by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 11, 2026

Essence Festival Of Culture Unveils 2026 Lineup

The festival will return to New Orleans despite recent financial disputes involving the event's organizers.

The Essence Festival of Culture marked Women’s History Month by unveiling an all-female lineup for its 2026 event, featuring Cardi B, Patti LaBelle, Kehlani, Latto, and Brandy & Monica.

The event will return to New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome on July 3–5.

Cardi B and Latto will make their Essence Festival debuts, while Patti LaBelle returns. Additional performers are expected to be announced as the festival approaches, Nola.com reports.

The festival will also bring back its daytime programing at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, featuring talks from authors, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders, as well as a marketplace highlighting beauty brands and Black-owned vendors. The programming also includes film screenings and a dedicated wine and food experience.

But there’s a bit of a wrinkle. The lineup announcement comes weeks after the Essence Festival made headlines over reports that it still owed the convention center more than $400,000 from last year’s event. The annual festival, a major economic driver for New Orleans that draws thousands of visitors and generates significant revenue for local businesses, came under scrutiny last month after reports alleged that its organizers, Sundial Media Group, had failed to pay the venue.

The unpaid balance reportedly accounts for more than 60% of the operating costs for the three-day festival and has complicated the convention center’s efforts to secure state funding for the event. The reported unpaid fees to the convention center could threaten the festival’s future in the city if the financial dispute isn’t resolved.

Mayor Helena Moreno and other local leaders are reportedly working on a plan to keep Essence Fest in New Orleans despite the ongoing tensions between organizers and the convention center. Essence’s owner, Sundial Media Group, said it has agreements in place to pay all contractors.

Angela Bassett, women of power, Awards, iconic

by Jameelah Mullen

March 10, 2026

One Day Left Till The Women Of Power Summit Celebrates 20 Years Of Power

Twenty years of Black excellence, featuring Angela Bassett, Iyanla Vanzant, Angela Rye, and more! This will be one for the books.

Powerful Black women are heading to Las Vegas to celebrate the 20th year of BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Women of Power Summit. Attendees are in for a top-tier time that will feature enhanced workshops and experiences designed to support, uplift, and empower Black women in every stage of their careers.

Held at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, the four-day summit, beginning Wednesday, March 11, will create a celebratory learning environment featuring industry heavy hitters in tech, finance, wellness, and beyond.

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A Lit Line-Up

Opening day offers a variety of activities, including a freshman class orientation for first-time attendees. The night will also feature a special presentation that looks back at past summits, celebrating 20 years of BE’s dedication to empowering Black women. The evening wraps up with the Legacy Gala, honoring influential leaders across industries.

Day two sessions will include artificial intelligence with the “AI Practical Playbook: Build Your Roadmap to Impact” workshop. Facilitated by Rosa Moss, a senior solutions engineer at Salesforce, the workshop will give attendees the chance to expand their knowledge of AI. Those wishing to move abroad may benefit from the “Passport To Power” workshop, which features four women sharing their experiences in pursuing international careers.

Day three focuses on health and wellness, starting with morning motivation led by Iylana Vanzant. Attendees can participate in a series of curated wellness workshops, such as “Protecting Your Peace,” led by Tonya Ladipo, LCSW, founder and CEO of The Ladipo Group. Mia Hillsman will facilitate a discussion in “Beyond the Scale: Biology, Burdens & Brilliance,” where Drs. Sylvia Gonsahn‑Bollie and Sheryl E. Allen will explore obesity and the social and cultural factors that uniquely affect Black women.

The last day of the Women of Power Summit concludes with a one-on-one session on financial coaching and celebrations. The girls will motivate each other at the Crowning Glory Celebration, an all-white event with touches of gold, followed by the 20-year celebration brunch. The summit will end with its Luminary Award ceremony.

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Honoring The Legends

Among this year’s Legacy Award honorees is Emmy Award-winning actress and Black Hollywood royalty Angela Bassett. Also receiving the Legacy Award are finance expert Carla Harris, Shellye Archambeau, Spelman College President Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, and Benaree “Bennie” Pratt Wiley.

The summit will present the Luminary Award to attorney and political commentator Angela Rye, marketing leader Bozoma Saint John, and Jotaka Eaddy, founder and CEO of Full Circle Strategies. It will also honor two trailblazers in sports: Sandra Douglass Morgan, president of the Las Vegas Raiders, and Charlotte Hornets president Shelly Cayette‑Weston.

Since 2006, the Women of Power Summit has been the top gathering for Black women entrepreneurs, executives, creatives, and emerging leaders. To learn more about the conference or to register, visit the Women of Power website.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 10, 2026

Lil Baby Plans To Buy Homes In Old Atlanta Stomping Grounds To Protect It From Gentrification

Lil Baby shared his mission to take back his old neighborhood from developers.

Lil Baby is launching his own crusade against gentrification by buying up all the properties in his old Atlanta neighborhood, including his old home.

He showed his old stomping grounds to his two young sons, Jason and Loyal, as covered in a Youtube vlog. Oakland City Homes, a multi-family unit in Southwest Atlanta, has a special meaning to the Grammy-winning rapper, who hopes to maintain the neighborhood for the next generation of Atlanta leaders.

“I made history in this same exact spot and now I’m making history again,” he said of his latest property purchase.

Lil Baby decided to venture in this communal real estate after finding out developers’ plans to remodel the neighborhood. However, Lil Baby hopes to take on his own renovations, providing updated furnishings for future residents.

“I’m buying it for my son,” he continued. “See, they trying to take our neighborhood and I gotta put my foot down.”

He noted that while he plans to rent the property out, he intends to keep ownership in the hands of natives.

“I done did too much in, for, and around the hood,” he continued.

For the 31-year-old, his real estate purchases go toward a a greater mission. “I ain’t just like, ‘Ah, it’s like a strategy to me buying a house.’ I’m buying all the houses, all the properties that I used to hustle in front of,” he said.

Growing up in the area had its rougher moments, making these newly-acquired homes represent how far he has come. “These be like my investments but they’re also more sentimental value pieces,” Lil’ Baby explained.

The property plans also help Lil Baby do his part to mitigate gentrification. The issue has greatly contributed to a housing affordability crisis in Atlanta. While local leaders also implemented new policies and programs to help native “ATL-iens” stay in their homegrown communities, even rappers have taken part in this mission to keep Atlanta’s magic.

Lil Baby’s philanthropy extends beyond combating gentrification. According to TheGrio, the rapper has launched scholarships, back-to-school drives, and more to help local youth chase their own professional hustles.

Carla Hall ,Fried Chicken, Restaurant, Washington, D.C.

by Jameelah Mullen

March 10, 2026

For The Culture! Carla Hall To Open Fried Chicken Restaurant In Washington, D.C.

Carla Hall will merge food, art, and culture for the ultimate casual dining experience.

Celebrity chef Carla Hall will soon open Bumblebirds, a fried chicken and cocktail bar in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The restaurant will have its grand opening party on March 14, where the first 100 customers will receive free sandwiches.

Hall will usher in the spring season with a Southern‑inspired menu featuring crispy fried chicken sandwiches on your choice of brioche bun or biscuit. At the bar, guests can enjoy craft cocktails, curated by mixologist AJ Johnson, such as an elderflower julep or a sorrel‑and‑strawberry margarita.

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Hall said she drew inspiration from her grandmother, whom she calls the “culinary matriarch” of her family. The former Top Chef contestant aims to bring her grandmother’s Southern charm to D.C.

“I want them to walk in and feel like, ‘Wow, this feels like home, and it feels bright and warm. And I feel like this is a place where I want to hang out. I feel like it’s a place where I feel a sense of community and joy,” she says. “I think more than anything, I want people to feel the joy,” the longtime D.C. resident told People.

Located at 303 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, this quaint eatery showcases Hall’s design vision and features her own paper‑quilt art inspired by her grandmother. “I thought I had lost my grandmother’s quilt after 20 years,” she said.

Hall, after misplacing the heirloom, decided to recreate it using paper. After recreating the 9-by-3-foot art installation, Hall found the original quilt.

“It’s more than just showcasing a piece of art; it’s about showing other sides of my creativity,” she said. “And also quilts are about community and bringing people together.”

Quilting isn’t the only way that Hall is expanding her artistic wings. The former talk show host will star in Carla Hall — Please Underestimate Me, a one-woman show premiering in June, as she leans into her love of theater and her childhood dream of being the “Black Carol Burnett.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 10, 2026

Fani Willis’ Attempt To Withhold Paying Trump $16M In Legal Fees Denied

The ruling sets the stage for the next phase of litigation in the once-expansive racketeering case.

Fulton County (GA) District Attorney Fani Willis and her office were not able to avoid paying nearly $17 million in legal fees requested by President Donald Trump and his co-defendants.

On March 9, Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee denied Willis’ bid to avoid the payment, ruling that her office remains disqualified from the case, CBS News reports. He did allow Fulton County to join the dispute over the 14 former defendants—including Trump—who are now seeking $16,853,810.28 in attorneys’ fees and costs under a newly enacted Georgia law that permits defendants to recover expenses when a prosecutor is disqualified.

The ruling sets the stage for the next phase of litigation in the once-expansive racketeering case, which unraveled after prosecutors dropped charges against Trump and several of his allies following Willis and her office’s disqualification over conflicts of interest. McAfee’s order also makes clear that Willis and her office cannot take part in the dispute moving forward due to their removal from the case.

“Because the FCDA’s interests are adequately represented by the State, and as the office was ‘wholly disqualified,’ the motion to intervene is denied,” McAfee wrote.

Although Willis has been barred from participating, Fulton County will be allowed to enter the dispute. The judge reached a different conclusion regarding the county as a corporate entity, noting that because it provides the “overwhelming source of funding” for the district attorney’s office, the “financial buck” for the $16.8 million demand would likely fall to the county.

“Novelty abounds,” McAfee wrote, adding that the court must now navigate largely uncharted procedural territory to determine whether the $16.8 million in requested fees, spanning 14 different defendants, is reasonable.

The Georgia election interference case against Trump and several co-defendants, first brought as a sweeping racketeering indictment in August 2023, has now reached “judicial finality” after its dismissal in late 2025. The prosecution collapsed following a series of appeals, disqualifications, and jurisdictional challenges after Trump’s re-election.

The case ultimately unraveled after Willis was removed over an “appearance of impropriety” tied to her relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. Although the matter was briefly transferred to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, special prosecutor Peter Skandalakis later dropped all charges, citing the interests of justice and the legal immunity of a sitting president.

T.I., Killer Mike, bankhead, seafood, business

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 10, 2026

Hip-Hop Community Pushes Supreme Court To End Practice Of Using Rap Lyrics To Justify Death Penalty Warrants

The “Michael” artist argued the jury may have been encouraged by prosecutors to confuse creative expression with real life.

A coalition of hip-hop artists and advocates is calling on the U.S. Supreme Court not to include violent rap lyrics as evidence in a case against a Black man from Texas who was given a death sentence by a majority-white jury, The New York Times reported.

Prominent figures in the hip-hop community, including rappers Killer Mike, T.I., Young Thug, Fat Joe, and N.O.R.E., spoke on behalf of James Broadnax, also a rap artist, who is scheduled to be executed on April 30 in Dallas County. The artists argued that Broadnax deserved life with no parole, over the death penalty, for two 2008 murders; and claimed that prosecutors introducing the lyrics as evidence created a racial stereotype that turns artistic expression, particularly used by minority artists, into a death warrant.

As justices may not understand the parameters of the musical genre and its culture, the coalition decided to help them out. “Tales of violence, sex and criminal behavior sell to a broad swath of Americans — and any would-be gangsta rapper must learn and practice these conventions of the form,” one of the briefs read, while arguing other genres like country music don’t get the same grief.

Killer Mike, also known for his outspoken political commentary, touched on lyrics from artists like Johnny Cash, whose music once projected that he shot a man in Reno just to watch him die. The famous lyrics of reggae artist Bob Marley were also used, saying no one believed he “shot the sheriff.” “No matter how beautiful it sounds, or how horrific it may sound, it’s still just art,” Mike, whose real name is Michael Santiago Render, said.

“It’s an interpretation of the human spirit. It is not an admission of guilt.”

The “Michael” artist argued the jury may have been encouraged by prosecutors to confuse creative expression with real life. And lead counsel Chad Baruch of Johnston Tobey Baruch seems to agree.

According to The Washington Times, in a brief, Baruch feels that treating hip-hop lyrics as literal evidence of future violence encourages jurors to decide death penalty cases based on fear and stereotypes over the law. He also claims that, without the presence of the lyrics during the guilt/innocence phase of the trial, the state failed to have legal relevance to the underlying charges.

Broadnax was convicted of killing two white men, Matthew Butler and Stephen Swan, in 2009 during a 2008 robbery in Garland, Texas. The lyrics, which prosecutors claim had a general theme of “robbing, killing and selling dope,” were introduced after the conviction during a separate proceeding that decided if he should face the death penalty.

In order to guarantee a death sentence, prosecutors must persuade the jury that the defendant is a heightened threat to society who may commit more violent acts under Texas law.

Astroworld rapper Travis Scott also submitted a brief in favor of Broadnax, saying that rap music is protected by the First Amendment, and called the ruling unconstitutional. He argued that criminalizing the genre is an infringement on his rights, and that the high court should “clarify the constitutional limits” of using “protected artistic expression as evidence of criminal propensity.”

Mike seemingly agrees, highlighting how, at a young age, he also wrote silly or incriminating lyrics. He believes Broadnax should go to jail, but the death sentence is a step too far. “I said a bunch of stuff that I thought was hard-core, that I thought would sound badass, and for those times it did,” he said, being grateful he was never held against them.

“I just don’t trust an environment where we allow art to bleed into the sentencing phase.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 10, 2026

Hip-Hop’s Latest Billionaire, Dr. Dre, Sells Malibu Beach House For $16.5M

He bought the home for $4.75 million in 2000.

After Dr. Dre originally listed his Malibu mansion in 2022 for $20 million, the legendary music producer has finally sold the property for $16.5 million.

According to Malibu Today, the house in Malibu Beach has been sold, but the buyer has not been identified. The house was on the market for four years and was sold off-market recently. The property is a 6-bedroom, 7-bathroom home with luxury amenities, including a gym, fireplaces, walk-in closets, spa-style bathrooms, and a recording studio.

The house sits on a 7,000-square-foot lot along the Pacific Coast Highway.

In 2020, Mansion Global reported that the producer and his former wife, Nicole Young, occupied the three-story house for 22 years. The home was bought in October 2000 for $4.75 million. Dr. Dre, born Andre Young, had originally tried to sell the property in 2011 for $11 million, then increased the price to $12.5 million. The home was taken off the market in 2012.

According to Architectural Design, Dre’s former wife stayed at the mansion after she filed for divorce from the Beats by Dre co-founder and lived there until the divorce was finalized in December 2021. She was awarded $100 million and four vehicles, while Dre was allowed to keep all of his other properties.

More good news for Dr. Dre as Forbes just announced that he is one of the latest billionaires revealed this year. This revelation takes place four years after he narrowly missed making the list in 2022.

The producer and his Beats by Dre partner, Jimmy Iovine, were in discussions to sell the company to Apple. Before the deal was done, when the initial agreement would have made Dre the first hip-hop billionaire, R&B singer Tyrese, along with Dre, boasted on social media about Dre becoming a billionaire, reportedly thwarting the plan with his filmed outburst.

Apple CEO Tim Cook found out about the boast, and instead of getting upset and killing the deal, he made a move specifically to prevent Dre from achieving that billionaire status. Cook insisted the price go down just enough where it wouldn’t make Dre a billionaire, which was a $200,000,000 price reduction. Apple bought Beats by Dre for $3.2 billion instead.

Forbes now lists Dre’s worth as $1 billion.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 10, 2026

Does Stephen A. Smith Have A 2028 Presidency Plan?

The sportscaster confirmed his plans.

After “teasing” people by saying that he may run for president in the 2028 election, and after going back and forth with whether he’d seriously run, sportscaster Stephen A. Smith recently revealed that he won’t pursue the office.

The controversial sports analyst, who has seemingly leaned more towards Republican views in recent years, appeared on Fox News‘ new podcast, Hang Out with Sean Hannity. Smith was the first guest of the new show, and after Hannity questioned his presidential aspirations, Smith confirmed that “it’s not happening.”

“Let me put the presidential aspirations to bed. If I have to give up my money, it’s not happening,” Smith said on the podcast.

Now that he claims he won’t be running for the highest political office in the land, Smith was asked for his choices if he had to get behind a candidate for the presidency. Surprisingly, his selection was the current Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, according to Fox News.

The registered Democrat admited that he would cross the aisle and back Rubio, stating that the politician, especially in the current Trump administration, is the adult in the room.

“He’s an adult in the room. There is no questioning his qualifications for the job,” Smith told Hannity.

He also mentioned two other potential candidates for the office, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, as others he would consider for the position. He favored the two men over some Democrats who may run for the office in 2028, including two of Trump’s biggest foes, California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Smith has been one of the most controversial commentators and has spoken more on topics outside the realm of sports in recent years, including launching a SiriusXM program titled Straight Shooter with Stephen A.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 10, 2026

Artist Redraws Wunmi Mosaku, Says The New Yorker Illustration Failed To Capture Her Essence

The New Yorker is facing backlash over its illustration of "Sinners" star Wunmi Mosaku.

The New Yorker is facing backlash over an illustration it published of Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku, with one artist arguing the image was “obviously not intended to represent her well.” The outlet drew criticism on March 8 after publishing a feature profile on the Oscar-nominated actress that included an illustration of Mosaku created by artist João Fazenda.

“Before ‘Sinners,’ Wunmi Mosaku knew ‘nothing about hoodoo.” While researching the role, she learned that hoodoo is connected to Ifá, the traditional Yoruba spirituality system,” The New Yorker wrote in its post.

Before “Sinners,” Wunmi Mosaku knew “nothing about hoodoo.” While researching the role, she learned that hoodoo is connected to Ifá, the traditional Yoruba spirituality system. https://t.co/oHaCtLgXMz
— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) March 8, 2026

However, the post’s comments were quickly flooded with criticism, as many users said the illustration “doesn’t look like Wunmi Mosaku,” among other frustrations.

“Why would @NewYorker choose to represent one of the most beautiful women in the world in such a disrespectful manner?” one X user wrote. “This is a hugely disappointing decision with systemic racism at the core. Hire more Black people and LISTEN TO THEM!”

“João Fazenda, you will pay for your crimes against Ms. Mosaku because who the hell is that supposed to be??!” added another.

One artist even took matters into their own hands, sharing a now-viral tweet featuring a reimagined version of the illustration while criticizing The New Yorker for using a reference image that was “obviously not intended to represent her well.”

Apparently, The New Yorker ran a story with an illustration of Wunmi Mosaku that was obviously not intended to represent her well, so I redid it real quick in a similar style. Took 15 minutes & a love of Black women ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Tfy1TTT0yo
— I appreciate you. (@DeeLaSheeArt) March 9, 2026

Mosaku’s illustration has reignited long-standing debates and frustrations about how Black women are depicted in mainstream media. Similar conversations emerged in 2018 when Australian cartoonist Mark Knight illustrated tennis legend Serena Williams as an exaggeratedly aggressive figure smashing her racket following her loss at the 2018 US Open. Critics argued that the cartoon went beyond exaggerating Williams’ emotions, placing her within a long history of caricatures portraying Black women as physically exaggerated or aggressive.

This also isn’t the first time The New Yorker has faced backlash over its depictions of Black public figures. In 2008, the magazine came under fire for a cover illustration depicting Michelle Obama with an afro, holding a machine gun, and fist-bumping a turban-clad Barack Obama. Though the magazine framed the image as satire tied to coverage of Obama’s political rise, the campaign condemned the cover as “tasteless and offensive.”

Debates about representation have also surfaced in discussions about how Black women are photographed, edited, and visually framed in media. With award season in full swing and in the wake of the recent N-word controversy at the BAFTA Awards, public scrutiny around how the Sinners cast is portrayed appears stronger than ever.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 10, 2026

Catch A Ride In Comfort: New Women-Only Uber Feature Launches Across U.S.

The feature will help combat the ongoing issue of sexual assault reports for the ride-sharing company.

The latest rollout from Uber is not a self-driving car, but a women-only one.

The women-only drive is a new feature from the ride-sharing company. It allows both women riders and drivers to match with one another in this expansion of the pilot program. According to ABC News, the features will aim to address safety concerns from women Uber riders and drivers.

Uber shared the news of the nationwide rollout in a new blog post, announcing its timely launch for International Women’s Day.

“When women riders and drivers told us they wanted more control over how they ride and earn, we listened. That feedback led to Women’s Preferences, features designed to give women the choice to ride with other women. Since our first pilots last summer, we’ve heard just how much that choice matters—from feeling more comfortable in the back seat to more confident behind the wheel,” shared Uber in the March 9. post.

Now, women in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. can request a female driver whenever they order a trip. If the wait time feels too long, riders can select another ride if they see fit. This feature also works for scheduled rides, allowing women to reserve a trip in advance that fits their needs.

Moreover, the app’s female users can set their preference for women-only rides moving forward. Similar benefits also extend to drivers as well, with female contractors prioritizing requests from women riders. Families can also opt in to this feature for teen accounts.

The expansion came following a successful pilot program, first prompted by Saudi women gaining the right to drive in 2019. The global initiative for women-only rides revealed widespread appeal for the gender-empowering venture, helping curb violence while allowing women to experience Uber at their highest comfort level.

The safety update is especially relevant, given the thousands of sexual assault reports over the years. Uber and other ride-sharing apps, such as Lyft, faced criticism for their handling of these sexual assault cases, leading to new measures to combat this ongoing issue.

However, the news of its official launch comes on the heels of legal opposition. Male Uber drivers in California filed a class action lawsuit over the gender-based matter, stating that the feature discriminates against male drivers. Despite the legal concerns, Uber remains adamant that the Women’s Preferences is a “common sense solution” to help women customers feel at ease while on the road.

“This feature is a common-sense solution to a long-standing request from both women Drivers and Riders who told Uber they would feel more comfortable and safer if they could choose to ride with another woman,” the company said in the court filing.

The growth of women behind the wheel at Uber, which claims one-fifth of its contracted workers identify as female, also led to this pilot program becoming a nationwide reality. With this step toward safety, women across most U.S. cities and 40 other countries will have access to the Women’s Preferences feature.