World renowned singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc (“I Need a Dollar,” “The Man,” and Avicii’s “Wake Me Up”) is on a mission to use his voice for positive social transformation. That’s why he has chosen to team with a diverse group of local artists to perform his arrangements of songs of revolution to open the Ford Signature Series on July 9 at the John Anson Ford Theatre.

“I selected those that have inspired me to become the ‘artivist’ that I am,” said the soulful crooner of the evening’s set list, which will include renditions of Aretha Franklin’s “Think,” Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” and Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.”

Blacc peppers awareness in his catalog giving a nod to the King of Pop himself.

“I like to add a little bit a medicine with the sugar in the way Michael Jackson would do,” he stated.  “[MJ] was the bomb when it came to social messages in his music.”

Like many, Blacc considered Jesse Williams’ BET Awards acceptance speech the most important words said by any celebrity in decades. Blacc revealed that the “Grey’s Anatomy” actor was following the guidelines they and others were given at a meeting of “Black Hollywood” called by Harry Belafonte at Quincy Jones’ home.

“He took it to the next level,” Blacc said. “There were other people who were in the audience who have not done what Jesse has been doing. People need to step up and really start being vocal. My biggest comment at these meetings — because there was another with Van Jones at Russell Simmons home — is that we need eternal vigilance, but it’s also about action items.”

For Blacc, that’s about boycotting companies engaging in prison labor because he believes private prisons that are incentivized to keep people incarcerated for profit are a conflict of interest in our legal system.

He reasoned: “If I can convince Ciara, Rihanna or Beyoncé to create their own lingerie line, it would be helpful in creating a boycott for Victoria’s Secret because they wouldn’t get billions of black dollars that they currently receive.”

On the subject of cultural appropriation, Blacc feels that Justin Timberlake may be guilty but not with malice like the Sun Records owner who said of Elvis Presley they were specifically looking for a white kid who could do what the black kids do for more money.

“I think [Timberlake] genuinely is a talented musician-songwriter,” Blacc said. “An artist who has a feel for what is good music and presenting it. He happens to be white. It’s different when you’re from Australia with an Australian accent singing and rapping like you’re from Atlanta. No names to be uttered. You already know who I’m talking about. That’s cultural appropriation.”

Even if it’s produced and presented by a prominent Atlanta rapper?

“I’d say that’s cultural apimpriation,” he responded.

CLIPPETTES:  The cast Malcolm Lee is about to begin filming “Girl Trip” with is rounding out nicely with Larenz Tate, Mike Colter (“Luke Cage”) and Tiffany Haddish (“Carmichael Show”) joining Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Regina Hall …

Blackstreet, Johnny Gill, Al B Sure, After 7 and Total are in concert at The Forum on July 2 …

After rattling off a list of various properties in six states, comic actor Katt Williams told Rock Rants that “it’s all possible if you don’t spend all your money on strippers and cocaine. If you think [I’m a] crackhead, you should spend some time with your local crackhead.” …

Sundance TV’s “Hap and Leonard” starring James Purefoy and Michael Kenneth Williams has been renewed for a second season.

TASTY QUIP: “[Diversity is] not, ‘Hey, let’s give this white protagonist a brown friend!’ No. It’s ‘Let’s have a show where there’s a token white guy.’ And that’s what it is.” – AZIZ ANSARI at the Peabody Awards

TC ON TV: July 1 – “Tavis Smiley” (PBS): Maxwell

July 2 – “Bad Dad Rehab” (TV1): Starring Malik Yoba, Robert Ri’chard, Wesley Jonathan and Kandi Buruss. The original movie follows a center that employs unusual methods to help men become true fathers.

July 4 – “Idris Elba No Limits” (DFC): The actor-producer will push his body, mind and engineering know-how to the limit by racing on land, water and in the air for a new four-part series airing back-to-back. “A Capitol Fourth” (PBS): Smokey Robinson, Kenny Loggins, Yolanda Adams, Amber Riley, Gen. Colin L. Powell and the cast of Gloria Estefan’s “On Your Feet.” “Serena” (Epix): This new doc features an intimate look at Ms. Williams’ quest to achieve four tennis Grand Slams in a row. Funny how it carefully shows rumored love interest Drake, who was suspected to have been a distraction.

July 6 – “Hollywood Divas” (TV1): For season three, Malika Haqq (“Keeping Up with the Kardashians”) is joining Countess Vaughn, Golden Brooks, Lisa Wu and Paula Jai Parker.

ROYAL EVENING: John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Edward James Olmos, Debbie Allen, Lorraine Toussaint and Regina King are confirmed for The Music Center’s Summer Soirée honoring multi-talented legend Rita Moreno on July 7. Guests will be treated to a special performance by the American Ballet Theatre of Alexei Ratmansky’s 2012 “Firebird,” starring principal dancers and Southern California natives Misty Copeland and Stella Abrera, followed by an after-party in Grand Park.

TASTY QUIP: “Freedom is always coming in the hereafter, you know what though, the hereafter is a hustle. We want it now.” – JESSE WILLIAMS at the BET Awards.

“Tasty Clips” is an entertainment column published in The Wave to update readers on the activities and accomplishments of black celebrities and artists in television, in music and at the movies. To reach Bill Vaughan, send email to . He can also be reached on Twitter @tastyclips.