New Orleans Archives - Rolling Out

Shaleyah is an international recording and touring artist who represents the essence of R&B, pop and jazz. She has performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Essence Music Festival, John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Apollo Theaterin Harlem, New York. The New Orleans resident is currently working on her solo EP and…

As a founding member and the first lady of Disturbing Tha Peace, rapid-fire rapper Shawnna remains one of eight female emcees to register a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with her appearance on Ludacris’ on 2003’s “Stand Up.” Along with an appearance on “What’s Your Fantasy,” her career seemed poised for superstardom.…

Sevetri Wilson is a Black female entrepreneur who is shaking up the tech space and defying the odds while raising capital at a meteoric rate. She is the founder of Solid Ground Innovations, LLC., a strategic communications agency that she grew from zero capital to a seven-figure enterprise at 22-years-old. In 2016, Wilson launched her…

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…

Sports have always served as a vehicle that could bring different races and cultures together. Players from different backgrounds are often forced to learn about individuals from diverse backgrounds in order to come together to achieve a common goal. However, Super Bowl-winning quarterback Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints made a statement on Wednesday,…

Hip hop mogul Birdman, the man who started a musical dynasty in New Orleans through Cash Money Records, wants to pay the rent for his entire childhood neighborhood in the Crescent City. Bryan “Birdman” Williams, 51, founded the iconic hitmaking label in 1992 with his older brother, Ronald “Slim” Williams, which has churned out numerous…

Dui Jarrod is a screenwriter, storyteller and director from White Hall, Arkansas. He began his career in film with his first project at 11 years old. The effort fortified his belief that cinema can be used delicately and progressively. Driven by his desire to move the narrative forward for marginalized communities, Jarrod moved to Los…

Vanessa T. Reed is the regional external affairs manager for Comerica Bank. Reed, who has a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of New Orleans, joined Comerica Bank in 2000 as a credit specialist in the commercial real estate division. Today, she leads a team that works closely with the bank’s nonprofit partners.…

Jazz legend Ellis Marsalis has died. He was 85. Marsalis passed away in a New Orleans hospital on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, and his son Branford told The New York Times his death was due to complications of coronavirus (COVID-19). New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell took to Twitter to pay tribute to the musical “icon.”…

Swin Cash is a four-time WNBA All-Star who has also earned two Olympic gold medals with the U.S. Women’s National Team. Cash is currently the vice president of Basketball Operations and Team Development for the New Orleans Pelicans. Rolling out spoke with Cash about her current leadership position and Secret Ad campaign. What is the…

Doug Evans is a fashion and marketing cultural expert with a wealth of business experience — from owning and operating two Atlanta-based boutiques, to being a former vice president and creative director in marketing for 8732/Rocawear. Most recently, the serial entrepreneur has been immersed in the creation of Born to Skate, a streetwear brand that…

ORS is a trusted beauty brand in the Black community known for its commitment to natural healthy hair as well as its vast selection of maintenance and styling products. ORS Olive Oil recently hosted a series of ‘”salon takeovers” in three cities: at Keystylist Salon in Chicago, Studio Lush Hair Salon in Detroit, and The…

The casualty count of fans approaching DaBaby continues to rise. Despite the fact that DaBaby’s security team already has a reputation of pummeling fans who bumrush to greet him or get an autograph, folks keep trying him. It happened again in New Orleans where DaBaby, 27, was performing at the Free Water Block Party In…

Le’Ana Alexander is a Los Angeles-based beauty professional who has been styling hair for 12 years. In her pursuit to become a celebrity hairstylist, the New Orleans native moved from her hometown to Houston and then in 2014 decided to take her skills to LA. From there, her career took off. She began working on…

Rap mogul Master P took over New Orleans with the screening of his new motion picture I Got the Hookup 2 during Essence Music Fest. The man born Percy Miller, 49, sat down with “The Breakfast Club,” and the No Limit founder explained why he was so proud of this project. Among other…

During a live taping of Jemele Hill’s “Unbothered” podcast hosted by Spotify during the 2019 Essence Festival in New Orleans, Kamala Harris discussed her presidential hopes and race in America.

Raphael Saadiq served as the headlining act for the Spotify House of Are & Be during Essence Festival weekend.

During Essence Festival weekend in New Orleans, Spotify celebrated Black voices, female creators and thought leaders at the Spotify House of Are & Be. Held at Kingsway Studio, the event featured live performances, a high-profile podcast recording, DJ sets, and a curated art gallery. Raphael Saadiq served as the headlining act for the after-hours event,…

Former first lady Michelle Obama felt under siege for much of her eight years in the White House. She had very few political allies to learn on and had scores of enemies from both sides of the political aisle trying to snuff out the light emitting from her soul. Obama was very candid and transparent…

The annual Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, billed as the largest Black festival in the world, has seen its share of megastars ripping the stage over the years, including Prince, Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige and many others. But Michelle Obama may have put on the biggest show at Essence Fest by just…