Rihanna May Lose Partner Owner Of Fenty Beauty As LVMH Explores Sale Of Its Shares
The luxury goods conglomerate is reportedly exploring the sale under a confidential process.
LVMH may want to part ways with Rihanna and her Fenty Beauty brand.
The luxury conglomerate is reportedly exploring the sale of its 50% stake in the singer’s flagship business. Reuters reported that the confidential process includes investment bank Evercore.
While half of Fenty Beauty’s ownership belongs to Rihanna, Kendo Brands, the beauty incubator under LVMH, owns the other. They helped launch the trailblazing makeup line in 2017. Its signature product, the Pro-Filtr foundation, has remained a popular and beloved item from the brand, by fans and makeup industry experts alike.
When first bursting onto the scene, the makeup line fleshed out the traditional industry. Upon its launch, it marketed itself as a new wave of inclusive beauty, known for its wide shade ranges and pigments that worked especially for deeper skin tones. It is not only sold at makeup retailers like Sephora and Ulta, but also available on Amazon.
The brand has proven quite successful, with sources telling the news outlet that its value is estimated at between $1 and $2 billion. It also reportedly earned around $450 million in revenue in 2024. With its profits, Rihanna was able to grow her business empire to include a lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty, and expand Fenty Beauty to skin, fragrance, and haircare.
However, its main backer, outside of Rihanna, now has plans to seek a profit from the sale. LVMH, which stands for Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, owns several other global brands within its portfolio. This includes companies across the beauty and luxury industry, such as Benefit Cosmetics, Fresh Beauty, and Christian Dior.
This would not be the first time LMVH pulls out of a Rihanna-backed business. Rihanna’s first entry into the luxury fashion sphere, titled Fenty, was founded by the singer under the luxury goods giant. However, the brand shut down in 2021.
What LVMH hopes to gain from the sale remains unknown. Neither Rihanna nor LVMH has spoken about the supposed sale.
Miami Heat’s Terry Rozier, Portland Trail Blazers’ Head Coach Chauncey Billups Arrested After Gambling Investigation
Thirty-four people were indicted in connection with two separate federal gambling investigations.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were arrested on Thursday, Oct. 23, as part of a federal gambling investigation, CNN reports.
Rozier was arrested in Orlando. Billups was in Portland.
They are among 34 people indicted in connection with two separate federal gambling investigations that were announced by the Eastern District of New York.
Billups, a Hall of Fame player, is alleged to have participated in “rigged” poker games that took place in Manhattan, Miami, Las Vegas, and the Hamptons, according to officials. The games were attended by members of at least three of New York’s mafia families.
Authorities say Billups and Damon Jones, a former NBA player, were paid for their participation, with Jones requesting a partial prepayment of $2,500 before attending one of the poker games. Jones was also arrested.
Rozier, who was cleared by the NBA of gambling accusations, was accused of sharing information about players on a team’s roster with bettors before games were played.
According to CNN, investigators allege between December 2022 and March 2024, Rozier tipped people about his availability for games. They cited seven specific games including one, against the New Orleans Pelicans, already flagged by sportsbooks for irregular activity.
“We have represented Terry Rozier for over a year,” his lawyer, Jim Trusty, told CNN. “A long time ago, we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication. They characterized Terry as a subject, not a target, but at 6 a.m. this morning, they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel.
“…(Authorities) appear to be taking the word of spectacularly incredible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing. Terry was cleared by the NBA, and these prosecutors revived that non-case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight.”
The NBA, the Trail Blazers, and Heat have yet to comment on the arrests.
DNC Pays Off $1.6M Debt From Kamala Harris’ $1B 2024 Campaign
The Democratic National Committee is still paying off debt from Kamala Harris $1.5 billion presidential campaign.
The Democratic National Committee paid $1.6 million in September to cover debt from Kamala Harris’ $1.5 billion 2024 campaign.
So far, the DNC has spent over $20 million, and counting, covering debts from Harris’ 107-day campaign, Axios reported. Party officials remain uncertain about the total remaining liabilities as invoices continue to roll in.
The DNC was managing about $12 million in cash on hand at the end of September, after allocating to campaigns in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as other state party efforts. The party typically assumes campaign debts after a presidential race, but such obligations can hinder a losing party’s ability to rebuild for the next election cycle.
After Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection, for example, the party accrued over $20 million in debt. Even with Obama’s fundraising efforts in the following years, the DNC didn’t fully pay off the debt until 2015, leaving the committee in a vulnerable position heading into the 2016 election, which Hillary Clinton ultimately lost to Donald Trump.
As the country approaches the midterm elections, the stakes are high, with outcomes set to shape the balance of power in Congress and potentially influence the remainder of Trump’s term. In response, the DNC is making what it calls “a new, historic investment” to support the Mississippi Democratic Party’s organizing ahead of the November 4 special elections, which include 14 seats.
Primaries were held in August, following a federal court order requiring lawmakers to redraw House districts in Chickasaw County and Senate districts in Hattiesburg and DeSoto County, which had been diluting Black voting power. Although the DNC hasn’t disclosed the exact amount being invested in the races, Chair Ken Martin said it totals six figures.
He shared how the funds will be used to reach more voters in the Republican-controlled state through on-the-ground efforts, paid programming such as direct mail and TV ads, and preparations for the 2026 midterms.
“When you organize everywhere, you can win everywhere – that is my mantra, and that’s why we’re investing six figures into Mississippi in an off-year,” Martin said. “At this DNC, we aren’t simply focused on battleground states or one single election cycle. We can chew gum while we walk, and that means building for both the short and long term by creating new opportunities for Democrats to win elections everywhere.”
What Employers Need To Know After A Return-To-Work Policy Resulted In Major Lawsuit Verdict
A major ruling in a return-to-work policy lawsuit may hold dire implications regarding lawsuits between employers and employees.
A major ruling in a return-to-work policy lawsuit may hold dire implications for lawsuits between employers and employees, HR Dive reports.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon ruled in favor of a train conductor employed by the Union Pacific Railroad Co., who, after injuring his shoulder, was permitted to return to work by his medical team without restrictions following physical therapy sessions. However, Union Pacific blocked his return amid concerns of the possibility of injuring himself again–all without a specialized company evaluation.
The conductor sued Union Pacific for disability discrimination under both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Oregon’s disability discrimination law due to the company’s “1% rule,” which prohibited his return to work. The policy prohibits employees from working in safety-sensitive jobs, in this case, the conductor having to climb ladders, if there is a one percent chance of “sudden incapacitation” each year.
Even with a green light from the employee’s medical team, the railroad company labeled any employee with a shoulder dislocation as having a permanent restriction, preventing them from performing job duties at full capacity.
His legal team argued that Union Pacific’s policies put their client in a bubble of being a disabled employee without an individual assessment of the employee’s ability to perform job duties. He accused the company of giving him automatic restrictions under the 1% rule, despite the doctor’s orders. A judge and jury sided with him, issuing a lucrative award: $952,863 in front and back pay, $1 million in non-economic damages, and $25 million in punitive damages, bringing the total to $26,952,863.
Union Pacific appealed the verdict but ultimately lost as the court ruled the massive award was supported by sufficient evidence.
Legal experts feel the case should serve as a warning for employers and human resources departments to pay attention if ever presented with a lawsuit under the ADA. It could be easy for an employee to obtain such large awards in similar lawsuits, as the court only needs evidence of intentional discrimination to award punitive damages. Given that Union Pacific is earning $18.5 million per day in profit, the court felt $25 million in punitive damages shouldn’t be much of an issue for the company.
Employers have faced a labyrinth of legal issues in navigating return-to-office policies after years of remote work, especially regarding discrimination claims. Ramifications of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act require employers to host “reasonable accommodations,” which include “modifying workplace policies,” resulting in some employers being forced to “waive certain eligibility requirements” or simply modify remote work for employees with a disability who are required to work remotely. However, some challenges come with ADA claims.
According to Forbes, the challenge is identifying what constitutes a reasonable accommodation, especially in today’s new work culture. However, federal agencies and legal experts have stepped in with advice on how employers can navigate through those challenges. After the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) settled a few ADA discrimination complaints and released data on how return-to-office policies affect demographics such as working mothers and employees over 50, the agency updated its guidelines with helpful tips.
It’s recommended that employers provide updated training programs that include relevant examples and scenarios for navigating remote and hybrid work environments in an effort to guarantee that employees understand their rights. Given the prevalence of online harassment, the EEOC asks employers to provide additional training. This training should also cover how to report harassment in remote work settings and the resources available to employees who experience or witness such behavior.
Under the law, eligible employees must have a disability or impairment that limits a majority of life activities and be qualified to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation.
On Oct. 17, attorneys for the Real Housewives of Potomac star filed a motion in her Maryland criminal case seeking to have all charges dismissed, citing “defects in the charging document,” Us Weekly reports. The filing states Osefo was unlawfully arrested and that “all admissions, statements, or confessions” should be excluded from evidence because “they were unlawfully obtained.
Osefo, who resigned as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Wesleyan University following the arrest, wants all evidence obtained by police “suppressed because of an unlawful search or seizure.” Also, any wiretapped or recorded communications should be “suppressed because of an unlawful interception.”
The Bravo star also wants her trial be separate her co-defendant, husband Eddie Osefo.
In a separate motion, her attorney demanded that prosecutors hand over all evidence, a list of witnesses they intend to call, and any polygraph results from those interviewed by law enforcement.
Wendy Osefo also requested disclosure of any confidential informants involved in the investigation and copies of all official police reports. Eddie Osefo, an attorney, has yet to retain his own legal representation in the case.
The filing comes after the couple’s Oct. 9 arrest on fraud charges connected to a home burglary they reported in April 2024. Authorities allege the couple filed multiple insurance claims for the same items and listed goods as stolen that were later found to be worn or returned for refunds. The pair was arrested in Westminster, Maryland, and released on $50,000 bond each following a grand jury indictment on charges of insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and making false statements to police.
Wendy’s Osefo’s episode of Wife Swap was initially pulled after her arrest, but Peacock has since decided to air it as originally scheduled.
It’s National ADHD Awareness Month: Tap Into These Helpful Apps
Here are six solid ADHD-specific apps.
The statistics around ADHD diagnoses in Black communities mimic many other disabilities that impact Black lives disproportionately. Roughly 15.5 million adults have ADHD. About 7 million children in the United States are diagnosed with ADHD between the ages 3 and 17, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Black children have a higher percentage of diagnoses than most racial groups.
With National ADHD Awareness Month well underway, a a growing number of adults, parents, and caregivers are seeking treatment and coping methods.
Here are six solid ADHD-specific apps.
Keep in mind that no single app will cure ADHD. A well‑chosen digital tool can add a boost of structure, insight, and steadiness to your routines. Try a couple. See which one clicks with your attention style. Think of them as sidekicks to complement the strategies you have received from medical professionals and coaches.
Inflow
Built around cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) techniques, Inflow is an app that aims to sharpen focus, improve planning, and curb procrastination for both adults and adolescents with ADHD. Developed by clinicians, the app presents itself as a “science‑based” tool. It’s available on iOS as well as through its website. In addition to CBT‑based content, Inflow offers psycho‑education, interactive modules, and a community space. It is an all‑in‑one resource for ADHD users.
Forest
Forest, a focus‑timer that doubles as a game, is designed to keep phones out of the way and boost motivation for any task. The setup works well for work study sessions or any activity that benefits from bursts of attention. Offered on both iOS and Android, Forest mixes cues with gamified rewards to curb distractions and encourage longer uninterrupted stretches of productivity.
TickTick
TickTick bundles reminders, priority tags, and a calendar into one package. It proves handy for sketching out schedules, breaking down assignments, and monitoring upcoming deadlines. Available across iOS, Android, and web browsers, it also hooks into a range of third‑party services.
(Photo: FatCamera/Getty Images)
Bearable
Bearable serves as a symptom‑tracking, habit‑logging tool that maps behaviors onto states. It works well on charting moods, symptoms, routines, and possible triggers for anyone with ADHD. Users regularly log details, ranging from symptoms and mood shifts to sleep quality and medication dosage. Available on iOS and Android, under a freemium model, the app helps users spot patterns.
Focus To-Do
Focus To‑Do pairs a Pomodoro‑style timer with tools that deliver a compact solution for anyone who thrives on time‑boxing. It’s especially helpful for those who respond well to short work bursts, slipping easily into a day at the office, a study marathon or a mountain of looming tasks. The app runs on both iOS and Android, offering a mix of functionality and premium upgrades. By chopping work into bite‑sized intervals and inserting breaks, it dovetails nicely with the ebb and flow of ADHD attention rhythms.
Due
Due, a reminder‑and‑timer application, acts as a safety net for the forgetful or anyone who needs that extra nudge to keep the day on track. It bundles auto‑snooze, lightning‑quick task entry, and alerts that refuse to be ignored. Whether it’s a grocery list, a looming deadline or a morning routine the app keeps slip‑ups at bay. On iOS, it’s been crowned the reminder app in Healthline’s ADHD app roundup. Its stripped‑down design, paired with nudges, makes it a solid companion for managing your life.
MacKenzie Scott’s $42M Gift Shows Her Tenacity To Supporting Black Students Despite Anti-DEI Efforts
Education nonprofit plans to expand to schools with a larger population of historically underserved students, including schools with a higher percentage of Black students.
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott remains a steady contributor to Black students despite efforts by opponents of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices to discourage such funding.
Her latest act of benevolence: a $42 million gift to 10,000 Degrees, a nonprofit that helps low-income students of color, including Black Americans, pursue more education and career opportunities.
The donation is reportedly the most significant investment from Scott through her Yield Giving fund in 10,000 Degrees’ nearly 45-year history. But Scott’s charity is just a portion of her generosity.
She has given at least $270 million to assist Black students over the past five years, according to BLACK ENTERPRISE research. All told, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has bestowed billions of dollars on numerous organizations.
Just this year, along with the aid to 10,000 Degrees, she donated $70 million in September to the United Negro College Fund to support historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This month, she made donated $63 million to Morgan State University, the largest in the school’s history. And she gave $40 million to the Maryland HBCU in 2020.
Scott’s actions are contrary to recent attacks by President Donald Trump’s regime and others on DEI. Some students of color have expressed how they could be affected by DEI rollbacks.
For California-based 10,000 Degrees, the contribution marks the first time the education nonprofit has received a grant from Scott. It comes as the firm is launching a new strategic plan. It will examine how the gift can expand existing programs and services for Black and Brown students in the Bay Area.
Kim Mazzuca, the CEO of 10,000 Degrees, told BLACK ENTERPRISE by email, “This gift comes at a moment when we’re seeing proposed cuts to Pell grants and financial aid at the federal level. It sends a message to policymakers and invests in our communities at a time when it’s needed most.”
She said that so far in 2025, about $7 million in scholarships went to over 2,900 Black and Latino students out of $9.4 million awarded to over 4,300 students.
She shared that 68.5% of Black and Latin students received scholarships, with $1.4 million going to 274 Black students and $5.6 million to 2,695 Latino students.
Mazzuca said just under 10% of Black students receive scholarships annually. That figure has remained steady over the past several years. Most of the partner schools 10,000 Degrees works with, she said, have relatively small Black student populations. In comparison, 29 of its 44 partner high schools have a majority of Latino students.
She says of the 44 schools, only two in Contra Costa, and one each in Marin and Napa, have 10–20% Black student enrollment. Four in San Francisco are closer to 25%. “With this gift, we plan to expand to schools with a larger population of historically underserved students, including schools with a higher percentage of Black students,” she said.
Mazzuca says financial barriers are not the only factors impacting Black student college enrollment. Perceptions of belonging, experiences of racism, and limited access to educational resources are among systemic issues impacting student outcomes.
“As we expand partnerships with high schools in our region that have a larger Black student population, we remain committed to addressing these challenges and creating supportive environments that promote academic success and a sense of inclusion,” she says.
Economist William Michael Cunningham, owner of Creative Investment Research, is among those closely analyzing DEI issues.
“The support shown comes at a critical time, when others are backing away and too scared to speak, much less provide real financial support,” he says. “I think Black people will remember who was with us when the chips were down.”
Mazzuca says 10,000 Degrees plans to expand its five core programs—College Access, College Success, Community College Success, Career Success, and Black Student Engagement —and introduce initiatives aimed at reaching more underserved students.
Scholarship enrollment with 10,000 Degrees is now open through March 2, 2026. For more information, visit here.
Study Finds mRNA COVID Vaccines Could Boost Fight Against Certain Cancers
The next breakthrough in cancer treatment may have arrived.
mRNA COVID-19 vaccines appear to have a surprising benefit for some cancer patients. A study published in Nature shows that the vaccine can extend the lives of people undergoing cancer treatment by enhancing the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
An analysis of nearly 1,000 people treated for advanced skin and lung cancers reveals that those who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine within 100 days of starting drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors lived nearly twice as long as those who did not get the vaccine within this period.
Researchers will conduct a clinical trial, expected to start before the year’s end, to validate these findings.
“The results are just remarkable,” said Dr. Elias Sayour, M.D., Ph.D., pediatric oncologist with Stop Children’s Cancer/Bonnie R.Freeman Professor for Paediatric Oncology Research at the University of Florida, told New Scientist.
Sayour said the mRNA vaccine could be the “master key” to enhancing immune response in people with cancer, but more research is needed to confirm this. “I don’t like making clinical recommendations unless things are proven. When you’re trying to use the immune system to fight cancer, there are also risks,” he said.
Sayour and his colleagues also analyzed the records of people with advanced lung cancer treated at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Of the 884 patients with advanced lung cancer who received checkpoint inhibitors, 180 had an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination within 100 days of starting the treatment. They had a survival time of around 37 months, compared to 20 months for those who were not vaccinated.
Additionally, 210 people had melanomas that had begun to spread to other parts of the body, 43 of whom were vaccinated within 100 days of starting checkpoint inhibitor treatment. They had a survival time of approximately 30-40 months, compared with 27 months for those who were not vaccinated during this period. Some vaccinated individuals were still alive when the study ended, so their survival time could be even longer.
The researchers presented their findings at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Berlin on Oct. 19.
Jeff Coller, Ph.D., a professor at Johns Hopkins University and a leading mRNA scientist, noted that the findings emphasize the significant impact of Operation Warp Speed, the federal government’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The results from this study demonstrate how powerful mRNA medicines truly are and that they are revolutionising our treatment of cancer,” Coller told ecancer.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under the Trump administration, recently announced significant cuts to funding for mRNA vaccine development.
Indiana Man Seeking To Build ‘Melanated Community’ In Texas Under Investigation
Officials claim Dr. Malcolm Tanner is “attempting to overthrow the government.”
In 2023, Dr. Malcolm Tanner announced his intent to create a settlement for Black Americans in Texas. Now, state officials have issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Indiana resident, claiming that Tanner is “attempting to overthrow the government.”
Tanner is the founder of Melanated People of Power. His plan to create a melanated community includes moving Black families to Loving County, Texas, with the promise of free homes, financial stipends, and ultimately political influence.
Tanner has purchased 5 acres of land in Loving County in an area with less than 100 residents. The land does not yet host any permanent homes; instead, it features RVs, tents, and generators.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sought a TRO to stop the development of the community.
According to the legal filings, the encampment is in direct violation of the state’s health code due to the “lack of sewer access, septic systems, running water, and limited electricity.”
Tanner responded in a message posted to his TikTok page, claiming that his endeavors are righteous and that the land is being unjustly stolen from the people.
“I came to Loving County with a simple vision: to build homes, to build community, and to live under the rights that faith grants and the Constitution protects,” Tanner wrote in a message he showed on the platform. “I believed, as every American has the right to believe, that land purchased lawfully could be used lawfully, that families could live in peace, and that children could grow in safety. Instead, what we built was destroyed. What we worked for was attacked.”
I, Dr. Malcolm Tanner, want the people of Texas and this country to know that I respect the authority of the Court and will fully comply with its orders. At the same time, I want the people of Loving County, of Texas, of America, and of the world to understand what is at stake here. We are living in a moment that will be remembered. It is not simply about one man or one family, or even about one piece of land. It is about whether the rights promised to us as Americans are real — or whether they can be trampled by intimidation, harassment, and fear. I came to Loving County with a simple vision: to build homes, to build community, and to live under the rights that faith grants and the Constitution protects. I believed, as every American has the right to believe, that land purchased lawfully could be used lawfully, that families could live in peace, and that children could grow in safety. Instead, what we built was destroyed. What we worked for was attacked. And still, we did not quit. For when the walls were torn down, we rebuilt them. When the doors were broken, we set them back on their hinges. We held on because this struggle is bigger than wood and nails. It is about whether freedom in America is protected for all people — Black or White, Christian or Jewish, rich or poor — or whether freedom is reserved only for the few who hold power. We do not stand here in defiance of the law. We stand here in defense of the law — the highest law, the law of liberty. Our Constitution was written so that families could not be driven out by threats, that homes could not be torn down by force, that people could not be silenced when they sought justice. I want the world to know: this land is more than dirt and stone. It is a test of America’s promise. Will the government protect the rights of its citizens, or will it allow harassment to crush them? Will we prove that the smallest populated county in Texas can still honor the largest principles of our Republic? I am not alone in this. Beside me stand women and children who deserve safety. Beside me stand families who believe in freedom. And beyond us stand millions of Americans — of every race, every faith, every background — who know that an attack on one person’s rights is an attack on the rights of us all. We are preserving every shred of evidence — every act of destruction, every trespass, every intimidation. It will be laid before the Court, and, if necessary, before the proper authorities, because justice must not only be sought — it must be proved. We will not answer hatred. We will not meet destruction. We will meet it with perseverance, with courage, and with the truth. And we will hold on until justice comes — for justice is the inheritance of every American. History will record this struggle. And when it does, let it be said that in Loving County, in the year 2025, when families were harassed and homes were destroyed, we did not bow, we did not run, and we did not give up. We stood. And by standing, we reminded the world that freedom in America is not granted by men, but strengthened by faith and secured by the Constitution. Dr. Malcolm Tanner #drmalcolmtanner
Due to multiple residents of the “melanated community” registering to vote using a common P.O. Box associated with the property; a voter fraud inquiry may be on the horizon.
On Oct. 3, two Texas state politicians, Senator Kevin Sparks and Rep. Brooks Landgraf, wrote an open letter urging the Texas Attorney General and the Secretary of State to look into Loving County voter irregularities.
“Indiana resident Malcolm Tanner has no right to try and take over Loving County with illegal schemes that endanger real Texans,” Paxton said in a press release. “His deceptive and unlawful scheme to lure people with free housing for the purpose of conducting a political takeover is a disgustingly fraudulent plot to line his own pockets.”
Tanner, who continues to encourage his social media followers to “join the movement” and never pay rent again, has defended his initiative as a form of self-empowerment and self-determined placemaking.
“We’re going to build y’all a home,” he said in a TikTok post. “If you’re ready to get a home with me out in Texas, come out to Loving County, Texas.”
Interscope Records Brings The Vibes To The Yard With ‘Homecoming Szn Compilation Vol. 2’
Interscope is partnering with some of the biggest HBCUs in the Southeast to release the vinyls, which feature chart-topping hits from Kendrick Lamar, GloRilla, Rob49, and Mustard.
In partnership with Hampton University, Clark Atlanta University, and Alabama State University, Interscope Geffen A&M Records will continue its yearlong successful campaign celebrating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with the next vinyl-exclusive album, Homecoming SZN Compilation Vol. 2.
In an effort to carry on the mission of celebrating the institutions that have paved the way creatively, professionally, and culturally for several Interscope artists and leaders, the record label is partnering with some of the biggest HBCUs in the Southeast to release the vinyls—in school colors—featuring chart-topping hits from Kendrick Lamar, GloRilla, Rob49, and Mustard.
Interscope will make a $3 donation for every vinyl—which features custom artwork for each participating school—sold.
“Homecoming is a treasured tradition at Hampton University, celebrating our history, culture, and community. We are excited to partner with Interscope Geffen A&M Records to bring this innovative Homecoming SZN initiative to our campus,” Hampton University president Darrell K. Williams said in a statement. “Music has always been a powerful bridge between generations, and this collaboration gives our students a chance to showcase their creativity while connecting with a legacy that extends far beyond our campus.”
According to Billboard, the campaign launched in October 2024, collaborating with Howard University, Tennessee State, and Texas Southern University. To celebrate one year of excellence and partnership, Interscope visited Clark Atlanta for the Oct. 22 official homecoming concert with a performance from vinyl-featured artist Big Boogie in addition to a campus pop-up.
With a focus on working with the music executives of the future, Universal Music Group’s culture marketing and creative strategy team, °1824, will be accepting applications from students at each university for part-time roles. The group’s goal is to kickstart their careers in important supportive roles, including content creation, livestreaming, strategic partnerships, and publicity.
Interscope plans to announce future HBCU partners in the coming months.
