Snoop Dogg is no stranger to signing deals. Snoop’s latest venture finds the Long Beach, CA-bred rapper joining forces with Indonesian coffee entrepreneur, Michael Riady, to launch his coffee brand, INDO.xyz. 

“My relationship with coffee goes way back,” Snoop said in a statement. “The many long nights in the studio making hit after hit, coffee provided the fuel which kept us going.”

According to INDO.xyz’s website, the brand will be available in California and Las Vegas before it hits shelves nationwide. But for those in a hurry to get Uncle Snoop’s INDO.xyz, the coffee can be purchased on the website as well as Amazon, Safeway, Albertsons, Erewhon, and Pavilions. 

Snoop took to his Instagram account to share that INDO.xyz is designed to help go-getters achieve their goals and dreams. 

 

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Last year, Snoop acquired Death Row Records and pulled the company’s catalog from all streaming services. Recently, Big Snoop added Death Row Records to the popular social media app TikTok, and  decided to put Death Row’s music catalog back on streaming platforms.

​​“Since I took Death Row off streaming almost a year ago, not a day goes by without people asking me to put it back up,” Snoop Dogg said in a statement. “As the Super Bowl rolled around, I knew fans would be looking for the music from our iconic performance in 2022, so I wanted to reintroduce the most historic catalog to the people.”

Hall of Fame golfer, Tiger Woods is back in the news but it’s not related to his playing.

According to USA Today, Woods is being taken to court, in theory, by his former girlfriend after he allegedly locked her out of the mansion she shared with him when they were together. Erica Herman has filed a $30 million lawsuit due to an alleged “oral tenancy agreement” between the former couple.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Florida, states that Woods supposedly locked her out of the property after he broke up with her in October 2022. But, she is filing the legal paperwork against a homestead trust he handles in Hobe Sound, Florida. The house is located on the Treasure Coast, according to court records received by USA Today Sports.

She is asserting damages of more than $30 million while accusing the trust and its agents of misappropriating $40,000 cash that belonged to her. She is stating that they are making “scurrilous and defamatory allegations (about) how she obtained the money.”

In the lawsuit, she writes that she had an “oral tenancy agreement” to remain there at the residence for five additional years after being in effect for six years before the couple broke up.

“The duties that were performed by, and expected of, Plaintiff were extensive and of an extraordinary nature in light of the overall circumstances and environment in which she lived,” the filing stated.

“Plaintiff has continually demanded to be allowed back into her home, but Defendant’s agents have refused,” Herman states in the lawsuit.

The response by the trust states that Woods established it in 2017. The potential beneficiaries are Woods and his two children as the only asset is its ownership interest in this residence.

“Ms. Herman was invited to live in the Residence while she was in a relationship with her former boyfriend, Eldrick (Tiger) Woods, who continues to live in the Residence with his two children,” said a document filed in court by the trust. “After Mr. Woods recently terminated the relationship, Ms. Herman was advised that she was no longer welcome in the Residence.”

Herman also has another issue with the breakup with the golf champion.

In a separate complaint this week, she is also suing Woods and made a request that the court releases her from her non-disclosure agreement that she signed with Woods in 2017. She is alluding to being involved in either a sexual assault or harassment.

She claims that the non-disclosure agreement is not enforceable under the federal Speak Out Act, which prohibits the judicial enforceability of such agreements in disputes involving sexual assault or harassment.

Snoop Dogg wasn’t going to disappoint his fans.

Billboard reports the iconic rapper has inked a new deal putting Death Row classic records back on streaming platforms. Dogg made a promise to fans a little less than a month ago that the music would be available and in a tweet, the 51-year-old dropped the announcement.

Yessir. Heard you. Death Row Records catalog is back streaming everywhere tonight 9pm pst. 💨 pic.twitter.com/oqnP4rDdT2

— Snoop Dogg (@SnoopDogg) March 9, 2023

Black Enterprise reported news of the west coast legend acquiring his home record label last year, making a deal with MNRK Music Group. Shortly after the takeover, all music from the label, including 2Pac’s All Eyes On Me and his debut album, Doggystyle, saying “those platforms don’t pay.”

However, he says fans have been bugging him about making them available again. “Since I took Death Row off streaming almost a year ago, not a day goes by without people asking me to put it back up,” Snoop Dogg said. “As the Super Bowl rolled around, I knew fans would be looking for the music from our iconic performance in 2022, so I wanted to reintroduce the most historic catalog to the people.”

Other classic albums available include The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, Lady of Rage’s Necessary Roughness and Kurupt’s Against the Grain. Dr. Dre’s The Chronic also returned after Dre sold his music assets to UMG and Shamrock Holdings for an estimated $200 million.

Lots of deals have been in the music industry. Dogg himself quietly sold a stake in the label’s catalog to Gamma, a new full-service music company led by former Apple Music executive, Larry Jackson. According to HypeBeast, the label will also house podcasts, films and provide mentorship and resources to up and coming artists. In a statement, the budding entrepreneur speaks on the partnership. “It made sense for two Black men to come together to change the face of the industry,” Dogg said. “I didn’t want to partner with a regular company because they respect me and fear me so much, they wouldn’t wanna give me ideas.”

Gamma is going to the company to keep an eye on. On top of rumors of Snoop dropping new music, Rick Ross and Usher have already secured deals to drop music with the label.

Last year, in a protest against Spotify, recording artist India.Arie removed her music from the streaming platform in part because the company had paid actor turned podcaster Joe Rogan $200 million, even after controversial comments. More than that, it was also to protest the rate at which Spotify was paying its Black artists and artists in general. A year later, her tunes can be accessed on the streaming service once again and she expresses to Billboard why it was taken off and the reason it’s currently on Spotify.

Last month, the Brown Skin singer posted a message to her Instagram account alerting her fanbase that the streaming platform is once again playing her song library. She expresses to her followers that she wasn’t fighting Rogan but engaged “in a public battle with Spotify.”

 

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In an exclusive interview with Billboard, she discusses the reasoning behind both decisions to remove and then place her catalog back on Spotify. Dignity was at the core of her removing it.

“It was in protest. I’ve been in the music industry for 24 years. I signed my record deal in 1999, and I know too much about how racism functions in the music industry to be comfortable with what I saw. And so knowing that Black music sells most of the music, and just how important Black people are in the [music industry], and in the creation of music, period – we all know. Spotify said it to me: Someone called me after I took my music down and said, “You know, Black music does the most streams.” I’m like, “I know that.”

She goes on to say that knowing that statement as a fact, Spotify just ups and decides to pay an outstanding amount of money to someone like Rogan who is known to use racist language. She felt it was disrespectful to so do while paying Black artists a minuscule amount in comparison.

“My dignity could not stand it.”

The decision to go back to Spotify took place when the royalty rates were altered.

“Something big did change for me where I started getting these royalties payments. I’ll be getting my first ones this year. But also, [NMPA president/CEO] David Israelite won the lawsuit where [the royalty rate for songwriters will be increased from 10.5% to 15.1% over the course of stream payments from the years 2018 to 2022], which is huge when you’re getting a fraction of a penny.”

“So when those two things shifted, I put my music back up. Cause I want my checks. And not only do I want my checks, I deserve my checks. There’s still not gonna be enough. And there’s still so much that needs to be changed in the music industry for it to be humane, really. But I stood up for myself and I got some shift, and I want my checks, period.”

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 10, 2023

Mexican Cartel Apologizes For Murder and Kidnapping of Black Americans

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The Associated Press reports the Mexican cartel that kidnapped four Black American tourists and killed two of them has apologized and given up the members who committed the actions.

In the letter, the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel took full responsibility for the tragedy in Matamoros, Mexico, and condemned the violence; the recent events are said to be bad for cartel business.

“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline,” the letter read.

In proper fashion, the letter included a photo of five men face down on the pavement and bound, according to Fox News. The assailants were found tied up inside one of the vehicles authorities were looking for—along with the letter.

Reports claim this practice isn’t unprecedented in the cartel world. Many are known to attempt to smooth things over with rivals and authorities because bad press could affect business.

Mexican security analyst David Saucedo said things have become “heated” in the territory. “It is very difficult right now for them to continue working in terms of street-level drug sales and transferring drugs to the United States; they are the first ones interested in closing this chapter as soon as possible,” Saucedo said.

BLACK ENTERPRISE reported South Carolina resident LaTavia McGee, Shaeed Woodard, Eric Williams, and Zindell Brown, were traveling to Mexico for a cosmetic medical procedure. McGee and Williams survived and are back in the United States; Woodard and Brown were killed.

According to Reuters, an internal government document said that Mexican law enforcement believe one reason why the kidnapping occurred is cartel members thought the Americans had entered their turf. The logic, according to the document: two of the kidnapped Americans have previous drug-related convictions, which could link them to drug trafficking operations.

Photographer Carrie Mae Weems is the first Black woman to receive the Hasselblad Award, basically the Nobel Prize for photography.

Prior winners include Ansel Adams (1981), Cindy Sherman (1994), and Hiroshi Sugimoto (2001).

“In the midst of the radical shifts taking place across cultural institutions, and as the first African American woman to receive the Hasselblad Award, some might say, ‘it’s about time!’ Nevertheless, receiving the Hasselblad Award has left me speechless,” Weems said in a statement. “I don’t have the words to express the depth of my gratitude. To have my family name inscribed on this historic roster, alongside some of the most outstanding photographers of our time, is a cherished honor. To be recognized comes with the continued responsibility to deliver on the promise made to myself and to the field, which is to shine a light into the darker corners of our time and thereby, with a sense of grace and humility, illuminate a path forward. For this honor, I thank the Hasselblad Foundation and the jury.”

 

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The Hasselblad Foundation’s award committee recognizes a selected winner from a short list of candidates, who is recognized for major achievements within the art and community of photography. Based on Weens’ commitment to decades of work capturing the struggle for equality and the painful history that Black Americans have experience, the committee decided to honor her.

“We are inspired by Carrie Mae Weems’s impactful contributions to the art of photography,” said Bronius Rudnickas, marketing manager at Hasselblad, in a written statement. “Today, we are honored to award Ms. Weems with her very own Hasselblad medium format cameras and lenses, and we are honored to be part of her journey moving forward. With this announcement, we are also incredibly proud to begin our extended partnership with the Hasselblad Foundation, and we look forward to the road ahead together.”

A ceremony is slated to be held on October 13 in Gothenburg, Sweden. There, she will have her work displayed in an exhibition, and also receive SEK 2 million (roughly $187,000), a gold medal, and a diploma.

Although she received an apology from Oprah Winfrey with no cameras around, Mo’Nique told The Hollywood Reporter that she “demands and expects” one publicly from the talk show queen.

Here’s how the first interaction went down.

The comedian was invited to actress Alfre Woodard‘s home in 2014 for a party in honor, Lupita Nyong’o, who was nominated for an Oscar for her work in 12 Years a Slave. “They invited you if you were a Black woman who had won or been nominated for an Oscar,” Mo’Nique said. “We all had to tell Lupita what our experience was and share in an upliftment get-together.”

Mo’Nique had not had a conversation with Winfrey since the 2010 Oscars. About a month later, Mo’Nique’s appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where the Precious actor’s brother, Gerald Imes, admitted to molesting a 7-year-old Mo’Nique while he was 13 years old. He kept doing so for several years.

She had spoke about it previously in public. Winfrey called to let her know that her “brother had called her and he wanted to come on the show to let her know how parents can watch out for predators.” Mo’Nique said Winfrey then asked her if she also wanted to appear on the same show. He offered to apologize to his sister publicly.

“Oprah, I don’t want no part of that,” Mo’Nique said she told Winfrey. Yet, Mo’Nique said she gave her blessing to Winfrey to allow him to go on the show with her.

After the episode aired on April 19, 2010, Mo’Nique was upset that it was not just her brother on the show, but other members of her family—her mother, Alice Imes; her father, Gerald Imes Sr.; and another brother, Stephen Imes.

Mo’Nique said she and Winfrey “had a lengthy conversation” before the episode was taped and she went into detail to inform Winfrey that she and her mother “were not on good terms. We weren’t even speaking. Then I see the show and I can tell that my mother is trying to make a dollar. I know my family.”

Disappointed that Winfrey allowed this to take place, she tried to contact Winfrey. “I reached out to everybody I could to try to get to Oprah,” Mo’Nique says. “No. Nothing. It just went dead.”

She finally spoke to Winfrey when they both went to Woodard’s home. Moments after giving Nyong’o advice publicly, she then motioned to Winfrey.

“Oprah Winfrey was sitting on my right. And then I turned to her and said, ‘Now I need to talk to you.’ There were some phenomenal Black women there. You could have heard a pin drop. I said, ‘Since you didn’t want to return my calls, for whatever reason, I’m going to say this right here.’”

Winfrey said only her brother was invited but the other family members arrived with him to the taping. Mo’Nique said she was lying. That was when Winfrey said, “I’m going to look into your mother and father being on the show because I didn’t know anything about that,” and then she added “something like, ‘If I’ve done anything to offend you, I apologize.’”

Now, Mo’Nique, according to The Hollywood Reporter, “still demands and expects public apologies” from Winfrey as well as Tyler Perry.

During BLACK ENTERPRISE’s “Conversations that Count: Manifest Your Best Leadership” panel Friday morning, Karen S. Carter, president of packaging and specialty plastics at Dow, had an electrifying one-on-one with Morgan Stanley’s dynamic Senior Client Advisor, Carla Harris.

Carter began the conversation by speaking to Harris about her humble but inspiring upbringing. Learning how to handle clients and money at McDonald’s, Harris spoke about staying close to her childhood friends and even marrying her high school sweetheart. 

Harris discussed why understanding your winning power is another major key to personal success.

“There’s so many distractions when you’re on your journey to deter you; I like to keep people focused on winning,” she said. “So often, we don’t feel like we are winning. You have to take the time to think about what winning means to you.” 

When asked about the common theme of working twice as hard that Black women face daily, Harris spoke about how and why we shouldn’t abide by this way of thinking.

“Do not embrace that attitude—we have advanced enough where you can employ strategy instead of that extra energy. Work smarter, not harder.” 

To close, Harris spoke passionately about being multifaceted and understanding the keys to success, including doubling down on how they need to be tailored to one’s particular job/career.

“Morgan Stanley was a place I felt I could be myself,” she said. “You should assume that you can. Here’s how you do it: know yourself and who you are today; we are multifaceted. Understand that and embrace it. Lastly, relax. Feel the energy in the room. You can feel the energy to realize which side of you can be yourself.” 

This outstanding businesswoman, author, gospel singer, and motivational speaker inspired and energized the entire crowd, motivating the audience to advocate for themselves and their talents. 

The relationship between soul crooners Angie Stone and D’Angelo has always been a little rocky but fans have always hoped they would work together again. However, they should not hold their breath.

In an interview on VladTV’s YouTube channel, Stone says that won’t happen because male “pride.” D’Angelo and Stone were a hot couple in the 90’s, with Stone being the inspiration behind D’Angelo’s iconic debut album, Brown Sugar. He also had a hand in producing his ex-girlfriend’s debut LP, Black Diamond.

“Don’t misunderstand me, but because of the powers that be, everybody, and they momma wish Angie Stone and D’Angelo would get back together and work again,” Stone, 61, said. “His pride as a man would not allow of him to do that because he doesn’t want to share the credit. He doesn’t want it to look like, ‘What if I get with her and we win? Then it’s going to look like she did it.”

Outside of earlier projects, their only collaboration is, 25-year-old son, Michael Archer II, who sings under the stage name Swayvo Twain.

Stone said she’s not mad at D’Angelo’s theory—to a point. “My spirit is we have a winning element God gave us that,” she said. “You didn’t give me that. God gave us that, and what you should do, if nothing else, is put your difference aside.”

Their son recently put out a remix to his dad’s “S**t, Damn, Motherf**ker” on Instagram. Some D’Angelo fans weren’t too happy with it, with one commenter saying, “Leave ya daddy’s music ALONE!”

D’Angelo has been silent on Stone’s most recent comments, but the “Brotha” singer believes something will come out of it: “I believe he knows our son is talented, but where we are in our lives, we’ll just have to wait on it,” Stone said.

Michael B. Jordan is taking the Creed brand to new heights.

Deadline reported the award-winning actor is allegedly spearheading a “Creed-Verse,” creating films and a television version with Amazon. No shocker, as the third installment of the series, Creed III, just came off a record-breaking opening weekend – racking up $100 million and counting.

There have been meetings with the movie heartthrob, but nothing is set in stone just yet. Rumors are hitting the streets that an animated series is in the works, as well as a project highlighting character Adonis’ daughter, Amara, who is played in the latest movie by deaf actress, Mila Davis-Kent, making her acting debut.

Jordan and the Creed series have done an amazing job of tying in the iconic Rocky series with new characters. There is also speculation that these new projects may tie in to the recently announced Drago spin-off, according to Collider. Announced last summer, the film claims to focus on Russian boxer Ivan Drago, a former enemy of Rocky, and his son, Viktor Drago, an old enemy and new friend of Jordan’s Creed. Robert Lawton was announced to be working on the screenplay, but there have been no new announcements since.

According to Deadline, the script was commissioned, but it’s still unclear whether it would go past that.

While the 36-year-old has yet to make any official announcement, he was quoted as saying he’s excited about what’s to come for the Creed brand. He said, “Building the Creed universe is something that I’m really excited about.”

Coming off such a busy promotional schedule, fans would think Jordan would take a break, but it’s the complete opposite. The megastar has plans beyond this world. When asked where he sees himself in 10 years, the New Jersey native told People that space is an option. “Maybe a trip to space? Who knows.”