Drake used the charitable moment to school his crowd of fans about the importance of considering others since we never know the personal battles people are facing.
“Listen, this is what life is about. I’m trying to teach you something tonight. I want you to understand something tonight,” Drake explained.
“You never know what the next person is going through. You never know what the person in front of you, to the left of you, to the right of you, behind you, is going through.”
Many who viewed the clip judged the fan for seemingly being rewarded after making an irresponsible decision.
“So we are rewarding people for being financially irresponsible?” one person asked.
“Furniture money?? I mean, maybe they didn’t need it that bad but to be rewarded 50k for that??” added someone else.
“It’s ppl out here really struggling while still being responsible.”
This is the latest pricey gift Drake has given a fan while on tour. Last month, the “Hotline Bling” rapper gave one woman a Chanel bag for her birthday during his Los Angeles tour stop.
Drake gives fan in the crowd a Chanel Bag for her birthday;
4 Ways Content Creators Can Turn their Passion Into A Business
The creator economy was worth $104.2 billion as of mid-2022. Out of over 300 million creators worldwide, Black creators are empowered to make an impact bigger than themselves.
This ambitious group of filmmakers, producers, musicians, authors, television writers, fashion gurus, entrepreneurs, and inventors haven’t always gotten the recognition or the pay equality they deserve. But in a world full of systemic racism, rapidly evolving technology, and robots generating more content than ever before, there is only one special gem: You.
If you are a content creator, the possibilities are endless. But launching a business requires a different mindset than creating content. According to Linktree’s 2022 Creator Report, most creators are at the semi-professional level, with 66% of creators considering themselves part-time.
Here’s how your content creation skills can grow beyond a passion project and into a profitable enterprise.
Think like a producer
Let’s face it. Scrolling aimlessly on social media is not a productivity tool when you want to focus on growing your business. In fact, a way to make more use of your time as a content creator is to leverage its power in an intentional way. Avoid spending tons of hours every week creating or scrolling, and get back to more important activities. Put a system in place that works for you.
Define your audience, so connecting with them can be more of a walk in the park than a disconnect.
Develop a sustainable content creation productivity system that can include outsourcing tools, content calendars, goal-setting, and repurposing content.
Tap into like-minded creators’ profiles and engage with their audience
Learn the mindset of an entrepreneur
Understanding some key entrepreneurial skills and traits is important when learning how to think and act like an entrepreneur. Don’t just talk the talk. Own your work. It’s not easy if you’re just getting your feet wet, but the time can be worth it. Among some of the most essential entrepreneurial mindset characteristics include:
Practicing decisiveness. It not only builds confidence for you but for your brand as it can potentially face challenges on any given day.
A growth-oriented mindset helps you understand and create your own definition of success.
If you’re too comfortable being independent, try collaborating with other creators possibly in the same niche. See where the magic can lead you.
Build and grow a magnetic personal brand
As a soloprenuer, there is more power in your personal brand than you might know. There are many content creators who only create content. So how do you stand out from the competitive landscape and achieve growth? Bring your authentic self to the table and maintain a level consistency that can potentially score points with establishing credibility, attracting clients, and differentiating yourself in the market.
With your audience in mind, deliver on a valuable offer via content that they can benefit from directly.
Give your audience some insight into who you are behind the brand and the creative process.
Interact with followers beyond your customer base, respond to social media comments, and send special thank-you notes to customers who leave positive reviews.
Monetize your know-how, talents, and offerings
Influencers can get paid and so can you. In fact, content creators can earn over $50,000 a year and brand sponsorships remains most creators’ No. 1 revenue stream in 2023. But many creators are now branching out from promoting brands to developing brands of their own. So learn how to monetize your work. This can help you build a career with a steady income from your content creation.
From webinars to how-to-guides and ebooks, teach what you know to an open minded audience who aspire to create.
Offer subscriptions for eager audience members who would prefer exclusive, ad-free or ongoing content.
If you are planning to create content around a specific topic, participate in affiliate marketing so you can earn money for recommending products or services.
Ohio Authorities Release Bodycam Footage Of Officers Fatally Shooting Pregnant Black Mother
On September 1, Ohio police released the disturbing bodycam footage showing officers shooting and killing Ta’Kiya Young, a pregnant Black woman. The 21-year-old’s family called the video’s release a “gross misuse of power and authority.”
The shooting occurred on Aug. 24 in the Ohio suburb of Blendon Township, where Young had been sitting in her car outside a grocery store. The footage showed an officer—whose face and badge were redacted from the video—standing at the driver’s side window of Young’s care and ordering her to “get out of the car.”
The officer accused Young of shoplifting and repeatedly demanded that the pregnant woman get out of the car, with his gun seemingly drawn. Instead of complying, Young appeared to accelerate her vehicle toward the parking lot exit. A second police officer fired through her front windshield, fatally striking the young Black mother. The video then shows her dark-colored sedan drifting to the side of the grocery store. The police officers on the scene chased the slow-moving car and manually broke her window. No medical assistance was shown to be provided on the bodycam footage from any of the officers.
Young’s unborn baby, who was expected to arrive in November, did not survive the incident.
According to the Associated Press, the Young family was able to view the footage of Ta’Kiya’s last moments before it was released publicly. They released a statement under the supervision of their attorney, Sean Walton, on Friday.
The statement began, “Having viewed the footage in its entirety, it is undeniable that Ta’Kiya’s death was not only avoidable, but also a gross misuse of power and authority.”
Walton affirmed to the public that they would seek criminal indictment of the officers involved in Young’s death, saying the video’s release came on the heels of the family’s growing frustration with Ohio authorities delaying the release of the bodycam footage.
Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford claimed that the delay was procedural, as the staff had to process the video and adequately redact the identifiable information of the officers involved.
The two officers seen in the footage are on paid administrative leave as the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation closely examines the details of the shooting.
Young leaves behind two sons: 6-year-old Ja’Kobie and 3-year-old Ja’Kenlie.
Cardi B And Megan Thee Stallion Win Copyright Lawsuit Over “WAP” and “Thot Sh*t”
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have won a lawsuit that accused them of stealing lyrics from another female rapper.
On Tuesday, Aug. 29, a Manhattan federal judge ruled that lyrics from the music superstars’ songs “WAP” and “Thot Sh*t” were too unoriginal to be covered by copyright law, Billboardreports. The lyrics in question, “p—- so wet” and “n—-s wild’n,” were said to have been the byproduct of a “copy and paste” from a track that came out in early 2020 called “Grab Em by the P—-.”
Denise Jones, a rapper who performs under the name Necey X, filed the lawsuit against Cardi (real name Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar), Megan (real name Megan Pete) and Atlantic Records, claiming they copied lyrics from her song that she released months ahead of “WAP” and “Thot Sh*t.”
However, according to U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jones failed to secure valid copyrights for the lyrics in question, and Cardi and Megan’s lyrics were not “substantially similar” to those in Jones’s song.
“Defendants’ lyric, ‘why you in the club with n—-s wild’n,’ poses a question to the rapper (or to the audience), while plaintiff’s lyric refers to the rapper’s effect on a single individual,” the judge wrote. “Thus, the phrase is used in different ways and has different meanings such that an ordinary listener would not identify defendants’ lyric as being appropriated from plaintiff’s song.”
“The concept of using ‘p—- so wet’ as a rhetorical device in a song is neither original nor unique to plaintiff,” the judge added.
“Likewise, defendants have provided examples of at least three songs pre-dating [‘Grab Em’] which use some variation of the phrase ‘n—–s wild’n.’”
The judge also shut down Jones’ claims of being stalked and harassed by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, something Carter deemed “generalized allegations,” that never “identifies any negligent conduct on the part of defendants or any special duty to avoid causing emotional distress.”
Kroger Opens Food Pantry In Atlanta High School To Fight Hunger
Grocery store chain Kroger is taking action against students’ food insecurity by helping to open a food pantry at Benjamin E. Mays High School in the southwestern part of Atlanta.
According to WSB-TV, the free resource for students to receive meals outside of the cafeteria officially started Monday, Aug. 28. A crucial addition to the new school year, the student-run food pantry will help students who struggle with food insecurities outside of class.
Kroger’s Zero Hunger-Zero Waste foundation led to the creation of this new outlet for students to obtain food. The first installment is at Benjamin E. Mays High School. The goal, according to Tammie Young-Enaemba, manager of corporate affairs for Kroger’s Atlanta division, is to build ways to ensure students’ main concern—that is, is not how they will eat, but how they will succeed.
“This high school food pantry will help ensure students can focus on their education instead of hunger,” shared Young-Ennaemba.
The unveiling of the food pantry was met with support from the Atlanta community, including Mayor Andre Dickens, who led the ribbon cutting at his alma mater.
“More than half a million residents in metro Atlanta are projected to be food insecure and a rise in food prices has caught many of our neighbors off guard, so it becomes incumbent on us to look out for each other and help each other as best we can. Thank you to Kroger for stepping up and putting in on this group project,” he said.
“Our partnership with Kroger and the City of Atlanta is an example of when schools and community organizations work together, lives are transformed, and everyone can benefit,” saidRamon Garner, Benjamin E. Mays High School’s principal. The pantry, he added, “will fill in the gaps of food insecurity and in turn, help students become more successful in school.”
Africa Fashion Week London To Join Black History And Lifestyle Awards
The United Kingdom is set to have a monumental Black History Month in October. Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) will partner with Black History and Lifestyle Awards (BHLA) for a fashion show in addition to many other festivities.
The collaborative event will run Oct. 27 to 29, 2023, with activities celebrating Black achievement in fashion and in society, as reported by The Sun. Africa Fashion Week London’s 13 years of highlighting African designers, will also be commemorated during the weekend’s events.
AFWL’s founder, Olori Ronke Ademiluyi Ogunwusil, shared that her attendance at the Black History and Lifestyle Awards in 2022 prompted the conversation surrounding a possible collaboration between AFWL and BHLA. And now Africa Fashion Week London’s relatively short quest to honor London’s Black History Month is complete.
“We both decided that, rather than her doing her show independently, we could come together, bring our forces together, bring our energy and network opportunity to just showcase Africa to the world,” shared the founder. “In addition to that, we are launching our first UK trade expo this year. Why we decided to do that is that we’ve noticed that, over the years, fashion is beyond just showcasing designs on the runway. So, we are trying to showcase the entire value chain of the industry.”
The organizers of AFWL and BHLA are more than ready to showcase Black-owned business on a global platform.
“We are trying to change the narrative of this Black slavery stint and showcase our heritage, our culture, and let people know that Black-owned businesses have come to stay,” said Ezi-Ada Folashade Balogun, one of the initiators of BHLA and founder of African fashion brand, House of Sota.
The fashion show will feature prominent celebrities walking the runway and be a gathering spot for all to witness the greatness of Black fashion and entrepreneurship.
Orange Blossom Classic Now A Powerful Annual Event For HBCUs
The Orange Blossom Classic is emerging as a household name in sporting events, all thanks to its executive director Kendra Bulluck-Major, who pulled out all the stops to ensure the HBCU classic was a success.
According to HBCU Legends, Bulluck-Major utilized her vast network and love for sports and HBCUs to create a memorable event in Miami Gardens, Florida. She shared how she made the spectacle happen to much positive feedback from fans and attendees alike.
“I think what makes our program unique is that we not only allow businesses to participate in events like tailgates or fan fests, but we also provide contracting opportunities, such as dropping porta potties at the parade. We ensure that businesses have all the necessary paperwork and then ask them to submit a quote from our business unit list.”
Bulluck-Major made the smart choice to incorporate many amenities and sponsorships into the football game. With the inclusion of exclusive seating options and complimentary food and beverage service, the event director made guests feel like they were part of a luxury experience while enjoying the Sept. 3 football game between Florida A&M and Jackson State.
Not only did she specialize in the trend of curating guests’ experiences, she made sure to collaborate with minority-owned businesses to help the community once they left the stadium. By mixing big-name sponsors and highlighting homegrown businesses, Bulluck-Major directed attention toward the benefits of supporting students through financial aid.
“The beautiful thing about this event is that if you are a corporate sponsor, you’re aligning yourself with well-known and respected brands. And that says a lot,” she said..
Florida A&M beat Jackson State, but the game’s impact on HBCU sports and the economic gains of the Black community is the big winner—and its success is just starting.
“…To date in Miami Dade County, this game has given a $27,000,000 economic impact,” Bulluck-Major told HBCU Legends. “That’s big. And we know that over $6 million has specifically gone to minority-owned businesses.”
Woman Hit With A Brick For Not Giving Her Number To Cat-Calling Man
A woman has gone viral on social media for her extensive injuries after a man threw a brick at her for not giving out her number. The woman’s video, taken from her stay at the hospital, showed her breaking down in tears as she explained the story.
The footage was re-shared by online tabloid TheNeighborhoodTalk.
“What have I ever to anybody in my life to deserve this?” shared the injured woman. “I have never done anything in my life to hurt anybody. Literally a man asked me for my number and I said, ‘No.’ And he picked up a brick, in front of so many men, and was like, ‘What are you going to do?'”
The bystanders, she said, watched the man not only throw the brick at her to flee the scene by car. From her hospital room, the battered woman was clearly at a loss for how so many people could allow the incident to unfold. She continued bashing the assaulter and the men who believe this behavior is acceptable.
“How is this OK? This is what y’all are doing to women,” she said.
The catcalling of women going about their business by unrelenting men is a never-ending problem that is leading to women facing more severe actions against them. The bystanders have also not been reprimanded, but are a part of a problem since they did not intervene.
The woman’s injuries include a knot that takes over half of her face; she is currently seeking treatment in hopes that the swelling lessens. As for the man who threw the brick, his whereabouts are currently unknown.
According to The Shade Room, the incident occurred in Houston. Newsweek wrote that it had reached out to the Houston Police Department for more information but had yet to hear back.
Jay-Z And Offset Apparently Show Kris Jenner How To Electric Slide At Beyonce’s LA Tour Stop
Some social media users would like to know why Kris Jenner seemingly needed a tutorial from Jay-Z and Offset on how to do the “Electric Slide.”
A video making the rounds across social media shows Jay-Z and Offset turning up in Club Renaissance to Beyoncé’s live performance of “Before I Let Go.” Bey and Cardi B‘s husbands were hitting their “Electric Slide” two-step with Kris Jenner and her boyfriend Cory Gamble close by.
The only thing is Kris looked completely confused about how to do the popular line dance. A Beyoncé fan page posted a clip claiming that Jay-Z was “teaching Kris Jenner the electric slide,” with Offset.
But with the “Electric Slide” coming out in 1990, many social media users were confused as to why Kris didn’t appear to know the dance “in her big age.”
“Damn why her black bf ain’t teach her before she went lol,” one user wrote.
“Ion like that she don’t know how to do it at her BIG age and all the culture she’s been around! This was not the moment,” added someone else.
Beyoncé brought the stars out for her three-night stint of “Renaissance” shows in Los Angeles with names like Offset, Lil Wayne, and DJ Khaled serving as opening acts. Friday, September 1 was night one of Bey’s reign at SoFi Stadium. Silver was her requested theme.
A star-studded crowd filled the audience with names like Tracee Ellis Ross, Kelly Rowland, and Meghan Markle seen sporting their “Renaissance”-inspired fashions. Prince Harry joined the Duchess of Sussex but let her be as she danced away to Beyonce’s “Diva” with her girlfriends.
Even as the daughter of Diana Ross, Tracee Ellis Ross is a proud Bey Hive member who showed off the silver sequined Paco Rabanne dress she wore to “Club Renaissance.”
Tipping has become a hotly debated topic in recent years, and as CNN reports, it can evoke negative emotions in customers when asked to tip.
New York resident Carly Cullen told CNN, “It’s tricky everywhere. If you’re at a coffee shop, if you’re out at the hairstylist, if you’re coming out of a taxi—I don’t know the rules then, and I often don’t know what to tip.” Cullen also said she feels pressure to tip in those places and almost always does.
A joint study conducted by the University of Temple and Purdue University found that when presented with a screen asking for a tip, participants experienced more negative emotions than those who were not. Tipping, as a practice, is standard in the restaurant industry, a trade-off for the typically low, sub-minimum wage hourly rates. However, that trend is creeping into other sectors, such as coffee shops or pizza parlors, and this sometimes increases the pressure to tip while other customers or employees watch.
In eight states, the tipped minimum wage has been eliminated. A group called One Fair Wage is pushing for businesses to pay a state’s minimum wage plus tips. Business owners, however, are thinking about their bottom lines and say that low minimum wage plus tips enables them to keep costs down.
Emily Mingrone, owner of a butcher shop and two restaurants in New Haven, Connecticut, told CNN, “I’m against it, and I think frankly it’s kind of clueless,” Mingrone explains. “That’s money that’s going to come out of my pocket, take away from the people that aren’t getting tipped. I would need to raise my prices, which then causes pushback from the guest.”
Workers worry that the growing push for tips from businesses could end up hurting them. Destiny Fox, a restaurant worker at two establishments in Chicago, told CNN that her opposition to eliminating the tipped wages minimum wage stems from a fear that it could erode good customer service. “It would damage the city big time. It would push business out of the city, push people out of the city, customers even. I don’t think they would be coming to restaurants if they don’t get the service that they’re used to. I don’t think it’s a good idea at all.”
