contributors - Clarence Haynes

about Clarence Haynes

Big Boi's all grown up on first solo album

By Clarence Haynes

8:23 AM on 07/06/2010

REVIEW - In its exhilarating music and strong lyricism, 'Chico Dusty' asserts that 'hood life can go far beyond the same ole, same ole to show its potential richness...
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The Roots' 'How I Got Over' gets under your skin

By Clarence Haynes

7:52 AM on 06/22/2010

REVIEW - Going past the themes of perseverance, several of the tracks call on listeners to get up and work wickedness on the dance floor...
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Denzel, Viola Davis and diversity triumph at the Tonys

By Clarence Haynes

8:10 AM on 06/14/2010

OPINION - Broadway must continue to get the message that diversifying its production roster is essential to it remaining strong and relevant...
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Slideshow: theGrio's favorite songs of the summer

By Clarence Haynes

7:14 PM on 05/28/2010

SLIDESHOW - theGrio presents a collection of songs released during the summers of yesteryear that celebrate various shades of the season...
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Couples can't go wrong with 'Just Wright'

By Clarence Haynes

8:53 AM on 05/14/2010

REVIEW - Little moments give the flick its own elegance and charm, a pleasant experience for weekend moviegoers looking for warmth in the dark...
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Is Beyoncé's body behind the music video comeback?

By Clarence Haynes

8:43 AM on 05/12/2010

OPINION - Beyoncé's work is a continual homage to women who use their adorned and almost fully unclothed bodies to make an impression on audiences...
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'Fierce Angels' puts stereotypes of black women in perspective

By Clarence Haynes

8:08 AM on 04/23/2010

REVIEW - The new book focuses unflinchingly on the theme of strong black female communities and alternates between deconstructing the stereotypes and celebrating them...
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Black 'Death at a Funeral' doesn't live up to British original

By Clarence Haynes

8:31 AM on 04/16/2010

REVIEW - Feel free to check out the newest version, but then make sure to rent the original. And then, leaving the identity politics at the door, ask yourself which one you prefer...
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Badu's passions don't take a back seat on new album

By Clarence Haynes

8:11 AM on 03/30/2010

OPINION - Erykah Badu's new music video speaks of our current political climate, where conservative communities make death threats against the nation's first black president...
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Usher mimics Marvin Gaye on 'Raymond v. Raymond'

By Clarence Haynes

8:01 AM on 03/29/2010

OPINION - R&B hasn't been privy to many commercial releases positioned as male post-marital albums, but Usher's new offering can be seen as just that...
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Mo'Nique's win is one of Oscar night's 'Precious' moments

By Clarence Haynes

11:08 AM on 03/08/2010

OPINION - In a few lines, a raunchy, off-the-cuff comedian showed reverence, gratitude, tenacity and historical awareness...
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This year's Oscar nominees are rich with racial themes

By Clarence Haynes

8:18 AM on 03/07/2010

OPINION - From 'Avatar' and 'District 9' to 'The Blind Side' and 'Precious', this years Academy Award nominees both directly and indirectly grapple with issues regarding race...
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Why remaking 'We Are the World' may have been a mistake

By Clarence Haynes

9:01 AM on 02/17/2010

OPINION - Something about the remake feels inauthentic, the simplicity of the original has more sway...
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Black music without borders: Five artists you need to hear

By Clarence Haynes

8:13 AM on 02/16/2010

OPINION - Over the past month, a handful of international artists have released albums that speak to the varied experiences within the African Diaspora...
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Sade's return is worth the wait

By Clarence Haynes

8:05 AM on 02/08/2010

OPINION - Sade has always been a chill-out enterprise, yet 'Soldier of Love' takes this idea up a notch...
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Soul music legend Bill Withers shines in new documentary

By Clarence Haynes

7:08 AM on 02/04/2010

OPINION - Even as he faced record executives who tried to shut him down, Withers' ability to be emotionally authentic is apparent in his songs...
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Grammy Preview: Beyoncé is queen of nominations; Maxwell makes a comeback

By Clarence Haynes

8:08 AM on 01/29/2010

OPINION - As the Grammys evolve with the changing terrain, there are still time honored traditions that viewers can expect from the night...
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'The Book of Eli': A not-so-new parable of burnt-out beauty

By Clarence Haynes

8:13 AM on 01/15/2010

REVIEW - Albert and Allen Hughes return with another stylized, moody tale -- this time depicting a post-apocalyptic future featuring Denzel Washington as neo-prophet Eli...
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Mary J. Blige's 'Stronger With Each Tear' is a gem

By Clarence Haynes

8:02 PM on 12/30/2009

REVIEW - Mary J Blige's latest album is a gem, well-suited for those who are deeply content or have down-on-yourself blues...
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Notable African-Americans we lost in 2009

By Clarence Haynes

10:11 AM on 12/29/2009

SLIDESHOW - As 2009 comes to an end, we take a moment to reflect on several public figures who have passed during the past year...
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