Month: January 2025

Orlando Magic Launches $750K Venture Challenge for Sports and Wellness Startups

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The Orlando Magic, in partnership with the DeVos family and LEAD Venture Corporation, announced the Orlando Magic Venture Challenge, Powered by LEAD. This exclusive pitch event offers up to $750,000 in total investment capital to early-stage startups in sports, health, and wellness.

Applications open January 6 at OrlandoMagicVenture.com, targeting global startups in late pre-seed or post-product stages. Up to six companies will be selected to pitch their ideas in a “Shark Tank”-style setting on March 26 at the Kia Center. Individual funding will range from $50,000 to $200,000, with potential mentorship, advisory support, and commercial arrangements with the Magic.

This initiative aligns with the Magic’s ongoing commitment to innovation, demonstrated through their adoption of cutting-edge technologies and creation of the NBA’s first design thinking-based innovation lab. In partnership with LEAD ONE, a pre-seed investment vehicle, the Magic aim to drive advancements in performance, fan engagement, and basketball growth.

For details, visit OrlandoMagicVenture.com.

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Vybz Kartel Teases 2025 Collaboration with Cardi B

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Vybz Kartel is looking at a crazy 2025. Speaking with Billboard, part of his big 2025 plans is collaborating with Cardi B.

“I love Cardi! We got a song coming out next year,” Kartel said. “We are actually in the process of writing it. Even if I have to walk, I’m performing that song in New York!”

To close 2024, Vybz Kartel became an engaged man. Hitting Instagram, Kartel revealed that he made a proper proposal, putting a ring on his fiancee’s finger after asking her to be his wife while behind bars.

It’s Official #1Wife 💍❤I Proposed in Prison, Proposed in #RealLife . You were there when I needed you most and I’ll never leave you baby. I cherish all the times you came to visit me and told me that it’s going to be ok. I cherish all the times we spoke on the phone and in real life in the box. We laughed together we cried together and now we celebrate together! You’re my best friend and my companion and I pray to God we stay together for as long as I Live. I Love you baby #iloveyou #wifeforlife #Family1st #GodistheGreatest

You can see the moment below.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Historic Showdown Looms as Thunder and Cavaliers Clash Amid Record-Breaking Runs

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The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder are set to make NBA history on Wednesday in a game with unprecedented winning streaks and statistical dominance.

The Cavaliers enter the matchup with a 31-4 record, riding a 10-game winning streak, while the Thunder boast a 30-5 record and a current 15-game win streak, marking the first time two teams on such streaks have ever faced each other.

This clash also represents the first inter-conference game in league history between teams with winning percentages of .850 or higher this late in the season. Both squads have shattered franchise records, with Cleveland’s 15-game season-opening streak tied for the second-best in NBA history and Oklahoma City’s 15-game run currently unmatched.

Offensively, Cleveland leads the league with a 121.3 offensive rating, while Oklahoma City is the defensive juggernaut, posting a league-best 102.7 defensive rating. The Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell continues his historic scoring consistency, averaging at least 20 points per game for his eighth consecutive season. Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on pace for an elite statistical season, comparable only to Michael Jordan.

The game also highlights rising stars Evan Mobley and Jalen Williams, who anchor their teams at both ends of the floor. Both teams remain unbeaten in interconference matchups, with Oklahoma City 11-0 against the East and Cleveland 10-0 against the West.

Who takes the W home?

An aerial view of a field. A road runs through the upper right corner.

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Gelo Set for Rolling Loud Cali Stage Following “Tweaker” Going Viral

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With a banger going viral in “Tweaker,” LiAngelo Ball, professionally known as Gelo, is headed to the Rolling Loud stage.

Gelo is set for Rolling Loud California, with headliners in Peso Pluma, AA$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti at Hollywood Park next to SoFi Stadium. Passes to the California show go on sale this Friday here.

Gelo’s banger is already taking over locker rooms. The Detroit Lions have plenty of reasons to turn up this week following their impressive win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in which they secured a first-round bye in the playoffs…and it appears that their post-game locker room celebration came with its own soundtrack from a somewhat unexpected “artist.”

Video footage of the Lions post-game celebration shows team members, including Amon-Ra St. Brown and Alex Anzalone, rapping along to LiAngelo Ball’s new rap song, “Tweaker,” which has spiked in popularity over the past week. The video, which can be found on Instagram, shows players singing along to some of the song’s already iconic lines, including “I might swerve bend that corner Woah,” and showing off their dance moves.

The song, released last week, currently holds the top spot for trending music videos on YouTube, racking up an impressive almost 3 million views in just days. It can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2MdybKPqfE.

Ball’s basketball career ended after suffering an injury while playing in the CIBACOPA Mexican basketball league in 2024. The Detroit Lions’ 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings brings their season record to an impressive 15-2. The Sunday win means that the team clinched the NFC North division title and secured the conference’s No. 1 seed, giving them a first-round bye before they enter the playoffs in a home game on either January 18 or 19th.

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Busta Rhymes Flexes His Weight Loss: ‘The Blessings Don’t Stop’

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New Year, new body. Busta Rhymes is highlighting his new figure, showing off a weight loss. TMZ notes Busta has dropped 64 pounds, which was aided by a private chef on tour and a consistent workout regimen.

Peep Busta’s message:

THE BLESSINGS DON’T STOP SO WE WON’T EVER STOP!! NEVVVVVERRRRR!!! GRAND RISING DON’T BLOCK YOUR BLESSINGS AND BE GREAT PEOPLE!!
“WENT TO THE BATHROOM TO WASH UP, PUT SOME SOAP ON MY FACE AND MY HAND UPON A CUP.
AND SAID A, MIRROR MIRROR IN THE WALL, WHO IS THE TOP CHOICE OF THEM ALL?!
IT WAS A RUBBLE DUBBLE 5 MINUTES IT LASTED, THE MOREOR SAID YOU ARE YOU CONCEITED BASTARD!!”

You can see his new look below.

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Rolling Loud California 2025 Announces Star-Studded Lineup with A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, and Peso Pluma

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Kicking off a new era after a decade of dominance, Rolling Loud California 2025 returns to Hollywood Park in Inglewood, CA, on March 15-16. The World’s Largest Hip-Hop Festival unveils a stellar lineup headlined by A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, and special guest Peso Pluma, alongside more than 75 artists showcasing the vibrancy of hip-hop culture.

With a refreshed format, Rolling Loud California offers fans its immersive festival experience at accessible prices, starting at $179 for GA passes and $499 for VIP. Spanning three stages, the festival also features signature attractions like Loud Cutz, the Rolling Loud Tattoo Parlour, Bunny’s Bae Bar, and an array of yet-to-be-announced art installations and cultural activations.

Headliners A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti bring their dynamic artistry to the mainstage. Rocky continues to build anticipation for his album Don’t Be Dumb, fueled by hits like “Tailor Swif” and “Ruby Rosary” featuring J. Cole. Carti, riding high off his Rolling Loud Miami 2024 performance, previews tracks from his forthcoming album I AM MUSIC. Peso Pluma adds to the excitement, delivering hits from his platinum-selling album ÉXODO.

Beyond the headliners, Rolling Loud California celebrates the diversity of hip-hop with performances from stars like YG, Quavo, Ken Carson, and Destroy Lonely; breakout talents like Sexyy Red and Ski Mask The Slump God; and West Coast legends such as Ab-Soul, Dom Kennedy, and Blxst.

Rolling Loud California 2025 promises a weekend of unforgettable performances, cultural celebration, and a powerful snapshot of hip-hop’s evolution.

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Mark Zuckerburg Announces Rollback of Fact Checking on Facebook and IG in Alignment with Trump Desires

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Donald Trump is having his way with the leaders of tech companies. The latest is Mark Zuckerburg, who is leading Meta in a policy change that will end fact-checking and more.

“The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech,” Zuckerberg said. “So we’re going back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and reducing free expression on our platforms.”

So what will be in place? What Zuckerburg calls a “more comprehensive community not system.” Think what Elon Musk has done with X.

Furthermore, Zuckerburg looks to work alongside the Trump administration “to push back on governments around the world that are going after American companies and pushing to censor more.”

According to Deadline, Trump spoke about the decision, stating, “I think they have come a long way, Meta, Facebook.” He also noted his threats to Zuckerburg over his business practices are “probably” in practice.

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Fifth Suspect in Murder of Julio Foolio Arrested in Jacksonville

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The fifth murder suspect of Julio Foolio was captured after being on the run for several months.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Davion Murphy’s arrest brings all suspects into custody. He avoided capture for six months.

The 27-year-old Murphy was apprehended at a Jacksonville apartment complex.

“While it took some time, JSO and partners worked daily to hold these individuals accountable,” said JSO Director of Investigations and Homeland Security Mark Romano.

In July, Tampa police announced multiple arrests on Monday in connection to the shooting that left Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio dead. Sean Gathright, 18, Alicia Andrews, 21, and Isaiah Chance Jr., 21, were arrested in Jacksonville and charged with premeditated first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

At that time warrants were issued for Rashad Murphy, 30, and Davion Murphy, 27, who were still at large.

The rapper, whose real name was Charles Jones, was fatally shot on June 23 at a Holiday Inn on Fowler Avenue. Police believe Jones was attempting to secure a room at the hotel after being kicked out of an Airbnb while celebrating his 26th birthday.

Authorities have indicated that the suspects are members of rival Jacksonville gangs who collaborated to murder him. Jones had posted his location online multiple times before the shooting, and it is believed the suspects followed before ambushing his car at the Holiday Inn.

In addition to Jones, three others were injured in the shooting but survived their injuries. Law enforcement also released a video of the incident, highlighting the suspects stalking Jones, wearing all black, and firing upon a car in which Jones attempted to escape. According to News4Jax, He was sitting in the front passenger side. The shooters were armed with a handgun and two rifles. The murder was the latest in a history of violence between 6 Block, which Foolio was a member of, and the gang’s rivals ATK and 1200.

“Today, three dangerous criminals are off our Florida streets and in police custody where they belong,” Waters said. “These individuals have chosen lives of urban terrorism and with arrests we show Tampa, Jacksonville and the rest of Florida, we hold violent criminals accountable.”

Video was also released of the moment when authorities arrested the alleged murderers, which you can see below.

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Cardi B Says No Sex or Dating Until She Finishes Her ‘Mission’

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Another day, another Cardi B career update. Hitting social media, Cardi revealed that she is sidestepping sex to get her mission done because it’s a distraction. The mission appears to be her album.

“I don’t even want to take dick right now. Every single time I take dick, I get distracted. I don’t want no distraction,” Cardi said. “I put a little pause on my dating life because January is very, very, very, very important, and I have a mission to complete. And if I don’t complete this mission, it’s gonna fuck up the schedule for this year.”

You can hear Cardi announce it all below.

Cardi B wants the world to know she is far from hard up for money. With rumors flying that the rapper must rely on brand deals, Cardi hit Spaces to reveal she could make $65 million in a day.

“I want to let y’all know that I could wake up tomorrow and sign a contract, and I would have half of $65 million, or half of $70 million, in my bank,” Cardi said.

She would reveal that she has not accepted a touring deal because her second album isn’t out. That’s currently scheduled for 2025. You can see the reveal below.

Cardi B is gearing up for a major comeback in 2025. The Bronx-bred diva is sending a clear message to anyone who’s crossed her in 2024. On Sunday, November 24, Cardi took to IG Live, delivering a message to her followers and detractors alike.

With her trademark confidence, Cardi warned those who had wronged her this year, demanding they make amends before the new year begins. “I’m telling you right now,” she said, her tone firm. “Every person who played with me in 2024—y’all better apologize today. I mean it. Apologize today.”

PERIODT. That wasn’t a typo btw.

Now, Cardi has made it clear she plans to enter 2025 with a clean slate, having no tolerance for any lingering disrespect. Her declaration became even more intense as she continued, saying, “As soon as 12:00 A.M. hits, I’m hitting the reset button. And I’m whipping everybody’s ass with a wet belt.”

The thought of the wet belt. Lol.

Though she didn’t name specific individuals, Cardi’s frustration was palpable. “I’m sick of everybody,” she confessed, revealing her weariness with the drama she’s faced over the past year.

Sometimes the apps don’t need to be called out. They know who they are.

Looking back on 2024, Cardi called it “the weirdest year I’ve ever experienced.” She had previously shared that her highly anticipated sophomore album, initially expected to drop in 2024, would be delayed. Despite the setback, she remains optimistic about the future. “Next year is going to be my year,” she confidently declared. “My album will drop, and my secret businesses will finally come to light.”

Interestingly, she wrapped up her Live on a lighter note; Cardi showed her usual humor, joking, “Hopefully, I get myself a little boyfriend next year. I’m hoe-less right now,” before adding, “I gotta get my s### together.”

Let’s see what happens. We’re here for it.

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