Laura Miller, Author at Rolling Out

New Orleans is known for its outstanding music. It’s the birthplace of jazz, No Limit Records and Cash Money Records. The city often sits at the epicenter of new ways to invent the art form of music. Mic Ventress is one of the emerging artists from the 5th Ward. The 27-year-old R&B entertainer has been…

Newark, New Jersey, native Brittany Dickinson, who performs as pineappleCITI, brings light to her lyrics. Her story is not a picture-perfect one. CITI, whose moniker was chosen by the way she styled her locks, was in a car accident that left her unable to walk. The accident resulted in months of surgeries and physical therapy.…

With a four-octave vocal range, R&B artist Gene Noble is an undeniable talent. The Long Island, NY native, who initially wanted to be a marketing executive, has toured with Sting, Usher, Jill Scott, and Chris Brown, and received Grammy nominations, all before releasing his first solo album. The Hidden Beach recording artist released a music…

Stay-at-home orders have clearly affected the masses in a myriad of ways during the COVID-19 epidemic. Rolling out caught up with performers from some of our favorite R&B groups of the ’90s and 2000s to see how they’ve been handling life under quarantine. How has the coronavirus affected touring for you? Tamika Scott (Xscape): My group Xscape…

LeA Robinson is a singer, songwriter, producer, performer and sound engineer. Born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey, Robinson is the granddaughter of hip-hop pioneer Sylvia Robinson. Her grandmother is best known for developing the first hip-hop record label, Sugar Hill Records, with her husband Joseph Robinson and producing the first rap song, “Rapper’s Delight.” …

When you think of R&B in the ’90s and 2000s, it’s impossible not to include crooner JoJo Hailey. With songs like “Crazy,” “All My Life,” “Stay,” and “Forever My Lady,” Hailey’s voice has been a mainstay on the musical landscape for decades. Although he publicly struggled with sobriety in the past, there were a few…

Heroes can be everyday people, like teachers, local law enforcement officials, and community organizers. In “Marvel’s Hero Project,” the heroes are kids. The “Hero Project” is Marvel Entertainment’s first unscripted reality series on the Disney+ streaming platform. Each week, the show spotlights a different young person and their endeavors to help their communities. In turn,…

Strong community leaders and activists are a big part of Chicago’s culture. It’s also no secret that the city loves the game of basketball. At only 23 years old, Chicago native and former basketball player at Whitney Young High School, McKinley Nelson combined activism and basketball. He founded and runs Project Swish, a nonprofit organization…

McDonald’s, through its Black & Positively Golden movement, surprised an unsuspecting teen with $25,000 to grow her budding business. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, Nia Nia Phillips-Harper, a 17-year-old Houston native, and her mother Dedra, an author and professor, were guests on a segment of the “Tamron Hall Show” titled “CEO at Sweet 16.” Last year,…

As the temperature dropped to single digits, the city of Chicago rolled out the red carpet to celebrate the 2020 NBA All-Star festivities. The last NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago was in 1988, fans and Chicago natives welcomed the league with open arms. Team Giannis and Team LeBron gathered to speak to the press for…

The press gathered on the floor of Wintrust Arena, located on Chicago’s near South Side, for Team LeBron and Team Giannis’ Media Day. Here are some memorable moments from Saturday’s press day. Patrick Beverly on his Chicago homecoming The Los angeles Clippers player who is a native of Chicago stated that he was “really excited…

Since the early 2000s, social media has provided a place for unique, creative and thought-provoking talent. Marcus Oglesby — affectionately known as Lynn Spirit — has thrived in the digital space. His methods are simple: he showcases who he is and is unapologetic about it. His journey began in Greensboro, North Carolina. Diagnosed at birth…

There are very few people 30 to 45 years of age who can say that they’ve had the same job for 17 years. That’s just not a luxury that millenials and Generation Xers have. However, “Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson, 41, is currently bringing the funny during his 17th season on the show. He…

For more than 19 years, members of the Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicago have made it their mission to ensure that families who patronize their restaurants receive assistance feeding their families for the holidays. The association is hosted this year’s 19th annual Food for the Body & Spirit turkey giveaway on the lots of…

Opportunity often happens when we least expect it. At the tender age of 11, Chicago native Julian Griffith landed his first acting role in the 2001 film Hardball starring Keanu Reeves. From that day forward, Griffith’s life and career has involved in acting, sports and philanthropy. After graduating with honors from Seton High School in…

Philadelphia native Aleahya Lewis, the founder of Alluxe Couture, is on the fast track to making her idols her rivals. In just a short time, the online boutique owner has worked with major celebs like Kash Doll, Miss Nikki Baby, Ariana Fletcher and Cardi B to give online superstore Fashion Nova a run for their…

Anjellica Sharpe, who has Type 1 diabetes, felt compelled to help other diabetics. As a result, the Atlanta native founded Heeling Diabetes Inc. with the goal of providing guidance and support for the millions of Americans suffering from the disease. Rolling out recently spoke with Sharpe to learn more. What guided you to start Heeling…

“Princess of R&B soul.” That’s a heavy title for any newcomer to the music scene. All eyes have been on the beautiful Vina Love since her single “Air” dropped in 2017. The track was so good that it got the attention of hip-hop legend Snoop Dog for the remix, which was released later that year.…

Women coming of age in the early 2000s who loved R&B will happily confess that Atlanta native Nivea was a staple on their playlists. The “25 Reasons” singer-songwriter made the kind of music that couldn’t be heard once. It had replay value. Listening to songs like “Don’t Mess With My Man” and “Laundromat” served as…

On Wednesday, Aug. 28 Chicago influencers and creatives gathered in Fulton Market with 75-degree temperatures on a balmy summer night for an extra-sensory experience. Bombay Sapphire presented “Stir Creativity,” hosted by Chicago comedian and sportscaster Young Wayne with special guest, “FlyBoy” visual artist Herbu Brantley. Guests enjoyed a multi-tactical experience that featured each of the…