ABFF Announces Comedy Finalists + Amber Rose Promotes STD Prevention

Amber Rose

The Know Your Status Tour recently kicked into high gear for the Clark Atlanta University activation in Atlanta, GA. The tour was created to help spread awareness about safe sex and always remaining knowledgeable of your status.

Amber Rose, Cordell Broadus, Nina Parker

The panel included model and talk show host Amber Rose, model Don Benjamin, E! news host Sibley, Snoop Dogg’s son Cordell Broadus, sex expert Shannon Boodram, TV host Nina Parker and Karen Civil who moderated the event.

Sibley

Panelists engaged the eager students as they answered tough questions and shared stories about personal experiences; which inspired them to be a part of the tour.

Karen Civil

Don Benjamin

KYST founder Chris Grace received a proclamation to the City of Atlanta for his honorable service in developing awareness around such a needed conversation, while Think It’s A Game recording artist YFN Lucci also performed.

The next stop on the Know Your Status Tour will be, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, April 26, 2017.

In other news…

Rodney Perry with Comedy Wings Finalists. Photo Credit: Aric Thompson

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced their selection of finalists who will compete at the 5th annual Comedy Wings Competition, presented by HBO, during the American Black Film Festival in Miami June 16th at The New World Center. Each finalist will also receive an all-expense paid trip to Miami and attend a meeting with HBO talent executives.

Comedy Wings Judges. Photo Credit: Aric Thompson

Last week, the semi-finalists fought for the five finalist spots at the Uptown Comedy Club in Atlanta, hosted by comedian and radio host Rodney Perry. They were judged by accomplished artists and industry executives, including “Def Comedy Jam” producer Bob Sumner; Owner & Chief Managing Partner of Winsome Sinclair & Associates, Winsome Sinclair; television executive and producer Rikki Hughes; Executive Producer at Bobbcat Film, Angi Bones; and television executive Tracey Tooks.

See the complete list below:

Brandall Cole
Blowing in from the windy city, comedian, actor, director and producer B. Cole has spent the past decade molding himself as one of these generations’ greatest entertainers. Starting his career at a young age B. Cole has performed at clubs and colleges all over the United States. He made his television debut at the age of twenty on BET’s Comic View, hosted by D. L. Hughley. B. Cole reached a pinnacle when he was awarded his own one-hour Grandstand Special on BET’s Comic View. He was a founding member of The Second City’s first urban sketch comedian ensemble Forgotten City.

Cyrus Steele II
Cyrus Steele has been performing onstage for years as a Theater major, but fell in love with stand-up comedy soon after graduating from college. Growing up in the small town of Savannah, GA, there weren’t a lot of outlets for an aspiring comic. So in 2005, Cyrus moved to Atlanta in the hopes of finding a career in comedy. Since then, he has established himself as a hilarious force of nature and master impressionist, imitating everyone from Kevin Hart, to Barack Obama and even Donald Trump! Dedicated to giving his audience more than a show, Cyrus most recently won the title of “The South’s Funniest Accountant” at Marietta’s “Rev’d Up Comedy Showcase.”

Jason Weems
A native of Baltimore, Jason Weems is striving to become a comedic great. His very engaging and conversational style on stage, leaves audiences feeling like they’ve just finished talking to a close friend, and it simultaneously acts as free therapy for him. Jason has been seen at the most prestigious “By Invitation Only” comedy festival, The “Just For Laughs” festival in Montreal and recently added a featured semi-finalist credit to his name on the hit NBC series “Last Comic Standing.” In December 2010, he filmed his first hour comedy special entitled Jason Weems, Vol. 1: Intellectual Property in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, which has been released independently.

Shereen Kassam
She calls herself the, “Funny Brown Girl”, and that is exactly what she is. Much of Shereen’s comedy is focused on her relationship with her Muslim parents. She also draws on her dating experiences as an intelligent, beautiful woman, and has no problem spilling all. She is a regular host on iHeart Media’s “Monsters in the Morning” talk radio show.

TuRae Gordon
TuRae’s comedy career began in the 1990?s while attending Temple University. Encouraged by friends, he entered and won his first open mic competition at the famous Philadelphia Laff House. The club immediately named him house MC, providing the opportunity to develop his thoughtful and unique point of view. Drawing on his urban upbringing and experiences, he demonstrates an engaging and earnest style of comedy with broad appeal. In 2007, he traveled to London, England where he won the World Cup Comedy Clash at London’s Hackney Empire Theater. TuRae headlines clubs and colleges and has competed in and won a number of competitions including the Def Jam Comedy Competition and The WB’s, Comedy After Midnight.

The Comedy Wings Competition is one of several platforms innovated by the ABFF designed to uncover talent and introduce them to a broader audience.

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