WNBA, Angel Reese, nickname, Chicago Sky

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 22, 2024

Charge It To The Game! Angel Reese Signs New Deal With Cash App In Her First WNBA Off Season

The Chicago Sky player will become the face of giveaways, limited-edition debit cards, and a financial literacy campaign.

Angel Reese is charging it to the game. The WNBA rookie signed a new deal with Cash App in the off-season.

Vibe reported Reese’s new venture with the digital banking service. The Chicago Sky player will become the face of giveaways, community empowerment initiatives, and some limited-edition debit cards.

Cash App announced The Angel Machine to celebrate their collaboration on Oct. 21. Launching in Chicago, local fans can play an interactive game where the prizes include Reese’s memorabilia, like her crown and college jersey. Reese shared her gratitude to partner with Cash App, becoming part of their first campaign with the WNBA.

“I’m grateful to partner with Cash App, a brand that is committed to supporting my efforts in driving impact on and off the court,” shared the 22-year-old in a statement to VIBE.

Moreover, the two parties will renovate a basketball court in Reese’s hometown of Baton Rouge. In December, a block party will celebrate the upgrades.

Reese added, “I established the Angel C. Reese Foundation to empower girls and future generations, and I’m thrilled that as part of this overall partnership, we will be able to collaborate with Cash App to renovate a basketball court in the city of my alma mater, Baton Rouge, a place and community that means so much to me personally.”

Cash App users and Angel Reese fans can showcase their admiration for the record-breaking athlete. They will be able to design their debit card with Angel-approved stamps. Customers with a Cash App card can get up to 25% off all Angel Reese merchandise purchased on her website.

However, the deal extends even further. Reese will encourage financial literacy in Cash App’s new campaign, set to debut by the end of this year.

“Angel Reese is redefining what it means to be a game changer, authentically pushing the boundaries between sport and culture,” said Catherine Ferdon, Cash App CMO. “Together with Angel, we aim to improve the future of the sport while supporting her unapologetically bold endeavors, create world-class experiences for fans, and provide access in the community for girls to play basketball.”

As all their endeavors begin, Reese’s Unapologetically Angel podcast viewers will see Cash App as the latest sponsor. The podcast recently guest-starred Glorilla, which gives fans a deeper look at Reese off the court.

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by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 22, 2024

Idris Elba Looks to Revolutionize African Entertainment Industry With Film Studios, Digital Wallets For Creatives

Idris Elba is focused on establishing Africa's entertainment industry through creative spaces and better payment structures.

Idris Elba is building film studios across Africa to give natives “the chance to tell their own stories.”

The Luther star, who has made a name for himself in both the U.K. and U.S. entertainment industries, is now on a mission to revolutionize the entertainment scene in Africa. Speaking at the Stellar Development Foundation’s Meridian conference in London on Monday, Elba shared his ambitious vision to establish a global entertainment hub on the African continent.

“Much of the imagery about Africa isn’t even generated from Africa,” Elba, whose parents are from Sierra Leone and Ghana, told CNN. “A lot of media is centered around (negative depictions of Africa). But the median age in Africa is 19; these young people are optimistic and deserve the chance to tell their own stories.”

Although “it’s all been a puzzle” navigating the challenges of building a new industry, Elba is confident that “it will grow, and it can grow. “

Elba’s first project is a film studio in Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous Tanzanian island famous for its white sand beaches. The government of Zanzibar has committed nearly 200 acres of land for the development, which Elba envisions as the foundation for a global entertainment hub.

“Idris Elba will be building a modern studio similar to Hollywood, Nollywood (in Nigeria), or Bollywood,” Zanzibar’s Minister for Investment, Shariff Ali Shariff, announced in August. He even teased his hopes of naming the studios “Zallywood” or “Zawood.”

One of the key challenges Elba faces in building the studios is ensuring creators get paid in countries with limited banking infrastructures. To address this, Elba partnered with Stellar, a blockchain-based platform, to launch Akuna Wallet—a digital wallet tailored for the creative economy. This wallet enables artists, filmmakers, and musicians to manage payments and royalties without depending on traditional banks.

This week, a pilot program was launched in partnership with Ghana’s government to streamline payments for local creatives and increase financial inclusion within the industry.

“Popular platforms for monetizing creative work often require bank accounts, which excludes many young Africans,” Elba said. “We need a financial model that allows for consistent quality creation.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 22, 2024

Getting Hipped To Annuities Increased Shaquille O’Neal’s Bank Account

Shaq has proven that his business acumen is on point.

The Breakroom is another podcast that NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is involved in, and it discusses financial education. In a recent episode, he sat at a table with four other individuals and expressed one word that has blessed him financially: “Annuities.”

In the five-minute clip, he explained to the group that he had never heard of the word before until speaking to a wiser, wealthy friend. He said he had a lot of money and didn’t know what to do with it until he talked with an older, wealthy friend.

“I used to see this rich guy, really rich, older, 80, old Rolls-Royce and all of that. And I asked him, I said how? And he taught me a word I never heard. ‘Shaq, you need to invest in annuities.’ And I never knew what it was, and I looked it up, cause I, was cause I was making so much money from commercials and all. I didn’t know what to do with it, and he said, ‘Yeah, all this money you’re making, if you put it away, you can invest it, and you can start collecting at 50, 60, and 70.’ So that was my greatest investment,” Shaq told the group at the table.

Shaq has proven time and again that his business acumen is on point.

It was just reported that the clothing brand Champion was being acquired by Authentic Brands Group for a reported $1.2 billion. Shaq is reportedly the second-largest shareholder in Authentic Brands Group and stands to capitalize in a big way. The acquisition of the Champion brand, which generates almost $3 billion in global retail sales a year, is sure to place more capital in Shaquille O’Neal’s bank account. With this and working with other brands under that umbrella, Shaq has made another important business move.

“I’m now the second-largest shareholder in Authentic Brands Group, and last year, our purchase was Reebok and Ted Baker and a couple of other brands. So, we’re doing pretty well.”

Dave Chappelle, Tribe Called Quest, Hall of Fame

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 22, 2024

Dave Chappelle Inducts A Tribe Called Quest Into Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

A Tribe Called Quest had a collection of stars induct the rap group into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Dave Chappelle, Busta Rhymes, Queen Latifah, and more assembled to induct A Tribe Called Quest into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The legendary rap group, represented by Q-Tip, Jarobi White, and the late Phife Dawg’s parents, attended the ceremony to accept their induction and witness A-list talent pay tribute to their groundbreaking impact on music and popular culture.

Chapelle, who inducted the group, introduced a video featuring André 3000, Mike D, and Questlove, who spoke of the group’s lasting imprint on hip-hop culture.

Chappelle shared how the group helped him during his hiatus from Hollywood.

“Years ago, in a tough time in my life, I read a Chinese proverb that changed my life. And the proverb said that the best meal you can cook is made with ingredients that you already have,” Chappelle told the audience. “And this proverb reminds me of hip-hop, and this proverb reminds me, in particular, of Tribe because Tribe was born out of friendship.”

After Chappelle’s speech, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, the Roots, Queen Latifah, Common, and Spliff Star hit the stage to perform a medley of Tribe classics. Queen Latifah performed “Can I Kick It?” ahead of Black Thought and De La Soul’s Posdnous performing “Check the Rhime.” Common rapped the lyrics to the classic “Bonita Applebum,” and Busta Rhymes, who appeared with Leaders of the New School on Tribe’s 1992 hit “Scenario,” rapped alongside Spliff Star to a fusion of the original and the remix.

Following the set, Q-Tip, White, and Phife Dawg’s parents (Ali Shaheed Muhammad was not present) shared how important the moment was for them.

“What’s more rock and roll than the blues? But just like our predecessors, we had to find spaces on the outskirts of cities and towns, from a Southern sun house off Robert Johnson Crossroads to a transformed room in a hood tenement on Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx,” Q-Tip said.

“The need to express burns in us with an art-fueled determination. A spark. The spark that embers within many of us in this room, and the spark that burned within the four of us boys in 1985 in New York City.”

Other 2024 inductees included Mary J. Blige and Kool & the Gang.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 22, 2024

Uncle Luke Celebrates 2 Live Crew’s Victory In Copyright Lawsuit: ‘We Won!’

Uncle Luke thanks God for 2 Live Crew's victory in a copyright lawsuit.

2 Live Crew has finally seen victory following a yearslong copyright lawsuit over their albums.

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, a jury ruled in favor of the famed rap group, granting them back copyright control of five of their early albums after a yearslong legal battle with a record company, the Associated Press reports.

“We won,” 2 Live Crew member Luther Campbell, also known as Uncle Luke, said in an Instagram video. “All the albums! We got them all back!”

“The verdict is in members of the 2 Live Crew. We have just got our catalog back to its rightful owners. [We have an amazing God,]” Luke captioned the post.

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A post shared by LUTHER CAMPBELL (@unclelukereal1)

The lawsuit was initiated by Lil’ Joe Records, which acquired the rights to 2 Live Crew’s albums after the group’s record label went bankrupt in 1995. In 2020, the members of 2 Live Crew and their heirs informed Lil’ Joe that they were terminating its copyrights and reclaiming ownership of the albums. Lil’ Joe responded by filing a lawsuit, claiming it retained the rights under the terms of the bankruptcy agreement.

However, a federal jury in Florida has ruled in favor of 2 Live Crew and heirs of the two deceased members, Fresh Kid, who died in 2017, and Brother Marquis, who died in June.

“Our team is proud to have been part of this historic trial,” attorney Scott Burroughs said in a statement. “Our overwhelming and total victory at trial will hopefully serve as a beacon to encourage other artists to brave the legal process to recover their copyrights.”

2 Live Crew dominated the rap scene in the late 80s and early 90s with its provocative, X-rated singles, which led to arrests and radio bans. In 1992, a federal appeals court overturned a previous ruling that had deemed the group’s album obscene.

The trio’s provocative and sexually explicit recordings reshaped the legal boundaries of hip-hop, leading to landmark court rulings that upheld artists’ rights to free expression. Among their more popular singles include “Me So Horny,” “We Want Some Pu–y,” and “Throw That D.”

Meet The Collins Family: 2nd Generation IHOP Owners Named Franchisees Of The Year

by Nancy E Williams

October 22, 2024

Meet The Collins Family: 2nd Generation IHOP Owners Named Franchisees Of The Year

Brandon and Shaleeza Collins are second-generation IHOP franchisees from North Baton Rouge.

IHOP named Brandon and Shaleeza Collins 2023 Franchisees of the Year, which was awarded to them at the brand’s Global Franchisee Conference. This coveted award recognizes franchisees for all-around leadership excellence and for embodying the brand’s mission by executing great restaurant operations.

BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with the husband-and-wife team to learn more about how they overcame years of challenging circumstances to become top award winners.

Brandon and Shaleeza were unlikely candidates for IHOP franchise ownership. However, in 2006, after retiring, Brandon’s parents, Ella and Larry Collins, decided to open an IHOP restaurant, recognizing the need in their North Baton Rouge community. “There were no sit-down restaurants, and they wanted to make sure that that need was fulfilled and to create a legacy for their family,” explained Shaleeza.

“This legacy wasn’t just for the kids; it was a legacy for the community. We’re in North Baton Rouge; there’s not much here. There’s no economic development that happens here. Our IHOP is still the only national franchise, sit-down restaurant in North Baton Rouge –- to this day,” Brandon added.

Changing Trajectory

After purchasing the IHOP franchise, the challenges began early on. “Things took a turn when my mother began having difficulties managing day-to-day operations and back-of-the-house responsibilities at the restaurant, and I wanted to help her out,” explained Brandon.

“We recognized that we could help with some of these difficulties in our own individual way, without physically needing to be there –- at first. Then it snowballed, simply because my parents entered into a business they technically had no experience in.”

Brandon and Shaleeza graduated from college and entered the financial sector. “We never saw ourselves as restaurant owners,” interjected Shaleeza.

“I was a finance major, Brandon was a management major, so we just saw ourselves going more in the financial field. But God had his own path for us. We could not possibly sit back and watch her struggle and not jump in to help. That was the driving force that made us change our trajectory as to where we were going.”

Passing the Torch

In January 2023, after spending several years learning the restaurant’s ins and outs, Brandon and Shaleeza purchased it from Brandon’s parents, excited to continue the legacy that started it all.

“We didn’t want to see it go away, especially after all the things we had to push through, and my parents had to push through, to bring something to this area. We were told that nothing would make it here. That’s always been the driving force behind what we’ve done and how we’ve done things to simply show this is a viable business, a viable community to invest in. We just wanted to be that example.”

Our Time – Our Opportunity

Brandon and Shaleeza’s humility in running their franchise is the same humble response they display in winning such a prestigious award.

“Winning has been bittersweet. We’ve been doing the same thing we’ve done for over 15 years now. I just think that it was our turn -– our opportunity. We also had real help getting to know corporate and being known by corporate, going through the franchise application interview process. I was invited to join a newly formed committee, which allowed us to bring our voice, which we thought was small and insignificant, to a big brand like IHOP. It allowed us to give our perspective as actual operators, because a lot of times, multi-unit franchisees who are not actually in the store every day have a bigger voice. To win this award is truly a big deal for us.”

After having the franchise for 19 years and winning this award, what’s next for Brandon and Shaleeza?

“Our goal as second-generation owners is to grow the business because we would like to see it expand. But we want to make sure that the way we grow it makes sense, and that we’re growing it at a pace that we can handle,” explained Shaleeza. “We are currently working on another location, potentially one of the new DINE Brands concepts.”

The IHOP brand has been supportive of the Collins family and their multigenerational journey. First, taking a chance on opening in an area that struggled economically, but also approving the purchase transfer of the business from the parents’ ownership to the children. Franchisors have the sole discretion on the approval of new owners. With this approval, IHOP acknowledged the hard work that went into keeping the business going and saw the potential for the future. And with two children, ages 14 and 8, there’s every indication that ownership will extend to a third generation. “Our 14-year-old son is already hosting and serving, and our 8-year-old daughter is asking to be in the business as well, but she has a few years before that can happen.”

To learn more about IHOP franchise ownership, visit franchise.ihop.com/en/us.

Haiti, france, reparation, Haitians, Haitian Heritage Month

by Daniel Johnson

October 22, 2024

Haitian Immigrants Helped Revitalize Pennsylvania Town Trump Lied About

The newly revitalized community received negative attention from Donald Trump

Charleroi, Pennsylvania, a town in Southwestern Pennsylvania that was once the home of a booming factory industry, needed revitalization once the factories, the lifeblood of the local economy, closed for good.

In the last four years, the town has been revitalized due to the contributions of Haitian immigrants like Rodny Michel, who arrived in 2020 from his native Haiti in search of opportunity.

At first, Michel could only find work at a food prep company and later an Amazon warehouse in a neighboring community, but now he has found a sense of belonging as he helps to turn a Caribbean store into a Caribbean restaurant.

According to The Guardian, the newly revitalized community received attention in September when former president Donald Trump falsely asserted that Charleroi was “virtually bankrupt” and was experiencing “massive crime” because of its immigrant population.

Just as with Springfield, Ohio, another Midwestern town that Trump and his vice presidential running mate JD Vance subjected to false narratives about that community’s Haitian immigrants eating pets, Charleroi has seen right-wing hate groups like the KKK post recruitment pamphlets in local Facebook community groups.

Despite the lies coming from Trump and some local Trump supporters, local leadership in the town has moved to support the Haitian immigrant community.

In 2022, a community liaison officer position staffed by a Haitian national was established. Programs were also established to help immigrants enroll in English language classes, register children in schools, and set up health testing sites at the town’s library.

According to Michel, those efforts have not gone unnoticed by the town’s Haitian community.

“In Haiti, the government don’t take care of the people like they do here,” Michel told The Guardian.

According to The New York Times, even local Republican leaders have pushed back against misinformation stemming from Trump’s claims.

Camera Bartolotta, a Pennsylvania state senator who represents the town, said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, responded to a post from Libs Of TikTok, a social media account that frequently engages in outrage farming, shared that most of the town’s immigrants are legal immigrants who are good, hard-working people.

https://twitter.com/CameraForSenate/status/1836135759474233415?s=19

According to The Washington Post, some of the sentiment behind Trump’s commentary has found a home among Charleroi’s residents.

Leighanna Girvin, a 33-year-old resident of the town and a first-time voter and Trump supporter, told the outlet that she thinks taking care of immigrants puts a strain on America’s resources.

“I don’t believe everything he says, but I don’t think America has the resources to keep helping outside people. That’s why I’m going to vote for Trump,” Girvin said.

In contrast to Girvin, Charleroi Borough Council President Kristin Hopkins-Calek said at an earlier council meeting in October that “The use of our citizens and residents as political talking points is unacceptable,” Hopkins has also characterized Trump’s “divisive rhetoric” about the town as a device to create “political gain.”

Evency Dorzelma, a 42-year-old who formerly worked as a police officer in Haiti before immigrating and settling in Charleroi, told the Post that the attacks on the Haitian community are racist.

“We brought life to the community. We don’t do no harm to anyone,” Dorzelma said. “So, there is no reason to fear us. There is no reason for this fearmongering, this racism campaign.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 21, 2024

Former Detroit Pistons Coach Monty Williams Hired To Lead Basketball Team At Sons’ High School

The Pistons, who signed him to a guaranteed contract in 2023, will still be paying him $65 million over the next five seasons after firing him earlier this year

Last year, Monty Williams signed the largest coaching deal in NBA history. Less than a year later, he was terminated by the Detroit Pistons. Now, with the team having to pay him $65 million over the next five years, he has taken his coaching expertise to his sons’ San Antonio school, TMI Episcopal.

According to a social media posting from TMI Episcopal, Williams is now the boys’ basketball team’s head coach.

“We are excited to announce that Monty Williams will be our new Head Coach for the Boys’ Basketball Team.

Coach Williams brings extensive coaching experience, including his most recent roles in the NBA as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns (where he was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2022).”

Williams recently moved to San Antonio with his wife, Lisa, and has two sons who attend TMI, Elijah, Class of ‘26, and Micah, Class of ‘29.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Williams to this position and look forward to the future of our basketball program under his leadership.”

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In June 2023, the Pistons signed Williams for a reported six-year, $78.5 million contract to take over the head coaching position. The agreement was the largest coaching deal in NBA history.

A year earlier, Williams won NBA Coach of the Year as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. A year after winning the award, the Suns terminated him after they were eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals. He recorded 194 wins against 115 losses (.628) in regular season games. His playoff record for the Suns was 27-19. The team made it to the NBA Finals in 2021 and won a franchise-record 64 games in 2021-22.

Williams will lead a team featuring his four-star small forward son, Elijah. His younger son, Micah, is the No. 1 prospect in Texas, the No. 7 rated small forward in the country, and the No. 22 overall prospect in the class of 2026, according to ESPN.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 21, 2024

LeBron James Criticized For ‘Welcome Home’ Message To Big Meech

LeBron James has sparked a debate after welcoming Big Meech home from prison.

LeBron James is under fire after tweeting out a “Welcome Home” message to convicted drug trafficker and money-laundering kingpin Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory.

Big Meech was released into a halfway house last week where he will finish out the remainder of his shortened sentence. James was among the famous faces to express their excitement about Meech being that much closer to freedom by sending out a “Welcome home” tweet to his 53.1 million followers.

https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1846949695492415832

Amid Meech’s release from prison and James’ celebratory tweet, the Los Angeles Lakers star is facing criticism and sparking debates around whether or not someone of his stature should be welcoming home a convicted drug kingpin.

““Welcome home a murder, killer of KIDS THROUGH DRUGS, killer of countless mothers, fathers hand FAMILIES”. You want to fit in so bad, wanna be hip and cool so bad that you just follow whatever is deemed cool at the moment. Shame on you. Grow tf up,” one critic tweeted in response.

“Lebron supporting drug dealers?!?!?!?! Not my goat,” added someone else.

On the Bagfuel podcast, co-hosts Esso and Hynaken subtly criticized James for publicly supporting Big Meech’s release, questioning the alignment of that endorsement with James’ role as a community impact leader, given Big Meech’s criminal history.

“All these positive athletes and everything is building schools and telling kids that they need to go and they need do better…the same ball players that’ll spend $300 million in education…and the first thing they doing is saying ‘Welcome home Big Meech?’…you’re making me say ‘he’s cap!’” Esso quipped, in a clip captured by The Jasmine Brand.

“This is what you’re doing to the 16 year-old…You’re saying ‘go be a gangster…because this is who we respect, who we love!’”

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Sports analyst Jemele Hill joined the conversation, expressing her hope that after 20 years in prison, Flenory has been rehabilitated and can now use his influence to inspire positive change in the same communities he once harmed.

“In a country where a convicted felon is running for president, we have more important sh*t to worry about. That said, this is why I really hope when Big Meech is acclimated, he uses his story to encourage something different,” Hill wrote.

“Young people see what you do. They don’t care about what you say. And y’all might not like to hear it but Meech and his family hurt a lot of people and helped in the destruction of our neighborhoods. I ain’t judging, but it is what it is. But there’s a real opportunity here for him to do something that could be so meaningful and positive. It’s great he gets another chance. I’d like to see him do something good with it.”

Many others defended James’ “Welcome home” message to Big Meech and explained why the NBA star might be happy to see Meech step that much closer to regaining his freedom.

“How about he happy to see a father reunited with his son who has been successful play the role of his father,” one person wrote. “The fact that he has spent most of his son’s life in jail.”

“Both can be true you can welcome somebody home from a bad situation and still want the next generation to do better,” added someone else.

Big Meech was released from a Florida prison on Oct. 15 but is required to serve the remainder of his sentence, which was reduced from 360 to 292 months, in a halfway house. His projected release date from the halfway house is Jan. 27, 2026, after which he will be subject to supervised release.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 21, 2024

Girls Basketball Coaches At Texas School Found Guilty Of Recruiting Violations For Top Players In Nation

The school, which plays in the University Interscholastic League, recently hired four-time state champion Andrea Robinson as its new head coach.

The 13-5A district executive committee in Texas has found the girls’ basketball coaches of Oak Cliff Faith Family School guilty of recruiting violations.

They found the coaches withheld information regarding the 13 players who transferred to the Dallas charter school during the off-season. The school, which plays in the University Interscholastic League, recently hired four-time state champion Andrea Robinson as the new head coach. The Dallas Morning News confirmed her former employer, DeSoto High School, also accused Robinson of the violations.

Robinson, alongside her assistant coaches Kadi Creel and Jordan Jones, will now face punishment for their actions, which will be determined by the UIL’s state executive committee. As for the players, the DEC will determine their eligibility for the upcoming basketball season.

Prior to the six-hour hearing on Oct. 17 that led to this guilty verdict, the school’s athletic director denied the accusations. Robinson also remained adamant that they abided by regulations as the school realigned from 4A to 5A. Moreover, Oak Cliff has an open enrollment policy with an attendance zone covering the Dallas Independent School District.

Four of the recruits rank within the top 100 players in the nation. Many are assumed to be eyeing spots on a Division 1 collegiate team’s roster. Some include a five-star junior forward, Amari Byles, and a four-star junior combo guard, Amaya “Sunshine” Garcia. Both also attended DeSoto.

However, the hearing showed Creel had impermissible contact with one of the recruits. Moreover, some of them hailed from the same AAU program. A coach from another school stated, with photographs to back his assertion, that Jones also reached out to another athlete.

The UIL strictly forbids students from transferring to athletic programs. Given the DEC can only issue reprimands to coaches, they reported their findings to the state committee, which has the authority to implement suspensions. The maximum length of suspension is three years.

The hearing also stated that two of the recruits have already begun working out with the team despite not having approved Previous Athletic Participation Forms (PAPF). The UIL recently approved a proposal for its executive committee to investigate schools with a heightened number of these forms. It will go into effect in August 2025.