The weekend, masters, deal
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 14, 2025

The Weeknd Inks $1B Catalog Partnership, Maintaining Singer’s Creative Control Over Music

The partnership will ensure The Weeknd keeps creative control over his art while still capitalizing on the assets.

The Weeknd has announced a new billion-dollar deal that solidifies his control of his artistic legacy.

The “Blinding Lights” singer has signed a catalog partnership with Lyric Capitol Group. The business venture will allow Lyric to invest in his extensive music catalog while The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, and his team maintain creative control. According to Variety, The Weeknd will also be a shareholder and part-owner in the business endeavor.

The Weeknd forged the deal by ensuring he maintains creative control over his music. Instead of simply selling off his catalog, he and Lyric created a new model where he keeps his publishing rights and masters. Lyric described the development of their unique deal with The Weeknd as it paves the way for other artists to scale their music without sacrificing artistic integrity.

“From the beginning of the meeting, it was clear to all at Lyric that Abel would not sell his catalog. He wanted to be more innovative and creative in the way we established a partnership. To that end, through this venture, we constructed and launched a new business model with Abel and his iconic catalog whereby Abel and his team have the freedom to execute their creative vision with the entirety of his rights, both publishing and masters. This unique catalog deal sets a new standard for artist equity and control.”

Lyric Capital invests in music royalties, with the deal estimating to have a lofty payout in royalty multiples. Estimates show that the assets’ value totaled around $1 billion, based on an 18.2 multiple of its $55 million in net label and net publisher share.

However, the deal only includes music by The Weeknd through 2025, and will not hold for future releases. His publishing catalog remains administered by  Universal Music Publishing Group.

Despite the stipulations, the partnership has reportedly become one of the biggest deals for a single artist’s catalog. The two parties hope to revolutionize the music industry, while breaking ground on new deals that prioritize artists in these conversations.

“I couldn’t be more excited about what Lyric, Abel, and team have created together,” said Ross Cameron, Lyric founding/co-managing partner. “From our first meeting, it was clear to me that we were sitting around the table with individuals that were going to change the way an artist thinks about his assets, music, and legacy. The collaboration resulted in a first-of-its-kind partnership between an artist and Lyric, and we are beyond thrilled about this new venture.”

RELATED CONTENT: The Weeknd Donates $350K Toward Hurricane Melissa Relief In Jamaica

Sinners, Ryan Coogler, AAFCA, awards
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 14, 2025

‘Sinners’ Honored With Best Film And Seven Other Wins By African American Film Critics Association

The Ryan Coogler-directed film received 8 awards by the film critics association.

Sinners is this year’s best film, according to the African American Film Critics Association, which also bestowed seven other honors on the film.

The organization named the Ryan Coogler-directed horror film as its movie of the year. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film swept the nominations by the AAFCA, also taking home best ensemble.

It led the pack of other major films this award season, followed closely by One Battle After Another and Hedda. Other films featuring a Black lead that made the list include Wicked For Good, F1, and One Of Them Days.

However, Sinners remained at the forefront of major AAFCA categories. Coogler earned the Best Director and Best Writing nods. The film’s star, Michael B. Jordan, also received the Best Actor recognition, with co-star Miles Canton getting the Emerging Face (Actor) award.

In other nods for the Sinners cast,  Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress. The film’s composer, Ludwig Goransson, also received the accolade for Best Music.

The AAFCA awards films for their notable and unique storytelling, especially movies focused on the Black experience. The organization also recognized the Tessa Thompson-led film Hedda, giving the star the Best Actress nod for her work.

“The cinematic voices recognized this year remind us of the power of film to challenge, inspire, and unite,” AAFCA President and Co-Founder Gil Robertson said in a statement. “From bold new visions to unforgettable performances, these winners represent storytellers who are pushing the art form forward while speaking to the moment we are living in. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and the impact their work continues to have on audiences worldwide.”

Sinners has already emerged a major contender this awards season, as the blockbuster hit had several IMAX runs along with rave reviews from critics. As award ceremonies get underway, the film hopes to make history, especially with its Black director and predominantly Black cast.

While the announcement of the awardees has already been made, the AAFCA will honor the winners will gather at its 17th annual Awards ceremony. The event will take place Feb. 8.

RELATED CONTENT: AAFCA To Honor Broadway Trailblazers At Annual Awards Luncheon


Hot 97, 'Ebro in the Morning,' As Host, Progressive Views
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 14, 2025

Hot 97 Hangs Up ‘Ebro in the Morning,’ As Host Claims Progressive Views Led To Cancellation

The show has been on air since 2012.

Hot 97 radio fans must say goodbye to one of its staple radio shows.

Billboard confirmed the station has signed off on Ebro In The Morning. Hosted by Ebro Darden, the morning show had its final airing Dec. 12, ending a 13-year run on the New York-based station.

Funkmaster Flex is taking Ebro’s morning slot.

Darden and his co-hosts, Laura Stylez and Peter Rosenberg, all issued statements regarding the cancellation that shocked many listeners. Ebro made a brief comment to social media about the show’s axing, essentially telling fans to stay tuned.

Additional reps for Rosenberg doubled-down on the confirmed cancellation. However, the trio of co-hosts still plans to keep their fanbase fed with new content in the works. Stylez shared a more emotional tribute to her time on the show, joining her male counterparts a year after its initial debut, hinting at their continued work together.

“We had the best time… the most beautiful listeners and got to work with legends I love,” she wrote to IG. “I’m so proud of the work we did together… I lived so many of my dreams at Hot97 and got to work with my best friends! ….and best friends don’t let go… trust me, @oldmanebro @rosenbergradio and I have plans and more coming next year!”

As for why the show got axed, Ebro has his own theories about how his progressive views impacted the decision. The media personality spoke about how his “anti-Netanyahu” stances, among other left-leaning opinions, put the show on ice.

“You look around at all the major media outlets… they all gotta fold up because they’re all trying to renew their deals and their licenses,” he began, as reported by Complex.

“Bro’s a casino owner,” Ebro added, referring to the man in charge of the media company. “You know the three licenses they got in NY for the casino? The guy that owns the s**t owns one of the casino licenses. He gotta raise half a billion dollars. They need my s**t talking, anti-Netanyahu, anti-government, progressive s**t out of the way, bro. They need me out of the way.”

Ebro alleged that the station’s ownership cares more about getting a profit than their listenership, hence why they would allow the popular program to go off the air so abruptly.

“They are trying to get to these bags that these VCs got and raise some capital,” Ebro continued. “They don’t give a f**k about hip hop or black music or black community…They give a f**k about access, they give a f**k about going with their little nerdy friends to the concerts because that helps them raise money. They’ve been trying to get to me for years, bro.”

Hot 97 has yet to clarify why they chose to strip the program. However, syndication distributor Super Radio Networks has plans to keep Ebro on the airwaves.

“While the distribution of ‘Ebro in the Morning’ in its current form is ending, Superadio remains fully committed to the Ebro brand,” a spokesperson for Super Radio Networks said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to bring Ebro’s voice and talent to the masses across new platforms, which we’ll be sharing more about very soon.”

RELATED CONTENT: Funkmaster Flex Announces Major Change At Hot 97

Mayor Karen Bass, LA, ICE agents, Latino, DHS
by Kandiss Edwards

December 14, 2025

Karen Bass, L.A.’s First Black-Woman Mayor, Announces Re-election Bid

Bass opened the 2026 mayoral contest with a rally in downtown Los Angeles.

On Dec. 13, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass officially launched her re-election campaign. Bass opened the 2026 mayoral contest with a rally in downtown Los Angeles.

L.A.’s first Black-woman mayor outlined goals for affordability, safety, and continued opposition to federal policy. Her announcement came at the Trade-Technical College Culinary Arts event space, surrounded by supporters, including city officials and allied legislators.

The mayor’s current platform addresses the residents affected by the wildfires that swept the Palisades, vowing support. She also acknowledges the rising cost of living in Los Angeles. In an X post Bass, addressed challenges including the city’s housing affordability and homelessness crises, recovery from this year’s Palisades wildfires, and federal immigration enforcement actions in Los Angeles. Bass said the administration’s efforts on these issues would continue if she wins another term.

“From Northridge to Echo Park, this campaign is about bringing every single part of this city and this region together so that we can solve homelessness, reduce crime, and make Los Angeles more affordable for all.”

Bass, 72, first took office in 2022, becoming Los Angeles’s first woman mayor and the second Black person to hold the city’s top post. 

Bass currently faces three opponents. Former Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Austin Beutner, who has criticized her record on issues like disaster response. Beutner, a former supporter of Bass, believes the city needs to move in a different direction, The Hill reported.

“I voted for Karen Bass last time. We had hopes, but now even she admits we need a citywide turnaround. I agree, Los Angeles needs change. This isn’t an ordinary time, and I’m not an ordinary candidate,” Beutner said in a video posted to YouTube.

Also running are Rae Huang, a housing advocacy executive, and Asaad Alnajjar, a longtime city employee and neighborhood council member. 

The mayoral election is scheduled for June 2, 2026. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a runoff election will be held Nov. 3, 2026.

Bass’s campaign launch comes as Los Angeles prepares to host global events, including the 2028 Olympics and FIFA World Cup, milestones that supporters and critics alike say will test the city’s planning and governance. 

RELATED CONTENT: History Made In South Carolina As One Town Elects First African American And Youngest Mayor All At Once

College Applications, Student, College Board, essays
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 14, 2025

White House Attacks College Essays About Race In Latest DEI Crackdown

Personal statements highlighting race have become another issue in the DEI crackdown within college admissions.

The White House has issued another update in its crackdown on DEI in higher education.

The Trump administration is looking beyond college departments as it tries to turn away from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Now, the federal government is looking at college essays used during admissions as potentially unlawful, as reported by the Boston Globe.

While many students have used personal essays to describe their academic journeys thus far, the government now deems their writings, including race, aligned with now-banned DEI practices. Many colleges require these personal statements not only to show a student’s writing ability, but also highlight a moment where they overcame adversity, proving how they exemplify and contribute to the school’s values.

As some diverse applicants describe their personal obstacles as students of color, the proposed “dog whistle” can now seem part of a “discriminatory” admissions process. Since the reversal of affirmative action, schools cannot consider identity factors such as race, ethnicity, or national origin.

“A lot of students might read [a community prompt] and think, Oh, I’m in the band, I’m the editor of the paper, and I’m going to write about an activity,” said Jayson Weingarten, a senior admissions consultant, before adding how some “read between the lines of what admissions officers are asking — and they’re going to talk about their race, culture, ethnicity, heritage, socioeconomic status, anything like that.“

However, given how students’ livelihoods within and beyond academia become shaped by these experiences, many have wondered what will come of the admissions processes as they foster schools’ communities. With this, the mentioning of these identity markers in college essays has sparked legal issues. The White House now views these expressions of students’ voices as another way to circumvent the removal of affirmative action.

In a post-affirmative action world, the number of Black and Brown students across many elite universities has seen a decline. An analysis by the Associated Press also confirmed that 20 selective colleges witnessed a significant drop in Black freshman enrollment since the 2023 ruling.

However, some elite schools remain committed to subtly identifying students from diverse backgrounds through these personal statements, even though their future may be in jeopardy. Weingartern finds the continued use of these prompts as a way to still provide pathways for diversity.

“It’s a quiet signal, but it’s an unmistakable act of resistance.”

RELATED CONTENT: University Of Alabama Suspends Black And Female Magazines Citing Anti-DEI

black media, Black journalists
by Kandiss Edwards

December 14, 2025

Black Journalists Are Being Laid Off At An Alarming Rate

Layoffs that have swept through news organizations amid a rollback of DEI efforts.

Journalists of color at major U.S. media outlets say they have been disproportionately affected by recent layoffs that have swept through news organizations amid a rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

Trey Sherman, a Black associate producer with CBS Evening News Plus, told The Guardian that he learned in late October he was being laid off while white colleagues on his team were reassigned. 

“We certainly have white producers, we have white reporters who could have been laid off as well,” a colleague identified only as Mary said in the article. “They had to have known that would not look good.” 

Sherman posted a video documenting his experience on TikTok, which went viral. 

“Every person who gets to stay and will be relocated within the company is white,” he said in the video.

Sherman continues to explain that the layoff selection was not based on merit but on familiarity, as his boss chose to keep the employees he’d “worked with before.”

@treymous

Is CBS is doing race-based layoffs? #cbsnews #layoffs

♬ original sound – Trey Sherman

Sherman said that in the months following the layoffs, he began receiving messages from journalists at other organizations who had similar experiences. He also noted many of the decisions coincided with leadership changes and corporate restructuring. 

Similar patterns were reported at NBC News and Teen Vogue, where entire teams focused on coverage of racially and socially marginalized communities were eliminated or absorbed into broader operations, with little staff retained. 

The layoffs are ongoing and increasingly connected to a political climate that has targeted DEI initiatives. Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, announced early in the Trump administration that the FCC would end its DEI efforts and remove them as a budget priority. 

Some journalists cited in the article described the trend as part of a broader effort to diminish newsroom diversity rather than the result of isolated business decisions, saying the layoffs “fell along racial lines.”

RELATED CONTENT: Journalists Return Badges, Exit Pentagon, In Refusal To Agree To New Reporting Rules

You Can Do It All, Dupre
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 14, 2025

Hip-Hop-Artist-Turned-Politician Dupre ‘DoItAll’ Kelly Releases Children’s Book

DoItAll and Khairi Williams release 'You Can Do It All.'

Newark Councilman Dupre Kelly has accomplished many things throughout his life, including a career in music and becoming the first American platinum hip-hop artist to be duly elected to political office. He has now added children’s author to his list of accomplishments.

Along with co-author, educator, and media producer Khairi Williams, the pair has recently released a children’s book titled “You Can Do It All,” a play off his professional stage name and rap moniker, DoItAll from the group, Lords of the Underground.

The two men recently held a picture-book reading and meet-and-greet at the Newark Public Library’s main branch. As they stood on stage to discuss the book’s contents, both men took the opportunity to engage with the audience, explaining why the book was written and how it would help children (and adults).

BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with the co-authors, who explained how the book idea came about and what they want readers to take away.

The book, released in November, follows a young boy who harnesses self-belief and capitalizes on opportunities to achieve his goals. It can be viewed as an autobiography of DoItAll, detailing his love of hip-hop, his success, and his drive to build on that success to become a politician.

Williams explained that he brought the children’s book idea to DoItAll and convinced him to proceed.

“Well, I really was on dude for a long time about doing these memoirs and putting some sort of book together. But I was just reflecting on a lot of stories that he’s told me, peaks and valleys through life, the fails and the triumphs of just life. And I said, ‘Wow, we need to articulate this in a way that’s digestible for children, but parents can read it to them and even take in some of these lessons.'”

DoItAll admitted that the book could only be completed with Williams taking the lead, and that it was accomplished through Williams’ persistence. He explains why they chose a children’s book rather than a regular book or a biography.

“Well, the reason that we chose a children’s book and this platform is because when you reach the babies, you reach their parents, right? You remind their parents. So we wanted to pour into the children because it’s bigger than us. It’s about the youth. It’s not about us anymore.”

He goes on to say that although everyone wants to be an influencer, they wish to inspire.

“Influence is powerful, right? But we wanna inspire, because when you’re inspired by somebody, you are in spirit with them. When you influence somebody, you know, usually you’re not yourself. You’re under the influence.
When I have ever been under the influence of anything, I have not been myself.

“We want people to add on, to be greater than the thing that they love, and that’s when you are in spirit with it. So that’s why we chose a children’s platform, because they’re the next generation for real.”

Check out their reading below:

RELATED CONTENT: 10 Hip-Hop Books To Celebrate National Hip-Hop Month

Gaming
by Ahsan Washington

December 14, 2025

Top 7 Video Games That Rewired Global Gaming In The 1990s

Some video games from the 1990s both entertained audiences and deeply transformed the gaming culture. 

A recent report covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE revealed how video games from the 1990s shaped children’s brains. The games appeared simple, but as it turned out, they were complex. Technology paired with those video games established a golden era, creating lasting franchises, the evolution of consoles, and cultural events that remain significant today—ushering in an entire universe of gaming.

Here are seven key video games from the 1990s that both entertained audiences and deeply transformed the gaming culture. 

Super Mario 64 

Super Mario 64 was released in 1996 as a launch title for the Nintendo 64 console, thanks to Shigeru Miyamoto’s visionary leadership at Nintendo. The 3-D platformer pioneer transformed movement and level design through Super Mario 64, which established the basic principles of modern gaming. The worldwide distribution of Super Mario 64 through Nintendo’s home console platform established the game as one of the most historically influential video game titles.


The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Nintendo EAD developed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998), which transformed the action-adventure genre through its Z-targeting and cinematic storytelling. The Nintendo 64 game launched in 1998 and was later made available digitally through Nintendo services. Ocarina of Time stands as one of the greatest video games ever made and has permanently transformed action-adventure mechanics.


Sonic the Hedgehog 

The Sega Genesis platformer Sonic the Hedgehog launched in 1991 through Sega’s Sonic Team development. The game Sonic the Hedgehog targeted Nintendo’s Mario as its main competitor. The game Sonic the Hedgehog launched in Japan, along with the North American and European markets, where its fast-paced gameplay and rebellious marketing helped Sega control early ’90s console culture.


Final Fantasy VII 

The 1997 PlayStation release of Final Fantasy VII transformed the role-playing game (RPG) genre. The game developed by Square (now Square Enix) introduced RPGs to mainstream audiences in Western markets. Final Fantasy VII started in Japan before becoming a worldwide commercial success. The game’s storytelling, together with its FMV cutscenes and vast world, expanded RPG expectations.


GoldenEye 007 

The first-person shooter gameplay of GoldenEye 007, developed by Rare, transformed console multiplayer gaming. The game debuted in 1997 on Nintendo 64 and focused on worldwide markets, including North America and Europe. The game’s four-player split-screen mode established itself as a defining feature of ’90s gaming culture.


Street Fighter II 

The competitive fighting game Street Fighter II was developed by Capcom to transform the e-sports industry. The game first appeared in arcades in 1991, before home console versions were launched in Japan and subsequently spread globally. The fighting game culture was influenced by the game’s character roster, combo system, and competitive structure.

Pokémon Red & Blue 

The Game Freak-developed Nintendo-published Pokémon Red and Blue launched in Japan in 1996 and reached North America in 1998. The monster-catching RPGs started their generational phenomenon on the Game Boy handheld platform. The games launched one of the most successful media franchises worldwide, which includes TV shows and trading cards.

RELATED CONTENT: LAPD Officers Fired For Pokémon Go Gaming On Duty

Joy Reid, Joe Biden, mic
by Kandiss Edwards

December 14, 2025

Joy Reid Sparks Debate By Reposting Claims That ‘Jingle Bells’ Has Racist Origins

Reid shared a video made by social media creator Khalil Greene that claims 'Jingle Bells' has a racist origin.

A viral video shared by Joy Reid is sparking conversations about the origins of “Jingle Bells” and whether or not the Christmas tune is racist.

Reid shared a video made by social media creator Khalil Greene that claims “Jingle Bells” has a racist origin. The headlines have largely focused on Reid and whether or not she is participating in the “attack on Christmas.” Yet, Greene’s video offered more than a blanket statement. In the Instagram post, Greene traced the song’s origins and its creator. He created multiple visual backdrops and captions accompanied by a slow version of “Jingle Bells” in the background.

Greene explored the minstrel entertainment period and the song’s composer, James Lord Pierpont. Coupled together, Greene’s assertions seem to be supported. The video references academic research that examines how “Jingle Bells” was first performed publicly in the mid-1800s. 

The discussion stems from “The Story I Must Tell: ‘Jingle Bells’ in the Minstrel Repertoire,” written by historian Kyna Hamill and published in Theatre Survey, a peer-reviewed journal from Cambridge University Press.

Hamill asserted that the song debuted in 1857 at Ordway Hall in Boston during a minstrel show. 

“The song was first performed in blackface,” Hamill wrote. The article added that minstrel shows of the era were performed by white entertainers who wore blackface and presented caricatures of Black people.

Pierpont was involved in minstrel performance culture, which was common in American entertainment during the 19th century. Hamill’s research examined how the song circulated within the minstrel tradition rather than how it is used in contemporary holiday celebrations. 

The viral video does not argue that modern performances of “Jingle Bells” carry racist intent. Instead, the claims are made in context with the historical conditions of the time. Pierpont was a Confederate whose other works used racist language, including the n-word.

Hamill’s research has circulated periodically online since it was first published, often resurfacing during the holiday season. However, this new revival of the conversation centers Reid, though she plays no hand in the original video, research, or the conditions under which the song was made.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Santa Is Coming To Town: Here’s Where You Can Catch The Christmas Icon

Kentucky, Louisville, Small Business, grant
by Kandiss Edwards

December 13, 2025

$70M Lawsuit Alleges Kansas City, Missouri, Entertainment District Blocked Black Businesses Over Fear Of ‘Hip-Hop Crowds’

The plaintiffs are seeking damages for alleged interference with their ability to operate and earn revenue. 

A federal civil rights lawsuit seeking $70 million alleges Missouri’s Westport Community Improvement District conspired to exclude Black business owners from one of Kansas City’s most popular entertainment districts.

Local civil rights groups are throwing their support behind the case. Euphoric LLC, UniKC LLC, and The Sourze LLC filed the lawsuit in federal court earlier this year. The suit alleges the Westport CID and property owners used discriminatory practices to block Black-led ventures in the Westport entertainment district. The plaintiffs are seeking $70 million in damages for alleged interference with their ability to operate and earn revenue. 

The lawsuit claims Westport’s governing board questioned prospective tenants about the type of music they plan to feature and the crowd they expect. Additionally, the governing board inquired whether the business would attract “Hip-Hop crowds,” allegations that plaintiffs say reflect biased gatekeeping. 

Christopher Lee, one of the business owners suing the CID, told KCTV 5, “I paid my deposit. I gave them a concept. It wasn’t good enough,” after he said he met requirements but was denied the opportunity to open his business. 

Gwen Grant, president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said civil rights groups hope increased attention will “add weight” to the case, “she said. “Now, people are going to be watching, and we need to lift this up now before they put even more attention on us around the world,” she said, referring to Kansas City’s selection to host international events. 

The Westport Community Improvement District issued a statement responding to the lawsuit and civil rights support, strongly refuting the allegations.

In its statement, the Community Improvement District said, “The Westport Community Improvement District strongly refutes the allegations made by Euphoric, Unikc, and The Sourze. While we can’t discuss active litigation, we are confident the facts will show these claims are without merit. Westport is one of Kansas City’s most diverse and welcoming districts. For decades, people of all backgrounds have lived, worked, and opened businesses here. Diversity isn’t just a value we believe in—it’s good business and a key reason Westport remains a vibrant destination.”

RELATED CONTENT: Michael Jordan Emerges Victorious As NASCAR Agrees To Settle Antitrust Lawsuit

×