Kendrick Lamar photographed while on his trip to South Africa last year with his high school sweetheart
Easter nuptials
The long weekend was filled with news of celebrity engagements. Good Friday came with a swirl of reports about British singer FKA Twigs’s engagement to UK actor Robert Pattinson. US musician-producer T-Pain revealed to Vulture magazine that the two – who have been dating for less than a year – are now engaged. But later T-Pain reneged on his statement, claiming that it was an April’s Fool joke. But according to E! News’s sources, the two are engaged and the Twilight star gave Twigs “a promise ring”.
Unlike the he-say, she-say surrounding the Twigs-Pattinson betrothment, another star has confirmed his engagement. US rapper Kendrick Lamar –whose latest album To Pimp a Butterfly has been making news – has made headlines again after announcing his forthcoming nuptial to high school sweetheart Whitney Alford. When asked about his marital status on Good Friday, on New York radio show The Breakfast Club, the Compton-born and raised rapper said, “Yeah, yeah, definitely. I’m loyal to the soil.”
Christian Tiger School get signed
South African production duo Christian Tiger School last week announced their signing to indie US record label Tommy Boy Entertainment. The Cape Town-based producers Luc Vermeer and Sebastian Zanasi of Christian Tiger School, tweeted on April 2 that is had signed to the legendary label, which has launched the careers of rap acts like De La Soul, Queen Latifah and currently has artists such as rapper Ghostface Killah. On Good Friday, the OkayAfrica website released information that the music group with be releasing their sophomore album, Chrome Tapes, through Tommy Boy Entertainment later in June.
Rich Kids of South Africa
Local TV channel Vuzu had tongues wagging this weekend, after it unmasked its latest reality show about the lavish lifestyle of South Africa’s rich youth. Titled Rich Kids, the reality series will put the spotlight on Mzansi’s “well-heeled teens and 20-somethings”, according to the channel. “Rich Kids is set to provide an intimate look at how the young and super-wealthy spend their money – and their time.” Debuting on April 16 at 7pm, Vuzu says it will unveil the identities of the show’s characters in time, but it has so far announced two: Tshwane-based brothers Bob and Don.
BB King hospitalised
Legendary US blues musician BB King has been hospitalised. The 89-year-old singer-guitarist was rushed to hospital in Las Vegas over the weekend, according to TMZ.com. King, who was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in the late 1980s and who has been recording music since the 1940s, was hospitalised for dehydration caused by his Type II diabetes, reported CNN. King “was diagnosed with the disease more than two decades ago”, said CNN, but according to his daughter, Claudette, he “is much better”.
*An earlier version of this article noted that King was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital, instead of a Los Vegas hospital. It has been updated.