And Just Like That Diddy Takes Number 2 Spot for Hip Hop Billionaires After Kanye West’s Adidas Split
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 31, 2022

And Just Like That Diddy Takes Number 2 Spot for Hip Hop Billionaires After Kanye West’s Adidas Split

Kanye West‘s latest fallout has cost him billionaire status and made way for Hip-Hop stalwart Sean “Diddy” Combs to sit at the billionaire’s table.

According to Zogblog, Combs has finally broken through that elite ceiling where only he and Jay-Z sit as Hip-Hop luminaries. Zack O’Malley Greenburg released the current list of Hip-Hop’s Wealthiest Artists of 2022. Although Greenburg has not created a list since 2019 when he was an editor at Forbes, four of the five people on the list are returning along with one addition who is not a Black artist.

Shawn Carter, otherwise known as Jigga Man, tops the list with a reported value of $1.5 billion, the highest amount that he has accumulated since becoming a part of the billionaires club. He was the first rapper and/or Hip-Hop entrepreneur to become a billionaire and it does not look like he will relinquish the top spot anytime soon.

The third Hip-Hop artist/entrepreneur to break the billion-dollar ceiling is Sean “Diddy” Combs. The honcho who started Bad Boy Entertainment has been building since and was always expected to be one of the few to enter that financial arena. The man who owns and operates Combs Enterprises came in at a cool $1 billion, snagging the second place standing on the list.

Coming in third, is the man who has been making news headlines daily for the past six weeks. Kanye has lost the top spot and the keys to the billionaires club all because of his recent remarks. The artist, after losing his adidas deal, was dropped down to a purported worth of $500 million—still a nice amount but more than half of what he was worth a week ago.

 

 

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A newcomer on the list of Hip-Hop’s Wealthiest Artists 2022 is not a mainstream name. Gilbert “Berner” Milam is worth $410 million. The rapper from the San Francisco Bay area owns the Cookies cannabis empire. He signed with Wiz Khalifa‘s Taylor Gang Records but has made the bulk of his fortune from his cannabis business.

Finally, the man who almost became Hip-Hop’s first billionaire until word of his Beats By Dre sale to Apple was leaked by Tyrese rounds out the top five. N.W.A.’s Dr. Dre is valued at $400 million.

‘Nailed it’: Lori Harvey Channels Beyoncé With ‘Me, Myself, and I’, ‘Check On It’ Halloween Costumes
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 31, 2022

‘Nailed it’: Lori Harvey Channels Beyoncé With ‘Me, Myself, and I’, ‘Check On It’ Halloween Costumes

Lori Harvey broke the internet over the weekend with her two Beyoncé-inspired Halloween costumes that paid homage to Queen Bey’s early music videos.

Lori took to Instagram on Sunday to share the first of her two Beyoncé-inspired Halloween costumes. The look captured Bey’s 2003 music video for the single Me, Myself, and I.

“All the ladies if you feel me help me sing it outttt 🎶 Me, Myself and I: Part 1,” she captioned the post.

 

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Lori channeled Beyoncé by wearing the exact hairstyle and outfit the songstress sported in the 20-year-old music videos. Lori looked stunning in her blond hair wig that featured the same chopped hair bang that Beyoncé wore.

“Wow!” wrote Sza.

“Loriyonce,” wrote JT of the City Girls.

“Nailed it,” added Angela Simmons.

In a separate post, Lori showed off her second Me, Myself, and I look that included Beyoncé’s blond up-do and cut-out dress with a white mink fur shawl.

“Me, Myself, and I Part 2,” Lori captioned the post.

 

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Once again, Lori received praise from some of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, including Ryan Destiny, Kim Kardashian, and even Beyoncé’s own hairstylist Tyrone Hunter.

But Lori wasn’t done. On Monday, Lori celebrated the official holiday by revealing her third Beyoncé-inspired costume from Bey’s 2005 solo single Check On It.

 

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“Hotttttt,” wrote Kylie Jenner.

“So good!” La La Anthony wrote.

“You having too much fun sister you been waiting on Halloween all year,” JT added.

Lori made 2022 the year she took her crown as one of the queens of Halloween. Her Beyoncé-inspired costumes have her trending across social media.

Souls To The Polls Event Encourages Church Members in Georgia To Vote Ahead of 2022 Midterms
by Derek Major

October 31, 2022

Souls To The Polls Event Encourages Church Members in Georgia To Vote Ahead of 2022 Midterms

Black religious leaders in Georgia held their annual Souls to the Polls rallies Sunday afternoon to get their congregants to vote in the midterm elections.

State lawmakers almost eliminated the event under an elections restrictions bill signed into law last year by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. However, lawmakers backed off the elimination of Sunday voting.

The Souls to the Polls event included a caravan organized by local church leaders and civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, taking congregants from the Rainbow Park Baptist Church to an Atlanta-area mall where early voting is available.

W. Franklyn Richardson, the chairman of the board of trustees of the Conference of National Black Churches, told theGrio, “Souls to the Polls reflects the Black church’s central role in the fight for justice and freedom in the U.S.”

“It’s the cumulative accomplishment of our people that is being challenged and threatened that makes this such an urgent election,” Richardson added.

Sen. Raphael Warnock, a senior pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church running for re-election, also planned to hold a Souls to the Polls event to get church members to vote ahead of the last Sunday of early voting.

While the elections restrictions bill Kemp signed did not eliminate Sunday and early voting, the bill has cut the time to request a mail ballot, rolled back the use of drop boxes that were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced early voting during runoff elections, and made it illegal to hand out food and water to voters waiting in line.

Republicans in the state, including Kemp, pushed hard for the bill after President Joe Biden won the state in the 2020 election, which carried him to the White House. Georgia Rep. Park Cannon (D) was arrested after knocking on Kemp’s office door to discuss the bill with him.

The event reflects the Black church’s role in getting Black men and women to vote and underscores the efforts Black Americans had to go through during the civil rights movement to vote safely. In 1955, Rev. George Lee was assassinated by white supremacists in Mississippi after assisting more than 100 Black residents in registering to vote.

College Volleyball Coach Calls Referee Out for Singling Out Black Player Wearing Head Wrap
by Atiya Jordan

October 31, 2022

College Volleyball Coach Calls Referee Out for Singling Out Black Player Wearing Head Wrap

Jared Te’o, the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for St. Edwards University’s (SEU) women’s volleyball team, called out a referee for telling a Black player that she couldn’t participate in a match unless her head wrap was folded smaller.

Last week, SEU celebrated a momentous victory against Dallas Baptist University, but it wasn’t without an unfortunate chain of events. Te’o unveiled the situation on Twitter after recognizing his team’s feat on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

With passion, Te’o shared that one of his players, Esther Grussing, was singled out by a referee for donning a head wrap during the match. She was instructed to “fold [the head wrap] to make it look like a headband,” and so she “adjusted it.” But the modified head wrap wasn’t small enough, according to the referee, and she was allegedly told: “she could not continue.”

The team was forced to take a timeout until a substitute was tapped in for Grussing. Later, the graduate student, pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration, collected herself and joined the team in taking home the win, despite the discomfort.

“The way our team called behind her was wonderful to see,” Te’o shared in the chain of tweets.

The assistant coach expressed his distaste for the “rules” of head wrap use, noting how they “disproportionately impact Black and brown athletes.” Traditionally, the head wraps belong to Black, indigenous, and people of color. Despite its benefits as a hair accessory, Te’o also pointed out that women’s head wraps have symbolic value in culture.

“A headband, head sweatband or bandanna worn as a sweatband is permitted; however, hats and other bandannas are not permitted,” according to the NCAA uniform rules. Despite the rules, Te’o challenged the referee to handle the situation better.

“I love you Esther and I love your fight queen,” Te’o encouraged.

https://twitter.com/JaredTTeo/status/1585433539469840384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

‘Don’t Make It Weird’: Lizzo Claps Back at Critics Bothered by Her Costume as Rapper’s Girlfriend
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 31, 2022

‘Don’t Make It Weird’: Lizzo Claps Back at Critics Bothered by Her Costume as Rapper’s Girlfriend

Lizzo had a few eccentric Halloween costumes to share this year, but her Chrisean Rock costume had her clapping back at haters.

The Grammy Award-winning singer took to social media over the weekend to share highlights of her Chrisean Rock-inspired costume, the girlfriend of rapper Blueface. The couple has gained followers and popularity by broadcasting their violent fights in public and on social media.

“RESPECTFULLY,” Lizzo captioned her video post showing off her costume.

 

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Lizzo sported a long side ponytail with painted-down baby hair and doorknocker earrings. She also wore short shorts, a white t-shirt, and sneakers. The Scuse Me songstress drew on one of her teeth to add the final stamp to her signature look.

Many of her followers got the joke and shared their support in the comments.

“Lmaooo why this so hard,” wrote Sza.

“As soon as I saw the tooth I knew who it was then I hit unmute,” added someone else.

In a separate post, Lizzo shared photos of her wearing the costume to an event.

 

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She returned with another post that included a voiceover of one of Chrisean’s statements from her appearance on Zeus Networks’ Baddies ATL.

“Y’all I didn’t forget the cup I just got too drunk & forgot to make a video 😫,” Lizzo captioned her post.

 

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While Lizzo received tons of praise for her Halloween homage to Chrisean, there was one critic who called the singer out, The Shade Room reported. “Now when Chrisean come back in a fat suit…remember how y’all was laughing in these comments,” they wrote. Instead of ignoring the shady comment, Lizzo clapped back.

 

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“I didn’t put on a ‘skinny suit’ — u can dress up as someone w/out being offensive—rock lit I’m lit it’s all love. Don’t make it weird,” she quipped.

Chrisean also responded to Lizzo’s costume and told the singer she “loves” it.

Black Woman-Owned Plant-Based Hair Extensions Brand Set To Launch With $2.5M in Seed Funding
by Stacy Jackson

October 31, 2022

Black Woman-Owned Plant-Based Hair Extensions Brand Set To Launch With $2.5M in Seed Funding

A Black woman entrepreneur created a plant-based alternative to synthetic hair extensions.

Osahon Ojeaga prepares to launch her new plant-based hair extensions brand, Nourie, with the help of $2.5 million in seed funding that she strategically raised during a season that she described as an interesting time to fundraise.

According to Beauty Independent, the Nourie founder and CEO participated in an incubator within SOSV, a venture capital firm that included investment firms Impact America Fund, Better Ventures, and IndieBio.

Diishan Imira, the founder of Mayvenn, acted as a “sounding board” during Ojeaga’s fundraising efforts, as Impact America Fund is an investor in his beauty and technology company.

“There aren’t really many people who’ve done this before, so he’s always somebody who I can turn to,” Ojeaga said about imira.

“He’ll let me know, ‘This is how white investors are going to perceive what you have to say, and this is what you have to show them. You’re going to have to go further than what an ordinary company is going to have to go to show why they should put their money into something that they know nothing about.”

According to Ojeaga, the inspiration behind Nourie stems from an allergic reaction she experienced after getting her hair braided. The synthetic extensions caused an unbearable itch.

After reaching out to synthetic hair manufacturers in China and looking at multiple prototypes, Ojeaga decided to build her company from the ground up.

In partnership with Mary Moore, a polymer engineer and Nourie’s chief scientific officer and co-founder, the team developed plant-based extensions, restructuring plant polymers into fibers that behave and feel like hair.

 

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“Not only are we creating this braiding hair that is made from plants, we wanted to take it a step further and create a product that serves more than just an aesthetic function to its wearer,” Ojeaga said regarding the botanical oils and extracts featured in the hair to replicate natural scalp oils.

“We wanted to make it functional as well,” she added.

Reportedly, Nourie’s hair extensions will be sold as bundles of two or three. Colors and textures beyond normal braiding hair are in the brand’s future plans.

“Everybody is wearing hair extensions, it’s not just Black women,” said Ojeaga.

“It’s a status symbol that crosses demographics, that crosses income brackets. So, slowly and in a sustainable manner, we want to create something better for all that participate in this industry than what is out there.”

According to Women’s Wear Daily, industry sources predict that Nourie will generate approximately $3 million in sales during its initial two years.

Nourie is set to launch next month with a $35 jet-black shade of extensions.

Despite Her Mom’s Disapproval, Reality Star Kandi Burruss Calls Husband ‘My Teammate in Life’
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 31, 2022

Despite Her Mom’s Disapproval, Reality Star Kandi Burruss Calls Husband ‘My Teammate in Life’

Weeks after Kandi Burruss’ mother shaded her husband at BravoCon, The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) star is showing her loyalty to her husband, Todd Tucker.

Earlier this month, Mama Joyce attended BravoCon, where she was asked who she would replace Todd with if she were to pick a spouse for her famous daughter. Instead of supporting her daughter’s choice of spouse, Mama Joyce didn’t hold back and shaded her son-in-law.

“If I would replace Todd, I probably would’ve picked anyone that had a decent job,” Mama Joyce told the live audience.

“What I’m saying is maybe someone who was in the same business that was in the financial realm that she was in.”

Mama Joyce is known for expressing her opposition to whoever her daughter chooses to date. Kandi and Todd are on the heels of celebrating their eighth wedding anniversary, and she gushed about the secret behind their happy marriage.

“Just great communication and having fun together,” Kandi told People.

“We have a real understanding of each other.”

The powerhouse couple met on the set of RHOA in 2011, where Todd worked as a producer. Since tying the knot, Kandi and Todd have welcomed two children together, a son, Ace, and a daughter, Blaze. The couple works together on a variety of projects.

Kandi and Todd own a soul food restaurant chain in Georgia named in honor of Mama Joyce and her sisters, “Old Lady Gang,” a trucking company, and another restaurant named after their daughter.

Kandi believes working so closely with her husband works for them because they “keep each other motivated.”

“He pushes me in a way that I can say I had never experienced before being with him,” Kandi said.

“I really feel like he’s my teammate in life.”

Kandi often faces criticism from fans about Mama Joyce’s nonstop criticism of Todd. But Kandi has cried tears letting viewers know she’s going to stand beside her mama.

Black Woman Provides Hope for Visually Impaired as UK’s First Blind Barrister
by Stacy Jackson

October 31, 2022

Black Woman Provides Hope for Visually Impaired as UK’s First Blind Barrister

Jessikah Inaba made history after becoming the first blind, Black, woman barrister in the United Kingdom.

https://twitter.com/MetroUK/status/1586823896493395978

According to The Daily Mail, the 23-year-old studied in London for five years, where she attended the University of Law – London Bloomsbury. She began an accelerated degree in September 2017, and started her master’s two years later, with a professional training course close at hand.

“It’s been crazy – I still can’t really believe I’ve done it. One day I’ll wake up and realize how amazing this is,” Inaba said.

“It was hard and I often thought of giving up, but my supportive family gave me courage and strength,” she continued.

She reportedly completed her courses using Braille, a tactile writing system used by the visually impaired. Inaba claimed her university took seven months to get one of her key study texts and five months for the other. However, friends and tutors helped whenever she needed further information on topics.

“I know I can do this job really well, and the more people like me who go through training the easier it will become,” she expressed, adding, “There’s a triple glazed glass ceiling.”

LAD Bible reported that none of the legal organizations that were contacted, including the four Inns of Court, the Bar Council, and the Bar Standards Board, could find an instance where another blind, Black, woman excelled as far as Inaba.

“I’m not the most common gender or colour, and I have a disability, but by pushing through I’m easing the burden on the next person like me [sic],” Inaba explained.

In 2019, Inaba was reportedly rushed to the hospital after fainting multiple times. According to the outlet, the fainting was a result of her only getting three hours of sleep every night for two years.

“I was hospitalized because I kept fainting in October 2019 because I’d been functioning on about three hours [of] sleep a night for two years,” Inaba said.

“I would sometimes get 45 minutes a day to eat, but often I ate while at my computer,” she added.

She explained that there were other people who used text-to-speech at the university. However, her process for remembering information included reading the text for herself, so she made her own Braille materials from lecture notes and friends who read materials to her.

Inaba said she feels good knowing that she provides hope for others who are in similar situations.

Reportedly, Inaba plans to apply for a pupillage, training for newly qualified barristers to get their first placement in chambers.

Former NASA Rocket Scientist Confirmed as First Black Woman To Travel To Space With Jeff Bezos’ Private Spaceflight Company
by Stacy Jackson

October 31, 2022

Former NASA Rocket Scientist Confirmed as First Black Woman To Travel To Space With Jeff Bezos’ Private Spaceflight Company

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out—actually, yes, it does.

Former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe announced she would become the first Black woman confirmed to travel to space with Blue Origin, a private spaceflight company founded by Jeff Bezos.

According to Aero-News Network, Bowe is predicted to be the sixth Black woman to cross the Kármán line, a boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.

“Today’s historic announcement about my flight is both surreal and emotional,” said Bowe.

“I’m thrilled, I’m excited, and I know that this experience will change my life forever.”

Her flight reportedly follows 30 years after NASA astronaut Mae Jemison made history as the first Black woman to travel to space in 1992 and four other Black women astronauts for NASA, including Stephanie Wilson, Joan Higginbotham, Jessica Watkins, and Dr. Sian Proctor of the SpaceX Inspiration4 Mission.

According to a statement on her website, Bowe is set to fly on New Shepard, a reusable suborbital rocket system named after Alan Shepard, the first American astronaut to travel to space.

Although she was advised by a high school guidance counselor to study cosmetology, Bowe has always been a lover of science fiction and math. Aero-News reported that Bowe studied mathematics at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before pursuing her undergraduate and master’s degrees at the University of Michigan in aerospace engineering.

“I’ve dedicated my life to helping people break stereotypes,” said Bowe.

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of these pioneers as we begin to realize the potential of public access to space.”

In addition to her experience as a rocket scientist, Bowe is the founder and CEO of STEMBoard, a tech company. She raised $2 million in venture capital to fund LINGO, a self-paced coding kit for students, and served as a U.S. State Department global speaker. In addition, Bowe serves on her alma mater’s Aerospace Department Industry Advisory Board.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 31, 2022

Rapper Blueface’s Girlfriend Backtracks on Domestic Violence Claims Against Him, Social Media Shows Concern

Rapper Blueface and his girlfriend Chrisean Rock have built a brand for themselves by fighting in the streets and broadcasting their toxic love on social media.

The couple’s latest quarrel has riled up social media after Chrisean showed off her bruised and battered face over the weekend, accusing Blueface of physically abusing her. She posted the graphic video on Sunday, claiming Blueface assaulted her after he caught her texting another man.

 

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Onlookers were quick to shame the couple for seemingly being rewarded with more fame and popularity despite their controversial exploits in public and on social media.

“You can’t cry to the internet then run right back for another blueface tattoo,” one critic said, referencing Chrisean’s multiple body tattoos dedicated to the rapper.

Many had mixed responses, considering how many times Chrisean has fought with Blueface and taken him back.

“i don’t feel bad because when somebody show u who they are 100 times and u still stay your asking for shi like that,” one critic said.

The latest abuse incident comes weeks after Blueface and Chrisean teased their new reality show coming to Zeus Network called Crazy In Love.

 

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Given the latest violent encounter between the couple, fans started calling for the cancellation of the show.

“That Blueface & Chrisean show needs to be scrapped immediately,” one critic tweeted. “After the way he put his hands on her tonight, it’s time yall stop glorifying abusive relationships and CANCEL IT!”

https://twitter.com/maviarose444/status/1586645788079300609?s=20&t=3Y5vhWxaxkM1iZMd13Q1kw

Amid the backlash to the latest incident, Chrisean returned to social media to post a video backtracking her initial claims and blaming her “mental health” on the drama.

“Sorry guys I had a mental breakdown/bad trip with liquor tryna jump out of a moving car on freeway,” she wrote atop the video.

“I’ll be working on my mental health n liquor habits,” she added.

https://twitter.com/nojumper/status/1586849854596079616?s=20&t=3Y5vhWxaxkM1iZMd13Q1kw

Fans are already expressing skepticism about Chrisean’s changing story and wonder if she’s doing “damage control” to try and clean up the latest controversy surrounding the couple.

“It’s a cover up smh damage control,” one viewer said.

“They should be a prime example of what not to do in a relationship,” added someone else.

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