BET Celebrates Black Music Month With “The Message” – Tha Wire [VIDEO]

June is Black Music Month and BET is jumping in headfirst with a 4-part documentary series called, “The Message.” 

Similar to VH1’s “Tanning of America”, “The Message” will examine the changes in Hip-Hop since its inception in 1970.  BET’s president of Music Programming and Specials for BET, Stephen Hill said of the series, “Hip hop is a seed planted and nourished amongst the ‘broken glass everywhere’ of mid-70s New York.  It has grown to be a worldwide phenomenon and the dominant culture of at least one generation.” Hill continued, “This exciting series examines the origin and the path of the music and message, taking care to objectively analyze its factions and movements.”

Of course, you can’t talk about Hip Hop and not include it’s pioneers, so the show features everyone from Russell Simmons to LL Cool J, Ice Cube, MC Lyte, Funkmaster Flex, Pharrell, Kendrick Lamar, Doug E. Fresh and many others.

Tune in and get “The Message” on BET every Wednesday this month at 9 pm CT/ 10 pm ET.  Speaking of which, here's what you missed last night in Part 1.

In other news, Dr. Maya Angelou’s home going service will be at Wake Forrest University in Winston-Salem North Carolina, where she taught for more than 30 years.  The legendary author was actually scheduled to teach a class on "race, culture and gender in the US south and beyond" this autumn.  Dr. Angelou died last Wednesday at the age of 86.

Her funeral will be this Saturday June 7^th and will live streamed for the public.  Several celebs and dignitaries are planning to attend and her son, Guy Johnson, will release info about other celebrations regarding his mother throughout the country in the coming days.

Wake Forest University President Nathan O. Hatch said Wednesday,

“Dr. Angelou was a national treasure whose life and teachings inspired millions around the world, including countless students, faculty, and staff at Wake Forest, where she served as Reynolds Professor of American Studies since 1982. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dr. Angelou’s family and friends during this difficult time.

 

Maya Angelou has been a towering figure — at Wake Forest and in American culture. She had a profound influence in civil rights and racial reconciliation. We will miss profoundly her lyrical voice and always keen insights.”

Finally it looks like the rumors are true, G-Unit is back together.  50 Cent name dropped the unit on the track “Real Quick” and ever since then, there’s been a lot of chatter as to whether or not a G-Unit reunion was gonna happen.

To learn about the upcoming G-Unit album and all the stories above, listen to Tha Wire now.