Tribute Archives - Rolling Out

Busta Rhymes has hailed his late friend and collaborator MF DOOM as “a God MC and incredible human being.” The rap legend — whose real name was Daniel Dumile — passed away on Oct. 31, 2020, a statement by his family confirmed on Dec. 31. DOOM and Rhymes had worked together frequently since their 1991…

Halle Berry said she was completely “heartbroken” when she learned Natalie Desselle Reid, who starred with her in the 1997 comedy B.A.P.S., passed away from colon cancer at 53. The shock of Desselle Reid’s transition on Sunday, Dec. 06, 2020, took Berry’s breath away and left her unable to put into words what she was…

The cast of the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” produced a video to memorialize the life of late actor James Avery, who played the role of Uncle Phil on the seminal sitcom. Will Smith, 52, posted the video for his nine-million YouTube followers over the weekend to pay homage to Avery, who is considered one of…

Lupita Nyong’o penned a powerful tribute to her close friend and Black Panther co-star Chadwick Boseman, who recently passed away at 43. After nearly two weeks since Boseman’s died from colon cancer on Aug. 28, 2020, the Academy Award-winning actress emerged on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and wrote to her 9 million Instagram followers about her…

Letitia Wright has written an emotional poem in tribute to her “brother” Chadwick Boseman. The 26-year-old actress — who played his on-screen sister in Marvel blockbuster Black Panther — has opened up following the tragic death of her late co-star, who passed away Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, at 43 after a long battle with cancer.…

Michael B. Jordan has spoken out for the first time following the shocking news of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman’s death on Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. While many of Boseman’s co-stars from the Marvel Universe offered their remembrances of the beloved and respected actor over the weekend, Jordan, who thought of Boseman like a brother,…

Actress Lauren London celebrated the birthday of her son Kross, who she had with late partner Nipsey Hussle, on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. London, who is known for keeping her private life hidden from the public, has become even more private since Hussle’s death. But on their son Kross’ 4th birthday, she decided to show…

A petition has been started for a statue of Chadwick Boseman to be erected in his hometown. The Black Panther star tragically passed away last week at the age of 43 after a secret four-year battle with colon cancer and now thousands are calling for the actor to be honored with a statue in Anderson,…

Hollywood has paid tribute to Chadwick Boseman, following his death at the age of 43 after a secret four-year battle with colon cancer. The Black Panther actor passed away on Friday, Aug. 28, after a secret, four-year battle with colon cancer and Hollywood rushed to pay tribute to the late star. Marvel president Kevin Feige…

Lebron James has been vocal about his desire to honor the late great Kobe Bryant and as the NBA resumes its season tonight, July 30, in the “Orlando Bubble,” his fingers will have some Mamba-inspired decor. The three-time world champion is on a quest to win again and in the same breath, earn the Los…

Bobby Brown paid tribute to his late daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown on the fifth anniversary of her tragic death. The 51-year-old singer remembered Bobbi Kristina — who passed away in 2015 at the age of just 22 — in a touching Instagram post on Sunday, July 26, 2020. He wrote: “There’s no way to explain…

The late great rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Little Richard was much more than just a musical innovator and electrifying entertainer. Even though he was already a legend in the game, his unexpected kindness to a struggling college student has not been forgotten. Award-winning movie and television director Ava DuVernay, who once waited tables as a…

Lauren London continues to honor and mourn her king, the legendary Nipsey Hussle, on the one-year anniversary of his passing. London’s commemoration came late on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, exactly one year after Hussle, 33, who was born Ermias Asghedom, died in the parking lot in front of The Marathon Clothing store he owned with…

Common probably had the best NBA All-Star weekend ever. A few days after winning the MVP award at this year’s celebrity game, he opened the official game on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, with a moving and soul-stirring tribute to Kobe Bryant and his Chicago hometown. The Grammy and Academy Award winner painted a picture of…

Lebron James stood in the middle of the Staple Center and delivered an emotional tribute to the late Kobe Bryant on Jan. 31, 2019. This past week has been a somber one as the world mourns the lives of those lost in the helicopter crash. The parallels between Bryant’s and James’ career are many. Both…

Nipsey Hussle was among those remembered during the Grammy Awards’ “In Memoriam” segment. Hussle — who was shot dead last March — was honored with a wider tribute from Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch, DJ Khaled, John Legend, YG, and Kirk Franklin, who performed a number of his songs, including “Higher.” During the performance, videos of…

John Legend was on the set of Nipsey Hussle’s final music video, just days before the rap icon lost his life in front of the Marathon Clothing store he owned on March 31, 2019. Therefore, this will be a particularly poignant moment for Legend to be able to pay homage to Hussle at the 2020…

Today, Thursday, Aug. 15, is the birthday of slain rapper, activist and community leader Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom. Hussle, who was gunned down on March 31, 2019, in Los Angeles outside of his Marathon Clothing store, would have been 34 years old. He was remembered across social media on his posthumous birthday. His longtime girlfriend,…

By Renita Ward It is an honor to offer words about the impact that Chloe Anthony Wofford, popularly known as Toni Morrison, had on my life. I share as a gift just as she so generously and boldly shared her creative genius with the world. I was initially introduced to this first Black woman to…

In a stroke of serendipity, the same weekend that Nipsey Hussle received a king’s sendoff during the BET Awards in Los Angeles, his 10-year-old daughter also paid tribute to her late father at her recent elementary school graduation. Emani Asghedom paid homage to her father, who was born Ermias Asghedom, as well as her mother…