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Paras Griffin
A lot can happen in a life that spans over seven decades, so it would only make sense to put forth every effort that assures each and every one of those days will matter for something. For Cathy Hughes, the consummate chairwoman here at Radio One and Urban One, it’s been her only way of living for the better part of 77 years.
On her milestone birthday today (April 22), we give a huge salute to our founder for being an exemplary model of what it means to be an influential Black businesswoman, supportive mother, pretty stylish septuagenarian and overall visionary leader.
RELATED: A Timeline Of How Cathy Hughes Built A Black Empire
With no signs of slowing down anytime soon — she’s already looking into the online gaming industry! — Hughes is showing the world that no creed, color, race, gender or financial barrier will ever slow her down in pursuit of achieving everything possible for the UONE family. Her work has influenced even the highest of academia, with Howard University renaming its four-department communications program as the Cathy Hughes School of Communications back in 2016. As the HBCU put it on their website, “The mission of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications is to prepare graduates to exercise global leadership within and across diverse communities, locally, nationally and globally through communication research, professional practice, innovation, job creation, social justice and service via cutting-edge knowledge, skills and technology.” Cathy’s overall mission for media is carried on especially by the school’s professors, who are all described as “Pulitzer Prize winners, Emmy winners, Fulbright recipients, ASHA Fellows, prominent researchers, renowned authors, award-winning journalists and other media and communications professionals.”
To learn more about the birthday girl and get a better idea of some accomplishments that led to her success, we put together a few facts that give just a surface level telling of the greatness that is Cathy Hughes. Whether it’s being the first, or just the most determined to win, our boss lady definitely knows a thing or two about making an impact on the culture.
Keep scrolling to check out a special birthday shoutout to the incomparable Cathy Hughes featuring a handful of facts that tell more about our head honcho:
She’s One Of The Richest Black Woman In America — At One Point Only Second To Oprah!
Let’s just say a net worth estimated between $450 million and $500 million is nothing to sneeze at, especially for a Black woman.
She’s The First African-American Woman To Head A Publicly Traded Corporation
Since going public in 1999, Radio One has consistently maintained its status as the largest African-American-owned broadcasting company in the United States.
She Helped Create The R&B Subgenre “Quiet Storm”
You heard it right! Back in 1976 when she was the station manager for WHUR, Hughes helped then-Howard University students Melvin Lindsey and Jack Shuler launch the late-night music programming format, The Quiet Storm, after a successful soft launch. The rest is history.
Her Mom Was An Iconic Jazz Player
In her prime, the late Helen Jones Woods played trombone in one of America’s top female jazz bands during the 1940s.
Her Dad Was The First African-American To Earn An Accounting Degree From Creighton University
The historic accounting degree earned by William Alfred Woods influenced his daughter Cathy to enroll in Business Administration classes when she came of age. While she didn’t graduate, it led her to a sales manager position at WHUR where her broadcast story officially began.
She’s The First Woman To Serve As Vice President And General Manager Of A Radio Station In Washington, D.C.
…and it’s been growing ever since!
She Purchased Radio One After Being Denied For A Bank Loan 32 Times
What was it again that Aaliyah said in her 2000 no.1 smash hit, “Try Again”? Oh yeah, dust yourself off!
She’s A Member Of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
Stepping with the baddest!
She’s Inducted In The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame
Can you blame them? Creating Quiet Storm is no light matter!
She Has A Street Named After Her In Washington, D.C.
The next time you’re on the corner of 4th Street and H Street NE in Washington, D.C., look up at the street sign for a pleasant surprise.
Happy B’Day Cathy Hughes! 10 Fun Facts About Our Boss Lady
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After a brief postponement, Nintendo announced a new preorder release date for the Nintendo Switch 2 — the newest gaming console from Nintendo since in eight years.
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Available for preorder starting on Thursday, April 24, at Walmart, the Nintendo Switch 2 is priced at $449. However, if you’d like to with the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World game (priced at $79) bundle, then it starts at $499 from the retailer. The console drops on Thursday, June 5.
And since you can shop the Nintendo Switch 2 at Walmart, you’ll get the gaming console shipped to you for free if you’re a Walmart+ member with delivery by 9 a.m. local time on launch day. Just pre-order before 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday, June 4. Otherwise, your cart has to be more than $35 to get free shipping.
If you’re not a member, then you’re in luck: You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to take advantage of everything the retailer’s rewards program has to offer with perks such as free, fast delivery; fuel discounts’ streaming access to Paramount+ to watch hit originals; additional savings with early access deals and much more.
In addition, Walmart+ comes with access to SiriusXM for all sorts of talk radio and music — including popular channels such as “The Coffee House” for stripped-down songs from Noah Kahan, Kacey Musgraves, The Lumineers, Phoebe Bridgers and others. Learn more about what Walmart+ can offer you here.
Aside from Walmart, the new gaming console is also ready for preorder on Target and Amazon. Scroll down and preorder the Nintendo Switch 2:
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PreOrder
Nintendo Switch 2 + ‘Mario Kart World’
Release date: June 5
Armed with a vivid and brilliant 7.9-inch LCD display with HDR (High Dynamic Range) support, the Nintendo Switch 2 has a larger display and higher video resolution at 1080p Full HD with a smoother frame rates up to 120Hz compared to the Nintendo Switch 1. However, when docked to a 4K TV, the gaming console supports up to 4K Ultra HD resolutions.
Meanwhile, the console also has new magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers are more secure with larger triggers and action buttons with mouse-like controls, while its built-in speakers feature crisper and more detailed audio for music and in-game sounds. There’s even noise-canceling settings with a new microphone system for easier and clearer voice chat with friends and family online. Learn more about the Nintendo Switch 2 here.
Starting at $449, the Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console is available for preorder starting on Thursday, April 24, on Walmart, Target and Amazon. The Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundle starts at $499 for release on Thursday, June 5.
Learn more about Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World and accessories here. In the meantime, watch the overview trailer below:
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
The minute news broke about an upcoming remake of 1992’s The Bodyguard, the first question became: Who could possibly replace late pop superstar Whitney Houston and leading man Kevin Costner as the duo at the center of the romantic thriller? On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are discussing some of the […]
Kenia OS and Anitta’s “En 4” has topped Billboard’s latest new Latin music poll published on Friday, April 18. In support of the weekly New Music Latin roundup and playlist, curated by Billboard Latin and Billboard Español editors, music fans voted for the Mexican pop artist’s new track in collaboration with the Brazilian superstar as […]
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Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty
Slim Thug is still hanging on to a fantasy, refusing to let go even after Megan Thee Stallion made it crystal clear she’s not checking for him.
The Houston rapper recently got a spark of delusion reignited when Megan played one of his songs during her high-energy Coachella performance. Slim took it as a sign, a coded message that the Hot Girl captain was finally ready to hop on the Thugger train. But just days later, Megan shut it all down on stage. After playing another one of his tracks, she told the crowd, “This doesn’t mean I want you Slim, I just like your music babe.”
That “babe” was all Slim needed to spiral back into hope. In an interview shortly after, he doubled down on his dream, claiming that while Megan might not want him now, in her prime, there’s still a shot when she evolves into “Megan Thee Auntie.” It was a reach of Olympic proportions, but Slim’s optimism remains bulletproof. He clung to the word “babe” like it was a love letter, calling it “an inclination of hope.”
At this point, it’s less about romance and more about pride. Slim Thug refuses to accept defeat, choosing to interpret every gesture as a green light. Megan’s rejection was loud, playful, and public, but Slim’s living in his own alternate timeline, where a Hot Girl Summer ends in a Thug Love story. Spoiler: it’s not happening, but Slim just won’t let it go.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty
Slim Thug is still hanging on to a fantasy, refusing to let go even after Megan Thee Stallion made it crystal clear she’s not checking for him.
The Houston rapper recently got a spark of delusion reignited when Megan played one of his songs during her high-energy Coachella performance. Slim took it as a sign, a coded message that the Hot Girl captain was finally ready to hop on the Thugger train. But just days later, Megan shut it all down on stage. After playing another one of his tracks, she told the crowd, “This doesn’t mean I want you Slim, I just like your music babe.”
That “babe” was all Slim needed to spiral back into hope. In an interview shortly after, he doubled down on his dream, claiming that while Megan might not want him now, in her prime, there’s still a shot when she evolves into “Megan Thee Auntie.” It was a reach of Olympic proportions, but Slim’s optimism remains bulletproof. He clung to the word “babe” like it was a love letter, calling it “an inclination of hope.”
At this point, it’s less about romance and more about pride. Slim Thug refuses to accept defeat, choosing to interpret every gesture as a green light. Megan’s rejection was loud, playful, and public, but Slim’s living in his own alternate timeline, where a Hot Girl Summer ends in a Thug Love story. Spoiler: it’s not happening, but Slim just won’t let it go.
Is it hot in here, or it just Davido and Victoria Monét‘s new “Offa Me” music video that dropped on Tuesday (April 22)? Davido infuses the KLVDR-directed visual with his breezy, charismatic vibe, while Monét entrances viewers with her slick vocal delivery and Sean Bankhead-choreographed moves, including a new dance to her catchy “Davido, V-Mo” […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Shopping for the perfect Mother’s Day gift can be a tall order, especially if you want something that she will actually love and maybe even use.
To help you out, we’ve broken down our gift guide into a couple of sections so that you can have figure out where to start. For the first and most wide-ranging category, we have everything from great band T-shirts to stunning earrings. From there, we have a music gifts section that includes headphones, speakers and a record player that will be perfect for when she wants to bust out her vinyl collection. We also have categories for home goods, beauty and tech that include everything from the most sumptuous sheets to skincare that will make her feel like she’s at the spa.
Shop the Best Mother’s Day Gifts, at a Glance:
With the holiday right around the corner on May 11, now is the time to start shopping so that you don’t find yourself searching for something meaningful at the last minute.
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Best Mother’s Day Gifts
For this category, we wanted to find some unique items that were upgrades on the traditional favorites. For jewelry selections, we found a brand with a backstory that offers staples that she’ll be able to wear for years to come. If your mom loves to reminisce on her favorite artists from the past, we found some great options from Junk Food Clothing that will bring back the best memories. There are a few other little surprises that should absolutely delight your mom.
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Obakki Split Bean Earrings
You can’t go wrong with jewelry, and these earrings are sure to become a staple in your mom’s wardrobe. Even better? Obakki works with artisans around the world to support small businesses while simultaneously offering truly unique pieces.
WoodWick Vanilla and Sea Salt Candle
$24.87
$31.00
20% off
WoodWick candles offer up all of the crackling, cozy comfort you can handle, and your mom is sure to love it. This sea salt and vanilla-infused fragrance offers up 50-hours of burn time.
Junk Food Blondie Rapture Flea Market Tee
These tees are super quality and soft, and it would be a great gift for the mom who loves nostalgia. They have lots of different bands and artists, so make sure you search for your mom’s favorite.
Parfums de Marly Delina Exclusif Eau de Parfum
This perfume not only comes in a stunning bottle that your mom will love to display, it smells absolutely delicious. It has notes of Turkish rose, vetiver, vanilla and pear.
Benson Boone knows that not everyone is going to have beautiful things to say about him, but he’d at least like his haters to have constructive criticism to offer.
In a recent TikTok, the singer-songwriter vented about people who leave hate comments without backing them up. “If you hate me or my music at least have a good reason for it,” he wrote in text layered over a video of him sitting in a dark room, looking down at the camera.
“I just read a comment that said ‘idek why I hate Benson Boone but it feels right,’” he continued. “Like WHAT!!? how am I supposed to improve after reading that? At least say something valid like ‘he low key just flips everywhere can he [do] anything else?’ or even ‘I just don’t like his songs even though I’m basing my opinion off the only one that I’ve heard over and over’ (super valid)”
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To Boone’s point, he’s objectively best known — if not for his tendency to perform backflips on stage, like at the 2025 Grammys — for his Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 hit “Beautiful Things.” At the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards in March, the Washington-born star won song of the year for the smash.
One fan in the comments posited that the song’s popularity might have given Boone a case of overexposure. “i feel like sometimes when a radio overplays a song a LOT like beautiful things for example it can ruin the song and therefore the artist by proxy, without it having to do anything w you directly,” they wrote, to which the musician replied, “Honestly this is so true!!”
The post comes as the young star is preparing to release his next studio album, American Heart, in June. In a March cover story interview with Rolling Stone, Boone opened up about starting this next chapter following the success of “Beautiful Things,” sharing, “I think this year has taught me a lot of things, especially that it is incredibly easy to get carried away with my ego.”
“After ‘Beautiful Things,’ I was like, ‘Dude, I can do anything.’ And I can’t,’” he continued. “It’s good to talk about, ‘Hey, you know, I’m not the king of the world. I’m not somebody that everybody in the world knows. I’m still an up-and-coming artist.’ ”
See Boone’s TikTok below.
Tech N9ne shared on Bunnie XO‘s latest podcast episode that he had an inappropriate relationship with one of his middle school teachers when he was going on 13 years old.
The artist born Aaron Yates stopped by the Dumb Blonde podcast Monday (April 21) to talk about his legendary independent career and also took a moment to discuss his childhood. In particular, he focused on a relationship he had with a teacher — whom he did not name — that he said changed his life forever.
“It all started when I showed her a picture of my father as a cop,” the rapper said around the 35-minute mark. “After class, whenever everybody’s leaving out, I would be in there and she would say, ‘Aaron is soo cute’ … She was beautiful, and I was like, ‘Oh, thank you!’ But she used to do it every day, like, ‘Aaron is sooo cute.’”
He said things started to escalate from there, and he used to skip lunch to go and visit his teacher in her classroom.
“I was in love, until she got married,” Tech N9ne said, adding that they got caught kissing by a student walking by the classroom. He got called up to “courtroom class” as a result, which was code for “Ms. Glen’s room” upstairs, where students would get sent following bad behavior.
“Ms. Glen, she was a Black lady, she didn’t want no f—k s—t,” Tech recalled with a laugh. “She said, ‘Aaron, there’s a student in here … that says they walked by Ms. So-and-So’s room and saw both of you kissing … I said, ‘Huh? Why would I be kissing a grown-up?’ I was smart.”
He continued to deny the kiss, and both the seventh grade teacher and Tech got called to the office, where she also denied the allegations.
“I remember her pleading her case and being real serious,” Tech said, “and nothing happened … ’cause I didn’t tell.”
But the rapper did confirm to Bunnie, who is married to country music star Jelly Roll, that he was also having sex with her outside of school.
“She got married in my eighth grade year, and after that we didn’t talk anymore,” Tech concluded, before moving into a conversation about his love of horror films.
Watch Tech talk about his relationship around the 28-minute mark in the video, and find the full episode on Spotify.