Joe bidden
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 26, 2025

Joe Budden Sued By Neighbors Who Caught Him Sleep Walking Naked, Want His Podcast Banned From Building

Joe Budden is being sued by his neighbors upset over his podcast and the nude sleepwalking incident.

Joe Budden is being sued by the same neighbors who caught him approaching their front door butt-naked.

The rapper and podcast host has been named in a lawsuit filed by his neighbors, John and Yuliya Aksoy, who accuse Budden, his co-host Melyssa Ford, and the condo association of launching a “campaign of intimidation and retribution” after the Aksoys complained about him recording his podcast in the building, TMZ reports.

According to a complaint filed by attorney Thomas Mirigliano on behalf of the Aksoys, Budden has been a nuisance at the property by recording his popular podcast on-site. The Aksoys allege that excessive noise from the podcast, along with weed smoke lingering in the condo’s common areas and leftover ashes, is creating a hazardous health situation for their young daughter.

The couple alleges that after filing a complaint with the condo association, Budden retaliated by accusing them of racism. He claimed to have recordings proving the alleged racism but never produced them when asked.

The lawsuit cites an Oct. 19, 2024, podcast episode in which Budden reportedly played loud music with simulated gunshots and sirens for over eight minutes. The Aksoys also accuse him of making negative remarks about them on his podcast, particularly Yuliya.

The lawsuit also references a Ring camera recording from December 2024, allegedly showing Budden approaching their door in the nude. While Budden later addressed the incident on his podcast, claiming he was sleepwalking, the Aksoys argue that he merely joked about it and dismissed their concerns.

As a result of the incident, Budden was temporarily barred from the building. However, he eventually returned, as did his podcast recordings at the property. His attorney, Nima Ameri, dismissed the lawsuit as “a money grab attempt by a person we believe to be a racist.”

In the meantime, Budden continues to record his podcast in the building as he navigates the legal dispute with his neighbors.

RELATED CONTENT: Joe Budden Admits ‘I Didn’t Handle Myself Well’ When Jay-Z Became President Of Def Jam

experian
by Sharelle B. McNair

March 26, 2025

Experian Launches Cashflow Score Solution To Increase Financial Access To ‘Credit Invisible’ Lenders 

The tool launch timing is appropriate during a time when low credit score carrying borrowers have trouble improving their credit standing.

Consumer credit reporting company Experian announced a new resource called Cashflow Score to assist in heightening financial access to people with limited credit history, Pymnts reported. 

Experian’s financial and marketing service group president, Scott Brown, said the company feels augmented cash flow insights will ultimately bring in more consumers and help them develop decisions. The target of the new platform is to give lenders a better understanding of applicants’ financial behavior in hopes of helping “credit invisible” — or people with little to no credit history — improve their financial access by only using data from a bank account. “We believe in a future where the power of credit data can be augmented with cashflow insights to enhance decisions and ultimately bring more consumers — including those who are traditionally underserved — into the financial ecosystem,” Brown said. 

“We’re committed to leveraging our decades of data and analytics experience to deliver innovative and easy-to-use open-banking solutions to the industry while creating new opportunities for consumers.”

Experian describes its new solution as a way to leverage consumer-permissioned transaction data that clients provide, as data shows lenders are seemingly reluctant to provide credit to consumers who are “thin file or credit invisible consumers.”  A press release from Business Wire showcased how Cashflow Score works, starting with Experian being a technical service provider on behalf of clients, then helping to categorize the transaction data, and then calculating attributes that are used to come up with the score. 

Finally, the scores — ranging from 300 to 850 — are sent back to the lender and can be utilized to make decisions on things like credit cards, personal loans, or auto loans, catering to close to 20% of Americans not having conventional credit scores. 

The tool launch timing is appropriate during a time when low credit score-carrying borrowers have trouble improving their credit standing. “Leveraging these insights can help lenders make more informed decisions, particularly for thin file and credit invisible consumers who have a bank account,” the company said. 

Research found that 29% of subprime consumers who applied were denied a credit card, in comparison to 12% of super-prime consumers. In addition, subprime consumers have been trying and are willing to identify new ways to improve their credit. “The attack is two-pronged, where these same consumers are using the credit they do have to manage how they pay for essential goods and services, and satisfy those obligations,” a Pymnts report read. 

Experian’s Cashflow Score is the latest solution to validate expert data science and to guarantee accuracy and reliability.

RELATED CONTENT: EXPERIAN ENLISTS FLAU’JAE JOHNSON IN LOUISIANA $5M CONSUMER DEBT CAMPAIGN

chicago sky
by Stacy Jackson

March 26, 2025

Chicago Sky Welcomes Nigerian Basketball Coach Rena Wakama As Assistant Coach

Wakama is ready to coach alongside the Chicago Sky staff and serve the organization as it embarks on the 2025 season. "Let's get to work!"

After leading the Nigerian Women’s National Team to victory in the 2024 Paris Olympics, basketball coach Rena Wakama is ready to get to work in her new position as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky.

Wakama will join head coach Tyler Marsh’s staff alongside two recent additions to the assistant coaching staff, Courtney Paris and Tanisha Wright. “I am honored and thankful for Jeff and Tyler for granting me the opportunity to join the Chicago Sky family,” Wakama said in a March 24 press release by the Chicago Sky.

The Raleigh, North Carolina, native comes to the Chicago Sky ready to help bring Marsh’s vision to life on the court and serve the organization. As she looks forward to working alongside the rest of the staff, she hopes her contributions to the team will “create a brand of basketball that is not only competitive but also fun to watch.”

Marsh believes Wakama’s winning mindset and attitude will significantly impact the team’s program. “We’ve seen her success this past summer with the Nigerian National Team at the Olympics, building on an impressive winning record and extensive background in coaching and player development,” he said. Wakama’s coaching performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics this past summer awarded her the title of Best Coach by FIBA. She brings a wealth of experience to the assistant coaching position following six years as director of basketball operations for Manhattan College and a previous assistant coaching position with the Jaspers.

https://twitter.com/chicagosky/status/1904587849615225188

The Nigerian superstar sits at the forefront of a lot of historic firsts in the sport. August 2023 was a pivotal moment in her career when she made history as the first female coach ever to win the Women’s AfroBasketball title. She scored the recognition after being hired in June 2023 to lead the Nigerian Women’s National Basketball team as head coach. Additionally, Wakama has been recognized as one of the youngest head coaches in Olympic history. As a Western Carolina University player, she was named Southern Conference All-Tournament Second Team Honors and a Southern Conference Academic Team honoree three times. 

The Chicago Sky will commence its 2025 regular season on May 17. The 2025 schedule includes three pre-season games.

RELATED CONTENT: WNBA’s Chicago Sky Fires Teresa Weatherspoon After One Season

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks Opens First Franchise In South Carolina
by Nancy E Williams

March 26, 2025

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks Opens First Franchise In South Carolina

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks officially opened its first franchise location in Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia’s Five Points). Established in 2014 by West Philadelphia native Derrick Hayes, Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks began as a modest venture in a 700-square-foot gas station in Dunwoody, Georgia. Named in honor of Hayes’ late father, the eatery quickly gained acclaim for its authentic cheesesteaks, especially after a visit from Philadelphia-born actress and rapper Eve, who praised the establishment on social media. This endorsement propelled Big Dave’s into the spotlight, leading to rapid expansion.

The opening in Columbia attracted an impressive crowd to watch Hayes cut the ribbon alongside franchisees Marc Brown, Frank Williams, Dr. Kiera Brown, and Courtney Williams. Attendees included South Carolina State Senator Overture Walker, South Carolina Representative Hamilton R. Grant (who awarded the group a proclamation), and Hayes’ wife, Pinky Cole-Hayes — owner of the wildly successful Slutty Vegan restaurant chain. Last year, franchisees Brown and Williams inked a deal to bring five Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks restaurants to South Carolina.

Today, the Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks brand boasts multiple locations across Atlanta, including outlets in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and has been recognized among the “Top 10 Best Sandwiches” by World Food Champions. Hayes was also named one of Forbes’ Next 1000 Entrepreneurs to watch in 2021 and BLACK ENTERPRISE’S 40 Under 40 List in 2023 (for transforming Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks into a multimillion-dollar enterprise). Last year, the brand opened its first out-of-state corporate location in Charlotte, North Carolina.

To learn more about franchise opportunities in your area, visit their website at bigdavesfranchise.com

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Mary J. Blige, Misa Hylton
by Stacy Jackson

March 26, 2025

Mary J. Blige To Headline At Madison Square Garden For The First Time

As a Bronx native, the opportunity to headline a concert at the Madison Square Garden arena feels like "a homecoming."

It’s a dream come true for Grammy Award-winning artist Mary J. Blige as she gears up for her first-ever headlining concert at the famous Madison Square Garden in New York.

When Blige’s “For My Fans” tour stops in her hometown in April, nearly 20,000 people will fill up the sold-out arena to enjoy a setlist of iconic hits from the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul and surprise guest appearances. Headlining at the venue, which has become known as “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” is a special moment for the Bronx native, Variety reported. “This is my home,” the “Real Love” singer said.

The opportunity to perform for the crowd at Madison Square Garden “feels like a homecoming and a truly surreal moment” for the songwriter. According to the actress’ website, the “For My Fans” tour celebrates the love and gratitude she has for her life, family, friends, and fans. As she dedicates this tour to her day-one supporters, she promises a night of musical storytelling and encourages fans to host watch parties with friends to sing and dance along when she performs at the New York arena.

The 2025 “For My Fans” tour is really for the fans. Blige released a four-part “Road To Tour” series on social media and her official website so fans could follow the movement, the sound, the stage setup, and rehearsals. “I’ve been working hard to bring my fans a show that’s never been done or seen before,” she captioned a clip of episode 4 on Instagram. A photo gallery keeps followers in the loop with the various fashion ensembles the singer is hitting the stage in throughout the tour as she continues to check off stops in over 35 states. As previously mentioned by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the 36-city tour, which kicked off in January, expanded after the artist announced additional show dates.

Blige will take the stage at Madison Square Garden on April 10. The concert will be live-streamed exclusively on the Veeps streaming platform. Early-bird tickets are available now, and all ticket-holders can rewatch the Madison Square Garden concert for seven days.

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Jimmy Butler, Golden State
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 26, 2025

Jimmy Butler Posts Specially-Priced Drinks For Golden State Warriors At Miami Coffee Shop

The guard began his venture into the coffee business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a visit to Miami to play against his former team, the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler made a special sign for any Golden State Warriors employee who planned on stopping by his newly opened coffee shop, BIGFACE.

A photo was displayed on Butler’s social media account showing a sign in bold letters that stated: “EMPLOYED BY THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS? YOUR COFFEE= $30.” However, regular customers are typically charged anywhere between $4 and $10 per cup of hot beverage.

Butler opened BIGFACE in Miami’s Design District in December 2024; the Warriors traded for him in February. The guard started his venture into the coffee business after he came up with the idea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NBA resumed league play under strict protocol at a dedicated venue in Orlando, which became known as the “Bubble.” While in the facility’s hotel, Butler used the espresso machine in his hotel room and got the idea of selling the hot beverages he made in his hotel room to his NBA counterparts.

After charging the players $20 per drink, the little light in his head went off, and thus the beginnings of what became BIGFACE.

“It’s so surreal because this is another thing I said I wanted to do, and I went out and made it happen,” Butler told NBC News earlier this month. “That’s what this story is for me. Man, I had a dream. I worked at it, and then one day, bam, here we are with a coffee shop.”

No word if any Golden State employee purchased the specially priced drink. If so, it didn’t help. The Heat routed the Warriors, 112-86, on Tuesday.

RELATED CONTENT: Jimmy Butler Gifts NBA Hall Of Famer Spike Lee His Shirt After Warriors Win Over Knicks

Interactive Timeline, Inequality
by Sharelle B. McNair

March 26, 2025

National Independent Talent Organization Launches ‘Pay Her Respect’ Day With American Music Fairness Act Endorsement

Hundreds of Grammy-Award winning artists have already been outspoken about passing the bill including Lil’ Jon and Boyz II Men.

Nonprofit organization National Independent Talent Organization (NITO) officially launched “Pay Her Respect” day, on the late Aretha Franklin’s birthday, while endorsing the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), guaranteeing musical artists are paid fairly when songs are played on the radio, according to a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE. 

The bipartisan legislation would put corporate radio broadcasters in the same realm as other music streaming platforms that already dish out royalties. The United States is the only democratic country in the world that currently does not compensate artists in such a way. 

For what would have been Franklin’s 81st birthday, March 25, NITO launched the national day of action to commemorate the late Queen of Soul, who was never paid for her version of the hit song “Respect,” despite being played millions of times on the radio when it was released in 1967, becoming a feminist anthem amid the rise of the second feminist movement in the 1970s. NITO’s executive director, Nathaniel Marro, said the bill makes him think about all the artists struggling to make ends meet from their art that is supposed to support them. “When I think about the importance of this act, I think of all the hard-working musicians who have struggled to make a living and how this bill could get them to a place of stability,” he said.

“The middle class should be an attainable goal for all musicians and songwriters, not some distant reality. Passing this bill would get us one step closer.”

According to Hypebot, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) re-introduced the legislation in early 2025. Collaborative efforts with Reps. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) led to the bill being brought forth to the Senate floor. 

While fans and musicians are being encouraged to send letters to their Congress members to push support for AMFA, hundreds of Grammy-winning artists have already been outspoken about passing the bill, including Lil Jon and Boyz II Men. Group members Shawn Stockman, Wanyá Morris, and Nathan Morris visited Washington, D.C. to discuss the bill, even posing with House Speaker Mike Johnson following the meeting. 

The Recording Academy’s 2025 Best New Artist winner, Chappell Roan, made headlines for calling out record labels for failing to pay their artists livable wages. “Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection. Labels, we got you — but do you got us?” she said during her Grammy acceptance speech, met with applause.

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DHS, Noem, citizenship, ICE
by Mitti Hicks

March 26, 2025

Trump Administration Pauses Green Card Processing To ‘Do More Vetting’

The Trump administration began pausing the processing of some green card applications in January to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order.

The Trump administration will pause processing some green card applications in January to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order.

Trump signed the executive order, “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” on Jan. 20. The executive order calls for agencies to “identify all resources that may be used to ensure that all aliens seeking admission to the United States, or who are already in the United States, are vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.”

As a result, CBS News first reported that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the Department of Homeland Security has quietly stopped processing some green card applications to conduct more vetting of the applicants. The request will hurt permanent residency applications submitted by immigrants granted refugee or asylum status.

Concerns about Pausing Green Card Processing

How does this pause impact those seeking a fresh start? Many immigrants were granted refugee status in the U.S. after proving they could be persecuted in their home countries. Refugees are granted entry into the U.S. after an extensive process that begins overseas. The method includes security checks, medical screenings, and interviews that can take several years.

Ayslees are foreigners in the U.S. to whom immigration judges or asylum officers grant protection. However, they have to prove that they could face persecution because of specific characteristics such as race, religion, and political views.

“USCIS is placing a temporary pause on finalizing certain Adjustment of Status applications pending the completion of additional screening and vetting to identify potential fraud, public safety, or national security concerns, in alignment” with Mr. Trump’s executive actions, the DHS told CBS News in a statement. “Adjustment of status” is the official name of the green card process.”

It’s unclear how long the halt will last. Meanwhile, this latest move from the Trump administration fulfills a campaign promise to restrict legal immigration in America.

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Atlanta Hawks, State Farm Arena, Job Fair
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 26, 2025

Atlanta Hawks Pay Tribute To Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Halftime Performance

And the crowd loved it.

During a second quarter break during Saturday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, the Atlanta Hawks paid tribute to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show.

The Hawks’ tribute featured a rendition of Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us” as performed at the big game. The Atlanta team’s mascot, Harry the Hawk, took on the role of Lamar with a fake “a” chain and outfit. The dance team followed his steps in recreating the iconic scene.

The tribute also featured an emcee wearing an “Uncle Sam” outfit like the one actor Samuel L. Jackson donned in the halftime show. The Hawks crowd dug the performance, with Hot97 reporting that the audience also echoed the popular “A minor” line.

Lamar’s performance and set of diss tracks against Drake have become an ongoing cultural phenomenon. The show set a viewership record for the Super Bowl. “Not Like Us” also scored five wins, including Record and Song of the Year, at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

The cultural impact has led to further speculation that the rapper will continue his victory lap. Casey Wasserman, an organizing leader for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, hinted at Lamar’s inclusion in the festivities.

“Fortunately, in my day job, I represent Kendrick Lamar,” Wasserman told the Associated Press. “He is truly an LA icon. So I think it would be a pretty fair bet that Kendrick will be involved in the Olympics in Los Angeles in some way.”

Drake, Lamar’s musical adversary, wants to move past the historic rap beef. The rapper released his joint project, Some Sexy Songs 4 U, with Partynextdoor on Valentine’s Day. The album reached #1 on the Billboard 200.

Lamar, on the other hand, will promote his hit song and accompanying album independently. His Grand National Tour with Sza begins April 19 in Minneapolis.

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Housing market, southern metros, Atlanta, Florida, equity
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 26, 2025

DHS And HUD Join Forces To Prevent Housing Funds From Going To Illegal Immigrants

'American tax dollars should be used for the benefit of American citizens, especially when it comes to an issue as pressing as our nation’s housing crisis,' said Secretary Turner

The Trump administration announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are joining forces to ensure that money appropriated for American citizens for the benefits of housing isn’t being misdirected toward people who are considered illegal aliens in the country.

The secretaries of both HUD and DHS, Secretary Scott Turner and Secretary Kristi Noem, signed the “American Housing Programs for American Citizens” Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement was implemented to “end the wasteful misappropriation of taxpayer dollars” to benefit people labeled as immigrants instead of American citizens.

“American tax dollars should be used for the benefit of American citizens, especially when it comes to an issue as pressing as our nation’s housing crisis,” said Secretary Turner in a written statement. “This new agreement will leverage resources, including technology and personnel, to ensure American people are the only priority when it comes to public housing. We will continue to work closely with DHS to maximize our resources and put American citizens first.”

The agencies will utilize a HUD employee to help with the Incident Command Center (ICC) operations. This will make it easier for the agencies to facilitate data sharing between the units while also ensuring that taxpayer-funded housing programs are being used properly and not being used to harbor or benefit immigrants.

“The Biden Administration prioritized illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens taxpayer-funding housing at the expense of Americans. Not anymore. The entire government will work together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally. If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over,” said Secretary Noem.

RELATED CONTENT: HUD Rejects Asheville, NC, Hurricane Recovery Plan Because It Targets DEI

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