Sha’Leah Nikole and Kadeem Nichols
By Black PR Wire, New York.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) reveals plans to celebrate Black History Month with a series of weekly performances from rising ASCAP R&B artists and songwriters J Rome, Moxie Knox, Sha’Leah Nikole and Kadeem Nichols. Each week, the featured artist will cover one of history’s most powerful Black empowerment songs that was written or cowritten by ASCAP members. The series kicks off Tuesday, February 7, with weekly performances through Tuesday, February 28. The performances can be viewed on ASCAP’s YouTube and @ASCAP and @ASCAPUrban Instagram. “ASCAP is committed to recognizing Black artists and songwriters who have made an impact on our history and the world through their music and meaningful lyrics,” said Nicole George-Middleton, ASCAP Senior Vice President, Membership and Executive Director, The ASCAP Foundation. “This year, our goal is to spotlight emerging ASCAP artists by giving them a platform to showcase their talent, while also paying homage to the pioneers who created songs to uplift, inspire and empower all in celebration of Black History Month.”
Tuesday, February 28 Kadeem Nichols – “Someday We’ll All Be Free”
Tuesday, February 7 J Rome – “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” Often referred to as the Black national anthem, the song was co-written by one of ASCAP’s founding members, James Weldon Johnson, along with his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson. J Rome is the winner of ABC’s singing competition “Duets” and also appeared on FOX’s “I Can See Your Voice.” The talented singer has performed alongside other artists and toured the world with Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Kanye West. Now working on his solo project, J Rome is an undeniable talent who has only just scratched the surface in his career.
The music series begins Tuesday, February 7 with J Rome and a performance
Tuesday, February 14 Moxie Knox – “Brown Skin”
The lineup for ASCAP’s Black History Month performances:
stage and provided vocals on tracks with musical titans Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder and Elton John, among others. Most recently, the multidisciplinary artist took on the role of young Mahalia in the recently released film “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story” on Hulu, starring Ledisi. Sha’Leah continues to use her voice to uplift, empower and inspire others.
On Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, NYC-born Moxie Knox will deliver her take on Grammy Award-winning singer India.Arie’s song “Brown Skin,” an ode that celebrates melanated skin. Moxie Knox began her journey in entertainment as a dancer at the tender age of five, when she developed a passion for poetry and songwriting. This passion led her to begin studying song structure and interpreting lyrics. In 2019, her loyal fans put her on Sprite’s radar, resulting in two of her singles being selected out of 20,000 artist submissions for a spot on the SpriteWay Spotify playlists and her selection as the leading official SpriteWay Artist. She
continues to inspire and work hard every day, collaborating with top names in the industry and personifying the tenacity of a true entertainer. Tuesday, February 21 Sha’Leah Nikole – “Strange Fruit” On week 3 of the series, South Central native Sha’Leah Nikole will deliver an inspirational take on Billie Holiday’s powerful “Strange Fruit,” which was written by Abel Meeropol and protested the lynching of Black Americans. Sha’Leah has fully embraced her passion for the arts and is generating buzz within the West Coast music scene. She has shared the
The series will conclude on Tuesday, February 28, with LA-based vocalist Kadeem Nichols performing a rendition of “Someday We’ll All Be Free,” originally performed and co-written by the legendary Donny Hathaway, along with Edward Howard. A songwriter, musician and producer born in Queens, New York, Kadeem began his journey playing multiple instruments at a very young age. His talent afforded him the opportunity to work with artists such as Kanye West, Davido and Hezekiah Walker, in addition to various organizations and companies. He has also appeared on television and talk shows including “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “The Late Late Show with James Corden” and “The Neighborhood.” His most recent recording project, “The Muse,” is currently available on all digital streaming platforms. Stay tuned to @ASCAP and @ASCAPUrban’s social media for details or visit https://www.ascap.com/bhm2023 for more information.
Ida B. Wells Society Relocates from UNC-Chapel Hill to Morehouse College
Nyah Peebles, hbcubuzz.com On Thursday, Morehouse College announced that it is partnering with the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting (the Society) to support the future generation of journalism. The Society is a news trade organization dedicated to increasing and retaining reporters and editors of color in the field of investigative reporting. According to a news release, “this collaboration will produce a stronger, more innovative, data savvy, and ethical generation of investigative journalists with a shared sense of purpose.” Members of The Society will have an on-campus presence, serving as mentors and advisers to Morehouse students, preparing them for “ethical careers in journalism through skills building in investigative and social justice reporting,” according to the university. The new partnership will also give students greater access to internships, scholarships, graduate school placements, and employment Ron Thomas, the chair of the Morehouse Journalism in Sports, Culture, and Social Justice department said that the program “intentionally tries to fill the
gaps in media that rarely are populated by Black reporters and editors.” The Society is making the move to Morehouse after previously being based out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel. A launch for the Society’s Morehouse operations is scheduled for Feb. 16. Co-founders, Pulitzer Prizewinning New York Times reporter Nikole HannahJones and Vice president of News and Head of Investigations, Enterprise, Partnerships, and Grants at The Associated Press, Ron Nixon, are expected to be in attendance. “I am very excited to announce that Morehouse College will be the new home of the Ida B. Wells Society,” Hannah-Jones, said in a statement. “This partnership helps our young organization settle more deeply into our mission, which is to increase the number of investigative reporters of color. Being located on the campus of a historically Black college located in Atlanta in proximity to other HBCUs and coming to Morehouse just as it gets its journalism major off the ground, provides a tremendous opportunity for us to increase our impact on the field and society.”
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