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The ladies went through some topics this week that you may not believe or know about. Chucky Thompson, a producer for Bad Boy who worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop and R & B including Notorious B.I.G., Nas and Mary J. Blige has died. He was 53. His publicist, Tamar Juda, confirmed the news on Tuesday. No cause of death was shared. A native of Washington, DC, Thompson began his career in music as a part of go-go music legend Chuck Brown's band, The Soul Searchers. Thompson was tapped by Sean "Diddy" Combs to become one of his original "Hitmen," the in house production that worked with some of the biggest stars of Bad Boy Records, the label Combs founded. R.I.P.  Beyoncé is building a hemp and honey farm. The singer revealed that after spending the last year and a half in quarantine she’s learned how to go “from overindulgences to creating positive rituals drawing from past generations and putting my own spin on things. This also isn’t the first time Beyoncé has expressed her passion for the all-natural benefits of honey. In November 2020, the queen 'bee' herself stated that she actually has a bee farm. “I know it’s random, but I have two beehives. Real ones.” She continued, “I’ve had them at my house for a while now. I have around 80,000 bees and we make hundreds of jars of honey a year. I started the beehives because my daughters, Blue and Rumi, both have terrible allergies, and honey has countless healing properties.” Wow! If you've been on the internet at all in the last week you're probably wondering why the heck everyone's suddenly taken an interest in how often our favorite celebrities shower. Surprisingly though, it turns out the answer to that question is not a lot. Over the past few days, celebs including Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell have admitted that washing really isn't on their daily to-do list, igniting what we're going to call #celebrityshowergate. Not too sure about this one. For the "HOT TAKE" this week, BlackQ' Smith, upcoming DC singer and songwriter was in the building! Check him everywhere for performance updates @blacqsmithsound. Drop a comment on your thoughts!

Check out this special 'mash-up' interview in collaboration with WEMS Radio. South African artist, choreographer and director Densley "Deezy" Carolissen. You definitely don't want to miss this one!! Drop a comment on your thoughts! 

The topics this week showed how a path can be cleared for some great things and maybe not so much. First off...Illastr8 cleared the way this past weekend (7/25/21) at the "Flowhers Award Brunch." Our own, 'T. Graye' attended this awesome, empowering event which was a formal Day Event and Celebratory Brunch experience that will also serve as an Honorary Production and Networking Event for Women in Business. This was much more than an event. It was a total experience that included enrichment, entertainment, and shopping with some of your favorite Women-owned brands. You have to check this conversation out to find out all the greatness that took place! Clearing the path for those in college with debt, Walmart will now pay full college tuition and books for part-time and full-time employees. This is a major move for the retail industry and should motivate a ton of other retailers changing or adding free tuition. The biggest surprise here is part-time workers being able to benefit from this change as most retailers who offer free tuition only offer it to full-time employees who work at least 32 or 40 hours a week to quality. OK! In related news, Clark Atlanta, Spelman & SC State will also begin clearing millions in debt for thousands of HBCU students. This news comes almost two months after Wilberforce University announced it would wipe away more than $375,000 of student debt. In May, Delaware State University pledged to cancel over $700,000 in student loans for over 220 students through the American Rescue Plan Act that was enacted by President Joe Biden and his administration. This is special! In unfortunate news, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health concerns. The U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team won a silver medal after Simone Biles’ performance at the first round of the international competition on July 27. USA Gymnastics gave further details regarding the gymnast’s withdrawal by explaining that she made the decision “due to a medical issue” and that “she will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.” If you didn’t know, Biles is often referred to as the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) when it comes to her status in the gymnastics world and her capability. To date, she’s won 35 Olympic medals, 27 of which are gold. Wow! We wish her all the best. Looks like the prolific R&B singer will be resurrected back in digital form to do just that beginning October 26.  The hologram of the late star will perform during a new residency called “An Evening With Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Concert” at Harrah’s in Las Vegas. Whitney’s hologram tour has been in the works since 2019. This should be pretty interesting! For the "HOT TAKE" topic this week the ladies discussed "what are the signs that you should 'double back' with your ex?" Drop a comment on your thoughts!  | ReplyForward | 

This week's show may bring back some past time people and situations that may make you feel a way. White Boy Rick claims the Feds ruined his life by turning him into an informant and then sending him to prison for 32 years for nonviolent offenses. White Boy Rick, the drug-dealing-child informant to the feds from the late 80s, is now suing the FBI agents and Detroit police for 100 million in damages insisting that he was coerced as a kid to snitch. He has since been released from prison after serving over three decades in prison, compromising more than half of his life. That makes sense to me! Virgil Abloh is expanding his partnership with Louis Vuitton in an expansive new business deal that gives LVMH a 60% stake in the fashion brand. Louis Vuitton has bought 60% of Virgil Abloh’s Off-White brand. In less than 10 years and after his departure from his career-launching stint with Kanye West, Abloh has sold the majority share of his company to Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) and will now working on making luxury products in a variety of categories within the new parent company’s offerings. We'll see how this goes! Curtis Young will appear alongside Swizz’s eldest, Nasir Dean, in the coming-of-age drama “Charge It to the Game,” while Snoop’s kid, Julian Broadus, will play a younger version of Curtis’ character, Kong. “Charge It To The Game” will be filming in Atlanta, Georgie, according to published reports. This should be a good one! A Sports Illustrated cover is one of the most coveted in the world and the ladies are here making history with the magazine! While Megan Thee Stallion is celebrating being the first female rapper to be featured on the cover, Leyna Bloom is proud to reveal she is the first trans woman to pose on the first page of the publication! Leyna went on to dedicate the cover to women in the LGBTQ+ community who haven’t felt comfortable living in their truth. Our deepest condolences to Keyshia Cole and her family during this difficult time. It has been reported that her mother Frankie has unfortunately passed away. Early Monday, family members started to share the news via social media. Wow! R.I.P. to Frankie! For the "HOT TAKE" this week, Attorney, Author and Actor - Tiffany Simmons, Esq. of the popular "Hood Court" on YouTube and IG stopped back to check in. Check her everywhere @theplugslawyer and @hoodcourtatl. Drop a comment on your thoughts!

Man...this week, we there were certainly some big things going on that needed some attention. Nelly and Kelly Rowland's 2000's hit song 'Dilemma' hits 1 billion views on YouTube! The two joined forces for the 2002 smash single, “Dilemma” - which was the biggest hit song of either's career up until that point. The song is off of Nelly’s second studio album Nellyville and went No. 1 on the Billboard charts, as well as won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance. That was and still is a great song. Naomi Osaka announced on her social media that she was releasing a Barbie doll with Mattel and the world went crazy! She revealed that she had been working on the endeavor since 2019. The doll that retailed at $29.99 had curly hair and wore a Nike tennis dress and a white visor. This is similar to what Naomi wore at the 2020 Australian open. Black Excellence! Kraft is entering the frozen treats game with a new mac and cheese flavored ice cream. The macaroni and cheese ice cream will be sold online and inside Van Leeuwen Ice Cream stores, primarily located in New York City, Los Angeles, and Houston, for $12 a pint. The last time Kraft was in the news for doing something crazy was when the brand turned its famous mac and cheese pink for Valentine’s Day. Will y’all be trying this new mac and cheese ice cream flavor? Dr. Dabber, a vaping company that offers cannabis-based products, has asked the 21-year-old disgraced track star Sha'Carri Richardson to be a spokesperson for the brand – a position that would pay $250,000. Richardson would become one of the brand’s “doctors,” or a high-level brand ambassador, should she choose to accept. Fortunately, more races are also in Richardson’s future. On Tuesday (July 13), it was announced that the Texas native will run in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes at the Prefontaine Classic this August. For the "HOT TAKE" this week, Pastor, Lee McClelland  of The Ark Chuch of Belfast (UK) talked about his uplifting story of hope has he survived COVID-19. You MUST check this show and interview out! Find out more on Pastor McClelland @lee_mcclelland1 & @thearkchurchbelfast. Drop a comment on your thoughts! 

What rejuvenates you? This week, the ladies discussed some trending topics that suggest instances of what rejuvenation represents. Rap super star turned TV producer 50 Cent has another new show lined up – a celebrity battle rap show! 50 Cent is still on TV mogul grind, launching a new competitive Hip-Hop reality series titled “Unrapped.” 50 Cent will set up a contest where celebrity contestants will be coached by some rap mentors in a battle rap tournament. This should be interesting! Now that Bill Cosby has been released from prison, it looks like he is trying to get right back to work. Cosby’s rep Andrew Wyatt revealed that he is currently working on a five-part docuseries that will cover everything from his life, legacy, trial for sexual assault, and also his time locked up behind bars. So far, interviews for the project have already begun and producers have started to collect interviews from family, friends, and peers. It is also reported that he has an interest in visiting prisons, schools, and neighborhoods to talk to people about decreasing violence and bettering themselves. We'll see how this works out! DMX was rushed to White Plains Hospital in early April after suffering a reported drug overdose and subsequent heart attack. Although medical professionals attempted to save his life, the Ruff Ryders legend ultimately passed away on April 9 at the age of 50. Now, there’s an official cause of death. It was determined that DMX died from a cocaine-induced heart attack, which caused a lack of blood circulation to the brain. R.I.P. Missy Elliott is renowned for her innovative videos — from 1997’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” to 2002’s “Work It,” the Songwriters Hall of Famer has a knack for enthralling choreography, colorful costumes and eye-popping effects. On Wednesday (July 7), Ms. Misdemeanor put on her videographer hat for the City Girls’ “Twerkulator” video, another elaborate affair featuring dozens of dancers and yes, lots of booty. Missy is certainly one of the most creative persons of this generation! The International Swimming Federation has decided to reevaluate that bulls#!t that they were on last week when it was announced that the Soul Cap would be banned from the pool in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Soul Cap is a swimming cap that is designed specifically for voluminous and Afro-textured hair. Quit hatin' and get out of the way of this Black excellence! For the "HOT TAKE" topic this week the ladies discussed "if he/she is so good...why are you still cheating?" Drop a comment on your thoughts! 

The ladies talked about some scenarios this week that may make you 'perk' up.  Chase Bank is apparently just giving out billions! Well, not exactly. According to Fox 11 LA, a couple in Baton Rouge, Louisiana received $50 billion. Darren James stated that $50 billion was deposited into his wife’s account earlier this month and they were surprised. In less than a week, another report of Chase Bank depositing billions into an account has surfaced online. Reports state that Julia Yonkowski went to withdraw $20 from her local Chase Bank. Before attempting the withdrawal, she checked her balance and realized she had racks, on racks, on racks to the sum of a billion dollars. Someone apparently deposited $999,985,855.94 to her account. She also stated that since having the money deposited into her account, she’s tried to contact the branch to return the money but hasn’t received any help. Wow! The 2021 BET Awards were filled with memorable performances and viral moments—and Lil Nas X managed to have both at the same time. During his performance of his song “Call Me By Your Name,” Lil Nas X shocked viewers when he ended his performance by deeply French kissing one of his male dancers…and now he has responded to the criticism. The kiss ended his performance, which was inspired by Michael Jackson’s iconic “Remember The Time” video. In response to the intense backlash he received from those who felt that the kiss was inappropriate for younger audiences who were watching the show. I'm not sure about this one! Cosby, 83, is set to be a free man after the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court issued an opinion to vacate his conviction - FINALLY! The Supreme Court agreed to review two aspects of the case that Cosby’s lawyers challenged. The first involved the judge’s decision to let prosecutors call five other accusers. The other examined Cosby’s argument that he had an agreement with a former prosecutor that he’d never be charged.  A once-beloved comedian long known as “America’s Dad,” Cosby became the first celebrity convicted of sexual misconduct in the #MeToo era when he was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home near Philadelphia in 2004. In efforts to change the way that people understand food, producer and rapper RZA has partnered with a plant-based food manufacturer to provide grants to Black-owned restaurants that focus on vegetarian cuisine. The company is called Violife and together with the Wu-Tang Clan founder, it will present a new grant program aimed at promoting plant-based eating through charitable funding, education, and mentorship called Plant Grants. The applications are open now through July 31, 2021. The selected grantees will be announced in September 2021. For more info, please visit plantgrants.com. ALSO...Two of the best to ever do it – Bobby Brown and Keith Sweat – are going to go head up on Verzuz this Thursday! The date is set for Thursday, July 1. This is gonna be tough. Who you got? Must be nice! For the "HOT TAKE" this week, Pebbles Junell, creator of "Pebbles Fit." Check out what's going on with her and the her physical fitness line @pebblesjunell & @pebblesfit. Drop a comment on your thoughts! 

Is the necessity to question, ask or discourage needed in today's society? There were some instances this week that dove into just these sorts of situations. On Monday, a reported audio clip from Clubhouse had leaked in which "Let's Go" iconic Miami rapper, Trick Daddy claimed Beyonce couldn't sing and Jay-Z was overrated. Man...the ladies had to discuss this one, lol. Master P is possibly eyeing the head or assistant coach spot for the New Orleans Pelicans. He previously coached San Antonio Spurs baller DeMar DeRozan while he was playing at the AAU level. P does have credentials as he has played in the NBA and coached his high school sons to maybe the next future big-time pro athletes. As a potential new coach, he could impact NBA baller Zion Williamson positively. Thoughts? While the overall cost of college isn’t getting any cheaper, unvaccinated students at Rhodes College will now have to incur another cost to attend school. According to Newsweek, Rhodes College announced that there will be a $1,500 fee for students who haven’t been vaccinated. It was previously reported that the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) will require three Black colleges and universities—Spelman, Morehouse, Clark Atlanta, in addition to Morehouse School of Medicine and the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library, to be fully vaccinated at the beginning of the upcoming semester, according to an announcement. This is crazy! Kerry Washington, Don Cheadle and George Clooney are among the Hollywood stars who have co-founded a film-focused high school in Los Angeles for underserved communities. Mindy Kaling and Eva Longoria are also involved in the venture. The Roybal School of Film and Television Production, which will launch next year with 14 and 15-year-old students in the ninth and 10th grades, before expanding to admit youngsters in the 16 and 17 year age group up to 12th grade. Those enrolled will receive both a traditional academic education and advice and input from show business industry professionals. This sounds just what is needed! The Blaxploitation 1972 cult classic, "Blacula" is getting a reboot and will follow the same plot as the original film. The original film, starring William Marshall and Vonetta McGee, had a 1973 sequel in Scream Blacula Scream, and the reboot will follow the track of the preceding films and pick right up afterward in a major city suffering from a post-coronavirus pandemic according to the outlet. A timeline for release is not yet known. This is exciting!! T-Pain recently opened up about a four-year-bout with depression that stemmed from a conversation with R&B star Usher in which he states that he 'fucked up music.' This was something that the ladies also went into detail on...wow, lol. For the "HOT TAKE" topic this week the ladies discussed "After a breakup, should you return gifts?" Drop a comment on your thoughts! 

We deviated some from tonight's show for some one-on-one 'Boss Talk' with Van (content creator/comedian) from the "LRF Family!" Catch this great brother and get enlightened everywhere @thereallfrfamily. Drop a comment on your thoughts!

This week's show showed instances where you appreciate culture and how some of your favorite personalities and situations are evolving.  It's been a tough year for rapper T.I. -- and now he's announcing that he will be retiring from music after he drops his next album. T.I. dropped his video for "What It's Come To." At the end of the video, viewers see the album art for "Kill The King" with "The Final Album Coming Soon" written underneath. We'll see what happens next? College-educated rapper Megan thee Stallion is showing her fans what it is by establishing a scholarship at Long Island University for students interested in the music business. The Houston artist, whose real name is Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, will be creating a full-tuition, four-year scholarship for LIU students enrolled at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports, and Entertainment. With her degree, she plans to open and manage assisted-living facilities in her hometown. She has stayed the course despite losing her mom in 2019, getting shot, a demanding recording itinerary, press, tours, and the thousands of other things that may distract her. The first classes, which will also see producer 9th Wonder as a member of the faculty as a visiting professor and artist in residence, start in the Fall 2021 semester. That's what we are talkin about! Hip-Hop superstar Drake has teamed up with Live Nation Canada officials to launch an intimate new concert venue in his Toronto hometown. The “God’s Plan” hit-maker has helped to develop History, a 2,500-capacity event space which aims to host 200 concerts a year and offer music fans a more up close and personal experience with their favorite acts. Construction on History, which has been in development for more than three years, is expected to be completed this summer, and the space is due to open later this year. Drake is always ahead of the game! During the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, people forced to self-isolate in their homes were in need of diversions to pass the time. Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, and D-Nice stepped up to provide that essential entertainment. All three Hip Hop legends are being recognized for their cultural contributions over the last 16 months. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers announced Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley, and Derrick “D-Nice” Jones will receive the ASCAP Voice Of The Culture Award at the 2021 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. Well deserved! Teyana Taylor is the first Black woman named as the "Sexiest Woman Alive" by Maxim for the ‘Hot 100’ issue! . The Harlem native looked gorgeous as she slayed the cover wearing a cropped white beater, with her washboard abs exposed, paired with army fatigue pants. Congrats to her!! The "Joints for Jabs" program announced by Washington State officials Monday will permit pot retail shops to give away a single pre-rolled joint to anyone over 21 who gets a shot at an on-site vaccine clinic by July 12. The state already lets breweries, wineries and restaurants offer free drinks in exchange for proof of vaccination. Other incentives include free sports tickets and prize money of up to $1 million. That's something to look into, lol!  For the "HOT TAKE" topic this week the ladies discussed "Things You Learned About Your Partner In The Pandemic (Good, Bad, and Ugly)?” Drop a comment on your thoughts! 

Which four emcees make your monument of the top talents for that ten-year span? There have been plenty of debates online and IRL about who are the four greatest and most influential rappers of the 2010s. The faces of Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole deserved to be on the Hip Hop Mount Rushmore for the decade. Thoughts? One of Chadwick Boseman’s last ideas is coming to life at his alma mater, Howard University. “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman pitched an entertainment masterclass idea to Howard University before he passed away last year, which the university is planning to roll it out to its fine arts students. The news come after academics at the historically Black university (HBCU) announced earlier this month they are renaming the College of Fine Arts after the 21 Bridges star. The “Cosby Show” and “This Is Us” star Phylicia Rashad – the newly named Dean of the fine arts college – will help to steer the new masterclass. Wow! ‘Rugrats’ was definitely top 10 of Nickelodeon’s original programming and now that the beloved children’s cartoon is getting new life on Paramount’s streaming service, there are some new changes that fans may or may not be so surprised about. In the name of inclusivity, the new ‘Rugrats’ reboot will reimagine Betty DeVille, the mother of twins Phil & Lil, as an openly gay single mother. Not surprised. While Mary J. Blige initially broke the news of the documentary during her recent Walk Of Fame honor at NYC’s Apollo Theater, Amazon officially released the trailer for the “My Life” documentary—which many consider to be Mary’s best work. On June 25th, Amazon Prime video will release a documentary chronicling the making of Mary’s classic album “My Life”—and by the looks of the trailer, fans are definitely in for a treat. Can't wait for this one! Mo’Nique got a mixed response when she voiced her opinion that Black women need to stop wearing hair bonnets and scarves in public. The 53-year-old actress stated that her statements weren’t coming from a place of ‘judgement’ but more a ‘place of love’, and felt compelled to speak out as she’s been honored with the title ‘aunty’. Mo’Nique added that she wasn’t telling women to always wear a full face of make-up or a lace front wig, but said: ‘All I’m saying is could you please comb your hair? This one may not go over well, lol! Drop a comment on your thoughts! 

The crew discussed some instances where it was either good or bad to come out. Paul Mooney -- the longtime comedian, writer and actor known best for his work with Richard Pryor -- has died from a heart attack. According to his family ... Mooney died Wednesday morning at his home in Oakland. We're told the paramedics tried unsuccessfully to revive him after he suffered a heart attack. Paul, who's been out of the public eye for a few years, had also reportedly been suffering from dementia for some time and was staying with a family member. RIP! Demi Lovato has come out as non-binary. This means the singer will no longer be using the she/her pronouns. Find out more from the ladies on their thoughts on this! Rapper Snoop Dogg's daughter Cori Broadus attempted suicide last week, news has learned. The superstar daughter allegedly tried to take her own life, while in the midst of what she calls a "mental health crisis." According to Cori, she was upset that her life wasn't unfolding like she expected, and was depressed over not having more money or a rich boyfriend. Cori told fans that she was upset that she didn't have a "rich n*gg*" like many of her friends on Instagram. Cori also disclosed that she's battled depression and self-image issues for most of her life. Prayers going out to her! ABC drops the trailer for “Queens” sitcom about a washed up female rap group. The hour-long show centers around four estranged and out-of-touch women in their 40s (Eve, Brandy, Naturi Naughton and Nadine Velazquez) who reunite for a chance to recapture the fame and swagger they had as the Nasty Bitches, a ’90s group that made them hip-hop legends. While the concept seems outrageous, it is actually not too far from reality. This should be a good one! Another new show alert!! The leader of the East Side Boyz will team up with the DIY Network’s Mega Dens’ Anitra Mecadon and give homeowners unconventional renovation ideas with a not-so-typical vision for their homes. that’s called, “Lil Jon Wants To Do What?” We are curious to see how this one turns out, lol. Just a week after he formally announced that his award-winning series ‘Black-ish’ would be ending after its upcoming eighth season, Kenya Barris reportedly already has plans for his next TV hit…and it also involves Eva Longoria. Kenya Barris and Eva Longoria are set to team up for more “ish”—as the two are said to be collaborating on ‘Brown-ish,’ a series centering around a modern Latina family. Kenya Barris has been one of the dominant Black creators in television throughout the last several years, courtesy of his collection of popular shows, ‘Black-ish,’ ‘Grown-ish,’ ‘Mixed-ish’ and ‘Black AF.’ Definitely, we are excited to see this as well! For the "HOT TAKE" this week, legendary DC Go-Go artist and producer Felix "Cheef" Stevenson stopped through to give discuss his career as the the drummer for the iconic band the "Huck-A-Bucks" and his new innovative creation for producers called, "Go-Go Loops." Check him out everywhere at @cheefism. Drop a comment on your thoughts! 

Former Death Row producer Kurt Kobane continues to spill the tea... this time, he alleges that Suge Knight gave singer Keyshia Cole power over Death Row when she was just 12. Kobane previously claimed that Suge and Halle Berry used to date and that Michel'le told Tupac that she caught Dr. Dre in bed with another man. Michel'le denied the claims however. It’s been nearly five years since former President Barack Obama announced that Harriet Tubman’s face would be featured on the $20 bill by 2020, and we’re still waiting. The action was delayed under the actions of former President Donald Trump, but we’re still keeping our fingers crossed as we wait to see if it will ever come to fruition. According to the U.S. Mint’s four-year program, “American Women Quarters Program,” iconic poet Maya Angelou will be the first woman through this program to receive a quarter with her face on it. Starting next year through 2025, the U.S. Mint will issue up to five new designs with other historical figures. In addition, groundbreaking astronaut ‘Sally Ride’ will also have her face on a quarter as well. Although the quarters will have Maya and Sally’s faces on their backs, former President George Washington’s face will remain on the front side. The initial batch of coins will start circulating in January 2022. Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter will be the latest Hip Hop recording artist to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The iconic Brooklyn emcee will join Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, Carole King, Todd Rundgren, and Tina Turner as part of the 2021 Class. Mary J. Blige was on the shortlist for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Class of 2021. It was the Queen of Hip Hop Soul’s first nomination. LL Cool J was also nominated this year, but voters rejected the New York native’s induction into the Hall for the sixth time. The "Martin" show is still considered one of the funniest sitcoms of the 1990s. Martin Lawrence has now teamed with the Detroit Pistons to launch Martin-themed merchandise. The limited-edition collaboration includes jerseys, hats, shorts, sweatshirts, T-shirts, and more items. The “Martin x Pistons” merch line will be available for purchase on Friday, May 14 at Pistons313Shop.com. Exciting! Rapper J. Cole is set to play professional basketball for the Rwanda Patriots of the Basketball Africa League. The rapper will bring star power to the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League, which is set to showcase 12 teams. The 36-year-old rapper's original name is Jermaine Lamarr Cole. He had a standout high school career at Sanford High School (North Carolina) and was a walk-on at St. John's men's basketball team. He pivoted to his music career before ever playing in a Division I basketball game. The Rwanda Patriots will tip off their season with a game on Sunday against the Nigeria River Hoopers airing at 7 a.m. Sunday on ESPNEWS. Congrats to Cole!! For the "HOT TAKE" this week, singer/songwriter signed with the iconic "Murder Inc" Records came through to discuss her new music, uncle 'Irv Gotti' and new single that blowing up everywhere, "Heartbreaker!" Check out this rising superstar in the making everywhere @rikwoodz. Drop a comment on your thoughts!

Show # 257 - Something(s) You May Not KnowThe ladies went in on some recent topics that maybe you didn't know or may have surprised you. The Tamron Hall show has become one of the most popular talk shows on television... but according to Dr. Ian Smith... she isn't keen on having black guests on her show. During a recent appearance on The Karen Hunter Show, Smith, wellness expert and author, shared that he's been doing interviews on pretty much every show going. But when it came to Tamron's crew, he alleges he was told that she doesn't want it to be a "Black show." Find out more on this one, weird? Cash Money Records boss Birdman has revealed that his label makes between $20-30 million from its artists master's alone. Cash Money is home to some of rap's biggest stars, including Drake, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj. Whether they leave or stay, Cash Money still owns the masters to some of their biggest hits. Birdman has been sued many times over not paying his artists, mainly Lil Wayne, who won a settlement back in 2018. We already know where the 'money resides' in this story! Former Death Row producer Kurt Kobane made several shocking allegations during his sit down for The Art of Dialogue -- one of them being that Michel'le caught Dr. Dre with a man. The singer was in a relationship with Dre in the 1990s and has a son with the producer. But Kobane says that she told Tupac Shakur that she caught the producer in bed with a man named Bruce. Kobane also claimed that Halle Berry used to sleep with Suge Knight and that Monica was trying to hook up with Tupac Shakur when she was just 15. Tupac swerved her because she was a minor. I wouldn't personally be surprised! Years back, Diddy told the world he was going to change his name to Love, and recently his new driver's license arrived proudly, showing off his new name. His name is now "Sean Love Combs." Well, he did say he would do it. Back in December, Lil Yachty teased creating his own nail paint as a response to 17-year-old, male student Trevor Wilkinson being suspended from his high school for wearing polish. He finally did it with his new unixex nail paint line, 'Crete.' Lil Yachty has been accused of being gay throughout his career. In 2020, the Quality Control recording artist faced criticism for dressing up as Oprah Winfrey for his “Oprah’s Bank Account” music video. I don't know what to say on this one?? Bill and Melinda Gates announce they're getting a divorce after 27 years. Bill and Melinda Gates got married in Hawaii in 1994 after meeting at Microsoft, where Melinda was working as a marketing manager. This news comes just two years after another of the world’s richest figures, Jeff Bezos, announced his divorce from ex-wife MacKenzie. Drop a comment on your thoughts!!

There were some stories that needed to be told through various instances that have been trending this week. Twitter is dragging Steve Harvey for saying men and women can't be friends? The ladies had some comments on this one! Kanye West enlisted high fashion brand Balenciaga to design a tribute T-shirt for the late DMX—and now that the shirt has sold out, $1 million was reportedly raised for DMX’s family! According to reports, in just 24 hours, the $200 T-shirt Kanye West commissioned Balenciaga to design raised upwards of a million dollars, with all proceeds going to DMX’s very big family. DMX was officially laid to rest over the weekend, courtesy of a public memorial (designed and orchestrated by Kanye West) and a private memorial with just his family and close friends. The public memorial was held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, with a private one that happened the following day at Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn. R.I.P. DMX! Female rap icon Lil Kim is slated to drop a book about her life on November 2, 2021, that will detail every lil’ tidbit that you’d ever wonder about her including growing up in Bed-Stuy, her relationship with Biggie Smalls, and her time that she served in jail. This should be very interesting to hear her perspective! Another Hip-Hop legend has passed. DMX, Black Rob…now, Gregory “Shock G” Jacobs, who was also known as his alter-ego Humpty Hump, passed away on April 22. Funeral arrangements for the late Digital Underground rapper are reportedly scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 1. Shock G will be laid to rest in Tampa, Florida this weekend. Digital Underground members, such as Ronald “Money-B” Brooks and David “DJ Fuze” Elliot, are expected to be present at the ceremony. R.I.P. Shock G! Death Row Records has changed ownership once again in a huge deal. In April of 2019, eOne Music acquired the label that had the West Coast dominating music in the 90s for $215 million. Less than six months later, eOne music became a part of the Hasbro toy company empire after it acquired the property in a billion-dollar buyout the following August. Now, financial giant Blackstone has bought the Death Row music rights in part of the acquisition of Entertainment One Music (eOne Music) for $385 million in cash. Wow! Lil Nas X might as well be set trippin’ with St. Peter. The chart-topping rapper is at it again, poking his metaphoric pitchfork into the Christian community promoting more apparel that seems to mock their faith. Now, the 22-year-old has connected with another company called Pizzaslime to sell the new shirts to also coincide with the release of the visual. Priced at $33 per item, the line features statements like, “I watched the ‘Montero’ video by Lil Nas X and all I got was this lousy shirt and now I’m also gay and love Satan.” This guy is on something else, lol!  For the "HOT TAKE" this week, Jamel Wade - Owner/Operator of the NEW Roku Channel, "Seven On Demand" stopped by. Illastr8 Radio has now collaborated to expand the brand and vision worldwide! Check out this channel everywhere @sevenondemand and www.7od.net and support the movement!! Drop a comment on your thoughts!

The ladies took a turn this week and discussed their feelings on the groundbreaking verdict that at one point set the world ablaze! It has taken almost a year and the collapse of a nation, but on Tuesday, April 20 around 5:05 pm EST, a jury has convicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three charges related to the murder of George Floyd. Now the man that took the life of Floyd, the rapper known as “Big Floyd,” will possibly serve up to 75 years in prison. He received a guilty verdict on the following charges: second-degree, third-degree murder, as well as second-degree manslaughter. He is the first police officer to be convicted of killing a Black person in the state of Minnesota. The jury deliberated for about 11 hours before coming to this decision. For the "HOT TAKE" this week, singer/songwriter 'Chic Loren' stopped by. Check her everywhere @chiclorgen. Drop a comment on your thoughts!

We had to "give it up" to some folks that most certainly needed it this week. First off, DMX - R.I.P! The passing of DMX this past weekend left the Hip-Hop world in tatters even though we had been preparing for the worse since news of his condition was first reported last week. With all kinds of tributes and homage being paid to the Hip-Hop legend on social media, rumors are circulating that his hometown of Yonkers, NY is thinking of immortalizing the gruff-voiced rapper with a statue in the city he called home for most of his life. The city of Yonkers is also willing to let DMX’s family use the Yonkers Raceway track to host a memorial service. Yonkers Raceway has a seating capacity of 7,500, but under the state’s COVID guidelines they’d be limited to 20 percent of that number. We'll see what happens. Whatever it is, it needs to be BIG! Flavor Flav says that people are still calling him Boosie Badazz following the gag that he pulled earlier this month. At the beginning of the month, Boosie posted a video, sharing that a fan had confused him with Flav. He appeared to be distressed. Flav then also made a video, claiming that somebody had confused him with Boosie as a joke. They do look alike with those red glasses, lol! The Centers for Disease Control and the Food & Drug Administration has recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (preferred by the Black community), citing concerning new studies which may link the vaccine to a rise in blood clots. Until recently, though, Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine had been the preferred vaccine delivered to African American communities, according to multiple reports. Health care providers viewed the J&J’s shot as a blessing, since it can be stored at refrigerator temperatures for months and takes just one dose — unlike Pfizer’s and Moderna’s. We'll see where this one goes? Nas, real name Nasir Jones, has stealthily become one of the most prolific investors in the world. And his early investment in Coinbase, the cryptocurrency exchange expected to reach over $100 billion in valuation when its COIN stock lists on Wednesday, will push him into billionaire status. Nas' investment firm has been an early stage investor in some of the biggest companies in the world, including Robinhood in 2013, Ring, Lyft and Dropbox. GET THAT BREAD! Usher trended on Twitter Monday after he allegedly threw fake dollar bills with his face on them at a strip club in Las Vegas. A woman called beel0ove on Instagram posted pics of the fake money to her private account Monday. A friend of hers then shared it, tagging the strip club, Sapphire Las Vegas. And the "Ush Busks" went viral. Find out more from the crew on this one, lol.  Rapper Styles P is calling for a Hip-Hop Union after seeing videos of former Bad Boy rapper Black Rob in poor health and homeless circle the net. This has been a long-overdue discussion that needs to happen now!  For the "HOT TAKE" this week, Attorney, Author and Actor - Tiffany Simmons, Esq. of the popular "Hood Court" on YouTube and IG stopped by. Check her everywhere @theplugslawyer. Drop a comment on your thoughts!

There were some priority situations that needed to be discussed this week! DMX was rushed to hospital on Friday after suffering an overdose. He has battled with drug addiction for most of his life. Since Friday, there have been false reports that the rapper has passed, but DMX is currently alive and on life support. Reports have additionally been given that DMX has also tested positive for COVID-19. Visitors of the rapper are being closely monitored with only a handful being approved to spend personal time with the rapper as he remains in a coma. BIG prayers up for X! Utah becomes the first state to make dad's pay prenatal child support. Utah passing a law that will require fathers to pay half of the bills when they get a woman pregnant? This directly dispels the myth of deadbeat fathers being Black. The women who are hurt most by the neglect of their children’s father, particularly during prenatal care, are those who have conceived with white men. Being trifling is not racial — it is a construct birthed out of being foul. Wow! Kanye West has been documenting his life ever since he entered the entertainment industry 20 years ago and luckily for his devoted legion of fans, all of the behind the scenes moments of the legendary rapper/producer/designer’s life will officially be available for all to see. @Billboard reports, Netflix recently agreed to pay $30 million for the rights to stream an official Kanye West documentary that is said to be 20 years in the making. As of now, there is no specific release date for the documentary, although reportedly it’s said to be dropping on Netflix sometime this year. an unnamed buyer scooped up the classic cartridge from Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas for the Super Mushroom price of $660,000 this past Friday. Get this. The original owner bought it as a Christmas gift almost 35 years ago back in 1986. Somehow, even during that era of insane Nintendo hype, he never gave it out. The $660,000 sale price obliterates any previous records for sales of Super Mario Bros. games. The biggest being a 1985 copy of the same game that went for $114,000 last July. For a video game, lol! As a way to help Black women prioritize their wellbeing, Orpha launches, "OWN Your Health." Oprah Winfrey’s latest venture "Own Your Health" is a campaign geared towards helping Black women gain agency and a greater sense of community when it comes to their health needs and the unique treatment disparities they face. Great thing to do! For the "HOT TAKE" topic this week the ladies discussed 'Things Men Got Away With In the Past…That Are Not OK In the Present?' Drop a comment on your thoughts! 

Above all else this week, the trending topics discussed didn't hold back! CBS says Sharon Osbourne will not receive $10 million to exit 'The Talk.' After sources claimed that Sharon Osbourne would be receiving up to $10 million to walk away from The Talk, CBS has released a statement shutting down the rumor. Sharon claimed that she had been "blindsided" by the network who asked her to weigh in on Piers Morgan's remarks about Meghan Markle. We'll see how this one turns out. Days after accusing Instagram owner Mark Zuckberg of being a racist, Boosie Badazz is back on the social media platform @HesBackAgain2021. Boosie has been booted off Instagram several times, most recently for sharing a video of him punching a man in the face. The clip was taken from his new music video. Boosie lost his original Instagram page for posting explicit content despite several warnings to stop. Boosie needs to get it together, lol. Nike has filed a lawsuit against MSCHF, the company that created Lil Nas X's "Satan Shoes." The shoes are unofficial designs of Nike's trademark Air Max 97 sneakers but Nike has claimed that they have nothing to do with the rapper's shoe line. Nike is asking the court to order MSCHF to "permanently stop" fulfilling orders for the "unauthorized" Lil Nas X Satan Shoes. They accuse the company of copyright infringement. The sneakers were released following the release of Lil Nas X's latest single "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)." In the video, he plays a fallen angel who rides a stripper pole to hell and gives the devil a lapdance. You can't play around like this bro!! According to the Fulton County Court Clerk, Jeezy and Mai signed off on paperwork on Monday (March 29th) – and now they have six months to tie the knot before the license expires. Jeezy became engaged to Jeannie Mai in April of 2020, after dating for a little more than two years. The Atlanta trap star decided to pop the question in 2019 during a house party in Los Angeles. This will be the second marriage for Jeannie, who divorced from her ex-husband Freddy Harteis before she met Jeezy on the set of “The Real,” where she served as a co-host. However, their wedding plans were postponed due to Jeannie Mai’s health crisis. All the best to the new hot couple on the block! Very few things in music history have made more sense than shimmery church sock-wearing Steve Harvey and his 27-button suits hosting the upcoming Easter Sunday Verzuz battle between Earth, Wind & Fire, and the Isley Brothers. Verzuz fans can also expect a 4/20 “How High” special featuring Redman & Method Man and a Battle of the ’90s Bops between legendary R&B groups SWV and Xscape. Another Verzuz BANGER!! The hubcap from the SUV that  Biggie was shot in hits auction block for $150,000. The seller received the memento from a family friend who owned the car rental company that owned the vehicle. Photos from the crime scene in 1997 show the GMC Suburban Biggie rode in with its hubcaps wearing the “THINK B.I.G. MARCH 25, 1997” stickers advertising the release of his final album, Life After Death.  Today, the 24-year old object is weathered with a partially peeled promotional sticker, as seen in updated photos on the auction site. Hey...it is a piece of Hip-Hop history after all, right?  For the "HOT TAKE" this week, Beyshan Tucker and Frances Hall from the DC based clothing store,"I'm SO DC" stopped by to give us the scoop on what's coming up on this very influential brand that is taking DC by storm! Check them out everywhere @imsodconline and www.imsodconline.com. Drop a comment on your thoughts!

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield step into the ring for a rematch on May 29th after Tyson claimed that terms had been agreed between the two veteran prizefighters. The rematch comes months after Tyson stepped into the ring with Roy Jones Jr. in November. Recently, it was claimed by Holyfield's camp that Tyson turned down $25 million for a rematch. Let's see how this one turns out?? Jamie Foxx is set to play Mike Tyson in a new biopic series titled, "Tyson." According to the Hollywood Reporter, the limited series, which was originally pitched as a film, will follow the life of Mike Tyson, and will be executive produced by the boxing legend himself, alongside AntoineFuqua and MartinScorsese. Jamie Foxx has played in his fair share of o biopics films, but Mike Tyson is also accomplished on the entertainment front. Back in 2009, he played himself in Hangover and brought his one-man show to Broadway. He has also dabbled in a few animated series, including Adult Swim’s Mike Tyson Mysteries. We are excited for this! On March 14, Nas won the first Grammy Award of his career at the 63rd annual ceremony when the Recording Academy named King’s Disease as Best Rap Album. Plus, his first studio LP is being labeled an “audio treasure” worthy of preservation by the United States Library of Congress. Illmatic will now live in the LOC alongside other Hip Hop classics like Run-D.M.C.’s Raising Hell, N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton, De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and Jay-Z’s The Blueprint. Only eleven Hip Hop acts have been chosen for the honor. Congrats, Nas! Former President Trump is now launching his own social media platform to rival Twitter. When Twitter and Facebook bounced Donald Trump off of their social media platforms for spreading false information about the election, many suspected that the former president would lose his mind not being able to express himself to the public via the mediums. Despite inciting a national insurrection on January 6, for the most part, 45 didn’t. He sat in the cut quietly and plotted a way to push his propaganda to MAGA Maniacs all across the world. Now we know why. Wild ‘N Out was put on hiatus. That decision was the result of the show’s host/producer Nick Cannon dealing with significant backlash for making anti-Semitic comments on his Cannon’s Class podcast. He later publicly apologized. Following Cannon’s mea culpa, ViacomCBS announced last month that the entertainment conglomerate is bringing Wild ‘N Out back to VH1. New episodes of the program will be made in the future, but the pre-recorded second half of season 15 will start airing on April 6 at 8 pm ET/PT. The line-up of guest stars for the new installments of Wild ‘N Out includes Rapsody, Juvenile, Cuban Doll, Headkrack, Da Brat, MC Lyte, 24kGoldn, Big Tigger, Young Joc, Peter Gunz, Corey Gunz, Trinidad James, Queen Najia, FatBoy SSE, Donnell Rawlings, and more. Definitely excited about this one!  For the "HOT TAKE" this week, Ramona Harris of "Truth Marketing and Consulting." Check her out everywhere @truthmarketingandconsulting and www.truthmarketingandconsulting.com. Drop a comment on your thoughts!