It seems like Jeffrey Atkins can’t catch a break at times. The rapper and actor that we all know as Ja Rule has been accused by the Internal Revenue Service of owing millions in taxes. After the news got out, his archnemesis, Curtis Jackson, also known as Hollywood executive producer and fellow rapper 50 Cent, clowned him in their never-ending feud.

According to Radar Online, Ja Rule and his wife, Aisha Atkins, owe the Internal Revenue Service over $3 million in taxes. Attorneys for the United States of America have filed a lawsuit that claims the married couple owes the country unpaid taxes from 2005 to 2010 and also for 2012 to 2017. The total owed from the duo is an astounding $3,139,237.76.

The Internal Revenue Service has claimed it has demanded payment for the aforementioned years several times and the rapper has, so far, refused to make any payments toward the hefty tax bill. It has asked the courts to enter a judgment against Ja Rule and his wife, Aisha, for $3.1 million. The Atkins haven’t responded but have hired his longtime attorney, Stacy Richman, to handle the case.

This is not the first time that Ja Rule has been in the crosshairs of the Internal Revenue Service. In 2011, the rapper and entrepreneur was sentenced to 28 months in prison because he had failed to file income tax returns for the years between 2004 and 2008. He had owed over $1.1 million in taxes during those years.

As he usually does whenever bad news hits Ja Rule, 50 Cent took to social media to clown him for his recent troubles:

 

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A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent)

Early in their rap careers, 50 Cent, who was shot numerous times but survived, pointed his finger at Ja Rule for the attempted hit. The two artists have thrown shots at each other throughout their careers.

• Health and Wellness

by Andrea Blackstone

April 30, 2021

NAACP, Planned Parenthood, and Prominent Black Women Pen Open Letter to Push for D.C. Statehood

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An open letter to Congress was signed by the head of the NAACP,  Planned Parenthood, and hundreds of prominent women of color who are in support of making Washington, D.C. a state, while stating that that the issue is related to racial justice and public health.

In a press release, the NACCP said that the open letter notes a number of ways the District’s lack of autonomy has put its residents’ health at risk. Attorney and television personality Star Jones; political strategists Donna Brazile, and Rev. Leah D. Daughtry; Beverly Evans Smith, the 2017-2021 National President CEO for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Angela Rye, principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies are some of the letters’ signers.

In part, high maternal mortality rates of Black residents was referenced in the letter in addition to the distribution of vaccines amid the pandemic.

“As the country works to distribute vaccines and end the COVID-19 pandemic — which has devastated Black and Latino communities with higher infection rates, death rates, and job losses — the District’s lack of autonomy has put residents’ health at risk. Large proportions of D.C.’s vaccine allotment has gone to federal agencies and to non-residents while Black residents are going without,” the letter said. “While D.C.’s Black residents have accounted for nearly half of  COVID-19 cases and nearly 70% of deaths, they’ve received only 37% of vaccines.”

Toward the end of the letter,  denying the people of Washington, D.C. representation in our democracy was described as having always been ‘morally reprehensible.’

Since the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 51 last week, signers of the letter want the U.S. Senate to take the next steps to make D.C. Washington, Douglass Commonwealth and pass the bill. CBS reported that if D.C. does gain statehood as the 51st state, it would have one seat in the House and two Senators to represent its population of approximately 700,000 people.

• Politics

by Christian Spencer

April 30, 2021

VP Kamala Harris Agrees with ‘Uncle Tim’: America Isn’t A Racist Country

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After Sen. Tim Scott’s (R-SC) remarks about America not being a racist country, Vice President Kamala Harris said she agrees–with reservations.

On Thursday, Harris spoke up about her feelings on America on Good Morning America, following up on Scott’s retort to President Joe Biden’s first joint speech to Congress on Wednesday, The Hill reported.

Related stories: BLACK REPUBLICAN TIM SCOTT SAYS AMERICA IS NOT RACIST, THEN IS SHOCKED AT BEING CALLED UNCLE TIM

“No, I don’t think America is a racist country,” Harris said. “But we also do have to speak truth about the history of racism in our country and its existence today. I applaud the president for always having the ability and the courage, frankly, to speak the truth about it.” 

“[Domestic terrorism by White supremacists is] one of the greatest threats to our national security. It doesn’t help to heal our country to unify us as a people to ignore the realities of that,” she continued.

“And so these are issues that we must confront, and it does not help to heal our country, to unify us as a people, to ignore the realities of that,” the vice president said, according to USA Today. “The idea is that we want to unify the country but not without speaking truth and requiring accountability where it is appropriate.”

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, responded to President Joe Biden’s address to Congress Wednesday night, to which when Black Americans checked him.

During his 15-minute speech, Scott said Biden seems like a good man but is dividing the country by pursuing major legislation. Scott also gave credit for the coronavirus recovery to former President Donald Trump.

“It’s backward to fight discrimination with different types of discrimination. And it’s wrong to try to use our painful past to dishonestly shut down debates in the present,” Scott said Wednesday.

It was that point “Uncle Tim” was trending on social media, an apparent reference to Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s classic novel about a happy slave.

The trending topic became so toxic that Twitter had to step up and remove it from its platform, the conservative National Review reported.

“This is in line with our policies on Trends, specifically: ‘We want Trends to promote healthy conversations on Twitter. This means that at times, we may not allow or may temporarily prevent content from appearing in Trends until more context is available. This includes Trends that violate The Twitter Rules,’” a Twitter spokesperson told National Review in an email.

• Entrepreneurship

by Andrea Blackstone

April 30, 2021

Black-Owned Food Chain Launches Campaign for Community Investment

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A Black-owned business called Supreme Foods Franchising (SFF)  is offering a chance for community investors to help build multigenerational wealth through a shared prosperity concept. According to a press release, the Atlanta-based franchise management corporation aims to become the nation’s first crowd-invested ecosystem for entrepreneurs and investors who are interested in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. Supreme Food Franchising’s crowdfunding campaign, #SupremeFounders, will reportedly cater to accredited and non-accredited investors. The goal is for the effort to become the largest equity-focused crowdfunding raised to date, for the general public to invest in a Black-owned, global franchise. SFF will serve as a development arm for Supreme Foods Worldwide.

“SFF will develop and expand two prominent quick-serve brands: Supreme Burger and Supreme Fish Delight with over 11 franchise locations and counting. SFF will launch its much-anticipated equity capital raise using The Reg CF Titled #SupremeFounders, the crowdfunding campaign will cater to accredited and non-accredited investors,” according to the press release.

Additionally, loyal customers and members of the public have the opportunity to buy shares in the company in exchange for an equity stake. The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS )Act was signed into law by former President Barack Obama in 2012. In part, it may permit companies like Supreme Foods Franchising to use crowdfunding to offer and sell securities to the general public.

Waleed Shamsid-Deen, president & CEO of Supreme Foods Worldwide, explained why the company is inviting support and sustainers of the business and mission to join them first in raising these funds, instead of partnering with venture capital or private equity.

“We believe we can continue to accelerate growth and bring more economic empowerment, together,” Shamsid-Deen said in the press release.

SFF is a multigenerational, Black-owned family franchise with locations in Metro-Atlanta, Georgia. Click here to learn more about SFF’s campaign.

The legendary Julius “Dr. J” Erving has caused quite the controversy when he spoke about the greatest NBA players of all time and left off, arguably, this era’s greatest, if not one, one of the greatest players in the game today.

According to Yahoo Sports, the former Philadelphia 76ers legend appeared on Yahoo Sports’ Posted Up with Chris Haynes and mentioned some of his favorite players of all time. Not only was Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James not named on his first all-time team, but he also wasn’t even placed on his second all-time team of players.

“My first team is like Oscar Robertson and Jerry West, I got Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Elgin Baylor,” Erving said to Haynes. “That second team, Magic, Michael, Larry, Karl Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar … those guys … they would be my second team. And a lot of people would argue that LeBron … [muffled] … you know it’s crazy to kind of pick him on the third team.”

The basketball great who also won an ABA championship with the New Jersey Nets before joining the NBA had to explain why “The King” wasn’t placed on those teams he had previously mentioned.

“When you look at LeBron and anybody he sort of picks with him … he played with so many guys. He’s the guy who has led the charge in terms of superteams being put together. When he put together the team in Miami, he put together that team in Cleveland as well and put together a team in Los Angeles. So he can pick his own team, I’m not going to pick his team. I’m not saying nothing bad about LeBron.”

“He’s the guy who has led the charge in terms of super teams…”@JuliusErving doesn’t have LeBron on his top-two All-Time NBA teams 👀

Check out Posted Up with @ChrisBHaynes ➡️ https://t.co/LIqxEaKxVO pic.twitter.com/IROWlOSYkT

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 27, 2021

You can listen to the full interview below:

Sovereign Creed sells items such as t-shirts, hoodies, infant bodysuits, tanks, and sweatshirts. The apparel company simultaneously promotes strong messages that Black Americans are the “Indigenous Aboriginal Family (Xi-Amaru Tribe).” BlackNews.com reported that J. Randall, and his wife, Sharri Jones-Randall, are the founders of the apparel line that educates Black Americans about their indigenous roots in America. The couple’s product line is said to commemorate historical Black figures and invigorate the mind with provocative slogans.

“The majority of our ancestors were already here prior to Columbus,” Randall said to BlackNews.com. “It’s no coincidence that when you look at the treatment of indigenous people worldwide, they all share one common trait; melanin. It is imperative that we reclaim control of our content.”

According to the press release, the Texas-based couple reportedly learned history that is not taught in public school systems. It was also stated that “up to 90% of the ancestors of Black Americans were already in America prior to European colonization and the West African Slave Trade.”

A message on Sovereign Creed’s website stated that conversation is sparked by planting sovereign seeds that restore our values, habits, and traditions which will ultimately result in the resurgence of our people. It was also mentioned that Sovereign Creed’s ‘ideal supporter has a passion for the truth and fully overstands who we are as it relates to the fallacies of the current spectrum of Western World Influenced Society.’

“They appreciate and understand our plight in uniting our people and returning to our indigenous roots,” the website statement said.

Some other proponents have explored the topic of the presence of Africans in America before Columbus supposedly discovered America. COUNTERPUNCH said that in 1920, in the book Africa and the Discovery of America, Leo Wiener explained how Columbus noted in his journal that Native Americans had confirmed that ‘black skinned people had come from the south-east in boats, trading in gold-tipped spears.’

Hip-hop fans will finally get to learn Lil Kim’s life story from her own mouth. The rap legend is set to release her official memoir this fall.

Lil Kim made the big announcement on Wednesday that her memoir The Queen Bee, with Kathy Iandoli, will be released by Hatchett Books on Nov. 2, Billboard reports.

“I’m excited to finally get to tell my story after all this time,” Kim told People. “Many people have thought they knew the story of Lil’ Kim, but they have no idea.”

The memoir shares Kim’s firsthand accounts from her nearly three-decade career and the challenges she’s faced and how she overcame them. Born Kimberly Denise Jones in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, to Trinidad native parents, Kim made her start as a rapper as part of the late Notorious B.I.G.’s Junior M.A.F.I.A. crew, Biography reports. She quickly found success as a solo artist and became a staple in pop culture for her explicit rap lyrics and standout sex appeal.

https://twitter.com/LilKim/status/1387450369001754627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1387450369001754627%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Farticles%2Fnews%2Flifestyle%2F9564474%2Flil-kim-the-queen-bee-memoir

“Lil’ Kim not only blazed trails for women in hip-hop, but also inspired the careers of those who followed,” the book’s press release said. “However, life at the top hasn’t been easy, either. Lil’ Kim also talks about the hiddden moments of her reign: her complicated high-profile relationships, the misogynistic industry she fought to change through sex positivity, the challenging double standards of self-image and beauty in the spotlight, and the momentous act of loyalty that ultimately landed her in prison.”

The memoir aims to provide a “candid” recollection of Kim’s life and career while also highlighting the role the “Lighters Up” emcee played in being a “feminist icon,” the statement read.

“IT’S FINALLY HERE!! That’s right, the book, Lil’ Kim The Queen Bee Life Story,” the rapper said in her social media announcement. “I’m so excited to announce my memoir dropping in November!! You thought you knew me but you have no idea.”

Her memoir comes after the success of the Notorious biopic where she shared her disappointment in Naturi Naughton being picked to play her, iHeart reports. Now Kim has all the power in her hands in telling her story on her own.

• Education

by Derek Major

April 30, 2021

HBCU Hockey Program May Get Its Start at Tennessee State University

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Tennessee State University is considering beginning the first HBCU hockey program in coordination with the Nashville Predators, the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise.

The school’s first step will be to establish a “feasibility committee” to gather information before making a decision, but the fact that the university is even considering creating a hockey program is a significant step.

The Black Lives Matter movement last summer came with an increased push to fund HBCUs, including a push to fund non-traditional HBCU sports. Gymnastics and volleyball programs are being considered. Additionally, NBA All-Star Stephen Curry provided Howard University with funding for the first six years of its new golf program.

Hockey could be the next sport HBCUs invest in.

This isn’t the first collaboration between Tennessee State University and the Nashville Predators. Last spring the two teamed up to raise money and awareness for student veterans and created The General’s Fund to help student veterans at the university whose educational benefits have either expired or have been exhausted.

Keyann Reaves, a Jackson, TN, native and military dependent, was the first to receive support from the fund and will use it to achieve her dream of becoming a pediatrician.

Tennessee State and the Predators also collaborated on the GUIDER (Growth, Understanding, Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Representation) initiative, founded with the objective of diminishing the prevalence of social injustice.

Hockey is growing among both Black and Hispanic Americans. According to the NHL, there are at least 13 Black players on NCAA Division I and III women’s hockey rosters this season. In 2019, there were just four.

The Black Girls Hockey Club has also been paramount in making a push for diversity in hockey and its fans. The NHL has reached out to Renee Hess, who created the club, more than once to get her ideas on increasing diversity efforts.

Hess told the New York Times that there’s a simple way to get more Black Americans involved in the NHL.

“As a fan maybe I’m unique, but I have more expectations of executives and the people in power,” she said. “One thing we’re preaching to front offices is to hire more Black women, people of color, and LGBT people. If you want to get into the Black community, hire Black people. Nothing works better than having someone from the community doing that work.”

Bringing hockey to HBCUs would not only boost diversity efforts and participation, but could also lead to a new influx of American talent in the sport. Currently, there are fewer than 50 Black players in the league.

• Criminal Justice Reform

by Derek Major

April 29, 2021

Bipartisan Police Reform Talks Begin After President’s Speech to Congress

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Reuters – A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers on Thursday started talks on a police reform bill, the day after Democratic President Joe Biden urged senators and representatives to act before the May 25 anniversary of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis policeman.

Republican Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham, Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Cory Booker and Democratic Representative Karen Bass were among those tasked with reaching a consensus, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and two Democratic legislative aides said.

Lawmakers who attended the meeting said they were hopeful.

“Nothing happened in the meeting that deters me from being optimistic that we can get there,” Scott told reporters, though he rebuffed questions about whether lawmakers could meet Biden’s deadline.

Durbin said the meeting was “very constructive.”

“There’s trust in that room, and it’s important to see it through,” Durbin said.

Earlier on Thursday, a group of relatives of victims of police violence, including Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, met with lawmakers including Schumer. The family members later met with White House officials to discuss the need for police reform.

“They got to hear directly from the families whose blood will be on the legislation that is being proposed. They listened intensely. It got very emotional at times,” said Ben Crump, the lawyer for Floyd’s family and other victims of police violence. “And they promised them that they were going to try to make meaningful legislation in their families’ names.”

The House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, named for the African-American man killed when Derek Chauvin, then a policeman, kneeled on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. Floyd’s death sparked a summer of nationwide protests over policing and systemic racism.

The bill has not yet been taken up by the Senate, where it faces steep odds of getting the bipartisan support it would need to pass the upper chamber. Democrats effectively control 50 of the chamber’s 100 seats, but most legislation requires 60 votes to pass.

Police unions have opposed changes made in the House’s bill to qualified immunity, which they say will further open the door to lawsuits alleging excessive force.

Scott also introduced a policing bill last year, but it was blocked by Democrats who said his approach relied too much on incentives and too little on mandating changes.

Scott has proposed making it easier for victims of police violence to sue law enforcement agencies, rather than the officers themselves. Bass has said it is important for victims to be able to sue individual officers as well as police, sheriff’s and other departments.

Asked about qualified immunity, Scott said they now have more information that allows them to work towards a result, which he said is positive.

Bass said the issue of qualified immunity was among the unresolved issues.

(Reporting by Makini Brice, Richard Cowan, David Morgan and Susan Cornwell; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Daniel Wallis; Additional reporting by Nandita Bose)

by Christian Spencer

April 29, 2021

Black Pastor Sent X-Rated Pic to Church Volunteer; Resigned After Getting Called Out

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A Black church leader had to resign after it was revealed that he was sexting a volunteer, sending her a naughty picture by “mistake.”

Darnell Barrett was a pastor and creative director for Hillsong Church in Montclair, New Jersey, before sending out eye-popping pictures of himself in Nike underwear, NewsOne reported.

The unnamed woman who worked at the church from 2014 to 2016 claimed he sent her a private Instagram story, showing two pictures of himself in Nike Pro tights but swore it was a mistake. 

“Hey! I think I might’ve added you to my close friends list by accident. I’m so sorry. Trying to figure out how the hell to edit it,” Barrett texted the woman back in February.

Related stories: MISSOURI PASTOR PLACED ON LEAVE AFTER TELLING WOMEN TO WEAR MAKEUP, DRESS NICELY, HAVE NICE HAIR, AND APPEAR LESS BUTCH

The conversation became more awkward as the pastor tried to explain he sends “some real raw s**t [..] to my friends [,]man.”

The woman originally thought to move past the awkward moment but had second thoughts about leaving the situation alone, but she decided to cuss out the “naughty” pastor.

“First off, I’m insulted that you wouldn’t understand what you’re doing but I’m not f**king stupid. For you to go out of your way to make it seem like you ‘accidentally’ added me to your close friends… and then, went out of your way to message me about it KNOWING that would make me go look is bulls**t,” the woman texted. “Obviously, what you wanted me to see were the shirtless photos and the outline of your d**k, let’s not play and act like that wasn’t the point. Your messages to bait me into seeing your ‘raw s**t’ are obvious. I know what you’re doing, do not insult me. I see you very clearly.”

Barrett has been dealing with depression, the report states, and his workouts provide him relief, as indicated by Instagram Story posts to his close friends’ group earlier that day.

Barrett is not the only pastor to be involved in a sex-related scandal. In October, former pastor Carl Lentz was fired for cheating on his wife Laura, having a monthslong affair with Ranin Karim, The Sun reported.