The Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk has finally opened up to the public after four years of planning, work and delayed construction. Mayor Bill de Blasio marked the official grand opening of the Amphitheater on June 29^th, 2016 with an honorary ribbon cutting ceremony, just in time for the annual 4^th of July holiday weekend. The $60 million investment venue, developed by iStar is expected to bring new affordable housing to the Coney Island area, more open space and should provide over 240 living-wage jobs.

The Amphitheater will be operated by LiveNation and assisted by Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment in programming and branding of the theater, the same company that oversees the Barclays Center’s business operations. The theater which already has a series of events lined up for the summer can seat up to 5,000 individuals. The main stage of the theater is built into the southern side of the landmarked Childs Building, which is set to be finishing off renovations on a new restaurant and a 400,000 square-foot greenspace set to open sometime next year in 2017.

Here’s a list of the ongoing performances at the Amphitheater for the month of July:

July 1: Impractical Jokers/ The Tenderloins

July 3: Sting & Peter Gabriel

July 4: The Beach Boys

July 9: Maxwell with Ro James

July 10: Hollywood Vampires Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Johnny Depp

July 15: Jane’s Addiction with Dinosaur JR. and Nothing

July 16: 311 with special guest Matisyahu

July 17: The Kids Bop Kids

July 23: Slightly Stoopid with Sosa, Zion I, The Grouch, Eligh

July 26: Travis Scott with Metro Boomin

July 29: The art of Rap festival featuring Public Enemy, Ice-T, Naughty by Nature, Mobb Deep and more

July 30: Andrew Dice Clay- back in Brooklyn

July 31: Dark Star Orchestra

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In less than a few days the BET Awards will be airing yet another of its annual presentation ceremonies, featuring performances by well-known and upcoming artists. This year’s award will feature a lineup tribute to the late Prince with performances by Sheila E., D’Angelo, The Roots and Janelle Monae. BET promised last month to pay a much better tribute to the late “Purple Rain” musician, following the performance of Madonna alongside Stevie Wonder during the Billboard Music Awards.

This year’s award categories include:

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

Best Male R&B/ Pop Artist

Best Group

Best Collaboration

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

Video of the Year

Video Director of the Year

Best New Artist

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/ Inspirational Award

Best Actress

Best Actor

Youngstars Award

Best Movie

Sportswoman of the Year

Sportsman of the Year

Coca Cola Viewer’s Choice Award

Best International Act Africa

Best International Act U.K

With Performances by:

Future

Usher

Bryson Tiller

Alicia Keys

Maxwell

D’Angelo

Sheila E.

Janelle Monae

The Roots

The BET awards will be hosted by American actor, comedian and writer, Anthony Anderson, alongside American actress, model, comedian, producer and television host, Tracee Ellis Moss.

You won’t want to miss all of the spectacular performances this Sunday on June 26^th at 8pm on the BET channel. Last year performances by Kendrick Lamar brought up topics like “Black Lives Matters.” Who knows what this year’s award show will bring, but you’ll have to watch and see.

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Can you believe it’s been 7yrs since Maxwell has entertained us, wooed us, loved on us and caressed us with his soulful, yet inspiring voice? Well he’s back and this time he’s back with a more philanthropist approach in which was the catalyst for his album BlackSUMMERS’ Night set to hit stores July 1, 2016.

During an Interview on The Breakfast Club Maxwell became very candid about how he’s now on a more philosophical level; most of the songs on his upcoming album, while it’s still talking about love; the music videos were made to represent and bring focus to the many issues that are happening within the world right now such as the many countries whom do not have clean water; in which you will see portrayed in the video. Maxwell also talks about how the connection with people are not felt anymore due to the technological world and its advances; However he stated that music, is the one thing that still has a way of connecting with everyone.

Maxwell also reveals in the interview about the many anxieties and challenges of competing with the music he’s completed before, The pressure of staying in his lane vs. the Industry lane of fame and how he chooses to stay timeless regardless of the mounting pressure to change. Maxwell; whom loves to listen to Yo Gotti, Travis Smith and other TRAP and/or raunchy music states that while they are good he feels he has to be more concerned about his own brand & sticking to the conforms of his music in which he hopes will go home with you, be enjoyed with family and listened to as inspiration while you’re cooking Sunday dinner – Music you can get married and have babies to.

According to Maxwell – BlackSUMMERS’ night was being worked on in 2003-2004 – and stated that “Lake by the Ocean” was actually written 5yrs ago. Maxwell states that he likes to wait for the right kind of experiences to infuse songs with them and it looks like Lake by the Ocean might have sparked his philosophical mood.

If you’re wondering if Maxwell plans to go on hiatus again after this album – Think Again, The Pretty Wings crooner states that for the first time, he has a surplus of albums on stand-by; so us ladies don’t have to worry about missing his lustrous voice for quite some time, Can I get an AMEN! for that…

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While other rappers are getting ready for summer16’s playful pop style, Ivy Sole alternatively gives listeners a soundtrack fit for spiritual spring cleaning; something motivational for anyone grinding away, focusing on work, or channeling positive energy towards the next big dream. As the young Taurus celebrates her 23rd birthday and gears up for a new chapter in her life, we were able to catch up for a short but telling interview about Ivy Sole’s new music and future plans!RESPECT: I’ve read some press on Eden that calls it an EP and some that call it an album. What is the truth? What is your official discography so far?

IVY: The truth is it’s the first real project I’ve dropped in my life and if it sounds like an album, it’s because I treated it that way. My official discography starts with Eden.

The last time we spoke, you had just dropped a mixtape, Exquisite Corpse, and you were a part of an arts collective called Third Eye Optiks. Plus, you are currently in two bands, Liberal Arts and IndiGold . What’s the artistic difference between the music you make on our own, and the music you make with your bands- and what’s the status of Liberal Arts right now?

I’m no longer affiliated with Third Eye Optiks, it’s a now defunct collective, although many of us are still pursuing music. As you’ll see on Eden, I’m still collaborating with many of the LA homeys, but as for making projects as a group, I don’t know if that’s in the cards. Indigold came out of this summer, it was supposed to be a side project and turned into a really amazing experience with a really well-received EP. Indigold is the way I make the music that doesn’t fit neatly within the hip hop/soul and allows me to have the collaborative outlet that I love about being in a group/collective.You’re a North Carolina native, educated at UPenn, and residing in Philly now. When you think of your home, what immediately comes to mind?

At first, I’d say my mother & sister, the people who make home what it is. Then, I’d say just the feeling that you get when you’ve been away and you get to return to something or someone. That feeling, to me, is home.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

I wanted to be a doctor, mostly because of how lucrative it could be, but I hated physics and lost interest.

You have new footage up of the Eden Release Party. How was that experience for you, and why did you pick Mir Fontane and Sammus as your openers?

The release party was amazing, about 100 of my closest friends & supporters to celebrate the completion of Eden. It was a goal that I’d always had and it felt great to be able to fill a room and really just vibe out. It had a great turnout and people came from out of town to come support, including my mom. The openers were chosen based on preexisting relationships. Mir is a great, talented guy from the southside of Jersey & we met through performing in Philly. Sammus is a fellow femcee and Ivy League grad who’s making some dope moves, and we got connected via her manager.

All Mine has a great King Krule sample from Out Getting Ribs. Are you a big King Krule fan or was that just the producer’s choice? What your favorite King Krule song.

I’m a huge King Krule fan, especially the multiple mediums that accompany his new album A New Place 2 Drown.

You said on The Vow that you daydream about doing shows in different cities. What’s a city you’ve never been to where it would be a dream come true to perform?  

I honestly can’t pick one, but I’m really excited at the prospect of performing abroad. I’ve heard that Europe is really good to hip hop artists.You’ve explained before that your spiritual beliefs align more with eastern religion than western religion. Yet, the title Eden obviously references the Bible and Christianity. Plus, on You Don’t Know My Name you end the instrumental with a sample from Genesis 3:18. Can you talk about the spiritual undertones of the album in terms of your personal faith and how it relates to the album’s theme? 

I think the answer to that is three-fold. In one respect, Eden is the beginning of a journey for me–musically, creatively, and professionally. Also, the song that follows that sound clip is a retelling of the story of the garden of Eden, so creatively it helps move the project from one topic to the next. And lastly, I think my music will consistently be a meditation on religion & spirituality. On Master Plan, I ask the question, “Is it the master plan or the master’s plan?” and one of the meanings of that line is the uncertainty of knowing whether what you’re doing is just the actions or if it’s a part of some higher being’s plan for your life. I haven’t decided which one I believe just yet lol.

You Don’t Know My Name speaks to your first experience with puppy love, and it’s really cute. How old were you when you had your first crush that you rap about on the song?

YDKMN is actually written from the perspective of a man reflecting on the relationships he’s in or has pursued in the past. The first verse is the present, the second is college, and the third is like middle school.

Love is a reoccurring theme throughout the entire album and you tackle it again and again with songs like Enough, and Lost Without You. Do you believe in soulmates, like there’s one true love for every person? 

I don’t believe in soulmates in the traditional sense. I think that in life we find people who match our energy at a specific frequency and whether or not these friendships or relationships last isn’t indicative of a lack of something.

What does Black Sensuality mean to you?

Black sensuality in artistic forms is one of my favorite things in the world. I think reclaiming Black sexuality and the ways its been portrayed as improper or hypersexual and making it more intimate and subdued. I think restraint is a really powerful way to show intimacy and my favorite artists do that well (Prince, Maxwell, Floetry, etc)

Who is Malika?

Malika is a symbol for a beautiful girl, like the type of person that kinda stops the room when they walk in.

What’s the last song you listened to?

Can’t Keep Checking My Phone by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Specifically what songs on Eden did you produce?

I produced YDKMN and collaborated with CS~W in a very minor capacity on Master Plan & Cloud Kickin’.

How do you spend the majority of your free time?

I’m working full time on music and freelancing as a designer/writer, so most of what would be my free-time, is actually spent on music & whatnot. But before this, I played pick up basketball and spent time outdoors.

How long were you a vegetarian, and why do you practice veganism?

I’m still a vegetarian, haven’t really been able to let go of cheese just yet haha.

What should the fans look out for next?

I’m planning a mini-tour for the fall, I’m definitely excited to get out on the road and connect with people in real time.

What the one thing you particularly want people to notice when they look at your work?

I want them to see that everything I do is genuine & personal.

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In Ofei‘s voice, you can hear the soothing facility of The Weeknd mixed with the tender electronic throb of Erykah Badu, the smooth, falsetto, crooning of Maxwell, and a storytelling technique reminiscent of Kanye West’s “Dark Fantasy”. London-based,singer-songwriter Ofei makes his debut with new single, “Tomorrow”, which will no doubt substantiate his soaring, raspy baritone as a torchbearer for UK soul music. The up-and-coming soulman somehow manages to bury the track by whispering over the straightforward, yet dominant piano beat. Listen below.

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