by Daniel Johnson

September 1, 2023

Is Former Music Exec Dom Lucre Turning His Twitter Into ‘Blacks 4 Trump’ Central?

In a series of posts to the X platform, formerly Twitter, former hip-hop executive Dom Lucre criticized the Democratic Party for what he sees as an overreach of its powers relating to the prosecution of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

Lucre name-drops Malcolm X in one post while imploring Black women not to bind their votes to the Democratic Party.

“I see a lot of Black men speaking against what is being done to Donald Trump, will Black women finally listen to the leadership of the men?” Lucre asked.

“The Democrat Party would be NOTHING without Black women, remind them that and leave those racist white Democrats alone,” he added.

Lucre is also focused on speaking out against Fulton County’s Black District Attorney Fani Willis, who is prosecuting Trump. He has posted multiple pictures of her photographed with assorted famous Black men in an attempt to discredit her and promised to “expose” her. The replies to his posts are often filled with conspiracy theorists and/or bots.

In the comments section of a video post where Lucre discusses Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision not to support Republican lawmakers in their call to “defund one District Attorney,” most likely referring to Willis, there is a noticeable presence of users who label Kemp as a traitor and suggest that he is compromised. Interestingly, Lucre refrains from addressing or challenging these conspiracy theories.

https://twitter.com/dom_lucre/status/1697373506533523518

According to The Intercept, Kemp signed a law to establish a commission that can discipline or remove elected prosecutors over their choices to charge or not charge certain offenses. The law was signed in May, shortly after Willis announced that she would seek charges against the 45th president of the United States. The law is designed to limit the ability of reform-minded prosecutors to create change, but District Attorney Willis doesn’t appear to be interested in reform. Instead, the law can be taken as an attempt to punish the Fulton County DA for seeking to prosecute the former president.

There seem to be many Republicans in Georgia who would welcome that.

Clint Dixon, a Republican state senator in Georgia, posted on Facebook that Willis has an “unabashed goal to become some sort of leftist celebrity.” Dixon also claimed that she should be investigated for using the justice system against her opponents.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Republican state lawmakers in Georgia plan to condemn Willis for daring to prosecute Trump. 

These developments fly in the face of Lucre’s rant on social media about the propensity of white liberals to hide their racism in benign actions. The GOP,  which Lucre seems to be in alignment with, has been the preferred party for white supremacists to infiltrate, primarily through Donald Trump, say some political observers. Still, Trump and the GOP have enticed new Black voters.

In 2020, exit polls showed that Trump got almost 20% of Black men to vote for him. A piece for Fortune describes Trump’s appeal to these voters as an appeal to “honor culture,” citing voters who praised Trump’s strength and bravado in support of this theory.

Lucre, based on his tweets, seems to have a similar admiration of Trump’s projections of strength as he often heaps praise on Trump and Trump’s acolytes like Trevian Kutti, a publicist who once worked with Kanye West and is one of his co-defendants in Georgia.

https://twitter.com/dom_lucre/status/1696018909244064195

In the same post that Lucre name-drops Malcolm X, he also asks Black women to follow the leadership of Black men who have pledged to walk their own paths. Though there is undoubtedly room for ideological diversity among Black people, many are questioning Lucre’s pro-Trump social media actions.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication.

RELATED CONTENT: Ni**as 4 Trump’ Fall Into Sunken Place: ‘We Should Make Him King’

Hurricane Idalia
by Sharelle B. McNair

September 1, 2023

Florida’s Controversial Immigration Laws May Slow Hurricane Idalia Cleanup

Florida’s controversial SB 1718 law is not helping the much-needed Hurricane Idalia cleanup.

The law, which is cracking down on migrants being in the state illegally, is stopping undocumented workers from rebuilding what Idalia destroyed, NBC News reported.

UBS Bank reported that damages from Idalia may surpass $9 billion, and the areas that were hit hard by the natural disaster are neighborhoods with a major Latino and Black Caribbean immigrant population. Perry, Florida, hotel workers like Maggie Vidal are worried DeSantis’ law will stop them from coming back.

“This is where all the immigrants that the governor wants to push out are needed,” Vidal said. “Who is going to do all of this work? There is a lot, a lot of work here.”

The strict immigration law, which went into effect on July 1, 2023, makes it a felony to “knowingly and willfully” transport undocumented persons into the state, including relatives and friends. Out-of-state driver’s licenses issued to immigrants who lack legal status are invalid and require hospitals that accept Medicaid to inquire about immigration status.

Since the bill was passed, several farm and construction workers have moved out.

Immigrant rights organizations have sent letters to DeSantis’ administration requesting that “a public statement be issued suspending immigration enforcement by state and local authorities,” particularly in areas where a state of emergency has been declared and residents are prone to evacuate and return to their homes after the storm.

“We urge Governor DeSantis to demonstrate strong leadership by ensuring that no one is deterred from accessing shelter and necessary assistance due to immigration concerns,” said the Florida Immigrant Coalition’s Paula Muñoz.

While immigrants fleeing flooded Florida may have found temporary refuge in New York, they still live in fear. According to Documented NY, many have heard rumors of immigration raids constantly taking place back in their Florida neighborhoods.

Wanderstay ,Deidre Mathis, Wanderstay hostel
by Jaimee Ratliff

September 1, 2023

Deidre Mathis Makes History, Opens Houston’s First Black-Owned Boutique Hotel

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was on hand to celebrate and honor the opening of the city’s first Black-owned hotel on August 28. The new 10-room, adults-only Wanderstay Boutique Hotel is located in downtown Houston and caters to both business and leisure travelers.

Its owner, Deidre Mathis, first made history when she opened Wanderstay Houston Hostel, the first Black-owned hostel in the United States, in 2018. The hostel has hosted over 15,000 guests from more than 30 countries since its opening. Now, Mathis is bringing a themed one-of-a-kind accommodation to the city that has a little something for everyone.

According to Travel Noire, rooms at the Wanderstay Boutique Hotel include the Black and White Art Museum, Desert Vibes, and Houston Sports Teams. More easygoing travelers can simply book a room and let the hotel’s staff choose their experience.

“You can literally stay with us ten different times and have ten different experiences,” Mathis said. “We have a Music Lovers Room, a Winter Wonderland Room, and a Safari Room.”

For the 36-year-old hotelier, it’s all about providing a safe, fun, welcoming, and unforgettable experience.

Mathis, who herself has traveled to more than 46 countries and seven continents, is part of a very rare community of hotel owners of color. According to Travel Noire, less than 2% of hotel owners in the U.S. are Black, and the numbers are even lower for women.

“The greatest barrier for aspiring Black hotel owners is the financial hurdle of opening a hotel,” Mathis said. “It’s capital intensive. You either have to come from money, have an investor, or get a bank loan to make this happen.”

With a blessing from megastar and Houston native Beyoncé’s BeyGood Foundation, Mathis has been able to push the boundaries of what it means to be Black in the hotel business; her next goal is to teach others how to do the same. “I’m going to start a course to teach people how to open their own hotels with all the knowledge I gained over the past seven years,” she said. “My hope and goals are that it’s life-changing for people who want to get in this industry.”

RELATED CONTENT: Monet Tillman Horsey Opens Dream Chasers Gymnastics​, The First Black-Owned Gymnastic Studio In Delaware

chancellor ,Rux, Shawn Rue, Rue, position, Danika Rux, DOE, secret deal, Rux
by Stacy Jackson

September 1, 2023

Husband Of NYC Deputy Chancellor Allegedly Lands 6-Figure Position To Promote His Wife

In what the New York Post calls a “secret deal,” educational consultant Shawn Rux was reportedly asked by New York City’s Department of Education to ditch his business but not after he was given a plum gig at the DOE so his wife, Danika Rux, could be promoted to deputy chancellor of leadership.   

According to RUXway, Inc.‘s site, Shawn Rux’s firm is an “educational consulting service for leadership development and professional learning opportunities for school, district, and central based leaders.” He started RUXway in 2020 when his wife was a superintendent for the DOE. 

The Post reports that firm brought in $253,450 from the DOE.

In ditching his firm, Shawn Rux was allegedly promised a position with the DOE as executive director of School Design and Charter Partnerships, which is set to begin Sept. 5.

“It’s the foul stench of nepotism,” a source told the New York Post.

In 2022, NYC schools Chancellor David Banks made headlines after he promoted DOE administrator and Mayor Eric Adams’ longtime girlfriend, Tracey Collins, to “senior advisor to the deputy chancellor of school leadership.” According to The Daily Mail, this promotion followed a previous gesture from Adams, who appointed Banks’ girlfriend, Sheena Wright, as deputy mayor in December 2021. 

The Post noted that Shawn Rux was featured in the news several times while he was a principal at MS 53 between 2011 and 2016, for his creation of “Rux Bux,” vouchers for students who did well in school. He was promoted to deputy superintendent in 2017 before leaving the DOE in 2021 to unsuccessfully run for City Council. 

In Danika Rux’s new position, she will be paid $265,000 annually. Among her duties, she will supervise 45 superintendents. Her husband’s position is an “extremely low-profile gig,” an anonymous DOE staffer told the Post, though a DOE spokesperson said last week that the department was “in the process of hiring for this role.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 1, 2023

Cam’ron Calls Himself #PettyMurphy After Blocking Almost 12,000 People On Instagram

Cam’ron has labeled himself #PettyMurphy after he revealed he had blocked nearly 12,000 people on his Instagram account simply because they’ve “liked” any “slick” comment about him.

According to Complex, the Harlem rapper, who just inked an eight-figure deal for the “It Is What It Is” podcast he co-hosts with fellow Harlem rapper Ma$e, admitted he blocked 11,876 people on Sunday morning, Aug. 27. On his Instagram account, he shared a screen recording of him blocking users and stated that he may “tap” out at 27,000 people by the time he is finished.

He posted: “My Sunday mornings.. Blocking everyone who ‘liked’ a slick comment about me. Then I block the person who made the comment last 🤷🏾‍♂️ I’m at 11,876 people so far. And I have a flight to catch. So I’ll have more time. I’ll probably tap out at about 27k today 😂😂😂✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾..

And I’m on photos from 3yrs ago.. Nx Sunday I’ll go to 4yrs ago. Lol

#pettyMurphy

Aquarius vibes 🤷🏾‍♂️😂”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by @mr_camron

The rapper can afford to lose those users, and more, as he has almost 3 million people following his Instagram account. Those numbers may grow even more as he announced recently that he and Ma$e signed an 18-month deal with Underdog Fantasy.

Underdog Fantasy is a sports betting platform that has also partnered with former NBA player Gilbert Arenas for his podcast, Gil’s Arena.

Cam’ron and Ma$e were childhood friends who also played basketball together before they picked up the microphone to pursue recording careers. Before Ma$e signed with Diddy and Bad Boy Records, he, Cam’ron, and the late rapper Big L were part of a collective that called themselves “Children of the Corn.” The three grew up near each other in Harlem, New York City.

The two rappers reunited after a longstanding beef to start the humorous sports show, It Is What It Is, which has developed a major following. Cam’ron also created the Come And Talk 2 Me network, where his show can be seen on YouTube.

RELATED CONTENT: Cam’ron Gives Ja Morant Some Real Advice Ahead Of NBA Suspension

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 1, 2023

SkeeYee! Teacher Uses Sexxy Red Lyrics to Get Her Students’ Attention

With more millennials taking up space in the teaching profession, we’re seeing more cool and innovative ways in which educators are connecting with their students.

One educator dominating the #TeachersofTikTok hashtag has gone viral for how she used Sexxy Red lyrics to catch her students’ attention. In a video shared on August 31, the teacher, who goes by @IAmMemori on TikTok, used a little “SkeeYee” to address her classroom.

“Day 2 of the school year! 😏 Students: “This one hits!” Me: Chiillleeeee 😂🤦🏾‍♀️ #teachersoftiktok,” she captioned her post.

@iammemori Day 2 of the school year! 😏 Students: “This one hits!” Me: Chiillleeeee 😂🤦🏾‍♀️ #teachersoftiktok #elementaryschool #teacher ♬ original sound – iammemori

The clip shows Ms. Memori referencing the hook of Sexxy Redd’s latest hit single “SkeeYee,” which clearly resonates with her young scholars. One look at the educator’s TikTok page reveals the pride she takes in teaching and in finding fresh ways to impart her lessons.

A video shared back in April finds Ms. Memori teaching a math lesson, using engaging hand gestures to teach her students linear equations.

The Teacher of TikTok received praise and support from her more than 175,000 followers, as well as thanks for teaching them a useful tip for mastering linear equations.

“I am a 31-year-old grown woman and I am just really understanding this thanks to you. Wow,” one person shared.

“Damn I’m in College and this helped me,” added someone else.

@iammemori #teachersoftiktok #teacherlife #elementaryschool ♬ original sound – zivsoundz

 

“Where was she when I was in school! Someone give this woman a RISE! SHE IS KILLIN IT!” one user wrote.

“I love it . We need more teachers like you,” added someone else.

Meanwhile, who would have thought a Sexxy Redd song could aid in the classroom? Additional proof that you can never doubt the power of hip-hop.

RELATED CONTENT: She Re-Mixed Cardi B’s Song and Reshaped Education for Teachers and Students

Philadelphia, black business funding, career relationships
by Jaimee Ratliff

September 1, 2023

Philadelphia Black-Owned Businesses Face An Uphill Battle In Access To Funding, Government Contracts

As National Black Business Month comes to a close, many cities are still grappling with the inequalities facing Black business owners. Among them is the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia. Though the city has policies intended to promote equity, more than $560 million in local government contracts for public works, professional services, supplies, and equipment were awarded to white non-Hispanic men in fiscal year 2021.

According to The Philadelphia Tribune, those numbers account for nearly 80% of all such funding.

The remaining 20% of the contracts were split among three other demographics: women, minorities, and disabled businesses. With major contracting projects around the city, the disappointing discrepancies in who benefits from them stem from a controversial ruling by the United States Supreme Court. In 1989, the highest court in the nation struck down ordinances that would set aside a percentage of government contracts for minority-owned businesses. They argued that general assertions of racial discrimination could not solely be used to justify equality initiatives and that there should be ‘strong evidence’ of disparity in order to prove that special allowances should be made. “At that point, the idea was in order to effectively establish goals that were going to stand up in court,” Matlock Turner, CEO of the Urban Affairs Coalition, said. “So if 30% of the electricians in Philadelphia were people of color, you could establish that as a goal because it’s based on real data. So that’s how we ultimately were able to create a legal system in Philadelphia.”

Even with legality cleared and proper ordinances in place, minority-owned businesses still lag significantly behind their white counterparts in the city. After years of systemic inequality, advocates suggest that the gap between the different demographics isn’t close. “If you haven’t afforded the people a chance to work on $200,000 or $300,000 projects and think they’re magically going to be capable of doing $2 billion — it’s illogical,” Carlos Jones, executive project manager for economic development projects at the Urban Affairs Coalition said. “You have to build a pathway for success.”

RELATED CONTENT: Celebrating National Black Business Month

Earls
by Sharelle B. McNair

September 1, 2023

North Carolina’s GOP Leaders Push To Remove The Only Black Woman Supreme Court Judge For Speaking Up Against Racial Bias

Looks like freedom of speech isn’t a thing if you’re a Black woman. After Justice Anita Earls, the only Black woman on North Carolina’s Supreme Court, spoke out about racial bias existing in the courtroom, Republican legislators are trying to have her removed, Slate reports.

Earls spoke to Law 360 in June 2023 about the court’s lack of clerks of color and how her colleagues treated certain attorneys, including a Black woman, who argued before them.

Two months later, in August, GOP leaders and the Judicial Standards Commission are trying to take her seat, claiming the justice’s concerns may violate judicial ethics rules.

If the commission, which investigates complaints against judges, finds a violation, the state Supreme Court would have the upper hand in deciding whether to accept the recommended sanction.

The violation in question states that judges are to conduct themselves “at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.” In a letter to Earls, the commission argued that she can’t “suggest” another judge being biased unless she “knows this to be the case,” needing definitive proof.

Earls isn’t backing down. She filed a lawsuit on Aug. 29 against the commission, claiming the investigation is “chilling” her First Amendment right to free speech. She described her media comments as core political speech concerning important public policy questions regarding the justice system and administration of the courts.”

Several community leaders and organizations are defending the 2018 elected judge. Gathering at the state legislature house in Raleigh, a representative from the NC Black Alliance told ABC 11 this is only the beginning. “This is the beginning of a rallying cry for support for Justice Earls.” Emancipate NC Executive Director Dawn Blagrove says she knows this is just another hidden agenda. “What we know is that the (judicial complaint) process is being bastardized in an effort to silence Black and brown people,” Blagrove said.

Earls is one of two Democrats left on the Republican-filled high court.

This isn’t the first time Earls has been targeted. In March, she faced a separate investigation after a complaint alleged she disclosed confidential information about current court matters. The complaint was later dismissed.

Irv Gotti Explains Why He Never Gave Artists Ownership Of Their Masters
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 1, 2023

Irv Gotti Explains Why He Never Gave Artists Ownership Of Their Masters

Irv Gotti has the mindset of most major record company owners when it comes to the artists signed to their labels. Capitalization is mostly at the helm, and that is why he and the other labels will not easily give their artists ownership of their master recordings.

While appearing on a recent episode of DJ Efn and N.O.R.E.’s popular podcast, “Drink Champs,” the Murder Inc. CEO shared why he was against giving artists who were signed to his label their masters, according to AfroTech. It basically boils down to simple mathematics—he made a lot of money by holding on to them.

“When people talk about the masters and they’re like, ‘Oh you should give your artists their masters.’ No, because that’s how I make my money,” Gotti told the co-hosts. “Like Ja, Ashanti, millions of dollars they make every year [from their shows]. I don’t get a dime of that. I don’t get one f**king penny of that.”

He shares that he doesn’t make the money the artists make, so why should he give up the only way he can make money off of them?

“The only thing that I have that I can sell to get me a check is those masters. And you wanna take that from me?”

He did acknowledge that Ja Rule is the only recording artist who has gotten a piece of the money from the masters he has sold. Ja was given a check that amounted to seven figures.

Last year, Gotti signed a “life-changing” deal worth $300 million. The deal obtained his 50% ownership stake of his masters to Iconoclast. Gotti will also receive funding for various film and television projects.

Gotti was responsible for creating and starting his own label, Murder Inc. Records while working with hip-hop heavyweights who sold millions of units at the start of their careers. His label housed legendary artists Ashanti, Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore, Lloyd, and Vita, to name a few. As an artist and repertoire executive, he worked with the likes of Jay-Z, DMX, Mic Geronimo, and other Def Jam artists.

New AI Tool May Help Startups Pitch Ideas To Investors
by Stacy Jackson

September 1, 2023

New AI Tool May Help Startups Pitch Ideas To Investors

Promise Phelon, the managing partner of Growth Warrior Capital, is looking to help startup companies attract new investors, and she has a new tool to do just that.  

According to Business Insider, Phelon has a background as an operator for marketing at tech companies such as JazzHR and TapInfluence. She works alongside her partner Ashley Pilipiszyn, who previously worked as a technical director, and is noted as one of OpenAI’s first employees back in 2018.

Phelon is less focused on sorting through pitches from business owners and “deciphering narratives” than she is on spending “more time meeting with founders and CEOs.” She believes these startups have the potential to “fundamentally change the way we work, earn, and build wealth,” according to the outlet. However, Phelon said the issue is the founders of the companies fail to receive recognition from venture capitalists because of their race or gender.

To help startups reach investors, Phelon began to wonder “what if we could take the most successful pitches from a VC’s perspective and from founder outcomes, like getting the valuation they wanted or getting funded quickly, and build a generative product that enable[s] you to do that quickly?”

This led to Elevo, an AI-powered, pitch decker builder created at Growth Warrior Capital. The AI tool was trained using pitch decks from multiple databases and startup decks from other VC companies. “You want the pitch to not tell the entire story, but you want it just to be enough so the VC says, ‘I understand it, it matches what we care about, and I’m intrigued,'” Phelon said.

Elevo’s waitlist launched on Thursday; however, Phelon said founders can register for first access in October when the product is released. 

There are currently no plans to make financial gains from the AI pitch deck builder. 

RELATED CONTENT: Financial Tech Startup Helps Increase Profits for Black-Owned Businesses 

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