In addition to the “Happy” singer serving as an early investor in Human Made since its launch in 2010, Pharrell and Nigo launched Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream together.
“He didn’t have an official role and I thought it was time to make it official that he’s actually advising on the direction of the brand,” Nigo said.
“I’ve really just started talking about it with Pharrell now in this position, and Brian Donnelly [known professionally as Kaws] is also an adviser,” Nigo told WWD. “So now the three of us are officially going to have this responsibility and we’re going to start working out plans.”
Nigo and Pharrell announced their official partnership through an Instagram post last week.
“Welcoming Pharrell as an advisor to the HUMAN MADE team ❤️彡,” Nigo captioned a photo of the two.
“Love you brother,” Pharrell wrote in response.
Pharrell is currently serving as Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director, where he recently unveiled an American western cowboy-themed runway show at Paris Fashion Week, TMZreported. LV’s A/W 2024 collection includes fringed coats with the signature LV logo, silk shirts, and bootcut denim. Models even showed off their strength by lugging carts of Louis Vuitton suitcases down the runway.
Celebrity A-listers flocked to the show, including actor Bradley Cooper, rapper Quavo (who wore an LV-monogrammed Canadian tuxedo), rapper Gunna (who paired a fuzzy LV bag with an all-black leather LV ensemble), and Swae Lee, according toGQ.
Meanwhile, according to WWD, Nigo will unveil his fall 2024 men’s and women’s collections for Kenzo on Friday as part of men’s fashion week in Paris.
New York Mets Legends Dwight Gooden And Darryl Strawberry Will Have Numbers Retired This Season
Gooden will have his No. 16 retired on April 14, while Strawberry's No. 18 will take place on June 1.
During the 1980s, New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden and outfielder Darryl Strawberry were always connected. Now, their legacies with the team will be immortalized together when the Mets retire their baseball jerseys this upcoming season.
The Major League Baseball team has announced that two of their brightest stars will be recognized for their contributions to the game in the coming months. Gooden will have his No. 16 retired on April 14, while Strawberry will get the same treatment for his No. 18 uniform on June 1. Both ceremonies will occur at the Mets’ home stadium, Citi Field.
Secure your tickets NOW for our two number retirements! Use code LGM24 for presale tickets.
“It’s the highest honor you can get from a team,” Gooden said in a written statement. “I know for myself … even when I was with the Yankees, I always considered myself a Met. I always wanted to retire as a Met. … I can’t thank [owners] Steve and Alex [Cohen] and the board enough to give me this great honor I can share with my teammates, the fans, and my family. I’m looking forward to this day. It’s the greatest honor I can achieve in baseball.”
Gooden will be the ninth, and Strawberry will be the 10th player to have their jerseys hanging from the rafters. They join Willie Mays, Keith Hernandez, Jerry Koosman, Mike Piazza, Jackie Robinson, Tom Seaver, Gil Hodges, and Casey Stengel.
“We had an opportunity to be young players and come up through the farm system, develop and become the type of players that we were … in the city that is very tough to play in, said Strawberry. “I’m so glad that we had an opportunity to play in New York City in the National League at Shea Stadium. I wouldn’t trade it in for anything. … To be able to have this honor … your number is going to be retired, and that’s forever, it’s bigger than going into the [Baseball] Hall of Fame.”
The former players had the distinction of playing for both New York teams, as each also played with the New York Yankees.
Gooden wore the Mets uniform from 1984 to 1994, while Strawberry donned the blue, white, and orange from 1983 to 1990.
HBCU Spelman College Receives $100M Donation, Largest In School’s History
Spelman College has received a $100 million gift from Ronda Stryker, the longest-serving member of the Spelman College Board of Trustees.
Ronda Stryker, the longest-serving member of the Spelman College Board of Trustees, and her husband, William Johnston, have made a $100 million donation to the HBCU, the largest in school history.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionreports Spelman will use $75 million to fund endowed scholarships for future students. The remaining $25 million will be used to renovate dormitories, develop an academic focus on democracy and public policy, and provide flexible funding to support other needs.
Spelman College announces a record-breaking $100 million donation — the largest-ever single donation to any HBCU: “Today is a major step to ensure more young women can achieve their dreams.” pic.twitter.com/5Hqv7ixqR8
Stryker currently sits on the board of directors of Stryker Corp, a Michigan-based medical technologies firm founded by her grandfather. Johnston is chairman of Greenleaf Trust, an investment banking firm.
Spelman President Dr. Helene Gayle called the gift “transformational” for the school’s 2,600 female students and was brought to tears when she heard about the donation.
“I hope this is a message that says HBCUs that already punch well above their weight are worth investing in. We know that there’s a huge return in investment,” Gayle said, according to the AJC.
Gayle added that this is a historical moment for HBCUs across the country, which are woefully underfunded when compared to Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). According to a 2021 report from the Century Foundation, the size of endowments per full-time student at private non-HBCU schools was, on average, seven times larger than that of private HBCUs.
This was not the only large donation made to HBCUs this year. Last week the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) announced it received a $100 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. The UNCF will use the money to create an endowment fund to be shared by three dozen HBCUs across the country, including Spelman College.
Spelman’s average annual cost — which includes tuition, fees, and living expenses minus the average grants and scholarships for federal financial aid recipients — is about $29,000, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Gayle added she hopes to raise enough money to meet the full need of students at some point, which she estimates would take $500 million.
The donation coincides with the 100th anniversary of the college’s name, which was changed from the Baptist Female Seminary to Spelman Seminary in 1884 in honor of Laura Spelman Rockefeller and her parents, Harvey Buel and Lucy Henry Spelman, longtime activists in the antislavery movement.
If you received a windfall out of the blue, you must plan a budget for it.
Originally Published Sep. 23, 2016
You’ve finally hit the jackpot! Now what? Just as you should budget for emergencies, you can also be prepared for unexpected windfalls.
We all know what it feels like to get hit with an unanticipated bill or expense. On the other hand, there are times money falls into our hands unexpectedly: a big tax refund, a major cash gift from a relative, a stock that skyrockets in value, a run of luck at the casino, or even hitting the lottery.
Having a plan for unexpected windfalls can be as important as anticipating surprise expenses. Just remember; debt first, savings second, and spending last.
Windfall Budget Priority 1: Debt
First, put at least 50% of all windfalls, what I lovingly refer to as “found money,” toward paying down debt, starting with high-interest rate credit cards.
Paying down your high-interest debt will bring some immediate benefits. For example, reducing the amount of credit you have in use will have a positive impact on your credit scores. In fact, the boost can be both quick and dramatic. Also, lowering your balances will reduce or eliminate your monthly interest payments, freeing up those funds for other uses.
The key here is to resist the urge to charge your credit cards back up after you’ve paid them down. You don’t need more than two major credit cards (avoid store-based cards), and you should only be carrying one (at most). Stash the other away for emergencies only, such as an unexpected home maintenance or auto repair bill. Keeping your credit in use to no more than a third of your available credit will further strengthen your credit scores.
See? You’ve already made your big payoff, well, pay off!
Windfall Budget Priority 2: Savings
Second, put at least 10% of your windfalls toward your long-term, emergency savings fund—to be touched only in case of loss or interruption of income. Don’t have one? Then now, when you have money that is not yet spoken for, is the perfect time to start one.
If your debt is under control, meaning that you are making all payments on time and use less than 30% of your available credit, then put as much as 20% of your windfalls toward savings.
If your emergency savings account is fully funded—meaning you have at least six months of your annual income saved—put some or all of this 20% into your retirement savings account, up to the legal max.
Windfall Budget Priority 3: Spending
Third, have fun with what’s left! Spend it any way you want to. It’s a great way to reward yourself for making debt reduction and boosting savings higher priorities than just blowing your windfall.
However, don’t get carried away. Spend only what’s left of your windfall. Again, resist the urge to splurge your way to new debt. In fact, if you have a compulsive spending problem it might be best for you to forego this third option entirely.
Atlanta Hawks Recognize Black Woman-Owned Beverage Company For ‘Lifting The 404’
Dr. Bianca Kiovanni is quickly becoming a name in Atlanta's entrepreneurial scene.
Dr. Bianca Kiovanni, creator and owner of Atlanta-based Simplicity Beverage Company, entered the industry, she says, “by mistake, on purpose.” As the new year unfolds, Kiovanni’s small business is receiving its flowers for continuing to impact the city positively.
On Jan. 15, the Atlanta Hawks and UPS, the team’s official delivery and hometown logistics partner, launched Lift the 404, according to a press release provided to BLACK ENTERPRISE. Kiovanni, and by extension her Simplicity Beverage Company, was the first honoree during Monday’s nationally televised game against the San Antonio Spurs.
“I am honored to the Hawks and UPS for choosing Simplicity Beverage Company, my Atlanta homegrown business as a Lift the 404 honoree,” Kiovanni said in the release. “I am pleased to cheer on the home team at State Farm Arena on this historic Martin Luther King Day.”
“It’s Now or Never”
By day, Kiovanni is a chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner specializing in nutritional counseling. Her knack for advising patients on the food they eat grew into an enlightening realization about the importance of what they drink, too.
And there came the inspiration behind the intentional tagline of Simplicity Beverage: “Clean Ingredients, Complex Flavors.”
Kiovanni married her interests in health and food with “Droplets of Knowledge,” factoids about the healthy ingredients in her beverages printed on the front of each bottle.
In 2021, Kiovanni launched four flavors of beverages. Her collection of nonalcoholic, vegan, gluten-free iced teas and lemonades are all sweetened with sugarcane. There is no artificial dye food coloring, and all products are made in Atlanta using high-pressure processing that allow her beverages to last up to 12 weeks in a refrigerated environment. As a testament to her passion, Kiovanni was a finalist at BevNET Live’s Showdown in December 2021.
Source: Simplicity Beverage Company / Created via Canva
“I literally got in my own kitchen one day and said, ‘Is it possible to come up with something that tastes good, that’s full of flavor, that doesn’t have the chemicals, the processing, the artificial colors, the sweeteners, things of that nature?’ And that’s exactly how Simplicity was born,” Kiovanni said in an interview with Hiperbaric.
“I would just tinker with it over the past 10 years because it was something that I always had to do after work. I tried to launch the company several times, and it seemed every time, something catastrophic would happen, the last one being the pandemic.”
What does it mean to “Lift the 404”?
During five games this season, the Hawks will don their Fly City Edition uniforms and, in partnership with UPS, recognize five minority-owned businesses.
“To ‘Lift the 404′ means that your business cares deeply about having a positive impact on Atlanta and its people,” said Hawks’ Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and People Officer Camye Mackey in a press release.
In March 2022, the Hawks launched Hawks Ventures, a mission-driven venture fund that will invest $50 million in early-stage startups and businesses, combining two primary focus areas: “minority- and women-led/underrepresented businesses and customer-obsessed businesses with the potential to impact or transform the way a product or service is experienced,” the press release stated.
The Hawks also teamed up with Black Girl Ventures to offer local Black and Brown entrepreneurs the chance to “Pull Up & Pitch” their business ideas with the chance of winning up to $10,000. And the work continues to spotlight small businesses.
Thanks to a collaboration with the Hawks and Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) collaboration, Simplicity Beverage Company will be honored along with four other local companies—and receive resources and financial opportunities—later this season.
In 2022, UPS and RICE released the UPS Logistics Launchpad, a logistics hub for Atlanta-based Black entrepreneurs in Atlanta that equips them with the resources to launch, scale, and grow their businesses. The UPS Foundation has provided nearly $3 million to support diverse-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Katt Williams Reveals Upcoming Album, Including Unreleased Tupac Tracks
The controversial comedian states there will be eight featured guests on the album, including Tupac & Cardi B
With all the attention in the entertainment world being on Katt Williams, he continues to make moves and shock audiences as he prepares for his tour. The latest revelation from Katt is an upcoming album by slain rapper Tupac Shakur.
The controversial comedian appeared on Suge Knight’s ninth episode of his ‘Collect Call’ podcast, which he is doing from prison. Knight is serving a 28-year sentence after pleading no contest to a charge of voluntary manslaughter after he was involved in a fatal hit-and-run incident in 2015. In the episode released on Tuesday, Jan. 16, Williams revealed plans to release a posthumous album by the Death Row recording artist.
During the conversation, Knight mentioned the various projects done on Tupac, even bringing up an unreleased “failed” project by Eminem. The co-founder of Death Row Records stated that Katt cared for Tupac and led with the question: “What you got going on with some of those unreleases (sic) with ‘Pac, sh**, you got me excited. The different people you said you’re gonna put on there. I don’t wanna let the cat out the bag, but, you know, it’s unbelievable.”
Katt then said the album would have eight guests, the “only the best of the best.”
Knight mentions one of the guests slated to appear on the album: “I heard Cardi B on the project with you. Is that true?”
To which Katt admits it is true: “Absolutely.”
Suge concludes the discussion: “I always say she’s the female version of Tupac.”
Katt replies: “We love Cardi B. She’s going to mix with him nicely. Everybody that’s on it is a piece of him, in a way, so, it will bring it all together.”
Katt has been the hot topic of discussion ever since he appeared on Shannon Sharpe‘s podcast, “Club Shay Shay,” where he spoke his truth about many topics, specifically when he name-checked several known comedians, which started an uproar. That interview resulted in reactions from Cedric the Entertainer, Kevin Hart, Michael Blackson, and even a response from “Fast & Furious” rapper and actor Ludacris.
4 Ways To Help Loved Ones Dealing With Financial Hardships
When a family member is in financial need there are more ways to help than just monetarily.
Originally Published Feb. 1, 2019.
Approximately 1 in 5 Americans do not have emergency savings to cover a $500 emergency, according to personal finance website Bankrate. This statistic became a heartbreaking reality when real-life financial hardship stories recently surfaced due to the federal furlough.
Unexpected emergencies like medical bills, the death of a family member, job termination, or an unwarranted furlough are common causes of most financial traumas. The reasons people do not set aside money for these unexpected emergencies range from unlivable wages; sluggish salary raises with rapid inflation, unfair wage gaps, or even poor financial habits.
When a loved one is dealing with a temporary financial hardship, there are ways to provide assistance or relief.
4 Ways to Help Loved Ones Dealing with Financial Hardships
Lend money
If you can lend money to a loved one and are confident you will be repaid, offer a short-term loan. Treat the loved one with compassion, but explain that the offer is a loan expected to be paid back.
Write up and sign an agreement between you (lender) and the loved one (borrower) to clarify the financial transaction as a loan.
Repayment terms (monthly payments over a specific period or a lump sum on a certain date)
In the event of nonpayment, the loan agreement should also include:
Modification of loan terms
Taking ownership of collateral
Possible legal action
Hard feelings and arguments between relatives and friends occur when money is lent in good faith but not repaid. So, take the advice I give to my clients who consider lending a loved one cash …
“If you can’t afford to give the money, don’t lend it.”
Give money
Instead of lending the money, give the loved one the amount of cash you can afford as a gift. Giving money as a gift releases the possible future tension if the loved one does not pay you back. Consider it as a few early birthday or Christmas gifts.
When giving money, do it privately, discreetly, and without pity. Many loved ones suffer in silence financially because they do not want their business to be shared.
Assure the loved one that you will not share the monetary gift with anyone. Respecting the loved one’s need for privacy is important, especially if they are a very private or prideful person.
Pay a bill directly
Consider paying a specific bill or expense directly if you prefer not to give a loved one cash or if they do not want to accept your loan or a monetary gift.
Paying utility, car, insurance, or even a rent or mortgage payment will release a significant financial burden.
Some companies, like PECO, formally Philadelphia Electric Company, allow people to help out and pay a bill on behalf of their customers.
Provide a service
Perhaps you may be unable to give a loved one money.
An act of service will go a long way when it comes to helping a loved one experiencing financial hardship. Sometimes, taking time to do something for someone is more helpful than giving money.
Some amazing acts of service can include:
Care for the kids
Offer to babysit or care for their elderly family member who requires special attention. This will free up time for the loved one to work another job or get some much-needed rest.
Cook a few meals
You may be aware of a loved one struggling to feed their family. Cook and deliver meals for a few days to offset their grocery bill and relieve the burden of cooking.
Chauffeur
If a loved one does not have transportation, be their chauffeur for one or a few days. Driving them to appointments, running errands, or taking them to their job will be much appreciated.
Clean up the house
Clutter can sometimes cause just as much stress as financial trauma. To eliminate that responsibility from their list, offer to clean a loved one’s kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, or the entire home. Often, a clean environment can calm our consciousness to better deal with difficult situations.
Kanye West To Release 40-Minute Apology To Jewish Community Ahead Of Album Release
Kanye West isn’t done apologizing for his antisemitic past. He reportedly has a 40-minute video apology on the way.
Kanye West isn’t done apologizing for his antisemitic past. He reportedly has a 40-minute video apology on the way.
Sources say the Yeezy founder assembled a camera crew to record a lengthy apology video to the Jewish community, TMZ reports.
Insiders say Kanye was “rambling” and made it nearly impossible to understand what he was saying. The recording is rumored to be released around the time of his album Vultures, to be released February 9.
The collaboration album with singer Ty Dolla Sign has been pushed back a few times since the pair first started teasing songs from the album last year. In the album’s first single, “Vultures,” Kanye combats his antisemitic reputation with the lyrics, “How am I antisemitic? I just fu*ked a Jewish bi*ch.”
Last month, he took to social media to post an apology to the Jewish community in Hebrew.
“I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions. It was not my intention to hurt or disrespect, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused,” the statement read.
“I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future,” he continued. “Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity.”
The apology was so lackluster that many accused Kanye of using ChatGPT to craft the message. Now, the “Stronger” rapper has another apology on the way that could further hurt his reputation with the Jewish community.
Kanye experienced a drastic fall from grace in 2022 following a series of antisemitic attacks on social media and in interviews that resulted in him losing billions in business deals. With new music on the way, Kanye looks to be practicing damage control..
The singer/actor’s company, Voltron Entertainment, recently filed to dismiss the lawsuit it filed against Joan Pendergrass last year over a derailed biopic about Teddy’s life,Radar Online reports. A Notice of Voluntary Dismissal was filed on Dec. 26, which dismissed the case without prejudice.
Tyrese can refile the lawsuit later if he wants.
The Fast and Furious star initially filed the $1 million lawsuit in September 2023 over the rights to a biopic on the late singer, TMZrevealed.
According to Tyrese, Joan Pendergrass gave him her blessing in 2011 to release a book and biopic on her husband’s life in exchange for funding and promotion for the projects. Tyrese agreed and claimed that he and his company invested around $450,000 into the project that he’s been trying to push for a decade.
However, in 2022, Tyrese claimed Joan Pendergrass changed her mind about giving him exclusive rights to Teddy Pendergrass’ life story. He learned she was “still promoting and shopping the project within the motion picture industry” while using his name and “excluding him” from the biopic.
The “Sweet Lady” singer argued she was harming his reputation by “making representations to third parties that Mr. Gibson is attached to star in the Project.”
He sued her as an individual and as the executor over Teddy Pendergrass’ estate for how she “irreparably harmed” the biopic and “significantly harmed Mr. Gibson’s and Voltron’s professional reputations after they staked their names, efforts, and money on the Project to promote it in the industry for nearly a decade, only to have it derailed just as it was getting off the ground with Warner Bros.”
Joan Pendergrass denied any wrongdoing, citing Tyrese’s company assigning Teddy’s life story rights to Warner Bros in 2019. She also accused Tyrese of being a “poor businessman” who was “incapable of getting a movie made.”
Former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer Mulling Mayoral Run Against Eric Adams
Former New York City Comptroller and 2021 mayoral candidate Scott Stringer said Thursday he would form a committee and begin raising funds for a possible primary challenge against Mayor Eric Adams.
Former New York City Comptroller and 2021 mayoral candidate Scott Stringer said Thursday he is forming a committee and beginning to raise funds for a possible primary challenge against Mayor Eric Adams.
The New York Timesreports Stringer is the first Democrat to move toward contesting Adams’ re-election bid.
If Stringer decides to challenge Adams he will have his work cut out for him. The last time an incumbent was defeated by a challenger in a New York City mayoral race was 1989 when David Dinkins defeated Ed Koch.
Adams, the city’s second Black mayor after Dinkins, has had a rocky first term. The former NYPD officer has made several missteps concerning the migrant crisis, budget cuts to schools and libraries, and the FBI investigation into his ties with Turkey. Adams currently has a historically low approval rating of 28%.
Stringer’s announcement could lead to more challengers for Adams, who won a contested race that included Stringer, former Citi executive Ray McGuire, former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia, former Bill de Blasio aide Maya Wiley, and former HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.
According to Stringer, New Yorkers are facing a crisis of confidence and are concerned about City Hall’s ability to manage the budget and the migrant crisis. Stringer believes he’s an experienced alternative who plans to increase affordable housing construction island who can turn the tide of falling revenue and budget cutting.
“Let’s be blunt: Stuff ain’t getting done,” Stringer said, according to the Times, a dig at Adams’ “get stuff done” motto. “I know how to lead. I know how to manage. And I know the finances of the city like the back of my hand.”
Stringer, however, has his own issues. In 2021, an associate of the former comptroller accused him of groping her and pressuring her to have sex with him when he was running for public advocate. Stringer denied all allegations, and sued his accuser, Jean Kim, for defamation, but the claims were enough to all but end his hopes of becoming mayor.
Stringer has planned listening sessions and fund-raising events across the city in the coming days and says he will make a final decision on his candidacy in the second half of the year.
Other potential challengers to Adams include State Senator Jessica Ramos; former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who resigned under allegations of sexual harassment; Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Garcia, who is currently the New York State operations director and finished second in the 2021 Democratic primary.
