For Black History Month we are highlighting some of the black cannabis industry leaders working to create a more equitable industry from within. Here are 13 cannabis changemakers who are paving the way for a more diverse cannabis community.

Troy Datcher – CEO & Chairman of The Board, The Parent Company (TPCO)

Troy Datcher is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of The Parent Company,  California’s leading consumer-focused, vertically integrated cannabis company. Troy joined the company in early August 2021, sharing in its dedication to disrupt a sector that has disproportionately impacted communities of color.

The Parent Company’s social equity ventures fund was established to give Black and other minority entrepreneurs an equal opportunity for participation in the legal cannabis industry. With initial funding of $10 million, plus 2% of all future net income, this fund seeks to discover the industry’s future entrepreneurs of color, offering them the capital and mentorship necessary to build generational wealth as part of a more equitable and diverse cannabis industry.

Amber E Senter – CEO at MAKR House & Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Supernova Women 

Amber E Senter is the CEO of MAKR House, a storytelling and experiential cannabis company building inclusive supply chains to ensure participation from underrepresented groups. Brands under MAKR House distribution include Landrace Origins Coffee and Disco Jays. Amber is also Chairman and Executive Director of non-profit organization Supernova Women, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for Black and Brown people in the cannabis industry.

Darnell Smith – Founder & CEO, MXXN

Darnell Smith is a CPG and alcohol industry veteran and cannabis entrepreneur, innovator and advocate. Smith is the founder and CEO of MXXN, a non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused spirits brand that is evolving today’s cocktail culture and disrupting the alcohol and cannabis industry. MXXN is the first product launch of MOJO Ventures, which is part of the digital + creative consultancy MOJO he founded that has done extensive work for Procter & Gamble Ventures, Barcardi’s Incubation group, Pepsico and more.

Prior to founding MXXN and MOJO, Smith was a senior digital transformation lead at Infosys Consulting working with the likes of Adidas, Ralph Lauren, AB InBev, Novartis, GSK, Pfizer, AMEX and more. Prior to that, Smith worked for over a decade in various agency and client side roles focused on innovation and commercialization for the likes of Diageo and Pernod Ricard. As a Black entrepreneur working in the cannabis industry, Smith is extremely passionate about being on the frontlines of creating a more equitable space.

He is committed to working with a diverse set of vendors and supply partners within his companies and always looks to partner with organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Smith earned his Marketing degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he played football as a defensive end under legendary coach Lou Holtz.

Find Darnell on LinkedIn here and MXXN on Instagram here. 

Darius Kemp – Former National Director of Social Equity, Curaleaf

Born and raised in Birmingham Alabama, an HBCU grad (Alabama A&M University), community activist, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, and labor union organizer with SEIU; and is currently the National Director of Social Equity for Curaleaf. Also, Darius created the first of its class corporate Social Equity program that has developed over 14 Social Equity brands and sold over $15 million of BIPOC and women-owned cannabis products, that were integrated into a premier social equity accelerator Momentum. Lastly, he wants to bring his values of collaboration, justice, and equity to the growing cannabis industry. He is dedicated to creating a  cannabis industry that rectifies the problems created by the failed war on drugs that has imprisoned
and killed BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), by creating generational wealth for these communities.

Kassia Graham – Director of Community & Strategy, Cannaclusive

Kassia Graham has two decades of experience working with diverse organizations including Fortune 100 companies, boutique agencies, non-profits, and influencers. A two-time cancer survivor, Kassia understands
the importance of cannabis as a physical and mental healing aid. As Director of Community & Strategy Kassia works with Cannaclusive’s co-founders on a variety of initiatives including diversity and inclusion, content creation, experiential events, marketing, branding, social media, and advocacy. They oversee the day-to-day objectives of Cannabis for Black Lives, a collective dedicated to galvanizing the greater cannabis community to support cannabis equity via fundraising, amplification, and shifting company culture.

Everett Smith – Co-Founder & CEO, Presidential Cannabis Co.

Following his professional basketball career in Europe, Everett Smith shifted his focus to the cannabis industry with the launch of his Los Angeles-based company Presidential Rx in 2012. As Co-Founder and CEO, Everett has spent the last several years growing his business and the brand, specializing in brand development, strategic marketing, market-specific brand analysis, media and packaging design, regulatory compliance, vendor procurement and quality to scale.

Today, Presidential is one of the largest infused flower cannabis companies and the third largest pre-roll brand in California with products available in 400+ retail stores across the state. As the producer of the top-selling infused blunt and ranked the #1 Moon Rocks brand in California, Everett now looks to expand Presidential into other promising markets across the U.S. Currently, Presidential can be found in MedMen, Gorilla RX, Sherbinskis, La Brea Collective, Royal Greens and many more. Everett earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Marketing Management from Dakota State University before heading to Germany to pursue his professional basketball career.

Find Everett on LinkedIn here and Presidential on Instagram here.

Martine Pierre – Founder & President, Cannalution

Martine Pierre MBA is the founder of Cannalution and a Growth & Content Marketing Strategist whose superpowers include building engaged, online communities and crafting captivating content that connects, cashes out, and cultivates top-quality leads.

Known as the Lioness of Marketing, Martine aims to serve as the GPS for Black and Brown founders in the cannabis space, empowering them to start, build and scale their businesses through a mix of education and
collaboration.

Martine’s work in the cannabis space aims to level the playing field and bring social equity to the communities affected the most by its legalization, connecting the dots between the growing corporate cannabis industry and the legacy market.

After seven years in Digital Marketing, she pivoted to focus her career exclusively on the cannabis industry. Her life’s work is to help people with a vision create an impact in their communities through cannabis entrepreneurship.

Bryan Murray – Executive Vice President of Government Relations, Acreage Holdings, Inc.

Bryan Murray joined Acreage Holdings in August 2021 as the Executive Vice President of Government Relations.

Prior to joining Acreage, Mr. Murray served in various roles of increasing responsibility in Government Relations and Public Affairs at Pfizer.

During his tenure at Pfizer, Mr. Murray developed the company’s policy on economic and social impact in key markets as the Global Operations Lead for Public Affairs; he served as the company’s Alliance Development Manager for New York and New England and successfully mobilized local individuals, businesses, and government organizations to support healthcare legislation; and, he launched a successful campaign to support access to innovative pain therapies in the US and Canada as Director of Public Affairs.

Bryan received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon and Master of Business Administration from Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida.

Tyneeha Rivers – Chief People Officer, Curaleaf

Tyneeha brings to Curaleaf over two decades of local and global Human Resources expertise from such prominent companies as Merrill Lynch, Morgan Properties, The Galman Group, Philadelphia 76ers, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, Greater Philadelphia YMCA, and Curio Wellness.

Tyneeha will play a key role in leading our people initiatives for the Curaleaf Team at an exciting time of rapid growth. In her previous roles, Tyneeha not only served as a strategic advisor, but helped build strong team cultures and led the way for employer excellence, resulting in 3 consecutive years of Best Place to Work awards from the Philadelphia Business Journal, and Best Culture in America award by Entrepreneur Magazine. Tyneeha, a Certified Executive Coach, has helped senior leaders build stronger teams and built comprehensive training programs to strengthen Team Member skill sets.

Tyneeha believes giving back is an important part of leadership and she currently serves as Board President of Second Chance Mission, an organization established to help survivors of substance abuse, domestic violence, bullying, life-altering illness, and other hardships. Tyneeha holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Cabrini College and is currently working on her MBA.

As Chief People Officer, Tyneeha will report to Chief Executive Officer Matt Darin and will lead the Human Resources department for Curaleaf.

Khari Edwards – Head of Corporate Responsibility, Ayr Wellness

Khari has spent over 25 years of his professional career in public and government service, working for several elected officials, non-profit organizations, and city agencies where he focused on strengthening
communities by advocating and addressing racial, health and civic disparities. He spent his career as a connector and relishes the role of a problem solver.

As the Head of Corporate Responsibility, he provides strategic leadership in creating a culture of inclusion. Ayr Wellness is committed to providing avenues of opportunity in the cannabis industry and his role is to create the road map as well as build strong pillars to achieve that goal.

Latoya Bellamy-Lockhart – VP of Human Resources, Jushi
Holdings Inc.

Latoya Bellamy-Lockhart is a VP of Human Resources for Jushi, with over 15 years of experience. She received her B.S. in Criminal Justice with a minor in Political Science and her MBA in Human Resource Management, along with her PHR certification. Latoya’s professional career extends across many functions within human resources including building start-ups, project management, employee relations, employee engagement, executive coaching, diversity & inclusion, recruitment, change management and has served as a consultant on many projects including shared services implementations and streamlining HR practices for small, midsize, and large businesses.

Latoya defines success as the ability to help people become the best version of themselves.

Mary Pryor – Co-Founder, Cannaclusive

Inspired by the growing opportunities yet disappointed by the diversity issues taking root in mainstream cannabis culture, Mary co-founded Cannaclusive in 2017 to facilitate fair representation of minority cannabis consumers.

Cannaclusive offers free resources such as a stock photography gallery dedicated to diversity and InclusiveBase, a directory of BIPOC-owned and operated cannabis companies across the globe created in collaboration with ALMOSTCONSULTING.

In the summer of 2020, amid the country’s racial crisis, Mary spearheaded the launch of The Accountability List. The multi-sourced database includes more than 470 cannabis companies and lists out the number of Black employees at each, whether they are POC-owned, how they addressed the killing of George Floyd and if they made any relevant donations. Mary is also the founder of Cannabis For Black Lives (CfBL), a coalition of cannabis companies galvanizing the broader industry to support Black-led organizations and communities through a commitment to corporate hiring and company culture, amplification of Black voices and financial support with ongoing accountability measures.

Mary Pryor was featured on InStyle’s The Badass 50, Marijuana Venture’s Women to Watch 2021, Entrepreneur Mag’s 100 Women of Impact, MG Mag’s Cannabis Leaders Who Will Shape the Industry in 2022 and is the 2021 recipient of the CLIO Cannabis Impact Award. She also serves as an advisor to The Parent Company, which own’s Jay-Z’s cannabis brand Monogram.

Raheem Uqdah – Director of Corporate Social
Responsibility, Curaleaf

Raheem Uqdah is a creator and activist whose work involves creating synergies between storytelling, policy, and community engagement. Prior to the acquisition of Grassroots by Curaleaf, Raheem established Grassroots’ first deep partnerships with nonprofits, helping to define the company’s voice and CSR platform. Before entering the cannabis industry, Raheem worked in nonprofits to build communication strategies and evolve brands; these projects solidified his passion for community organizing and taught him the value of selling social good as a brand and experience. When he’s not working, Raheem enjoys music, cycling, hiking, and camping. Raheem holds a B.A. in Art & Design, with a minor in Photography, from Columbia College Chicago.

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 6, 2023

Jay-Z Renews Partnership With Bacardi in Multibillion-Dollar Agreement to Continue With D’Usse

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After engaging in a disagreement over the valuation amount of the D’Usse brand, it’s no longer a Hard Knock Life between Bacardi and hip-hop billionaire Jay-Z.

The two parties announced in a recent press release that both sides had reached a long-term agreement to continue doing business together in producing the popular cognac, D’Usse. Instead of purchasing the 50% stake Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter owns, Bacardi has acquired a majority interest in D’Usse.

In a written statement, the entrepreneur said, “Growing D’USSÉ over the past decade from an idea to one of the fastest-selling spirits in history has been a blessing. The next phase of this journey will further cement D’USSÉ’s legacy as one of the world’s most respected brands. I am excited to renew this partnership with Bacardi.”

Bacardi and Jay-Z have been in business for over 10 years after launching D’Usse in 2012. The partnership’s success has garnered the cognac brand a Double Gold at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Double Gold at the 2022 Proof Awards.

In October, TMZ Hip Hop reported that Jay-Z’s liquor company, SC Liquor, filed a lawsuit against Bacardi, seeking information on how much money the cognac line had been making. Jay-Z and his company wanted access to the financial records. The lawsuit stated that SC Liquor needs to “monitor the conduct of [Bacardi’s] business to protect SC’s rights as” a partner in the company.

In response to the filed paperwork, Bacardi’s subsidiary, Empire Investments, wrote that Jay-Z and the company had a “handshake deal” in December of 2021, where they agreed to buy the wealthy rapper’s 50% stake in the cognac brand. The company claimed that Jay-Z “abruptly reneged on its agreement and doubled its demanded valuation.” No amounts were revealed.

According to a report by Complex, through viewed court documents, the company’s valuation was given as $3 billion. Previously, Jay-Z offered $1.5 billion to Bacardi to purchase a stake in D’Usse with an estimated valuation of $2.5 billion, which Bacardi turned down. They insisted the amount of the valuation was lower.

By Danielle Broadway

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The biggest names in the music industry gathered in Los Angeles on Sunday for the 65th annual Grammy Awards ceremony.

Here is a list of winners in key categories:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

“Harry’s House” – Harry Styles

RECORD OF THE YEAR

“About Damn Time” – Lizzo

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Just Like That” – Bonnie Raitt, songwriter (Bonnie Raitt)

BEST NEW ARTIST

Samara Joy

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

“Unholy” – Sam Smith & Kim Petras

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM

“Harry’s House” – Harry Styles

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE

“The Heart Part 5” – Kendrick Lamar

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE

“Broken Horses” – Brandi Carlile

BEST R&B SONG

“CUFF IT”- Beyonce

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM

“A Beautiful Time” – Willie Nelson

(Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Mary Milliken)

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 6, 2023

Department Of Justice Starts External Investigation of Memphis Police Department

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According to a weekly update from Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, another investigation into the fatal beating of Trye Nichols by former five Memphis police officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith has been initiated.

The mayor said several agencies not connected to the Memphis Police Department will conduct their own independent reviews of the crime and the police department, looking into the “use of force” policies that were implemented by the Memphis Police Department.

The external agencies are the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (“COPS”) through the Collaborative Reform Initial Technical Assistant Center (“CRI-TAC”) program. There will also be an investigation from the International Association of Police Chiefs (IACP) to conduct a review of the Memphis Police Department. The Memphis Police Department’s Special Units will also be evaluated.

Strickland said, “While we no doubt have a long way to go on the road to healing, hopefully through our actions, citizens will see we are working to be better and that we are heading down the right path.”

BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that Memphis Police Officer Preston Hemphill, the sixth and lone white officer identified in the investigation of Nichols’ death, has been terminated for his role in the actions taken by the police officers.

A statement from the Memphis Police Department said more discipline is in store for several other MPD officers who are under investigation for departmental policy violations.

The five aforementioned police officers have been terminated from the Memphis Police Department and indicted for second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and two charges of aggravated kidnapping.

Nichols died at a Memphis hospital three days after fire department workers took him to the hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition. Nichols was stopped by police officers and pulled over for reckless driving on January 7 before the officers beat him.

The Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving era is officially over!

After requesting another trade for the second time in less than a year, the Brooklyn Nets honored the wish of trading their talented, yet mercurial basketball player.

According to multiple reports, Irving will now join another talented roster of players. The Dallas Mavericks welcome Irving to play alongside Luka Doncic who has needed a strong point guard after losing Rick Brunson to the New York Knicks during the offseason.

Although neither basketball team has made an official announcement, NBA.com reported the move on Sunday.

In a rush to get the news out, The Athletic‘s NBA Lead Reporter, Shams Charania broke the news slightly ahead of other reporters on his Twitter account.

• Education

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

February 6, 2023

NASA Awards Millions to Historically Black Colleges, Universities

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NASA is awarding $11.7 million to eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through the new Data Science Equity, Access, and Priority in Research and Education (DEAP) opportunity.

These awards will enable HBCU students and faculty to conduct innovative data science research that contributes to NASA’s missions.

“We’re pleased to make progress through awards like this to intentionally build the STEM pipeline of the future, especially in communities of color,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “It’s fitting during Black History Month that we make this tangible step to build on the talent pool at HBCUs in our ongoing work to bring to the table all the talents and perspectives we’ll need to send humans to the Moon, Mars and beyond, and do amazing science throughout the solar system.”

Technology advancements in the field of data science, including the growth of artificial intelligence and machine learning, are poised to significantly impact the work of data scientists and analysts. The awarded projects have up to three years to establish institutes and partnerships to increase the number and research capacity of STEM students at HBCUs, accelerate innovation in a wide range of NASA science, technology, engineering, and mathematic research areas, and prepare the future workforce for data-intensive space-based Earth sciences.

“The increasing use of data science at NASA and beyond really drives home the need for a future workforce with data science knowledge,” said Mike Kincaid, associate administrator of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, which manages MUREP. “With our newest collaboration, NASA created an exciting pathway to find new talent at HBCUs.”

The agency’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) and the Science Mission Directorate collaborated on the DEAP opportunity, and selected the following institutions and their proposed projects:

Bethune-Cookman University Inc., Daytona Beach, Florida 
NASA MUREP DEAP Institute of Environmental Intelligence for Advanced Space-based Earth Sciences 
The project will establish a DEAP Institute focusing on machine learning-based development of a virtual constellation of satellites that will capture changing water levels, from events such as storm flooding to multi-decadal time scales, such as sea level rise. NASA tracks sea level changes and its causes from space.

Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina 
Institute for Multi-agent Perception through Advanced Cyberphysical Technologies (IMPACT) 
The IMPACT project will build on existing capacity and collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Silicon Valley, California, to engage students and faculty in using data science to address scientific questions as one of the key factors to manage NASA’s Earth mission research.

Florida A & M University, Tallahassee, Florida 
Effects of Gravity on Creeping Salts and Salt Mixtures: Developing Image-based and AI-enhanced Diagnostics for Determining Chemical Compositions 
This project will rely on artificial intelligence and machine learning to better understand the science of concentrated salt solutions and the formation of ring-like deposits called evaporites. Understanding the science of salt concentrations and formation of evaporites will bring new insight into identifying where water may have existed. Water is a critical source NASA researches and explores to better understand other planets’ surface geology and the potential future of lunar and Martian exploration.

Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri 
Using Data Science to Understand Soil, Wildfire, & Social Disparity of Climate Change and Air Pollution 
This project aims to provide data science problem-solving, skill development, and professional development of minority and underserved students. Students will utilize existing state-of-the-art ML methods to develop new data analytic approaches to solve some of the core problems in Earth science research.

Morgan State University, Baltimore 
Long-Term, High-Resolution Urban Aerosol Database for Research, Education and Outreach 
Through innovative data analysis algorithms, including ML/AI methods, this project will produce a high-resolution, open-access, and user-friendly urban aerosol database focusing on the Baltimore-Washington area. The database will also be used in both classroom teaching and scientific outreach, accompanied by online tools and educational materials bringing new, authentic Earth science education to local schools and communities.

North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina 
DEAP Institute: Harnessing Data Science for Flood Monitoring and Management 
Three North Carolina-based HBCUs will work together on this project developed to harness data science for flood monitoring and management.

North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina 
Capacity Building to Support the Machine Learning-Based Detection of Floods and other Natural Hazard Impacts in the Department of Environmental, Earth and Geospatial Sciences at North Carolina Central University 
This project will create training, data resources, and opportunities to use machine learning/artificial intelligence to identify and measure the impact of flood events and other natural hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes, drought, wildfires, and more.

Prairie View A & M University, Prairie View, Texas 
DEAP Institute in Research and Education for Science Translation via Low-Resource Neural Machine Translation 
This project aims to build an AI-based system that can share interactive, instantaneous, and user-relevant Earth science information, making NASA science more discoverable and accessible to a broad audience.

“NASA is tackling how to use the latest techniques in data science combined with the volumes of data produced by our missions to answer questions about our changing planet,” said Steven Crawford, senior program executive for scientific data and computing. “Working with students from HBCUs will not only engage the generation that will be most affected by these subjects but will help NASA scientists and engineers address these challenges.”

Administered by OSTEM, MUREP supports and invests in the research, academic, and technology capabilities of Minority Serving Institutions. For more information about NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, visit: https://stem.nasa.gov

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

February 6, 2023

St. Thomas University College of Law Named the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law

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On Wednesday, February 8, the College of Law at St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, will become the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law.

This will be the first law school in the country named after a practicing Black attorney. The only other law school in the country named for a Black person is named after Attorney Crump’s personal hero, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

“The naming of the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law at St. Thomas University is the latest step in an effort to encourage bridge-building among the legal profession, law enforcement, and our communities,” said David A. Armstrong, J.D., President of St. Thomas University.

“Ben and I couldn’t be more different politically, but we share a passion for justice, and the hope that by working together, we can continue to drive meaningful change. Our faith in God, and our belief in the tenets laid out by our founding fathers in the US Constitution, enable us to go beyond race and politics, and focus on the work necessary to truly make the United States the home of the free, and the brave.”

Attorney Ben Crump chose to partner with St. Thomas University (STU) and its College of Law, in part, because it is situated in a global city that is replete with ethnic and racial diversity. Also, STU is one of the country’s most diverse law schools. It was ranked #1 “Greatest Resources for Minority Students” in the 2022 and 2023 Princeton Review Best Law Schools’ rankings, and preLaw Magazine rated it among the top-ten Best Schools for Racial Justice (2022) in the United States.

“It is a privilege to be a part of the St. Thomas University legacy through the Benjamin L. Crump College of Law. We have come such a long way in the journey to equality, but we are not there yet,” said Attorney Crump. ‘The future changemakers and civil justice leaders that will matriculate from St. Thomas will soon be passed the torch from today’s civil rights icons and I have every confidence that they will meet the moment.”

Eighty-three percent of the school’s graduates are employed or pursue an advanced degree within 10 months following their graduation. Significantly, the College of Law maintains a deep commitment to serving “the poor and most vulnerable,” exhibited by its pro bono Immigration and Tax Clinics, as well as its globally renowned John J. Brunetti Human Trafficking Institute.

St. Thomas University and Attorney Crump hold a deep confidence in the power of education to transform lives, and believe that when we educate young people, we help create within them the leadership capacity to drive change.

As we celebrate Black History Month, we endeavor to inspire and compel others to join us in our mission of educating not only young lawyers, but also of hosting vital conversations that promote shared understandings and create change at the local, national, and global levels.

We welcome your attendance at this history-making event. To RSVP, please navigate to www.stu.edu/crumplawschool

Pop superstar Beyonce broke the record for most career wins at music’s Grammy awards on Sunday but lost again in the prestigious album of the year category, this time to British singer Harry Styles.

Beyonce added four Grammys to her collection, bringing her lifetime total to 32 and surpassing the tally of late classical conductor Georg Solti. She was nominated for nine awards this year.

Despite her success through the years, the 41-year-old “Break My Soul” singer has never claimed the best album trophy with any of her four nominations in the category. Styles took home that honor on Sunday for “Harry’s House.”

“I’ve been so inspired by every artist in this category,” a surprised Styles said as he accepted the award. “On nights like tonight, it’s obviously so important for us to remember that there is no such thing as best in music.”

Styles had thrilled the crowd with a performance of his hit single “As It Was,” sparkling in a silver fringe jumpsuit.

The former “One Direction” singer triumphed over a formidable list of album contenders that included Beyonce, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, singer and flutist Lizzo, British vocalist Adele and disco-era Swedish hitmaker ABBA.

Beyonce took the stage as she secured the all-time Grammy record with her award for best dance/electronic album for “Renaissance.”

“I am trying not to be too emotional. I am trying just to receive this night,” Beyonce said. “I want to thank God for protecting me. Thank you, God.”

She also thanked her family and “the queer community for your love and for inventing the genre.”

Earlier, Beyonce was absent when she was named the winner of best R&B song for “Cuff It.” Host Trevor Noah said the singer was stuck in traffic. He later handed her the trophy at her seat in the audience.

Grammy voters spread the top awards among several artists.

Lizzo’s upbeat “About Damn Time” won record of the year.

She dedicated the award to Prince, saying the late artist had inspired her to make positive music. Lizzo also saluted Beyonce and recalled how she skipped out of school in fifth grade to see the “Halo” singer in concert.

“You clearly are the artist of our lives,” Lizzo said.

Blues singer Bonnie Raitt’s “Just Like That,” about an organ donor, won song of the year, one of her three awards on Sunday.

BEYONCE FANS AGGRIEVED

Winners were chosen by roughly 11,000 members of the Recording Academy, which has faced complaints that it has failed to give proper recognition to Black artists. The group has taken steps in recent years to diversify its membership and overhaul voting procedures.

Fans of Beyonce flooded social media on Sunday, making the word “ROBBED” a trending topic on Twitter. “Beyonce has yet again been robbed,” Twitter user @coreynmarie wrote.

The ceremony aired live on the CBS television network and streaming service Paramount+.

In other categories, Bad Bunny took home the award for best música urbana album for “Un Verano Sin Ti.”

“I want to dedicate this award to Puerto Rico, the cradle of reggaeton,” Bad Bunny said in a mix of English and Spanish.

For best rap album, Kendrick Lamar triumphed with “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.” “I finally found imperfection with this album,” Lamar said.

The ceremony featured a tribute to 50 years of hip-hop with performances by an all-star linuep of artists ranging from Public Enemy to Busta Rhymes, Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott.

American jazz singer Samara Joy was named best new artist.

“Oh my gosh. I’ve been watching you all on TV for so long,” she said. “All of you are so inspiring to me.”

U.S. first lady Jill Biden presented a new honor for a song that tackles social issues. That accolade went to Iranian singer and songwriter Shervin Hajipour for “Baraye,” which Biden called a “powerful and poetic call for freedom and women’s rights.”

(Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Danielle Broadway; Editing by Mary Milliken and Stephen Coates)

DMX‘s daughter, Sonovah Hillman, is preparing a four-part docuseries to raise awareness of drug addiction and the use of fentanyl — the single most deadliest drug in the United States.

According to a video posted to a GoFundMe page promoting the project, the 10-year-old shared that she had attended a 10-week program facilitated by Drug Abuse Resistance Education [D.A.R.E.], where she was schooled about the dangers of drugs and the ultimate addiction that would follow.

She later saw a clip on TikTok (shown in the video) from Growing Up Hip Hop, where Master P and two of his children Romeo and TyTyana had a heart-to-heart regarding substance abuse.

“I lost my aunt and uncle to a fentanyl overdose and my dad to a drug addiction,” Sonovah said of her personal ties to the series. “Fentanyl is affecting every gender, race, class and age group.”

Digging deeper, Sonovah watched interviews of her late father as he talked openly about his drug addiction. This motivated her to talk to other children whose lives have been impacted by a similar struggle.

“I wanted to talk to other kids whose parents had died from an overdose or are still currently using,” she explained. “I came up with the idea to do a four-part docuseries on fentanyl and drug addiction. I wanted to talk to people about their experience, trauma, feelings, and come up with a solution to healing.”

“I’m ready to have the conversation that some adults aren’t even ready to have and try to find out the answer we all want to know. What can we do to help our loved ones get clean and stay clean?”

In April 2021, DMX was rushed to the hospital after he reportedly suffered a drug overdose and subsequent heart attack. Although medical professionals attempted to save his life, the Ruff Ryders legend ultimately passed away. He was 50 years old.

• News

by Booker Jones

February 5, 2023

Black Girl Magic Moment: CNN Anchor Reacts To Disney Doll Collection That Focuses on Black Features

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“I have to stop for a moment so you can see what we’re looking at right here…. I’m so proud to see it.”

One of the things we love most about Black culture is representation, and this weekend we watched a moment of extreme representation. During an interview with husband and wife duo, Regis and Kahran, the forces behind the creation of the Disney Princess dolls with Black characteristics, CNN anchor Laura Coates had a special on air moment that was felt worldwide. 

She spoke passionately saying “I have a ten-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter and I was once was the age of these little girls..and I think about what this would’ve meant to see this imagery… I can’t stop looking”

Twitter reacted as the Black girl magic feel good moment touched those even outside of the Black community.

@thelauracoates , I just saw the Disney dolls of color segment. Thank you. That was a “feel good” segment, even for an old white man like me! @CNN

— Michael Sweeney (@Michael51Hou) February 3, 2023

As Black Enterprise reported, the new doll collection was inspired by the Bethencourts’, founders of CreativeSoul Photography, photography.  

“We’ve been photographing kids around the world for thirteen years now, and one of the things we noticed is that there are so many negative stereotypes in the media and we wanted to change. We wanted to provide a positive take on Black kids in America,” Kahran said to CNN. 

These breathtaking dolls pull inspiration from Disney Princess characters and the young girls featured in the concept art. The dolls have natural hairstyles, highlighted by intricate dresses featuring beaded details and embellished African fabrics, accessories, and accents while paying tribute to Princess characters Tiana, Snow White, Rapunzel and Cinderella.

You can purchase CreativeSoul Doll Collection here.