• News

by Atiya Jordan

December 20, 2022

Virginia Rapper Who Posed on SWAT Vehicle at Capitol Riot for Album Cover Faces Time Behind Bars

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A Virginia rapper, who pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts last year after posting an image of himself posing on a SWAT vehicle during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, is set to serve jail time.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sentenced Antionne DeShaun Brodnax, aka Bugzie the Don, to five months in prison and a year of supervised release, WUSA 9 reported. The decision was made in response to his guilty plea in October 2021 and after he denied a plea deal for a single count.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Brodnax tweeted in February 2021 and posted the image on Instagram in May depicting the cover of his album, dubbed “The Capital.” The image showed him posing on a SWAT truck while the chaos of the riots unfolded in the background.

According to an affidavit, Brodnax was initially in D.C. to shoot a music video, but when he saw a huge crowd of Donald Trump supporters, he followed them into the Capitol building and took photos of the building.

After departing the scene, Brodnax was informed by his family that they witnessed him on a CNN broadcast. However, he told investigators that he did not enter the Capitol to engage in violence or to commit theft.

Prosecutors argued for a lengthier sentence due to Brodnax’s criminal history of prior felony convictions in Virginia and Maryland. These include manufacturing a controlled substance and possession of a firearm.

The Justice Department agreed with the prosecution and increased the rapper’s sentence, and weighed in on Brodnax’s act of deleting evidence from his phone after agreeing to send photographs and videos of the riot to the FBI.

Ultimately, Friedman not only expressed his concern over Brodnax’s criminal history, but he noted disciplinary issues while in custody, and his probationary status for another crime when he got caught up at the Capitol.

“He’s had a problem historically with following conditions imposed upon him,” Friedman said, per WUSA 9.

Alicia Keys has given fans an early Christmas gift: Santa Baby.

Lending her soulful vocals, the 15-time Grammy-winner debuted her first-ever holiday album on her own record imprint, Alicia Keys Records. After devoting more than two decades to Sony Music, her newest endeavor is a reflection of the boss artist she wants to be.

“The album that I just released for the holidays, being the first release on my own imprint, it feels really exciting,” Keys told CNN.

“I also feel very determined and focused on how I want to continue to be not only my own woman, who is creating the proper business and really being my own boss and creating the opportunities that I want, but also thinking about how does that happen with other artists, with other women.”

 

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According to the news outlet, Santa Baby has soared to No. 1 on Apple Music after its exclusive release. The title of the album is a nod to Eartha Kitt’s bold and sultry 1953 original, and Keys wanted to bring out her own style in her first addition to the Christmas catalog.

From “December Back 2 June” to “Christmas Time Is Here,” the album reminds us that the love and good energy during the holidays is something we can have all-year round.

“It has a soulfulness, a rawness, it has that New York energy in it too, but it just feels like something you could play from top to bottom,” Keys told the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast. “And I recorded it like that; we recorded it very consistently over about seven days, and it all really feels cohesive and great. And so I love it. I think now is the time.”

 

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As for future collaborations, Keys looks forward to working with someone who many consider to be the “Queen of Christmas,” Mariah Carey.

“I wanna do nothing but honor her,” Keys said, per CNN. “She got her lane, I got my lane and there, we got our lanes. If anything, we can come together and do something fresh!”

Today, BLK & Bold, the first Black-owned nationally distributed coffee brand, is excited to announce the launch of its first-ever barista book, Recipes for Impact, in partnership with Canteen, the largest vending retail provider in the U.S.

The coffee recipe book that was carefully curated with the holidays in mind will dedicate 100 percent of its proceeds to BLK & Bold’s social initiative, “For Our Youth,” a program that supports non-profit organizations with missions that focus on uplifting traditionally underserved youth. Cleverly titled, Recipes for Impact, the collaborative recipe book explores the zest of BLK & Bold’s distinguished flavors, profiles and coffee flight. From the warm highlights of toffee in the brand’s Brighter Days light roast to the nuances of caramel in the Rise & GRND medium roast, each recipe was intentionally crafted to help create memories and traditions for any season.

“We are beyond excited to partner with Canteen for something that continues our mission to turn a daily ritual of enjoying a cup of coffee into something for the community and a means of giving back,” said Co-Founder and CEO Pernell Cezar. “Being able to incorporate the essence of community is vital to us in everything we do, especially for the holiday season. Recipes for Impact has allowed the team to bring something new and creative to the table while still staying true to our values.”

 

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Recipes for Impact, features over 30 delicious hand picked recipes suitable for the holiday season and beyond. The 76 page book filled with color, images and detailed ingredients utilizing BLK & Bold coffees and teas will be available to order on Dec. 15 via Shopify and digitally on Amazon as well. The print version of the barista book will retail for $19.99 while the digital version will be available for consumers for $14.99.

“The holidays are always a special time and entwined with notions of family and community, we hope that everyone is able to enjoy these recipes for years to come with their loved ones,” said Christine Woodward, Chief Marketing Officer of Canteen. “The whole team is extremely proud of how this book turned out and we are even more thrilled that we are able to partner with BLK & Bold to give back to their social initiative.”

Take a look at some of BLK & Bold’s favorite recipes from the book.

Jingle Jangle Dirty Chai

All you need is: 4 cups water, 6 Tbs BLK & Bold Earl Grey Loose Leaf Black Tea, Strips of orange peel from 1 orange, 4 Whole cloves, 2 Cinnamon sticks, 1 Tsp whole black peppercorns, 1 Tsp freshly grated ground nutmeg, 1 ½ Tsp ground ginger, 2 cardamom pods smashed (optional), 6 Tbs light brown sugar packed (or sugar of choice), ¼ cup milk of your choice, 1 oz. spiced rum, ½ oz. Cointreau or orange liqueur of your choice.

Cookie Butter Cold Brew Coffee

All you need is: 24 oz. BLK & Bold Nitro Cold Brew CoffeeFeaturing Smoove Operator – Caramel, 1 ½ cups half and half, 1 cup creamy cookie butter of choice, ¼ cup sugar (or sweetener of choice)

‘Season of Brewing’ Affogato Coffee

All you need is: Double shot espresso – featuring BLK & Bold Smoove Operator or Rise & GRND Coffee, Ben & Jerry’sChange Is Brewing Ice cream or ice cream of your choice, 1 crunchy ginger snap or 1 double chocolate chip (or both), 1 dark chocolate bar

The “For Your Youth” program includes 14 pledge partners throughout the nation, including the states of California, New York, Florida, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia, Minnesota, Virginia, and Illinois, all dedicated to helping, inspiring and educating the youth. BLK & Bold is a B Corp certified brand that is currently the number one selling coffee brand on Amazon and a top seller at Target. A mission driven brand from inception, BLK & Bold’s portfolio now features eight flavors, with over 25 products and 14 tea varieties.

Find more Information about the upcoming collaboration here: www.BLKandBold.com.

Brooklyn Nets basketball player, Kevin Durant, who grew up in Maryland, has made a substantial donation to Bowie State University ( BSU), which is based in his hometown of Prince George’s County.

Bowie State University announced that the NBA champion, along with his non-profit organization the Durant Family Foundation, will contribute $500,000 to the Bowie State University Athletics Department. The funds will help with renovations for the basketball gymnasium in the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex at BSU. The proposed renovations will include the installation of a new basketball court, increasing the capacity of the gym, and upgrading the press box area.

Part of the contribution will go towards providing financial support for men’s and women’s basketball and university athletics programs. A scholarship will also be established for Durant Center College Track students who attend BSU.

“We are dedicated to providing resources and possibilities to students for higher education, especially in Prince George’s County,” Wanda Durant, Kevin’s mother, who leads the Durant Family Foundation, said in a written statement.

“Bowie State was the perfect place to make a meaningful impact.”

The recent donation is just the latest in the Seat Pleasant native’s efforts in Prince George’s County. Durant’s foundation partnered with College Track in 2019 to establish College Track at the Durant Center in Suitland, MD, to help first-generation and low-income students pursue higher education.

“We’re grateful for the resources that Kevin Durant and his family foundation have generously donated to Bowie State University to advance student success in achieving their academic goals,” said Bowie State President Aminta Breaux. “His contributions will go a long way towards updating our facilities and ensure a top-tier athletic experience for all of our students. The foundation has already built a network of community-centric services within the Durant Center in Prince George’s County that is exemplary.”

Donning a necklace and a “self-ish” attitude, model Lori Harvey stuns on the January/February cover of Essence.

In the spirit of the magazine’s Black Love issue, the 25-year-old SKN by LH founder is emerging from all the rumors and attachments, and focusing on her inner happiness.

“This moment is about me,” Harvey told Essence. “I feel like it’s always been about me attached to something or someone. This time, it’s about me. Self-love, self-care, self-reflection. I’m being a little self-ish right now. It’s my time.”

The spread, shot by Emmanuel Sanchez Monsalve and styled by Yashua Simmons, captures Harvey’s charismatic nature. She poses in a chair wearing white briefs, an oversized white furry coat, and black heels in one photograph. Another shot shows her in a black Dior dress, surrounded by champagne glasses.

 

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Though the imagery speaks a thousand words, Harvey opened up about navigating her relationships with Black love and womanhood, all in the public eye. Headlines in the past have featured her tumultuous break up with Michael B. Jordan. More recently, social media chatter suggested that Harvey might even make her dating prospects sign $1 million non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to prevent them from talking about her romantic life, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported.

 

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Harvey, who prides herself on being a private person, told Essence that she wants people to see that she is just a “young woman trying to figure it out.”

“Every decision that I have made has got me to the place that I’m at in my life, as a woman—and the mindset that I’m in, and the growth that I’ve made, and this level of clarity and maturity,” Harvey explained.

“So I don’t think I would say I regret anything.” 

 

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Self-love is the mantra behind Harvey’s magazine spread: “Love yourself. Put yourself on the highest pedestal, and don’t ever come down.”

“I know my worth, and I know my value. I’m not going to compromise that, or settle, or accept anything less than what I know I deserve,” she added.

Every parent has their own way of disciplining their children, but social media users thought this mother took things too far.

A recent TikTok video circulated of a woman who goes by the username, Bosselina, cutting her daughter’s hair as a form of punishment, creating an uproar from users who thought her actions reflected abuse and jealousy.

According to Indy100, the mother snipped off her daughter’s braids close to the root, and posted a recording of it on her social media page, explaining that she did it because she was too into her appearance and on TikTok too much.

“You thought you were disobeying me today and I was not coming to cut this hair off,” Bosselina said in the video.

“You’re sadly mistaken because you thought being pretty was so much better than being educated or listening to your mum, right?”

A swarm of TikTok users chimed in with their thoughts, comments, and stitches, responding to the mother’s strategy of discipline; some users even thought she should be arrested for her actions.

https://twitter.com/IfYouSeekKay/status/1602029559200841736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1602029559200841736%7Ctwgr%5Eee2da482e56e5137a6e83c632a3e2d94b44318e3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheshaderoom.com%2Fwatch-mother-reacts-to-critics-after-cutting-off-her-daughters-hair-online-and-saying-shes-not-a-victim%2F

The parent who cut off their child’s hair for prioritizing looks over education was not just emotional abusive, that’s physical abuse. Is her hair not part of her?

Also…. She taught her not to prioritize looks over education by…prioritizing changing her looks?

— Supernova Momma (@SupernovaMomma) December 11, 2022

https://twitter.com/Signedbysophiee/status/1601926868982194178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1601926868982194178%7Ctwgr%5Eee2da482e56e5137a6e83c632a3e2d94b44318e3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheshaderoom.com%2Fwatch-mother-reacts-to-critics-after-cutting-off-her-daughters-hair-online-and-saying-shes-not-a-victim%2F

After the virtual confrontation with users, Bosselina responded with a follow-up video where she questioned her daughter about how she felt about the incident.

“Do you feel like this form of discipline was a lot better than any other form of discipline, like physical abuse, that I could have used?” she asked.

“Yeah,” the girl replied quietly.

The quiet response from the daughter sparked more concerns from users, who claiming the mother may have bullied her daughter into doing the video.

“You learnt your lesson, like, the lesson was learnt, no?” Bosselina went on, clarifying: “I warned you even before I put it on TikTok that if you continued with this behavior – because you like the app so much – that I’m gonna cut your hair off, record it and post it.”

“I told you this from three months ago, and I’ve been telling you every week, right?” she asked her daughter

“So this didn’t come as a real shock to you, you were just shocked that I actually, finally did it, right?”

“Because you can be pretty all you want in life, nobody is going to sit here and love you just because you’re pretty and want to be with you just because you’re pretty, no. You need education,” she said.

Bosselina continued justifying her form of discipline, sharing that her goal is to make sure her daughter graduates college and becomes something great like her; she owns a business.

“So what I’m doing to, and for, my child is[…]instilling strength into my child. My child is not a victim, she does not have a victim mentality[…]my kid is good.”

Bosselina has removed the clips form her page.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXmSQik88Zo

Former NBA player Amar’e Stoudemire was charged with misdemeanor battery after allegedly punching and slapping one of his two teenage daughters.

The former Miami Heat player was arrested on Sunday at his Brickell Key condominium in Miami on a domestic violence charge involving one of his daughters with his ex-wife Alexis Stoudemire, The Miami Herald reported. Stoudemire, 40, is father to his 17-year-old and 14-year-old daughters, as well as two other children with Alexis.

While it doesn’t say which daughter accused the 6-foot-10, 255-pound NBA alum of the physical assault, the teen accusing him claims that the former Knicks player punched her in the jaw and slapped her to the point where blood was drawn.

Stoudemire was released from jail on a $1,500 bond on Sunday afternoon. He took to Twitter to post a statement in response to the charges.

“Over the last 24 hours, an incident at my family home led to my being charged with assaulting my daughter,” he wrote.

“It is an allegation based on a report that does not square with the facts. I am of the Jewish faith, today Jewish people all over the world celebrate Hanukkah and hear the story of how we fought wickedness.”

https://twitter.com/Amareisreal/status/1604618961919922176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1604618961919922176%7Ctwgr%5E85017f4b662db6bb4632e1410540cd4093579ddb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.miamiherald.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fcrime%2Farticle270160222.html

“I believe that ‘whatever is hateful to you, do not do to others.’ As the investigations unfolds, the facts will show the allegations to be groundless as my daughter’s medical condition is not the result of being assaulted by a father who is nearly 7 feet tall and weighs 250 pounds,” he continued.

 

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“I could never see myself assaulting any person, especially my children. I respect, protect and love my family, particularly my children. As a father, I ask for your grace as we secure our space and privacy.”

 

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A post shared by Amar’e Stoudemire (@amareisreal)

Stoudemire denies the domestic violence claims, while an arrest report provides further details.

“I observed blood stains on the victim’s sweater and sweatpants,” the arrest report states.

“The mother of the victim showed me the photo she received from her daughter, which shows the victim crying and blood running down her face.”

 

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The alleged assault came after Stoudemire celebrated obtaining his MBA from the University of Miami on Saturday.

“The Greatest of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his willingness to LEARN, integrity and ability to affect those around him,” Stoudemire shared in his caption.

He has since deactivated the comments section on his post.

Disclaimer: This story has been republished with permission from Entrepreneur.com.

Talk about a Super Sweet 16!

Sean “Diddy” Combs hosted an epic futuristic-themed party for his twin daughters’ 16th birthdays on Dec. 18, including surprising the girls with matching Range Rover SUVs.

According to videos from the lavish event, the Combs twins, D’Lila and Jessie, appeared overjoyed as their father presented them with the cars adorned in red bows outside of the undisclosed party venue. They can be seen hugging their dad and jumping into the driver’s seat as friends and family look on.

Rapper Diddy surprises his twins with Range Rovers on 16th Birthday

American rapper, Sean Combs aka Diddy, has gifted his twin daughters, D'Lila and Jessie, with matching Range Rovers, on their 16th birthday. pic.twitter.com/iTIqUJKOc8

— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) December 19, 2022

It’s unclear what the exact make and model of the Range Rovers the twins received, but the price of a 2022 Range Rover costs anywhere from $44,700 to $215,500. Wheels alone start at $93,800 MSRP and can go as high as $215,200.

The celebration also featured performances by their father and artist Coi Leray. The twins showed up in matching sci-fi-looking get-ups and had several outfit changes throughout the evening.

 

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Diddy shares his twin daughters with Kim Porter, who died in 2018 from lobar pneumonia, per People. The father of seven recently welcomed his sixth biological child earlier this month.

This isn’t the first time Diddy has spoiled his children for their big day.

On MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” fans saw Diddy’s son Justin Combs get a $360,000 Maybach for his birthday bash in 2010 at a New York City nightclub with 1,000 guests, including Snoop Dogg, Floyd Mayweather, and Lil’ Kim.

Diddy has a reported net worth of $1 billion.

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

December 20, 2022

Here’s How You Can Plan 30 Days of Wellness with OneFirelight

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The New Year is the time for setting personal goals and OneFirelight just added a 30-day wellness workshop to its platform.

This year make the goal to achieve flexibility, strength and increased energy by committing to 30-days of a wellness schedule as you are guided through a daily routine. Download the plan for free here. OneFirelight is designed to bring a mind, body, spirit modality to the fitness space by combining the restorative effects of yoga practice, strength building of cardio/kickboxing, healing of sound meditation, and joyfulness of dance, resulting in calming the mind, strengthening the body, and uplifting the spirit.

“We are asking those interested in learning life-changing skills, creating a wellness routine and carving out daily ‘me’ time each day toward better health and a calmer mind, to allow our OneFirelight wellness instructors to guide and inform you as you celebrate a new you in a new year,” says Kathryn Leary, co-founder, OneFirelight. “The focus shouldn’t be about challenging yourself to complete a 30-day wellness program but should be about celebrating yourself for a month-long commitment of incorporating wellness and self-care into your everyday lifestyle.”

According to public-health agencies, including the World Health Organization, it is suggested that adults do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity or aerobic physical activity to promote health. Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services updated its physical-activity guidelines in 2018 to say that any length of time could prove beneficial to overall health and well-being.

The OneFirelight wellness platform offers hundreds of classes for all levels, available in intervals of 5-10-20-45-60-minute sequences. Classes are choreographed to the music of Bob Marley, grandson Skip Marley and other conscious artists to help people increase performance and stamina during exercise, and are filmed in natural settings for stress reduction and restorative effects

You can follow the OneFirelight 30-day template or make it your own. Begin customizing an individualized 30-day wellness plan by selecting at least one class a day. Start out with short 10-minute classes that focus on movement, breathing and stretching, such as 10 minutes of sound healing or crystal meditation and work up to a 20-minute reboot after sitting all day or a 20-minute workout focus on happy hips. Add 30 minutes of trampoline for an aerobic workout or a 30-munite body weight bootcamp. Have fun with a 45-minute Groove dance class or a boxing series for building strength and confidence. Or create a 7-day workout schedule consisting of two consecutive days of hi-impact (HIIT or trampoline), followed by two days of low impact (stretching or Pilates) add in a day of yoga, then strength training and finally on day seven rest and restore with crystal meditation and sound healing.

Set goals for improving your physical health and fitness, enhancing mental clarity, and changing thinking patterns and negative emotions. In addition to 30-day wellness routine, you can also try OneFirelight at any time with a 3-day free guest pass at www.onefirelight.com.