Matthew Allen, Author at TheGrio

About Matthew Allen

Matthew Allen is a Brooklyn-based TV producer, director and award-winning music journalist. He’s interviewed the likes of Quincy Jones, Jill Scott, Smokey Robinson and more for publications such as Ebony, Jet, The Root, Village Voice, Wax Poetics, Revive Music and Soulhead. His video work can be seen on PBS/All Arts, Brooklyn Free Speech TV and .BRIC TV.

All Articles

Entertainment Featured Music June 22, 2021

ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards begin, featuring Lil Baby, Swizz Beatz and more

On Tuesday, the 2021 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards kicked off its three-day celebration of the best and brightest...

Featured Film Music June 18, 2021

Complex story of Rick James captured in new documentary at 2021 Tribeca Film Festival

Whenever the name Rick James is spoken, some may snicker with laughter, some may sneer with disgust, and others will...

Entertainment Featured Music June 16, 2021

Documentary chronicling the life of Blues legend Buddy Guy premieres at Tribeca Film Festival

“Funny thing about the blues: you play ’em ’cause you got ’em. But when you play ’em, you lose ’em.”...

Entertainment Featured Film Music June 15, 2021

A$AP Rocky documentary ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ tells rapper’s side of Sweden imprisonment

Throughout Harlem rap star A$AP Rocky‘s new film Stockholm Syndrome, he’s wearing a Dennis Rodman tank top. Rodman, the Hall...

Entertainment Featured June 12, 2021

Kenya Duke, Gary Owen’s estranged wife, reacts to Wendy Williams interview

Comedian Gary Owen recently made comments about his pending divorce with wife Kenya Duke during an appearance on The Wendy...

Black History Crime Featured News June 12, 2021

White House names nominees for Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board

New nominees for the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Review Board have just been announced by the White House. As...

Comedy Entertainment Featured Film June 12, 2021

Kenya Barris to make feature directorial debut in Netflix comedy film starring Jonah Hill

Kenya Barris is set to make his debut as a feature-length film director. As part of the production, the writer/producer...

Featured June 12, 2021

Woman gives birth to record 10 babies in South Africa: reports

A South African woman reportedly has given birth to 10 babies on Monday. If true, it set a new world...

Business Entertainment Featured Music June 7, 2021

Ex-rapper launches Healthy Hip Hop app for kids, parents and teachers

Roy Scott had dreams of being a rapper. Growing up listening to and becoming inspired by artists like Tupac and...

Featured Living June 6, 2021

Al Roker celebrates daughter’s marriage: ‘Time flies’

Al Roker, longtime star of The Today Show, celebrated last week as his daughter, Courtney, got married on Friday. The...

Business Business Black History Featured June 6, 2021

Fortune 500 features two Black women CEOs for first time

The Fortune 500 list for 2021 is an historic one. The annual list of the 500 largest American companies by...

Featured Politics June 6, 2021

Twitter users speculate if Trump wore pants backward in Saturday speech

Donald Trump returned to the public forum Saturday, delivering a message at the North Carolina Republican Convention in Greenville, North...

Relatives remember Breonna Taylor to celebrate what would have been 28th birthday

It’s been more than a year since Breonna Taylor was killed by police gunfire in her home in Louisville, Kentucky,...

Natalia, Kobe Bryant’s eldest daughter, graduates high school

Natalia Bryant, oldest daughter of late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, graduated from high school on Friday. Her mother, and Kobe’s...

Crime Featured June 5, 2021

Black teen dies after being stabbed in racist attack in England: report

Dea-John Reid, a 14-year-old boy, was killed on Monday in Birmingham, England after being stabbed in the chest. The BBC...

Featured Local News News June 5, 2021

Teenager, police officer drown during rescue attempt in pond near Boston

Enmanuel Familia, an officer of the Worcester Police Department in Massachusetts, died on Friday afternoon while trying to save a...

Featured Media May 29, 2021

Donna Brazile returns to ABC News

Donna Brazile, former chair of Democratic National Committee, is now a part of the ABC News team as a contributor....

Company Press Releases Featured HBCU May 29, 2021

Michael Jordan donates $1M to Morehouse College

Michael Jordan’s philanthropy plan continues with a generous donation to a beloved historically Black college and university. Jordan and his...

Music May 29, 2021

Monica sends message to fans from hospital bed: ‘Forgive your parents’

Singer Monica has been in the hospital for the past few days after having surgery, but it didn’t stop her...

Entertainment Featured Music May 28, 2021

Motown releases ‘Fire in Little Africa’ from Tulsa hip hop collective to commemorate race riot centennial

Music has been the vehicle that has sustained, informed and uplifted us through the hardest of times since we were...