Courts In Session! ‘Mathis Court With Judge Mathis’ To Be Distrubuted in 90% of U.S. Markets
Judge Mathis is back like he never left! His new showMathis Court With Judge Mathis, is set to air in 90% of U.S. markets.
Allen Media Group secured a wide release for its newest court series ahead of its Fall 2023 premiere, Yahoo Newsreports. The news comes after Mathis’ new court show was given the green light in February.
“We at Allen Media Group are proud to add ‘Mathis Court With Judge Mathis’ to our amazing portfolio of court shows,” Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group, said.
“Judge Greg Mathis is an outstanding, charismatic, and iconic television host, and we are extremely confident that our eighth and newest court series with Judge Mathis will be very successful for years to come as he joins our outstanding roster of talent.”
With the addition of “Mathis Court,” AMG now has eight court shows under its roster, making the company the world’s biggest owner/producer/distributor of television court programming. Mathis’s new show has clearances with Nexstar, Tegna, Weigel, Scripps, Hearst, Gray, Cox Media Group, and several others as part of the deal.
“Mathis Court” will run for one hour and will show the famed TV judge presiding over legal disputes that will be available on broadcast television stations, a global network, and cable and digital distribution platforms. Along with his signature rulings on the show, Mathis will also serve as an expert legal commentator on local stories for news departments of local broadcast station partners.
This is a significant comeback for Mathis after his long-running Emmy-winning legal program Judge Mathis was canceled in February 2022 after 24 seasons and more than 13,000 cases, LA Timesreported. Mathis was the longest-running Black male host on television and the second-longest-reigning TV judge in courtroom TV history, behind Judge Judy star Judith Sheindlin.
‘Hey, President Barbie!’: Issa Rae Presides Over Barbie Land In Latest Film Trailer
Issa Barbie!
The award-winning visionary and creative Issa Rae presides on and off the screen.
In correspondence with the Warner Bros. release of the posters for Barbie, Rae took to social media today and reminded us of her presidential prowess with her own character poster for the upcoming Barbie film. Coming off the heels of the BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit, our Luminary honoree is still floating, even in Barbie Land. Even in pink!
The Hoorae Media founder wrote via Instagram, “Hey, President Barbie!”
In the trailer, Rae can be seen in Barbie Land’s version of her oval office, handling business like she normally does.
The live-action feature film directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken is based on the popular Barbie dolls, per Deadline. It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and released in theaters only nationwide on July 21, after beginning internationally on July 19.
Other stars included in the upcoming film are America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon,Michael Cera, Ariana Greenblatt, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell. They were all adorned on first-look character posters for the unveiling today.
After Rae’s announcement, stars and studs flooded Issa’s Instagram post with praise, love, and support.
“Screaming. Yelling. I cannot wait to see this,” Quinta Brunson wrote.
“Let’s go, Barbie!!!,” said Rae’s former co-star, Jay Ellis.
“That’s our president!,” Hoorae Media praised.
Yassss Black Barbie!!! I yelped when I saw this – out loud and off key!!,” said entrepreneur Kezia M. Williams.
Most recently, the Barbie trailer isn’t the only one Rae has shocked us with. She also plays none other than the marvelous Spider-Woman (real name Jessica Drew). In the full-length trailer for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trailer, Jessica bursts onto the screen atop a fiery motorcycle, crashing through the barrier between universes to battle Vulture.
A Chicago Man’s Sentence Has Been Vacated After Serving 28 Years In Prison In Wrongful Murder Conviction
A Chicago man convicted of murder when he was 17 has had those charges dismissed.
According to CBS News, David Wright was accused and convicted of the murder of his 16-year-old friend Tyrone Rockett and 26-year-old Robert Smith in 1994, resulting in Wright spending the next 28 years in prison.
Cook County prosecutors have recently dismissed murder charges against Wright. CBS News reports that Chicago detectives forced Wright to confess to the murders. After nearly three decades in prison, Wright had his sentence vacated.
“It feels good, but at the same time, it’s questionable. For the last 30 years you’ve done implemented in two families’ minds that I did something that I didn’t. So how do you change that now?” Wright said to CBS News.
Wright told CBS News that he would focus on reconstructing his life, connecting with family, and helping those serving prison time for offenses they didn’t commit.
In 1994, Smith and Rockett were on Chicago’s South Parnell Avenue. One of the men walked through a pathway while the other man stood behind a building as they were murdered, according to CBS News.
“Their families are going to walk around for the rest of their lives, thinking I killed their loved ones. How do you change that?” Wright said to CBS News.
David Owens, Wright’s attorney, told CBS News that Wright was 17 years old when he was interrogated for an “abusive” 14 hours by three Chicago detectives when he signed a confession.
“The only evidence that ever existed against Mr. Wright was the statements that they said that he gave as a juvenile,” Owens said to CBS News. “There was no eyewitness. There is no forensic evidence. There’s no bullet evidence. There’s no nothing like that. It’s just, ‘Oh yeah, this kid after 15 hours of interrogation said this,’ and that’s all it was. So once we showed that the cops lacked reliability, that was part of it.”
Offset’s Attorney Files ‘Wrongful Interference’ Lawsuit Against Quality Control Music
Offset continues to have issues with Quality Control Music. Now, Cardi B’sother half is accusing QC of blocking him from releasing new music, and his lawyer has filed a “wrongful interference” lawsuit, according to documents obtained by RadarOnline.
Several news outlets report that Offset is fighting to release music he recorded after Jan. 13, 2021. A deal was supposedly made that enabled the 31-year-old to record music outside of QC.
The outlet also reports that QC is asking that the lawsuit be thrown out over claims that an agreement with Capitol Records gives them rights to Offset’s solo career.
Offset has a solo deal with Motown Records, which has no ties to QC. The initial lawsuit, filed last year, resulted in a back-and-forth between the “5,4,3,2,1” rapper and QC Co-founder Pierre “Pee” Thomas.
“The last lawsuit was filed publicly and dismissed quietly,” Pee wrote in a since-deleted tweet. “Let’s see how this one go. Been to real for all this lame sh*t. Everyone know the real problem.”
“N***** act like im the problem I paid millions to get my rights back N*gga you blackballed me I ain’t said Sh*t one time homie I ain’t spoke to you in 2 years now I drop and you want ya name on my credit,” Offset responded with a tweet.
N***** act like im the problem I paid millions to get my rights back N**** you black balled me I ain’t said Sh*t one time homie I ain’t spoke to you in 2 years now I drop and you want ya name on my credit? https://t.co/UGRDykvX5C
Earlier this year, Coach K and P sold QC to Scooter Braun, CEO of HYBE America, for an alleged sum of $320 million.
During an interview with Variety, Braun spoke about the deal.
“I am so proud and honored to have Coach and P join Bang and I as our partners,” Braun said to Variety. “QC is one of the most significant independent labels in the world, working with incredible artists who are, and remain to be, the voices of culture. I’ll never forget riding around Atlanta over 20 years ago with Coach discussing our dreams and ambitions and how we said ‘If they let us in the game, we are never going to give it back.’ Now, all these years later, we are joining forces to make these dreams a reality.”
He later added, “It’s important to me and my team that P and Coach continue to have the freedom, and now our global resources, to continue to do what they do best; facilitate and nurture great art and culture.”
‘Your Future Is Now’: The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective, Amazon Music Kicks Off Third Annual Scholarship Program For HBCU Students
Calling all HBCU students: “Your Future Is Now!”
The Recording Academy is back and in full effect with its innovative scholarship program for the third consecutive year. In collaboration with Amazon Music, the Academy’s Black Music Collective (BMC) kicked off “Your Future Is Now” with an open invitation to aspiring music creators, recording professionals, and executives who proudly represent and attend their respective HBCUs.
“With the support of our incredible DEI team Zing Shaw, Ryan Butler, and Ricky Lyon, we are committed to leveling the playing field for the next generation of Black musicians and professionals by providing them with invaluable mentorship opportunities and experiences to prepare them for careers in the music industry,” said Rico Love, vice chair of the Recording Academy Board of Trustees and BMC Chair.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled at an HBCU pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music, music business, business administration, marketing, communications, or a related field of study, per the Academy. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is Friday, April 28. To apply for the scholarship, visit here.
“Your Future Is Now” has been full of opportunity since 2021. This year, five HBCU students will be chosen to participate and revel in the “opportunity to explore all facets of the music industry by offering unique networking opportunities with revered music industry leaders, including an immersive rotational program.” In addition, they will each be bestowed with a $10,000 scholarship. That’s not all.
Two HBCUs will also receive a $10,000 grant each to invest in equipment for their music programs, thanks to the generosity and DEI efforts of the BMC and Amazon Music.
“As a member of the Spelman College family, I know how HBCU networks serve as an ongoing sources of friendship as well as professional support. Projects like the ‘Your Future Is Now’ scholarship are vital to extending these connections to the next generation of HBCU students,” said Phylicia Fant, Head of Music Industry and Culture Collaborations at Amazon Music.
“The bonds these students will build as part of the scholarship program will last for decades to come, and Amazon Music is thrilled to be at the forefront of diversity and true and meaningful inclusion.”
For more information on the Black Music Collective and the “Your Future Is Now” scholarship, visit here.
Jemele Hill ‘Picks A Fight’ With Barstool Sports Founder After He Called Angel Reese A ‘Piece of Sh*t’
Jemele Hill proudly picked “a fight” with Barstool Sports Founder Dave Portnoy after he boldly called LSU player Angel Reese a “classless piece of sh*t.”
Reese has been the topic of discussion after taunting Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark at the end of Sunday’s NCAA women’s basketball national championship game. Reese’s actions have received mixed reactions on social media from some who think she showed unsportsmanlike conduct and others who think she’s being harshly judged compared to Clark, who made the same gesture at Iowa’s Elite Eight win over Louisville.
But Portnoy was among those turned off by Reese’s “you can’t see me” hand gesture and referred to the Black basketball player as a “classless piece of sh*t.”
Leave it up to Hill to reignite her age-old feud with Portnoy in response to his criticism. Once the sports journalist caught wind of Portnoy’s comments, she fired back in true Jemele Hill fashion.
“So I’m going to pick this fight. F**k you,” she quipped.
On Monday, LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey defended Reese on the Today show, saying that Reese refuses to apologize and noting trash-talk is part of her game as a player.
“[Reese] was upset because they [the public] attack her and they didn’t attack Caitlin and things like that,” Mulkey said.
Moneybagg Yo Opens Brand New Restaurant, Cache 42 Kitchen & Cocktails, In Memphis
Moneybagg Yo is expanding his hustle. Last Friday, the South Memphis-raised MC celebrated the grand opening of his brand-new restaurant, Cache 42 Kitchen & Cocktails.
The Commercial Appeal reported that Cache 42 will give patrons more than one experience. Customers can choose to either dine in the Dining Room or Living Room. According to the report, the Dining Room offers an elevated dining experience while the Living Room will serve hookah while customers listen to some of their favorite rapper’s music blast from the speakers.
Jason Spicer, Cache 42 operations manager, spoke to the Commercial Appeal, and said that he expects oxtails and lamb chops to be a go-to dish on the menu. Spicer added that Moneybagg Yo has been involved in every detail of Cache 42.
Spicer also told the outlet that there will be no standing room, and once the seats are filled the restaurant will be considered to be at capacity, adding that customers will have a maximum two-hour time allotment at their tables.
Cache 42’s head chef is Daris Leatherwood, who according to The Commercial Appeal has worked as executive chef for the Supper Club on 2nd, American Empress, Ruth Chris Steak House, and he has served as a personal chef for Lil Wayne.
As far as the dress code, there’s only one rule: no ball caps are allowed to be worn inside the dining room.
Moneybagg isn’t the only CMG artist with a restaurant. The label’s head hustler in charge, Yo Gotti’s restaurant, Prive, has been a popular eatery in the city dubbed “Home of Blues” for years now. Unfortunately, a dim light has been shed on Prive over the past few days after a shooting at the well-known restaurant left two people dead.
The Back 2 Da Basics rapper’s lawyer, Arthur Horne, released a statement to WREG about the unfortunate incident.
“On behalf of Prive, they’ve been in business for 10 years, and nothing like this has ever happened at their establishment,” Horne wrote, cited by WREG. “It happened out in the parking lot, and it ended up in a shootout.
“Nothing happened inside the restaurant. Despite any conflicting reports, they were closing, and this happened at the end of the evening in the parking lot.”
Trump Arrives at New York Courthouse to Face Criminal Charges
Donald Trump, the former U.S. president and front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, arrived at a Manhattan courthouse to be formally charged on Tuesday in a watershed moment as his supporters and detractors noisily rallied outside.
Trump, 76, is the first sitting or former president to face criminal charges. He was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury last week in a case stemming from a 2016 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, though the specific charges had yet to be disclosed.
Trump was driven to the courthouse in a motorcade after departing his New York residence at Trump Tower.
Trump, who has said he is innocent and is due to plead not guilty, was expected to surrender to the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg before an arraignment proceeding before Justice Juan Merchan. The arraignment, where Trump will be in court to hear charges and have a chance to enter a plea, was planned for 2:15 p.m. (1815 GMT).
“Today (Tuesday) is the day that a ruling political party ARRESTS its leading opponent for having committed NO CRIME,” Trump, who flew to New York from his Florida home on Monday, said in a fundraising email sent out on Tuesday morning.
On social media, Trump ahead of the arraignment renewed his attacks on Merchan, who last year also presided over a trial in which Trump’s real estate company was convicted of tax fraud.
Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, in November announced a bid to regain the presidency in 2024 in a bid to deny Democratic President Joe Biden, who beat him in 2020, a second term in the White House.
On a cool and sunny early spring day in the most-populous U.S. city, Trump supporters and detractors were separated by barricades set up by police to try to keep order, though there were some confrontations.
“Let’s keep it civil, folks,” a police officer told them.
Hundreds of Trump supporters, at a park across from the Manhattan courthouse, cheered and blew whistles, outnumbering his detractors. The Trump critics held signs including one of Trump dressed in a striped jail uniform behind bars and another that read, “Lock Him Up.”
Typically, people facing arraignment are fingerprinted and have mugshot photographs taken. The court appearance was likely to be brief.
“It won’t be a long day in court,” Joseph Tacopina, one of Trump’s lawyers, said on ABC.
Yahoo News late on Monday reported that Trump would face 34 felony counts for falsification of business records.
Any trial is at least more than a year away, legal experts said. Being indicted or even convicted does not legally prevent Trump from running for president.
Five photographers will be admitted to the courtroom before the arraignment starts to take pictures for several minutes. Trump’s lawyers had urged a judge to keep them out, arguing they would worsen “an already almost circus-like atmosphere.”
Bragg, a Democrat who led the investigation, was set to give a news conference after the arraignment. Trump and his allies have portrayed the case as politically motivated.
TRUMP URGES VENUE CHANGE
In a social media post, Trump said Manhattan Criminal Court was a “very unfair venue” and urged that the case be moved to the New York City borough of Staten Island, which regularly votes Republican. It was unclear whether Trump’s lawyers would argue in court on Tuesday for a change of venue.
Trump will return to Florida and deliver remarks from his Mar-a-Lago resort at 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday (0015 GMT on Wednesday), his office said.
Among the pro-Trump demonstrators was Gina Witcher, 55, of Maryland.
“We feel like this is a very scary indictment,” Witcher said, accusing Democratic prosecutors of going after conservatives for political reasons.
New Jersey resident Susan Cerbo, 55, wore an American flag cowboy hat as she and her sister stood on the steps of a church across the street from Trump Tower holding a “Trump for President” banner.
“Honestly, he’s just targeted because he’s a presidential candidate,” Cerbo said. “If you can do it to him with all his money and power, they can do it to any citizen of the United States.”
Manhattan resident Kim Britt, 69, was among the anti-Trump demonstrators.
“If anyone is above the law, then we’re not going to get anywhere,” said Britt, holding a sign reading, “Tick Tock Time’s Up!”
Bragg has faced harsh criticism from Trump. His office has received bomb threats in recent weeks. Security officials said they were unaware of credible threats surrounding Trump’s courtroom appearance.
Trump’s lead has widened over rivals in the Republican Party’s presidential nominating contest, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday, conducted after news broke that he would face criminal charges.
Some 48% of Republicans say they want Trump to be their party’s presidential nominee, up from 44% last month. Second-place Florida Governor Ron DeSantis fell from 30% to around 19%. More than two-thirds of poll respondents said they believed that Trump paid hush money to Daniels, but half said they thought the charges were politically motivated.
TRUMP FACES MULTIPLE LEGAL WOES
The Manhattan grand jury that indicted Trump heard evidence about a $130,000 payment to Daniels in the waning days of the 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels has said she was paid to keep silent about a sexual encounter she had with Trump at a Lake Tahoe hotel in 2006.
Trump denies a sexual relationship but has acknowledged reimbursing his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen for the payment. In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance law violations and was sentenced to three years in prison. He testified in the Manhattan investigation last month.
Trump faces a separate criminal probe by a Democratic local prosecutor in Georgia into whether he unlawfully tried to overturn his 2020 election defeat in the state. He also faces two U.S. Justice Department investigations led by a special counsel into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and his handling of classified documents after leaving office.
Young Thug Temporarily Released From Jail To Attend His Sister’s Funeral
Young Thug has been locked away in jail since last May. But the chart-topping rapper was temporarily released over the weekend to attend his late sister’s funeral.
On Saturday, reports surfaced online confirming Young Thug, real name Jeffrey Lamar Williams, was present at the funeral of his sister, Angela Grier, who died last week due to unknown causes. There were a series of tweets from one attendee who noted the “Lifestyle” rapper’s presence at the service.
“They let Jeff come see his sister,” one person wrote in a tweet captured by The Neighborhood Talk.
When one person replied expressing their happiness that Young Thug was allowed to attend the funeral, the attendee noted the rapper wore a “suit and Air Force Ones” to the service.
Fans expressed their sympathy for the rapper who remains incarcerated on RICO charges that could put him behind bars for 25 years following a trial that begins this spring, as noted by NY Magazine. Family members of Grier confirmed her passing last week through a series of tribute posts across social media.
“My heart is broken,” family member Dolly White wrote. “I Love you girl …You hurt your SISTERS & BROTHERS Wit this one […] Mom & Daddy Too.”
She followed up with a photo of Grier and heartbreak emojis.
It’s a major loss for Young Thug who was arrested in May 2022 along with fellow rapper Gunna and 28 members of his YSL crew. The group was labeled as a gang involved in criminal activity and were all charged in a 56-count indictment.
Most recently, members of YSL have been entering plea deals, which prompted growing suspicion that Young Thug could become the one to take the rap for his crew, Vulture reports. Prosecutors have been using his song lyrics in their case against him.
R&B Singer Kem Opens Up About Past Life Struggles In New Memoir
R&B singer Kem is always music to our ears.
The Detroit native is gearing up to release his new album “Anniversary—The Live Album” this week but is also giving us an inside look at the ups and downs of his personal journey. “Share My Life,” a new memoir from the singer, chronicles his battle with addiction, painful family history as well as experience with homelessness.
In an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, Kem detailed why he felt it was finally time to delve into his life story. “Great healing and transformation have taken place in my life because people have shared their stories with me. My hope is that I can do the same for someone else.” His hit single “Love Calls” was released 20 years ago by Motown Records and since then his silky vocals have been a mainstay on the R&B scene. Kem credits his decision to seek help by way of Alcoholics Anonymous in the early 90s for his ability to use music as his outlet.
“I came to a place where I quit trying to convince myself that I could solve my problem on my own, and I surrendered,” he said. “I’m very grateful that I’ve had the experiences that I’ve had. Because I believe when we share our stories, we can make an impact on the world.” His impact has been more than felt as he’s racked up three Grammy nominations, multiple Billboard Award nominations as well as two certified gold albums and one platinum offering. He wants his story of triumph to be an example for those in the midst of their own storms. “Don’t quit before the miracle happens,” he told Roberts. “Pain is mandatory, but suffering is optional.”
“Share My Life” is available wherever books are sold today!
