Kanye West’s Flame Thrower-Fueled Performance of “All Day” Was Epic

Kanye West had yesterday’s BRIT Awards lit for the performance of “All Day,” as he and anywhere between 50 and 500 dudes dressed in all black mobbed on stage, some wielding flame throwers. The final version of the track, which features Theophilus London and Allan Kingdom, was leaked in incomplete form twice last year. But the final version is a stronger, welcome return to hip-hop for ’Ye. (Recent singles “Only One” and “FourFiveSeconds” feature a gentler vibe and Auto-Tuned singing.)

Here, Kanye is all Throne-level stunting and South Side Chicago aggression: “You a fake Denzel like the Allstate n-gga/If you run into me, better have Allstate with you/You a Rico Suave n-gga/Drive around listening to Sade n-gga.” Yeezy Season is in full swing! Keep your eyes and ears peeled for his next album, which Kanye has said is 80% finished and will be released with no advance notice, hopefully sooner than later.

Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique Star in HBO Bessie Smith Biopic May 16

After reigning over hip-hop in the ’90s and exploring jazz with 2004’s The Dana Owens Album, Queen Latifah is venturing into classic blues. The 44-year-old icon is portraying Bessie Smith in an HBO film called Bessie, based on the life of one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s. According to Billboard, the film took more than two decades to be made, time Latifah says was necessary. “When the project came my way, I don’t think I had the life journey that went along with it,” says Latifah, who recorded some of Smith’s popular songs for the movie. “I got to live more of the blues.” The Dee Rees-directed movie, which premieres on May 16, also stars Mo’Nique as blues legend Ma Rainey, as well as Mike Epps and Charles S. Dutton.

Read it at Billboard.

Meagan Good Is Co-Producing a Drama Series For WSHH

WorldStarHipHop might be best known for hosting ratchet music videos and Sharkeisha, but the viral website is looking to expand with some original, quality programming. The site has picked up a Meagan Good co-produced drama titled All That Matters, which stars Tamara Bass and Tracey Dukes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series focuses on “a newly engaged couple whose lives are changed forever when Joy’s sister Rochelle (Candice Renee) disappears after leaving her 5-year-old daughter (Josiah Smith).” Good says she created the show for its universal appeal. “I write drama because it’s a universal language,” she said. “Family drama is universal. Life throwing you curveballs is universal.” All That Matters will premiere with five episodes on March 9, and update weekly thereafter.

Read it at The Hollywood Reporter.