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Bun B, Scarface & More Talk Houston’s Honeyland Festival

November 21, 2023

Source: iOne Digital / Urban One

Houston’s Honeyland Festival went down November 11 & 12 in Crown Festival Park and it was a heaping helping of Black excellence in the food, beverages, music, and art industries.
Urban One was proud to be an Official Media Partner and was on the ground to document the festivities that included Texas rap legend Bun B on hand to serve up his Trill Burgers to attendees.

“Everybody here is a Black vendor, on some level. It’s targeted for our demographic, but it’s by our demographic,” said Bun B of the festival.
Some of the acts who performed included Coco Jones, Tobe Nwigwe, Summer Walker, Miguel and Chlöe Bailey. Urban One spoke to a few Hip-Hop legends including Scarface, Slim Thug and Z-Ro, and Paul Well, besides the aforementioned Bun B.
Watch them discuss participating in the Honeyland Festival and what it means to put on for Houston in the video above.

Man Who Relieved Gaudy Pastor Bishop Lamor Whitehead of His Jewels During Church Service Stream Pleads Guilty

djfrosty

November 15, 2023

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Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty / Bishop Lamor Whitehead
Gaudy Brooklyn Pastor Bishop Lamor Whitehead got some justice when one of the men who robbed him during a livestream service pleaded guilty.
Spotted on Gothamist, Say-Quan Pollack, 25, pleaded guilty to a federal robbery charge for stealing Bishop Lamor Whitehead’s jewelry during a church service stream.
The incident happened in July 2022, and the judge will sentence Pollack in the coming months, the website reports.
Per Gothamist:

Pollack swiveled in his chair and occasionally rubbed his face during the proceedings, which lasted about half an hour. At times, Pollack asked Judge William F. Kuntz II to repeat his questions before he responded with a “yes” or a “no.”

“I participated in a robbery,” he said after pleading guilty. “I took another person’s property with a threat.”
He said he went to school through eighth grade and received a high school equivalency degree in jail.
The robbery went down as Whitehead preached at the Leaders of Tomorrow International Church in Canarsie last year.
According to prosecutors, three men, dressed in all black, wearing masks with guns drawn, entered the church, forcing the pastor to drop to his knees.
Whitehead could be heard saying, “Yo, alright, alright, alright.”
Police later arrested Pollack and Juwan Anderson. Pollack was supposed to plead guilty to the crime earlier this year but backed out of the deal he made with prosecutors earlier this year.
Despite Pollack pleading guilty, Anderson has done the opposite and maintains his innocence. The third man involved in the robbery has not been found.
Bishop Lamor Whitehead Also Has His Problems With The Law
As for the good Bishop, the man who says he is a “mentee” of the op, aka NYC Mayor Eric Adams, has also found himself in trouble with the law.
Whitehead was indicted in federal court in Manhattan for allegedly stealing $90,000 of retirement savings from a church member.
He also got called out for using homophobic and fatphobic slurs.
That’s not something a good Christian would do.
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Photo: Johnny Nunez / Getty

Swae Lee & AliExpress To Host Singles Day Pop Shop In NYC

djfrosty

November 7, 2023

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Source: AliExpress / AliExpress
It’s not close to Valentine’s Day, but Swae Lee and AliExpress are throwing a little something something for all the single people out there who’ve got a little (or a lot) of time on their hands. Singles’ Days aka the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival properly kicks off a few days early.

Starting November 9 (unless you’re a VIP and can drop in the day prior), AliExpress and Swae Lee will be hosting a Singles Day VIP pop up shop in Soho where attendees will be treated to quite the shopping festival and a few lucky fans will actually have the chance to meet and greet Rae Sremmurd rapper himself. AliExpress has also linked up with Tinder and BLK to set up shop at 69 Mercer Street from November 9 – 12, where they will feature a gang of tech, home goods, wellness, beauty and fashion products at up to a 50% discount along with deeper cuts depending on how much customers spend while they’re there.
Sounds like a helluva deal.

“I’m excited to team up with AliExpress on Singles’ Day because to me it’s a day to celebrate self-care, self-expression, and individuality,” said Swae Lee in a statement. “My music and style have always been about being true to myself and standing out from the crowd. I believe everyone should be able to express themselves in their own unique way, and AliExpress offers a wide variety of unique products that help people do just that.”
But the real caveat for fans is their chance to meet Swae Lee, and 11 lucky people will get the opportunity to do just that. All they have to do is follow the instructions that AliExpress has set up which includes following @aliexpressUS (IG), posting a screenshot of the most unique product you can find on the AliExpress app, tagging @aliexpressUS (IG) and using the hashtag #AliExpressSinglesDay. Of course you must be 21 years of age or older to participate in the Swae Lee sweepstakes.
Check out Swae Lee’s Singles Day VIP pop up announcement below (you can get more info on Singles’ Day right here) and let us know if this is something you’ll be attending in the comments section.

Questlove & The Balvenie Launch The Craft Holiday Of Entertaining Gift Pack

djfrosty

November 3, 2023

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Source: The Balvenie / The Balvenie
On Friday, November 3, the Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Questlove continued their partnership by announcing the release of The Craft of Holiday Entertaining, a limited-edition advent calendar.

Source: The Balvenie / The Balvenie
The Craft of Holiday Entertaining is artfully curated by the six-time GRAMMY Award Winning and Academy Award-winning multihyphenate, and The Roots crew member, to heighten your at-home bar for the holiday season. Since it’s in collab with the Balvenie, whisky enthusiasts will be catered to at it features 12 premium items that include a limited-edition deck of Quest for Craft playing cards, Glencairn tasting glasses and holiday chocolates as well as a QR code to redeem a bottle of The Balvenie DoubleWood 12.

“At the heart of my partnership with The Balvenie is our shared passion for craftsmanship and the journeys that elevate something from great to exceptional,” said Questlove in a statement. “I love to host Food Salons, game nights, and dinner parties and create unforgettable experiences for my guests – especially during the holiday season.”
Quest and Balvenie recently dropped the latest episodes of their Webby Award-winning digital series, Quest for Craft, which is available on The Balvenie’s YouTube channel.
You’ll be able to purchase the Craft of Holiday Entertaining Advent Calendar at TheBalvenieHolidayShop.com beginning on Friday, November 3 and it will cost you $225.
Source: The Balvenie / The Balvenie

Q-Tip Tapped As Music Producer For Muhammad Ali Broadway Musical

djfrosty

November 1, 2023

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Source: Allen Berezovsky / Getty
There’s a musical based on the life and achievements of boxing legend Muhammad Ali on its way to Broadway in fall 2024, and one of the artists tapped to work on the music for the stage play is none other than rapper, producer, songwriter and Hip-Hop legend Q-Tip.

According to Deadline, Richard Willis, the lead producer of the musical titled Ali, signed Q-Tip, whose real name is Kamaal Ibn John Fareed, as the play’s music producer, co-lyricist and cast album producer. Besides being part of the team that brings to melodic life the story of arguably the greatest boxer in history, Q-Tip gets the privilege of working alongside director, author and deputy artistic director of UK’s National Theatre Clint Dyer, who directed Othello as well as Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical. The “Vivrant Thing” rapper will also work with the show’s composer Teddy Abrams, whose past work bringing music and Ali’s legacy together inspired the new production.
From Deadline:

Back in 2017, Abrams wrote multimedia opera-rap-oratorio mashup The Greatest: Muhammad Ali, which premiered with the Louisville Orchestra at the Kentucky Center in Louisville.
That production got Abrams, and others, thinking that there should be a full-scale Broadway musical about the pivotal historical figure who transcended his sporting achievements.

“I am very excited to be collaborating with Teddy, Clint, Casey and Sean in telling The Greatest’s story on stage,” Q-Tip told Deadline. “Muhammad Ali has always been a hero to me!”
And the show’s producer is just as excited to have the A Tribe Called Quest veteran on board.
“We want to take the traditional musical theater structure that works and then tip it on its ear a little bit,” Willis said. “Q-Tip produces songs and albums for a massive audience so he knows how to do that thing that’s slightly different than what normal musical theater is. So we tip it, and make it original and fresh and new and hummable. All that energy in the right direction is the job, right?”
Dyer agrees.
“Q-Tip has proven himself as one of the greatest hip-hop artists of his generation and beyond,” he said. “Having his talents onboard will give this musical every possibility to honor Ali’s greatness. I could not be happier with this appointment.”
“We’ll use his hip-hop beats, and his talents will be used in other areas as well,” Dyer continued. “This show’s covering a lot of areas of music and we’ll exhaust all of Q-Tip’s knowledge. You’ve got to remember that Q-Tip’s into all kinds of music, not just jazz and hip-hop. For instance, his next album is all rock ‘n’ roll, so hold on. Let’s see what he comes up with for Ali!”

Actually, back in 2020, Q-Tip teased the future releases of three new albums, but as of now, his last solo studio album is still 2009’s Kamaal The Abstract. So, it looks like Dyer might know something we don’t. Either way, it’s always great to see Q-Tip out here doing big things as both a solo artist and collaborator. Salute!

Magic Johnson Finally Joins Michael Jordan LeBron James & Tiger Woods In The Billionaire Boys Club

djfrosty

October 30, 2023

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Source: Tasos Katopodis / Getty / Magic Johnson
The Billionaires Boys Club for Black notable athletes just got its fourth member, and it’s none other than Magic Johnson.
According to the financial bible, Forbes, Magic Johnson is now a billionaire. The NBA champion and Pro Basketball Hall-of-Famer reached the wealth milestone thanks to a combination of all of his lucrative investments in “professional sports teams, movie theaters, Starbucks cafes, and a health insurance provider,” according to the website.

Johnson becoming a billionaire makes him only the fourth professional athlete to do so, joining his buddy Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods.
Forbes reports Johnson’s minority stake in the Washington Commanders after billionaire Josh Harris’ $6.05 billion purchase of the team in May, stakes in the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, and the MLS’ LAFC, plus other major investments pushed his net worth to $1.2 billion.
While Johnson’s investments in sports franchises, Starbucks, and Loews get all of the attention, Forbes points to his investment in Iowa-based life insurance company EquiTrust as the one that makes up the most significant portion of his net worth.
Per Forbes:
Forbes now estimates his net worth to be $1.2 billion—the result of his stakes in those teams, and major investments in a slate of industries, including a 60% stake in Iowa-based life insurance company EquiTrust he purchased in 2015.
EquiTrust makes up the largest portion of Johnson’s personal net worth—since the purchase, the Iowa-based company’s assets have skyrocketed from $16 billion to $26 billion, with annual revenues of roughly $2.6 billion.
Magic Johnson Could Have Been A “Trillionaire” Already
While Johnson has nothing to be upset about regarding his net worth, he could have already been a trillionaire if he had made one investment back in his playing days, and that’s taking Nike’s offer of stock options instead of the cash with Converse.
According to the numbers, Johnson missed out on $5.2 billion.

Still, being worth $1.2 billion is nothing to sneeze at. Congrats to the Magic man on the accomplishment.
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Photo: Tasos Katopodis / Getty

‘Basketball Wives’ Star Brittish Williams Sentenced To 4 Years In A St. Louis Prison For Fraud

djfrosty

October 25, 2023

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Source: Robin L Marshall / Getty / Brittish Williams
Basketball Wives star Brittish Williams is learning the hard way that if you do the crime, you will have to do time.
Spotted on the Riverfront Times, Williams will have to do time and was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to 15 counts of “various types of fraud.”

According to the RFT, Williams’ crimes she was accused of included not paying taxes and under-reporting the income of her businesses.
Williams also allegedly used other people’s identities to open bank accounts without their knowledge.
Williams, who starred in Basketball Wives and Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars and former co-host of the St. Louis radio station Hot 104.1, asked a judge for leniency during her sentencing, but Judge Henry Autrey was like nah.
Per Riverfront Times:
In court today, Williams and her attorney Beau Brindley asked Judge Henry Autrey for leniency in sentencing.
“I knew better, and I did wrong anyway,” Williams said, adding that the idea of being separated from her daughter was “heartbreaking.”
Judge Autrey seemed largely unswayed, telling Williams that he believed she possessed a “fraudster mentality.” He pointed out that in total, WIlliams’ various frauds led to her taking in $150,000 a year from 2017 to 2020.
“That’s a pretty damn good wage,” he said.
Autrey also suggested that Williams’ fame impacted his sentencing decision, saying, “Not only are you out there for people to watch your entertainment, but also for people to watch you. … That’s a big obligation.”
The website reports Williams dodged a bullet because it was recommended she do 63 years in prison. Still, her punishment was significantly more than the 18 months in jail or probation suggested by her attorney.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Klocke pointed out that Williams was still committing fraud well after she was indicted and counseling people, telling them they don’t have to pay taxes the first few years of running a business.
After her indictment, she was still collecting pandemic-related rent relief under false pretenses and submitting bogus medical bills to an insurance company.
Williams also traveled without permission while still on pretrial monitoring, according to Klocke, who also notes that her wearing of an ankle monitor was subplot during a season of Basketball Wives.
Following her sentencing, one of her friends lunged at a reporter as they filmed her leaving court.

Welp.
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Photo: Robin L Marshall / Gett

A$AP Rocky Named Creative Director of Puma Partnership With Formula 1

djfrosty

October 25, 2023

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Source: Puma / PUMA
Besides being a rapper and a father of two, with Rihanna, A$AP Rocky has a new job on his resume. The Harlem rapper has been named the creative director of Puma x F1.

Source: Puma / PUMA
Specifically, Pretty Flacko and the OG German sports company have entered into a creative partnership that will see him adding flavor to it motorsports business. The “Peso” rapper’s official title is Creative Director and he is tasked with guiding Puma’s partnership with Formula 1 (F1) and will be creating seasonal capsule collections.

As announced earlier in 2023, Puma is now the exclusive outfitter at all F1 races. Puma hopes Rocky’s tastes will bring more streetwear and fashion sensibility to their longterm partnership with F1. Rocky’s first campaign for Puma x F1 will spotlight American car culture and it’s influence on streetwear. Also, later this year there will be a limited Puma x F1 collection that will include apparel and accessories that will serve as a hint of all the multiple capsule collections set to drop in 2024. Part of next year’s initiatives are focusing on Grand Prix races, starting in Miami, and will include Rocky creating activations and marketing campaigns to promote the collections.

“Working with brands as iconic as PUMA, and as innovative as F1, has been truly inspiring,” said A$AP Rocky in a statement. “When the world sees what we’re doing, I believe a shift will happen with how brand’s approach taking risks and working with diverse creatives.”
Can’t say he ain’t confident. Also worth noting is that earlier this year Puma linked back up with Rihanna’s Fenty brand. So it’s a family affair.

Source: Puma / PUMA

Geek Out: The Best Cosplay From Day 3 of New York Comic Con 2023

djfrosty

October 15, 2023

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Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
Day 3 of New York Comic Con 2023 came and went; you guessed it, there was more cosplay to take in.
The rain and fall temperatures didn’t stop cosplayers from showing up in droves to the Jacob K. Javits Center on Saturday, October 14.
Keeping that same energy from Day 1 and Day 2, blerds and nerds came together to celebrate geek culture. It’s a known fact amongst the NYCC faithful that cosplayers usually save their best cosplay drip for the weekend, and that continues to be the case.
On Friday, we were stuck in the Spider-Verse with plenty of takes of arguably Marvel’s most popular superhero in the building. Saturday saw more Spideys, but his foes took centerstage this time, like Spot from Across The Spider-Verse.
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
Another Across The Spider-Verse “villain” who showed up was Miles Morales as The Prowler. We strongly lean toward this take on the character as our favorite cosplay from the day.
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
Marvel Was Everywhere At New York Comic Con
Other Marvel characters we spotted were Jane Foster as Thor, a spin on Wolverine in a tuxedo, another Spidey villain, Mysterio, Mile’s homie and possible love interest Spider-Gwen, Bishop from the X-Men (pictured at the top of the post), Namor from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and, of course, Loki variants.
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez
Day 4 is underway, and if you are at The Javits Center, enjoy all the cosplay and scoop all the collectibles you can.
We will be back next year, but until then, you can see more cosplay photos in the gallery below.
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Photo: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con

1. Black & White Ninjetti Rangers (Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers)

Source:@PhotosByBeanz/ @BeanzGotGamez / New York Comic Con
New York Comic Con 2023 Day 3 cosplay,nycc,new york comic con

2. Luke Skywalker & Grogu