Centric Celebrates 'Black Music Month,' Beg. Today, 6/2

Centric commemorates June's Black Music Month by honoring the legendary history of African-American music with a series of specials and documentaries including an original documentary celebrating the life and legacy of Soul Train creator Don Cornelius, an in-depth look into the coming of age story of Hip Hop in HIP HOP CULTURAL ODYSSEY: KNOW YOUR HISTORY, new episodes of BEING featuring Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, Teena Marie, R.Kelly and Mary J. Blige and four music centered TAKEOVER WEEKENDS showcasing artists from the past and present who have greatly influenced music in America.

TAKEOVER WEEKENDS:

SATURDAY, JUNE 2ND BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M.*

EARTH, WIND & FIRE TAKEOVER commemorates the 40th anniversary of Earth, Wind & Fire in never before seen interviews and superstars of today share memories of an old-school sound. EARTH, WIND & FIRE TAKEOVER also includes two concerts -- EARTH WIND & FIRE: LIVE FROM OAKLAND 1981 and SHINING STAR which re-visit some of the highest points in the band's career and an episode of BEING will debut a first-person narrative of the band's span of work, as they look forward to what's still to come.

SATURDAY, JUNE 9TH BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M.*

HIP-HOP TAKEOVER kicks off the second TAKEOVER weekend with a one-hour special, HIP HOP CULTURAL ODYSSEY: KNOW YOUR HISTORY which will take a look at the history of the genre, through in-depth interviews, images and the music that defined a generation; a HOT 10 hosted by the iconic Chuck D celebrating original MCs with videos from Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane; CENTRIC HITS HIP HOP, a two-hour video block of the genre's latest and greatest with videos from Q-Tip, Common, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Busta Rhymes and an encore presentation of LIFE OF HEAVY-D, the late great Heavy-D is memorialized by colleagues, artists, friends and family.

SATURDAY, JUNE 16TH BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M.*

R.KELLY TAKEOVER kick starts with BEING: R.KELLY, a one-hour special commemorating the longevity and talent of legendary artist R. Kelly; a two-hour video block spanning from hits 12 Play to Love Letter; R. Kelly HOT 10 which will showcase a playlist of the Grammy-award winning artist's top hits, along with two live concert specials R. Kelly SINGS Sam Cooke and THE LOVE LETTER TOUR.