The world of hip hop has influenced everything from clothing, hair styles and even vocabulary. Varying clothing styles including euro fitted to retro, vintage apparel and logo mania pieces are often featured by hip-hop artists. In addition to clothes, hairstyles often vary based on rappers’ backgrounds, cultural traditions and current trends. A lot of rappers and hip-hop artists wear dreadlocks, which traditionally represent the Rastafarian culture that is well recognized in Jamaican. And, over the last few decades dreads have become more prevalent amongst well known rappers becoming a significant hair style in hip hop culture.

FAMOUS RAPPERS WITH DREADLOCKS

*T-Pain 

The T-Pain dreads hairstyle will be difficult to change at a moment’s notice. Most men who dread their hair have to cut the tangles out of their hair and let new growth come in before they can take on a new style.

This is a high-maintenance style despite the look that the hair is trapped because he does not take care of it. He must spend a great deal of time each day working on his hair to keep it growing and appropriately prepared as well as working to deter damage from the hair being too dry. T-Pain’s dreadlocks took him 13 years to grow. In 2013, the rapper cut his iconic dreads.

*Wiz Khalifa

For much of his career, Wiz Khalifa has tried various styles of dreadlocks. He had been growing his hair out since he was a child, so it was about time for him to own it.

*Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg’s look has been a tack of his style throughout his ever-evolving career, from the cornrows of his early Doggystyle days and the smooth perm of his pimp phase to the hanging dreadlocks that have been known by it over the last decade. But now that his hairline is eventually starting to show his age, it might not be too long until Snoop Dogg cuts his dreads.  

*Jay-Z

Jay-Z’s freeform dreadlocks with ”Congos” which are made by joining two or more locs so they combine may not take much in the way of care, but first, he had to grow his afro hair a longer. Jay- Z started the process of growing out his almost clean-shaven head about two or three years before getting his satisfactory result.

*J Cole

J Cole’s dreads are not driven into looking as awesome as they do. J Cole’s dreads are what we label as ”semi-free form dreads”. As of now, hair stylists assert J Cole’s dreads are a semi-freeform and are not controlled through styling. He just lets his hair grow free to expand naturally without any earlier planning to structure it.

LUXURY ACESSORIES FOR YOUR LOCKS

For centuries many dreadlock wearers have adorned their precious locks with jewelry and other statement pieces to show individuality, status, and appreciation. This symbolism has continued throughout modern day styling with one of kind luxury pieces most recently taking the stage. 

Since the hairstyle is an extension of the person’s mind and personality, a lot of rapper and rap celebrities who have a passion for high-quality items from luxury cars, famous paints, and gold and silver accessories are willing to invest in heirloom quality hair accessories.

One of these respected brands is Zigleys. Touted as “Jewelry for Your Crown, Fit for Royalty,” Zigleys is the first of its kind and is redefining hair jewelry for locs, braids, and twists with its opulent line of 18-karat Gold hair jewelry. Each piece in the collection is uniquely crafted from the finest gold, with select pieces embedded with diamonds. 

There are so many others in the hip hop culture who’ve embraced the culture of dreadlocks and it’s become prominent in many urban locations such as Miami, Philadelphia and most recently Detroit. Wearing dreadlocks is a symbol of embracing a person’s culture and roots, and each person’s unique form of expression is an added by their personal style which defines them.

The post Exploring Culture: Dreadlocks And Hip Hop appeared first on The Source.

South Beach Miami is known for its weather, beaches and of course delicious food. Arguably one of the newest celebrity hangout spots is Mareva 1939—located in the National Hotel Miami Beach.

Following DJ Khaled’s epic press conference in February, my bestie Brenda and I decided to check out Mareva 1939 located in Central South Beach. Esteemed Chef Sergio Chamizo— who attended culinary school in Madrid, infused his family’s traditional recipes to create an elevated dining experience.

Upon entering the South Beach Art Deco hotel  built in 1939, you feel its sophisticated atmosphere. Recently rebranded as an adults-only hotel, the mosaic inset in the ceiling and intriguing art selections welcome you in as you’re ushered to your table.

The view took our breath away. Overlooking the hotel’s signature 205-foot infinity-edge swimming pool, our table was fit for a queen. Specializing in Spanish cuisine with an elevated twist, we settled on the sharing menu and ordered a few handcrafted cocktails to begin with.

bruxo mezcal, fresh watermelon, lime, agave, habanero tincture, me gusta salt

bruxo mezcal, fresh watermelon, lime, agave, habanero tincture, me gusta salt

Octopus with potato cream, smoked paprika and arbequina olive oil

Octopus with potato cream, smoked paprika and arbequina olive oil

Patatas Bravas had an aioli + spicy tomato sauce

Patatas Bravas had an aioli + spicy tomato sauce

dark chocolate ganache, olive oil with toasted bread

dark chocolate ganache, olive oil with toasted bread

pan seared Branzino, potato cream and bilbaina sauce

pan seared Branzino, potato cream and bilbaina sauce

black paella, seared scallops and shrimp with aioli

black paella, seared scallops and shrimp with aioli

Grilled Artichoke

Grilled Artichoke

One word. Octopus. If you love octopus—run to Mareva 1939. The Spanish Octopus with potato cream, smoked paprika and arbequina olive oil was literally a party in my mouth, I’m still dreaming about this dish. Perfectly cooked—this is hands down THE BEST octopus I’ve ever had. I wasn’t sure this dish could be followed, but it kept getting better and better. The Patatas Bravas had an aioli + spicy tomato sauce and the grilled artichoke rounded off the best prelude to our entrees.

The black paella, seared scallops and shrimp with aioli and the pan seared Branzino, potato cream and bilbaina sauce were the stars of the show. Beautifully curated, Executive Chef Sergio Chamizo and his crew create more than a dinner, they create an experience.

The dessert was the cherry on top. The decadent dark chocolate ganache, olive oil with toasted bread finished off the perfect meal. An extravagant dining memory before a night on the town, don’t miss this jewel in the heart of South Beach, Miami. From the front of the house to back—Mareva 1939 knows how to treat their guests. Chef’s kiss!

The post Award-Winning Hot Spot Mareva 1939 Makes Waves On South Beach appeared first on The Source.

Real Estate is a popular business move for hip-hop stars who are looking to diversify their portfolio and create different revenue streams outside the music. Hall-of-fame radio personality/DJ/Entrepreneur Raashaun “DJ Envy” Casey has grown into the face of hip-hop real estate with years of investing success, mentorship, and disruption alongside his longtime partner and highly-successful realtor Cesar “Flippin NJ” Piña. While there is plenty of real estate-driven reality shows on today’s television, it’s about to get an urban cultural injection in 2023.

MORE: DJ Envy Advises Rappers Have Protection When They Move With Their Jewelry

50 Cent and Lionsgate announced the development of an unscripted show starring Envy and Flippin NJ set for A&E last October. The upcoming show will join the incredible 50 Cent television empire that is home to the globally popular Power and BMF franchises and recently signed a new non-exclusive broadcast television deal with Fox last month. In the series, Envy and Flippin’ NJ unveil everything that goes into purchasing, renovating, managing, and maintaining a property.

Over the holidays, The Source got the opportunity to speak with Envy and Flippin NJ about a variety of topics surrounding their upcoming show and answered several fan questions on real estate.

Read the full interview, which has been slightly edited and condensed for clarity, below.

[Bryson “Boom” Paul]: First off. Congratulations to the two of you on the upcoming show, Property Players, which is executive produced by 50 Cent on A&E. Now, early news reports say there was a network bidding war for the show?

DJ Envy: I mean, it was a special thing.  I approached 50 and told 50 what we were doing with the real estate, and he was into it, and he loved the fact that we were helping our culture and really pushing it through, and we started spreading the word. And when 50 gets involved, it’s like no other, and we’ve had a bunch of networks reaching out to do deals, and I trust 50.

So 50 wanted to go with A&E, we met with the executives at A&E, and they’re cool, they understand the culture, they’re actually into what we’re doing, and that was a perfect fit. But yeah, we did have some great companies reaching out, but I think A&E is a great home for us.

How does your show differ from other real estate television shows?

Cesar “Flippin NJ” Piña: So pretty much with us, what makes us different is we’re not very cookie cutter. Whenever you look at these TV shows when it comes to real estate, they’re all very cookie-cutter. You buy an ugly house. You fix it. You flip it. This is how much you put in. Boom, that’s all you see. It doesn’t show you all the other parts of it. Let’s say just on the flipping side: you’re dealing with contractors, you’re getting permits, you’re dealing with the city, you’re dealing with contractors trying to rob you, trying to charge you more than what things cost.

We’re going to show everything that happens behind the scenes that you never see on TV. Besides that, right? Not only we flip houses, we’re also into rental properties. There hasn’t been any TV show that shows you anything about rentals. They don’t show you about evictions. They don’t show you about property management. They don’t show you about dealing with tenants, which is one of the craziest things in the world when it comes to that. You don’t see that. They don’t show you anything when it comes to that.

Then we’re also developers. We also develop properties from scratch. We’re putting up a 50-unit building, a 100-unit building, a unit building right now that you’re going to see that on the show too. So as far as real estate, we do pretty much everything across the board. Besides the seminars too, and helping other people and mentoring other people, regular people, celebrities and stuff like that. You never really see anything like that on TV.

DJ Envy: Yeah, and we not even sure if “Property Players” is going to be the name yet, but I will say this. If you look at everything that we’ve done or everything that 50 does, it’s out of the box, but it represents the culture, right? Whether it’s The Breakfast Club, it was a show that nobody ever seen before that came together. At first, it was like, “What is this?” And then we are 13 years in the Radio Hall Of Fame and all these accomplishments, interviews, and all that.

So, it’s a show that’s going to show real life. It’s going to show two dudes, one from Queens, New York, myself. Cesar from Paterson, New Jersey. Our grind, how we came up. His dad was a taxi cab driver. My dad is a retired police officer. So it wasn’t like we had a lot of money. Wasn’t like we came from wealth, wasn’t like we were rich, but we figured it out. And not only figured out, we’re turning it around and teaching our community.

So you going to see a lot of craziness. You’re going to see a lot of tenants chasing out of the buildings. You going to see people sleeping in our buildings. You going to see poo and doo-doo in some of our buildings. You going to see our kids in the buildings. You going to see my wife running out in some of the buildings. You going to see real-ish. It’s nothing made up. And that’s the best thing about this. We didn’t have to make anything up because it’s just so real.

Do you consider yourselves disruptors in real estate?

Envy: Yeah, I definitely am. When it comes to real estate, I am a disruptor. I’m the type of person that I’m going to go left. I remember when I first started talking about Paterson and Detroit, and I had all these real estate “moguls” telling me, “Yo, stop talking about these areas. You’re flooding the areas. You’re flooding the blocks.” I had so many people mad that I was working with Cesar.

But I tell everybody all the time, I’m good. Financially, I’m okay. And if I could help my people become okay, I’m happy. So if it’s going to mean that I get a smaller pie, smaller part of the pie, I’m good with that. Because I know my next-door neighbor’s looking like me. I know my next-door neighbor came from the same place as I did. I know my next-door neighbor’s going to be able to teach his son, or teach his daughter, teach his wife, teach his mother, teach his father.

My parents been living in the same crib for 45 years. Never invested a dime. And not because they didn’t want to, it’s because they didn’t have the knowledge to. They didn’t know how to. And for them, a lot of people, especially older people, where they put their money? Under the mattress. They don’t want to put it into the banks though, because they just don’t have the knowledge.

And I think about it all the time. If my mom’s invested instead of doing some of the things she did, she would be even more well off. Thank God she has a son that did okay and make sure she’s all right. But I think about that all the time. There’s a million of my moms out there. A million of my pops out there. So I’m just trying to change the narrative a little bit.

What is the show’s main priority?

Cesar: That anything is possible. Anybody could do it. Real estate is one of those things that as long as you’re good with numbers, I don’t care what your background is, if you have a college degree or you’re from the streets, it’s just numbers. And if you’re good with numbers, man, you could also be successful too.

I don’t come from a real estate family. I don’t come from any money. My real estate story is not traditional. I learned about real estate in prison. The guy that came in, I taught him how to bid, and he taught me about real estate. And here I am, 17 years later, we’re more than 3,000 units nationwide.

Envy: Yeah, I just want the communities to know and our people to know that it can be done. My assistant, her name is Mercedes, she’s been working with me for two years and when she first got the job, and we started working during the pandemic, she was living in a house. One-floor house with five people. And she’s living in a room, whatever they call a room in the houses.

And I told her, “You continue to work with me, I’m going to teach you not only how to buy your own house and your first house, but I’m going to show you and guide you through it.” And a year into working with me, she got her own crib, three-bedroom house that she purchased. I think she purchased for like 350. It’s now worth like 490. And that’s what it’s about. Teaching people like us how do it, and how to obtain it.

I’m sure she thought she could obtain it, but I didn’t think she thinks it would be that fast. But she can. Sometimes it’s just a matter of saving. Sometimes just putting your priorities first. But the reason I tell that story is because it’s not just about her, it’s now she’s inspiring the people around her. Showing her people that, “Yo, it can be done.” You know what I mean? And that’s what we trying to do.

Envy, you’ve been in the entertainment industry your entire career, so television isn’t too unfamiliar to you. But Cesar, television is a completely new frontier for you. Did you ever see yourself making a TV show?

Cesar “Flippin NJ” Piña: Not at all.  I’ve been in real estate for 17 years, I met Envy about four or five years ago. He’s like, “Yo, I think you got a great story. Get in front of everybody and let them know what you’ve been through and where you’re at today.” And I was like, it was never in my future or even thought about being a public speaker.  I even dropped the book. My wife says all the time that I could barely read and write. I’m just good at numbers. It went number one, Wall Street, number one. Amazon, number one. Barnes and Noble. And now we got a TV show. I’ve never imagined that we would ever, number one, talk in front of large crowds, drop a book, and now a TV show. I never even thought about that.

Of course, you will feature celebrity guests on Property Players. Cesar, I’d like to ask you what is a common question entertainers ask you about real estate?

Cesar: You know what’s the craziest thing that I have learned with a lot of entertainers and especially in hip hop? A lot of these guys are still renters. And when they tell you that, I’m like, “Bro, but you’ve made millions of dollars. You get paid a couple hundred thousand dollars per show. What the hell going on?” And a lot of athletes too. A lot of these guys they got a lot of money, but they don’t know what to do with it. That’s one of the first things they ask me, “How can I invest? How can I start?”

But then you look at them for a second, and you’re like, “Yo, you got more money than me, bro. You still didn’t start?” That’s one of the things, especially with the older hip hop guys, like 90s, early 2000 hip hop, you’d be amazed that most of those guys, man, they didn’t really invest their money a lot.

Fans of the Breakfast Club have heard you two speak on and have differences of opinion on buying properties you haven’t seen. Envy, you are against it, while Cesar frequently does it. Could you two explain your differences of opinion on purchasing unseen properties?

Envy: Well, if you’re a first-time home buyer or you’re new to this, I would say get to that area. I wouldn’t advise going to any area you haven’t seen. Site unseen are for professionals. It’s for people like Cesar, my partner. Even me I purchase a bunch of properties, I still go and see it because I want to touch it. I want to see what the neighborhood is. I want to see what it looks like. I want to see if it’s close to a pharmacy if it’s close to a dog park, if it’s close to downtown where it is.

So me personally, I check on my properties. If I got to drive to Milwaukee, Detroit, Florida, Paterson, Atlantic City, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to go see it. I’m going to make that time. If you can make time to watch your bum-ass Cowboys, I’m sorry that was personal. If you can make time to watch the Cowboy game or football game, or basketball game, or if you can make time to go to the club or go on vacation, you can make time to invest in your future.

Cesar: Real estate is just numbers. When I first started in real estate before … Well, before we started doing the seminars, my thing was Jersey. Patterson, Passaic, Newark, East Orange, Tri-State area, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, I’m buying everything. I want to control it. But then, once I went around the country and I started seeing different areas, it’s just numbers. If you learn the numbers, you could do it anywhere, and that’s all real estate is.

So now, we’re in New Jersey, we’re in Atlanta, we’re in Florida, we’re in Chicago, we’re in Wisconsin, we’re in Ohio, and I’m not there physically. I go to most of those places at least once a month, but it’s just numbers. As far as a person starting, I always recommend rental property. That’s the easiest thing. Get a rental property. Use your FHA mortgage, and then as you learn the business, then expands to other areas. But as far as being an out-of-state landlord and not really being there, it’s very possible to do. Most people get scared about being a landlord out of state, but as long as you find a good property management company, you’re paying them five to 10%, you don’t even have to be there. You don’t have to deal with none of the headaches.

A lot of people relocated to different areas in the US due to COVID-19. As real estate moguls, what are some other areas that you’ve ventured out into looking into as far as buying properties?

Envy: I mean, landscape right now for real estate for myself is a tough spot. Right now, I’m just stacking because I think with interest rates going up, I think a lot of people are going to lose the homes. I think a lot of people overpriced, overpaid for homes. And I think it’s going to be a situation where a lot of people are going to lose. Similar to the 2008 market, where prices went down and there was all this inventory and the people that made off were the people that was buying all that inventory for cheap. And I think this could be a situation again.

So right now, as far as myself, I’m sitting back and I’m waiting to see what happens. I’m just stacking my ends and I’m waiting because I’m starting to see people losing cars. I’m starting to see people losing watches. I’m starting to see people losing homes. And as fucked up as it is, is that’s when people usually get the richest. And I’m sitting back and I’m relaxing. And hopefully, people are out there saving as well.

This would be the time that you get that house that you always wanted that couldn’t afford. This would be that time. And like I tell everybody else, I purchased the house in Jersey and the house was worth 12.8. I paid 5 for it. Perfect timing. That’s when you want to buy, when you can strike those type of deals. So even when you do become broke, or if something does happen, you always have equity in your home.

Cesar: Right now, it’s something very … You hear the media, they’re telling you recession. The same recession. Again, like we were talking about before, everybody’s shopping for Christmas. They’re telling you recession; they’re telling you that the market’s going to change. But this is the thing: when you look in between the lines, rates go up, interest rates went up, and that affects people, mostly minorities, more middle class. They can’t afford to buy now. So they’re like, all right, the rates are going up, real estate is going to go down.

But then, you see at a company like Chase just bought a billion dollars worth of rental properties. If you look at it, in essence, what’s happening in this country is they’re trying to raise … Or we’re becoming a nation of renters. All the big institutions they’re all buying up single-family rentals. In the next ten years, about 40% to 50% of the single-family properties in the US are going to be owned by big institutions. They’re getting rid of the middle guy, the little guy, for being a homeowner or a landlord, and they’re making that person into a renter.

That’s really what’s going on. They’re scaring you, but yet all the big companies, all the big funds, they’re all buying up all the real estate in the world right now. And they’re like, “Oh, rates are going up. Don’t get into real estate,” but come and rent this house for me for $3,500.” You got to read in between the lines a little bit because rents never go down. They never go backwards. They always go up. The rental side, right now, becoming a landlord, you’re dancing to the bank. You’re going to win regardless.

But I don’t see values going down in 2023. I think it’s the even interest rates going up, which actually they went down a little bit now is having … At the end of the day, what it comes down to is supply and demand, and there’s not enough housing. That’s why it’s holding the value. I don’t really see it dropping like that. And if it drops, you’re going to see it more in that single-family area, maybe a five to a 10% drop in single-family homes. But as far as multi-family, commercial, anything we’re renting, it’s on fire. It’s not going back down.

How can hip-hop further educate people about real estate and generational wealth?

Envy: I think it’s what we’re doing now, having these types of conversations. And not only that, people just can’t rely on one conversation and say I know everything. You know what I mean? It’s like anything else. It’s like, yo, if you got to go to the doctor, right? Nine times out of 10, you just don’t go to one doctor if it’s a major surgery. You go to a couple of doctors, you ask a couple of people, and then from there, you decide if that is the right decision for you. And that’s with everything else.

MORE: Fat Joe, DJ Envy, & Darius Garland Join Pepsi Stronger Together to Celebrate Cleveland High School

Where is the lack of communication when it comes to urban communities with the banks?

Envy: I mean, I can go to Sears and get a washer and dryer easily, you know what I mean? I can go buy a Mercedes-Benz or BMW easily. But now, if I want a business and I’m trying to create something in my community, it’s almost impossible. And a lot of times, a loan amount is less than the BMW, the loan amount is less than the Mercedes. And they’ll say, oh, that’s because we have some equity.

I don’t see them asking that to other cultures. When other cultures are trying to dive into a business, they dive into it. I got a Jewish friend, his name is Ronnie, and he was telling me in his culture, when a small business opens, he says for the first six months, everybody, it’s not law, but they have to go to that business for the first six months. He said there’ll be lines around the corner. And he said the reason that they do that is they want to make sure that business can sustain for six months and that business will be all right for six months. In our community, we don’t do that.

In our community, you open up a store in Dallas where you selling wherever. The first thing people are say is, “Yo, can I get a discount? Yo, can you hook me up? Yo, can you?” And we have to stop doing that. Although I know discounts and getting things cheaper is great, and it feels good. But sometimes we got to understand that that hurts that man’s business because he has staff, he has employees, he has shipping, he has lights, he has electricity, he has water, he has all those things that he has. So we just really have to support our own, and we also have to give people a little leeway.

I mean, leeway is like all businesses are not going to be great. And it’s the meme I see all the time on Instagram or social media where they say, “You go to McDonald’s a thousand times, and 900 of the times, the frosting machine don’t work. But you still go back.” You know what I mean? But this brother has one business, and maybe he had an employee that had a bad day, or he had one day, and maybe the chef was off one day, and then all of a sudden we never gone back to that business, and we just got to make sure we can’t do that. We have to make sure we support our own.

Cesar, you amassed so much success and employed your friends, loved ones, and enthusiasts interested in the industry. How do you remain motivated following the years of accomplishments?

Cesar: It’s just, bro, there’s really no ceiling to reach when it comes to real estate. I’m from Patterson, New Jersey. Patterson, New Jersey alone, has two billion dollars worth of real estate, and that’s a city of 150,000 people. There really is no threshold for me. When I first started, I wanted to have five, ten units, make five, $10,000 a month, hit that, then hit 100, 200, three. There really is no stopping. Now, I tell myself, “You know what? Once I hit 10,000 units, I’m good.” We’ll probably be at 5,000 in the next two years. But for me, I see myself and my daughter taking over the business eventually in the next, maybe … I’m 45, by the time I’m 50, 52, and then I only come to the office maybe twice a week, kind of thing. And then she just takes over the family business, and I just make sure everything’s running correctly.

But yeah, man, there really is no stopping in real estate. It’s one of those things that you could do forever because the thing with real estate is that is one of the things that is not hands-on. When you think about it, if you’re an athlete, you’re a doctor, you’re an attorney, whatever you are, your career’s going to end eventually. Real estate, that rent is due from the fifth to the 10th, forever. When I’m here, or I’m not here, no matter what, that’s coming in. So real estate is like, you’ll keep on adding more units, and once you have your system in play, there really is no stopping.

And lastly, I know you are in the early stages of production, but when can we expect the release of the debut season of Property Players?

Cesar: We’re probably looking at summer 2023 or September 2023.

The post DJ Envy & Cesar ‘Flippin NJ’ Piña Talks Upcoming Real Estate Show, Family Legacy, Disruption & More appeared first on The Source.

Casanova may not be home at the moment, but he is making sure his bae was straight on Valentine’s Day. On Instagram, Cas revealed that he gifted a new Benz, flowers, chocolate, and more to Jazzy.

“Being happy doesn’t mean everything’s perfect, it means you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections,” Casanova got off on Instagram. “I hope that dont go over your head!…. New car, New Business @mint_mobile_auto_spa. Happy Valentine’s Day baby @swaggy.jazzy_2x.”

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Is Casanova headed home? Cas has been sitting behind bars on federal racketeering charges for some time, but perhaps that time is coming to a close. Speaking on The Joe Budden Podcast, Officially Ice gave an update.

I saw Casanova this week, shout out to him,” Ice said. “He sends everybody his love. He said he’s looking to get sentenced soon, and he thinks he’ll be out.”

Ice added, “He’s in Essex. I got somebody over there, and when I went to go see them, he just happened to walk out at the same time.”

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In Nov. 2022, the Brooklyn-born rapper sponsored a Thanksgiving event at Children of Promise in Brooklyn, New York. Children of Promise’s mission is “to partner with children and families impacted by mass incarceration to dismantle the stigma and heal from the trauma plaguing Black and Brown communities.”

The event, which had fellow rapper Jay Critch in attendance, included activities and giveaways for the children of the program. Casanova sent in a video message for the attendees. “Children of Promise we giving back. We don’t stop giving back behind bars. You know what it is.”

In May 2022,  Casanova pleaded guilty to numerous crimes in his Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case.

The post Casanova Gifts His GF New Benz and More for Valentine’s Day: ‘New Car, New Business’ appeared first on The Source.

Today, global one-on-one breaking competition, Red Bull BC One, announces the historic 20th edition of the Red Bull BC One World Final will take place in Paris, France, on October 21 at Roland Garros. Following 60 qualifier events across 30 countries, the Red Bull BC One 2023 Paris World Final will see b-boys and b-girls from around the world battle against the best in breaking for the coveted World Champion title. Tickets are now available HERE. 

Happening on October 21st, the largest, most prestigious breaking competition will bring together world-class b-girls and b-boys from all corners of the globe to perform their best power moves, top rocks, footwork, and more for a chance at the coveted World Champion title.
Following 60 qualifier events held in 30 countries, the Red Bull BC One 2023 World Final will see country champions battling against the best in break to earn their spot in a final line-up of 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls. These breakers will enter an all-out, bracket-style tournament to be crowned Red Bull BC One World Champion.

Breaking boasts a rich history being an integral element of hip-hop, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. As hip-hop continues to progress, breaking is experiencing its own evolution, becoming a globally recognized sport, and transcending its Bronx origins to reach audiences worldwide. Across generations, thriving break communities have pushed the competitive street dance to new heights, shaping how break looks today while nurturing the culture that underpins it.

Last year’s Red Bull BC One World Final took place in New York, honoring the origins of break and hip-hop, with B-Boy Victor (USA) and B-Girl India (Netherlands) beating out the competition and reigning supreme. Both historic wins, B-Boy Victor took the title for his second time and B-Girl India dethroned 2021 Red Bull BC One World Champion, Logistx, to become the youngest b-girl ever to hold the Red Bull BC One title. Red Bull BC One All Star and Red Bull BC One 2022 World Champion, B-Boy Victor, has built a career as one the best breakers on the international scene over nearly two decades. He shares, “Over the next year, it will be important – now more than ever – to uplift breakers and communities that have transformed
this artform into an official sport. While breaking has come a long way, we must honor the pioneers who started the craft.”

The post Red Bull Announces Paris As Host City For World’s Largest Breaking Competition appeared first on The Source.

Is Casanova headed home? Cas has been sitting behind bars on federal racketeering charges for some time, but perhaps that time is coming to a close. Speaking on The Joe Budden Podcast, Officially Ice gave an update.

I saw Casanova this week, shout out to him,” Ice said. “He sends everybody his love. He said he’s looking to get sentenced soon, and he thinks he’ll be out.”

Ice added, “He’s in Essex. I got somebody over there, and when I went to go see them, he just happened to walk out at the same time.”

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In Nov. 2022, the Brooklyn-born rapper sponsored a Thanksgiving event at Children of Promise in Brooklyn, New York. Children of Promise’s mission is “to partner with children and families impacted by mass incarceration to dismantle the stigma and heal from the trauma plaguing Black and Brown communities.”

The event, which had fellow rapper Jay Critch in attendance, included activities and giveaways for the children of the program. Casanova sent in a video message for the attendees. “Children of Promise we giving back. We don’t stop giving back behind bars. You know what it is.”

In May 2022,  Casanova pleaded guilty to numerous crimes in his Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case.

The post Is Casanova Coming Home? Ice from ‘The Joe Budden Podcast’ Provides an Update appeared first on The Source.

Coi Leray enters the cannabis industry with the launch of her first strain, Pink Zushi.

MORE: Coi Leray & Saucy Santana To Perform At NYFW 2022

In collaboration with The Ten Co. and popular cannabis brand Cookies, Leray, 25, announced the debut strain with at the historic Cookies Melrose dispensary in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, January 14. At the event, the Trendsetter creator took photos with fans and offered guests 3.5g 8ths and a 1.5G joint.

The arrival of Pink Zushi has been anticipated by the rising star, who has been promoting the upcoming launch for months. Leray previewed the strain during a pop-up event at last year’s Art Basel in Miami.

On the East Coast, Pink Zushi also became available in New York City. Antidote Soho and Queens Cannabis Clubs, two of the more popular cannabis hubs in NY, were seen reposted on the Pink Zushi Instagram account along with numerous people who had clearly picked up some of that new fire.

MORE: Moneybagg Yo, Coi Leray, Babyface Ray Tapped for 6th Annual Lil WeezyAna Fest

In other news, Coi Leray is currently riding the wave of viral popularity behind her latest single, “Wasted.” Leray’s other single, “Players,” is currently #98 on Billboard Hot 100. Both “Wasted” and “Players” are available on all streaming platforms.

The multi-platinum superstar was recently given her “flowers” for her accomplishments by legendary recording artist/actor Busta Rhymes.

The post Coi Leray Launches 1st Cannabis Strain ‘Pink Zushi’ With The Ten Co. appeared first on The Source.

For over 30 years, through countless chart-topping hits and landmark artists, Death Row Records has stood as one of the music industry’s most iconic and culturally significant platforms.

MORE: Snoop Dogg Says Jay-Z Threatened to End NFL Partnership For Halftime Show

Today, it is under powerful new management. Recently acquired by Snoop Dogg, the infamous musical empire has reemerged as a multi-category cultural platform across music, fashion, entertainment, and cannabis, all united by the blockchain for a new generation. 

Today at 8AM PT, their first cannabis drop will be announced on social media at @DeathRowRecords and @DeathRowCannabis, using an animation of their globally recognized logo and reveal of their branded pre-roll tube. The teaser video was created by artist MylarMen with a soundtrack by Kevin Gilliam aka DJ Battlecat. The 22-second clip is sure to electrify the global fans of the label while being a buzzy beginning of Death Row Records’ domination of the weed nation.

Promising to return Death Row to its former glory, all elements of the former label are being refitted for today’s audience and their evolving tastes. The first drop debuts in limited edition commemorative metallic bags, featuring the iconic hooded prisoner figure seated in an electric chair on the front. Important to note: this is a brand new version of the prisoner that was designed for the launch of the cannabis brand – the main difference being he has one hand broken free and is smoking a fat doobie. 

MORE: [WATCH] F. Gary Gray Teams with Pepsi to Create Trailer for Hip-Hop’s Superbowl Halftime Show

Another especially exciting note for those cannabis connoisseurs is the man responsible for curating Death Row Cannabis. AK – hand-selected by Snoop himself – is a longtime West Coast legacy cultivator and industry insider, best known for his role alongside former partner WizardTrees in sprouting, selecting, and expertly growing the RS11, Studio 54, and Shirazi strains from exotic cannabis breeder DEO. He’s the man behind the IYKYK brand SMKRS, and he is also well known as the VP of Cultivation for TRP LLC, who owns a majority of the Cookies stores across the nation including their facilities in Florida.

AK’s reputation for growing “fire” weed and his palette when it comes to selecting winning strains, keeps people camped out in lines in front of their dispensaries.

Launching in-stores next week, Death Row Cannabis is not one to keep its fans waiting. The brand will soon make an announcement with an exact date and locations for their debut drop.

Select Cookies California stores (Brentwood, San Bernardino, and San Diego) will be the first locations to carry Death Row Cannabis, with other locations and more states to follow soon. 

The post Snoop Dogg Launches Death Row Cannabis appeared first on The Source.

Fashion designers in the British capital are uniting to advance the “An Hour For Ukraine” initiative before Christmas. With support from the archbishop of Canterbury and the mayor of London, British landmarks will switch their festive lights off for an hour at 8pm local time on Wednesday, the darkest day of 2022. These landmarks include Trafalgar Square, Canterbury Cathedral, Lambeth Palace and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, and several other key locations in Paris, New York and Sydney. 

This initiative, organized by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, involves his fundraising platform United24, members of the Ukrainian parliament, fashion and creative platform 1 Granary, and War Against War, an alternative media organization. All of these players are a part of a $10 million fundraising drive to obtain generators to heat hospitals across Ukraine this winter. 

Social media platforms come with their own set of drawbacks, yet they still have the ability to spread news across borders in a powerful way. With a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from Central Saint Martins, the founder of 1 Granary, Olya Kuryshchuk, has pushed for fashion brands to use social media platforms as a way to encourage audiences to turn off their lights for an hour at home from around the world. 

In explaining the message behind this affair, Kuryshchuk said “I am part of the global fashion industry but I am also Ukrainian. Part of my family is still in Kyiv and they don’t have electricity, heating, water, internet, or phone connection along with over 10 million people. The ‘An Hour For Ukraine’ awareness campaign is set up to bring attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in my home country.”

The designers participating include Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault of Knwls, Richard Quinn, Charles Jeffrey, Stefan Cooke, Chopova Lowena, Kiko Kostadinov, Paolina Russo, Masha Popova, Sinéad O’Dwyer, Eftychia Karamolegkou, Lutz Huelle, Ranra, Paula Canovas Del Vas, Jordan Dalah, Duran Lantink, Katie Burnett, Tallulah Harlech, Michael Stewart of Standing Ground, Robyn Lynch, and Goom Heo. 

The post How Fashion is Honoring “An Hour For Ukraine” Initiative appeared first on The Source.

According to Lil Wayne’s personal chef, the rapper fired her after she left in him in Vegas to deal with a family emergency.

Morghan Medlock claims that the ordeal took place while in Las Vegas with Wayne and his team during Memorial Day weekend. She was terminated after alerting Wayne that her son suffered a head injury and she needed to tend to him.

Medlock further alleges that she wanted to fly back to L.A. as soon as possible, however, her flight back was delayed significantly due to Lil Wayne and his entourage allegedly smoking on his private jet. The chef stated that she then booked her own separate flight home to be with her
son, who had been hospitalized as a result of his injury. The chef also alleged that she notified the rapper’s assistant of the situation and urgent timeline and claimed she was asked by Lil Wayne’s team if she was quitting, to which she responded, “No.”

Medlock states that she was subsequently informed that she was being dismissed, with a comment from Wayne stating, “tell Chef Morghan this isn’t going to work,” according to the lawsuit.

She claims her dismissal was inappropriate under California law because she was absent in support of her injured son, and she is suing Lil Wayne for at least $500,000.

In California, a termination is wrongful if the employer-based their decision to fire the employee on the employee’s race, religion, age, sex, or other legally protected personal quality.  To prove a case of wrongful termination, the fired worker generally has to show that the employer’s stated reason
for the discharge was false, and that the termination was for an illegal reason. That illegal reason is motivated by 1. unlawful retaliation, discrimination, breach of contract, or violation of public policy.

Typical evidence that can help demonstrate that you were fired illegally includes:

1. Recorded communications such as emails or voicemails from managers that show harassing or prejudiced behavior. Other materials that could work include handwritten notes, memos, or social
   media posts.
2. Eyewitness accounts from fellow co-workers who can back up your side of the story. An example would be a colleague who saw the boss harass you.
3. Company employment data that shows the company is systemically prejudiced. For example, a lack of people of color in management positions indicates that the hiring partners may be discriminating in
   favor of white employees.

According to the suit, Medlock also accuses Wayne of ‘ conduct with a substantial factor and causing harm to [her] including but not limited to loss of earnings and other employment, benefits, mental anguish, and emotional distress.’

The post Lil Wayne Sued By Chef For Wrongful Termination appeared first on The Source.

Charisma Mufasa, former NFL football star-turned-recording artist who’s best known for the hit song “Out On Bond,” is finalizing plans to open a lions sanctuary following mentorship by big cat expert Mario Tabraue from the hit Netflix series Tiger King.

MORE: Carole Baskin Sues Netflix for Using Her in ‘Tiger King 2’

Five years in the making, Mufasa reached out to Tabraue about the opportunity in 2018. Mufasa is the current owner of a Lion after researching all the information and taking all the necessary steps and precautions to legally acquire the animal. For Mufasa, the sanctuary will bring up-to-date awareness to the nation about an animal he has been fascinated with since he was 12.

The rising hip-hop star displayed his infatuation for the animal in his music video, “Hard,” which saw him rap in a cage surrounded by three roaming lions. “I have never been scared of lions,” he says in a press release. “I feel like they are my spirit animal. I always saw something great in them.”

MORE: Netflix Details ‘Tiger King 2’ as “More Madness and Mayhem”

Mario Tabraue is the current executive of the Zoological Wildlife Foundation. Outside exotic animals, Tabraue currently has a limited series centered around his life in the works with American Horror Story writer Adam Penn. Before Tiger King, Tabraue was known as a  former drug trafficker widely hailed as the inspiration for Al Pacino’s iconic role of Tony Montana in Scarface.

In related news, President Joe Biden is expected to swiftly sign the new legislation, which requires that only certified zoos and universities are allowed to hold lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and other large cats, following its passage in the US Senate this week. The House of Representatives voted for the bill, called the Big Cat Public Safety Act, in July.

The post Rapper Charisma Mufasa Set To Open Lions Sanctuary In Florida appeared first on The Source.

Vans and Timberland are launching their first capsule collection together in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the former label’s iconic “Half Cab.” ‘Half Cab,’ first released in 1992 and Timberland’s sturdy ‘Euro Hiker’ boots were created in 1988. The original silhouette is most known for its firm construction that guarantees performance in cold-weather (great for metropolitan terrain trotters) and its clean earthy appeal. The duo is teaming up on an entirely new hybrid silhouette that’s half skate shoe and half hiking boot, dubbed the Vans Skateboarding x Timberland Half Cab Hiker.

The pair have described the collaboration to be “entirely unique” while still upholding familiarity. The ⅝ cut upper placed on top of a Euro Hiker boot outsole alongside two-tone round boot laces reflects that statement. The ‘Half Cab Hiker’ is made up of canvas, Timberland’s premium leather, and a ReBOTL lining made from at least 50 percent recycled plastic. The shoes also contain padded leather collars, rubber lug outsoles and dual iconography. The colorways available include Wheat and Chocolate/Olive. 

In addition, the ‘Half Cab Hikers’ is a reimagined take on Timberland’s premium 6-inch Waterproof Boots born out of 1973. The Vans team modernized the shoe by taking inspiration from streetwear, workwear and skate aesthetics. The new model stays connected to the Vans aesthetic with an appearance of the signature checkerboard print. More developments can be seen in the all-black updates that mark the release of the Vans Skateboarding x Timberland 6-Inch Boot.

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Infusing the DNA and legacy of these footwear brands unveils a classic yet contemporary take on two treasured silhouettes. The Vans Skateboarding x Timberland collaboration launches on December 20 via select Vans & Timberland retail stores. The collaboration is also available on Van’s website and Timberland’s website. The Half Cab Hikers are priced at $160 USD while the 6-Inch Boot retails for $230 USD.

The post Vans and Timberland Reveal First Collaboration appeared first on The Source.

The founder of Cookies and Vibes Papers Berner sat down with music icon Erykah Badu to discuss their newest strain collaboration “That Badu”. It is a Limoncello cross-bred by Bret from Lemonnade and grown by Mad Cow Genetics. Berner and Badu also discussed mushroom tea and how the different strains affect people when they smoke them.

The post [WATCH] Berner Sits Down With Erykah Badu To Talk New Weed Strain appeared first on The Source.

In 2022, brandy lovers were introduced to a new, super-premium spirit from industry veteran and innovator, Julious Grant. As Chairman and CEO of luxury spirits producer and marketer, The Brand House Group, Grant is leveraging his three decades of experience in C-Suite roles with the world’s most well-known spirits companies – including Beam Suntory, Bacardi and Moët Hennessy to name a few – to bring to market one of the most talked-about spirits debuts of the year. 

Grant’s OMAGE artisanal brandy, which is produced and distilled in California’s prestigious wine-making regions, features a blend of grape varietals selected for their prime ripeness and production methods similar to those used in French cognac, with subtle variations to achieve a perfectly-balanced brandy crafted for enthusiasts across a wide preference spectrum to enjoy. 

“OMAGE pays homage to cognac’s history and artistry, while showing what’s possible with American grapes,” said Grant. “Because of the freedoms brandy offers, we are building on the cognac-making process using a unique blend of high-quality, varietally-expressive grapes and oak variations to enhance flavor while reducing the sweetness typically found in the value brandy entries. OMAGE offers a more natural, authentic spirit produced using similar cognac processes and featuring beautifully balanced flavor profiles that will also resonate with consumers of high-end bourbon, whiskey and scotch.” 

OMAGE integrates advanced distillation in both pot and column stills with aging in charred and toasted American bourbon and French oak barrels, depending on style. Whether enjoying OMAGE VS, VSOP or XO, the result is a refined, approachable, super premium brandy that can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or used as a modern twist in classic cocktails.

OMAGE VS is aged two plus years and is dominated by juicy apple aromas giving way to a nutty, vanilla finish; OMAGE VSOP is aged four plus years and has inviting, bright aromas of fresh citrus and stone fruit complemented by a floral, toasty vanilla oak finish; OMAGE XO is aged six plus years and has a distinct aged character marked by a dried apricot aroma with hints of jasmine and honeysuckle balanced by tempered oak and a smooth caramel finish. OMAGE VS, VSOP and XO retail for $25.99, $35.99 and $89.99 respectively.

Ring in the New Year sipping OMAGE XO neat or on the rocks; or try an American 75, Grant’s reimagined version of the classic French 75, made with OMAGE VS and California sparkling wine. If you love an Old Fashioned, use OMAGE VSOP instead of bourbon for a delicious twist on this American standard. 

OMAGE is available at wines & spirits retailers in major markets nationwide, including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, Boston and Milwaukee, among others. OMAGE can also be purchased at www.shop.omagebrandy.com, Drizly, Instacart and Wine.com for delivery to locations where it is permissible by law to receive alcohol products by mail.

The post A New Spirit Has Emerged: Ring in the New Year with OMAGE California Brandy appeared first on The Source.

After a four-year partnership, Cardi and Reebok are wrapping up their partnership.

Reebok CEO Todd Krinsky stated that the partnership with Cardi has proudly pushed boundaries and have put an emphasis on inclusivity and self- expression. He went on to say, “we’re so grateful for our partnership with Cardi over the years. Having the opportunity to collaborate with someone as passionate, iconic and talented as her is an unmatched experience and will certainly leave a lasting impact on the brand”. Today on her Instagram, Cardi posted her final collection which is the second part of her “Let Me Be…Next Level Energy.” “For my final collection with Reebok, I had to make sure we brought it to the next level. I needed every piece from the slides to the jumpsuit to be as big, bold, and fun as we could make them,” explained the Bronx bred rapper.

“It started with advertisement, and I just loved what they brought to the table,” Cardi B told FN about the partnership. “ I love that they saw my ideas. When I went to their headquarters in Boston, they welcomed me. It was freezing that day and I just had such a good experience and I thought, ‘Why not?’ I didn’t want to team up with someone who doesn’t care about my vision and just the product, but Reebok did.”

The Cardi B x Reebok partnership, which launched September 29,2022, features two styles: the Club C Cardi ($100) and the Cardi Coated Club C Double ($80). The two styles come in three different colors and are available in both women’s and children’s sizing. The Club C Cardi style sold out in the United States in 30 minutes.

“It boils down to two pieces: authenticity and shared values,” said Caroline Machen, Reebok’s Global VP of Marketing, about the ingredients for a successful partnership. “It can’t feel forced. Who Cardi is and what her fans love about her- those are the same values Reebok has. And the, it’s accepting and bringing that message forward into product.”

The post It’s a Wrap for Cardi B and Reebok appeared first on The Source.

Busta Rhymes, Funk Master Flex, Raekwon and The Lox headlined the “Legacy of Hip Hop -Stop the Violence” Concert which took place on Saturday in Staten Island’s St. George Theatre. The concert was put on by the K Woods Foundation and the Waterteam seeking to put an end to the violence in the community following the recent rise in crime.

The head of the K Woods Foundation, Kareem “Kay” Woods, has been very involved with trying to make the area of Park Hill in Staten Island safer for its youth. He recently spearheaded the building of a new basketball court and playground for the neighborhood. “I’m so proud to see the youth in
my neighborhood finally get what they deserve. A nice, clean, safe space to play and enjoy their childhood. I am so blessed to have grown-up here and be in the position to come home and open up new possibilities for learning and growth for so many kids who don’t have the opportunities I did,” said Woods.

If you would like to read more abou the K Woods Foundation and/ or donate, check out the foundation’s GoFund me.

The post New York Hip Hop Legends Take The Stage To “Stop The Violence” appeared first on The Source.

Brooklyn born rapper, Casanova sponsored a Thanksgiving event at Children of Promise in Brooklyn, New York. Children of Promise’s mission is “to partner with children and families impacted by mass incarceration to dismantle the stigma and heal from the trauma plaguing Black and Brown communities.”

The event, which had fellow rapper Jay Critch in attendance, included activities and giveaways for the children of the program. Casanova sent in a video message for the attendees. “Children of Promise we giving back. We don’t stop giving back behind bars. You know what it is.”

In May 2022,  Casanova pleaded guilty to numerous crimes in his Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case back in May.

The post Casanova Gives Back From Behind Bars appeared first on The Source.

Ty Dolla $ign informed his fans of his bad skateboarding accident by posting a picture from his hospital bed to his Instagram. He later then explained the picture in his Instagram stories: “They just let me out. Had a skating accident and was knocked out for a few but I’m back praise God…” The West Coast rapper went on to thank pro skater, Dashawn Jordan for transporting him to the hospital and his daughter for staying by his side.

His friends such as Fat Joe, Big Sean, and 2 Chainz extended their support and offered words of healing online. Ty Dolla $ign has recently dropped two singles, Friends” featuring Lil Durk and Mustard, and “Champions” with Wiz Khalifa.

The post Ty Dolla $ign Hospitalized After Skateboarding Accident appeared first on The Source.

Hip-Hop is hitting the high seas.

Rock The Bells, the global platform dedicated to elevating Hip-Hop culture from its roots to the modern day, announced today the “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience” in partnership with Sixthman, the industry leader in immersive music and lifestyle festivals at sea.

Setting sail from Miami to the Bahamas on November 13 – November 17, 2023, the cruise is the first of its kind, offering an all-inclusive four-day, four-night Hip-Hop experience aboard the Norwegian Pearl.

MORE: LL COOL J Joined by Ice Cube, Rick Ross, Lil Kim and More for ‘Rock The Bells’ Festival

The brand is bringing its annual Rock The Bells Festival – a dynamic, day-long celebration curated by Rock The Bells founder LL COOL J in his hometown, Queens, NY, featuring live performances by iconic artists – to sea. The cruise is one of many announcements the company has planned to honor and celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary and salute its icons. 

The full lineup will be announced at the top of the new year, but attendees can expect dozens of performances and intimate experiences from some of Hip-Hop’s dopest classic MCs, DJs and producers. Rock The Bells will be taking over every corner of the ship with pool deck parties presented by world renown party rocker Kid Capri, MC and DJ battles, rap karaoke, interactive graffiti, live podcasts, roller skating, open mic nights, movie screenings, masterclasses, art galleries, custom grillz, tattoos, basketball and The Trill Mealz Food Court. 

The vacation kicks off with a special “Welcome to Miami” performance by Miami’s own Trick Daddy and Trina on the ship’s pool deck. Attendees that purchase their cabin before January 18, 2023, will be invited to hang out with Trick Daddy and Trina at a private cocktail happy hour prior to setting sail. Guests that purchase before January 18, 2023 can start a FREE 3-Month subscription to SiriusXM to tune into LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells Radio on Channel 43 and on the SXM App.

MORE: LL Cool J Revisits Beastie Boys’ “Get It Together” Feat. Q-Tip On SiriusXM’s Rock the Bells Radio

“At Rock The Bells, we believe classic and timeless Hip-Hop deserves to be served on a silver platter and we can’t wait for Hip-Hop lovers across the globe to be immersed in the culture for five days, on five stages,” said Rock The Bell’s President James Cuthbert. “We’re excited to partner with Sixthman, who bridges the gap between artists and fans, creating unforgettable guest experiences.”

Rock The Bells proudly serves Hip-Hop’s legends and champions the culture by providing opportunities to spotlight its icons through content, commerce, and experiences. Since 2001, Sixthman has successfully led the charge in creating special moments at land and sea, and this partnership marks the first time the company has produced a classic Hip-Hop cruise.

“We could not be more excited to help play host to the first-ever Rock The Bells Festival at Sea,” said Sixthamn VP of Events, Marketing & Community Jeff Cuellar. “From music to food, art, dancing, fashion, and history, this cruise will be a fully immersive experience and I can’t think of a better way to keep the celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary going than Rock The Bells taking over their own ship on the ocean.”

The cruise will sail from Miami and make two stops in the Bahamas at Freeport and Nassau. Pricing ranges from $1,099 to $5,199. Just in time for the holiday season, attendees can book now for themselves or as a gift to others. More detailed information can be found at https://www.rockthebellscruise.com.

A full slate of performers, activities and other details will be made available at the top of the new year. 

The post Rock The Bells & SIXTHMAN Announces First-Ever Hip-Hop Cruise appeared first on The Source.

Moises “B-boy Moy” Rivas, is a legend in the world of breakdancing. He most recently helped to bring breakdancing to the 2024 Olympics as a competing sport. Before breakdancing hits the world stage, B-boy Moy has partnered with Monster Energy on the Dream Circles series to bring awareness to the art form. 

Monster Energy’s Dream Circles four-part series premiered on October 26. Their third episode is set to release tomorrow, November 23, where we meet fellow Monster sponsored athlete and breaker extraordinaire, Miguel “Gravity” Rosario.

Rosario, respectively known as “Gravity” in the breakdancing world, started as an all-around gymnast at a young age. At sixteen he had already won state championships, and regional championships and taken home over twelve first-place medals. The Long Island City native admits that he started to get bored with winning and being inspired by the 2004 dance film You Got Served, he began to explore the world of breaking.

A complete full-circle moment, Gravity is now making his way to the 2024 Olympics as one of the most influential breakers in the world. 

“That was the foundation to my breaking. Because of that discipline, I was able to bring that into breaking and I elevated faster than anybody can imagine…what took people ten years to accomplish, I was doing in three. If it wasn’t for gymnastics, I would not have been able to set the bar” says Gravity. 

“He’s actually the first one I’ve seen do a roundoff back double in a battle, dude is light on his feet and he’s not afraid,” exclaims breakdance legend Ken Swift. 

Miguel is one of twelve breakers sponsored by Monster Energy. Check out his episode on November 23 showcasing Gravity’s transition from a championship gymnast to a world-renowned breaker set to take the Olympics in 2024.

Check out Dream Circles edition with breakdancing legend Bboy Moy below.

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post [WATCH] Hip Hop History Month: B-Boy Moy Highlights Breakdancing Culture for Monster Energy’s Dream Circles Series appeared first on The Source.

Black Cannabis Magazine is thrilled to announce its powerful presence and participation in this year’s MJBizCon. Founded in 2011, the annual conference has grown from a grassroots movement to a professional B2B focused four-day event with 35,000+ attendees and 1400+ vendors.

On Wednesday, the 16th, MJBiz, in partnership with Black Cannabis
Magazine/BCM, presents a panel of industry pundits that will break down
the legacy to legal conversation and how BIPOC operators and industry
participants can build and grow. Haze Palmer – aka Hazey Taughtme -,
Founder of Black Cannabis Magazine, will moderate the panel to
address Building on 2%: The State of BIPOC Cannabis and the
Opportunities Ahead. Joining him are Bonita Money, Founder and
Executive Director of NDICA/National Diversity & Inclusion Cannabis Alliance, and Freeway Rick Ross, Founder at LA Kingpins. Panelists include Jamal Weathers, CEO at Kush Boys Worldwide, and LaQuita Honeysucker, Civil Rights & Community Action at UFCW, United Food & Commercial Workers International Union. The first all Black Panel will be held in South Hall Upper, 227, 2:30-3:15.

On Wednesday evening, BCM is hosting a private mixer sponsored by
Gumbo, a NY legacy brand that recently partnered with the global cannabis
brand, Cookies. “I’m proud to align with MJBiz and so many brilliant industry leaders and look forward to celebrating a bit. We’re here to educate business leaders on the power of entrepreneurship in black and browncommunities,” says Haze. “To have true social equity, you first need an equal share of voice. Social Equity is not a free ride. It’s about providing resources to members of communities who have been disproportionally impacted by the policies of cannabis prohibition. And that’s what we’re doing MJBiz!”

On Thursday the 17th, expo attendees can attend The Diversity Village
Takeover Experience, sponsored by Cookies, THC Metaverses Boycott Shitty Weed, PolitiKan Broadcasting, We Are The Cultures History

W.A.T.C.H. THE CULTURE and Haze Hope Center. Diversity Village is a
Metaverse that hosts boutique-style showrooms for cannabis brands and
companies to improve the consumer experience with cannabis products of
black and brown operators and entrepreneurs. There is also an outside
theater to hold panels, lectures, and concerts. Users may also visit the
Gallery, which will have educational materials, the latest news, and previous issues of Black Cannabis Magazine.

These B2B focused panels bring forth established industry professionals to
address the following:  Women Bosses in Cannabis, Black Cultivators, Web3
& Metaverse, Supply Chain, Hip Hop’s impact on Cannabis, Social Equity in
Cannabis, and Partnerships.

Here are the presenting speakers and companies you will see at Diversity
Village Takeover at MJBizConexperience: 
 
● Redman – United Empowerment Party 
● Xzibit – Napalm Brands 
● Trick Trick – Heavyweight Heads 
● Karim Butler – Gumbo Brands 
● Felix Murray – GasHouse
● Chris Ball – Ball Family Farms 
● Bonita Money -National Diversity & Inclusion  Cannabis Alliance
● Alex Major – Gumbo Brands
● John “JO” Pratt – Riddlz
● Everett Smith – Presidential
● Sephida Artis Mills  – United Empowerment Party 
● Bryant Mitchell – Blaqstar Farms 
● Jason McKnight – Greenlabel RX 
● Donte West –  Last Prisoner Project 
● Hassim Robinson – Winner Circle Genetics
● Margeaux Bruner –  Holi Smokeables
● Kebra Smith Bolden – Noir En Verte
● Celeste Rodriguez – Acre 41 
● Marlo Richardson – Greenwood & Co 
● Victoria Williams – Star Buds
● Dr. Shalair Armstrong –  Lucasville
● Sakara Barnes – Four Twenty 
● Danny Maldonado, Ricardo Hernandez of THC Group 

● Colin Fraser – Uplin,
● Maggie Wilson – Fruit Slab, 
● JM Balbuena  – Boycott Shitty Weed
● Juan Aguirre – NDICA
● Jay Mills – The Green Life Report
● Eva Silva  – NDICA
● Damien “Dthefuture”  Smith  W.A.T.C.H. 
● Mang-yee Reverie – Flow 107.1
● Jason Washingon, Kulture

These panels will be held at MJBiz Central – South Upper Hall, Booth 8848.

On Friday the 18th, Black Cannabis Magazine will be hosting a meet and
Greet with “D the Future” at Cookies Flamingo. This is your chance to
connect with Cookies Brands like Gashouse, Pure Blanco, and Gumbo with
appearances by Luka Brazi, Felix Murry, Alex Major, Hazey Taughtme, Majix and other special guests. The address is 4240 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103
 
Black Cannabis Magazine looks forward to continued growth and increased
activity and achievements in social equity in the cannabis industry. As their
platform expands its reach, they embrace providing increasing opportunities to the communities and individuals they serve.
 
You can view Diversity Village panels  live here on Thursday Nov 17
: https://www.diversityvilla.ge

The post Black Cannabis Magazine Partners With MJBizCon, Cookies To Promote Cannabis Business Diversity appeared first on The Source.

Nowadays we hear people boast stories of their perseverance with metaphors as “got it out the mud” or “started from the bottom”, but some have seldom experienced real poverty. Donius “Woodrow” Woods was born to teenage parents in the Mississippi Delta which is poorest region in the poorest state in the United States.

It is also the birthplace of media queen Oprah Winfrey, as well as rappers Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, and Nate Dogg.

Although the Mississippi Delta has a rich history of musical icons, it is still a place that lacks the resources to be a progressive region and consistent factor in the entertainment industry as a whole.

“Several people made it out of my region, but many don’t come back or even represent our home so it’s still in dire need. You gotta be a hustler to thrive where I’m from because ordinary methods won’t suffice. I never paid attention to what other people had or did, I was always grateful for what I had and made the most of it.”

Woods continued, “Less resources meant I had to be more creative and outwork many of my peers. I work like my life depends on it because the life I envision for my family and generations to come, depends on it.”

In a nutshell, Woods truly started from scratch which gives him a unique ability to get the most out of often limited and difficult circumstances.

Mr. Woods has helped rebrand the careers of Lil Zane, Young Dro, Jhonni Blaze. While being instrumental in the early career stages of Money Man, Tokyo Jetz, MoneyBagg Yo, and Big Boogie to name a few.

Along with management the Mississippi go getter has curated stages and events for SXSW, A3C, Rolling Loud and CIAA, that plays an instrumental role of connecting audiences to emerging talents such as Lil Baby, Meg Thee Stallion, Duke Deuce, BeatKing, Derez Deshon, T Rell, and others. While utilizing partnerships w/ Belaire, WingStop, Rap Snacks, DJ Holiday, and Kim SoMajor.

READ MORE: DJ Holiday’s Hollipalooza Austin Edition Showcased Tons of New Talent During SxSw Music Week

Woods maintains he has accomplished many goals independently without major label support or resources.

“Elliot Stroud of Atlantic Records saw my value as a music executive and gave me a shot at Grand Hustle Studios here in Atlanta. Although I never accepted a position with the label, a lot of work was outsourced through me during that tenure. I amassed a plethora of knowledge from the late great Bankroll Fresh’s father “K Rich” while negotiating deals for the posthumous album release In Bank We Trust,” shared Woods.

Music execs from Leon Porter, Keith Fergus, B. Rich, to Wade B., along with Grammy-winning songwriter “London Jae”, Grammy-winning engineer “Fletcher Vaughn”, RIAA Certified Platinum producers FKi, have all collaborated with Woods on special projects.

Woods is also known to have close ties with music’s heavy hitters Zaytoven, 808 Mafia, BeatMonsters, Yung Lan, Go Grizzly, Quay Global, and SephGotTheWaves, securing his position on the production side.

Producers like FloweBeatz, the late great Denali The Don, and others have been early collaborators of the Mississippi native.

Hardwork and dedication to the craft led Woods to gain placements for projects with YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Kodak Black, Yo Gotti, Boosie, PeeWee Longway, JayDaYoungan, BlocBoy JB, B Simone, Cuban Doll, Karlae, Motown Records, 300 Ent. And although these artists are signed to major labels, Woods executed successfully working on the independant side of the music business.

Woods is also a vital part of the artists marketing plan which includes his work as a publicist through his company The Umbrella Firm.

Not many can say they are involved in both the creative process as well as the business aspect of an artist’s career while negotiating deals with the likes of Shawn Barron (Motown), Chris Jones (Atlantic Records), Norva Denton (Warner Records), Lester Pace (Roc Nation) Jason Zerden (Create Music Group/Stem), Tuma Basa (YouTube), and Amber Grimes (LVRN).

The US Army Vet’s resourceful nature and work ethic in an everchanging music industry has clearly thrived despite setbacks from harsh circumstances that come with working in genre of Hip Hop.

Nevertheless, with “A Hustler’s Prayer” and Faith, Donius “Woodrow” Woods has put in his time and effort to make something out of nothing.

Currently you can catch up with Woods via his company,
Goat Mode Productions and watch him starring in the Lil Boosie Biopic, My Struggle and Andre Rison’s Biopic Wide Open.

Continue the conversation on social media.

The post A Hustler’s Prayer: Donius “Woodrow” Woods Shares His Journey of Making Something Out of Nothing appeared first on The Source.

Krystal, the South’s original quick-service restaurant chain, today announced the unveiling of its new Side Chik chicken sandwich. 

To help launch the campaign, Krystal partnered with social media influencer Brittany Renner to let everyone know that you don’t have to ditch your main chicken sandwich, they just wanna be your Side Chik. The new Side Chik sandwiches are the first new menu item since partnering with 2 Chainz as its Head of Creative Marketing. 

MORE: 2 Chainz and Lil’ Wayne Release ‘Money Maker’ Visual

“At Krystal, we are here to disrupt the QSR landscape and are excited to be working with Brittany Renner as she has a pulse on the culture.” Said 2 Chainz, Head of Creative Marketing. “We know everyone has a favorite already, so instead of fighting to be your go-to, we’re happy to be your little something on the side.”

The sandwiches feature premium, white meat chicken and a bold & crispy crunch that comes in three distinct variations for lunch and dinner – BBQ Bacon Cheese with crispy smoked bacon and tangy BBQ, Pimento Cheese, and Classic featuring a slather of Duke’s Mayo and pickle. For breakfast, the Side Chik is available in Classic and Pimento Cheese on a biscuit. And like all things Krystal, the sandwiches are small enough that you can go for two or three in one sitting. 

“I’m real, I’m honest, and I’m funny. So I was happy to partner with Krystal since they’re a brand  willing to be all those same things.” Said Brittany Renner. “We are combining food, fun, and culture into one big moment for this staple establishment. Get ready for some surprises!”

MORE: Kodak Black Shoots His Shot at Brittany Renner During Rolling Loud Interview

The creative campaign from Atlanta-based marketing agency, Chemistry, will kick off with Renner and feature fully integrated creative executions on October 3 across TV, Social, Out-of-Home, and more, with all of it focused on letting people know they don’t have to ditch their main chicken sandwich because Krystal just wants to be your Side Chik. 

For more information, please visit www.krystal.com and follow on social via IG and Twitter.

Watch the commercial for the new Side Chik campaign starring Brittany Renner below.

The post 2Chainz & Krystal Launches ‘Side Chik’ Campaign With Brittany Renner appeared first on The Source.

Entrepreneur Blakk Tatted, the founder and CEO of Blakk Smoke, gained notoriety after he sold more than $1 million worth of goods in just nine hours.

Jayda Wayda, Devin Haney, Jermaine Dupre, Jazzy Pha, and Glo-Rilla all supports the brand and help bring awareness that Blakk Smoke is the way to go. Glorilla most recently supported him and praised his hookah pens, which resulted in the collaboration with her most recent video, “Tomorrow 2,” featuring Cardi B.

“Working with Glorilla has been amazing and I appreciate the opportunity,” said Blakk. “The fact my first 2 product placements are with Yo Gotti and Glorilla feat. Cardi B, I can’t wait to see what happens next.” 

In addition, Blakk Smoke and Yo Gotti have another music video product placement that just dropped last night.

It is rare that you can enjoy vaping or smoking without harmful chemicals such as nicotine & tobacco, and it’s difficult to avoid the side effects of headaches, coughing, and itchy throats due to nicotine and tobacco. Blakk changed the game by creating his own hookah pen without using tobacco and nicotine.

“If you connect with your audience and show people you care and are humble, and appreciate their support, then the support and sales will come.” 

Blakk has produced a cure with this brand. The brand’s website claims that hookah enthusiasts can take pleasure in the many tastes without experiencing the “lightheadedness, headaches, and scratchy throats” connected with tobacco and nicotine. The retractable pens are available in a variety of flavors, such as blueberry mint, sweet bubble gum, tropical fruit, and others.

“If you connect with your audience and show people you care and are humble, and appreciate their support, then the support and sales will come.” 

– Blakk Tatted

Blakk Smoke has previously been featured in INC Magazine, Black Enterprise, and Yahoo News.

The post Blakk Smoke Hookah Pens Celebrates Placement in “Tomorrow 2” Video Starring GloRilla and Cardi B appeared first on The Source.

West Coast hip hop legends Ice Cube and Cypress Hill announced as the headliners among a roster of classic rap acts for the upcoming annualHigh Hopes concert series in Ontario, California on November 19, in association with BobbyDee Presents and Dr. Greenthumb. The concert lineup includes Method Man and Redman, Xzibit, and The Doggpound.

MORE: Twitter Declares Ice Cube’s “No Vaseline” Best Diss Track Of All Time

“This is a legendary and iconic lineup,” said B-Real of Cypress Hill, aka Dr. Greenthumb in announcement press release. “High Hopes has curated the smoker’s ultimate playlist, and it’s a platform that I’ve supported since day one. This is the beginning of a new movement that Chang and I started with our Smoke Out. We’re excited to roll out even more surprises this year and in the future.”

High Hopes Concert Series features world-class artists, iconic headliners, and some of the most influential trailblazers in the music industry, coming together to support cannabis culture and celebrate the legalization of weed.

“We’re still in prohibition,” said Chang Weisberg, High Hopes Co-Promoter. “We have to keep up the fight for decriminalization, common sense tax reform, and safe access. High Hopes is a platform for music and medicine.”

MORE: Ice Cube Praises Lil Wayne, Says His “Metaphors Are Otherworldly”

High Hopes will begin at 7pm PT and end at 12am PT. General tickets are on sale now. Purchase tickets here.

In other news, it was announced this week that Ice Cube has taken over as CEO of his co-founded 3-on-3 basketball league, Big 3. Cube will be replacing recently appointed CEO, Chris Hannan, who was given the position February 2021. The BIG3’s Monster Energy Celebrity Game will be broadcast on CBS this Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. 

The post Ice Cube, Cypress Hill, Meth & Red Announced As ‘High Hopes’ Headliners appeared first on The Source.

Following the announcement of his Atlanta Hawks partnership, Scotty ATL unveils a brand-new album, Candler Road to Melrose. Last week the 37-year-old shared he will create through partnership custom grillz for the Hawks schedule release representing different NBA teams.

On Friday, Candler Road to Melrose released via Cool Club/ Cinq Music Group, which finds the southern emcee exploring the journey and path that led him to his highly successful grillz business on Melrose Ave.   

Scotty ATL, known for his distinct drawl and vernacular, keeps it fresh while switching flows over 13 tracks with production from super producer Zaytoven, DJ Burn One, DJ Tune and more. 

READ MORE: [WATCH] Big Boi Releases “Do Ya Best” Video Feat. Sleepy Brown and Scotty ATL

Candler Road to Melrose arrives as the follow up to Scotty’s trio of  singles released earlier this year. “Go Twin,” “LA Care,” and “Nomo Heaux,” featuring Young Dro, all appear on the album. 

For collaborations the East Atlanta native taps Curren$y and G Perico on “Spike Lee,” Sleepy Brown on “Remember Chad,” and Iamsu! on “Night Vision.” While Big K.R.I,T. joins on “Chosen & Frozen,” and Ace Hood flexes on “Congratulations.”

The successful entrepreneur and artist continues to build his craft and financial freedom with a new project and expanding his company, Grillz By Scotty.

In recognition of #BlackBusinessMonth this August, Scotty ATL spoke with the Source’s Kim SoMajor about business after COVID-19, new ventures with PUMA, The Atlanta Hawks, and much more.

When and what sparked you to start a grillz business? 

I’ve always worn grillz since I was in high school. I made a name for myself in Atlanta as a rapper. One of my old friends lost his job as a dental assistant. He wanted to do grillz. At first I was just helping him and then it got more serious. 

How did it serve as another option outside of your rap career? 

It has allowed me to make extra income to support my dreams and provide for my family. It has also given me a bigger platform to share with the world. 

How did your business adjust during the stay-at-home orders and how is it now?

I adjusted by decreasing staff and increasing my knowledge of online businesses. Now we do both in store and online. I have a store in Atlanta on Candler Rd. and another store on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles. 

With your business, you are providing an opportunity for other people too. What has been a definitive moment for you that reaffirmed that you made the right move in starting it? 

Everyday I think about that. Helping my dad move out of the projects and give him a job is the biggest. 

What’s next for Grillz By Scotty? 

Major brand collaboration opportunities on the way. New designs. New moves for the culture. Maybe more locations… 

How did you know that  was the next move for you? 

I knew it because I started making money everyday and that was my goal from the beginning. 

Talk about your new grillz design and how you’re elevating your business?

I have newly designed colored grillz are out now. They’re limited edition and very unique. I’m more than a grill maker, I’m a grill designer. You haven’t seen these before. 

Congratulations on your partnerships, to watch your dedication and growth in rap and  business is very inspiring. What do these success-building opportunities mean to you? 

My role as an influencer in this project was to capture ATL culture through my eyes. I had an amazing time and I’m so proud of myself and our company. 

You can hear the new release from Scotty ATL below. 

Continue the conversation on social media.

The post Scotty ATL Unveils New Album ‘Candler Road to Melrose’ Talks Atlanta Hawks Grillz Partnership appeared first on The Source.

According to a confirmed report from TheBalst, NBA star Dwyane Wade has filed a court petition to legally change the name and gender of his transgender daughter, Zaya Wade.

According to documents obtained from the L.A. County Court, Wade is asking a judge to officially change his child’s name from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. Zaya is a transgender, however, being that she is under 18 years of age, her father has to be the one to officially request the change in court.

The petition mentions Zaya’s mother, Siohvaughn Funches, but says that Dwyane Wade has full authority to make the decision. “Pursuant to the terms of the Final Custody Judgment, (Wade) has full authority to make decisions on behalf of the petitioning minor, and he is not required to receive consent from Ms. Funches-Wade. As a courtesy, Ms. Funches-Wade has received notice of this petition,” the document reads.

In the filing, Wade asks that the court legally issues a decree recognizing that the minors’ gender is changed to “female. It also specifically cites the reason for the change as “to conform with gender identity.”

The multi-millionaire athlete admits he is shocked by his daughter’s confidence in this area, saying, “I went years without telling my chef that I don’t like cilantro on my burger — as an adult, it took me years to have the confidence to say that…My daughter, at 8 years old, had the confidence to say, ‘This is who I am. This is who I want to be.'”

The petition is now pending with the court.

The post Dwyane Wade Files To Legally Change Gender, Name Of Transgender Daughter appeared first on The Source.

Tevin Campbell may be known for his hit 90s song “Can We Talk” and this week, he definitely talked, opening up about what it was like to be a queer man in the R&B industry in the 90s and how it has changed from then to now.

In an interview with host Janine Rubenstein on the PEOPLE Every Day podcast, Campbell confirmed that he identifies as a gay man, something that likely did not come as a surprise to many of his fans as earlier this year, he tweeted (and later deleted) the phrase “Tevin is…” followed by a rainbow flag emoji.

Campbell discussed some of the struggles of being a child celebrity, noting that he never really hid his sexuality from anyone close to him, saying that “I didn’t hide anything about me. I didn’t try to act a certain way or anything. You just couldn’t be [gay] back then.”

He explained that many of his songs were just R&B songs, but the industry tends to make songs heteronormative.

He noted that despite growing up in the public eye, that he was lucky to have made it while claiming that a lot of child stars “don’t make it.” He then went on to note that “a lot of us do,” saying that the fact that he has is one of the reasons that he has embraced himself. (Campbell first began his music career at age 12.)

He noted that when he did Hairspray in 2005, it was the first time that he was around a significant number of LGBTQ people who were living their best lives and that’s how he became more comfortable with his sexual identity.

He said that major stars such as Lil Nas X and Frank Ocean have helped increase LGBTQ representation in the R&B and music industries in general, but still noting that there is a lot of work when it comes to representation and acceptance in the industry.

He also dished on some of the general industry turmoil including a decades-old semi-beef with Usher, who was also mentioned as a possible artist to sing “Can we Talk” back in the 1990s. (He said that he and Usher are on good terms and there are no hard feelings.)

He also said that he likes watching the “Can we Talk” challenges on TikTok today and that he is excited about the future of R&B, citing artists such as Frank Ocean and Jasmine Sullivan.

He left listeners with the parting advice to love themselves, both the good and the bad.

The full episode can be listened to on iHeart at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-people-every-day-76003809/episode/rb-star-tevin-campbell-opens-up-101008105/.

The post Tevin Campbell Discusses Struggles and Triumphs of Being a Gay Man in the R&B Industry appeared first on The Source.

It started, as so many stories do today, with a phone call about COVID-19. The devastating effect of the virus was being felt by the music industry. Touring was impossible, and this hit Black and independent promoters with a devastating impact. But it was from these conversations that the Black Promoters Collective was born.

With the murder of George Floyd, and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, the BPC recognized the importance of pooling together resources and knowledge to drive change in the music industry. A step that became not just necessary, but essential.

The BPC felt that the shared experience of Black musicians and promoters, their successes and their voices, could no longer be ignored by a biased industry. Troy Brown, Chief Marketing Officer of the BPC said “It’s time for us, as the culture, to buy back the culture. We need to go to these artists and say, ‘Here’s what we can do for you that some of these other big corporate entities can’t.’”

Now, just a little over two years later, the BPC grossed $60 million in their first quarter by putting on some impressive tours. The Collective headed up a 30-city tour for New Edition, called The Culture Tour featuring Charlie Wilson and Jodeci.

Another tour for Maxwell would feature Anthony Hamilton and Joe across 25 cities. Closing up an astounding quarter with a six-day tour featuring the legendary Patti LaBelle.

Off the back of this success, BPC is now promoting a 23-city tour for Mary J. Blige, the Good Morning Gorgeous arena tour. The tour will feature support from Ella Mai and Queen Naija.

The BPC is clearly starting to claim its share of the market. Working collectively, they sought to buy tours. Their collective work and expertise allow them to bid for entire tours, rather than smaller single dates or venues.

Their combined market weight, bringing together expertise from members from Detroit; Atlanta; Houston; Raleigh, N.C.; New York/New Jersey, Oakland and California, allows them to compete on a level playing field with giants like AEG and Live Nation.

History doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme. This is not the first time that Black promoters have joined forces to confront the deep systemic white bias of the live music industry.

In 1998, a $700 million lawsuit was filed against multiple promoters and booking agencies by a group calling themselves The Black Promoters Agency. The lawsuit claimed antitrust and civil rights violations, but would be lost in 2005.

By contrast, the BPC continues to make inroads into the live music industry. With a mindset that firmly believes in reclaiming and buying back culture that was theirs in the first place, the BPC uses their Collective economics and business knowledge to their advantage. 

The BPC has a mission of inclusion, and they mean it. They seek to work across multiple genres with a range of artists. Sticking to their mission, the BPC has managed to bring an increasing number of Black-owned businesses, as well as people of color, into the live music industry. And not just artists, but everyone from the caterers to the vendor partners. An action that, according to BPC’s Troy Brown, “Doesn’t happen in other, bigger corporate outfits.”

The BPC is making huge strides towards achieving their mission. By making the industry more inclusive, the BPC ensures a world that respects the work of Black promoters and provides artists and fans with options that are not just Live Nation and AEG.

By. Marty Most

The post Buying Back The Culture – How The Black Promoters Collective Is Changing The Face Of Live Music appeared first on The Source.

Kanye West, Lil Uzi Vert and Steve Lacy  share a Gemini affection and appear to have gotten  matching tattoos.

Alternative R&B artist Steve Lacey took to social media late Tuesday night to share a photo of the trio posing for a mirror selfie.

 Popular Los Angeles based tattoo artist Mez Afram is holding the camera as Ye, Lil Uzi and Lacy extend their left arms for the flick. A close up of the photo shows off the ink that reads “We Here Forever Technically.”

READ MORE: Kanye West Is Being Sued By High-End Fashion Rental Company

This comes after Kanye Ye celebrated the split of his soon-to-be ex wife Kim Kardashian from comedian Pete Davidson.  In a now deleted post, Ye’s IG featured a photoshopped cover of the New York Times that said Davidson is “dead at age 28” seemingly in response to their break up.

Do you think this trio has a future collaboration in the works or the matching tattoos are random?

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post Kanye West, Lil Uzi Vert and Steve Lacy Pop Up With Matching Tattoos appeared first on The Source.

Popular Las Vegas hotspot, Drai’s Beach Club, is taking their party to the next level with the announcement of adding of video game cabanas to their beach club with the new gaming experience by XSET, the world’s most diverse, innovative, socially conscious gaming.

MORE: T-Pain Reveals He Makes More Money Playing Video Games Than He Has From Music

First-ever gaming cabanas, gamers can now play their favorite video games in cabanas equipped with gaming consoles, enormous screens, and advanced sound-systems. Intersecting gaming with music, sports, fashion, art and culture, the innovative cabanas are available throughout the summer.

“Our goal is always to give our guests something unique that can’t be found at other clubs,” said Dustin Drai, Vice President of Marketing and Entertainment for Drai’s Beachclub • Nightclub. “These XSET cabanas are a perfect complement to the Drai’s Beachclub experience where guests can enjoy music, drinks, food and cutting edge gaming all in the comfort and privacy of these luxurious cabanas.”

“XSET is about culture and lifestyle, both which include gaming, music, and fashion,” says Clinton Sparks, XSET Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer.  “Partnering with Drai’s to bring a first-of-its-kind gaming experience to their venue, while continuing to intersect music and gaming was a no brainer for both of us. Now, you can be at the world’s greatest party playing your favorite game while listening to your favorite DJ’s or artists performing live.”

MORE: EA Sports Bringing Back College Football Video Games

XSET partnered with Drai’s Las Vegas to launch two new gaming cabanas wrapped with XSET walls, complete with 85” monitors and custom XSET consoles for VIPs to game while enjoying the experience of a club atmosphere. On the ongoing mission to merge and intersect cultures, XSET makes history again by being the first gaming organization to partner with a prominent club and being the first organization to have a gamer partnership at a club.

Drai’s Beachclub is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday – Sunday and transforms to Drai’s Resort Pool, open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., from Monday – Thursday. Drai’s Nightclub is now open from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday – Sunday.

The post Las Vegas’ Drai’s Beach Club Debuts Video Game Cabanas With XSET appeared first on The Source.

The Annual Houston, Texas Humanitarian Awards was Sunday and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson was among the honorees.  

The ceremony honors residents that show kindness and make the city a better place through their actions, philanthropy, volunteerism or involvement. Jackson was recognized for his G-Unity Foundation which provides under-privileged schools with access to computer labs and training.

READ MORE:Lloyd Banks Speaks on Current Relationship with 50 Cent

G-Unity Labs, which was founded by the 47-year-old rapper and entrepreneur, provided a $300,000 donation that was matched by HISD for a total of $600,000.

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post 50 Cent Among Honorees At Annual Houston Humanitarian Awards appeared first on The Source.

PETA named the Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities of 2022, and this year’s winners are Latin singer Anitta and  Lenny Kravitz. 

Brazilian superstar Anitta, who went vegan after watching the documentary Cowspiracy, is so committed to promoting plant-powered meals that when she’s not headlining at Coachella, she’s the face of an international vegan meat brand based in her home country. 

As she says, “Who has tasted plant meat? It’s like me: innovative, super hot, and good for the environment!”

“With more than 65 million followers between them, Kravitz and Anitta are global superstars who are inspiring countless people to go their way and let love rule by keeping animals off their plates,” says PETA Senior Vice President of Communications Lisa Lange. 

Kravitz, who maintains lush gardens full of healthy fruits and vegetables at his homes in Brazil and the Bahamas, credits vegan eating with helping him maintain his rock-star physique—as the “Fly Away” singer puts it, going vegan is “the right thing for yourself and for the planet and animals.”

READ MORE: SOURCE LATINO: Latin Pop Star Anitta Collabs With Missy Elliot

PETA’s Most Beautiful Vegans of 2022 are showing the world what it means to thrive on planet-protecting, plant-powered meals.”

Previous winners of the annual contest include Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Jhené Aiko, Anderson .Paak, and Leona Lewis.

 Everyone who goes vegan saves the lives of nearly 200 animals a year; reduces their risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer; and dramatically shrinks their carbon footprint. 

According to the United Nations, a global shift toward vegan meals is necessary to combat the worst effects of the climate catastrophe.

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post SOURCE LATINO: PETA Crowns Anitta and Lenny Kravitz Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities of 2022 appeared first on The Source.

Comic-Con will return for a full-scale convention in San Diego next week after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.  

The event kicks off next Thursday, July 21 and will feature an appearance from William Shatner who’ll talk about the new documentary on his career plus his recent trip to space. 

 Next Friday, rock icon Ozzy Osbourne will unveil a limited edition comic book with Todd McFarlane, creator of the Spawn series, and Amazon will give fans a first look at the new Lord of the Rings series.  

READ MORE: Black Panther to Become A LEGO Movie Revealed At Comic-Con

On Saturday, July 23rd, HBO will present its prequel to Game of Thrones. Returning this year, the Stern Pinball Pop-up Arcade will include all of the latest Stern Pinball machines featuring the award-winning Insider Connected platform.

All Comic-Con attendees are required to wear masks and show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours. 

Share your thoughts and comments with us on social media.

The post Comic-Con Returns To San Diego After a 2 Year Hiatus appeared first on The Source.

Many hip-hop stars are known for creating their own clothing, shoes, or jewelry line, but rapper Fabolous might be the first artist to have a line that includes a Parisian jewelry trunk and other upscale accessories that can fit in with both work and play fits.

The resulting collab between Fabolous and well-known jeweler Greg Yuna is a new line in the NYC-based vegan and sustainable accessories brand, Hemincuff. The collection which features a variety of trunks, backpack and a holster bag, is decorated in the brand’s exclusive geo-print, which is inspired by Hemincuff Founder and Creative Director Noel Veloz’s love for Parisian fashion, art, and architecture as well as hip-hop culture.

Noel Veloz details the collaboration stating, “I wanted to drop this Paris Collection with Fabolous and Greg Yuna because they are defined as tastemakers in the industry. Fabolous has been my all-time favorite hip-hop artist since I was a kid, and my dream has always been to work alongside him and that’s just what I did. I bumped into his manager at one of my retail jobs, he introduced me to Greg Yuna, and the rest was history. With this collaboration, I’ll become the first Dominican American to release vegan leather trunks handmade in Mexico. I’m really looking forward to creating my own lane with this collection.”

According to Veloz, the line’s geo-print was inspired by his close relationship and love for his family with the six leaves in the print representing the six letters in the word “family” and the six members of Noel’s family. The two darker colors represent Veloz’s parents and the four royal blue leaves, which is Veloz’s and his father’s favorite color, represent his three other siblings. When his family comes together the geo print is complete.

Fabolous describes how he was excited to be a part of the collaboration as Veloz and his family hail from the Bronx, Fabolous’s home city, stating: “When Noel approached me to be a collaborator in his Hemincuff Paris Collection alongside Greg Yuna, I knew I had to be a part of it. Noel’s Father has been and is the inspiration of these creations and the Hemincuff brand as a whole – him and Noel put the name in the vegan leather! Greg is from Queens, I’m from Brooklyn, and Noel is from the Bronx – it was a New York collaboration! When we come through with the vegan trunk briefcase, we mean business!” 

Hemincuff unveiled the gorgeous  PARIS THE FAMILY X GY collection ($295 – $695), which is now available for pre-order. Customers are able to join the waitlist now on the brand’s website www.hemincuff.com. This limited edition collection will release in Fall 2022. The collection ranges from ($295-$695).  

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 McDonald’s Future 22 is an integrated, creative campaign, launched during Black History Month, that highlights 22 young, Black visionaries who are creating meaningful change in communities across the country.  

MORE: Keke Palmer Set to Release a Fictional Essay Collection ‘Southern Belle Insults’

During the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture, McDonald’s furthered its commitment to serving up bright futures by surprising 22 young, Black leaders with $10,000 each — totaling to $220,000 — to help them achieve their community-driven goals, with the help of award-winning actress, singer and entertainer and campaign spokesperson, Keke Palmer.   

“It’s an honor to join McDonald’s to recognize and celebrate these awesome leaders, while also supporting their work and mission,” said Keke. “They are creating bright futures for themselves and the next generation – and, really, all of us – and the excitement on their faces during the McDonald’s surprise gave me joy.”  

During the celebratory event held at Essence Fest last weekend in New Orleans, which McDonald’s sponsored for the 22^nd year, Keke and Marissa Fisher, a second-generation McDonald’s Owner/Operator in New Orleans, participated in a fireside chat moderated by McDonald’s Senior Director of Cultural Engagement, Elizabeth Campbell, to inspire Future 22 leaders and provide tips on staying true to one’s mission, finding balance while changing the world and paving the way for others, among other topics.   

“This year’s Essence Fest theme was Black Joy, and we couldn’t wait to celebrate all 22 leaders and bring them to New Orleans, in honor of their accomplishments,” said Campbell. “We certainly could’ve surprised them virtually but making them a part of our Essence Fest moment meant unlocking the additional community of supporters who are McDonald’s Owner/Operators and the Essence Fest family, to further celebrate them and demonstrate our belief in their work. It was more special than imagined, representing our commitment to feeding and fostering the communities we serve.”    

MORE: Halle Berry Hops On The ‘Baby, That’s Keke Palmer’ Twitter Trend: Meme Explained

All weekend long, the Future 22 leaders were invited to celebrate the Essence Festival of Culture 2022 theme of “Black Joy” through different McDonald’s activities, including a celebratory event in their honor, impactful experiences at its branded booth, loads of entertainment, and show-stopping performances.  Future 22 campaign spokesperson Keke Palmer announced the funds during the celebratory event following a fireside chat with New Orleans-based Owner/Operator Marissa Fisher on staying true to one’s mission, creating your own opportunities and finding balance while changing the world. Moderated by McDonald’s Senior Director of Cultural Engagement, Elizabeth Campbell. 

McDonald’s Future 22 and the Essence Fest partnership are two of the many company initiatives that celebrate Black excellence. For more than 65 years, McDonald’s and its Owner/Operators have awarded scholarships to HBCU students, and created impactful partnerships with community organizations like the National Urban League, NAACP, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and more. And this year, McDonald’s is proud to congratulate the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association for 50 years of entrepreneurial and community excellence. 

Watch the interviews above for more on Keke Palmer and McDonald’s Future 22 campaign.

The post McDonald’s USA & Keke Palmer Surprise Young Leaders with $220K appeared first on The Source.

Kid Cudi will headline McDonald’s Camp McDonald’s virtual music event starting July 13, which features an all-star line-up, including BIBI, Omar Apollo, and blackbear. The virtual music event is a four-week special available only on the McDonald’s app. Each week will bring exclusive merch, menu items, and promotions, like a $2 Big Mac, and free McFlurry with a $1 purchase.

MORE: Diddy Travels to London and Celebrates Naomi Campbell’s Honorary Doctorate

Pre-recorded musical sets will be available every Sunday, starting July 10, exclusively on the McDonald’s App with a $1 purchase on mobile order and pay.  The series of virtual concerts will begin with blackbear on July 10, followed by Apollo, BIBI and ending with Cudi on July 31.

Merch will be supplied by  L.A. clothing brand Free & Easy, streetwear label Ma®ket and Kid Cudi. All merch will be available in adult, unisex sizes small through XXL. The “Don’t Trip” tee is available now.

MORE: John Legend is Joined by Muni Long for New Song and Video “Honey”

Kid Cudi is set to hit the road this summer on the “To The Moon Tour” with the opening acts Denzel Curry, 070 Shake, Strick and Don Toliver. In support of the tour, Kid Cudi released the first volume of his compilation series, The Boy Who Flew To The Moon, out now on all digital streaming platforms on Friday (July 8), an 18-track collection that features fan-favorites, like “Day N Nite,” “Mr. Rager” and “Pursuit Of Happiness (Nightmare).”

“The Boy Who Flew To The Moon is a much-needed reminder of everything I’ve accomplished the last 14 years,” Cudi tweets. “The ups, the downs, the return, my rise again. One hell of ride. Who knows what the next 14 years has in store for me. I promise it won’t be boring.”

Stream the entire compilation below via Republic Records.

The post Kid Cudi To Headline Camp McDonald’s Music Event appeared first on The Source.

North West is fed up with the paparazzi and confronts them during Paris Fashion Week with her mother, Kim Kardashian, with the simple question: “Why do you have to wait for us all the time?”

MORE: ICYMI: North West Trolls Her Mom Kim Kardashian On Instagram Again

The 9-year-old issued the question-turned-viral video to photographers while exiting the Balenciaga fashion show. The paparazzi responded to the daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West with the answer: “Because you’re so famous, we love you, North!” See the clip below.

North’s curiosity generated swarms of social media commentary from people concerned about children growing up in the spotlight. History has shown that it’s no secret the West’s aren’t too fond of paparazzi. Kanye West has a decade of reported incidents involving paparazzi, ranging from damaging camera equipment to shouting obscenities at paps in front of his home.

MORE: Kim Kardashian Blasts Haters Who Questioned North West’s Artistic Ability: ‘Don’t Play With Me When It Comes to My Children’

Outside the paparazzi, North West has been enjoying her Paris Fashion Week trip while wearing her signature wardrobe, including Kanye West’s vintage varsity jacket.

In related news, Hulu’s The Kardashian is airing its debut season starring the entire family with guest appearances by family spouses and boyfriends Kanye West, Travis Baker and Travis Scott.

The post North West To Paris Paps: “Why Do You Have To Wait For Us All The Time?” appeared first on The Source.

Usher honored his mentor L.A. Reid with the icon award at the 6th annual Culture Creator Brunch. “Our honorees share in our collective experience that is sometimes met with doubt, frustration, and unnecessary complication,” says Culture Creators founder Joi Brown. “Yet we march on as a collective village that continues to produce excellence because experience has taught us that we don’t get to quit.”

She continued: “I didn’t know what Culture Creators was to become when I started, but I’m clear on where we’re headed.” 

MORE: YG Channels Usher with “YG Bucks”

This year, Usher presented Reid, a music industry veteran and mentor, with the Icon Award. L.A. Reid’s acceptance of the honor was preceded by a video montage, which included personal congratulatory remarks from the likes of Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, 21 Savage, DJ Khaled, and Jermaine Dupri, to name a few.

Guests were also treated to captivating performances by Amber Riley and host Coco Jones. Culture Creators also introduced three new awards that were given out on the red carpet, Community Advocate, Blog of the Year, and HBCU Rising Culture Creator.

MORE: Usher Announces New Las Vegas Residency at Park MGM This July

Presenting sponsor Netflix welcomed Culture Creators’ guests to a lush photo experience via the Strong Black Lead Portrait Studio. Empowered partner CÎROC treated guests to a number of curated specialty drinks like the DeLeón Blanco Pink Paloma, Summer Citrus Sunset, and a few of their summer spritzers during the immaculately designed post-show reception. Additional partners included Pivotal Ventures, Lexus, and Morgan Stanley. 

2022 saw the event expand and evolved as it highlights the achievements of thought leaders, philanthropists, executives, entertainers, artists, and other pillars of African American culture in an intimate setting among key players.

In other news, Usher has a new single with City Girls slated for a July 1 release.

The post Usher Presents L.A. Reid With Icon Award At Culture Creators appeared first on The Source.

Long Island University today announced Grammy Award-winning audio engineer and producer Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton has joined the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment as Director of the Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production program.

The Roc Nation School and Young Guru also announced a full-tuition scholarship to be awarded to one highly qualified student. Apply for the scholarship today, here.

Keaton is an accomplished music producer, record executive, audio engineer and DJ who works with the music industry’s top artists, spanning from JAY-Z to Rihanna to Mariah Carey. He has garnered multiple Grammy nominations, and in 2019 Keaton won a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album for mixing the album Everything Is Love by The Carters. 

Keaton co-founded and co-leads the label Jamla, which houses Grammy-nominated and critically acclaimed lyricist Rapsody, and newcomers Reuben Vincent and Ian Kelly.

“Education is a valuable platform to show talented students how to navigate the music industry, preserve music history, and share their culture with the world,” Keaton said. “Joining the Roc Nation School is an incredible opportunity to offer my experience as a guide for up-and-coming artists and producers.” 

Keaton previously served on the faculty of the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music as an artist-in-residence and has lectured at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Music and Emory University. 

“The Roc Nation School is the premier destination for the next generation of professionals in the music industry who have the opportunity to learn directly from top executives and artists,” said Long Island University President Kimberly Cline. “We are thrilled to welcome Young Guru to the Roc Nation School’s leadership team. His decades of experience and expertise in the music business will be an incredible asset to the school.”

The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment offers undergraduate degrees in applied music; music technology, entrepreneurship and production; sports communication and marketing; and vocal performance. It also offers a BS, MS and PhD in sports management.

Keaton joins a growing roster of exceptional artists and industry elites such as super producer 9th Wonder, visiting professor and artist in residence at the Roc Nation School, who teaches courses in hip-hop history and the making of an album.

The Roc Nation School Speaker Series features nationally and internationally recognized speakers who are invited based on their expertise and accomplishments providing Roc Nation School students with incredible opportunities to interact with these global leaders. Recent speakers include:

·       Andrew Gould: VP, Music Publishing, Roc Nation

·       Adam Silver: NBA Commissioner

·       Don Garber: MLS Commissioner

·       Desiree Perez: CEO, Roc Nation

·       Michael Rubin: Executive Chairman, Fanatics; 76ers Partner

·       Keith Sheldon: President, Hard Rock

·       Bernadette McGlade: Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner

·       Jon Platt: CEO, Sony Music Publishing

·       Adam Petrick: Global Director of Brand and Marketing, Puma

Roc Nation Hope Scholarships provide 25% of enrolled students with full tuition and individualized support and mentorship. The Roc Nation Hope Scholars are selected from a pool of academically competitive, first-time freshmen with the highest need.

International sportswear brand PUMA announced the establishment of the PUMA Hope Scholarship Fund for students in the Roc Nation school. Previous scholarship opportunities have also been sponsored by NBA Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball and artist Megan Thee Stallion.

The post Young Guru Joins Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment appeared first on The Source.

Multi-platinum artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur Big Sean was awarded at the inaugural Juneteenth Honors Ceremony.

Hosted by the Juneteenth Foundation, the ceremony highlighted Black excellence and those esteemed individuals who have an extraordinary track record of service to the Black community. The event aired on Fox Soul Sunday night. 

MORE: Big Sean and Jhené Aiko Reportedly Expecting Child

The importance of advocacy and service was instilled in Sean at a very young age by his late grandmother, Mildred V. Leonard. She was a World War II veteran and one of the first Black female officers in the army. Last Wednesday (6/15), Mildred’s battalion was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal at the Military Women’s Memorial.

Mildred was part of Women’s Army Corps’ 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female battalion sent overseas during the war. The battalion’s success led to the desegregation of the military. 

MORE: J. Cole, Doja Cat, Lil Baby, Big Sean, Jazmine Sullivan and More Set for Lollapalooza 2022

Following these incredible accolades and awards, Sean and his non-profit, the Sean Anderson Foundation, will continue to assist, uplift and empower underserved communities. The foundation is currently planning its annual D.O.N. (Detroit’s on Now) Weekend to celebrate and give back to the Detroit families, entrepreneurs, teachers and long-standing institutions who are the backbone of the city.

The post Big Sean Received Award At Inaugural Juneteenth Honors Ceremony appeared first on The Source.

Fast-food in a Hartbeat.

Comedy mogul Kevin Hart expands his empire into the plant-based industry with the announcement of the opening of two upcoming plant-based restaurants in Los Angeles called Hart House. For the new venture, Hart, 42, will team with established restauranteur and Hart House CEO Andy Hooper to bring a fast-food menu featuring vegan burgers, “chicken” sandwiches, nuggets, fries, tots, salads, and milkshakes. Two years in the making, the first Hart House will open this summer in Hollywood.

MORE: Kevin Hart’s HARTBEAT Enters Music Publishing Deal with Warner Chappell Music

Hart and Hooper broke the news of Hart House to LAMag last Thursday (June 16). Hooper told the publication, “I think it’s important for us to be a restaurant that first and foremost serves a crave-able product that people go out of their way to consume and then at the end we’re like, ‘Hey, by the way, this just happens to be all plant-based.”

Hart House is currently a food truck used for private events. “Kevin sort of conceptualize this idea at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Hooper on Hart House’s conception. “If I were advising him at the time, I would say, ‘Don’t you dare ever start a restaurant, and don’t you ever start a restaurant in the middle of COVID,’ but after almost two years of really working on this menu and getting the food to a place where it can deliver on that promise, we’re ready to go and we’re excited to tell the world about Hart House and excited to serve the food.” 

Hart began his plant-based diet after his highly-publicized 2019 car accident. During an interview with Joe Rogan in 2020, he revealed the near-death ordeal prompted him to live a healthier lifestyle, which included the removal of red meat, fish and seafood from diet. Hart told Rogan, “Just because you make the decision to go and try plant-based, doesn’t mean you have to [ be engulfed] in that world. Learn it, understand it, and see if there are benefits that work for you.”

MORE: Season 2 of Kevin Hart’s ‘HART TO HEART’ to Feature JAY-Z, Chris Rock, Saweetie, Mike Tyson & More

In other Kevin Hart news, the comedic actor’s multi-platform media company, Hartbeat, inked a exclusive global publishing partnership deal with Warner Chappell last week. A first of its kind, the deal will have Warner Chappell oversee all of Hartbeat’s music composition copyrights, covering past and future programming from the platform’s shows like “Die Hart” and “Hart to Heart.”

In comedy, Hart is currently overseas on his “Reality Check” arena tour. “14 Days until I kick off my ‘Reality Check’ tour!!!! I’m fucking HYPE AS HELL to give ya’ll these damn jokes… I will be hitting arean’s EVERYWHERE!!! Buckle up damn it…. Go to KevinHartNation.com to get thickets NOOOOWWWW!!! Let’s Gooooo,” tweets Hart last week on Twitter.

For more information on Hart House and complete menu, visit the restaurant’s official website.

The post Kevin Hart Set To Open Two Plant-Based Restaurants In Los Angeles appeared first on The Source.

More celebrity boxing is coming this summer with the announcement Thursday evening (June 16) of popular recording artist and recurring celebrity boxer DDG (“Moonwalking in Calabasas”) set to return to the ring to face off against chart-topping Atlantic Records recording artist and first-time celebrity boxer PnB Rock (“Selfish”) on July 30 in Los Angeles, California at Crypto.com Arena and Pay-Per-View.

“I said I wasn’t getting back in the ring unless it was another artist,” tweets DDG on Twitter with a promotional flyer featuring PnB Rock and himself. “LETS GET IT!!! Get tickets now.”

MORE: DDG Returns With New Single “Storyteller,” Reveals US and Europe Tour Dates

Brought to you by Social Golves Entertainment and Bash Boxing, the two hip-hop stars will join as co-headliners of the upcoming boxing match between Los Angeles recording artist Blueface and NBA champ-turned-podcaster Nick “Swaggy P” Young. Bout against PnB Rock marks DDG second celebrity boxing match with a decisive win against YouTuber Nate Wyatt in June 2021 at Battle of the Platforms in Miami.

In his fight against PnB Rock, DDG hopes to inspire the end of senseless gun violence in today’s hip-hop that has taken the lives of so many prominent hip-hop stars in recent years. He encourages other artists to join celebrity boxing and settle their differences with their fists, instead of resorting to gun violence.

In a follow-up tweet, DDG tweets with money bag emojis: “This shit more than a boxing match, it’s a movement! Rappers put the GUNS down & put on the Gloves. Ni**as out here killing for free when u can just punch it out for a BAG.”

MORE: PnB Rock Shares ‘2 Get You Thru The Rain’ Ep Feat. Young Thug and More

PnB Rock has yet to comment on the upcoming bout at press time.

DDG is scheduled to perform headlining shows in Chicago, Atlanta and New York City leading up to the fight with more show announcements on the way.

In related news, DDG and popular recording artist Toosii agreed to a boxing match last summer after the two exchanged words over DDG’s ex-girlfriend Rubi Rose. More as the story develops.

Tickets for DDG vs. PnB Rock are available now at AXS.

The post DDG Set To Fight PNB Rock In Celebrity Boxing Match appeared first on The Source.

Waka Flocka Flame, whose real name is Juaquin James Malphursis, has added a second degree to his resume. Waka received an honorary professor degree in Humanitarianism and Philanthropy from the Bible Institute of America. This means the Atlanta rapper and entrepreneur can accept a position as a professor and actually teach a classroom of students. From now on it’s Dr. Flocka Flame.

READ MORE: Waka Flocka Talks Split From Wife Tammy Rivera On Tricky Podcast

According to TMZ, the “O Let’s Do It” rapper was awarded his degree alongside legendary civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson. Waka earned a separate doctorate degree in the same field of study in 2020. Ever since his little brother died of suicide in 2013, Waka has pivoted his brand to focus on mental health initiatives.

Share your comments on social media.

The post CONGRATULATIONS: Waka Flocka Adds Another Degree To His Resume appeared first on The Source.

It looks like Netflix is getting an “At-Home with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex” docuseries following the lives of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The couple signed a multi-million dollar deal with the company in 2020, after leaving royal duties behind for a life in the U.S. Cameras have been allowed in their California home and on their trip last year to New York City.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle Releasing Children’s Book Early Summer

There are reports that Netflix wants it to air by the end of the year while the couple would like to wait until 2023. With regard to the timing, a Hollywood insider tells Page Six “things are up in the air.” The partnership with Netflix is titled Archewell Productions.

Share your thoughts with us on social media.

The post Netflix Series To Follow the Lives of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared first on The Source.

From his infamous all-white parties in the Hamptons to New Year’s Eve extravaganzas in Miami, it’s no secret that Diddy, 52, presented the culture with some of the most memorable parties throughout his 30-year-plus career. While promoting the upcoming Billboard Music Awards, Diddy titles himself the “Best Party Thrower” in a new commercial that instantly sparks a reaction from Award-winning Los Angeles Casting Director and Party Thrower Ed “E. MillsDidIt” Mills, followed by him suggesting a debate for the rightful owner of the moniker to the general public on social media in order to determine who is the real “best party thrower” between the two.

MORE: Diddy Announces CÎROC is Headed to Ready-to-Drink Market

In reaction to Diddy’s declaration, E. Mills — who’s not looking to self-proclaim the title like Diddy — shared a Tik Tok promo that uses a clip from Diddy’s 2022 Billboard Music Awards commercial where he states “Interrupting your regularly scheduled program, I have an announcement to make. I’m the best muthaf*ckin party thrower…”, a scene from the classic film Coming To America with Hakeem (Eddie Murphy) asking: “…You’re the prince, then who am I?”, a clip of E. Mills turning his head with a stunning look and a puzzled mannerism, and a few clips of him partying hard while surrounding around an army of models. The clip issues the vote-requesting statement “Let’s let the people decide…”, followed by taunting remarks and signature catchphrases from E. Mills, like “oh yeah. E. Mills Did It,” “Mill Ticket” and “Mr. Imma Out Work You Ni**as.”

The song in the clip is Wallet Green’s “F*ck It Up,” which name drops E. Mills and his entertainment company Mill Ticket Entertainment in a verse that raps: “… I got hoes like Mill Ticket / They gon think E. MillsDidIt.”

Diddy was announced as this year’s Billboard Music Awards’ host and executive producer last month. While the mogul made the statement in the commercial — it was neither confirmed nor denied that the mogul’s statement was an open invitation to all challengers. Now, E. Mills is well aware of the billionaire mogul’s high-profile party-throwing history but approaches the conversation for sheer acknowledgment of his rivaling partying-throwing resume across the U.S. throughout the 2000s.

“Let’s be clear,” said E. Mills in an issued statement when reached for comment by The Source’s Bryson “Boom” Paul. “It wasn’t necessarily a challenge set forth, but more so me putting the world on notice. I’m not a walk through the park, so to speak when it comes to this lifestyle. I’ve created a lot of vibes over the years and know I’ve planted my feet in these couches [laughing] but hey I’m not running from a challenge either — never have and never will. We can definitely do it for the culture. With that being said, I do give credit where credit it’s due. He’s earned his stripes, just give me mine too ”

Mills is the Founder and CEO of Mill Ticket Entertainment, a popular Los Angeles-based entertainment brand for years now best-known for casting models in music videos for the majority of hip hop’s biggest superstars. The brand’s resume includes a wide variety of high-profile brands and the biggest superstars in today’s music such as 1800 Tequila, New Balance, and Adidas. Mill Ticket models have been seen starring in music videos for everyone, ranging from Drake to Chris Brown to YG to Tyga to 2 Chainz, and so many more. Interestingly, E.Mills has provided models for the Diddy-owned television network, Revolt TV, and its popular original talk show, Respectfully Justin hosted by Justin Laboy.

E.Mills cast the brand new Diddy-starring Ciroc commercial promoting the brand’s new ready-to-drink line in Miami.

MORE: T-Pain Taps Lil Jon, Hannibal Buress, O.T. Genasis For Inaugural “Wiscansin Fest”

Diddy has yet to rebuttal to Mills’ promo at this time but the streets is talking, and want the two to go head-to-head for the title, party-for-party. Mills shared a fan-made versus flyer featuring himself and Diddy with the caption “Somebody just sent me this lol who wants to see it?”

“We need this!,” wrote Lauren Banks under the Instagram post with fire emoji. “Come on now we all know you gonna win,” commented rapper Joey $ynth$ with side-eyed eyes and 100 emoji. “Let’s goooo!!” comments hyped photographer Jam-X.

The Source’s requests for comment(s) from Diddy and/or representatives have gone unresponded at press time. More as this story develops.

Billboard Music Awards hosted and executive produced by Diddy, aires live this Sunday (May 15) at 8PM ET/5PM PT on NBC-Peacock. Watch the trailer below.

The post Casting Director E. Mills Challenges Diddy’s “Best Party Thrower” Claim appeared first on The Source.

Though it has yet to be confirmed by his family, it has been widely reported that self-proclaimed relationship guru and image consultant Kevin Samuels has died. He was 56 years old.

Several reports revealed that Melanie King, a friend of Samuels, said she received “family confirmation” that the creator of Modern Women was dead. King, described as his female counterpart, says, “This is 100%.”

Albeit no one from Samuel’s family or reps from his team has confirmed or posted any statement, the unconfirmed reports have stated that Samuels passed away from a heart attack. The Instagram account for Plug Talk claimed Samuels died from “cardiac arrest,” but the post offered no verification. Other Instagram accounts have touted that same narrative but have no confirmation.

Samuels took social media by storm, unapologetically handing out lifestyle and relationship advice through his Youtube channel. Known for what is viewed as misogynistic and insulting commentary about Black women, many people strongly disagreed with his opinion, while others, including some women, followed Samuels and his unconventional advice faithfully. His channel, which has 1.42million subscribers, features videos such as ‘”modern women are average at best” and “women should let men use them.”

Samuels’ controversy is unparalleled. In a recent episode of his podcast just last month, Samuels said, “If you have made it to 35 and you are unmarried, you are a leftover woman, You are what is left. Men know that there is likely something wrong with you. Whether you want to hear it or not, I’m going to go there with you. I’m telling you the truth that you don’t want to hear. Men know that there is likely something wrong with you—that you can not be an adjustable six or higher—something is wrong with you. That’s where men automatically come with it. And here’s the thing—when you were between the ages of 22 and 25, and you didn’t want to settle—you were trying to get the CEO, the pilot, the investment banker, you were trying to get flewed out…”

The post Relationship Advisor And YouTube Star Kevin Samuels Dead At 56 appeared first on The Source.

With the demand for the coveted Birkin bag among women being almost a prerequisite for relationships, Quavo of the Migos, who may know a thing or two about relationships himself, decided that it was time for the guys to smoke the Birkin instead of giving it away to women.

The Huncho has created his own unique marijuana strain called Birkin because the guys have spent too much money tickling the women’s handbag fancy. “We got tired of buying the girls Birkins, so we started smoking it, that’s all.” says Quavo.

Just as Hermès’ Birkin bags can range from $40K to as high as almost $300K, Quavo’s weed is going to be a high-end strain of bud, meaning a super high cost exactly like the Hip Hop name-dropped handbag. When asked if Birkins would be affordable for regular smokers and he vehemently replied, “No, sir. No broke smoke. This will be the highest weed you ever smoked.”

To add even more flavor to the release of the “most expensivest” weed strain, Quavo teamed up with established streetwear brand Awful Lot of Cough Syrup and dropped a “Birkin Bagz” clothing collab to accompany the new 420.

The post Quavo Drops “Birkins” Cannabis Strain And Streetwear appeared first on The Source.

An all-women’s prison in New Jersey launched the liberally progressive move of allowing transgender inmates to be housed with the other female inmates, but now the prison is in hot water after two of the naturally-born female inmates were impregnated by a transgender inmate.

It was reported that some of the 27 transgender inmates at the Edna Mahan Correction Facility have been having sex with the biological female inmates. However, there have been no reports of rape because all of the incidents of sexual relations have reportedly been consensual.

“While DOC cannot comment on any specific disciplinary or housing decisions that may be considered in light of these events, the Department always reserves all options to ensure the health and safety of the individuals in its custody,” said NJDOC External Affairs Executive Director Dan Sperrazza.

Last year, female inmates filed lawsuits against the prison, claiming that the transgender inmates were having sex with the female biological inmates. Still, the legal director over at the ACLU has maintained their support of the prison reform that now allows transgender women to be housed with natural women.

“[It’s] in line with New Jersey’s strong anti-discrimination laws that prevent discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender identity,”  said Jeanne LoCicero.

The post 2 NJ Women Inmates Impregnated After Sex With Transgender Prisoners appeared first on The Source.