The Weeknd has announced ‘The Dawn FM Experience,’ a new immersive music special based on his most recent album of the same name. The special will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on Saturday, February 26.  A synopsis reads that ‘The Dawn FM Experience‘ will expand the Dawn FM album “into a mesmerizing visual, creating a theatrical performance event that will envelop audiences in its unnerving and moody world.”

The Weeknd — Abel Tesfaye — said in a press release:  “I’m ecstatic to partner with Amazon to premiere the most elaborate live TV special I’ve ever done. Welcome to the next phase of Dawn FM — a purgatory otherworld where live performance, theater, and performance art collide for a night out at the club.”

The Dawn FM Experience will only be available to Prime subscribers. Other content will be available around the special program, including an eight-track live EP that will be available to stream exclusively on Amazon Music.  Exclusive merch will also be launched to celebrate the special, including limited-edition items and will only be available to customers in the US via amazon.com/theweeknd from 3pm ET on Friday, 2/25.

Dawn FM was released in January 2022, and features guest appearances by the likes of Lil Wayne, Quincy Jones, Oneohtrix Point Never, Tyler, The Creator, and actor Jim Carrey.  You can buy or stream Dawn FM – here.

https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/the-weeknd-dawn-fm-experience-amazon-prime-video-1235186776/

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Dave Chappelle is set to produce a series of comedy specials for Netflix.  The streaming service announced that the comedian will serve as executive producer for the upcoming series titled “Chappelle’s Home Team.”  The series will feature a total of four specials.  The first special, “Earthquake: Legendary,” features the comedian Earthquake and will premiere on Feb. 28. Donnell Rawlings will appear in the next special, with a release date TBD.

In a statement, Chappelle said: “I’ve been doing this a long time and comedians like Quake and Donnell are not only friends but have inspired my own career. Anyone in the comedy community knows these names and knows their time to shine is long overdue. I am proud to be a part of this moment.”

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‘Peacemaker” creator James Gunn and series star Jennifer Holland are engaged after 7 years together. The 55-year-old filmmaker and 35-year-old actress announced the news on social media. Gunn simply wrote “” in the caption of his Instagram post, which featured a photo of Holland sipping from a mug with a diamond ring visible on her left hand.  Holland simply posted a picture of the couple with the caption “Happiness”.  Holland and Gunn have been in a relationship since 2015, when they were first introduced by their mutual friend Michael Rosenbaum.

Gunn is the director of box office hits such as the Guardians of the Galaxy series and The Suicide Squad, as well as the writer, director, and creator of the Suicide Squad spin-off series Peacemaker, starring John Cena as the titular superhero. Holland first teamed-up with Gunn in the 2019 superhero horror film Brightburn, produced by Gunn.  She joined the DCEU with last year’s The Suicide Squad, which was written and directed by Gunn, and originated the onscreen role of Emilia Harcourt, an A.R.G.U.S. agent assisting the rag-tag group of supers through their mission from the comms room. In HBO Max’s Peacemaker, Harcourt is part of the black ops team working on “Project Butterfly,” fighting against the parasitic butterfly-like alien species that’s begun taking human form.

https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2022/02/21/James-Gunn-engaged-Jennifer-Holland-Peacemaker/6581645453214/

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Earthgang – the duo of WowGr8 and Olu — has revealed the album art for their upcoming album, Ghetto Gods, and has also confirmed the LP is set for release this Friday, February 25.

Earthgang also shared a new song, “Amen,” which has a gospel influence, especially towards the start of the track, before a hip-hop sound comes into focus.  Take a listen to “Amen” – here.

Ghetto Gods is out February 25th via Dreamville/Interscope. To pre-order the LP at your streaming service of choice, head here.

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In anticipation of the release of his new album ‘Donda 2,’ Kanye ‘Ye’ West will also hold a live concert for the album’s release in Miami. Ye recently took to his Instagram to announce that he won’t be releasing Donda 2 on any major streaming platforms (Youtube, Apple, Spotify), instead sharing that the new album will stream exclusively on his platform Stem player. Stem Player isn’t actually a streaming platform; according to its website, it’s a small device that allows users to split songs into “stems”, costing around $200.  Said Ye on social media: “Donda 2 will only be available on my own platform, the Stem Player. Not on Apple Amazon Spotify or YouTube. Today artists get just 12% of the money the industry makes. It’s time to free music from this oppressive system. It’s time to take control and build our own. Go to stemplayer.com now to order.”

Ye has also announced plans to live-stream his Donda 2 concert in IMAX theatres across 15 cities in the United States. AMC Theatres announced that they will be live streaming Kanye West’s Donda Experience concert/listening party on Tuesday, February 22 in IMAX theatres across 15 cities. MAX Entertainment president Megan Colligan in a statement said, “Kanye is one of the most ambitious and groundbreaking artists of our time. And we are grateful for the opportunity to again share his genius with his loyal fans across the country.”

Tickets are on sale now for the exclusive live IMAX presentation of the upcoming concert, which is set to take place on Tuesday (February 22) at 9:00 p.m. ET at loanDepot Park Stadium in Miami, Fla.

Kanye West ‘Donda 2’ Listening Party to Play in IMAX Theaters: Here’s Where to Find Tickets

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‘Uncharted’ is the No. 1 movie in North America, earning $51 million in its debut over the 3-day Presidents Day weekend, and making it the biggest opening weekend since “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, the Ruben Fleischer-directed film, based on a PlayStation game, opened on 4,275 screens.

Uncharted’s global total has already surpassed $100 million, and unlike “Spider-Man” the film will also get the benefit of a release in China, beginning March 14.

Coming in at No. 2 at the box office is Dog with $15.1 million, followed by Spider-Man: Now Way Home at No. 3 with $7.7 million, Death on the Nile at No. 4 with $6.3 million and Jackass Forever at No. 5 with $5.2 million.

Rounding out the top tier are Marry Me at No. 6 with $3.7 million, Sing 2 at No. 7 with $2.8 million, Scream at No. 8 with $2 million, Blacklight at No. 9 with $1.8 million and The Cursed at No. 10 with $1.7 million.

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Netflix revealed that Stranger Things will end with the newly-announced fifth season, and also detailed the fourth season, plus hinted that an all-new Stranger Things series could be in the works.

Netflix announced the premiere date for the 1980s-set sci-fi drama’s fourth season, which is being split into two parts. Volume 1 of season four will debut May 27. The second half of the fourth season, Volume 2, will debut July 1.

Creators Matt and Ross Duffer wrote in an open letter:  “Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things. At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons. It proved too large to tell in four but — as you’ll see for yourselves — we are now hurtling toward our finale.”

“It’s been a little while,” they added. “With nine scripts, over eight-hundred pages, almost two years of filming, thousands of visual effects shots and a runtime nearly twice the length of any previous season, Stranger Things 4 was the most challenging season yet, but also the most rewarding one. Everyone involved is incredibly proud of the results, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Given the unprecedented length, and to get it to you as soon as possible, Season 4 will be released in two volumes.”

The duo also strongly hinted that Stranger Things might get a sequel or spinoff series beyond the show’s current story and cast: “There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things: new mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected heroes. But first, we hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her brave friends, of a broken police chief and a ferocious mom, of a small town called Hawkins and an alternate dimension known only as the Upside Down.”

https://popcrush.com/stranger-things-ending-season-5/

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Jack Harlow has returned with his new single, “Nail Tech,” his first new solo music in over a year.  The new single arrives with an accompanying music video directed by Jack with Frank Borin, with an appearance by City Girls member Yung Miami.

Jack’s last solo music was “Thats What They All Say,” but he has also kept busy with various collaborations and touring across the country.  Harlow earned his first No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 song with Lil Nas X for “Industry Baby” (which also earned them a Grammy nomination in the Best Melodic Rap Performance category), and teamed up with Pooh Shiesty on “SUVs (Black on Black).”

Check out the video for Jack Harlow’s new single “Nail Tech” – here.

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Lizzo’s dance competition series, titled “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls,” is premiering on Amazon Prime Video next month. The eight-episode unscripted show, which is Lizzo’s first project as part of her first-look deal with Amazon Studios, will premiere on the streaming service March 25.

According to an official description, the show “follows “global superstar and icon Lizzo, who is on the hunt for confident, bad-ass women to join the elite ranks of the Big Grrrls and join her world tour. With 10 hopeful women moving into the Big Grrrls House, they must prove they have what it takes to make it to the end and join Lizzo in front of a global audience on the center stage.”

Choreographer Tanisha Scott joins Lizzo to help with her search for the next Big Grrrls, as well as original tour dancers Chawnta’ Marie Van, Shirlene Quigley and Grace Holden. The show will also feature several special guests, including SZA, choreographer Charm La’Donna and body movement expert Rashida KhanBey Miller.

Watch the full trailer for “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls” – here.

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HBO Max has renewed James Gunn‘s DC series Peacemaker for a second season. Peacemaker is a spin-off from “Suicide Squad,” and stars John Cena in the role of government assassin Chris Smith/Peacemaker. The series first premiered on HBO Max in January.  Gunn, who wrote all eight episodes of Peacemaker‘s first season and helmed five, will write and direct all episodes for the upcoming season.

Gunn said in a statement: “Creating Peacemaker has been one of the true highlights of my life, both professionally and otherwise, with John Cena and the incredible creative team around me, as well as our partners at HBO Max. To have something we all love so much be loved by the audience in turn has been a wonderful experience. I can’t wait for folks to see where team Peacemaker goes in season two!”  Prior to HBO Max’s renewal announcement, Gunn also disclosed that a separate ‘Suicide Squad’ spinoff series based on a different character was also in development.

Said Cena: “I am incredibly honored and humbled by the response to Peacemaker and the experience of playing this character. Thank you to James Gunn, Peter Safran, HBO Max, the crew, and my castmates who worked tirelessly to make this unforgettable series.”

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com