DJ Khaled To Open For Beyoncé In Los Angeles Leg Of Renaissance World Tour
Beyoncé reportedly has DJ Khaled riding with her for the last legs of her famed Renaissance World Tour. In an Instagram post, Khaled announced on Aug. 30 that he would open for her during her Los Angeles shows.
The Instagram post includes a video of him talking to fans and paparazzi before a show.
He wrote, “RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR WE ON OUR WAY! Can’t wait to open up for the Queen in LA Sep 1st and Sep 2nd! LETS GO! #FANLUV & #BEYHIVE make sure to get there at 7:30!”
He continued: “Thank you @beyonce @jayz for the invite! When the Queen [crown emoji] calls … I run!! BEYONCÉ DID! ! Til Next Time [peace sign and heart hand sign emojis] @wethebest @rocnation @parkwood FYI I have nooo tickets!”
This is the second time DJ Khaled has gone on tour with Beyoncé; the first was back in 2016 when she was on her Formation World Tour. Following its successful conclusion, the 47-year-old New Orleans native shared kind words for the Queen Bee in a touching and intimate thank-you message.
The music producer captioned a photo of him and Beyoncé together, writing, “Dreams come true. Don’t ever let ‘they’ tell you you can’t do it. They told me I would never tour. Well I just finished touring with the biggest artist walking the planet.”
He added, “They told me I would never touch a stage in a high school arena. Well I just finished touching the stage in every stadium in every major city in America. Dreams come true. But you have to work hard, you gotta work very hard!!!”
“In order to stand beside the icon @beyonce You got to work hard for over 25 years and dedicate your blood sweat and tears to making your dreams a reality. I want to thank Beyoncé for putting me on stage in front of a stadium full of loyal fans of the Hive and Fan luv!”
Toya & Reginae Get Real About Family And Life Drama In New Reality Show
Toya Johnson-Rushing and Reginae Carter are ready to take reality TV by storm with their new WeTV series Toya & Reginae.
The new show offers fans a peek at what’s happening in their love lives, family, and careers, and follows how they navigate those relationships. Giving fans an inside look into the ups and downs of one of Atlanta’s most dynamic mother-daughter duos, viewers are also introduced to other members of their family, including Toya’s mom, siblings, and Reginae’s close circle of friends.
As the ex-wife and daughter of hip-hop legend Lil Wayne, Toya and Reginae have both worked hard to build their own brands and empires. Toya & Reginae sees the two managing their businesses, like Toya’s gym, co-owned with her husband, Red Rushing, and Reginae’s career as an actress, YouTuber, and owner of her fitness apparel line I Fit In.
For Reginae, the show is a labor of love as fans will get to see how she’s grown and matured since her early days growing up on reality television.
“You can see the growth in me I feel like everybody watched me literally grow up in this in the social media world and now you’re going to see me become that mature adult and humbling myself,” she told BLACK ENTERPRISE.
It’s been a journey for Toya watching her eldest daughter enter adulthood and move out into her own home. Now with Reginae relocating to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career, they are maintaining a close bond as not only mother and daughter but as friends.
“It’s crazy because we’re so close now but I feel like the balance of why we’re so close now is because I have so much respect for her,” Reginae shared.
“Like every other mother and daughter you go through a rough patch when your kids are going through the teens, but where our relationship is now like stronger than ever,” Toya added.
The powerful pair are no strangers to the spotlight, with every tweet, comment, or post they make being dissected on popular blogs. But the new show highlights how social media is just scratching the surface of their real lives.
“Toya & Reginae” can be watched on WeTV every Thursday at 9 pm ET and on AMC Networks streaming service ALLBLK every Monday. Press play below for the full interview.
In An Attempt To Get Released On Bail, Tory Lanez Married The Mother Of His Child In Jail
Canadian rapper/singer Tory Lanez has reportedly married Raina Chassagne, the mother of his six-year-old child, while he serves his 10-year sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot in 2020. According to a court document obtained by court reporter Megan Cuniff, the marriage is part of Lanez’s motion to be released on bail. Legal experts say this request is essentially a Hail Mary as motions for bail pending an appeal for violent crimes are rarely granted.
Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Louis Shapiro characterized the motion as a way for Lanez’s attorneys to look good to their client, as he explained to Cuniff via a phone interview.
“It’s the defense lawyer trying to make the client happy. That’s what I see here,” Shapiro said. “What’s probably happening is you have a client who is obviously in the celebrity scene, who’s an accomplished artist, and suddenly he finds himself in a very bad situation, being incarcerated for many years, and he’s going to try to look for any way out.”
Lanez’s motion attempts to establish that his appeal raises questions about the validity of his conviction: “Portions (of) the following arguments are in accordance to newly enacted or updated Penal Codes. This is including, but not limited to: issues surrounding the presentation of expert witness testimony and the scientific nature of such evidence as presented to the jury; errors surrounding the addition of the enhancements; the multiplicity and similarity of the instant charges, along with a lack of evidence to carry such elements beyond a reasonable doubt.”
In May, Judge Herriford rejected Lanez’s motion for a new trial. Herriford maintained that none of the alleged errors were errors; even if they were, they would not have resulted in a different outcome. Herriford also said the jury believed the prosecution’s case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Michael Freedman, from The Freedman Firm in Los Angeles, also believes that Lanez’s efforts to obtain bail in this case will be difficult, as he told Cuniff via email: “It’s also an uphill battle because even when there are strong issues on appeal, a bail motion requires early detailed briefing of those points on a much shorter timeline than you have for the appeal itself. It’s certainly not impossible to prevail, but it’s difficult for these reasons.”
As Revolt reported, Reid took exception to the idea that due to his arrest, Trump gained relatability from Black voters. Reid was responding to a segment on The Five, a Fox News segment. Host Jesse Watters claimed that Trump’s arrest amounted to a badge of honor, and contributor Raymond Arroyo stated that he heard a Black woman say Trump was “gangsta” as a result of his mug shot photo circulating.
In her conversation with Sharpton, Reid compared the arrest of figures like John Lewis with the arrest of Trump at one point, telling Sharpton, “Rev, you have been arrested protesting for rights. You have been arrested in civil rights marches. You’re a civil rights leader. You go back and think about people arrested in the 1960s. John Lewis’ mugshot is a badge of honor, but it was what he was arrested for. He was arrested in order to protest for people to vote and have civil rights.”
.@JoyAnnReid leads #TheReidOut tonight noticing that since Donald Trump came along in 2016, leading Republicans insist that because of him Republicanism is booming among Black people, despite there being no evidence of that. pic.twitter.com/7hP6FvhUW1
“Well, it is part of the criminalization of Blacks,” Sharpton responded. “They see all Blacks as criminals, and they feel that we all will, in a knee-jerk way, go with criminals. No, we go with those that we feel are falsely being criminalized and tried and cannot defend themselves.”
According to the Huffington Post, Trump’s campaign is already using the ex-president’s mug shot to raise money for his campaign.
Mike Nellis, the founder of Authentic, a Democrat-focused digital marketing and fundraising agency, told the outlet, “Both parties are going to use Trump’s mug shot to raise money,” Nellis explained. “It’s catnip for online donors, for both the left and the right. No doubt about it.”
Michael Jordan’s Autographed Copy Of ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ To Be Auctioned
Michael Jordan’s signed copy of Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill A Mockingbird is heading to auction. According to TMZ Sports, the book is valued at $24,000 because of its connection with the NBA legend. Jordan’s ex-wife, Juanita Vanoy, took possession of the book following their divorce in 2006, which was sold to a private collector in 2021.
Lee sent autographed copies of her book to celebrities she was connected with, and Jordan was in that number. Lee sent copies out in 1995 to mark the 35th anniversary of her iconic book, and at the time, Jordan was at the peak of his powers playing for the Chicago Bulls.
Harper sent Jordan a simple message: “To Michael Jordan—best wishes, Harper Lee.” Even though the book is currently valued at $24,000, its actual price could be much higher once the bidding on the book begins. Typically, auctions that feature connections to celebrities or notable figures receive inflated values when they hit the open market, and it is expected that this autographed novel will be no different.
From Impossible to Possible, IDK’s No Label Academy Ushers In Class of 2023
There is nothing like experiencing something for the first time, despite how out of reach it seems. Whether that be walking down the halls of an Ivy League university or sharing positive discourse with industry labels and practitioners, No Label Academy is in the business of infinite possibilities.
When BLACK ENTERPRISE recently touched down in Boston, there were only two classes left of the No Label Academy seminar roster. The No Label Academy is a groundbreaking nonprofit initiative founded by 2020 Harvard graduates Miles Weddle and Marcelo Hanta-Davis, along with rapper, producer, and entrepreneur Jason “IDK” Mills.
The team selected 23 students, aged 18 to 25, to participate in an intensive seminar at Harvard from Aug. 19 to 27. On Saturday, each student collected their certificate of completion at a graduation celebration for the stars.
In February 2020, the co-founders invited IDK to lecture on criminal justice reform at the Ivy League school for No Label’s Uncut speaker series. After its success, the trio embarked on an ambitious journey to connect Harvard and the greater community to hip-hop and untapped resources with the inaugural seminar.
In 2021, artistsandindustrynotablessuchas thelateVirgilAbloh,TremaineEmory,AmberGrimes,seniorVP of CapitolMusicGroup,and TumaBasa,directorofBlackMusic&CultureatYouTube,participated.
Photo Credit: Atiya Jordan
“Existing educational structures do not necessarily include the actual practitioner that are being taught, especially for people of color,” said Weddle, who currently runs his own consulting firm for businesses at the intersection of commerce and culture.
According to a press release obtained by BE, this program aims to ” democratize and improve opportunities for students from systemically disadvantaged backgrounds” interested in careers in the music business.
Students engaged in workouts and meditation at this year’s seminar, then sat in workshops about mental health, financial literacy, monetization, and more. The star-studded speakers included rappers Roddy Ricch and Joey Bada$$, award-winning actress Issa Rae, celebrity stylist Bloody Osiris, and others.
“A lot of us don’t see ourselves at Ivy league schools. The moment you start to see and normalize that, you start to see and normalize a lot of other things and places we don’t see each other in,” said IDK.
The London-born, Maryland-raised 31-year-old IDK’s incomparable approach to the mic and the classroom is “Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge.”
One way of ignorantly delivering knowledge this week is the concept of an end goal.
“I use the analogy of bread crumbs leading to the end goal and focusing on each bread crumb,” IDK explained.
He added that he stays motivated by “continuing to show gratitude to the things that are and the things that aren’t.”
“I don’t believe in the pressures of learning. I don’t believe in the pressures of society being the reason why you want to educate yourself. I rather create experiences.”
Major sponsors such as Nike Jordan, Converse, Christian Dior, Warner Music Group, Microsoft, Timberland, YouTube, and Sony Music Group allowed students to immerse themselves fully without paying costs.
“In the long run, brand equity ends up being more money than actual monetary gain. I chose brands that align with not only my vision but where I see things for the future,” IDK said.
Photo Credit: Tito G / @gotit_lens
The NLA Class of 2023
At the end of a strangely magical crash course, we realized the special guest was none other than Tammer Q., a magician and a mentalist. From one magic trick to the other, the room was even more awe-inspired to believe nothing is impossible.
In a room electrified by a sensory celebration, students shared their biggest getaways of the program before the interactivity commenced. After admitting how quiet she had been throughout the program, one young lady learned the value of “not being scared of yourself.”
The story of an unwavering musician and visionary, Ezy, repping Washington, DC, is one of calculated risks and rewards. After applying to the inaugural program too late, this year’s hunger to learn and grow was evident. He kicked off the conversation by revealing how much he had learned about the power of vision and vulnerability in the Academy. The next day, the creator of the Revolutionary Suicidemovement delivered an exhilarating performance for everyone to feel and remember.
“You don’t want people to hear you. You don’t want people to see you. You want people to feel you,” EZY said.
NLA 2023 Graduate Zahir Muhammad / Photo Credit: Tabb Carneal
Zahir Muhammad, a burgeoning director and student at Louisiana State University, was so inspired by Ezy’s grit that he wanted in on an opportunity to excel with one of his best friends.
“We were there to complete something first, then enjoy it second,” he told BE.
And that they did. From exchanging contacts with the likes of Bloody Osiris and Saba to exercising physical, mental, and emotional muscles, Muhammad’s expectations were exceeded.
Before NLA, Muhammad wasn’t sure how to explain his brand to others and himself.
“Now that I understand directing is my brand and I use songs to market that brand, it’s very easy to move forward with it,” he said, adding that he’s coming hot off his off-season to work with some of his favorite artists and to release his debut EP, Chaos St., this month.
No Label is expanding
By evidence of IDK, they have witnessed the astronomical support who will go to bat for a nonprofit organization doing this kind of work. No Label isn’t seeking monetary gain, but they operate as a business should run. “The scope has really expanded, which is exciting,” said Weddle. “We are trying to drive impact and scale.”
Credit: Lev Diamond
With a new sense of maturity, Hanta-Davis is an interactive producer at BBDO who wants to bring interactive education to the masses. After interviewing some alumni for a case study, Hanta-Davis gathered that grads “come into this course as a caterpillar for year one and exit as a butterfly, adding that “almost everyone can agree that this course has given them a confidence boost.” In the spirit of the late Virgil Abloh, Hanta-Davis noted just how much the mindset changes when you can go from “I can’t do it to I can do it.”
Creative marketer and visual artist Martrice “Louie” Ellis, one of the proud graduates of the inaugural No Label Academy class of 2021, returned as a volunteer. She can testify to learning “a newfound confidence and affirmed sense of belonging as a woman in the industry.”
She continued: “Being an independent and first-generation student, No Label Academy built an essential support system that I truly believe is a large factor of why I and other students were able to sustain a career in the entertainment industry during the past two years.”
IDK’s Gratitude Practice
“We get fly to music,” IDK said in gratitude to a particular gem Bloody Osiris spoke on about his reverence to music and culture at the Academy. “We use music to influence how we dress. And how we dress influence our music.”
IDK shared with BE that creating a mini capsule for the students was almost impossible. The fly uniform collection, designed by Dior, came in burgundy, navy, and cream, consisting of sweatshirts, t-shirts, and chino pants, with a special patch to illustrate the collaboration and moccasins.
So when he dons his jacket, he says, “I see a reminder that I can’t use the word impossible anymore.”
Advocacy Group Launches ‘Block Walking’ Campaign To Inform Residents Amid Houston School Reforms
Community Voices for Education, an advocacy group, started “Block Walking,” a term used to refer to the action of parent and community advocates who go door-to-door informing residents about changes in the Houston Independent School District.
According to NBC, following a court battle, the elected school boards relinquished its control of the school district to the Texas Education Agency in 2019 after an investigation into the misconduct of the district’s elected board of trustees.
Mike Miles was appointed as the superintendent, and he quickly implemented the New Education System to reform the school district to improve low reading scores and standardized test scores. The schools largely affected by the new system, which will focus on increasing the rigor of instructional delivery, serve Black, Latino, and low-income populations.
“The reason we started knocking [on] doors and doing our block walking campaign is because we realized that a lot of people, especially people whose kids were no longer in the education system, did not realize what was going on,” Kourtney Revels, a parent who participated in knocking on residents’ doors, told NBC.
Several criticisms have been addressed regarding the new system. Concerns about the loss of specialeducation contracting jobs and changes to dual language programs have been raised. An additional issue is the establishment of “team centers” that provide virtual learning for students exhibiting behavioral problems.
Members of the community, including Revels, have voiced their dissatisfaction at board meetings, protests, and through community engagement. At a previous meeting, Revels and others of the community were not allowed to sit in the boardroom. Instead, the concerned community members were placed in an overflow room and offered the chance to watch the meeting and ask questions virtually.
“When we upset them, they put us in a room and we had to speak to them virtually,” Revels said. “So we already know what’s gonna happen to our children. Because if they’ll do it to us, our children are not above reproach,” Revels continued.
“The parents’ frustration is “understandable,” Miles said in an interview with NBC News Nightly. “I’ve been pushing reform for a long time …”. The superintendent said, … I get the angst. I get the anxiety.”
Joseph Sam, the HISD spokesperson, told the outlet this month that special education contract jobs will be cut. This includes disability experts whose jobs are to seek employees who work full-time in special education. Critics say lacking these employees will prevent students with special needs from being diagnosed or obtaining the appropriate resources.
Sam said the school system “currently has an adequate number of district-employed diagnosticians” and will continue using independent contractors as needed. Parents and teachers have said this decision was made without their input.
The systems will also implement changes to library employment. Librarians will be placed in unspecified positions.
Dodgers Honor Kobe Bryant With Lakers Night Promotion
On the second night of a series against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers honored Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant with a Lakers Night promotion.
According to Sports Illustrated, Vanessa and Natalia Bryant threw out the ceremonial pitch on Sept. 1. The Dodgers also sold a special package entitled ticket holders to a commemorative Kobe Bryant Dodgers jersey. Ahead of the game, Dodgers players like MVP candidate Mookie Betts wore shirts, shoes, and jerseys featuring Bryant. The team posted some of the player’s pre-game looks on its official Instagram account.
According to NBC Los Angeles, six-year-old Bianka and four-year-old Capri joined Natalia and Vanessa Bryant as they approached the mound for Natalia’s ceremonial first pitch. They all wore custom Dodgers jerseys, with the back of Vanessa Bryant’s jersey reading Queen Mamba, a take on Kobe’s “Black Mamba” moniker. Rob Pelinka, the Lakers GM, also attended the game for Lakers Night.
Both teams lined up along the first and third baselines while the crowd rained down chants of “Kobe! Kobe!” Shortly before Natalia Bryant threw out the first pitch, fans and the family were treated to a slideshow of the Lakers legend visiting the Dodgers clubhouse and dugout. Kobe also threw out a first pitch at a Dodgers game in 2000. The family watched the game from the owners’ box, and the Dodgers made a $100,000 donation to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the emotional lift that the family provided couldn’t help them win as they dropped game two of the four-game series with Atlanta 6-3. The Dodgers could not overcome three home runs the Braves launched into the Los Angeles night sky and a dominant performance from Max Fried. The Braves and Dodgers will continue their series on Sept. 2.
Black-Owned Vegan LaRayia’s Bodega Is Nourishing Souls In Atlanta
LaRayia Gaston is clear on the real mission behind her popular Atlanta-based vegan bodega. The micro-market namedLaRayia’s Bodegais equal parts community hangout and wellness one-stop shop. But it is 100% soul.
Nestled in the Ponce City Market, a food hall in downtown Atlanta, LaRayia’s Bodega is the first plant-based, grab & go market designed to address food access and justice issues. Originally founded in Los Angeles, it is also the first vegan, organic 99-cent store. According to its website, the booming establishment receives 150 to 300 customers daily and has become a hub for the city’s arts community. Building on her dedication to the unhoused in LA’s famed Skid Row neighborhood, Gaston saw a need for healthy food options and nutritional education in the south’s Peach State.
In an interview with ESSENCE, the former fashion designer turned documentary filmmaker shed light on her unexpected path to being the only Afro-Latina woman to own a vegan bodega in the city “I honestly didn’t ever see myself doing something like this,” she said. “I never thought I would have pivoted in this way, but honestly, it all played an integral part in everything that we do because I always liked to give food away. I became vegan at 19 before it was a buzzword. I’m 35 now, so I went plant-based because it really did help with my health, especially growing up, not having access to healthy food and things like that in the neighborhood I was in as a kid,” she continued. “It definitely played a part. So when I was able to give out free food, that was my form of tithing.”
Perhaps what has set her business apart from other plant-based eateries is her heart. A relentless advocate for her people, Gaston gushes over the love the community has for the space. “People just make a seat anywhere and stay for hours,” she said. “They really come and don’t leave—I love it.” Success as a business owner is not paramount for the busy entrepreneur; honoring what she feels is her life’s purpose is at the forefront. “If it’s only about money, God leaves the room,” Gaston said.
Boss Business: Pitmaster Derrick McCray Carries On Family’s Nearly 100-Year BBQ Legacy
CEO and pitmaster Derrick McCray of McCray’s Backyard BBQ and Seafood gave CNBC’s Make It a history lesson on the rich backstory of his family business on August 31. He also revealed his goal to take his mom-and-pop restaurant nationwide.
McCray, 60, explained that his great-uncle Jay Harvey started the BBQ business in West Palm Beach, Florida, opening its doors in 1934.
“Uncle Jay brought my father up in the barbecue business and made him a barbecue extraordinaire. He was the barbecue man. And he was pretty much the only Black restaurant business in his area during that time,” he said.
Being located in South Florida at the height of the civil rights movement and segregation laws, McCray recalled meeting some of the biggest names in activism in his family restaurant as he grew up.
“I can remember Jesse Jackson, James Brown, Isaac Hayes, all those people coming to my home and to the restaurant because my dad was one of the leading civil rights activists here in South Florida during that time,” he said. “We had a lot of bomb threats and death threats from the Klan and all kinds of stuff.”
When President Nixon’s War on Drugs was launched, it “tore the fabric of the community apart” and the family business took a brutal financial hit.
However, McCray said he knew he had to keep the family business going.
“It’s in my DNA to keep moving forward,” said McCray. “I don’t see a reason why the McCrays can’t be like the Rockefellers or the Posts or other big families that have secured generational wealth.”
These days, the pitmaster has taken to restoring the business through hard work and good food following a significant career change.
In the 1980s, McCray was a student and football player at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. In his CNBC interview he admitted that his educational years were cut short after the distractions of being an athlete led him to make bad decisions.
“I was partying too much, drinking and doing stuff. I wasn’t being consistent. I was trying to be in the streets. And I didn’t pass the drug test out there, so they told me to go back where I came from,” McCray remembered. “It was a devastating blow to me because I knew I had the talent to play, but my off-the-field activities during that time caused me to not make it in something I love doing: playing football.”
The life-altering event caused McCray to head back home and take over McCray’s Backyard BBQ and Seafood. He made many business changes that were for the better, and he made sure to keep preparing the food the same way his family always has.
“We cook the same way we’ve cooked for years … with open pit wood only,” said McCray. “That sets us apart because it’s this sort of science to what we do. It’s an old art form that’s still alive with us that now we’ve modified it to where we can produce 10,000 pounds of ribs a day. We take cooking ribs to a whole other level.”
In addition, he made sure to keep the signature barbecue sauce the same.
McCray’s decisions are paying off: He reported bringing in $1.58 million in revenue in 2022, serving politicians and musicians, and since 2007 has been a major vendor for the Super Bowl every year except for one.
McCray hopes his hard work sets an example for generations to come.
“I’m always trying to see how we can expand this 89-year history to another 100 years while I’m still here, and a major part of that involves the youth,” he said. ”[Young people of color] need to know that there are other ways to make money than drugs, rap music, and sports.”
