Disney is going hip-hop!

According to Deadline, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is slated to direct the remake of the 1970 Disney movie The Aristocats.

The news comes more than a year after Questlove took home an Oscar for Best Documentary for 2021’s Summer of Soul.

Sources told Deadline that the project will be a live-action/hybrid reimagining for Walt Disney Studios. Questlove will also serve as executive producer while overseeing the music for the film. The script was written by Will Gluck and Keith Bunin. Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter, Shawn Gee, and Zarah Zohlman will executive produce on behalf of Two One Five Entertainment.

Questlove gave a statement to Pitchfork regarding the upcoming project:

“During those first months of the pandemic back in 2020, I allowed my inner 9-year-old to have a voice he wouldn’ta had back in 1980. I made space for myself every day to enjoy an hour or two of fun. (Eventually, it turned into more work: books, nightly DJ sets, films. But it started as fun.) What grew out of that, in part, was nightly viewings of old Disney classics from my childhood. The Aristocats was one of them. Having been involved in Soul that year, I was able to see so-called kids’ art with new eyes, was able to connect with a certain feeling. I don’t think I would have been fully able to find inspiration in those movies if I wasn’t forced by circumstance to sit silent. I needed that pause. (Also, full confession, The Aristocats was how my mom made jazz seem interesting to me back then.) There’s nothing more rewarding than continuing down that same creative path, taking a part of my past and making it part of my future.”

This news comes after the announcement of Questlove’s latest business venture, AUWA Books, which will publish fiction and nonfiction on various topics. The Roots mainstay will serve as the imprint’s publisher and editor-in-chief.

The first book, a memoir by reclusive funk-rock giant Sly Stone, entitled Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), will be released October 17.

There are always stories about artists getting jerked for their money, particularly at the start of their careers. Recently, Real Housewives of Atlanta star, Kandi Burruss, recalled the time when it happened to her.

Burruss started her career as a songwriter and member of the R&B group, Xscape. While sitting down with former NFL player, Shannon Sharpe for his Club Shay Shay podcast, she revealed that when the group started out, they signed a contract that wasn’t for much money.

“It wasn’t a lot of money for the first deal,” Burruss told Sharpe. “We were just going along with whatever we were told to do as far as our managers or the people who were in place to tell us because we didn’t really know. Tiny and I were underage when we signed the deal. So our mommas had to co-sign on the dotted line with us.”

She also reminisced about doing shows every weekend and going out on tour to support the album. After being on the road performing, she mentioned the group didn’t feel like they were making the type of money they felt they deserved.

“I remember we didn’t really make that much money after our first album, but we felt like we were doing shows every weekend. We were on a tour, and we were doing separate shows on weekends outside of the ones we were doing on the tour. So we’re like, ‘Where the money at?’ And it wasn’t that much money. For, like weeks and weeks of touring, we only probably had like $30,000 a piece.”

The group was speaking to their accountant and learned that there was money missing after his partner ghosted.

“When we were sitting down with the accountant I remember he was saying, ‘This is for miscellaneous,’ and it was like 100-something thousand dollars. Then come to find out, it was two accountants that were partners and one of them disappeared. So I guess he disappeared with our money.”

From there, the group members learned a lesson about watching their finances.

TNT analyst and Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal recently left the hospital after a hip replacement operation. On Monday, the behemoth NBA Hall of Famer posted a video of him in the gym.

In the clip, O’Neal, 51, slowly approaches a weight machine using a crutch. He sits down (with a little discomfort) at the machine and gets going.

He has a slight warning to “you old dudes” out there as he proclaims that he is “coming for y’all.”

“bout to get my game back alll you old dudes that hoop in @24hrfitness @lafitness @lifetimefitness i’m coming for y’all”

 

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A post shared by DR. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq)

Earlier this month when news and photos started circulating showing Shaq in a hospital bed, the gregarious big man said he was fine. He even managed to crack a joke about his situation.

“To all the people who are concerned. First let me start off by saying thank you,” Shaq said via Instagram. “And lastly i am fine. Just had to get some BBL work done aka #hipreplacement. but yes i am fine no need to worry.”

Ailments have stopped Shaq, who played for six teams in 19 NBA seasons before retiring with the Boston Celtics in 2011, from attending to business off the court.

O’Neal recently signed, along with Dwyane Wade and Kevin Durant (with his partner Rich Kleiman for their company 35V), as investors in Tiger Woods’ TMRW Sports venture, according to a blog post from the company.

Two weeks ago, O’Neal attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for his Big Chicken restaurant inside the new KCI terminal at Kansas City International Airport, Fox 4 KC reported. O’Neal hosted the event with the city’s mayor, Quinton Lucas. He then attended the Big 12 basketball championship game between Kansas and Texas with Lucas.

• News

by Booker Jones

March 28, 2023

The Federal Trial For Pras, Who Is Accused Being An Agent For China, Begins This Week

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Pras is having an eventful and stressful week. Jury selection in his federal trial has begun. The Fugees member is readying his defense to prove his innocence after finding himself in a financial scandal. 

According to several news reports, Pras Michél is being accused of conspiracy and failing to register as an agent for China. 

The federal government maintains that Pras made donations to groups who backed Barack Obama during his 2012 presidency, yet he failed to disclose that donations came from Jho Low, a Malaysian millionaire, according to NPR. The outlet also reported Low shelled out upwards of $21 million to Pras for groups supporting Obama. 

In a lengthy report by Bloomberg, Jason Leopold, Matthew Campbell, and Anthony Cormier wrote, “Low was a globe-trotting financier whose lavish spending would put him on familiar terms with dozens of A-list entertainers. But by 2016, US investigators believed he’d masterminded the embezzlement of billions of dollars from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, blowing much of it on artwork, real estate and gifts for celebrity friends including Leonardo DiCaprio and Kim Kardashian. Few were as close to Low as Michél: Prosecutors seized $95 million that they alleged originated with Low from Michél’s accounts.” 

Bloomberg added, “The records show how Michél, at Low’s request, helped assemble a team of Republican influencers—including fundraiser Elliott Broidy, businesswoman Nickie Lum Davis and casino magnate Steve Wynn—capable of reaching the highest levels of the Trump administration as it took hold of the US government. Soon, all would be targeted by agents from the FBI’s international corruption division as well as federal prosecutors from Honolulu to New York.” 

NPR also reported that Pras acted on advice from lawyers, and believed he was acting “in the interests of the United States.” 

“Defendant continues to deny he was acting as an agent for China and denies he willfully and knowingly acted as a secret agent under the direction and control of China when he approached the FBI,” David Kenner and Charles Haskell, defense attorneys, wrote in court papers, according to NPR.

Earlier this year, the MC sat with Rolling Stone to discuss his legal plight. 

“I used to think getting into politics was a way to try to help people,” Pras said. “When you think about it, what the fuck do I really need to be in politics for? There’s no reason — my life is great — if it’s not to try to help people.”

He added: “I was one of those people who was just dabbling. I never thought I would be full-time into politics. I realized politics is not for me. The problem with politics is this: It’s that the people within politics, they’re dirtier than the people who are not in politics.”

If found guilty, Pras could face up to 22 years in prison. 

• News

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 28, 2023

Rap Snacks Premieres Mini-Documentary at Inaugural HBCU National Conference

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Rap Snacks, known as the official snack brand of Hip Hop, continues to celebrate black culture, music, and the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop with a red-carpet screening of Rap Snacks Symphony and the title sponsorship of the inaugural National HBCU Auxiliary and Dance Directors Association Conference in Atlanta, GA, March 29-April 2, 2023.

“Rap Snacks has a deep connection to HBCUs and our shared values of uplifting the black community, encouraging creativity, and supporting black-owned businesses,” said James Lindsay, founder and president, Rap Snacks. “Many of our executives and staff attended or are personally tied to an HBCU and appreciate their profound impact on the culture. We are pleased to be the title sponsor of this conference and showcase amazing talent through this mini-documentary.”

Rap Snacks Symphony is a digital content series that features a historically black college and university (HBCU) marching band and dance team playing the music of artists on Rap Snacks bags. This year marks the second installment of the series, featuring Clark Atlanta University’s Marching Panthers and Essence Dance Team. Last year, Central State University’s Invincible Marching Marauders (Wilberforce, OH) were showcased. Rap Snacks Symphony highlights HBCU bands to help grow the program and expose students to unique experiences and opportunities.

“Rap Snacks Symphony is a complete culture disruptor. This is where Hip Hop and entertainment meet corporate integrative marketing to create a product that rejuvenates, amplifies, and empowers our now- and next-generation moguls and culture shapers,” said D’Carius Clark, project manager Rap Snacks Symphony.

Rap Snacks Symphony will premiere at the National HBCU Auxiliary and Dance Directors Association Conference, along with a special talk-back panel session featuring key film participants. Close to 400 band and dance coaches, instructors, students, and enthusiasts are anticipated to attend and participate in networking and learning events from March 29-April 2, 2023, at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, GA. The screening will take place on Friday, March 31, 2023, at 8:00 pm EST.

• News

by Booker Jones

March 28, 2023

Meek Mill Joins Homie Robert Kraft’s $25 Million Anti-Semitism Initiative

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Meek Mill’s relationship with Robert Kraft has been going strong for a few years now. Recently, Kraft announced his anti-semitism initiative, and yes, the Philadelphia native is standing on the front line with the New England Patriots owner. 

The billionaire is pledging $25 million to combat anti-Semitism through his organization, Foundation to Combat Anti-semitism (FCAS). Kraft told People that he aims to educate people about anti-semitism. 

“There’s been work done that shows that 50% of Americans do not realize that antisemitism is any problem, and the Jewish population is roughly 2.4% of the population in the U.S. but yet receives over 55% of the hate crimes,” Kraft said.

Kraft added: “We need all Americans and that’s why we’ve come up with this blue emoji to be a symbol of asking all Americans to stand with us and help fight this.”

Meek Mill isn’t the only celebrity joining Kraft’s. Former New England Patriot Tom Brady is ready to take the field to fight anti-semitism. 

​​”He and I are still very tight and he will be using this blue emoji when we kick off again. He promised he would,” Kraft said of Brady. 

Team Kraft and Meek are not new to fighting against injustice, either. When Meek was serving a prison sentence for popping a wheelie back in 2017, which violated his probation, Kraft led the #FreeMeek campaign and founded the Reform Alliance. 

“He would tell you that I helped get him out of jail,” Kraft said to People when asked about his relationship with the rapper. “And we started the Reform Alliance when my friend Michael Rubin and Jay-Z, and Meek and I were the founders to try to change the whole parole system.”

Kraft seems to be genuine and consistent in helping to make the world a better place, which speaks to his strong relationship with Meek. 

“None of us had any control over how we were born, what our skin color would be, what religion our parents were,” Kraft said. “But we have freedom of choice to live the way we want, so I’m willing to commit significant capital. And really, we’re preserving what I think is fundamental to the great strength of America.”

• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by Sidnee Michelle Douyon

March 28, 2023

Tesla Faces New Race Bias Trial from Employee who had $137 Million Verdict Cut

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A trial kicked off in San Francisco federal court on Monday to determine how much money Tesla Inc must pay to a Black elevator operator who a jury determined was subjected to severe racial harassment while working at the electric auto maker’s flagship assembly plant.

Lawyers for Tesla and plaintiff Owen Diaz began the process of selecting a jury, which included questioning potential jurors about their views on the company and its chief executive, Elon Musk. Opening statements were expected later in the afternoon.

The trial is scheduled to last five days. Last year, a judge slashed the $137 million verdict that the jury awarded in 2021 to Diaz, one of the largest ever in a U.S. workplace discrimination case. Diaz’s lawyers rejected the lower payout and opted for a new trial on damages.

After the 2021 trial, U.S. District Judge William Orrick agreed with a jury that Tesla was liable for race discrimination but cut the verdict to $15 million. Orrick is also presiding over this week’s trial, and has barred both sides from presenting new evidence or calling new witnesses.

As at the last trial, Diaz and several employees and managers at the Fremont, California plant are expected to testify.

In his 2017 lawsuit, Diaz accused Tesla of failing to act when he complained to managers that employees at the factory frequently used racist slurs and scrawled swastikas, racist caricatures and epithets on walls and workstations.

Diaz sued Tesla for causing him emotional distress under a California law prohibiting employers from failing to prevent hostile work environments based on race and other protected traits.

The jury in 2021 awarded Diaz nearly $7 million in compensatory damages for emotional distress, and $130 million in punitive damages, designed to punish unlawful conduct and deter it in the future.

Orrick last year reduced the compensatory damages to $1.5 million and the punitive damages to $13.5 million. He said that sum acknowledged the pervasive harassment Diaz faced while reflecting that he had worked at the factory for only nine months and had not alleged any physical injury or illness.

Employment discrimination cases rarely yield verdicts of more than $1 million, let alone nine-figure sums. The U.S. Supreme Court has said punitive damages typically should be no more than 10 times compensatory damages.

Lawrence Organ, a lawyer for Diaz, said he hoped the new jury would return a larger verdict than the $15 million award offered by Orrick and convince the judge higher damages are warranted.

“Tesla is focused on trying to get that number to zero,” Organ said, “but that’s a very cynical view to have a Black man racially harassed and suggest that is not worth a lot of money.”

Tesla has said it does not tolerate discrimination, and its lawyers did not respond to requests for comment. The company had urged Orrick to reduce the original jury award to no more than $600,000.

Tesla also faces claims of tolerating widespread race bias at the Fremont plant in a class action in California state court and a separate lawsuit by the state’s civil rights watchdog making similar allegations. Both cases are still in early stages.

The outcome of Diaz’s trial will not directly affect those lawsuits or other court cases, but could encourage workers to file new lawsuits against the company as it battles mounting challenges to its dominance of the electric car market.

Meet Delmar Johnson and Shayna Atkins, two African American women who are the founders of ExpandHR, the first ever Black woman-owned, user-friendly Human Resources platform. The two entrepreneurs have combined their professional experiences as business owners to change how entrepreneurs hire their next employees while staying compliant in their businesses.

Delmar is a seasoned Gen X HR Expert with over 25 years of experience as a consultant to Fortune 50 companies and small businesses, and Shayna is a Millennial Product Manager and Agile Coach who runs a consulting firm specializing in teaching agile methodologies to Fortune 500 clients.

Although the founders come from different generations, they were inspired by their mutual inside view of the pain points as small business owners. This solution provides a centralized platform that drives culture from day one; helping to shift wealth in underserved communities.

The app allows entrepreneurs to expedite the onboarding process for their new employees and contractors. It also provides opportunities for human resources consulting as well as a budget-friendly payroll management system.

“A lot of small businesses feel overwhelmed, don’t know where to start, feel stuck on how to hire new people or are not clear on what the next move is in the phase or stage of your business,” says Delmar. “ExpandHR allows businesses to become structured to take their business to the next level.”

“During our soft launch, beta testers from different industries tested our product to prepare for our live launch in March 2023. We are excited about the direction we are going with our platform,” says Shayna.

“According to the most recent available Census data, there are more than two million Black-owned businesses in America. Of course, we would like for our product to serve all small business owners universally, but as African-American women launching a new application in human relations and technology, serving small business owners that look like us and understand the unique struggles we face is an added bonus,” says Delmar.

The two entrepreneurs are expecting a full launch during Women’s History Month, to observe and celebrate the vital role of women in tech and to demonstrate their values of being people-centered, innovative, and champions of growth.

To learn more about ExpandHR, visit their official website at ExpandHR.co

This news first appeared on blackbusiness.com

With under three months left to make her dreams come true, Martha Reeves, lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas, is calling out to her fans to help her reach a very important deadline.

Reeves and her team are trying to raise $55,000 by June in order to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The singer thought the fee would be covered by a former manager who nominated her. With a new manager, Reeves and her team launched a fundraiser to meet the total to secure her spot for next year.

“Martha’s former representation got in over their heads on this,” Reeves’ current manager Chris Roe said. “They didn’t realize how hard it would be and wasted a year of fundraising time. Now we’re down to the wire.”

“If we do not make a sizable indentation to our goal, it is likely that Martha’s Hollywood Star selection will be withdrawn, and we will have to start the nomination process all over again (which could take several years),” Roe wrote on the campaign page. “Since she was nominated and chosen in 2021, as part of the Class of 2022, we have very little time. There is a time limit to receive your star after being selected.”

According to the Detroit Free Press, some nominees have the fees covered by a movie studio, record label, or crowdfunding.

“It doesn’t take much to make a huge impact,” Roe said. “Doing without three or four Starbucks coffees for a week is a pretty nice contribution. A donation of $25 goes a long way.”

Roe is currently working with corporations and private benefactors to reach the goal by the deadline.

“This honor bestowed upon Martha has meant a lot,” Roe said. “That star is there for generations to come, and Motown will always be stitched into the fabric of our society. So it’s a great accomplishment, Martha is very deserving, and I’m happy to take her across the finish line.”

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank^®, today announced two new program relationships supporting key housing and home ownership initiatives in Philadelphia, including a $2.5 million financial commitment to Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s (LISC) Non-profit Preservation Initiative and a new relationship with CONVERGENCE Philadelphia. This investment further illustrates TD’s focus on deepening its support of communities of color across Philadelphia.

“TD has roots in metro Philadelphia and with that comes the responsibility to serve all communities here,” said Rob Curley, Regional President, Metro Pennsylvania and New Jersey for TD Bank. “By making tangible increases in resources and economic opportunities in Philadelphia, diverse and underserved individuals and families can realize their full potential and have the same financial security as their neighbors.”

TD Bank worked with local National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) members and Philadelphiacommunity leaders to identify impactful initiatives that support areas of greatest need in the city, including mortgage origination, sustained support of non-profits and preserving the availability of affordable rental housing.

“These relationships reinforce TD’s commitment to enriching the lives of our colleagues, customers and communities, and represent some of the best thinking when it comes to creating more equity in housing and lending for Black and Hispanic communities,” said Shelley Sylva, Head of U.S. Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank. “We’re excited to work together to drive meaningful change in housing accessibility and sustainability right here in Philadelphia.”

The Bank’s commitment includes:

Non-Profit Preservation Initiative (LISC Philadelphia): LISC’s housing strategy aims to maintain neighborhood assets and promote growth while protecting long-term residents’ and community members’ needs for affordable and equitable housing options. TD’s contribution of $2.5 million over two years to the Non-Profit Preservation Initiative will assist LISC’s work with non-profit building owners to preserve and protect 650 publicly assisted affordable housing rental units in neighborhoods across the city, with a priority focus in West Philadelphia and Eastern North Philadelphia.

“We are grateful for TD Bank’s bold commitment to the preservation of affordable rental housing in Philadelphia,” said Andrew Frishkoff, Executive Director of LISC Philadelphia. “The city has 4,800 non-profit-owned affordable rental units that need significant public and private reinvestment during the next 15 years for essential renovations and long-term affordability. TD’s investment will ensure that we can preserve the first 650 units while developing a multi-faceted strategy to help residents in all of the at-risk buildings to remain in safe, quality and affordable housing.”

CONVERGENCE Philadelphia: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) recently launched CONVERGENCE Philadelphia, its third city-based pilot program to promote and increase minority homeownership. CONVERGENCE Philadelphia joins initiatives underway in Memphis, Tennessee, and Columbus, Ohio, to identify and address homeownership barriers for Black and Hispanic individuals.

CONVERGENCE Philadelphia will be led by MBA and three cornerstone partners, including TD Bank. The multiyear commitment will involve the collaboration of a local network of housing leaders, community advocates, and industry stakeholders to strengthen existing programs and develop new long-term, sustainable solutions to help close the home ownership gap for Blacks and Hispanics in the city.

The announcement comes on the heels of TD’s recent Community Benefits Plan, which includes $50 million of lending, investment, philanthropy and other impact across 22 states and Washington, D.C., following the close of the bank’s merger with First Horizon Bank. For additional information regarding TD Bank’s larger community benefits plan, please visit: https://stories.td.com/us/en/article/td-bank-community-benefits-plan.

The support of LISC and CONVERGENCE is aligned to the TD Ready Commitment, the Bank’s longstanding commitment to creating a more inclusive and sustainable future. As part of this work, TD is targeting $775 million by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to help open doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health.

Recent scientific evidence has pointed to a link between the use of chemical hair relaxers and the development of certain types of cancer. Product liability lawsuits have been filed against major beauty company L’Oreal, alleging that toxic chemicals in their hair relaxers led to an increased risk of uterine cancer. This lawsuit, along with other related claims, will pave the way for victims to pursue a hair relaxer cancer lawsuit.

At Reich & Binstock, our nationally-recognized mass tort attorneys are investigating claims involving certain chemical hair straighteners and their link with adverse health effects.

If you have developed one of the following health conditions after using Dark & Lovely, Just for Me, or Cantu Shea Butter Relaxers, you may be entitled to financial compensation:

• Uterine cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Ovarian cancer

You may learn more at https://www.reichandbinstock.com/houston-personal-injury-lawyers/product-liability/hair-relaxer-cancer-lawsuit/

To schedule a free case evaluation, please call their office at 713-622-7271. You can also send an email to contact@reichandbinstock.com and they will evaluate your claim and help you determine which steps to take next.