-Revolt is set to premiere Breaking Genres — a special series exploring the dismissal of music genres in the millennial era — on Nov. 16 (8 p.m. ET). Quincy Jones, Rick Rubin, Diplo, Damon Albarn, RZA, Nas, Erykah Badu, Common, 50 Cent and Aloe Blacc are among the more than 80 artists, producers and record executives interviewed for the five-part, 30-minute series two years in the making. Co-billed as “The Re-Format of Music Culture,” Breaking Genres is executive-produced by Revolt head of news & programming Rahman Dukes. “The advent of technology and generational changes has created a mashup of culture and options that blur the lines between urban and indie, black and white,” says Revolt Vice Chairman Andre Harrell in a release announcing the series. “Now after all this time, we’re back to the beginning. Is it a hit or not?”
-The original soundtrack for director/producer Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq will be released Dec. 4 when the Amazon Studios’ film opens nationwide. The 13-track set, issued by Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule and RCA Records, features new material performed by R. Kelly, Jennifer Hudson and Sam Dew, plus Mali Music, Treasure Davis and Nick Cannon, among others. The soundtrack is available for pre-order on Nov. 13 at Amazon.com, iTunes and Google Play. A modern day adaption of the ancient Greek play Lysistrata with Chicago’s violent Southside as its backdrop, Chi-Raq boasts a cast that includes Cannon, Hudson, Wesley Snipes, Angela Bassett, John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson.
-Speaking of films, rapper/actor Common has been named the 2016 celebrity ambassador for the American Black Film Festival. Celebrating its 20th anniversary next year, the festival will return to Miami for its five-day program (June 15-19). Among the film screenings, events and networking opportunities being slated is “A Conversation with Common.” The Academy Award winner (best original song for “Glory”) has three upcoming films: Barbershop 3, John Wick 2 and Suicide Squad.
–Earth, Wind & Fire will reteam with Chicago next year for an extension of the group’s successful summer tour, Heart and Soul. Promoted by Live Nation, Heart and Soul Tour 2.0 will kick off March 23, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. The 15-date schedule includes stops in Milwaukee, Chicago and Baltimore before wrapping at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 18. The tour’s initial run, beginning July 15, covered more than 25 cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Boston. Chicago received its first Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination in October; EWF was inducted in 2000.
