by Kandiss Edwards

April 22, 2026

Symone Sanders Is The Keynote Speaker For The 2026 Spelman Commencement

The Class of 2026 is set to reach a rare academic milestone, with Spelman confirming that seven students will share the title of valedictorian.

Spelman College has selected MS Now host and political strategist Symone Sanders Townsend to deliver the keynote address for its 139th commencement ceremony on May 17, 2026. The announcement, made April 21, highlights a historic graduation weekend for the prestigious historically Black college for women.

Sanders Townsend, currently the co-anchor of “The Weeknight” on MS Now, will receive an honorary doctorate of laws during the ceremony at the Georgia International Convention Center. Known for her rapid rise in political communications, Sanders Townsend made history as the youngest presidential press secretary during Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign before serving as a senior advisor to President Joe Biden and chief spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris.

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In the announcement, Spelman’s Interim President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer praised Sanders Townsend as a “21st-century Renaissance woman,” noting that her career as a strategist and entrepreneur serves as a model for the graduating class. The ceremony will also honor Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, former CEO of Feeding America, with the National Community Service Award.

We are truly thrilled to welcome Symone Sanders Townsend to bring words of inspiration to our graduating Class of 2026,” said Brewer, C’84. “The breadth of Symone’s pursuits and depths of her influence make her the ideal person to inspire and move our graduates. As a strategist, communicator, and entrepreneur, she embodies the 21st-century Renaissance woman that the Spelman woman seeks to emulate. We are equally proud to host a distinguished lineup of dynamic Black women throughout our weekend ceremonies, including visionary humanitarian Claire Babineaux-Fontenot and nationally respected faith leader the Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart. This extraordinary group of women represents the very standard of leadership and impact we hope our graduates will carry into the world.”

The Class of 2026 is set to reach a rare academic milestone, with Spelman confirming that seven students will share the title of valedictorian. In total, 569 graduates are expected to receive degrees during the event, which concludes a weekend of festivities, including a baccalaureate service led by the Rev. Dr. Gina M. Stewart.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2026

Roxanne Shanté Recalls Mike Tyson Demanding Payment From A Promoter On Her Behalf

"And he was like, 'So who said they wasn't going to pay you?'"

Roxanne Shanté said Mike Tyson stepped in to defend her against a promoter who tried to avoid paying her in the 1980s.

The legendary battle rapper told the story on Hot 97 with Nessa Diab As a teenage female MC in New York City’s male-dominated hip-hop scene, Shanté said she turned to a young Mike Tyson—then an undisputed boxing champion—to back her up.

“Like I remember a time when I came by myself to a promoter, and there’s like a, there’s a photo that’s circulating on the internet because somebody had a photo from that evening. And the promoter told me, he said, ‘I don’t care who you bring with you,'” Roxanne shared in a clip posted online.

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The “Real Roxanne” rapper recalled the promoter telling her flat out, “We’re not paying you,” which prompted her to enlist her Brooklyn-born back-up.

“I brought Mike Tyson. And this is, yeah, I came back and showed up with Mike Tyson. And he was like, ‘So who said they wasn’t going to pay you?'” Shanté recalled.

“Did they pay you?” Diab asked.

“Yes, they did. Yes, they did,” Shanté said.

Shanté said Mike Tyson’s help in securing her pay allowed her to keep pursuing her battle rap career.

“I showed up. I showed up to the battle,” she said. “Yeah, I showed up, and I was like, ‘Listen, they said, you know, I was like, Mike, they said they’re not going to pay me.’ And he was like, ‘Let’s go.'”

Shanté recalled how many were baffled by Tyson showing up to defend a young rapper.

“He [Mike Tyson] was like, ‘No, Shante needs me. I’m going with her.’ And he came. Showed right up. And they paid me my money/”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 22, 2026

Drake’s Attorneys File Reply Brief In Appeal Of UMG Lawsuit

The appeal is geared toward UMG's distribution of Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" diss song

Drake’s attorneys have filed a reply brief for their appeal and said that the judge’s handling of the dismissal was a ‘reversible error’ after ruling in favor of Universal Music Group (UMG) in the rapper’s defamation lawsuit.

According to Music Business Worldwide, the filing with the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit was presented on April 17. Attorneys argued that Judge Jeannette Vargas improperly dismissed the “Hotline Bling” rapper’s suit against UMG, which released Kendrick Lamar’s diss record, “Not Like Us.”

Drake’s lawyers from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP wrote: “[T]he District Court relied heavily on matters outside the pleadings, weighed the evidence, made adverse factual findings contradicting well-pleaded facts, and improperly drew inferences against Drake.”

“UMG repeats the Court’s errors, largely glossing over the allegations in the Amended Complaint and focusing instead on its own version of the ‘facts’ and ‘evidence’ from outside the pleadings.”

They also cited that the judge should have converted UMG’s motion to dismiss, “into one for summary judgment… But it failed to do that, too.” Adding that Drake never got the opportunity to contest the evidence and reveal what he had found during the early stages of discovery.

The recent filing followed two separate groups of scholars’ amicus briefs filed on April 3 in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in support of Drake’s appeal in the defamation lawsuit against UMG Recordings. The scholars agreed with the judge’s decision, siding with the distribution label and arguing that the Kendrick Lamar song, “Not Like Us,” constitutes protected opinion rather than actionable defamation, and that the Canadian artist’s appeal should be denied.

UMG’s earlier response to the case accused Drake of hypocrisy: “He intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous, back-and-forth rap battles… He now seeks to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist’s creative expression.”

Drake initially filed a defamation lawsuit against the label that distributes his recordings in January 2025, which was dismissed in October 2025, leading the recording artist to appeal the judge’s ruling in January 2026.

Nas, Rapper, Broadway, Hip-Hop Film, Nas Soccer Jersey, Illmatic 30th Anniversary

by Kandiss Edwards

April 22, 2026

Nas Taps His NY State Of Mind, Opens New Restaurant

Nas's involvement highlights the cultural icon's commitment to investing in the cultural and economic fabric of his hometown.

New York’s 550 Madison Avenue has officially unveiled a high-profile culinary destination featuring the opening of Bar Chimera, COTE 550, and the world-renowned Sushi Yoshitake, a project fueled by a partnership between Gracious Hospitality Management and legendary rapper Nas.

The collaboration brings together COTE Korean Steakhouse founder Simon Kim and the Grammy-winning artist, a New York native.

The co-owner of the new hospitality concepts at 550 Madison made the announcement via Instagram. Nas’ smooth and distinct voice narrates a host of images explaining how the new venture blends seamlessly with New York culture.

The centerpieces of the development offer three distinct gastronomic experiences in the Philip Johnson-designed tower. COTE 550 serves as an evolution of the Michelin-starred COTE Korean Steakhouse, blending high-end dining with the building’s architectural grandeur. Adjacent to it, Sushi Yoshitake marks the North American debut of the legendary three-Michelin-starred Tokyo establishment founded by Chef Masahiro Yoshitake.

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Rounding out the new offerings is Bar Chimera, a chic and versatile lounge designed to serve as a social hub for the building’s tenants and elite New York diners.

For Nas, the project represents a homecoming to the luxury real estate and dining sector of Manhattan, emphasizing his continued advocacy for Black ownership and representation in high-end spaces. The project is expected to draw a mix of international tourists, finance professionals, and hip-hop enthusiasts, bridging the gap between fine dining and urban culture.

OJ Da Juiceman, Medical Emergency, Police Custody

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 22, 2026

Industry Blackout Calls For Streaming Platforms To Remove D4VD’s Music After Murder Arrest

The group has started a petition on Change.org

Following the arrest of recording artist David Anthony Burke, AKA D4VD, Industry Blackout has launched a petition calling on streaming platforms to remove his music.

The advocacy group has put out a “call to arms” to take down the artist’s recordings after he was accused of killing a 14-year-old, Celeste Rivas Hernandez. In the social media post, the organization explains the allegations of what D4VD has been accused of and wants the wiping to reflect the fight against domestic violence and abuse.

The petition was started on Change.org. They are asking people to sign it and tag the major streaming platforms (Apple, Spotify, YouTube, etc.). They are asking for the maintenance of an ethical code in music.

“As advocates against violence and abuse in the music industry, we at Industry Blackout are calling on music streaming platforms and industry stakeholders to remove all music by the artist D4VD from their catalogs.”

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The Los Angeles Police Department arrested D4VD and charged him with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years old, and mutilation of human remains in connection with the death of Hernandez. Her remains were found in September 2025, in the trunk of a Tesla registered to D4VD. The body was dismembered and decomposed when parking lot attendants discovered it. Authorities theorized that the body had been in there for several weeks.

It had been alleged that the singer was in an inappropriate sexual relationship with Hernandez. Family members said that she met D4VD online and had been seen publicly with him. Prosecutors allege that he killed her after she threatened to expose it. The murder charge carries special circumstances of lying in wait, committing murder for financial gain, and murdering a witness to a crime, making him eligible for life without parole or the death penalty.

Virginia State Legislature, virginia universities

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 22, 2026

Virginia Democrats Score Huge Win Ahead Of November Midterms With New Redistricting Map

Voters approved a temporary amendment to the state’s constitution giving Democrats permission to draw new congressional lines that would favor the party in all but one of its 11 House districts.

Virginia Democrats handed Republicans a huge upset after voters approved a mid-decade redistricting plan that could help the Democratic Party win four more House seats ahead of the November midterms with a new map, The Hill reports.

Voters approved a temporary amendment to the state’s constitution permitting Democrats to draw new congressional lines that would favor the party in all but one of its 11 House districts. Currently holding a 6-5 advantage, the new map will remain in place until the process returns to a bipartisan redistricting commission following the 2030 Census.

Close to 1.5 million Virginians voted “yes” in the April 21 vote, compared with close to 1.45 million voting “no.” However, Republicans and anti-gerrymandering advocates are labeling the “no” vote as a strong message of resistance to the Democrat-led plan. “Even in defeat, this is a powerful message,” Brian Cannon, co-chair of the advisory council to the bipartisan group No Gerrymandering Virginia, said.

“Despite being outspent by well over $60 million and facing biased ballot language, over a million Virginians stood up against a partisan power grab.”

But the conversation started because of the Republican Party.

In 2025, President Donald Trump seemingly started a redistricting battle after demanding Texas Republicans find a way to secure five more congressional seats. The move pushed several Democratic-led states, including Virginia’s Gov. Abigail Spanberger, to push back by signing a redistricting bill. But when Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz called the bill “a brazen abuse of power & an insult to democracy,” state Sen. L. Louise Lucas responded with, “you all started it and we f*cking finished it.”

You all started it and we fucking finished it. https://t.co/JU3IR4eEHt
— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) February 7, 2026

The 82-year-old senator hasn’t been shy about her thoughts surrounding Trump’s threats or criticism. After the win, she posted an expletive-filled video that began with a recording of the president saying what would happen if Virginia sought to do what they felt was necessary.

THANK YOU VIRGINIA! https://t.co/52jmrP0b1C pic.twitter.com/qTlZR91xkw
— L. Louise Lucas (@SenLouiseLucas) April 22, 2026

Since the redistricting war began, according to Democracy Docket, Republicans have already potentially gained seven more congressional seats — five in Texas, one in Missouri, and one in North Carolina. But after April 21, Democrats potentially picked up 10 seats, with five in California, one in Utah, and four in Virginia.

However, the battle isn’t over as Florida could still give Republicans a victory with five more seats added contingent on whether the Florida legislature passes a new map in a special session later this month.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2026

Xzibit Reveals Nearly $1M IRS Debt Despite $66K+ Monthly Income To End Spousal Support

Rapper Xzibit is revealing the millions he owes in IRS and business debt while trying to end his monthly spousal support payments to his estranged wife.

Xzibit’s financial and IRS troubles are making headlines as he seeks to end the temporary monthly spousal support payments he makes to his estranged wife.

In newly filed court documents, the California rapper said he owes more than $400,000 in back taxes to the state and about $900,000 to the Internal Revenue Service—roughly $1.3 million total, TMZ reports. The former “Pimp My Ride” host also reports over $1.4 million in personal debt, another $2 million in business liabilities, and average monthly expenses of about $23,566.

Despite earning $66,547 a month, Xzibit (real name Alvin Nathaniel Joiner) said his mounting bills, debt, and temporary spousal support payments to his estranged wife, Krista Joiner, have become too much. He’s seeking to end the support once the divorce is finalized, noting she earns about $12,843 monthly.

Xzibit and Krista Joiner married in 2014, separated in 2021, and share a son, Gatlyn, whom they welcomed in 2010. The two, who have joint custody, are headed to trial later this month to finalize their divorce.

Court filings show Xzibit pays $5,145 monthly in child support, while in February 2025, Krista sought increased child and spousal support, citing financial hardship and missed expenses. She accused the rap star of having limited contact with their son.

At the time, Krista said she and their son had to leave their $10,000-a-month home and struggled to cover basic expenses, alleging Xzibit prioritized other spending on his current girlfriend over their child’s needs. She sought $9,313 in monthly child support, $21,380 in spousal support, more than $750,000 in alleged arrears, and $300,000 in legal fees, arguing his income was far higher than reported.

In response, Xzibit is seeking to end spousal support once the divorce is finalized. He also wants to keep a 1957 Chevy Bel Air, while he’s fine with Krista keeping a 2015 Jeep Wrangler.

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 22, 2026

Appeals Courts Hands Conservatives Victory Allowing Texas To Require Ten Commandments Posted In Classrooms

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton referred to the ruling as “a major victory for Texas and our moral values.”

Thanks to a U.S. appeals court’s April 21 ruling, Texas can now require the Ten Commandments to be posted in classrooms, handing a victory to conservatives seeking to incorporate more religion into schools, CNN reports.

The appeals court’s ruling reverses a district court’s judgment that blocked school districts from displaying the commandments. Close to two dozen school districts were barred from posting them starting Sept. 1, amid federal judges’ injunctions issued after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a 2025 law mandating religious displays. Despite pushback from families of various faiths, the commandments went up at the start of the school year.

The decision held that Texas’s law did not violate the First Amendment, which protects religious freedom and prohibits the government from establishing a religion. The law “does not tell churches or synagogues or mosques what to believe or how to worship or whom to employ as priests, rabbis, or imams,” the ruling says.

“No child is made to recite the Commandments, believe them, or affirm their divine origin.”

After the law passed, conservative legal groups and churches raised funds to distribute posters to districts across the state. Kelly Shackelford, chief executive of First Liberty Institute, a Christian legal organization, called the Ten Commandments vital to the nation’s history.

“Banning them from schools because they are religious is not justified by the Constitution and would undermine a comprehensive education for America’s students,” Shackelford said in a statement, according to The New York Times.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton referred to the ruling as “a major victory for Texas and our moral values.” “The Ten Commandments have had a profound impact on our nation, and it’s important that students learn from them every single day,” Paxton said.

The Lone Star state isn’t the only state to pass such legislation; Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama have passed similar laws, along with court challenges. But not everyone is celebrating the move.

Lena Lee, a high school English teacher in Keller, Texas, said the ruling is “devastating” as she has hung more spiritually themed posters from a multitude of faiths in defiance of the law—something she says she will continue to do. “Students in Texas are being unjustly used as pawns in this game for conservatism,” she said.

“Schools should not be a battleground for conservatives to push their agenda.”

Her thoughts are supported by organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, which said the ruling “goes against fundamental First Amendment principles and binding U.S. Supreme Court authority.”

“The First Amendment safeguards the separation of church and state and the freedom of families to choose how, when and if to provide their children with religious instruction,” they said.

“This decision tramples those rights.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 22, 2026

Southern Poverty Law Center CEO Vows To Fight Accusations of Fraud, Money Laundering By DOJ

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche accused the organization of paying close to eight people, including those affiliated with extremist groups like the KKK and Nazi organizations, roughly $3 million between 2014 and 2023.

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) Interim President and CEO Bryan Fair says, “SPLC will vigorously defend ourselves” after the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an investigation over claims of using paid informants, such as leaders of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), to infiltrate extremist groups, pushing potential criminal charges.

BLACK ENTERPRISE received a statement from Fair saying, “We are outraged by the false allegations levied against SPLC – an organization that for 55 years has stood as a beacon of hope fighting white supremacy and various forms of injustice to create a multi-racial democracy where we can all live and thrive.” “Taking on violent hate and extremist groups is among the most dangerous work there is, and we believe it is also among the most important work we do. To be clear, this program saved lives,” he continued.

“The actions by the DOJ will not shake our resolve to fight for justice and ensure the promise of the Civil Rights movement becomes a reality for all. SPLC will vigorously defend ourselves, our staff and our work; we will continue to fight hate; and we will continue to envision and create a safer and more just world.”

Politico reports that after an indictment by a federal grand jury in the organization’s home base of Alabama, SPLC faces 11 charges, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. During a combative press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Blanche accused the organization of paying close to eight people, including those affiliated with extremist groups like the KKK and Nazi organizations, roughly $3 million between 2014 and 2023.

While taking questions from reporters, one journalist sought clarification if the DOJ was accusing SPLC of paying hate groups just to keep their operation running, to which Blanche responded, saying, “I’m not alleging. The grand jury returned an indictment that says that.”

REPORTER: I just want to make sure I understand. You're alleging that the Southern Poverty Law Center was paying the leaders of KKK and other groups?

BLANCHE: I'm not alleging it. The grand jury returned an indictment that says that pic.twitter.com/RwiQLpxCYR
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 21, 2026

Patel claims the civil rights group “used the money they raised from their donor network to actually pay the leadership of these very groups,” labeling it as a serious violation. “This is a serious and egregious violation of a group that purported to dismantle violent extremist groups, but in turn, actually only fueled the hatred,” the FBI director said.

This is not something SPLC denies. In a video released by the group, founded in 1971, interim President and CEO Bryan Fair admitted the group began paying informants to infiltrate hate groups as a way to protect its staff after the organization’s headquarters was firebombed in 1983. “When we began working with informants, we were living in the shadow of the height of the civil rights movement, which had seen bombings at churches, state-sponsored violence against demonstrators and the murders of activists that went unanswered by the justice system,” Fair said.

He said the group’s mission of fighting white supremacy and various forms of injustice is the reason why they aren’t too surprised by the accusations from the Trump administration. “They have made no secret of who they want to protect and who they want to destroy,” Fair continued.

According to The Washington Post, after SPLC pinpointed Turning Point USA as an epitome of the “hard right” in a 2024 report on hate and extremist groups following the assassination of Founder Charlie Kirk in September 2025, one month later, Patel announced the bureau was cutting relations with the organization after working with them for two years to identify and provide tips on domestic extremist groups.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 22, 2026

Pat McGrath Labs Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy With New Owner, Founder To Stay On As Chief Creative Officer

Pat McGrath Labs has exited its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process with GDA Luma taking control through a new holding company and the brand's founder becoming CCO.

Pat McGrath Labs has emerged from Chapter 11 with a new Miami-based owner, with founder Pat McGrath stepping down as CEO to become Chief Creative Officer.

On April 17, a Florida judge approved Pat McGrath Labs’s exit from Chapter 11, with Miami-based GDA Luma taking control through a new holding company, Business of Fashion reported. Founder, Pat McGrath, will transition to chief creative officer and transfer her equity to GDA Luma.

“Creating beauty that moves people has been my life’s work, and that never stops,” McGrath said in a statement. “I will continue pushing boundaries in my role as Chief Creative Officer alongside GDA Luma, and I look forward to the future.”

Following the acquisition, Pat McGrath Labs and GDA Luma plan to accelerate innovation, strengthen customer engagement, and expand globally. GDA Luma will take a controlling stake and work with leadership to improve operations, refine strategy, and drive growth with renewed creative and commercial focus, according to a press release.

“Pat McGrath Labs is an iconic brand with extraordinary creative equity and global potential,” said Gabriel de Alba, Founder and Managing Partner of GDA Luma. “Our priority has been to stabilize the foundation of the business, implement best-in-class operating disciplines, and invest in the next phase of sustainable growth while preserving the brand’s legacy of creative excellence.”

The update follows a week of hearings in a Florida bankruptcy court and comes two months after Pat McGrath Labs secured an investment from GDA Luma, following its January bankruptcy filing, ahead of a planned 2026 auction. In February, GDA Luma provided the company with $10 million in debtor-in-possession financing to support operations and restructuring, along with a $20 million commitment in post-emergence working capital to maintain liquidity.

During the bankruptcy hearing, the judge told McGrath she was pleased the founder “would be able to continue the legacy of the company she built and loves.”

Born in Northampton, England, Pat McGrath rose to global prominence as a self-taught makeup artist, reshaping runway beauty with bold, innovative work for top designers. She launched Pat McGrath Labs in 2015 with the viral Gold 001 pigment, which sold out within minutes, and expanded into a full collection by 2017. In 2025, she was named creative director of La Beauté Louis Vuitton, a role she continues to hold alongside her work with her own brand, despite its recent restructuring.