Melissa De Sousa to Appear on Fourth Season of the CW’s “Black Lightning”

Life’s a flash for Melissa De Sousa. 

The 53-year-old Panamanian American actress will appear on the fourth season of the CW’s Black Lightning in a key recurring role.

Melissa De Sousa

De Sousa plays Chief Anna Lopez, the new Chief of Police of Freeland. Determined to rebuild the city and bring it to a place of peace and justice, Lopez has strong views on the metahuman population that differ from her predecessor, the late Chief Henderson. Seeing metahumans as “freaks” equally as bad as The 100 gang members, Lopez believes they should all be documented, tagged, and monitored at all times. In the end, Lopez will do whatever it takes to level the playing field and protect her officers from the metahumans.

Based on the DC characters, the series hails from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

De Sousa most recently starred opposite Kirsten Dunst on Showtime’s On Becoming a God in Central Florida. She also led the cult hit series Single Ladies for BET Networks.

In film, De Sousa is best known for her work in The Best Man and The Best Man Holiday, starring opposite Terrence Howard.

Cardi B Earns 10 BET Hip Hop Awards Nominations including MVP of the Year

It’s a Perfect 10 for Cardi B

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American rap star leads the ladies field of nominees for the 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards with 10, behind only Drake, who earned 11.

Cardi B

Cardi B, the big winner at last year’s ceremony with five awards including Best New Hip Hop Artist, is up for Hot Ticket Performer, MVP of the Year, Hustler of the Year and the Made-You-Look Award, aka Best Hip Hop Style. 

Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy has earned a nod in the Album of the Year category,while she’s up for the Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse award for her part on “Motorsport” (Migos feat. Cardi B & Nicki Minaj).

Meanwhile, Carbi B’s “I Like It” collaboration with Bad Bunny and J Balvin has earned nods in the Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Collab, Duo or Group and Single of the Year.

For the second consecutive year, the awards ceremony will return to The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater on October 6.BET Networkswill premiere the annual telecast on October 16 (8 p.m. ET/PT).

Here’s the complete list of the 2018 nominees:

Best Hip-Hop Video
Cardi B – “I Like It” feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Kendrick Lamar – “Loyalty” feat. Rihanna
Migos – “Walk It Talk It” feat. Drake

Hot Ticket Performer
Cardi B
Childish Gambino
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Travis Scott

Album of the Year
Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
Drake – Scorpion
Cole – KOD
Migos – Culture II
The Carters – Everything Is Love 

Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Dave Meyers & The Little Homies
Director X
Eif Rivera
Hiro Murai
Karena Evans

Lyricist of the Year
Childish Gambino
Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Travis Scott

MVP of the Year
Cardi B
Childish Gambino
Drake
J. Cole
Travis Scott

Producer of the Year
Ben Billions
DJ Esco
DJ Mustard
Metro Boomin
Pharrell Williams

Best Collabo, Duo or Group
21 Savage & Offset & Metro Boomin – “Ric Flair Drip”
Blocboy JB – “Look Alive” feat. Drake
Cardi B – “I Like It” feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Post Malone – “Rockstar” feat. 21 Savage
The Carters – “Apes**t”

Single of the Year
“Apesh*t” – Produced by Pharrell (The Carters)
“God’s Plan” – Produced by Cardo, Young Exclusive and Boi-1da (Drake)
“I Like It” – Produced by Craig Kallman, JWhiteDidIt and Tainy (Cardi B Feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin)
“Nice for What” – Produced by Murda Beatz (Drake)
“This Is America” – Produced by Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson (Childish Gambino)

Best New Hip Hop Artist
Blocboy JB
Juice Wrld
Lil Baby
Rich the Kid
XXXTentacion

Best Mixtape
BlocBoy JB – Simi
Future – Beast Mode 2
Juicy J – Shut Da F* Up
Lil Wayne – Dedication 6: Reloaded
Zoey Dollaz – Sorry Not Sorry 

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi” (Cardi B feat. 21 Savage)
Cardi B – “Motorsport” (Migos feat. Cardi B & Nicki Minaj)
Drake – “Look Alive” (Blocboy JB feat. Drake)
Kendrick Lamar – “New Freezer” (Rich the Kid feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Nicki Minaj – “Big Bank” (YG feat. 2 Chainz, Big Sean & Nicki Minaj)

Impact Track
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dej Loaf & Leon Bridges – “Liberated”
Lecrae – “I’ll Find You” feat. Tori Kelly
Meek Mill – “Stay Woke” feat. Miguel
N.E.R.D – “1,000” feat. FUTURE

DJ of the Year
Calvin Harris
DJ Envy
DJ Drama
DJ Khaled
DJ Mustard

Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style)
Cardi B
Migos
Nicki Minaj
Remy Ma
Travis Scott

Best Hip Hop Online Site/App
ALLHIPHOP
Complex
Hot New Hip Hop
Worldstar
XXL

Hustler of the Year
Cardi B
DJ Khaled
Drake
Jay Z
Kendrick Lamar
Travis Scott

Serricchio to Star Opposite Brandy in BET’s Comedy Series “Zoe Ever After”

Ignacio Serricchio is ready for a memorable ever after

The 33-year-old Argentine actor.has been cast in BET Networks’ comedy series Zoe Ever After, starring and co-executive produced by Brandy Norwood.

Ignacio Serricchio

Zoe Ever After centers on Zoe Moon (Norwood), a newly single mom stepping out of the shadow of her famous boxer ex-husband Gemini Moon (Dorian Missick) while trying to balance dating, motherhood, a complicated relationship with her ex and finally fulfilling her career dream of starting a cosmetics line.

Serricchio, best known for his role as Diego Alcazar on General Hospital and as Alejandro “Alex” Chavez on The Young and the Restless, will portray sexy contractor Miguel.

His other credits include the film The Wedding Ringer, as well as appearances on Witches of East End, Bones and Covert Affairs.

Production is underway in Atlanta for premiere in January.

Miguel Provides New Track for “BET Presents Music Matters Vol. 1” Compilation

There’s no denying that music matters to Miguel… And, nowhe’s proving it. 

BET Networks and its new artist program Music Matters has partnered with Louder Than Life/Red Associated Labels to launch a compilation album series: BET Presents Music Matters Vol. 1, which features new music from the 28-year-old half-Mexican American singer-songwriter.

Miguel

The compilation, also featuring new music from Big Sean, Mack Wilds, Melanie Fiona and The Internet, will be released June 23 in support of the second annual BET Experience (June 27-29). The three-day music and lifestyle festival culminates with the BET Awards on June 29, hosted by Chris Rock.

Miguel’s track for the 15-track compilation is called “Gravity.”

Now available for preorder at Amazon, the album sports a mix of established acts and rising stars. Music Matters is a multiplatform initiative that provides exposure for groundbreaking talent across BET and Centric, in addition to national tours and monthly showcases.

Miguel, Kendrick Lamar, Elle Varner, J. Cole and Marsha Ambrosius are among the artists who have been spotlighted by Music Matters.

Salaam Remi, who founded Louder Than Life and doubles as executive vice president A&R and production at Sony Music Entertainment, is the executive producer of the BET Presents Music Matters compilation album series. Collaborating with Remi is Kelly G, senior director of music programming for BET Networks.

Here’s the Complete Track List:

1. “Music Matters Theme” — Marsha Ambrosius
2. “Gravity” — Miguel
3. “Prove” — Gabi Wilson
4. “My Crib” (Remix) — Mack Wilds featuring Pusha T
5. “It’s a Man’s World” — Adrian Marcel
6. “Lit” — Bas featuring J. Cole and KQuick
7. “Memories” — Big Sean
8. “Dontcha” — The Internet
9. “Walking Shoes” — Mali Music
10. “Liquid Love” — Chris Turner
11. “Under the Covers” — Curtis Fields
12. “Touch” — Ashley Kimbrae
13. “Cold Case” — Elle Varner
14. “Where It Counts” — Melanie Fiona
15. “Friends and Lovers” — Marsha Ambrosius