First Black-Owned Stock Exchange Announces New Anthem Encouraging People To Think Bigger
by Sharelle B. McNair

June 8, 2023

First Black-Owned Stock Exchange Announces New Anthem Encouraging People To Think Bigger

The first Black-owned stock exchange is encouraging people to think bigger with its new anthem, “Dream Again.”

Dream Exchange announced the release of its anthem, created by world-renowned saxophonist Mike Phillips. To record the uplifting song, Phillips recruited a team of talented artists including producer Hamilton Hardin and entertainment executive and song co-writer Tanya James of TJ Entertainment Group, according to PR Newswire. Sarah Ikumu, who received a Golden Buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent, is featured as the lead vocalist.

In an interview featured on Dream Exchange’s YouTube page, Phillips explains how the song came about and what he wants fans to get out of it. “When people are listening to the song, I want them to search their souls and check to see if they have their license to dream,” Phillips said. “And that’s why in society, we find people running in place, because the dream is not as prevalent as it should be.”

Dream Exchange is currently preparing an application to become the first minority-owned company to operate a stock exchange. Dwain Kyles, its director and managing member, says the song was created to get people moving toward turning their dreams into reality. “With ‘Dream Again,’ we hope to inspire all people as well as a new generation of investors and entrepreneurs to join us in creating a more just and ethical financial system,” said Kyles. “We are proud to be the first minority-owned stock exchange, in formation, and we believe that we will provide new opportunities and resources for underrepresented communities.”

The company is keeping its word: Last month, it announced that former NFL player Solomon Wilcots has invested in Dream Exchange, according to a press release. Kyles said that Wilcots’ joining the team is “further testament to their belief in Dream Exchange’s mission to democratize access to capital and continue empowering investors.”

 

Editors’ Note: This article was updated on June 9, 2023. It originally mistakenly stated that “Dream Exchange became the first minority-owned company to operate a stock exchange in 2020.” Dream Exchange is currently preparing an application to become the first minority-owned company to operate a stock exchange.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 8, 2023

Anita Baker Shuts Down ‘Slander’ About Her Alleged Feuds With Maxwell, Luther Vandross, and Babyface

Anita Baker is not here for all the allegations surrounding her industry relationships with fellow singers Maxwell, Babyface, and the late Luther Vandross.

The Queen of Soul fired off a round of tweets on June 7 in response to one since-deleted tweet that referenced a rumored business dealing with Maxwell.

“Dear Sir. My Companies, have No contract for Co-headling concerts. My Corps execute Percentage Agreements, with its Trademark as headliner,” she wrote.

“I have Never, worked with my friend❤️ Maxwell. Your statements, constitute Slander & create liability.”

The “Sweet Love” singer continued blaming the critics for deleting their slanderous tweet without apologizing.

Baker also addressed speculation about an alleged feud with Babyface that ignited after the musician was told not to perform his opening set at the Prudential Center to “give Ms. Baker her space and time to perform her show in its entirety,” he tweeted at the time.

Now, Baker is clarifying that Live Nation was at fault for Babyface’s axed performance and not her.

“I Went on My Stage, at the appropriate time. Did my job without benefit of full production… I *Did, my Job/Lifelong Profession. Your public statements are false,” she quipped.

The “Caught Up in the Rapture” singer addressed rumors surrounding the breach of contract lawsuit Babyface filed against her back in 2006, Billboard reports. According to Baker, it was “white men” who attempted to put the two Black singers against each other.

https://twitter.com/IAMANITABAKER/status/1666153863643275264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1666153863643275264%7Ctwgr%5E2bd2f56ee2cb7b4e8d1e4345764527b597749f21%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vibe.com%2Fnews%2Fentertainment%2Fanita-baker-rumored-luther-vandross-babyface-beefs-1234762927%2F

The Quiet Storm music icon also cleared up any speculation surrounding age-old rumors of an alleged quarrel with the late Luther Vandross stemming from their time touring together. While she noted the “disagreements” she had with Vandross, she said they were “successful business partners” who created lots of “joy, jobs and commerce for our community.”

https://twitter.com/IAMANITABAKER/status/1666143238422667265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1666143238422667265%7Ctwgr%5E2bd2f56ee2cb7b4e8d1e4345764527b597749f21%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vibe.com%2Fnews%2Fentertainment%2Fanita-baker-rumored-luther-vandross-babyface-beefs-1234762927%2F

Anita Baker clearly had time this week and is not about to let the internet play with her good name!

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 8, 2023

Magic Johnson Encourages His Son EJ To ‘Keep Living Your Truth’ On His 31st Birthday

NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson and his wife, Cookie, took to social media to wish their son, EJ Johnson, a happy birthday and to show continued support for him.

On Magic’s Instagram account, he posted a picture of himself with EJ and offered the 31-year-old encouragement as he told him to “keep living your truth.”

“Happy Birthday to my son, EJ!! I love your pure heart and creativity! Keep living your truth, it’s what I love about you most! Have a great day❤️”

Another beautiful Instagram birthday tribute, from EJ’s mother, garnered nearly 16,000 likes and hundreds of comments.

“Happy birthday, my @ejjohnson_! You are my great love! I pray that the Lord will have favor on you and bless you abundantly in your 31st year.

Love you sweetheart,

Mom”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Cookie Johnson (@thecookiej)

In 2022, Magic discussed his relationship with his son in the Apple TV+ docuseries “They Call Me Magic.” He admitted that he struggled with accepting that EJ was gay. Although close friends of EJ knew of his sexual preference, his parents were unaware. Magic recalled that Cookie knew before him and had to convince him to speak to EJ about it before he departed to attend college in New York at NYU.

In an interview with Variety, the Los Angles Laker legend said, “I had to accept who he was and who he wanted to be. He actually helped me get there. Because he was so proud. Cookie said, ‘Look in the mirror.’ I said, ‘You’re right.’ Because I’m proud of who I am. And he got it from me.”

“He changed me,” Magic stated. “He was so proud. This dude here is just so proud of who he is.”

Bun B Opens ‘Trill Burgers’ In The Heart Of Houston, Texas
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 8, 2023

Bun B Opens ‘Trill Burgers’ In The Heart Of Houston, Texas

Legendary Houston hip-hop recording artist, Bun B, purveyor of Trill Burgers,  had his burger crowned Good Morning America’s Best Burger in the United States in 2022 after a competition on live TV.

This week, he opened Trill Burgers’ first brick-and-mortar location in his hometown of Houston, in Montrose at 3607 S Shepherd Dr. at Richmond Avenue. Currently, the hours of operation are 11 a.m. 9 p.m. daily.

The 3,236-square-foot Trill Burgers will be serve as an extended pop-up location for the next six months until a permanent location is secured.

“It’s been a dream for us, and it’s actually coming true,” Bun B said in an Instagram post. “It’s been our sole goal to open up an establishment where we can serve you guys Trill Burgers consistently at a high level on a daily basis. And now we’re ready to do it. We are now officially open for business, ready to serve you.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Trill Burgers (@trillburgers)

The eatery’s menu will have the same signature items that have been presented at various pop-up locations and events since the UGK (UnderGround Kingz) rapper introduced the concept in 2021.

Unfortunately, customers of the restaurant can only purchase the food in-person—only taking credit and charge cards (or related apps that have access to either). The restaurant can seat 125 guests while a drive-thru service will be opening soon.

This opening comes on the heels of the Houston rapper securing a new deal with Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo for the Trill Burgers company. The burgers have a place among 10 Houston restaurants that can be purchased at Clutch City’s Shell Energy Stadium.

Celebrities like DJ Khaled, Z-Ro, Ludacris, Bryson Tiller, and Travis Scott have been very supportive of the burgers and have shilled for the eatery. Trill Burgers recently appeared at Rick Ross’ The Promised Land this past weekend.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 8, 2023

Ye Up In Arms Over Album Event, Threatens To Remove Jay-Z And Others From ‘Donda’ Project

Controversy continues to follow Ye.

This time, a recent You Tube clip shows scenes from a few of Ye’s Donda recording sessions and other footage before the album’s 2021 release. Toward the end of the clip, Ye is seen walking around in a locker room, speaking on the phone.

During the conversation, he explicitly states that if Jay-Z and any other artists don’t show up to his listening party, he will remove their verses from the project.

“Everybody that’s not here, I’m taking they verses off. So I’m taking Jay-Z verse off, I’m taking—there’s anybody not here, unfortunately, they’re not on this version.” He then turns to the camera and says, “How do you even describe these kind of conversations bro?”

Well, Jay-Z did not attend the event in Atlanta at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in July 2021, but his vocals were left intact on the track he performed, “Jail.” Yet, Ye did keep his promise with several other artists after “Donda” was released, and some of them realized that they were no longer on the album.

Chris Brown, Pusha T, and Kid Cudi saw their verses deleted from their respective songs. Brown let his feelings be known on social media and Soulja Boy went on an infamous rant, leading to a temporary beef between the artists. When Ye appeared in the Drink Champs episode that has since been deleted due to Ye’s antisemitic statements, he explained why he took Soulja Boy off the album.

It wasn’t because he didn’t attend his listening event in Atlanta; Ye simply stated that his verse wasn’t good.

The two recording artists eventually made up after Ye texted Soulja Boy and apologized for not informing that he was removed from the album.

accident, livestream, tiktok
by Sharelle B. McNair

June 8, 2023

Black Man Shot In The Mouth By Mississippi Deputy To File Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Sheriff’s Department

Two Black men are preparing to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against a Mississippi sheriff’s department, accusing it of a pattern of excessive force against Black people, Associated Press reports.

Attorneys for Michael Corey Jenkins, who was shot in the mouth, and Eddie Terrell Parker identified the deputy in question for the first time as Hunter Elward. Jenkins initially said he didn’t know the name of the Mississippi officer who shot him; Parker later recognized his picture after seeing it online.

The men are seeking $400 million in compensatory and punitive damages, as attorney Malik Shabazz said he will file 22 claims of federal civil rights violations in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.

“If there ever were a case where punitive damages needed to be levied against police officers, this is the case,” Shabazz said in a press release. “This incredible, nasty, violent ordeal exposes that Rankin County deputies and the Department have had a long pattern and practice of deadly excessive force and hate crimes against its African American citizens.”

The incident occurred on Jan. 24 when six white Rankin County deputies allegedly entered Parker’s house and handcuffed and beat him and Jenkins. The men claim they were repeatedly shocked with stun guns and forced to lie on their backs as the deputies poured milk over their faces. Parker and Jenkins also claim the officers attempted to assault them with a sex toy found in the home, which led to one cop placing a gun in Jenkins’ mouth and firing. Jenkins spent several weeks in the hospital, according to WJTV 12.

Shabazz compared the assault to Tyre Nichols’ death, which occurred in Memphis and shocked the nation earlier this year.

“Michael would be dead like [Tyre] Nichols had he not have been lucky enough to survive this near deadly attack by 6 white Rankin County Deputies,” Shabazz said.

The deputies, who had no body camera footage, said that the raid took place due to a report of drug activity. Both Parker and Jenkins were charged with possession and other charges.

AP reported the same county sheriff’s department has been involved in at least four violent encounters with Black men in Mississippi since 2019.

by Stacy Jackson

June 8, 2023

A Global Wellness Retreat Was Created For Black Women To Catch A Vibe

Wellness can mean celebrating life in a section of a South African club, according to the creators of a global wellness retreat for Black women.

Iana Edwards and Kasondra McConnell facilitate luxurious wellness retreats for Black women to connect around the world.

McConnell, an entrepreneur and one half of Paradise + Vibe’s founding team, said per The News & Observer, that most people have a certain idea of wellness. Doing things like running, meditating, and eating healthy is wellness for many. However, McConnell and Edwards give a different perspective on wellness.

She said, “With us pushing connection as a central point of wellness, that’s not something you think about. Instead, most people say, ‘I need to eat healthy, I need to run, I need to meditate for hours a day.’ However, we at Paradise + Vibe don’t believe it.”

McConnell continued, “Instead, we think you should do those things because they bring a certain level of stillness, mindfulness, and joy. But also, let’s have some fun.”

“We went to South Africa for New Year’s and didn’t want to sit around meditating all day, so we thought it’d be cool to be a section at a club and celebrate. That’s a big part of life, celebration.”

A fun time in your clubbing heels is not the only thing Edwards and McConnell offer at Paradise + Vibe. Themed retreats in exotic locations around the world consist of physical activities like yoga and hiking. Guided meditation and wellness workshops help Black women connect their spirituality and everyday life. Wellness workshop topics include manifesting and journaling to help you create the life you want, strategies to manage stress, striking a work-life balance, nutrition, and more, according to Paradise + Vibe’s website.

Edwards, a certified yoga and meditation instructor, said per Essence, “How Kasondra [McConnell] and I approached the mind, body, spirit connection is just helping you pull the things already in you that may be latent out of you.”

Paradise + Vibe hosted a retreat in Bali this year in May. Upcoming retreats include Tulum in October 2023 and Brazil in February 2024.

by Lauren Nutall

June 8, 2023

BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Disruptor Panelists Dropped Gems On Attendees, Here Are Some Key Takeaways

BLACK ENTERPRISE hosted the 2023 Disruptor Summit in Atlanta. The three-day event . This year, BE had the honor to interview leading business giants, including Slutty Vegan’s Pinky Cole, Kaleidoscope Hair’s CEO Jesseca Dupart and more. With each session, participating entrepreneurs listened as these business leaders shared gems on how to build a million-dollar business, improve one’s social media presence and most importantly, how to disrupt.

Here are some words of wisdom from this year’s panelists.

Pinky Cole

“I learned that everybody has the ability to have that potential. You just got to surround yourself with the right people. You got to be in a household that’s going to foster you and encourage you and give you the knowledge and information you got to be around dreamers because it ain’t enough to be around people that just want to sit around all day and watch you dream. Okay, you got to be around people that want to grow and build with you. We all got the gift. Being a disruptor is a gift. That’s our calling, that’s our purpose.”

Jesseca Dupont 

“You have a better chance at huge success when you do the thing that you really are scared to do versus the thing that looks comfortable because everybody else has done it. I’d rather go on an unexplored lane than go on a lane that everybody’s been traveling on.” 

Jomaree Pinkard

“Entrepreneurship disruptions are not necessarily stagnant. It’s actually a journey. It’s a mindset. There’s ebbs and flows, there’s peaks and valleys, and more importantly, there’s uncertainty around every corner, and that you have to really get really comfortable in your skin with those unknowns,”

 

Ashley Rudder

“We talk about different platforms and different things all the time but the real space that you’re wanting to occupy and own is between someone’s ears. How do you do something that is going to resonate and have true authenticity not only for you but people can see themselves? It’s not only about our own voice but how do we create a space where people can relate, people can see themselves within you. And then that’s when you really have something magical.”

 

BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Disruptor Summit has not only provided networking opportunities and resources but also, valuable gems. To listen to the full playlist of panels and sessions, visit us here. 


RELATED CONTENT: Black Enterprise to Disrupt Atlanta With New Disruptor Summit Sponsored By Nationwide

John Legend Joins Underrepresented Creators To Co-Design Home and Living Collection For Etsy
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 8, 2023

John Legend Joins Underrepresented Creators To Co-Design Home and Living Collection For Etsy

John Legend is adding home design to his list of ventures after teaming up with a group of female, Black and underrepresented Etsy makers for an exclusive home and living collection.

On Tuesday, June 6 the EGOT recipient launched a limited-edition decor and lifestyle collection he co-created with an inspiring group of Etsy shops run by women, Black, and underrepresented sellers. Inspired by Legend’s own home and interior style, the collection was made to add warmth and character to any space.

Pieces include earth-toned ceramics and planters, woven baskets and vases, textured throw pillows, chic pet accessories, and a sleek oak wood record storage unit that perfectly represents the John Legend brand.

“It’s important for me to fill my home with high quality pieces made by people who approach their craft with intention,” Legend said.

“Each item in this collection was made with joy in partnership with makers who inspire me, and I hope these special pieces make you feel right at home.”

The celebrated musician and entrepreneur is known for his advocacy work for marginalized communities and made it a priority to work with diverse underrepresented Etsy sellers, which included two Gullah basket weavers who are part of the Etsy Uplift Makers Program. The Gullah technique of basket weaving is an ancient technique dating back to the 1700s when enslaved rice farmers first brought the art form to South Carolina.

“I love Etsy because it gives a platform to so many creative and diverse makers, who pour their heart and soul into their work,” Legend said.

“Getting to collaborate with these talented artists was such a special experience, because the finished products tell a story about the people who made them.”

The “Glory” singer has more home and living pieces coming our way including his Holiday collection that will serve as his second Etsy Creator Collab launch. Take a look at the full collection list below and shop the collab collection HERE.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 8, 2023

Azealia Banks Wilds Out With A Morbid Message To DC Young Fly Amid Death Of Jacky Oh

Rapper Azealia Banks is under fire after sending a disturbing message to comedian DC Young Fly in response to the death of his longtime partner, Jacky Oh.

The “212” rapper is apparently still not over the shady jokes they threw at each other on Wild ‘N Out five years ago. Banks has seemingly had it in for DC since her 2018 appearance on Nick Cannon’s sketch comedy show, where she later alleged being mistreated and called “ugly,” as noted by Music Times.

Banks took to Instagram Stories on Wednesday to issue her morbid response to the passing of Jacky Oh, the social media celebrity with whom DC shares three young children.

“DC Young Fly spent years disguising his own deeply rooted hatred of self as joked pointed at women’s beauty,” Banks wrote in posts shared on Twitter. “Projecting his own feelings about his own ugliness unto women perfectly secure in their own skin.”

“In the end… I won,” she continued.

“That Jackie o girl must have been so deeply insecure about herself,” Banks added.

She went on to reference her five-year-old Wild ‘N Out appearance while shaming DC Young Fly for calling “such a gorgeous woman as Azealia Banks… ugly on National television while a bunch of black people laughed.”

“Ironically, deaD at 32 exactly on my 32nd birthday,” Banks wrote. “You ni***s are going to learn to stop f***ing with me.”

After sending out the disturbing messages, the rapper started trending across social media, with many people saying they were canceling her for good in response to her latest antics.

“I truly think Azealia banks really is one disgusting person she is still mad over something that was said by DC young fly multiple seasons ago,” one user wrote.

“SHE CANCELLED,” added another.

Another called Banks “unwell” while sharing the old video clip of what ignited her feud with DC Young Fly.

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