Drake Crowns Bun B’s Trill Burgers The ‘Best’ In Houston
It turns out that celebrities enjoy a burger and fries like most of us.
Drake was thoroughly impressed when he made a surprise stop at Houston legend Bun B’s new restaurant, Trill Burgers, on Juneteenth.
The Toronto-born rapper popped in around 6:30 p.m., ABC 13 reports.
While the newly opened restaurant was busy, staff and customers were kind enough to give the duo some space to catch up. That’s when the “God’s Plan” rapper got his hands on the signature OG Trill Burger and fries and shared his experience with his 139 million Instagram followers. ‘
“The best burger I’ve ever had,” Drake said about the tasty burger on his IG story.
Drake called Bun B his mentor and one of his “favorite people in the world” before telling his fans to check out the restaurant, located in the heart of Houston. While the “Houstatlantavegas” rapper isn’t the first to visit the restaurant, Bun claims that he is the biggest.
“We get a couple of big deals in here every now and then,” Bun B said, according to Chron. “Maybe not this big, but we do get some big deals.” Rappers such as Slim Thug and Ludacris have already visited.
Bun B, who is one half of the legendary rap duo UGK, opened the restaurant earlier this month after years of operating as a pop-up. The new digs holds up to 125 customers at a time. Customers can only purchase food in-person—only taking credit and charge cards. Drive-thru service will be opening soon. ‘
The Trill Burgers company recently secured a deal with Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo. The burgers have a place among 10 Houston restaurants that can be purchased at Clutch City’s Shell Energy Stadium.
Summer Campaign Honors Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary By Teaming Up With Some Of The Genre’s Biggest Stars
Sprite, a brand that has championed hip-hop culture for more than 35 years, will celebrate the groundbreaking genre’s 50th anniversary this summer with a buzzworthy TV spot starring a crew of living legends and rising stars, a new limited-edition flavor, sponsorship of one of the year’s most anticipated concert tours, and a series of exclusive merch and experience drops.
Nas, Rakim, Latto, and GloRilla will star in fresh Sprite creative, paying tribute to the past, present, and future of hip-hop. A remix of The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” – the first-ever hip-hop song to hit the Billboard Top 40 – is infused with memorable bars from the cast of old-schoolers and contemporary artists and anchors the campaign with a rapping, time-traveling love letter to the music that has shaped popular culture over the last five decades.
A.P. Chaney, creative director for Sprite North America, said the brand’s hip-hop credentials are unmatched.
“Our resume speaks for itself,” Chaney said. “Sprite took a chance on hip-hop before it was cool, and has always been of the culture, not only for the culture. We’ve shown up for both moments big and small, amplifying the endless possibilities of the now-omnipresent hip-hop lifestyle and its profound impact on music, sports, and fashion. So it’s only fitting that we pay homage to all hip-hop has been, is, and will be.”
Just as the campaign will honor hip-hop history, the new limited-time-only Sprite Lymonade Legacy is a remixed nod to the OG lemon-lime refresher. Sprite’s take on strawberry lemonade, which was inspired by fan requests on social media, offers a delicious combination of tried-and-true and something new. Lymonade Legacy will be available in a range of packages at retailers nationwide, and exclusively in fountain and frozen formats at 7-Eleven stores.
Summer of Drops
The packaging for the original Sprite and Lymonade Legacy will feature a fresh design celebrating 50 years of hip-hop. The look takes cues from summer and the crisp, refreshing taste of Sprite as well as boomboxes, studio mixers, and other tech tools synonymous with hip-hop’s journey.
Fans can scan on-pack QR codes on both products throughout the summer to access digital “drop shops” with hundreds of giveaways. Prizes include exclusive content featuring Latto and Rakim, covetable merch including autographed Nas hats, GloRilla tour tees, a Latto gold mic, and Rakim directorial slates from the TVC shoot.
“Our Summer of Drops focuses on our fans’ passion points – music, fashion, art and entertainment – and draws inspiration from sneakerhead drop culture,” said Aaliyah Shafiq Ely, VP, sparkling flavors category. “The diverse array of prizes offers something for everyone to get excited about, and our overall campaign is the latest example of Sprite responding to what fans want with both experiences and products.”
Premier experiential giveaways include Rolling Loud Lifetime Passes and meet-and-greet tickets for Drake’s “It’s All A Blur” summer tour, which will feature Sprite as the lead beverage sponsor. Drake has partnered with Sprite for more than a decade, starting with the “Spark” multinational campaign in 2012 – his first worldwide deal – and continuing with 2015’s “Obey Your Verse.” The 57-date arena tour marks the hip-hop megastar’s first series of concerts in five years.
Obeying Thirst and the Verse for 37 Years
Sprite’s ties to hip-hop date back to 1986, when rapper Kurtis Blow was cast in the “Now More Than Ever” spot, becoming one of the first hip-hop artists featured in a national mainstream ad. The commercial inspired the “I Like the Sprite In You” ads featuring popular artists like LL Cool J and Kris Kross. The ’90s brought a deeper dive into the genre with the “Obey Your Thirst” campaign starring Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, A Tribe Called Quest and Grand Puba (who reportedly coined the slogan “Obey Your Thirst” during a rehearsal). Legendary rapper Nas, a star of this summer’s campaign, made his Sprite debut alongside AZ on the stoop in 1997.
Sprite advertising in the aughts embraced hip-hop’s next generation of stars. In 2013, “Obey Your Verse” celebrated the artistry of 2Pac, Missy Elliott, J. Cole, Drake, and Rakim by decorating Sprite cans with some of their most inspirational lyrics. Rakim, who is also starring in this summer’s campaign, first appeared in a Sprite ad with 2016’s “Obey Your Verse – Lyrical Collection” spot.
Sprite’s support of the creators and arbiters of hip-hop continued with 2021’s virtual “Live From the Label” concert series featuring Latto (also in this summer’s campaign) as well as Saweetie and Jack Harlow.
60-Year-Old Personal Trainer Invents Revolutionary All-In-One Push-Up Bar For Home And Commercial Gyms
E. Earl Jenkins, the founder and CEO of Core Champion, a health and wellness company specializing in fitness training equipment, accessories, apparel, and supplements, has launched the Core Champion Push-Up Bar, taking fitness to the next level.
Jenkins, who is 60 years young, is the clever inventor of this patented, one-of-a-kind apparatus; he’s also a NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) and AFFA (Athletics and Fitness Association of America) certified personal fitness trainer and the founding pastor of a church in Hamilton, New Jersey. He focuses on being in his best shape spiritually, physically, and mentally while helping others that strive for the same goal. His motto is “Be Fit Forever.”
“We know we are not going to live forever, but until that time comes, we can be fit, healthy, and in great shape if we choose to take care of ourselves. I believe what you give your body it will respond to it… be it good or bad,” he says.
The Core Champion Push-Up Bar is the most compact, multifaceted fitness equipment to impact the fitness industry in decades. It is uniquely designed to develop and strengthen the total body while targeting the core and chest. “After training for 35-plus years with dumbbells, I suffered a tear in my elbow. I invented the Core Champion Push-Up Bar to increase the metabolic and core strength using our intrinsic body weight. The patented multi-grip design reduces the risk of sprains and joint pain,” Jenkins explains.
Although Jenkins’s target audience age is between 25 and 45, the Core Champion Push-Up Bar is universal and can be used starting age 8 up to senior years. Jenkins, who is also a senior fitness specialist and youth exercise specialist, had all ages and fitness levels in mind while designing the bar.
The bar is sturdy, solid, and holds up to 300 pounds, providing an all-in-one unit that can be used for 100-plus exercises. Until now, fitness enthusiasts would need as many as 10 different pieces of fitness equipment to accomplish what this one is designed to do.
With so many advancements in home gyms, Core Champion is seizing the moment to compete with other fitness equipment suppliers across the country by offering something that excels in quality, price, and satisfaction. Made in the USA, the Core Champion Push-Up Bar offers premium fitness to beginners, enthusiasts, and professionals alike that are looking to add to their home gym. Commercial gyms and trainers can also use it to save money on gym equipment and space.
Jenkins, who was inspired by athletes Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson, states, “A short, focused workout with the Core Champion Push-Up Bar will leave you feeling energized and accomplished! I believe the bar is a testament that through education, dedication, and exercise with the right equipment, we can all attain our highest level of wellness.”
Jenkins has secured a domestic manufacturing deal that will put the Core Champion Push-Up Bar in retailers, gyms, and homes around the world.
It Feels Good! Raphael Saadiq Announces Tony! Toni! Toné! Tour Dates
Good news for Raphael Saadiq fans: The famed R&B singer-songwriter is going on tour and bringing his beloved Tony! Toni! Toné! along for the ride.
On Tuesday, June 20, Saadiq announced the Raphael Saadiq Revisits Tony! Toni! Toné!, The Just Me and You Tour. For the first time in 25 years, Saadiq will reunite with Tony! Toni! Toné! and give fans what they want to hear and see.
The tour kicks off in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 21 at the BJCC Concert Hall and continues through major markets nationwide including New York City, Chicago, Nashville, and Los Angeles. The tour will wrap up at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, California, Tony! Toni! Toné!’s hometown, on November 14, followed by The Masonic in San Francisco on November 17.
Produced by Live Nation Urban, the tour marks a momentous homecoming for Saadiq, his brother, D’Wayne Wiggins, and Timothy Christian Riley as they perform as Tony! Toni! Toné! for their R&B fans. The trio is set to perform a number of their smashes like “Feels Good,” “Anniversary,” and “It Never Rains (In Southern California),” plus brand-new material.
Saadiq will also dig further into his crates and perform tracks from his acclaimed solo albums, the singles from his short-lived but beloved R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl, and hits he wrote for artists like D’Angelo, Daniel Caesar, Brent Faiyaz, Solange, and Beyoncé.
“I’ve always wanted to put my family back together,” Saadiq said in a statement. “Playing with the Tonys again is a thank you to the fans, the Super Tonians, for supporting all my musical efforts.”
“Without those who were with us from Day One, where would I be? But the main reason is that my father, Charlie Wiggins, would’ve wanted it this way–to see me, D’Wayne, and Tim playing together again.”
Presale tickets begin Wednesday, June 21, at 7 a.m. PST/10 a.m. EST, with Live Nation and Spotify presales following on Thursday, June 22, at 10 a.m. local time. General on-sale goes live Friday, June 23, at 10 a.m. local time.
Eric from “Eric’s Architectural Salvage LA” got his hands on a few items from a luxury home the Carters rented in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, TMZreports. Among the items he’s selling from the home—a gold-accented bidet that’s going for $2,400.
The most expensive item on sale on eBay includes the accordion doors Bey and Jay once used which Eric is now reselling for $6,400. Eric secured the items—which also include sconces and an arched metal door frame—in 2017 after the new buyers decided to completely renovate the home.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z signed a one-year lease on the place in 2015 before moving out. Most recently, the Carters made headlines with their $200 million purchase of a new Malibu home, considered the most expensive home ever sold in California—$95,000 less than the original asking price.
The power couple’s newest digs was designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando and reportedly took more than a decade and a half to finish, Forbesreports. Sitting on 30,000 square feet, the mansion overlooks the Pacific Ocean and includes a private beach and infinity pool.
Bey Hive fans were quick to notice that the new home resembles the number 4, a favorite for both Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
With the listing being private, there’s no word on how many bedrooms and bathrooms the home contains. But it’s more than enough space to fit the Carter family.
Beyoncé is currently on her “Renaissance” world tour that’s estimated to earn $2 billion. The “Lemonade” singer could soon be joining her husband in the billionaire boys club thanks to her tour earnings.
Jay-Z finally reached billionaire status in 2019 after years of expanding his business portfolio. He’s currently valued at $2.5 billion, thanks in part to his investment properties and stakes in Armand de Brignac Champagne and D’Ussé cognac.
Operation Hope Announces Initiative To Assist Low- and Middle-Income Households
In honor of Juneteenth, the non-profit Operation HOPE recently announced The 1865 Project, according to a press release. This new project aims to level the economic field so Americans can support themselves in a free enterprise economy.
Operation HOPE bridges the gap between America’s low and middle-income classes and the private sector; it has more than 250 offices nationwide. The organization wants to provide economic opportunities to underserved communities through financial programs and resources.
The 1865 Project plans to complete the unfinished work the Freedman’s Bank set out to do during the country’s Reconstruction Era. Founded by President Abraham Lincoln and social reformer Frederick Douglass, the Freedman’s Bank was formed to educate formerly-enslaved Americans about finances. However, this goal never came to fruition.
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, a financial panic caused the bank’s investments to lose all value, rendering them worthless. John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE’s founder, spoke with BLACK ENTERPRISE about the Freedman’s Bank at length for Juneteenth:
Years later, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in partnership with Operation HOPE’s Global Ambassador Andrew Young, continued the bank’s mission, launching the Poor People’s Campaign in the 1960s in another effort to provide resources for America’s disadvantaged.
“The Freedman’s Bank was the 1865 version of financial literacy for the underserved,” Bryant said. “At that moment in history, America had the opportunity to make good on a promise of not just civil and civic participation for the formerly enslaved, but economic participation as well. That bold vision never came to fruition, a challenge we want to reissue to America.”
Operation HOPE will implement a financial coaching model to connect underserved communities to the private sector. Since 1992, it has helped launch and grow over 250,000 Black-owned businesses, reduced client debt by an average of nearly $2,000, increased client savings by an average of $1100 and more.
Operation HOPE plans to assist four core demographics: youth in underserved schools, low-income adults in underserved communities, small business owners and entrepreneurs, and families that suffered from natural and man-made disasters.
Readers can celebrate Juneteenth 2023 with BLACK ENTERPRISE by indulging in monthlong content that details the history of Black prosperity and banking, and the future of investing and financial literacy for Black communities
Summer Solstice Is Here, And These 7 Black-Owned Brands Rise To The Occasion
Summer solstice occurs on the longest day and shortest night of the year, which gives us just enough time to buy Black for the biggest event in our calendar. Today marks a new day to for us to walk into the new season with intention.
BLACK ENTERPRISE is pleased to share a decadent list of Black-owned brands that understand the assignment and are summer-ready. Offering a wide range of vibrant prints, colors, and textures, these Black-owned brands bring comfort, sweetness to our taste buds, and protection from the rain and the sun. Check them out!
The summer season has its occasional rain spells. Be prepared with the world’s first satin-lined rain hat guaranteed to keep your hair dry and your style protected no matter the forecast. Born out of necessity, Hairbrella offers waterproof and UV- protective classic and light rain hats and detachable face shields. Founder and inventor Tracey Pickett is proud to witness her brand transform into a global community for kids and beyond.
Hairbrella Classic Satin-Lined Rain Hat (Video screenshot via Instagram @hairbrella)
This summer, the mermaid is you. Our melanin skin loves the sun, so make a splash with the signature formula Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30 moisturizing lotion in cute Little Mermaid packaging. Whether you’re enjoying the view from land or by the sea, Make It Matte will give you clear SPF protection with no white cast.
Black Girl Sunscreen’s Little Mermaid collection (Video screenshot via Instagram @blackgirlsunscreen)
This Black-owned business creates all-natural products for the most sensitive skin. Owner Levon Handsome avoids all irritants and fillers to cater to people struggling with skin cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, eczema, and alopecia. If you want to feel fresh and glowing all summer long, treat yourself to Joe Le-Soap’s 100% natural, plant-based, and eczema-friendly artisanal soaps, sugar scrubs, body and hair butters, and lip conditioners. They also make beautiful summer gifts.
Soak up the sun in Kitty and Vibe’s Criss Cross Backless One-Piece, the ultimate supportive and comfy vacation-ready swimsuit. Feel the warm breeze on your open back with crossed shoulder straps. The one-piece features built-in bra support, removable bra pads, and medium booty coverage. Tennis star Sloane Stephens was an investor and creative designer for this project and designed her two-part collection to reflect her personality and style through versatile swimsuits and cover-ups for the girl on the go.
Yum: D’Ianyu’s prints this season include the Blue Raspberry Adire and the Mint Purple Kente. Take your pick from all of the company’s bold African-inspired clothing to brighten your vibe and your summer wardrobe. Brother-sister design team Dara and Addife Ajayi work tirelessly to support the culture that inspires them, expanding their manufacturing in Africa and continuing to build stronger ties to the community.
Blue Raspberry Adire wear from D’Iyanu (Screenshot via Instagram)
Creamalicious is one of the only Black-owned national ice cream brands out there. Indulge in truly innovative two-in-one desserts that pair freshly baked pastries with homemade ice cream made with only the freshest ingredients. Chef Liz Rogers offers award-winning flavors such as Aunt Poonie’s Caramel Pound Cake, Slap Yo Mamma Banana Pudding, Right as Rain Red Velvet Cheesecake, Thick as Thieves Pecan Pie, Porch Light Peach Cobbler, Grandma Gigi Sweet Potato Pie, and Uncle Charles Brown Suga Bourbon Cake.
Tabitha Brown has been summer-ready since before Mother’s Day: In collaboration with Target, she dropped a limited-edition outdoor entertainment collection featuring all her outdoor favorites, including furniture, decor, cooking, dining, pool, and beach essentials, and games. Whether you’re having a BBQ or a beach day, pick yourself up the Grilling Tool Set with Fabric Sleeve and an outdoor lounge mat for ultimate relaxation.
Y’all ready for some summer fun??? My final @Target collection is all about summer entertainment!! In stores and online May 14th!🎉 pic.twitter.com/XePyGuhhLM
Black Astrophysicist Makes History Again, This Time in Haircare
In 2018, Miona Short became the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics. Five years and one layoff later, she’s taking on the beauty industry with the launch of her company, Shukrah — and a first-to-market innovation.
Shukrah’s flagship product, the Carefree Comb, is a patent-pending wide-tooth comb that holds hair product in its spine and distributes it along the base of the comb in order to make washing, conditioning, and detangling faster and easier. People with coarse, thick, or Afro-textured tresses can now cut down their haircare times, consolidate steps in their haircare process, and bring the bulk of their hair routine outside the shower.
Short invented the comb in November 2016, during her grandfather’s untimely death from cancer at the age of 68. “I didn’t want to do anything. I didn’t want to eat, I didn’t want to go to class or take midterms that week, and I definitely didn’t want to do my hair,” she recalls. She looked for tools that would allow her to detangle her hair quickly while applying her products but didn’t find anything available.
For the next seven years, the Chicago native would teach herself computer-aided design in order to produce different prototypes of her comb invention. She also learned business principles from watching popular television shows like Shark Tank and listening to business-related podcasts.
“Business school costs too much for me and I didn’t have any formal mentors, so I used a bunch of free media as kind of a scrappy map,” Short says, laughing.
The Carefree Comb concept would go on to win business competitions, including a grant from rapper turned investor Chamilloinaire. In 2019, Short took a job in tech to save money for her first production round and to learn what it was like to scale a business from the inside. Then, after being impacted by the mass layoffs of 2022, she decided to lean into building out her company.
“After being laid off, I knew I didn’t have the money to completely flesh out product development as a bigger company would. I could barely afford rent, much less afford multiple rounds of testing [contract manufacturer] prototypes with trial and error. That gets expensive real quick,” says Short. “I really only had one shot at making this work. I had to take a leap of faith. So here I am, hoping Shukrah has wings.”
After going viral on TikTok with a demonstration garnering half a million views, the rising CEO is seeing that the Carefree Comb taps into a deep need within the beauty market.
Short expects to have preorders for the Carefree Comb shipped out around Christmas 2023. For more details about the launch and Short’s journey, visit the official website at Shukrah.com.
Multiple Tornadoes Hit Mississippi, Resources Underway
Residents of Louin, Mississippi, are picking up the pieces after multiple tornadoes descended upon the small town and its surrounding areas on Sunday. One death and nearly two dozen injuries have been reported, according to USA Today.
“Assessments are showing approximately 380 structures with damage in Jackson County,” Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said on Twitter. “MEMA has sent 1,700 tarps to Jackson County and has executed a contract to also bring in shower trailers.”
I want to provide another update on the storms and tornadoes that impacted our state and the ongoing recovery efforts taking place.
Assessments are showing approximately 380 structures with damage in Jackson County. MEMA has sent 1,700 tarps to Jackson County and has executed a…
According to AccuWeather, the National Weather Service (NWS) has given the biggest twister to hit landfall in the Mississippi area a preliminary rating of EF3—meaning that the expected damage is categorized as severe—with an estimated wind speed of 150 mph. Though an EF3 tornado may not be catastrophic, high winds have the ability to cause significant injury.
Becky Collins, vice president of marketing and community relations at South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel, MS, said the hospital treated 20 storm victims from the Louin area, one of whom died.
“The other victims are stable and most have been discharged,” Collins said.
Mississippians have already begun finding ways to support those affected by the storms. The city of Jackson has partnered with the Red Cross, the Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition, and local churches to offer hot meals to those in need.
Fifteen Percent Pledge Initiative Will Transfer $14 Billion To More Than 600 Black Entrepreneurs
Potentially $14 billion will go to Black businesses and entrepreneurs three years after major retailers were challenged to add Black-owned businesses to their shelves.
Aurora James, the founder of the Fifteen Percent Pledge, has sparked a movement for more than 600 Black-owned businesses to benefit. According to Forbes, retailers have made pledges involving 625 Black companies thus far.
James told Forbes, “We’ve put more than 600 Black-owned brands on the shelves with Pledge takers, which is super exciting, but there’s still a lot more shelf space to be had. And even when we look at access to capital, less than 1% of all VC dollars are going to Black women.” Twenty-nine companies have already pledged that 15% of their shelves will be stacked with products from Black businesses for more than one year. Major companies across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. participating in multi-year contracts include Ulta, Vogue, Moda Operandi, J. Crew, and Nordstrom.
LaToya Williams-Belfort, executive director for the Pledge, said, “We think about 29 retail partners and other strategic partners are coming to the table to work with the Pledge and these 5,000 businesses — you really get the collective action movement of many stakeholders coming together.” Williams-Belfort spoke about the 5,000 Black businesses that are a part of the Pledge’s online Business Equity Community (BEC), which brings together entrepreneurs and companies taking pledges.
In the next seven years, James aims to improve representation for Black businesses by 14.6%. She also plans to bring out $1.4 trillion in wealth for Black entrepreneurs. Williams-Belfort said the team also aims to provide in-person opportunities for Black entrepreneurs to commune. The in-person opportunities will allow Black entrepreneurs and business owners to exchange ideas, collaborate, share insights, and grow.
BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that Black-owned brands had seen growth due to the Fifteen Percent Pledge.
