Los Angeles has never been short on nostalgia. But every so often, a project arrives that doesn’t just reference the past—it inhabits it. Brassroots District: LA ’74, which opened on February 7 at the historic Jewel’s Catch One, isn’t asking audiences to remember 1974. It’s inviting them to step inside it.
Some of the music industry’s biggest stars are performing throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area ahead of Super Bowl LX on Sunday between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.
Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t do anything halfway—and on Friday, February 6, he proved it once again as Shaq’s Fun House Presented by Credit One Bank made its San Francisco debut. Touching down at the legendary Cow Palace, the larger-than-life spectacle kicked off Super Bowl weekend with booming bass, flashing lights, and an energy level only Shaq could deliver.
Now in its eighth year, Shaq’s Fun House has evolved into one of the most anticipated events surrounding the Big Game, and its first-ever Bay Area edition did not disappoint. Created and produced by Medium Rare and Authentic Live, the event fused a high-octane music festival with a full-scale carnival and circus experience—earning its reputation as the most fun party outside the stadium.
From the moment doors opened, thousands of fans packed the venue, stepping into a state-fair-style playground complete with rides, games, immersive brand activations, circus performers, and a six-hour open bar included with every ticket. Everywhere you turned, something was happening—and someone famous was nearby.
At the heart of it all was Shaquille O’Neal himself, serving as both host and headliner. Under his DJ DIESEL persona, Shaq commanded the stage with chest-rattling bass drops and nonstop crowd interaction, at one point hyping fans so intensely he encouraged them to “break the rail” separating the crowd from the stage. Hundreds surged forward, fully bought into the chaos and joy that defines Shaq’s Fun House.
The night’s stacked lineup kept the energy soaring. T-Pain delivered a high-energy, can’t-look-away performance packed with sing-along hits, while Disco Lines kept the dance floor moving with infectious house beats. Myles O’Neal brought his own swagger to the stage, and global dance icon Tiësto capped the night with a show-stopping set that reminded everyone why he remains one of the most influential DJs in the world.
Photoby DEMIAN BECERRA HOLY_MOUNTAIN
True to form, surprises were everywhere. Country superstar Kane Brown sent the crowd into a frenzy when he unexpectedly joined DJ DIESEL onstage, while T.I. made a memorable appearance to debut new music live. One of the night’s most talked-about moments came when Tiffany Haddish and Shaq shared a heartfelt hug, a brief pause of warmth amid the high-volume celebration.
Speaking of celebrities, the guest list read like a Hollywood call sheet. In attendance were Adam Devine and Chloe Bridges, Ariana Madix, Becky G, Blake Anderson, Guy Fieri and his son Hunter Fieri, Rob Gronkowski and Camille Kostek, Grace O’Malley, Jenna Bandy, Landon Dickerson, Lyrics Born, Moneybagg Yo, NaVarro Bowman, Swerve Strickland, and many more—blurring the lines between fan and VIP as everyone shared the same dance floor.
Beyond the performances, Shaq’s Fun House was powered by an impressive roster of brand partners that helped bring the carnival to life. Credit One Bank led the charge, joined by Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies, BeatBox Beverages, Anheuser-Busch, Pepsi, Verizon, Thomasville, Forever 21, Top Cup, Belvedere, Habit Burger, Waymo, Voss, Phorm Energy, and e.l.f. Their activations transformed the venue into an interactive playground, reinforcing why the event has become one of the most viral and in-demand experiences in the country.
With thousands in attendance, a five-star lineup, and countless unforgettable moments, Shaq’s Fun House Presented by Credit One Bank delivered exactly what it promised: an over-the-top, joy-fueled kickoff to Super Bowl weekend. For San Francisco, it wasn’t just a party—it was a statement. Shaq had arrived, and Big Game Weekend officially began.
Last week we attended Golden Hour as part of the Grammy Awards’ Grammy House programming at Rolling Greens in Downtown Los Angeles. This year Grammy House expanded to 4 days of panels and performances aiming to highlight various achievements throughout the Recording Academy. Through immersive experiences, interactive installations and digital storytelling, the cultural hub will serve to honor today’s dynamic musical landscape, foster innovation, and cultivate meaningful connections between Recording Academy Members, artists, fans, and the broader music community. 2026 also marks PATRÓN’s first year as the Official Tequila Partner of the GRAMMY Awards which included exclusive activations like Grammy House, offering a glimpse into to how PATRÓN shows up during music’s biggest week.
Presented by AFEELA, in partnership with Amazon Music and Gold House, Golden Hour was an afternoon amplifying the Gold Music Alliance and celebrating the incredible cultural milestones achieved by AAPI+ music creators. The event featured performances by ARKAI, Stephanie Poetri, and MICO as well as immersive brand activations from PATRÓN , Vaseline, Redken and AFEELA. Golden Hour was an amazing display of how the Recording Academy is actively making an effort to uplift and spotlight its growing AAPI+ community. PATRÓN had multiple stations offering their signature liquor and custom cocktails as well plastic miniature versions of their classic bottle so guests could take home a memento from the party. Vaseline offered free full size bottles of lotion, Redken gave away mini samples of a new hair repair mask and featured a photo-booth and AFEELA gave away free tote bags.
Last week Ty Dolla $ign & friends hosted the first annual EZMNY JAMMJAM presented by Amazon Music & JammCard at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, California. The night was a fun and innovative way to celebrate the grammy nominations for EZMNY Records as well as The Jammcard community. Ty Dolla $ign was celebrating a total of 11 Grammy nominations this year including: 1 for himself for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Wholeheartedly” with J.I.D and 6LACK, 6 nominations for EZMNY’s Leon Thomas and 4 nominations for EZMNY’s Bizzy Crook. In case you missed it, the evening was livestreamed via Prime Video & Twitch and is still currently available for viewing. The performance was held in an intimate setting bringing together artists, creators and industry tastemakers all under one roof for one of the most legendary jam sessions in history.
The EZMNY JAMMJAM featured Ty’s signature line of champagne Le Bon Argent as well as a custom drink menu featuring Milagro Tequila and Monkey Shoulder Whisky with cocktails named after TY and his EZMNY artists’ hit records like the “Don’t Kill The Party,” “EZMNY” and “MUTT-INI.” There was an exclusive VIP area for close friends, executives and special guests, while floor seats provided an up-close look at the performances. Nearly every musician from drummers to pianists to saxophone players were grammy nominated like drummer Nate Smith and sax player / producer Terrace Martin. The most awe-inspiring aspect of the star-studded event was it featured performances from legends over the last 20 years to present day. Notable performances included Rapsody, Lalah Hathaway, AJ McLean, Jojo, T.I., Wale, Black Eyed Peas, Jordan Adetunji, Kalan fr.fr, Destin Conrad, Ne-Yo, Bizzy Crook, Leon Thomas, Eboni Riley, IDK and many more. Ty’s father Tyrone Griffin Sr. even did a set with his former band Lakeside, which Ty joined in creating a beautiful moment of celebration and community across generations.
(Photos via EZMNY Records IG / PC: Rodji Munoz for Jammcard)
‘Tis the season for the Grammys — and GBK Brand Bar’s exclusive, invite-only Annual Pre-Grammy Luxury Lounge. Held at the newly renovated W Hotel Hollywood, the star-studded affair brought together Grammy nominees, honorees, past winners, and tastemakers for a glamorous preview of what’s next in music, tech, beauty, and travel.
Last week we attended one of the most prolific annual events during Grammy week, Amazon Music’s 2026 Lot Party. The event took place at the iconic Culver Studios and brought together artists, creators, executives, media and tastemakers across the music industry. KittyCa$H and Más Tiempo (Skepta) were on the ones and twos and the night even included special performances by both Ne-Yo and Akon! Ne-Yo performed classics like “Miss Independent” while Akon had guests going crazy with “I Wanna Love You.” The two also performed their collaborative hit with David Guetta, “Play Hard.” This performance came the same day the two announced their Night’s Like This Global 2026 Tour. Not only did fans get a sneak peak into their upcoming tour, but Skepta also shared an exclusive, previewing his upcoming unreleased record with Nigerian artist Asake called “Aloe Vera,” from his upcoming album Fork & Knife.
Throughout the night Amazon Music had a multitude of stations and activations set up for attendees to take home mementos. There was a merch customization station, Grammy Week prep goodies like mints & lip balm and several photo boots allowing guests to take print and digital pics as well as videos! Lite bites and complimentary cocktails with sensory add-ons were available like infused bubbles, dry ice and flames. Amazon Music also opened their Studio 126 doors and allowed guests to tour the premises and understand what all they offer like listening lounges, screening rooms and a giftshop. Studio 126 offered gameplay demos of Courtroom Chaos—the Snoop Dogg–driven, voice-controlled party game from Amazon Games Studios and an exclusive preview of Paul McCartney’s upcoming Man on the Run documentary and the merch showroom featured exclusive tour drops.
There were many special guests in attendance including MoneyBagg Yo, Shaboozey, Tinashe, Benson Boone, HUNTR/X (EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami), Jhené Aiko, Tiffany Haddish, Chase Hudson and more.
Audrey Nuna, Ejae, Rei Ami
Tiffany Haddish
Shaboozey
Skepta and Kitty Ca$h
Skepta
(Photos via Getty for Amazon Music / PC: Phillip Faraone & Jennifer Johnson)
Japanese boy group ONE OR EIGHT is hitting the gas in 2026 with their debut mini-album, GATHER. Anchored by the focus track “TOKYO DRIFT,” the project serves as a definitive statement on the group’s unity and collective resilience. According to member Souma, the core philosophy of the album is the importance of coming together to overcome individual weaknesses, turning shared struggles into a source of combined strength.
The Juilliard School held its annual Benefit for Scholarship celebration with ranging performances by alumni, faculty and students alike in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater on Wednesday.
The event raised a record total of $2.5 million, an $800,000 increase from 2024. The 1.5 hour performance, directed by Arnhold Creative Associate at Large and Distinguished Visiting Faculty Jamar Roberts, showcased the very talent that the scholarships would benefit. In line with the school’s mission to be completely tuition free in coming years. Following the performance, donors were also welcomed to an after party in Alice Tully Hall, with live music from the Juilliard Fiddle Club.
After opening the evening with a grandiose tribute by Juilliard’s orchestra to composer and alum John Williams, widely known for his music in “Jaws,” the “Star Wars” franchise and “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” President of The Juilliard School, Damian Woetzel, stepped out to thank donors.
“Thank you, to all of you who are here to say you believe in what is happening here; that the world of art matters,” Woetzel said in his opening remarks. “Education itself that evolves, that keeps taste, that meets the bones and moves us forward, with that tradition driving innovation, cannot only be for those who can afford it.”
Notably, American cellist and Juilliard precollege alum Yo-Yo Ma joined faculty members as a surprise guest performer in their rendition of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Eroica.” Afterwards, he joined Woetzel onstage to discuss Juilliard’s artistic legacy.
“Juilliard is in the business of awe and wonder,” Ma said after playing. “We have enough security and trust built amongst faculty, students, administration to dare to imagine what other people say is impossible.”
Performances showcased talent from across Juilliard’s many departments, from a scene from William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by senior acting students to a musical arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Coffee Cantata” by the historical performance department. Beyond that, audiences were also privy to an excerpt of a Juilliard extension course with a faculty member and the impressive skill of a precollege violinist from a member of the class of 2033. Tickets to the event were sold for $375, with all proceeds going directly to scholarship funds.
In April 2025, Juilliard announced its plan for the conservatory to be completely tuition free in the coming years. At the moment, tuition for undergraduates and graduate students is $55,500 annually. More than 90% of students receive financial aid, with tuition being fully covered for 40% of students this academic year. Additionally, the school already has some tuition free programs, such as graduate acting and historical performance.
“That idea that we rest on the shoulders of tradition to lead to innovation is at the heart of what we do,” Woetzel said. “It’s at the heart of education. It’s at the heart of what we do, and it’s at the heart of what you are supporting tonight.”
(Feature photo courtesy of Rosalie O’Connor.)
Duetti celebrated The 68th Grammy Awards that took place in Los Angeles, bringing out a crowd at the Hollywood Roosevelt. Music industry’s highest honor brought out new artists dancing to DJ sets by NOODLES & KITTYSAYWORD.
The Grammys made history this year when Bad Bunny took home Best Album of the Year as the first Spanish language album to win the honor for “Debi Tirar Más Fotos.” It is a great year for Latinos – celebrating Bad Bunny win with heart and soul, while embracing his true identity.
The song alludes to his relationship with his grandfather and his Puerto Rico heritage, meaning that we should take more pictures of those moments so we don’t miss them. It’s a bittersweet song, nostalgic of his time growing up in Puerto Rico and at the same time, not wanting to take photos to be present in the moment.
Photographer: Kevin Adorno of LA Poetry Department
Album Of The Year winner:
Record Of The Year winner:
Kendrick Lamar With SZA
Song Of The Year winner: