Culture
Beyoncé Reigns As The Opening Act for The 94th Annual Oscars
Beyoncé spearheaded tonight’s Oscars with a mesmerizing performance for ‘Be Alive.’ The single is an original composition from the motion picture titled ‘King Richard‘ (a film about Venus, Serena, and their father Richard Williams).
Kicking off the performance was a troupe of young folks walking vigilantly, one of which was centered atop a black horse. Two young girls with white beads adorning their braids led the way which cemented the performance as a nod to the legendary Williams sisters. In fact, the main stage was even set on a tennis court in Compton, CA.

Rick Stevens/Associated Press
‘It feels so good to be alive,
Got all my sisters by my side
Couldn’t wipe this black off if I tried
That’s why I lift my head with pride
Now we’re sitting on top of the world again’
Beyonce painted the stage with Wilson-ball yellow (aka optic yellow; see ‘What Color Is a Tennis Ball?’) including violins and sunglasses. Beyonce’s look, of course, gave the most glam with feathers and diamonds galore!
Leave it to Miss Blue Ivy to still steal the show at the end of the ensemble. It’s nothing for the young star— she’s been making cameos before birth!
From hypnotizing harmonies to majestic dance numbers, Beyoncé once again led a ‘Black Parade.’ The performance was especially fitting for an Academy Award performance. Time and time again, Black people and other people of color are consistently snubbed from their due accolades.
Millions of fans currently await a fresh new masterpiece from the Queen. In a statement exclusive to BAZAAR, Beyonce explains that “there’s nothing like the amount of love, passion, and healing that I feel in the recording studio. After 31 years, it feels just as exciting as it did when I was nine years old. Yes, the music is coming!”
News
Rihanna Becomes First Female Artist to Surpass 200 Million RIAA Singles Certifications
Rihanna has crossed 200 million RIAA singles certifications in the United States, becoming the first Black vocalist and first female artist in the organization’s 73-year history to reach the milestone. Her total now stands at 200.5 million.
Two certification updates on April 10 pushed her over the mark. “Unfaithful,” track three on her 2006 album A Girl Like Me, was certified 4x Platinum in celebration of the album’s 20th anniversary. Her 2005 single “If It’s Lovin That You Want,” the second single from her debut album Music of the Sun, also crossed the 1x Platinum threshold more than two decades after its release. Platinum status represents one million equivalent units in the United States, with the RIAA counting 150 on-demand streams as the equivalent of one digital purchase.

Among all artists, she ranks third behind Drake at 277.5 million and Morgan Wallen at 215 million.
Rihanna hasn’t released an album since Anti in 2016. Catalog staples like “Umbrella,” “We Found Love,” “Only Girl (In the World),” and “Don’t Stop the Music” continue to accumulate certifications without new music driving them. Outside of her Super Bowl halftime show in 2023 and contributions to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Smurfs soundtracks, she has released no new solo music in nearly a decade.
As previously reported by miixtapechiick.com, Rihanna was spotted in the studio at 2 a.m. earlier this year and told Harper’s Bazaar in 2025 that she had “cracked the code” on the direction for her next project.
Culture
J. Cole Goes Scoreless in CBA Debut With Nanjing Monkey Kings
J. Cole made his debut with the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association on Saturday night, finishing without a point in eight minutes off the bench as Nanjing lost 95-81 to the Guangzhou Loong Lions.
Cole went 0-for-5 from the field, with all five attempts coming from behind the three-point line. He finished with one rebound and one assist. Cole addressed the outing on his blog afterward, keeping it straightforward. “I got to play 8 minutes in one of the top leagues in the world, got a few good looks but wasn’t able to hit one,” he wrote. “A couple more games and maybe those shots would have started to fall! Either way I’m fulfilled and grateful! Sh*t, I feel like I dropped 20!!!”
He also explained why he only appeared in one game. “Initially I was scheduled to play in at least 3 games for the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the CBA. The work visa process took way longer than expected, so I was only able to play in one before heading back.”
Saturday’s game was Cole’s third time suiting up for a professional team. He played for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Canada the following year.
Culture
Rihanna Steps Out in Paris With Daughter Rocki Irish Mayers
Rihanna was spotted in Paris last week with her daughter Rocki Irish Mayers, marking one of the baby girl’s first public outings since her birth in September 2025. A$AP Rocky was also present, spending the day with their eldest son RZA. Their youngest son Riot did not appear in photos from the outing.
Rocki was dressed in a vintage Dior green-and-black John Galliano beanie from 2002, a gray pleated Dior dress layered over jeans and sneakers. Rihanna wore a Carhartt hat, a Prada striped polo shirt, and carried her “Dracula” Dior bag. Rocky and RZA were photographed walking hand in hand nearby, with RZA in a pink-striped tee and dark shades.
Rihanna announced Rocki’s birth on Instagram on September 24, 2025, posting a photo holding her newborn alongside pink silk baby boxing gloves. “Rocki Irish Mayers Sept 13 2025,” she captioned it. During the Smurfs premiere earlier this year, she spoke about her sons’ reaction to having a little sister. “I’ve always wanted a girl,” she said. “But God knows best, right? And I love my boys.”
Rihanna and Rocky welcomed RZA in May 2022, Riot Rose in 2023, and Rocki Irish in September 2025.
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