Lizzo

Lizzo Announces ‘Gap Year’ To Protect Peace Of Mind

Lizzo is taking a "gap year" to prioritize her mental health.


Grammy award-winning singer Lizzo took to Instagram on Monday to share a candid video with her followers that announced the “gap year” she’s taking to focus on herself.

“I’m taking a gap year & protecting my peace🙏🏾,” she captioned the video that showed her stepping outside in a bathing suit and letting the rain fall all over her body.

Fans applauded the “Truth Hurts” singer for prioritizing her mental health and being bold enough to share her journey with the outside world.

“It’s nice to see a celebrity actually putting themselves first and admitting they need it before they break down. I wish you well!” one fan wrote.

“Take all the time you need. We will be here,” added someone else.

Lizzo’s break follows her messy legal battle with three former dancers who sued her last year, claiming they were harassed and forced into a hostile work environment while touring with the singer, who denied all of the claims. The suit is ongoing.

“These last few days have been gut-wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing,” she said in a statement at the time. “My work ethic, morals, and respectfulness have been questioned. Usually, I choose not to respond to false allegations, but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous to not be addressed.”

In March, the singer claimed she was quitting music due to all the hate she had received online. In April, she followed up with a video saying that she was not leaving the music business and instead was quitting “giving any negative energy attention.”

“What I’m not going to quit is the joy of my life, which is making music, which is connecting to people, cause I know I’m not alone,” she said.

On Tuesday, Lizzo followed up with another video post to reflect on her growth over the last three years and tease the album she plans to record about her journey.

“I wasn’t gonna post this on IG, but 2021 me would be soooo proud of 2024 me,” she captioned the post. “And I’m NOT only talking about my body if yall only KNEWWWW what I’ve done for my mental & emotional health in the last year… wheeeew don’t worry imma write an album about it 🤭”

RELATED CONTENT: Lizzo Wants To ‘Bring Back Gatekeeping’ To Stop White People ‘Talking Like Black People’

Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas

Friend Of Mariah Carey’s Late Sister Claims Singer ‘Never Tried To Contact Alison’

Baker claimed to be one of Alison's only friends and alleged Mariah's rejection toward her sister caused her "more pain."


A friend of Mariah Carey’s late sister, Alison Carey, has alleged the “We Belong Together” singer never reached out to her older sibling despite being informed that her health condition was leading to her final days.

David Baker, who claimed to be a longtime friend of Alison’s, told The U.S. Sun that she was “unhappy that her ‘baby sister’ had cut off contact with her.” According to Baker, Alison had frequently addressed the abandonment she felt from her celebrity sister. “Mariah has never tried to contact Alison, even after she was told a month ago that Alison was dying,” Baker said, adding that it was unknown if Mariah would attend her funeral.

“A phone call or, better still, a video call would have meant so much to Alison. But it never came,” Baker shared. “That callous rejection added more hurt to Alison’s pain.”

As one of Alison’s only friends, Baker said he supported Mariah’s “ex” sister through drug addiction, homelessness, and other health issues. She spent the past few weeks under home hospice care due to issues with her internal organs. As a child, Alison was allegedly taken to “Satanic” ceremonies and sexually abused. “I have so many memories I wish I never had,” Mariah’s older sister said in a previous interview. She recalled, “A close family member used to wake me up just before 2 am and take me to an old hall that looked like a castle, which was a short walk from the church we used to attend in Huntington, New York.” During the interview, Alison got candid about her traumatic experiences.

The Grammy Award-winning artist shared a close relationship with her older sister before a 1994 fall-out when Alison pleaded for help from Mariah after their late mother, Patricia, allegedly kidnapped her son, Michael. The singer and her sister never restored their relationship after Mariah allegedly refused to defend her. Alison reached out again for help from her sister after she faced charges of prostitution, and according to a representative, Mariah spent “hundreds of thousands of dollars supporting Alison and her children.”

Alison, who was HIV-positive, said money wasn’t what she was after from her sister but a chance to reconcile their relationship.

As previously mentioned by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the “All I Want for Christmas” artist announced on Aug. 26 that Alison and her mother Patricia died over the weekend, on the same day. Mariah shared that she remained distant from her siblings, including her brother Morgan, because it was “emotionally and physically safer for me not to have any contact.”

In the Hollywood A-lister’s 2020 memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” she alleged her siblings sold “lies” to the press and that she was drugged by her older sister. The claims prompted lawsuits from both of Mariah’s siblings. Morgan’s case is still active.

RELATED CONTENT: Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, A Tribe Called Quest, And More Among 2024 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees


Juicy J, rap, sales, charts, charting, sales down,

Juicy J Releases Jazz/Hip-Hop Album, ‘Ravenite Social Club’

The album features Cordae, winner Robert Glasper, and Emi Seacrest.


Recording artist Juicy J from the legendary Memphis hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia has released a jazz-infused hip-hop album, Ravenite Social Club. 

The title uses the name of a New York City venue that was located at 247 Mulberry Street in Little Italy and was rumored to be a mob hangout featuring the likes of John Gotti. “I just thought it was a cool idea,” Juicy J told Rock The Bells. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Juicy J (@juicyj)

According to HipHopDX, the album features Cordae, Grammy winner Robert Glasper and Emi Seacrest. This is Juicy J’s second album this year. On May 21, he dropped Mental Trillness 2, a   follow-up to his 2023 mixtape, Mental Trillness.

A song and video, “To You,” was released that featured Glasper and Seacrest, which served as a dedication to Juicy’s former group mate, Gangsta Boo, who died earlier this year after she was found unresponsive at a home in the rapper’s hometown of Memphis.

The group, Three 6 Mafia featured at various times, DJ Paul, Koopsta Knicca, Crunchy Black, Lord Infamous, along with Juicy J and Gangsta Boo. The group started in 1991 and released its debut album, Mystic Stylez, in 1995. 

In a recent interview on Springhill’s podcast, Two Ways About It, Juicy expressed to fellow recording artist Wiz Khalifa that he makes 90% off of the music artists’ samples from Three 6 Mafia.

“I get paid off of pretty much every song. Like 90% of the songs that’s out right now.”

HipHopDx reported last year that Juicy claimed he was dropping seven albums in 2024

“I never worked this hard in my life,” he wrote on Twitter. “After this, I’m gonna buy a house on the beach, let my hair grow all the way out & become a full-time hippie.”

RELATED CONTENT: Juicy J Spills His Life Story In New Memoir, ‘Chronicles Of The Juice Man’

Plies, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Brag, president, vice president

Plies Keeps It ‘Simple’ While Breaking Down His Reasoning For Supporting Kamala Harris

Keep it up, Plies!


Rapper Plies provided fans with the “simple” reasoning why he is supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. 

In a video posted to his X account on Aug. 27, the “Shawty” artist gave more than ten reasons why he will continue to support the Democratic presidential nominee over the GOP nominee, Donald Trump, on top of her being a Black woman.

“It’s real motherf***ing simple with me. Until Kamala Harris goes to jail, until Kamala Harris becomes a convicted felon, until Kamala Harris filed motherf***ing bankruptcy six times for her and her company until Kamala Harris is impeached twice until Kamala Harris is indicted four motherf***ing times, until Kamala Harris is fined liable for sexual abuse until Kamala Harris is found guilty of motherf***ing fraud and got to pay $300 and some motherfucking million dollars,” he said. 

“Until Kamala Harris start a motherf***ing insurrection, until Kamala Harris try to overthrow a motherf***ing election, until Kamala Harris is married three motherfucking times, until Kamala Harris has five kids with three different motherf***ingg men, until Kamala Harris do any of that, she’s a better motherf***ing candidate… to me.” 

The Florida-based artist has used his in-car platform to highlight the many reasons why Harris is the right choice for President of the United States over some “rich white man” that does whatever “the f*** he wants to do.” He continued to say how he doesn’t hate women that much, especially a Black woman, to vote for Trump. “So you can vote for a motherf***ing AKA or the motherf***ing KKK…that’s your motherf***ing business,” he said. 

Since the start of the 2024 political season, Plies, whose real name is Algernod Lanier Washington, has called out Black men for being silent on issues concerning the Black community while receiving “checks” from “the white man.” However, a number of celebrities, including The Breakfast Club’s Charlamagne Tha God, have pushed back on the rapper’s Democratic alliance while criticizing Harris’ lack of policy review. 

After another video was posted by Piles telling viewers to “stop asking a mothaf**king Black woman to explain theyself to you, if y’all ain’t willing to ask a mothaf**king white man to explain himself,” according to Vibe, Charlamagne said it was “absolutely” wrong for the rapper or any voter to suggest that Black people should “settle” for their candidate. “I don’t understand Plies or any Black person for that matter, telling Black people to ‘just settle,’” he said. 

“‘Just accept whatever the candidate is giving you. Don’t ask questions, just vote. They don’t have to explain anything to us.’ No.”

Regardless of the pushback over the airwaves, social media users and fans have praised Plies for “preaching” the facts and educating voters. “I don’t hate women that much, especially no black women” FACTS! Then proceeded to drop counter every point people have been trying to use an against Kamala. Plies been preaching all week,” @kirayoshikage5_ wrote. 

Since Plies has gained popularity in the political space, some fans were curious if he would make an appearance at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

RELATED CONTENT: Plies Credits Black Men’s Silence On Black Issues To Payouts From ‘The White Man’

economic, Retirement, Savings, retirees, COLA, social security, contribute, IRA, IRS, payments, cost-of-living adjustments, contributions, boomers

Boomers Redefining Retirement: Survey Shows They’re Living Their Best Lives

As boomers look forward to their golden years, many are redefining retirement by using it as an opportunity to live their best lives.


As boomers reach retirement age, they aren’t holding back when it comes to living their best lives, according to a new study. The study discloses that the group is reinventing their lives as they enter their golden years.

According to Newsweek, a new survey orchestrated by IHG Hotels & Resorts revealed that over a quarter of retirees live lives that their younger selves would be proud of. The survey, conducted by Talker Research, included 2,000 Americans who have either retired or will retire between 2020 and 2029.

“It’s incredible to see how many people are taking advantage of their retirement to enjoy things they didn’t have time for in their working years,” said IHG Hotels & Resorts Vice President of Masterbrand Connor Smith. “The reality is people put their careers and families first. So, in their retirement era, it’s inspiring to see them living their best lives.”

The survey revealed that those currently in their golden years and those approaching retirement are looking forward to traveling, picking up hobbies, and dating. 

Roughly one in six people aim to find love during this period and even plan to allot more time to date to “find the one.” Others have picked up old hobbies or started new ones, with 76% of the people surveyed sharing that they’ve picked up skills such as gardening, cooking, and reading—all top-choice hobbies, according to the survey.

“One of people’s biggest fears when heading into retirement is being bored,” said Smith. “But now we’re seeing that retirees have countless ideas on how to make the most of their hard-earned time. Whether that’s traveling, starting a side hustle, or picking up a hobby, retirement can be an opportunity for adventure and reinvention, and anything but boring.”

According to the survey results, three-quarters of respondents have trips planned within the next 12 months to celebrate their retirement. Key destinations include 59% of the participants revealing that they plan to travel within the States, another 31% have plans to travel to Europe, and 23% will visit a North American locale outside the U.S. 

Despite the reinvention for most retirees, economic concerns still loom. As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, another study conducted by Employee Benefit Research revealed issues with saving as they look ahead to their golden years. 

​​”Half of people don’t have retirement accounts at work. And that’s been true for decades. So it’s not getting any better,” Teresa Ghilarducci, professor at the New School for Social Research in New York, told TheStreet.

Another study, conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet between July 11 and 15, surveyed 2,096 Americans. It revealed that 31% of Americans disclosed not having a retirement account to draw from when they depart from the workforce. Additionally, 3 in 10 Americans will rely on Social Security benefits to support themselves during retirement, despite ongoing changes with the program that can mean less funding for retirees in the near future.

RELATED CONTENT: Americans In Their 50s Are Expected To Have Over $200K In Their 401(K) Accounts, Experts Say 

Trump Campaign, Hacked, Election, trump, Foo Fighters, Foo Fighters

Trump Campaign Spars With Foo Fighters Over Use Of ‘My Hero’ Song At Trump Rally

The Trump campaign and the Foo Fighters are disputing whether or not the Trump campaign has permission to use the band's music at the campaign’s rallies.


The Trump campaign and the Foo Fighters are disputing whether or not the Trump campaign has permission to use the band’s music at the campaign’s rallies. 

According to Entertainment Weekly, after former president Donald Trump’s campaign used the Foo Fighters 1998 hit song “My Hero” to welcome the endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in Glendale, Arizona, the band said they never consented to the use of their music by the Trump campaign. 

The Trump campaign, however, chose to respond on social media. Trump’s campaign manager, Steven Cheung, posted a cheeky message on Twitter/X directed at the band, mashing up a pair of the band’s song titles, “It’s Times Like These facts matter, don’t be a Pretender.”

According to The Independent, there may be evidence that supports the Trump campaign claim, but that permission did not come from the band, but rather from BMI’s Songview service. 

The Foo Fighters, however, told Entertainment Weekly via a representative that even if the Trump campaign had asked them directly, the band’s answer would have been a no. 

“Foo Fighters were not asked permission, and if they were they would not have granted it. Also, any royalties received as a result of this use will be donated to the Harris/Walz campaign.”

Dave Grohl, the band’s frontman, has been vocal about his dislike for the former president, telling GQ Magazine in 2018 that he was ashamed that Trump was the president of the United States and calling him a “massive jerk.”

“Today, the American Dream is broken. I’ve probably traveled internationally more than our current president (Trump), and the one thing I understand that he doesn’t is that the world isn’t as big as you think it is. It is all in your neighborhood. India, Asia, and Iceland aren’t other solar systems. I am ashamed of our president. I feel apologetic for it when I travel. I am ashamed of our president. The thing about Trump that stings the most is this: He just seems like a massive jerk.”

In 2008, they similarly rejected the use of their song by Republican presidential candidate John McCain, issuing a statement decrying his use of “My Hero,” which sounds almost identical to their issues with the Trump campaign.

“It’s frustrating and infuriating that someone who claims to speak for the American people would repeatedly show such little respect for creativity and intellectual property. The saddest thing about this is that ‘My Hero’ was written as a celebration of the common man and his extraordinary potential. To have it appropriated without our knowledge and used in a manner that perverts the original sentiment of the lyric just tarnishes the song.”

The Foo Fighters join a growing list of musicians who are not happy about Trump using their music in rallies. On August 22, Rolling Stone reported that Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé’s record label, reportedly threatened to issue a cease and desist to Trump’s campaign over their use of “Freedom,” her Lemonade collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, which she has allowed the Harris campaign to use. 

According to Salon, in addition to the Foo Fighters and Beyoncé, the estate of Sinead O’Connor, the estate of Issac Hayes, and Celine Dion have all taken issue with or threatened legal action against the Trump campaign during this election cycle for the use of their music at the campaign’s rallies. 

RELATED CONTENT: Donald Trump Sued By Isaac Hayes Estate For Using ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ At Campaign Rallies

Megan Thee Stallion, Hurricane Beryl, Senior Citizens

Megan Thee Stallion Pops Up With New NBA Beau While On Social Media

Megan accidentally uploaded a video of her in the bed with her NBA player-beau to her Instagram.


Megan Thee Stallion has a new man in her life, and he happens to shoot hoops. The rapper showed off her boyfriend, Chicago Bulls player Torrey Craig, in a video uploaded to Instagram.

Megan made their relationship “Instagram Official” to her fans on Aug. 27. The couple appeared in bed together and played the Couples Challenge, confirming that they were together. While cuddled up, they played the game, answering questions such as “Who’s the most likely.” The Neighborhood Talk reposted the footage.

However, the video appeared to have accidentally uploaded to her account, which boasts over 32 million followers. While the 29-year-old did not intend to go public with her new beau, the two seem to enjoy one another’s company.

Despite the accidental reveal, fans did learn more about her relationship with Craig through their responses. The couple agreed that Megan was the better cook and kisser, took longer to get ready, and was more likely to get arrested. In a sweeter moment, the duo could not agree on who said “I love you” first.

Megan has been in high-profile romances before. Most notably, the rapper dated songwriter Pardison Fontaine on and off from 2021 to 2023. However, the duo split amid cheating allegations against Fontaine. Moreover, she also had an alleged romantic entanglement with fellow artist Tory Lanez. A jury later found Lanez guilty of shooting Megan in the foot in an October 2020 incident.

However, Megan is leaving her past behind and shedding new skin, as symbolized in her latest album, “Megan.” The LP, which was released in June, accompanied her Hot Girl Summer tour. The rapper’s first headlining concert tour is still ongoing and will conclude on Sept. 26 with a show in New York City.

While Megan indulges in the success of her new era, she is also having fun in the romance department.

Olympics, Black Job, Simone Biles, tweet

Simone Biles Flaunts GOAT Status With 11 Olympic Medals After Paris 2024 Triumph

Simone Biles flexes her GOAT status in new photoshoot with all 11 of her Olympic medals.


After another successful Olympic Games under her belt, Simone Biles is flexing her GOAT status across the Internet, posing with 11 Olympic medals in a new photoshoot.

The renowned gymnast shared photos of her alongside all 11 of her Olympic medals in an Instagram post captioned “6-year-old me would be proud” on Aug. 27. In the photo, Biles sports a mini white dress and a necklace featuring a bedazzled goat, a symbol for the GOAT nickname that she’s rightfully earned as the most decorated gymnast in history.

Biles landed her first round of medals during the 2016 Rio Olympics, when she became the first female U.S. gymnast to score four gold medals at a single Games. At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Biles walked away with a silver medal alongside her team and a bronze medal on the balance beam, despite withdrawing from most of the competition due to a case of “the twisties” and the desire to focus on her mental health. 

During the recent Paris 2024 Olympics, Biles solidified her comeback, picking up four new medals. Moreover, the 27-year-old athlete made history as the first American woman to win two Olympic all-around vault titles due to her two individual gold medals during the competition. She also won a silver medal alongside the gymnastics Team USA, nicknamed the Golden Girls. The group, which consisted of gymnasts Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, and Biles, also landed a gold medal in the women’s team competition.

Although most gymnasts turn toward retirement during their early or mid-twenties, Biles told Today show host Hoda Kotb not to count her out as the world begins to prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“You never say never,” she said during an interview in Paris during this year’s Olympic games. “The next Olympics is on home turf, so you just never know. I’m just gonna relax and see where life takes me.” 

In her recent photoshoot alongside her 11 Olympic medals, Biles is only posing with all of the medals she’s made across the three Olympic games she’s competed in over the years, but the Texas native has also won an unprecedented 30 world championship medals. Twenty-three of those pieces of hardware are gold, thus making her the most decorated gymnast in history.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘I Love My Black Job’: Simone Biles Takes Swipe At Trump In Tweet After Winning Olympic Gold

Missing teen, Amoria Brown

Los Angeles Police Looking For Missing 14-Year-Old Teen, 3-Week-Old Newborn

Amoria Brown and her daughter went missing on Aug. 25, and her daughter, Omoria, has a heart condition and needs daily medication.


Police in Los Angeles are looking for the whereabouts of a teenager who disappeared from her neighborhood with her newborn child in need of daily medication.

The Los Angeles Police Department released an Ebony Alert to help locate two teenagers and an infant, Amoria Brown, Omoria Brown, and Sanaii Brown. According to CNN, an Ebony Alert was passed into law in California on Oct. 8, 2023, to create an emergency alert system to help find missing Black youth and women between the ages of 12 and 25.  

Officials with the department state that on Aug. 25, 2024, around 10 p.m., the three girls, 14-year-old Amoria Brown, her three-week-old daughter Omoria Brown, and Amoria’s sister-in-law, 15-year-old Sanaii Brown were last seen in the 5200 block of East Huntington Drive. Police believe they were headed to the high desert area with family.

The descriptions of the girls are as follows:

Amoria has black hair and brown eyes, is 5 feet 4 inches tall, and weighs approximately 140 pounds. She was last seen wearing a multicolored shirt, gray shorts, and gray sandals. Sanaii has black hair and brown eyes, stands at 5 feet 1 inch tall, and weighs approximately 150 pounds. No description of what she was wearing was shared.

The release mentioned that Omoria suffers from a heart condition and needs daily medication.

NBC News reported that Amoria’s guardian, Raquel Brown, claims the 14-year-old contacted the family to let them know they were OK.

“It’s just a lot right now; trying to take it all in, trying to process it,” said Raquel. “I just want the baby to be OK. She’s not a bad mom. I’m not going to say that she’s bad. She’s young. I can’t just expect her to change overnight, so I do want to make that clear, but I’m here to help.”

Amoria’s family has stated that only Sanaii has reunited with the family since the police department released the Ebony Alert.

RELATED CONTENT: Taylor Casey Goes Missing During Yoga Trip To Bahamas, Family Wants Her Home

Non-Hormonal, Menopause,

New Non-Hormonal Pill Could Help Women In Menopause With Hot Flashes, Sleep Issues

The drug, deemed elinzanetant, can help reduced hot flashes and improve sleep for women experiencing menopause.


Bayer has started trials on a new pill that could alleviate the struggles women face while in menopause.

The trial’s results found the pill, if taken once daily, reduced the number of hot flashes while improving the sleep of the study participants. The drug, named elinzanetant, also works without the hormones typically found in reproductive medicine. Bayer has submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the drug to treat these symptoms, as reported by its press release.

“Half of the world’s population will experience menopause, with 27 million women in the U.S. currently experiencing this transition. Despite the impact menopausal symptoms may have on women’s health and quality of life, many go without treatment due to gaps in awareness, education, and limitations of treatment options available,” wrote Christine Roth, member of Bayer’s Pharmaceutical Leadership Team, on Aug. 1.

She added, “The FDA submission for elinzanetant marks a significant milestone in our efforts to offer a new non-hormonal option for women. This further underscores our position as leaders in Women’s Health and our dedication to addressing the unmet medical needs of women globally.”

According to WJCL, elinzanetant reduces hot flashes and night sweats by blocking the brain chemicals that cause them. The drug is specifically for those experiencing menopause. The biological transition occurs when a person no longer gets their period, typically around their 40s and 50s, leading to a natural decline in the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

While other menopause symptom-relieving drugs have been released to the market, their accessibility remains limited due to insurance requirements. Moreover, their inclusion of hormone replacement could also come with a greater risk of stroke, cancer, and heart disease.

Despite these issues, menopausal struggles can often interfere with one’s daily life. Now, a non-hormonal option to treat these symptoms can even assist survivors with hormone-sensitive cancers. One, however, is already on the market, yet has its own drawbacks. The approved drug, named Veozah, remains costly for both patients and insurers at $550 a month.

Both Veozah and Elinzanetant work by blocking neurokinins, chemical signals overproduced by nerves in the hypothalamus as estrogen decreases. The drugs prevent the signals from docking on cells, thus eliminating the brain’s ability to start hot flashes.

“These neurons are super interesting because they are also tied to mood, sleep, and appetite. And we know this is a big conglomeration of what happens with women in midlife,” explained Dr.Stephanie Faubion, director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health, to the news outlet. “They’re hot flashing, their mood is terrible, they’re not sleeping, and they gain weight.”

However, as Veozah’s financial barriers prevent its expansion, the results for elinzanetant seem promising. After 26 weeks of the study, more than 80% of participants had their hot flashes reduced by at least 50%. Now, Bayer waits for a review of their findings on the first-of-its-kind drug.

RELATED CONTENT: U.S. Government Examining If Pausing Menopause Could Improve Women’s Health

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