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Clarence Avant, a famed executive who dedicated his working life to a wide range of entertainment interests, has died according to reports. Dubbed “The Black Godfather,” Clarence Avant stood both as a powerful and influential figure in the world of entertainment and also a mentor to those who went on to forge their own formidable paths.
Clarence Avant was born on Feb. 25, 1931, in Greensboro, N.C. In the late 1940s, Avant moved to New Jersey and began working at a music lounge in Newark. Mentored by Joe Glaser, Louis Armstrong’s manager, Avant learned the ropes of the music business under his tutelage in the 1950s ahead of managing the careers of Lalo Schifrin and Jimmy Smith in the 1960s. Avant also managed the careers of Sarah Vaughan, and jazz producer Creed Taylor among others.
Avant oversaw the sale of the soul label Stax Records, adding to a number of other deals he helped broker at the time. Avant was also once the chairman of the board at Motown Records and went on to become the first Black board member at PolyGram. Avant’s interests also moved into the world of politics, and he advised Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama.
As a mentor to future greats, Avant lent his time to assist Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, L.A. Reid, Sylvia Rhone, Jimmy Iovine, Babyface, Jheryl Busby and more. Avant’s imprint on the entertainment world that powerful figures such as Quincy Jones lauded him for his efforts and lasting influence.
In a statement from his children, Nicole Avant and Alex Avant, and his son-in-law Ted Sarandos, the family made note of Avant’s significant contributions to the culture at large.
“It is with a heavy heart that the Avant/Sarandos family announce the passing of Clarence Alexander Avant. Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as ‘The Black Godfather’ in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports. Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss. Clarence passed away gently at home in Los Angeles on Sunday, August 13, 2023. He was 92,” the statement reads.
Avant was the subject of a documentary titled The Black Godfather, highlighting his rich career behind the scenes as one of the most powerful executives of his era. We feature the trailer for the 2019 documentary below.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, tributes to Clarence Avant have been posted. We’ll share a handful below.
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Photo: The Avant Family
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Tory Lanez, who was sentenced this week to a decade behind bars in connection to the Megan Thee Stallion shooting, still has access to social media somehow. The Canadian rascal is standing five feet tall, excuse us, 10 toes down in stating that he isn’t responsible for the shooting while saying he’s not apologizing.
In a brief Instagram statement, Tory Lanez highlights that the singer and entertainer is intending to remain steadfast in stating that he had nothing to do with the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.
“I have never let a hard time intimidate me, I will never, never let no jail time eliminate me,” Lanez began. “This week in court, I took responsibility for all verbal and intimate moments that I shared with the parties involved. That’s it. In no way, shape, or form was I apologizing for the charges I’m being wrongfully convicted of. I remain on the stance that I refuse to apologize for something that I did not do.”
Lanez added, “I’ve faced adversity my whole life, and every time it looked like I’d lose, I came out on top. This is nothing but another moment where my back is against the wall, and I refuse to stop fighting till I come out victorious.”
The post concludes with Tory Lanez thanking his fans for their support and maintaining his proud defiance.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, onlookers have chimed in with their thoughts about the case, including all of the celebrity letters in support of him. Check out those reactions below.
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Joe Budden has a penchant for bringing up controversial topics on his eponymously-named podcast, often to the point he and his co-hosts have passionate debates as a result. One such discussion from an earlier exclusive Patreon episode surfaced online, prompting onlookers to make more of the mock meat beef than there is.
In a previous episode of the DSP version of The Joe Budden Podcast, Budden and co-hosts Ish and Ice discussed if it is appropriate to have a connection with the ex-girlfriend of your friend. In that earlier broadcast, Budden explicitly said that the exes of his friends are off-limits.
However, Ish raised a moment where Budden apparently met with a woman Ish previously dated. While Ish says in the Patreon episode that he actually can’t police the actions of his ex-girlfriend, Budden saw fit to challenge his longtime friend and co-host on that point. Budden brought up a moment where Ish asked him about a conversation Budden had with an ex and it became a classic shouting match between the pair.
This isn’t the first time the pair has clashed on the podcast and probably won’t be the last. Both men have strong opinions and are unafraid to debate the other. What some who commented on the video in question failed to mention in many of their reactions is that the two smoothed things over at the end. Also, the clip that has social media buzzing is months old as well.
Check out the clip in question below and keep scrolling to see reactions from X (formerly known as Twitter) below.
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Melle Mel is unquestionably a legend of Hip-Hop music and that can’t be denied by anyone who claims to uphold the values of the culture. That said, Melle Mel is a rapper of a certain era but his attempt to diss Eminem didn’t seem to have the effect he was going for.
For context, Melle Mel took several swings at Eminem during interviews over the years, and the Detroit rapper misses nothing when it comes to his name. While Eminem has said repeatedly that he realizes he’s a guest in Hip-Hop culture as a white rapper, he does respond to the disrespect hurled his way when he can.
Eminem fired at Melle Mel during his featured verse on the remix for new Shady Records and Aftermath signee Ez Mil’s “Realest” track and we’ll share the lines below.
From “The Realest”:
Shout to the Furious Five and Grandmaster Flash but boy (What up doe)/There’s someone who really is furious stay out his path his wrath avoid/And I’ll be the last to toy with a juice head whose brain is like half destroyed/Like a meteor hit it well there went Melle Mel we lost his ass to roids (Damn)
Mel most recently jabbed at Eminem during an interview on The Art of Dialogue where he slightly praised the rapper’s skill but said he’s only selling units because he’s white. Eminem has faced similar criticism before from the likes of Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian fame among others.
As it stands, Melle Mel’s new diss track hasn’t been met with much approval although some on social media, most especially X, are saluting the Hip-Hop originator for his effort.
Check out the reactions below.
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Tory Lanez, like many a tiny man before him, learned the hard way that his arms are too short to box with the law. The sawed-off Canadian varmint was sentenced to 10 years behind bars and folks on X are celebrating the verdict.
Details are still in development but according to a report from the Associated Press, Tory Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, received his sentence on Tuesday (August 8) by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Herriford. Lanez, 31, was initially convicted in December 2022 with three charges: assault with a semiautomatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence, all felonies.
The sentencing ends a long ordeal that stemmed from a fateful night back in July 2020 when Lanez was attending a pool party at Kylie Jenner’s home in the Hollywood Hills along with Megan Thee Stallion. While leaving the event, the artist born Megan Pete testified that Lanez discharged a firearm towards her feet with bullet fragments damaging her to the point of surgery.
“Since I was viciously shot by the defendant, I have not experienced a single day of peace,” Pete shared in a statement read by a prosecutor on Monday (August 7). “Slowly but surely, I’m healing and coming back, but I will never be the same.”
Lanez denied his involvement in the shooting despite the initial lack of cooperation from Pete and conflicting statements given to law enforcement officials. Lanez also continued to seemingly harass and taunt Pete and his fans launched vicious verbal attacks online against her.
In court, Lanez changed his tune and took responsibility for his actions that evening.
“If I could turn back the series of events that night and change them, I would,” Lanez said to the judge while pleading for mercy. “The victim was my friend. The victim is someone I still care for to this day.”
Lanez’s legal team struck down Pete’s testimony at several angles and argued that there was not enough evidence to charge their client with the listed crimes. The legal team requested probation for Lanez and said that they will file an appeal.
On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, folks are giving their two cents on the rise and fall of Tory Lanez, which wouldn’t have taken that long anyway. Check out the reactions below.
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1. This Didn’t Age Well
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National CBD Day (August 8) is here and if you’ve been following this website for a while, you’re well aware that we believe in the proper use of cannabis for both healing and relaxing purposes. To help bring your National CBD Day into focus, we’ve put together a handful of gifts and suggestions to try, some of which we’ve had the pleasure of trying ourselves.
For those that are unaware, CBD stands for Cannabidiol, touted for its many therapeutic benefits such as pain relief, inflammation, restlessness, anxiety, and a host of other potential treatments. It can be ingested orally, smoked or vaporized, and even applied topically much like marijuana, the psychoactive version of cannabis that gets you “high” as hemp does not contain THC.
As most might know, CBD won’t get you high but it can be used with marijuana to create varying effects. CBD can also aid in lowering someone’s “high” as well while also building up tolerance.
The origins of National CBD Day start CBD company cbdMD according to National Day Calendar. The company declared August 8 as the day and it has been in existence since 2018. Much of the purpose of the holiday is to raise awareness of CBD and hemp products and to educate those who might be curious about its effects.
Below, we’ve got a list of products we think you should try. All products are listed in alphabetical order.
Alchemy Naturals
“Alchemy Naturals offers an array of delicious gummies tailored for different effects broken into categories such as intimacy and sleep. We’ve tried the relief and de-stress gummies and are happy to report that not only are the gummies tasty but the purported effects took hold. The company does urge that daily use of the products will lead to better results.” – D.L.
Cookies
“Cookies, the brainchild of rapper and entrepreneur Berner, might be known for its high-end marijuana strains, the company has an entire line of CBD products that can be shipped nationally. I’ve used the brand’s Caps product, which is a blend of mushrooms, CBD, and CBN (which aids in sleep) in capsule form. I’ve never used HHC or Delta 8 products so I can’t speak that but I have used the brand’s CBD oil in earlier times.” – D.L.
Escape Artists
“Escape Artists specializes in tinctures and topicals along with pre-rolls and edibles. The topical pain relief creams and tinctures are among the best I’ve experienced since taking flight with cannabis and hemp products some 20 years ago. The relief creams have been especially for my old man knees and the sleep tincture helps aid a good night’s sleep.” – D.L.
Susan’s Own
“Susan’s Own is the cool, chill sister to Blazy Susan, which provides a host of accessories for the cannabis user. Using Colorado hemp, Susan’s Own offers tinctures, gummies, creams, and bath bombs, all of which we’ve sampled in the past and have purchased on our own.” – D.L.
Tonic
“Tonic got its start back in 2017 and combines the power of CBD with adaptogens, which are plant substances, typically herb-based, used for various health reasons. We’ve tried the Zone CBD vape pen that provided the balance of clear-eyed clarity and a positive nudge of energy.” – D.L.
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Montgomery, the state capital of Alabama, is known for its place in the fight for civil rights along with a number of notable establishments treasured by the culture. Now, “The Gump” is also known as the site of a brawl that had Black folks forming like Voltron to protect a security guard against a crowd of angry white boaters.
By now, much of the details of the Montgomery Riverfront brawl are out there but we’ll share a brief recap as seen in NPR and across social media.
This past Saturday (August 5), a scene unfolded on the Riverfront during the afternoon after a pontoon boat full of revelers decided to ignore the orders of a Black dock worker and angrily beat the man. However, the fight turned fair rather quickly as others rushed to aid the dock worker with very explosive results that we’ll share below.
Josh Moon, who works for the Alabama Political Reporter, posted a video of the brawl on X (formerly known as Twitter). From what details we have available, the pontoon boat tried to dock in the space of the Harriott II double-decker riverboat. The Black dock worker, doing his job, undocked the pontoon boat, sparking some of the guests to approach him. The mob of angry boaters began beating the man but one young man stood out above all.
Dubbed “AquaMane, ‘Ja’Michael Phelps,” and other choice nicknames, the teen crew worker only known by his first name, Aaren, swam from another boat to aid the dock worker and despite having swam a great length, still had time to dole out body slams and fades in defense of the worker.
Reports say that Montgomery police had arrest warrants out for some of the boaters who started the brawl. We’ll add details as they came on on that front.
In the spirit of old Black Twitter, X has done an excellent job of recapping, sharing jokes, memes, and everything else you can imagine regarding the Montgomery Riverfront showdown.
Without wasting any more time, check out our favorite reactions and videos below.
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Mia Khalifa has long retired from the adult film business but that doesn’t stop fans from reminding her of the fact she was once a star in that profession. After posting a video doling out marriage advice some felt was heavy-handed, X users began reminding Mia Khalifa of her old job in all the ways one can imagine.
Mia Khalifa, who has a robust following as a content creator on TikTok and other platforms, posted a response video to a fellow TikTok user that was apparently a counter to a discussion about marriage, relationships, and divorce. Referring to herself as the “Tom Brady of this game,” Khalifa ran down her two marriages and the times that they ended, promoting the idea that one should leave a relationship that no longer serves you. She also made mention of an engagement that didn’t last but she boasted of keeping the ring.
“I am Tom Brady at this game. Married at 18. Divorced at 21. Second marriage. Married at 25. Divorced at 28. Third engagement. Engaged at 29. Ended it at 30, but I kept the ring. I’m still keeping Tom Brady on his toes,” Khalifa says in the clip.
She added, “We should not be afraid to leave these men. We are not stuck with these people. Marriage is not a sanctimonious thing. It is paperwork. It is a commitment you make to someone, but if you feel like you’re not getting anything from that commitment and you’re trying, you got to go.”
As expected, the advice from Mia Khalifa sparked a flurry of responses from people who feel that because of her past life, she doesn’t have any right to hand out advice. We’ve got some of the tamer responses to the clip listed out below.
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Cardi B might have another career as a baseball pitcher if she ever decides to leave the rap game. The Bronx beauty was seen hurling her microphone at a fan who tossed a drink at her during a recent performance.
Cardi B was in Las Vegas, Nev. over the weekend for an appearance at Drai’s Beachclub and was just seconds into her performance when someone a bit too lit tossed some type of liquid onto the rapper. With immediacy, Cardi B tossed the microphone with pinpoint accuracy and appears to clock the fan. In the video, Cardi is seen giving the person a verbal lashing as only she can then security guards working near the front of the stage took the individual out of the venue.
As some noted after seeing the video that Cardi wasn’t actually rapping and instead was lip-synching over a pre-recorded track, which isn’t unheard of these days. That said, shortly after the rowdy fan was taken away, Cardi resumed her set and all appeared to be well.
It’s a shame the fan tossed the drink because the orange number and hair Cardi B was sporting looked glamorous in the Vegas sun.
And for those keeping scores, that wasn’t the only time Cardi ended up throwing her microphone, doing so once again over the weekend during another performance but we couldn’t determine the reasoning.
Check out the reactions to Cardi’s mic tosses from X (formerly known as Twitter) below.
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Drake is currently in the midst of his It’s All A Blur tour and sparked an interesting trend at his shows that doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. After playfully calling out women for not throwing bras onstage during his sets, Drake encountered a bra size that left him baffled at the sheer size.
Drake recently completed a two-day run (July 28 & 29) in Washington, D.C. at Capitol One Arena and paused his set to discuss one woman’s bra that left him stumped. The Canadian superstar, clearly having a good time with the moment, shouted out the woman’s 36L bra size and launched into a hilarious monologue about how high the letters can go. TikTok user @threehana caught all the shenanigans on her phone.
“36L? L? How many letters does it go up to?” Drake asked, right before going into counting on his fingers how many letters were used for the bra. “There’s another one over there that looks big but we’ll talk about it later personally. Nah, this is custom work right here.”
Drake added, “This is crazy, this can’t be real, who’s is this?” before picking up a sizeable but still smaller 42H bra to compare the two sets. Apparently, there were two 42H bras thrown.
In part two of the video, Drake appears to think that women are just purchasing large bras to toss onto the stage.
“Y’all just buying big bras and throwing them onstage. Are we just giving out tickets to women with the biggest t*tties in the world?” Drake continued before ending the monologue and launching back into his set.
The video from @threehana went viral on X (formerly known as Twitter) and we’ve got some reactions from the social media site below. Also, these women throwing the big bras must be rich, just saying.
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