IVF, Alabama, court ruling, lab, doctor
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 22, 2026

White Couple Sues Florida IVF Clinic After Giving Birth To Baby That Isn’t Genetically Theirs

A Florida couple is suing an IVF clinic after giving birth to a child who is not genetically theirs.

A Florida couple is suing a local fertility clinic after undergoing IVF at the center and giving birth to a child who is genetically not theirs.

In a lawsuit filed Jan. 9 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, a couple identified as John and Jane Doe claim they began treatment at the Fertility Center of Orlando in March 2025 but were allegedly implanted with the wrong embryo, Click Orlando reported. According to the documents, the woman, described as Caucasian, gave birth in early December to a baby girl who reportedly has the appearance of a non-Caucasian child.

“Tragically, while both Jane Doe and John Doe are racially Caucasian, Baby Doe displayed the physical appearance of a racially non-Caucasian child,” the lawsuit reads.

The couple said the discovery led them to pursue genetic testing, which confirmed that the baby is not biologically related to either parent.

“Of equal concern to the (couple) is the obvious possibility that someone else was implanted with one or more of their embryos and… is presently parenting one or more of their children,” the lawsuit states.

While the couple said they would willingly care for the baby, they believe she should be placed with her biological parents if possible. Court records indicate they reached out to the Longwood clinic to coordinate a reunion, but received no response.

“It is unimaginable how such mistakes could have happened, and it is inexcusable how the doctor and clinic responsible for those mistakes could be running from the consequences of their reckless conduct,” an attorney for the couple said. “It is a mystery why they are refusing to voluntarily cooperate in trying to undo the mess they have created, but that refusal has required us to seek emergency court intervention and may soon require a broad public appeal for help.”

Their lawsuit seeks several remedies:

  • Require the clinic to disclose what happened with their embryos to prevent similar mistakes.
  • Cover genetic testing costs for patients and children over the past five years.
  • Publicly report any discrepancies in parentage for children born through the clinic.

The couple hopes the case will force the clinic to provide transparency and clarity for all affected families.

“The heartbreaking and unexplained in vitro fertilization errors described in our recently filed lawsuit remain unresolved,” the couple’s attorney said. “While our clients continue to fall more deeply in love with a beautiful little girl who is someone else’s child, they are also living with the unbearable knowledge that there may be one or more of their own children unknowingly in the care of strangers.”

RELATED CONTENT: Georgia Seeks To Ban Abortions By Granting Full Rights To Embryos

ICE, ring camera
by Sharelle B. McNair

January 22, 2026

Anger And Activism Rises As ICE Agents Can Now Access Ring Cameras

Shortly after the partnership was announced, a new report was released showcasing that not only ICE agents would have access, but so would the Secret Service and the Navy.

After Amazon’s Ring secretly dialed back its privacy policy banning police access to private videos, new reports have found that footage from its cameras are being made available to federal enforcement agencies such as ICE, sparking concern that the popular cameras are being looped into the immigration operations. 

Futurism reports that Ring’s devices would eventually be looped into a network by partnering with Flock, AI-powered surveillance cameras that share footage with law enforcement, prompting privacy and immigration advocates to sound the alarm.

Activists like Drae, who goes by @planetdrae with over 14,000 followers on TikTok, chimed in on the campaign, alerting that “ring cameras will be used against you” and provided some recommendations on other ways to protect homes.

“It would not surprise me if ICE utilized your personal data, even against the company’s will, to make assumptions about you and raid your home,” the activist said.

“I’m not saying leave your home unprotected. What I would do is switch to some type of closed circuit security system, one that does not connect to the internet, so its not subject to police investigation, or subsequently ICE. Or we switch brands. Something to that effect.”

@planetdrae

ring cameras will be used against you #ice #activist #ringdoorbell #blacktiktok

♬ Tranquility – Moonfolk

The theory was introduced in October 2025, touching on how the Flock cameras use license plates and other identifying information on cars they see. In addition, the company’s police and government customers are able to create natural language searches of their video footage in an effort to find subjects that match certain descriptions. 

The policies add to the narrative that AI-powered technology used by law enforcement expands on racial biases. Shortly after the partnership was announced, a new report was released showcasing that not only ICE agents would have access, but the Secret Service and the Navy. 

Ring has long been criticized for pushing security risks and violating privacy. During the summer of 2025, the Electronic Frontier Foundation warned that the device actively violates civil liberties in the United States for profit.

The new revelation is only adding salt to an open wound. “Your Ring camera is an ICE agent,” a poster designed by postdoctoral fellow and digital studies institute affiliate at the University of Michigan, Kathryn Brewster, read. 

She urges people to “unplug the ring,” “melt ICE,” and “protect your neighbors!”

jack asked if i would sketch up a poster to tell people in nearby neighborhoods about the partnership between flock and ring, and this is what i came up with. it can be printed on an 8.5×11 sheet of paper.

— kat (@katbamkapow.bsky.social) 2026-01-19T20:15:21.436Z

As ICE agents working under the Trump administration are being condemned for their actions, resulting in dozens of unlawful detainments and roughly 33 deaths, advocates are using their voices and talents to speak out. Images of the Ring camera have now been used as a smoke signal of what could happen. 

One poster on Reddit put “ICE thanks YOU for YOUR cooperation” alongside a photo of a Ring camera.

RELATED CONTENT: Big Tech Staff Rally Bosses Against Trump’s ICE Raids

ICE, detroit, civil rights leaders
by Sharelle B. McNair

January 22, 2026

Whistleblowers Reveal Memo Giving ICE Authority To Forcibly Enter Homes Without Warrants

As the war on immigration draws massive backlash and criticism, the memo adds to a laundry list of controversial policies that are just now coming to light.

A new memo is proving why U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents feel they can trespass into people’s homes during their immigration raids. 

Dated May 12, a memo from Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons shows officers and agents can forcibly enter homes of people subjected to deportation without signed warrants, NBC News reports. The notice was shared with Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal by two whistleblowers, giving ICE agents the green light to enter a subject’s home with force using an administrative warrant, permitting officers or agents to make arrests, given that a judge has issued a “final order of removal.”

The documents are different from judicial warrants, which judges or magistrates have to sign in order to permit entry into homes. “Although the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not historically relied on administrative warrants alone to arrest aliens subject to final orders of removal in their place of residence, the DHS Office of General Counsel has recently determined that the U.S. Constitution, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the immigration regulations do not prohibit relying on administrative warrants for this purpose,” the memo reads, noting that arresting people “in their residences” is a change from past procedures.

ICE agents are instructed to use a method called Form I-205, where they must “knock and announce,” and that “in announcing, officers and agents must state their identity and purpose,” and agents are required to give the people inside enough time to comply. In addition, it gives time restraint suggestions saying agents shouldn’t enter a residence before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m., and “should only use a necessary and reasonable amount of force” to enter a home.

The group Whistleblower Aid, representing the whistleblowers who shared the memo with the senator, claims, “this ‘policy’ flies in the face of longstanding federal law enforcement training material and policies, all rooted in constitutional assessments.”

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin claims illegal immigrants who are served I-205s “have had full due process and a final order of removal from an immigration judge,” but Blumenthal says otherwise. The senator alleges the memo was not “widely distributed” despite the “all-hands” label. “Instead, the disclosure claims that the memo was rolled out in a secretive manner in which some agents were verbally briefed while others were allowed to view it but not keep a copy,” the Democratic leader wrote in a statement. 

“It was reportedly clear that anyone who openly spoke out against this new directive would be fired.”


As the war on immigration is drawing massive backlash and criticism, the memo adds to a laundry list of controversial policies that are just now coming to light.

According to The Guardian, as tensions continue to build in Minnesota following the death of Renee Good, appeals court Judge Katherine Menendez granted agents and officials permission to use pepper-spray on peaceful protestors in addition to arresting them — but temporarily. The victory for the Trump administration comes as Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to make an appearance in Minneapolis to “hold a roundtable with local leaders and community members and will deliver remarks focused on restoring law and order in Minneapolis.”

RELATED CONTENT: Big Tech Staff Rally Bosses Against Trump’s ICE Raids

A$AP Rocky, CDFA, Fashion Icon, Ray Bans
by Sharelle B. McNair

January 22, 2026

A$AP Rocky Doubles Down: Trump ‘Support’ Worsened His Time In Swedish Jail

A$AP said there were moments that he felt “so low” and the president’s support didn't make him feel any better.

While celebrating the success of his fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb, rapper A$AP Rocky reminisced on his dark days, including his brief 2019 stint in a Swedish jail was made worse by public “support” from President Donald Trump.

The Harlem-born artist shared that revelation with Ebro Darden on Apple Music 1.

Outside of remembering the small size of the cell and how quickly the lights shut off in the bathroom, the backlash from hearing Trump support him publicly.

A$AP said the support gave authorities the green light to keep him there longer. Or as the rapper put it, “‘Oh, word. Alright, we keeping him longer!”

While he admitted to feeling “honored” by how the hip-hop community and fans around the world were standing up for him while being locked up for an alleged street fight, A$AP said there were moments that he felt “so low.”

The president’s support didn’t make him feel any better.

In his 2021 documentary, Stockholm Syndrome, Rihanna’s partner said the president pushed a narrative that being released was his doing. That wasn’t the case. A negotiator was put on the case, raising financial concerns as A$AP’s lockup took place only two days into a world tour.

“So they didn’t want to pay X amount of millions,” A$AP Rocky explained. “I still ended up being guilty even though they let me go; that was the catch.”

A$AP Rocky could hear his name being said on Swedish television and relied on cellmates to translate it. It was Trump boasting about how Black people were reaching out to him for help on behalf of the “Fashion Killa.”

“Many, many members of the African American community have called me — friends of mine — and said, ‘Could you help?’” Trump said, according to Rolling Stone. “So I personally don’t know A$AP Rocky, but I can tell you that he has tremendous support from the African American community in this country … I have been called by so many people asking me to help A$AP Rocky.”

While he admitted in the documentary to being grateful for Trump getting the public’s eye on his troubles, A$AP wants the record straight that it isn’t because of him that he is free.

“But then on the other hand, I’m just like, ‘That’s what’s up, man.’ You want the most support you could and it’s like, ‘Oh, the president supports you.’ That felt good. Cause for the most part, I don’t think he ever knows what’s going on in the urban communities … I was thankful for that, I can’t lie. I was also scared that it would jeopardize me being in [jail] longer,” he said. 

“That’s the narrative they pushing: That he got me out. And he didn’t free me. If anything, he made it a little worse.”

RELATED CONTENT: Rihanna Celebrates Barbados Independence Day By Sharing Rare Family Photos

Kobe Bryant
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 22, 2026

Kobe Bryant’s Signature Kicks Get A Colorway Remix In Time For All-Star Weekend

The Nike Kobe 1 Protro “City of Champions” pays homage to the Los Angeles Lakers former stadium, the Forum.

Just in time for the NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, Nike is releasing a new colorway of the Nike Kobe 1 Protro, Kobe Bryant’s first signature sneaker for the footwear company, celebrating the venue where the Los Angeles Lakers played from 1969 to 1999.

According to Footwear News, Nike’s current rendition of the Nike Kobe 1 Protro is labeled the “City of Champions,” paying homage to the former Lakers stadium, the Forum. The new colors replicate the team’s original colors in a dusty blue, with gold-tone metal accents. The word “uptempo” is printed in gold letters on the back of the shoe, with “67-99” written above it.

The official release date has not been confirmed, but it should arrive before NBA players take the court at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, home of the LA Clippers, in February. It is slated to retail for $210.

This announcement comes out after the Jan. 22 release of Kobe 1 Protro ’81 Points’ colorway, on the 20th anniversary of Kobe’s 81-point game. Sports Illustrated reported that the original shoe dropped in 2019, marking it the second release of this colorway. When it was originally released, it cost collectors $175, but the re-release costs $210 and is available on the Nike SNKRS app and at select retailers.

After signing with Nike in the summer of 2003, Bryant became the face of the Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 and 2K5. In 2005, the sneaker brand released Kobe’s first signature shoe, the Nike Kobe 1 (Zoom Kobe 1).

Bryant played his entire career with the Lakers, winning five NBA championships, becoming a two-time Finals MVP, and earning the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player award. He made the All-Star team 18 times and became the youngest player to reach 30,000 points. In his final game before retiring in 2016, he scored an NBA season-high 60 points. The 41-year-old basketball legend died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others on Jan. 26, 2020.

RELATED CONTENT: Kobe Bryant-Michael Jordan Card Scores $3.17M At Auction

Nicki Minaj, Trump, gold card,citizenship
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 22, 2026

Trump Supports Nicki Minaj In Calling For Don Lemon’s Arrest Over Anti-ICE Church Protest

Donald Trump appears to be siding with Nicki Minaj with calls for Don Lemon’s arrest following an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church.

Donald Trump is siding with Nicki Minaj in calling for Don Lemon’s arrest over his coverage of an anti‑ICE protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.

In a Truth Social repost, the president criticized Lemon and the protesters who interrupted a church service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, to call out David Easterwood, a pastor at the church and acting director of ICE’s Saint Paul Field Office, Rolling Out reported. The protest drew national attention after the CNN alum livestreamed the event, in a move Trump and others are citing as a violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

The original post linked Lemon to a case involving an elderly woman who received a 40-year prison sentence for protesting outside abortion clinics under the same law. With Lemon’s coverage of the protest at a place of worship, reports say the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into his actions at the church.

Trump reinforced his criticism of Lemon and the protesters while speaking with the press on Jan. 21, telling reporters that the church congregants were “patriots” being mistreated by left-wing enablers.

“They have to be abused by guys like Don Lemon. He’s a loser, a lightweight,” Trump declared, while praising the pastor. “He was just accosted. What they did in that church was horrible.”

The calls for Lemon’s arrest echo a viral tweet from Nicki Minaj, who directed a homophobic slur at the reporter and demanded he be jailed over the church protest coverage.

‘C*CK SUCKIN’ LEMON IS DISGUSTING,” Minaj wrote. “HOW DARE YOU? I WANT THAT THUG IN JAIL!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER DO THAT TO ANY OTHER RELIGION. LOCK HIM UP!!!!!”

Minaj escalated the feud with follow-up posts, targeting Lemon’s interracial marriage and circulating the hashtag #ArrestDonLemon. Lemon fired back in a scathing video message, accusing the rapper of being out of touch on issues affecting African Americans and highlighting her immigrant background, as well as the criminal histories of her husband and imprisoned brother.

“I think Nicki Minaj has made it very clear how she feels about African Americans in this country. I don’t believe she identifies with them,” he said.

In a TMZ interview, he doubled down, calling Minaj a “homophobic, bigoted, ignorant woman” who is out of her depth on political matters.

“This is clearly out of her depth. She doesn’t understand politics. She doesn’t understand journalism. And I’m not surprised that she is weighing in on something that is beyond her capacity,” Lemon said.

Lemon isn’t a new target for Trump, who has criticized him repeatedly during his CNN tenure, calling him “the dumbest man on television” in 2018, and mocking him and CNN’s ratings throughout his presidency. Minaj’s newly sparked feud with Lemon appears to fall in line with her recent high-profile public appearances in support of the Trump administration.

RELATED CONTENT: Petition To Deport The Head Barb In Charge, Nicki Minaj, Is Taking Off

Morris Brown, Atlanta,
by Jameelah Mullen

January 22, 2026

Threatening Email Triggers Lockdown At Morris Brown And Wiley University

The HBCUs are among several institutions that have locked down their campuses after receiving threats in recent months.

Morris Brown College and Wiley College are taking precautions after both HBCUs received threatening emails. On Thursday, Jan. 22, both schools announced they were closing campuses as a safety precaution. 

In an alert, issued around 9:30 a.m., Morris Brown told its students to prepare for virtual classes.   

According to the school, the emergency alert was issued due to a security threat affecting Morris Brown. 

Approximately two hours later,  Morris Brown’s President Kevin James announced that the college would resume normal operations. 

“This morning, several HBCUs across the country, including institutions within the Atlanta University Center (AUC), received a threatening email directed at members of our campus communities,” James wrote. 

“After working closely with law enforcement, we have been cleared to resume normal campus operations. I am grateful to our team for their professionalism, preparedness, and prompt action in ensuring the safety and well-being of our faculty, staff, and students.”

Wiley University also issued a shelter-in-place warning and canceled classes and closed offices for the day. The University’s President, Dr. Herman J. Felton, shared the news on Instagram.

“This morning, unfortunately, we received a disturbing email that poses a critical threat to the institution, our students, and the very way of life we’ve become accustomed to on this campus,” Felton said in the video. 

Felton also noted that the colleges are working with local and state law enforcement to ensure campus safety. 

Neither college revealed details about the emails they received. 

In September 2025, several HBCUs faced terrorist threats, leading to campus lockdowns, including Clark Atlanta University, which is also located in the Atlanta University Center. Other colleges affected were Bethune-Cookman College in Florida and Washington, D.C.’s Howard University. Virginia State University and Hampton University, both located in Virginia, also received threats. 

Morris Brown College recently made headlines after its President, Kevin James, announced his termination. The institution reinstated him less than two weeks later.

RELATED CONTENT: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Returns To Morris Brown College After 23-Year Hiatus

Naomi Osaka, Australian Open
by Keka Araújo

January 22, 2026

Audacity At The Australian Open: Naomi Osaka Wins The Match & The Battle Against Forced Silence By Her Opponent

For those who know the game, vocalizing self-motivation is a foundational element of the sport.

Naomi Osaka’s second-round victory over Sorana Cirstea at the Australian Open was a masterclass in resilience. Still, the final score was almost overshadowed by a dispute over a two-word phrase, “Come on.”

For those who know the game, vocalizing self-motivation is a foundational element of the sport. Yet, for Osaka, her use of the phrase between serves “became a point of contention that Cirstea brought directly to the chair umpire.

“Is this OK?” Cirstea questioned. “To do ‘come on’ between points?”

The umpire was clear in her stance, noting that Osaka’s hype occurred before the serve was even initiated. “You hadn’t got the ball yet either. This is fine,” the umpire responded.

Undeterred, Cirstea continued her line of questioning: “So I can talk between points? Can I go ‘come on’ and talk?”

“You’re not serving yet, so it’s not a hindrance to you. So this is Ok” the umpire replied, reaffirming Osaka’s right to occupy her own space emotionally.

The victory, secured through that very grit, was met with a frosty net exchange. Cirstea offered a dismissive handshake and pointed words that left Osaka visibly caught off guard.

In the immediate aftermath, Osaka was candid, “Apparently, a lot of ‘c’mons’ that she was angry about, but whatever. I mean, I tried to play well, I tried my best. She’s a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open, so, OK, sorry she was mad about it.”

This friction isn’t just about tennis etiquette; it’s about the persistent “Karen” behavior that follows Black women to the baseline.

This calculated policing of Osaka’s space operates as a microaggression, leveraging discomfort to discipline Black excellence into something quieter, smaller and more digestible for white consumption.

History shows a clear disparity in how passion is categorized. When white players display fire, it’s labeled “competitive spirit.” When Black players like Osaka or Taylor Townsend—who was told by Jelena Ostapenko in 2025, “You have no class, you have no education”—show the same, it is branded as “disrespect” or a “distraction.”

Such coded slights function as psychological restraints, reinforcing white validation as the benchmark for Black women’s autonomy while pathologizing their competitive excellence as a character flaw.

Research into Serena Williams’ career has already laid the groundwork for understanding this phenomenon. Black players often face a specific brand of microaggression that polices their bodies, their tone, and their right to be loud.

Even in her victory, Osaka felt the pressure to take the “Higher Road,” eventually offering an apology for her post-match candor.

“I guess that emotions were very high for her. I also want to apologize,” Osaka told reporters. “I think the first couple things that I said on the court was disrespectful. I don’t like disrespecting people. That’s not what I do.”

Cirstea, 35, opted to exit the tournament—and her final Australian Open—by downplaying the drama and expertly dancing around questions reporters lobbed at her about her behavior and the exchange.

“There was no drama,” she told reporters. “It was just a five-second exchange between two players who have been on a tour for a long time. It stays between us. For me, this was my last match at the Australian Open, so I think I’d like to stay with that.”

The message is clear: A Black woman’s success is still too often contingent on her silence.

Osaka advanced in the bracket, but the double standard applied to Black players remains intact.

RELATED CONTENT: Op-Ed: Coded In Red, White, And Blue; The Dept. Of Labor Posts A Confederate-Like Flag On ‘X’ And The Nation Stayed Silent

Sinners, Ryan Coogler, AAFCA, awards
by Kandiss Edwards

January 22, 2026

‘Sinners’ Makes History Scoring First-Time Nominations For Many Gifted And Black Talents

The Ryan Coogler-directed vampire horror was recognized in every category for which it was eligible.

The nominees for the 98th Academy Awards were announced Jan. 22, with a broad slate of films recognized across acting, directing, and technical categories. Sinners emerged as the most nominated film of the year, earning a historic 16 nominations.

The total marks the most nominations ever received by a single film in Oscar history. The Ryan Coogler-directed vampire horror was recognized in every category for which it was eligible. The film captured audience attention upon its release, with Coogler’s meticulous visual approach and intentional use of IMAX technology drawing a strong response. Sinners has grossed $365 million worldwide at the box office and has earned several cast and crew members’ first-time Academy recognitions.

Categories Include:

Best Picture

Lead Actor, Michael B. Jordan

Supporting Actor, Delroy Lindo

Supporting Actress, Wunmi Mosaku

Cinematography

Costume design

Film Editing 

Original Screenplay

Original Score

Original Song

Sound and Visual Effects

MakeUp and Hairstyling

Production Design

Veteran actor Delroy Lindo earned his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Delta Slim, a blues musician haunted by the violence and hatred of the Jim Crow era. Lindo has worked steadily across film and television since the 70s and despite a career spanning more than five decades, had not previously been recognized by the Academy.

British actress Wunmi Mosaku also received her first Academy Award nomination for her role as Annie, a voodoo priestess who serves as a stabilizing force amid the film’s chaos. Mosaku was previously honored as Best Supporting Actress at the 2025 Gotham Film Awards.

Michael B. Jordan earned a Best Actor nomination for his triple performance in “Sinners,” portraying Smoke, Stack, and Vampiric Stack. From his early work as Wallace on The Wire to leading roles in the Creed franchise, Jordan has steadily built a career that now places him among the industry’s most recognized actors.

Coogler, already an Academy nominee as a producer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Judas and the Black Messiah, received his first Best Director nomination for Sinners. He became the third Black filmmaker to earn nominations in the Best Director, Original Screenplay, and Producer categories, following Spike Lee and Jordan Peele.

Ruth E. Carter has also made history at the Academy Awards. As the winner of two awards for her work in Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Carter was nominated for her fifth total award. Her work in building the beauty of Sinners makes Carter the most-nominated Black woman in Oscar history.

With 16 nominations, Sinners dethroned La La Land, with 14 nominations, as the most nominated film of all time. While the Oscars are notorious for snubbing Black talent, the extreme popularity of the film is hard to ignore. The care in research, history, Blues music, niche spiritual practices, as well as moving portrayals from the cast of characters, will hopefully allow the film to prevail in many categories. In the words of Issa Rae: “I’m rooting for everybody Black.”

RELATED CONTENT: Hmm, Say More! Speculation Around Media Owner Jay Penske As The Potential Reason Why ‘Sinners’ Was Snubbed By Outlets

Vince Staples, Netflix
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 22, 2026

Netflix Cancels ‘The Vince Staples Show’

The show was on the streaming service for two seasons.

Recording artist Vince Staples has had his self-titled television sitcom canceled by Netflix.

According to Deadline, “The Vince Staples Show,” a fictionalized version of his life, had just completed its second season. Although it was a critically acclaimed, it never developed a large audience to justify keeping it running.

The show debuted in 2024 and featured Staples, along with Andrea Ellsworth, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Beau Billingslea, and Naté Jones. The show was based in Long Beach, where the rapper is from.

In a recent Netflix report, the show’s second season ranked No. 1,446 in the streaming giant’s Second Half of 2025 viewership report. Following its Nov. 6 release, the show garnered 1.7 million views. According to a report on viewing stats from Feb. 15, 2024, through June 30, 2024, Staples’ show had generated 4.6 million views.

The show had never broken Netflix’s Weekly Top 10, but on Rotten Tomatoes, it scored 94% with critics and 88% with viewers.

Staples created the show with Ian Edelman and Maurice Williams. It was executive produced by Kenya Barris, Staples, Corey Smyth, William Stefan Smith, Andrea Sperling, and Leonard Chang.

The Def Jam Recordings artist debuted 2015 and released his latest project in May 2024. His first three albums, Summertime ’06, Big Fish Theory, and FM!, were released on Def Jam before he signed with Motown. With the legendary label, he released Vince Staples and Ramona Park Broke My Heart.

His latest album, Dark Times, marks his return to Def Jam. 

As an actor, he has appeared on the hit sitcom Abbott Elementary and in the remake of White Men Can’t Jump. He has also made guest appearances as himself in the film Gorillaz: Reject False Icons and on the HBO show Insecure.

RELATED CONTENT: Elevate Your Excellence: Ananda Lewis Remembered As The Luminous VJ Who Defined A Generation’s Voice

×