Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Actor marks Tupac’s 50th birthday
To celebrate what would have been Tupac Shakur’s 50th birthday on Wednesday, Jada Pinkett Smith has released a rare poem penned by the late rap legend.
On Tuesday, the actor posted a video on social media featuring a series of profound stanzas handwritten for her by Shakur. Pinkett Smith and Shakur met while attending high school at the Baltimore School for the Arts, where they forged a close friendship.
“Tupac Amaru Shakur would have been 50 midnight tonight!” Pinkett Smith wrote Tuesday on Twitter. “As we prepare to celebrate his legacy ... let’s remember him for that which we loved most ... his way with words. Here are a few you may have never heard before.”
According to the actor, Shakur likely wrote the poem while serving time at the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City after he was convicted of sexual abuse in 1995, and before he was shot and killed at age 25 in 1996.
Smith said she believes the poem, “Lost Soulz,” to be the “original concept” for his song “Lost Souls,” from the soundtrack of 1997’s “Gang Related,” starring Shakur and Jim Belushi.
Lipa, Eilish, Rodrigo set for iHeartRadio fest: After going virtual for 2020, the iHeartRadio Music Festival will be back live and in Las Vegas this year, iHeartMedia announced Wednesday, with Dua
Lipa, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Lil Baby among the performers set to take the stage Sept. 17 and 18. Also on the main stage will be Khalid, Coldplay, Florida Georgia Line and Weezer.
Highlights will be broadcast in specials on the CW Network Oct. 2 and 3, with Ryan Seacrest hosting.
The CW app and CWTV. com will livestream the nighttime performances in real time, while iHeartMedia radio stations will also broadcast them live.
Jay-Z sues photographer: Jay-Z is accusing a New York photographer of allegedly “exploiting” his image after the two men worked together on photo shoots when the rapper was a Brooklyn teen.
The rapper filed a new lawsuit Tuesday claiming Jonathan Mannion is hawking his vintage photos of the music mogul for “thousands of dollars per copy” even though Jay-Z paid for the images and never consented to the sales. Mannion claims he owns the images and has done nothing wrong.
Crowe launches studio: Actor Russell Crowe has announced plans to fulfill his dream of operating
a movie studio in northern New South Wales in Australia, close to where he has lived for 25 years.
Crowe unveiled the details of a new facility at Coffs Harbour, saying, “I want the East Coast of Australia to be synonymous with the film industry, globally.” He estimates that the complex could open in three to five years.
Crowe says he will keep a “close design eye” on all aspects of the facility, which will include tourism functions.
June 17 birthdays: Actor William Lucking is 80. Singer Barry Manilow is 78. Comedian Joe Piscopo is 70. Director Bobby Farrelly is 63. Actor Greg Kinnear is 58. Comedian Will Forte is 51. Actor Jodie Whittaker is 39. Actor Manish Dayal is 38. Singer Mickey Guyton is 38. Rapper Kendrick Lamar is 34. Actor KJ Apa is 24.