The Arts Beat is a weekly deep-dive into Memphis arts, music, dance, theater, fashion, film and events. Keep scrolling for a roundup of the best arts and culture stories from the week. Have a story idea? Send it to eperry@dailymemphian.com.
Kia Shine (left) with Russell Hornsby, who plays Charles Flenory on the Starz series “BMF.” Hornsby directed episode 2 of season 4. (Courtesy Kia Shine)
In recent weeks, Memphis musicians have made TV appearances, both as music performers and as actors.
Kia Shine appears on ‘BMF’
Memphis rapper and actor Nakia “Kia Shine” Coleman appeared in Season 2 of the fourth season of Starz series “BMF.”
Short for Black Mafia Family, the crime drama is inspired by the real-life story of Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, who ran the Black Mafia Family syndicate in Detroit and other locations.
Big Meech’s son, Demetrius Edward Flenory Jr., portrays his father in the series. Da’Vinchi (Abraham D. Juste) portrays Southwest T.
The fourth season centers on the brothers launching a music label in Atlanta and otherwise expanding their business in the 1990s.
Valerie June plays ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’
Valerie June performs on “Jimmy Kimmy Live” on June 12, 2025. (Randy Holmes/ABC)
Valerie June, the singer who splits her time between Brooklyn, New York, and Memphis, released her fourth studio album in April.
June made her first late-night TV appearance for the album “Owls, Omens, and Oracles” on Thursday, June 13.
She performed the song “Endless Tree” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC.
This weekend, June has tour dates scheduled in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle. The tour restarts in November, when June is scheduled to perform in Spain.
Click here to read a Daily Memphian interview with June ahead of her November 2024 Germantown Performing Arts Center concert.
GloRilla wins first BET Award
Memphis rapper Gloria “GloRilla” Woods, along with rappers Drake, Future and Doechii, were each nominated for six 2025 BET Awards.
Woods was nominated for Album of the Year (for “Glorious”), Viewer’s Choice Award (for “TGIF”), Best Collaboration (for Tyler, The Creator’s song “Sticky,” which featured GloRilla, Sexxy Redd and Lil Wayne), Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award (for “Rain Down on Me,” a collaboration with gospel great Kirk Franklin and gospel group Maverick City Music) and BET Her (for “In My Bag,” a collaboration with British R&B/pop group FLO).
Rapper Kendrick Lamar had the most nominations with 10.
Keyshia Cole, left, and GloRilla perform during the BET Awards on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Woods performed her songs “Let Her Cook” and “Typa” (with R&B singer Keyshia Cole) on the show on Tuesday, June 10. The ceremony aired live from Los Angeles.
She won the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award.
GloRilla, center, accepts the award for Dr. Bobby Jones best gospel/inspirational award for "Rain Down on Me" during the BET Awards on Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Chris Pizzello/AP)
“This my first BET Award,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Even though I’ve been three years and get nominated six times (this) time. It’s a blessing to get the gospel award first ‘cause I owe it all to God.”
On Tuesday, K-pop star and BTS member J-Hope (Jung Ho-seok) released the single “Killin’ It Girl,” which features Woods.
She will appear at the FedExForum for the inaugural “Glo Bash” on July 25 at FedExForum.
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