Damon Dash Asserts Drake Was Interested In Purchasing Roc-A-Fella Share
'Drake hollered at me through DM and made an offer.'
Allegedly, Drake offered to purchase Damon Dash’s share in Roc-A-Fella Records, the company he built and co-founded with Kareem “Biggs” Burke and Jay-Z, according to the Harlem businessman.
Dash, who has been heavily promoting his latest venture, America Nu Network, made the claim in a recent video clip on the network.
“You know Drake hollered at me through DM and made an offer,” Dash stated in the video.
“I’m not quite sure what happened, but I thought that he had got with Jay or something. But I don’t know. It would be a good time to close.”
Dash continued: “But if you got it. I wouldn’t do it if you didn’t get it. But you know if you want to own Reasonable Doubt. If you want to own a third of it, you have to say that at the board meetings for at least the next seven years and make money off of it.”
Biggs and Jay-Z are not in favor of the court’s decision to auction Dash’s 33.3% stake in the label to satisfy a debt owed by the Harlem businessman. An auction was originally scheduled for Aug. 29 in New York City but was pushed back until Sept. 21 for the one-third stake Dash has in the label, which includes the master recording of Jay-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The judge ordered the sale of Dash’s stake due to non-payment of a $823,000 judgment due to movie producer Josh Webber.
A judge made the order after Dash made zero payments toward the judgment against him from the Webber lawsuit. Webber won a defamation and copyright infringement lawsuit after suing Dash for a dispute over the 2016 film Dear Frank. Jay-Z and Biggs objected to the ruling, citing the company bylaws that mandate approval from the board of directors to sell off shares. U.S. Magistrate Robert W. Lehrburger sidestepped their plea and stated that Dash’s one-third ownership share is personal property that could be seized to satisfy the judgment against him.
Louis Vuitton Faces Racial Discrimination Lawsuit For Allegedly Banning Black Customers
Three Black customers have alleged multiple encounters of unfair treatment at Louis Vuitton stores.
Louis Vuitton faces some serious accusations after a Black mother-daughter duo and their friend filed a lawsuit against the designer brand for alleged racial discrimination.
In a court filing obtained by TMZ, Tracy Renee Williams claimed that the Louis Vuitton store in Costa Mesa, California refused to deliver items she preordered for about $50,000. Upon inquiring of the delivery status at a Beverly Hills storefront, the situation resulted in police threats.
According to Williams, the white manager at the store warned of her arrest if she stayed or returned. The Neighborhood Talk shared images of the three plaintiffs.
She further alleges that when she sent her white assistant to make a purchase, he was met with no issue and was able to pay a hefty sum in cash. As for the legal action, Williams says her banning from the store has impacted her livelihood. Her social media following stems from her reviews of the Louis Vuitton items. She has estimated a loss of $40,000 a month since the incident.
Williams’s daughter Brandi has claimed a similar bout of racial discrimination happened to her at the luxury brand’s store. Brandi says a sales associate completely halted her shopping experience, and alleged that she was using “drug money” to purchase the products. A manager, unclear if the same one, also told her to leave the store or face arrest. The younger Williams additionally stated that the ordeal happened before at a location in New Orleans.
Lastly, their friend Kristopher Enoch detailed his own negative encounter with the high-profile brand. While shopping at the store, he says that an employee showed a white patron a jacket. However, when he asked about the same item, he was told it was not available. He added that he was later emailed about being blacklisted from all stores.
The trio hope to get unbanned from Louis Vuitton locations, while also seeking damages for their distress.
Black Residents Leaving Baltimore By The Thousands
While Baltimore is still predominantly Black, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the Black population is shrinking.
While Baltimore is still predominantly Black, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the Black population is shrinking. According to the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey, Baltimore lost an estimated 11,600 non-Hispanic Black residents in 2023.
The population estimates for July 1, 2021, show Baltimore City had a population of 576,578. In 2022, the population was 569,107; in 2023, it decreased to 565,239.
As the Baltimore Banner reports, this is the seventh-largest year-over-year decrease for any county in the United States, with at least 65,000 people for the counties listed on its latest report. Right behind Baltimore County was Prince George’s County-–just outside of Washington, D.C.–where it saw the eighth-largest decrease in its Black, non-Hispanic population.
While the data doesn’t share where Baltimore’s former residents are relocating, it does reveal that more Hispanics and people who identify as multiple races are moving into Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
“We know in Maryland that population would have declined except for international migration,” said Michael Bader, a demographer and associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, regarding the population for 2023.
“A large portion of international migrants to the state and this area are Hispanic.”
Baltimore’s overall population dropped by 5,000 residents, but the number of households is increasing. Baltimore City has an estimated population of 565,239, with 247,232 households.
Factors Leading To Black Residents Leaving
Baltimore’s decrease in its Black population comes amid a surge of quality of life crimes and less-than-average public school ratings.
Carjackings are up by 220%, robberies have increased by nearly 50%, and burglaries are up by 8%.
Meanwhile, according to the Maryland State Department of Education’s 2023 school report card, approximately 65% of Baltimore City schools earned one or two stars, the lowest possible rating, according to Fox Baltimore. Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the School for the Arts are the only two schools with five-star scores.
How To Have A Difficult Conversation With A Supervisor Who Supports A Toxic Work Culture In 4 Easy Steps
When you raise your voice, you raise your value.
Hi FairyGodMentor,
How do you have difficult conversations with a supervisor who has not found their “why” and promotes a toxic culture?
Yours Truly, Scared Silent
——
Dear Scared Silent,
First, I want to acknowledge and celebrate your courage for reaching out, showing your ASK, and requesting support while working in a toxic work culture. It’s not easy and it’s evident that you desire to improve the quality of your work/life and others that may be negatively impacted.
To quote Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” We have to power to make the positive change we’d like to see in the workplace by practicing self-advocacy. Self-advocacy means speaking up for your needs, communicating your goals, and making boundaries. It also fuels career and leadership growth.
Having difficult conversations with a supervisor, especially one who is not aligned with their purpose or “why” can be very intimidating and even scary. I’ve created some survival tips to help guide you and others on RISE to higher heights using this type of assertive communication:
Reflect: Gain clarity on your needs and limits. Understand what your limits are. Ask yourself: What do you need to do and feel your best at work?
Identify: Discover a time that works best to talk to your supervisor. I know that you’d rather avoid having this tough conversation, but nothing is going to change until you speak up. You are a priority! Make your needs an agenda item for your next one-on-one conversation or set up a separate time to discuss.
Strategize: Craft your conversation. It’s best to have a script prepared so that you can stay on topic, especially if emotions are running high. Create a specific script of your talking points that you want to cover. Be clear and concise. I worked with an executive who liked things “right and tight.” Keep that in mind when communicating with people-leaders. No fluff. Stick to facts. If you’re asking for a behavior or workload change, focus on the why (impact to you, your team, and business) behind the what (the ask/the feedback/etc.). Focus on the impact and not the person. How is this behavior or action impacting you, the team, and the organization? Don’t forget to frame the conversation with empathy. You’ll want to open the conversation setting the intention of collaboration and support. You’re having this discussion out of concern for the success of your professional relationship (if you have one), the team, and the overall success of the organization. Use “I” statements to fully express how you’re feeling so you’re not putting the receiver of the feedback on the defensive. It may sound like “I think we can both agree that we have a shared desire to make sure the team and the business are successful. And you want us to be productive, right? I’d like to share some insights on some recent behaviors I’ve witnessed and their impact on me and the team. Then, I’d like to discuss some solutions on how we can create more harmony in the workplace together.”
Execute: This is where the rubber meets the road. Prepare, speak, listen, and then clarify. Before you have this discussion, you’ll want to prepare to overcome any challenges you may face. Anticipate the questions that may be asked for clarity. Feedback is a gift. People may take it, use it, or throw it away. Based on what you shared about this leader, prepare yourself for some resistance and deflection (throwing things back onto you) that may take place.
You’ll want to practice for this type of conversation. Make sure to role-play with a trusted colleague or mentor. Stick to your script. Once you’ve said what you need to share with your supervisor, pause and listen for a response. Remember, this conversation intends to come from a place of collaboration and support. As a leader, (remember you don’t have to be a people manager to be a leader), you’ll want to focus on solutions, not the problems at hand. You’ll want to actively listen to what your supervisor has to say and then work together to come up with a solution that will work best for both of you. Real talk, the solution may mean working with a different leader or finding a new place to work, if that’s an option.
If you’ve tried to have this type of difficult conversation and the toxicity persists in the workplace, I would highly suggest you bubble this matter up to Human Resources. Ask to have them present to mediate future conversations, especially if you’ve tried to resolve this on your own.
Keep your receipts and take notes. Send a copy of what was discussed to your supervisor and Human Resources. This protects you and the organization.
I say this all of the time, Scared Silent: when you raise your voice, you raise your value. You have value and it’s important to voice your concerns and be heard. By reflecting on your needs and limits, identifying the right time to discuss, strategizing your conversation talking points, and executing your discussion by being fully prepared to overcome challenges, you’re on your way to fostering meaningful change in the workplace. Be the change!
You got this!
With love and light,
Your FairyGodMentor®
Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and the founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies, a consultancy that develops empowered, results-driven leaders through engaging leadership development coaching, training, and facilitation. She is the author of the best-selling book and audiobook Show Your Ask: Using Your Voice to Advocate for Yourself and Your Career.
Have a question about handling a micromanager, are you having difficulty navigating spaces because of your hair, is work stressing you out, do you need support coaching poor performance, or are you wondering how to negotiate and get the job offer you desire effectively? Do you have any questions about career and leadership development?
Nicki Minaj’s Mom Is Launching A Lingerie Company For Mature Women
Carol Maraj, is reportedly launching lingerie for the grown & sexy
Nicki Minaj’s mother, Carol Maraj, is reportedly launching her first business venture in the form of women’s lingerie.
Carol Maraj Collections is set to launch on Oct. 27 with a special focus on mature women, The Jasmine Brand reports. The pricing will range from $65 to $95 and include inclusive sizing from small up to 1X.
The 64-year-old says she’s making the lingerie line to help remind mature women of their beauty and sex appeal. Maraj believes that “mature women are just giving up” on embracing their sexuality.
“So I want to do this mostly for the mature woman who need to step up,” she said. “They need to see how beautiful they really are.”
Maraj notes the inspiration she has been able to serve her superstar daughter since they come from a family of business-minded women.
“I inspire Nicki, probably, but we both think alike,” Maraj shared. “We are businesswomen, and I have always been like that. I always wanted to do different stuff.”
With her new release embarking on the lingerie industry, Maraj revealed her favorite body part.
“Honestly, my brain is my favorite part,” she said. “I like to know that my mind is going that is the best part of my body.”
She also shared her favorite color when shopping for lingerie.
“I love pink and red. Those have always been my colors,” Maraj shared. “Red, white, and black is Trini to the bone colors.”
In addition to lingerie, Maraj runs the Carol Maraj Foundation, a nonprofit organization that advocates for families affected by domestic violence. As someone who migrated to America from her native Trinidad, Maraj hopes to inspire other immigrants who dream of starting their own businesses.
“It was very important for me to come to the States as an immigrant because I come from very humble beginnings,” she said. “I come from having my own businesses with my gown collection. I just want to encourage Trinidadians and other Caribbean women to say if Carol Maraj can do it I can do it also.”
As for what’s next for Maraj, she has a perfume coming this fall.
“Yes, by the fall, my perfume line will launch. I am really into beauty. Everyone’s telling me I should do more,” she said. “I already have a wig line, ‘Elegantly Carol,’ and everyone is telling me that I should do a skincare line as well.”
Resurfaced Gross Commentary On ‘The Black Girlfriend Effect’ Leaves ‘ShxtsNGigs’ Hosts Backpedaling
James Duncan and Fuhad Dawodu issued an apology after their July conversation about dating Black women resurfaced online.
ShxtsNGigs podcast hosts James Duncan and Fuhad Dawodu apologized after social media users criticized them over seemingly cosigning what viewers believed were racist jokes from white comedian Andrew Schulz that shaded Black women.
The outrage toward the two U.K. personalities came after a discussion on the “Black girlfriend effect” resurfaced from a previous appearance on the Flagrant podcast.
In the two-hour episode, which aired in July on YouTube, Duncan and Dawodu laughed during a conversation about the changes non-Black men experience after they begin dating Black women.
“They shave their hair because they start losing it because they’re so stressed being around this Black girl complaining about s*** all the f***ing time,” Schulz remarked. “That’s why they’ve gotta shave their hair.”
Duncan added, “Nah, bro, white guys with Black girlfriends they step their **** up.” Unfortunately, Schulz continued, “They grow a beard because there’s more cushion when they get slapped the f*** out of.”
A user on X reposted the clip, which garnered over 7 million views and hundreds of responses.
“Thats it.. dance for massa boys, danceeee,” a user commented, while another observed, “The way they just let him walk all over us is wild wow.”
A third user questioned the behavior in their comment: “They were laughing along with this man? SHAME.”
One user said Duncan and Dawodu lost her as a viewer after learning of the remarks and added, “What in the coonery!!”
Another person stated,”This is disappointing and disgusting. I really loved these guys. They just sat there and nodded their heads.”
The British podcasters took to their own “ShxtsNGigs” platform this week to address the backlash concerning Black women. “
“We f***** it, and we’re sorry,” Duncan said during the Sept. 16 episode. “There were a few jokes made that were incredibly inappropriate, one specifically pertaining to Black women and in the clip, Andrew was making a joke. I’m not even going to get into specifics, making a frankly racist joke, and we were laughing at it.”
Although the hosts agreed there was no excuse, they claimed they were in a “fight or flight” situation during the conversation about Black women and wanted to get out of it. They agreed to have told Schulz to “move on” from several topics throughout the July episode.
Check out their full conversation on the “Black girlfriend effect” below.
Voting Rights Advocates Sue State Of Florida Over ‘Discriminatory’ Verification Processes
According to their findings, more than 43,000 applicants since 2018 have been unable to register due to the requirement.
Voting rights advocates in Florida have sued the state, stating that its “exact match” voter verification requirement discriminates against Black voters.
Florida Rising Together, a racial justice group, filed the lawsuit against State Secretary Cord Byrd, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and additional election officials on National Voter Registration Day. The group intends to challenge the verification process, which uses computerized data matching to confirm voter registrations.
They claim its implementation violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The filing alleges the “exact match” process has resulted in tens of thousands of applicants being rejected. The majority of these potential voters identify as Black.
“Black voters know that their voice is their power. By allowing the “exact match” verification process, Florida officials deny tens of thousands of Black voters and other voters of color access to our democracy,” stated Moné Holder, Chief Political & Advocacy Director at Florida Rising, in a press release obtained by BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Voters deserve more than to experience blatant discrimination and oppression at the hands of Florida election officials.”
According to their findings, more than 43,000 applicants have been unable to register since 2018 due to the requirement. Many applications remain “unverified” due to the “data mismatch.” In multiple South Florida counties, Black voters are rejected at a higher rate than white applicants, given both groups’ shares in the registrant pool.
Based on these findings, Florida Rising Together considers the “exact match” process a tactic for voter suppression.
“Florida’s “exact match” verification process is just another tool of voter suppression. It’s an inaccurate, burdensome practice that creates extra hurdles for Black voters and violates federal law,” says Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director of Advancement Project, which co-represents the organization. “We will not allow Florida to cherry-pick its voters nor set a dangerous example for other states. Every voter should have access to free and fair elections.”
These advocates urge Florida to stop rejecting applicants solely based on this requirement and affirm those denied it. Moreover, they recommend that their votes be counted in the upcoming election.
JUST SENSELESS: Shooting At Detroit’s Eastern Market Tailgate Party Leaves Two Men Dead
The Detroit Police Department is working closely with city officials to review security measures during such large gatherings.
A second person has died following a shooting that occurred during a fight at Detroit’s Eastern Market on Sunday afternoon, police confirmed. The incident happened after the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with tensions escalating at the popular tailgating spot near Wilkins Street and Riopelle Street.
Detroit Police Chief James White reported that the initial altercation, which began in Shed 6 of Eastern Market around 4:30 p.m., involved several people. Although the fight dispersed, it reignited minutes later when two men appeared ready to confront each other physically. One of the men, a 30-something from Oak Park, allegedly pulled out a gun and fired at least two shots, striking two Detroit men, police said.
The first victim, a man in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second victim, a man in his 20s, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries, authorities confirmed on Monday.
An Oak Park man has been arrested in connection with the shooting. “Tailgating, drinking, and guns don’t mix,” Chief White emphasized during a press conference. “It’s tragic that such a beautiful day ended with this violence.”
Eastern Market, located northeast of downtown Detroit, is a popular destination for tailgating during Lions home games, drawing large crowds. The Eastern Market tailgate party has long been a staple for local sports fans, who gather in the area to celebrate before Lions games. This unfortunate event shocked the community, known for its vibrant and safe atmosphere. The incident has once again raised concerns over safety at these gatherings, particularly regarding the mix of alcohol and firearms.
In response to the shooting, local law enforcement has increased its presence around the Eastern Market district and nearby stadiums to ensure the safety of future tailgate parties and events. The Detroit Police Department is working closely with city officials to review security measures during such large gatherings.
Community Reaction Residents and visitors alike expressed concern over the violence that marred what was supposed to be a fun-filled day. “We come here every season to enjoy ourselves and support the Lions,” one tailgater said. “It’s heartbreaking to see this happen in our community.”
Police Urging Cooperation Authorities are calling on witnesses and anyone with video footage from the scene to help with their investigation. Police also encourage tailgaters to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to prevent further incidents.
The Eastern Market shooting serves as a somber reminder of the need for enhanced security at public gatherings, particularly in Detroit’s lead-up to major sporting events.
The investigation is ongoing as police work to gather more details surrounding the fight and subsequent shooting.
Black Public Media Launches Campaign to Promote Sustainable Fashion
It's time to #ShopLikeNana.
Harlem-based Black Public Media (BPM), the national media arts nonprofit, is spotlighting the environmental crisis caused by fast fashion and promoting sustainable forms of fashion.
Launched on Monday, September 9, during New York Fashion Week, BPM’s latest BE HEARD campaign, in partnership with Paramount+ and Big Couch Entertainment, introduces #ShopLikeNana. The campaign can be viewed on blackpublicmedia.org, BPM’s TikTok, and other social media platforms.
“BE HEARD: #ShopLikeNana encourages consumers to rediscover style and reduce fast fashion by returning to the “hand me down” form of fashion by shopping in their grandmother’s closet, reusing their wardrobe, or buying pieces from their local thrift stores,” BPM wrote on its website. “The goal is to encourage people to see the value in their clothing beyond its purchase price and the value of practicing sustainability in fashion.”
In response to the growing crisis, BE HEARD: #ShopLikeNana aims to mobilize Millennial and Gen Z shoppers, who are more actively engaged than older generations in tackling climate change.
As part of the campaign, Sophia Clark of Big Couch Entertainment, a New York Emmy-nominated content creator who directed the previous BE HEARD installment, will lead the direction of the #ShopLikeNana campaign. Inuka Bacote-Capiga will produce original content featuring comedian Katrina Davis (Comedy Central, America’s Got Talent) as a satirical late-night show host covering a segment on fast fashion’s role in climate change.
Alongside the original programming, influencers will be invited to share content using the #ShopLikeNana trend on their personal channels, helping to amplify the message and promote sustainable practices. BPM will also launch a web page offering sustainable fashion resources.
BE HEARD is a two-time Anthem Award-winning social media campaign designed to spotlight critical issues affecting Black communities. BPM selects a theme each year and commissions a filmmaker to create content around it. This year’s campaign focuses on amplifying Black voices in the global climate conversation.
AI Company DryMerge Raises $2.2M In Seed Funding Round
Edward Frazer, a Yale University dropout, and Samuel Brashears, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, formed the company in 2023 and are still the entirety of the workforce.
DryMerge, a company founded by two friends who have known each other since elementary school, raised $2.2 million during the company’s seed funding round. Edward Frazer, a Yale University dropout, and Samuel Brashears, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, formed the company in 2023 and are still the entirety of the workforce.
According to a press release, the company’s product streamlines user processes, saving time. “We founded DryMerge about a year ago with the idea that we could use AI to automate API integrations for developers. In that year, our vision got a whole lot bigger —- we realized that we wanted to automate repetitive work for anyone, not just API integrations for programmers,” Frazer wrote.
Frazer continued, “Automating work makes people’s jobs 10x more enjoyable. Thousands of DryMerge users save hours every day automating CRM data entry, support requests, targeted outbound, web research, and so much more. We think what our users are doing is amazing, and we spend nearly all of our time helping them save more time.”
According to the press release, the company received funding from Y Combinator, Garage Capital, Goodwater Capital, Ritual Capital, and Breakpoint Capital. They also received angel investment from Umur Cubuku from Citus Data, JJ Fiegelman from Way Up, Kulveer Taggar from Zeus, and Nate Matherson from Positional, among others.
“…I’m a pretty young founder –- I dropped out of Yale to build the company, and my cofounder Sam had just graduated from the University of Wisconsin,” Frazer wrote on his LinkedIn page. His early confidence in what they were working on might have bordered on arrogance until he adjusted after receiving feedback.
Frazer continued, “I knew very little about how people worked, what problems they had, or how to solve those problems — and importantly, I didn’t care — I figured it’d be enough to build cool technology and watch the users appear out of thin air.”
Frazer concluded, “It wasn’t until midway through the batch that we realized ‘cool tech’ is a useless value proposition — it took talking to over 100 people from various segments like Customer Success, Support, other Founders, etc. before we had a concrete idea of what people’s actual workflows looked like, and it was only then that we began to build something valuable.”
The pair also were recent participants in Y Combinator’s 38th Demo Day. In its blog post about the event, Y Combinator promises to invest in each company it selects to be part of its YC Winter 2024 Batch for the life of the company. Only 260 companies were selected from over 27,000 applications, which makes the acceptance rate of under 1% one of the company’s most selective. Y Combinator has been increasingly focused on companies that use artificial intelligence to help facilitate practical uses for AI technology and large language models, which perfectly describes the mission and purpose of DryMerge.
According to TechCrunch, when their product works, it creates a lot of ease for users. Although there are sometimes bugs, such as when the platform misunderstands a user’s command or request, the platform still has promise. However, it is one of the latest entries into an increasingly crowded integration-platform-as-a-service market, which is currently projected to reach a $2.7 billion market share by the end of 2024.
Frazer, however, is confident that it can carve out space in the market, even though its current user base sits at around 2,000 users.
“Our users include online fashion retailers, school administrators, and asset managers — the vast majority of which have never touched a line of code,” Frazer told TechCrunch. “They use us to save hours a day on tasks ranging from customer support automation to customer relationship management data entry.”
Frazer continued, “We think a gigantic enterprise opportunity is in increasing the simplicity of automation and delivering easy-to-use tooling that empowers nontechnical folks.”
