by Jameelah Mullen

July 24, 2025

Ralph Lauren Partners With HBCUs To Honor Historic Black Community Through Fashion

The collection showcases stylish pieces branded with Morehouse and Spelman logos.

As part of its partnership with Spelman and Morehouse, Polo Ralph Lauren has introduced its Polo for Oak Bluffs collection, a new limited-edition line dedicated to the Oak Bluffs community, a predominantly Black neighborhood in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

The community has been a summertime haven for affluent Black families for over 100 years.

The Spelman- and Morehouse-logoed garb features men’s, women’s, and children’s wear. It includes baseball caps, knits, jackets, sweaters, and accessories that showcase the casual, chic style of Oak Bluffs culture at these renowned HBCUs. Standout items include a maroon-and-white varsity jacket with Morehouse’s mascot, the Maroon Tiger, on the back. For Spelman, there is an ivory and light blue patchwork cardigan with the Spelman Jaguar on the front left pocket.

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A post shared by Polo Ralph Lauren (@poloralphlauren)

“This collection is about more than a charming coastal town; it’s a story of the American dream. Oak Bluffs’ unique history, traditions, and sense of community deeply inspire me and speak to what we are all searching for—a place where you can be free to be yourself, uncontrived, joyful, and truly at home,” Ralph Lauren, executive chairman and chief creative officer of Ralph Lauren Corporation, said in a statement.

The campaign for the collection, directed by Cole Brown and filmed by Nadine Ijewere and Azariah Bjørvig, features archival images and stories from historians, Oak Bluffs residents, community historians, and HBCU alumni.

Additionally, a full-length documentary, A Portrait of the American Dream: Oak Bluffs, will premiere on YouTube on Thursday, July 24.

Polo for Ralph Lauren first partnered with the prominent HBCUs in 2022 to create the Polo Ralph Lauren Exclusively for Morehouse and Spelman Colleges Collection, aimed at honoring the HBCU campus lifestyle.

The Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs collection is available for purchase now at the Morehouse College Follett campus bookstores, on the Ralph Lauren website, and in select retail stores.

Joe bidden — photo credit: TehGuy, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 24, 2025

Joe Budden Reveals $1M+ Monthly Podcast Revenue To Push For Creator Equity

'Now everybody's asked for a raise,' Budden joked.

Joe Budden is opening up about his podcast network’s $1 million-plus monthly revenue from ads and listeners to encourage creators to stay independent unless equity is on the table.

Last month, the rapper-turned-podcaster flexed on social media, posting a Patreon traffic screenshot showing how the subscription platform, where fans pay creators directly, can often out-earn big brand deals. Although Budden blurred the numbers on his Patreon screenshot, internet sleuths pieced it together and estimated the monthly haul at over $900,000.

Joe Budden is allegedly making $900,000 a month on Patreon. He leaked his earnings and tried black out the numbers but the internet removed all them shits lol
NASTY WORK pic.twitter.com/Dw09oZO3hZ
— Dark Dred | $22 Psychic Gematria Readings!!!!!!!!! (@darkvdred) June 24, 2025

After revealing his network pulls 30 million visits a month, Budden later confirmed to The New York Times that the Joe Budden Network brings in about $1.04 million monthly on Patreon. With roughly 70,000 subscribers paying between $5 and $50 each month, and more if you factor in paid advertisements, CEO Ian Schwartzman says the network is on track to clear over $20 million this year.

“Joe is in a league of his own,” said Jack Conte, chief executive of Patreon. “It is not common for people to make a million dollars a month on Patreon.”

Since 2016, Joe Budden has been all-in on the podcast grind. He’s worked with Spotify, turned down deals that wanted a cut of his ownership, and kept full control of what he built. Now, with The Joe Budden Podcast pulling in a steady $1 million a month from subscribers, he’s hoping his journey inspires other creators to bet on themselves.

While revealing the revenue numbers can be “uncomfortable to put any money situation out there for the public and competitors to see,” Schwartzman said. The goal is to promote equity in the podcast game because “How else will they know they can do it this way?” Schwartzman added.

Joe Budden was making $2million a year at Spotify.

Then turned a 2 year $44million deal because he didn’t want to give up ownership.

He now independently makes $1 million a month just from Patreon – not including youtube, sponsorships and other revenue streams pic.twitter.com/lwbTRRNG90
— SpotlightFirst (@SpotlightFirst_) July 22, 2025

Even with Budden shelling out over $1 million to pay his 30-person podcast team, his decision to share the show’s earnings online has his crew calling for their own slice.

“Now everybody’s asked for a raise,” Budden joked.

It’s proof of how far Budden’s grind has taken him, from his Complex days on Everyday Struggle, where he joked about being “on allowance,” pulling in just $500 a week. Even while working with Complex and later signing a two-year exclusive deal with Spotify, Budden kept building his podcast independently, turning down partnership offers that demanded ownership, YouTube takedowns, and control over the platform he built from the ground up.

“The bigger the money gets, the more strings that are attached,” Schwartzman said. “We wanted someone to acknowledge how valuable we were by showing that they would be comfortable giving us skin in the game.”

Next, Budden is locking down his podcast HQ for good, dropping around $2 million to buy the Edgewater, New Jersey, waterfront condo where The Joe Budden Podcast is filmed and recorded. He currently rents the space, but after ongoing complaints from neighbors about his crew, he’s locking up the space.

Howard University, hospital, trauma — (Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 24, 2025

Howard University Students Face Financial Strife After HBCU Changes Student Payment Platform

The students found themselves owing thousands more than usual due to a new account platform switch.

While many Howard students are planning for their final year at the renowned HBCU, some are now facing an unexpected and expensive bill.

The school has transitioned over to a new payment platform for students called Bison Hub. However, this new software has left some with a considerable amount of money to pay before they can register for classes.

Typically, for HBCUs, any student with a financial hold on their account cannot register for the next semester until the hold is paid. One student told NBC Washington how she woke up with what looked like an entire year’s tuition weighing on her account.

“Right now, it says I owe that $57,540-something, like I owe the whole thing,” explained Howard scholar Alissa Jones. “If you have any type of hold, you cannot register for class, but with these, obsessive amounts of money that they’re saying we owe, it’s almost like, that’s not one semester’s worth of tuition, at all. That money has been there, but where? And why are we just now finding out about it?”

With only a few classes left to take at Howard, Jones has had scholarships to support her journey financially. She told the news outlet that her bills to the institution never totaled more than $15,000 a year, which is vastly different from the over $50K currently shown.

Jones believes around 1,000 students now have unexpected past-due balances with seemingly nowhere to turn. Another co-ed dealing with this issue, Kimora Hughes, said the school’s Office of Financial Aid has not thoroughly communicated the changes to students.

“It’s just been extremely stressful, one, because I feel like the people in our offices are not communicating amongst each other,” explained Hughes.

She and her family opted to take out a loan to cover the new difference. However, school officials told her that they never received it.

“There’s no way Howard never received this, but I have the email of the loan being approved,” she continued.

Some students have also been impacted by outside political changes, such as Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill’s new limits on Parent PLUS loans have left some potential and current students looking to their community to help alleviate the newfound cost of attendance.

School policy reportedly states that students must fulfill the balance or enroll in a payment plan. However, the lack of communication with financial aid officers has left many uncertain of where to go next.

The school released a statement, also confirming that some student accounts faced delays over the platform transition. The statement also emphasized that the school awarded over $210 million in aid during the past year.

Tory Lanez, pardon petition, gov. Gavin newsom — Photo: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for BMI; Public Domain

by Kandiss Edwards

July 24, 2025

Tory Lanez Fans Implore Governor To Grant Convicted Rapper Clemency

Tory Lanez fans, including Drake, are sharing a change.org petition asking California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon the felon.

Fans of rapper Tory Lanez want California Governor Gavin Newsom to pardon him for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.

The Caldwell Institute for Public Safety launched the Change.org petition, which has received over 322,000 signatures. In an open letter to Newsom, founder Gianno Caldwell references Martin Luther King, calling the verdict a “threat to justice.”

Lanez advocates argue that the conviction does not hold up. Claims of “prosecutorial misconduct, missing forensic data, and politically motivated sentencing,” by The Caldwell Institute and Lanez’s attorneys, have spurred the calls for clemency.

At a press conference, an attorney for Lanez, Walter Roberts, reasserted the rapper’s innocence. “[Lanez] never shot anybody. Never even touched the gun,” Roberts said.

The change.org petition has also garnered support from celebrities. Most recently, in an Instagram post, Drake wrote a simple message and shared the petition to his 142 million followers.

“@torylanez come home soon,” the Instagram story read.

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A post shared by Complex Music (@complexmusic)

Supporters claim Lanez’s life is in danger in prison. Multiple media outlets reported that he suffered a collapsed lung as a result of receiving 14 stab wounds in a prison altercation.

The calls for Lanez’s release even came from Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who reached out to Newsom directly via X.

“His 10-year sentence was based on flawed evidence, political pressure, and prosecutorial bias. Justice must be blind—not driven by headlines,” Luna captioned her X post.

https://twitter.com/SaycheeseDGTL/status/1924558016398987676

Conversely, Megan Thee Stallion has publicly disputed claims that Lanez is innocent. “Lanez was convicted by a jury, and the case is closed,” her attorney, Alex Spiro, said.

If Tory Lanez is denied clemency, the convicted felon will be eligible for parole in 2029.

Former NFL Players Association Leader Used Union Funds For Meeting At Magic City Strip Club — Photo by Tetra Images/Getty images

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 24, 2025

Former NFL Players Association Leader Used Union Funds For Meeting At Magic City Strip Club

The former executive director spent thousands of the union's dollars for the strip club excursion.

The former executive director of the NFL Players Association was reportedly swiping the company card for salacious meetings at Magic City, a famed Atlanta strip club.

ESPN reported that NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. used the union’s own funds to pay for him and two other employee’s visit to Magic City. According to the report, Howell did so Feb. 21, the time of the NFLPA summit.

The rendezvous to the strip club cost the union a couple thousand dollars, $2,426 to be exact, as the three NFLPA employees did not spare expenses while at the adult entertainment hotspot. However, the investigation discovered that this was not Howell’s first time using union dollars to fund the unusual team-bonding activity. He reportedly also visited another famous strip club in Miami, Tootsie’s, in 2023.

Amid this and additional legal controversies, Howell announced his resignation from the role. Howell’s other roles, specifically his part-time consulting job with the Carlyle Group, sparked concern as the company can seek minority ownership in NFL franchises.

While emphasizing his deep care for the NFLPA’s mission, he decided to step down to not distract from the cause.

“Two years ago, I accepted the role of Executive Director of the NFLPA because I believe deeply in the mission of this union and the power of collective action to drive positive change for the players of America’s most popular sport,” Howell said in a statement released July 17. “Our members deserve a union that will fight relentlessly for their health, safety, financial futures, and long-term well-being. My priority has been to lead that fight by serving this union with focus and dedication.”

Howell also drew backlash after the recent discovery of a confidentiality agreement between the NFLPA and the league. The agreement confirmed both parties’ silence on an arbitrator’s ruling of possible collusion by owners regarding quarterback salaries.

As NFLPA player representatives also discussed their lack of awareness of Howell’s own history, including a 2011 lawsuit for sexual discrimination and retaliation at a previous role.

“I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish at the NFLPA over the past two years,” added Howell. “I will be rooting for the players from the sidelines as loud as ever, and I know the NFLPA will continue to ensure that players remain firmly at the center of football’s future.”

Pharrell, Drapetomaniax — Pharrell Williams in 2023 (Photo: Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 24, 2025

Pharrell Williams’ Joopiter Features First Luxury Watch Auction

'The Art of Time: Rare & Coveted Watches' will be accepting bids until July 29.

Pharrell Williams’ auction site, Joopiter, has unveiled its latest collection, “The Art of Time: Rare & Coveted Watches.”

According to GQ, the collection of luxury timepieces, which started accepting bids on July 17, will be open until July 29. The auction includes pieces from Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Franck Muller, and Hermès.

Of course, there’s a preview of the auction on social media.

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A post shared by JOOPITER (@joopiterofficial)

In March, Joopiter produced “On Another Planet: The Collection of Kid Cudi.” The auction featured 75 items chosen by the rapper himself. The items purchased reportedly generated $857,439, with a custom Jacob & Co. 14-karat N.E.R.D. pendant bringing in $243,750, making it the highest-priced item at the auction.

In June, the site went in a different (but still high-end) direction, auctioning a 1986-87 Fleer autographed rookie card of Michael Jordan, who then played for the Chicago Bulls. The hoops legend’s card sold for $2.5 million.

Now, the site is on to watches.

“Our first watch auction is a natural evolution, driven by the enthusiasm of our international collectors and our commitment to curating what’s truly exceptional,” Caitlin Donovan, Joopiter’s global head of sale, explained to GQ. “We’re excited to bring JOOPITER’s distinct perspective into the world of watch collecting.”

If you’re going to bid on any of the 27 watches, you better have some breathing room in your checking account.

The timepieces available range in starting bids from $3,000 for a Blancpain Villeret Split Second Chronograph Ref. 1186 “Soleil Blue” (expected to be sold at a price between $10,000 to $20,000) to a $290,000 bid for a Patek Philippe Celestial Ref. 6104R-001 (expected to be auctioned off for $300,000 to $600,000).

United Negro College Fund, UNCF — (Photo: UNCF)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 24, 2025

Former HBCU President Joins UNCF As Newest Leadership Appointment

The "Hip Hop Prez" will bring his expertise on Black greek life and former leadership history to the role.

A former HBCU president is taking his leadership talents to the United Negro College Fund in its latest appointment.

The UNCF will bring in Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough as its new executive vice president of Research & Member Engagement. Kimbrough expects to utilize his extensive expertise in Black collegiate tradition and his previous work experience at HBCUs in the role. The self-proclaimed “Hip Hop Prez” also announced the exciting news on social media.

Been waiting for a yes out there with my name on it.

Found it.

https://t.co/k78d625QR0
— Walter M. Kimbrough (@HipHopPrez) July 19, 2025

“Been waiting for a yes out there with my name on it,” wrote the academic, seemingly referencing his quest for a new, fulfilling role. “Found it.”

While also a top scholar on Black fraternities and sororities, Kimbrough previously worked at several historically black institutions, holding leadership roles at Dillard University and Philander Smith University. Before joining the UNCF, he served as interim president of Talladega College.

Now, Kimbrough will work directly with the Office of the President, led by Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO of the UNCF. Lomax also told UNCF staffers that Kimbrough was chosen to become a “transformational” force within the organization.

“Dr. Kimbrough’s appointment is the culmination of our lengthy search for a transformational leader,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax of the hiring decision, according to Diverse Education.

Kimbrough will oversee four major UNCF initiatives as he begins his tenure. The programs all focus on deeper engagement while working with their 37-member institutions.

This includes the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute (FDPRI), which provides critical data and analysis on HBCUs and their place in academia. Other initiatives include the Institute for Capacity Building (ICB), which establishes Kimbrough as a lead consultant to these member schools, and the HBCUv Digital Learning Solution, which enhances online learning capabilities for students. These programs will also be accompanied by others in development that serve Black youth throughout the K-12 education pipeline.

As a former HBCU president himself, Kimbrough also understands the challenges these leaders face. Now, he will advise them through UNCF as they further their institutions for a stronger future.

“I have had the great honor to serve four UNCF member institutions, three as president, and for over 20 years, I benefited from the advocacy and support of UNCF,” Kimbrough told Diverse Education. “This position allows me to pour back into UNCF, its member institutions, and students.”

Sabrina Lamb, investing app — Courtesy of Sabrina Lamb

by Black Enterprise

July 24, 2025

Introducing The First Black Woman-Owned Investing App That Offers Multilingual Financial Education

Sabrina Lamb is the founder and CEO of Wekeza

Meet Sabrina Lamb, the founder and CEO of Wekeza, the first Black woman-owned global investing app that delivers multilingual financial education and access to U.S. stocks—starting at just $1—serving individuals, families, schools, and cities across the African Diaspora. With the launch of this app, Sabrina, an NAACP Image Award-nominated author, is breaking barriers in financial education and investing.

Breaking Language Barriers, Building Wealth

Wekeza, a Techstars-backed fintech, offers financial education in English, French, Swahili, Hausa, Wolof, Zulu, and Haitian Creole, empowering members to invest in U.S. publicly traded companies through fractional and whole shares.

“We learn to invest better when education speaks our language and honors our culture,” says Sabrina. “Wekeza connects deeply with the African Diaspora experience, breaking down barriers to generational wealth.”

Building on Lamb’s award-winning nonprofit WorldofMoney.org, which has financially educated over 50,000 children globally, Wekeza expands access to investing for adults. “I never thought investing was an option for my family,” said Fritz Celestin of Brooklyn, New York. “But with Wekeza, we’re finally making confident financial decisions about our future together.”

Tackling the Racial Wealth Gap

According to the Survey of Consumer Finances, the median net worth of Black households was roughly 15% of that of white households through 2022, around $44,900 compared to $285,000. Wekeza addresses this persistent global disparity through culturally grounded education, accessible investment tools, and licensed financial professionals.

Founder Recognition and Partnerships

Sabrina Lamb, a NAACP-nominated best-selling author of Do I Look Like An ATM?, has presided over NASDAQ, testified before Congress, and was a Pharrell Williams Black Ambition Prize finalist. Wekeza partners with Mastercard, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and the Opportunity Project in Tulsa, OK, to strengthen financial access and inclusion.

Download the app from Google Play and Apple’s App Store now to join the global community and start building generational wealth.

UBER, airports, air taxis, Joby, Blade — (Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

July 24, 2025

Ladies First! Uber To Test ‘Women Preferences’ Options For Drivers And Riders in U.S.

"Women Preferences" allows women the opportunity to choose between men and women passengers and drivers in Uber settings, if available.

This fall, Uber will launch a pilot program that enables women to request female drivers.

“Women Preferences,” which will roll out in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit, allows passengers to select the gender of their riders. Conversely, women drivers will be allowed to choose only women customers.

To access the setting, women customers will see “Women Drivers” as a settings option. While the setting does not guarantee a match with a female driver, it increases the chances. If women drivers are unavailable, a standard ride will arrive. Women drivers can also choose the “Women Rider Preference” to accept customer requests from women only.

“Across the U.S., women riders and drivers have told us they want the option to be matched with other women on trips,” Uber said in a statement. “We’ve heard them — and now we’re introducing new ways to give them even more control over how they ride and drive.”

https://twitter.com/Uber/status/1948006766639272358

The program has already been implemented Germany and France. The company introduced similar tools in Saudi Arabia in 2019, following the legalization of women’s driving rights. Since then, Women’s Preferences has expanded to more than 40 countries. 

Uber is currently in legal proceedings due to multiple sexual assaults reported by its employees. The 2021–2022 Uber safety report detailed 2,717 serious sexual assault or misconduct incidents. As a result, numerous previous customers are suing the company.

According to Reuters, the lawsuit claims the app did not include “a feature to match passengers with drivers of the same gender.”

Consumer advocates view the feature as a step forward, as only women assigned female in the app are eligible to participate. The feature does not account for nonbinary riders. However, in 2023, Lyft launched its Women+ Connect feature, which supports both women and nonbinary riders and drivers. 

Additionally, Uber offers other tools to increase safety for all customers, including encrypted audio recordings, RideCheck alerts, trip sharing and 24/7 in-app support. 

As the pilot rolls out, the company will monitor usage and wait times to determine if the program is successful and ready for a nationwide rollout.

Bobby Wagner, howard, masters — photo credit: Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 24, 2025

NFL Player Bobby Wagner Becomes Part-Owner Of WNBA’s Seattle Storm

'It’s an honor to join the Seattle Storm ownership group and support a franchise that has consistently set the standard in women’s professional sports,' said Wagner.

NFL linebacker Bobby Wagner has recently signed on to become part of the WNBA‘s Seattle Storm’s ownership group.

The franchise announced on July 23 that the Super Bowl XLVIII Champion will join the team’s ownership group. Wagner was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2012 and played with the franchise until 2021.

We’re proud to announce that Bobby Wagner is joining the Seattle Storm ownership group!

A Super Bowl champion and All-Pro linebacker, @Bwagz will become the first active NFL player to have equity in a WNBA team.

📰 https://t.co/szpy4qpbNh pic.twitter.com/7B6yXI8rvS

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) July 23, 2025

“It’s an honor to join the Seattle Storm ownership group and support a franchise that has consistently set the standard in women’s professional sports,” said Wagner in a written statement. “This is about more than basketball; it’s about investing in a legacy of excellence, empowering women, and continuing to elevate the game for future generations.”

The Storm has won four championships while making 19 playoff appearances in the 25 years that the team has been in the WNBA. Last year, the ownership group opened a $64 million training facility, BECU Storm Center for Basketball Performance, dedicated to the Storm’s vision for the future of women’s basketball. They were ranked as the league’s third most valuable team in the WNBA.

The team’s co-owner, Lisa Brummel, welcomed Warner to the ownership group.

“Bobby is a hometown hero who has had an immeasurable impact on the Seattle community,” said Brummel. “He shares our desire to grow the game and knows the value and importance of investing in women’s sports. As we continue to build on the incredible legacy of the Storm franchise, we are excited to add Bobby’s experience and expertise to the mix.”

Wagner now plays for the Washington Commanders after stints with the Los Angeles Rams (2022) and a return to the Seahawks in 2023.

He was a second-round pick by the Seahawks and holds three of the team’s records for most tackles in a single season, and leads all active players in total tackles. Wagner has been to 10 Pro Bowls and named to 11 All-Pro teams.

The Storm has a winning record of 14-10 after losing the last game it played against the Dallas Wings, 87-63.