This kid is going places! Preston Mutanga first took an interest in animation when his father introduced him to a new graphics software, Variety reports.  “[He showed me] this 3-D software called Blender and I instantly got hooked on it. I watched a lot of YouTube videos to teach myself certain stuff,” the teen recalled.  When “Across the Spider-Verse” released its trailer, the Toronto teen saw it as the perfect opportunity to put his skills to use, recreating the trailer using LEGO blocks and uploading it to Twitter. Preston’s work caught the eyes of producers Chris Lord and Phil Miller,...

She’s putting on for HBCUs! Ashley Jones is the founder of Tones of Melanin, an athleisure brand aimed at shining a light on historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Black Enterprise reports. They offer apparel, accessories, Divine 9 paraphernalia and an empowerment line, Jones holding more than 40 HBCU licenses and getting her apparel in major retailers including Dick’s Sporting Goods and Belk Stores. Recently, Jones appeared on an episode of “Shark Tank,” landing an impressive investment deal from billionaire Mark Cuban.  The Norfolk State University alum pitched her company to the sharks, explaining the business breakdown, the aim of...

She changed music forever! Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939 near Nutbush Tennessee, CNN reports. Growing up in humble beginnings, she eventually found her passion in music. By the age of 17, she was living in St. Louis when musician Ike Turner asked her to join his band.  “Ike had to come to the house and ask Ma if it was OK for me to sing with him. He knew I had the potential to be a star. We were close, like brother and sister,” Turner previously recalled.  But what began as a budding friendship,...

Get ready to hit the theaters! Last February, Oprah Winfrey announced the revival of “The Color Purple,” a 1985 film produced by Steven Spielberg starring Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Laurence Fishburne based on Alice Walker’s 1982 book of the same name. As Winfrey personally contacted cast members to let them know they earned the part, emotions ran high as they prepared to bring this moving story to the big screen for the second time. “I have such love for her, this character, everything she represents, and everything she brought to my life. And what I’m hoping is that...

He’s so deserving! Rapper Ludacris, born Chris Bridges, was honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame last week, CBS News reports. An award winning artist, Ludacris has sold more than 24 million albums, using his platform as a rapper to expand his brand into acting, animation, philanthropy, and a number of business pursuits. Since 2003, he has starred in the “Fast and Furious” franchise, set to appear in the upcoming seventh installation. He also has credits on blockbuster movies like “No Strings Attached,” “Crash,” and “Hustle & Flow,” which he earned a SAG Award for.  Now the multi-hyphenate...