Fans of sports entertainment and pop culture, get ready for a new and exciting addition to your screens! The highly anticipated “Come and Talk 2 Me” network, founded by the legendary rapper and entrepreneur Cam’ron, is proud to announce its latest addition – a dynamic and thrilling new show “Check Out the Stat” featuring none other than the talented Treasure Wilson, better known as Stat Baby.
The show debuted October 20th on the Come and Talk 2 Me Network on Youtube. The show promises to deliver an unfiltered and captivating experience that will undoubtedly resonate with viewers from all walks of life. Wilson, a University of Miami alumni, and social media sensation with over 53k Instagram followers and 45k followers on Tik Tok, is no stranger to making waves in the world of entertainment. Her new show, brought to you by the “Come and Talk 2 Me” network, will surely be no exception.
Known for her fearless and engaging style, Stat Baby is set to bring a fresh perspective to the network. The show will provide a platform for candid conversations on a variety of topics in the sports and entertainment world. Treasure’s unique ability to connect with her audience will ensure that her interviews and discussions will be nothing short of entertaining and insightful.
Cam’ron, the visionary behind the “Come and Talk 2” Me network, expressed his excitement about the new addition to the network’s lineup: “She is talented and deserves the opportunity so I gave her one!”
The new school year is just underway and college students across the country are already flexing their flirting skills. In fact, Tinder sees the highest influx of new 18-year-old members during freshman orientations. To encourage this new cohort of users to put themselves out there and make new on-campus connections, Tinder is partnering with “Tap In” rapper Saweetie to launch Swipe Off. The nationwide challenge will award the college or university with the most Swipe activity, proving it’s at the forefront of crush culture, a free concert headlined by Saweetie, along with a surprise special guest.
Starting today, the Swipe Off challenge is open to select colleges and universities enrolled in Tinder U, an in-app feature that lets collegiate users easily connect with others at their school. The school that sends the most Likes (…or Nopes) on Tinder through October 6th will win a free concert for its campus.
“Tinder is always working to match the vibrant energy of our college users. They form the core of our user base, and over the years, we’ve seen countless campus connections blossom into meaningful relationships,” says Stephanie Danzi, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Tinder. “We created The Swipe Off challenge to feed into that energy and encourage them to unlock all the possibilities of the college experience that come from meeting new people.”
It’s no coincidence that the Icy Girl herself is headlining the ultimate Swipe Off experience for the winning school. Saweetie has been vocal in her affinity for both the college experience and Tinder, with the proud USC alum referencing the brand in her viral hit single “Tap In.”
“Whether they were a fling, a friend, or something more serious, the people I met at USC are what made my time there a blast. I’m excited to partner with Tinder in encouraging today’s college students to ‘tap in’ to the possibilities that come from meeting new people.” says Saweetie.
Can You Dig It? A Hip Hop Origin Story has released the official trailer and cover art for the new Audible Original with hip-hop legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chuck D. The 5-part Audible series, debuting August 10 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, explores a rarely told story that led to the birth of a global artistic movement. Offering an exclusive sneak preview, the trailer sets the stage for an extraordinary journey, telling the story behind the birth of hip-hop in the Bronx during the early 1970s.
Can You Dig It? explores the events surrounding the murder of Cornell “Black Benjie” Benjamin, a respected peacekeeper and member of the Ghetto Brothers gang in the Bronx. This series dives deep into the impact of his death and the subsequent Hoe Avenue peace meeting, where hundreds of gang members gathered to choose peace over violence. The outcome of this historic meeting laid the foundation for the birth of hip-hop, ultimately leading to Kool Herc’s legendary Back to School party in 1973.
Narrated by Chuck D, Can You Dig It? features interviews with influential figures who were at the forefront of this cultural movement. Their firsthand accounts, including former Black Panther and peacekeeper Joseph Mpa, original hip-hop MC Coke La Rock, and renowned photographers/documentarians Joe Conzo and Henry Chalfant, provide an immersive journey into the political and social landscape of the time.
Also included is insight from the family of Black Benjie, who go on-record, for the first time ever, “If Kool Herc is considered the father of hip-hop, then my uncle was the general; my uncle was the martyr,” says Angelique Lenox, niece of Black Benjie. “He didn’t die in vain, something good came from his death; his life mattered. This is truly my best version of a love letter to my father and my family and I will not stop until his name is a part of the hip-hop story.”
Walt Disney World Resort made a special appearance at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture to announce the opening of applications and nominations for the 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy. Gospel singing star Pastor Mike Jr., joined Disney executive Tracey D. Powell and motivational speaker/former dreamer– Princeton Parker during the announcement at the Essence stage in front of thousands of spectators to announce the life-changing program.
Disney Dreamers Academy Application Announcement
The Disney Dreamers Academy is an epic four-day annual event held in March to enlighten and cultivate students at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The program is designed to broaden career and personal development for 100 teens from Black and underrepresented communities across America.
Students looking to achieve their dreams can apply and, for the first time this year, be nominated for the program at www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. The application process opens Monday and runs through October. The 100 selected students will receive an all-expense-paid trip along with one parent or guardian to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to experience a combination of inspiration, education and fun at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
“We’re seeking the next generation of big dreamers to bring to Walt Disney World for the 17th year of this life-changing program,” said Disney Signature Experiences vice president Tracey D. Powell, who is also the program’s executive champion. “Any teen in your life who aspires to achieve their goals should apply. You never know where it could take them!”
Pastor Mike Jr., dubbed “The New King of Urban Inspiration,” is an 11-time Stellar Award Gospel Artist, best known for his songs “I Got It” and “So Good”. As one of several celebrity speakers who took part in last year’s Disney Dreamers Academy, he motivated the students through his inspiring storytelling and musical performance.
“Inspiring others is my passion, and it is also the core of Disney Dreamers Academy, which is why I’m so proud to affiliate myself with this program,” said Pastor Mike Jr. “I’ve seen how passionate these students are and I would encourage all students to apply or nominate a fellow Disney Dreamer for this once-in-a-lifetime transformative event.”
Pastor Mike Jr., Tracey D. Powell and Princeton Parker
The impactful Disney program introduces the teens to an array of new opportunities, such as sessions teaching valuable life tools, leadership skills, effective communication techniques and networking strategies.
Students attend in-depth workshops in a variety of disciplines aligned with their dreams. These workshops introduce the Disney Dreamers to diverse career paths within business, entertainment, and sciences, including career opportunities within The Walt Disney Company.
Halle Bailey Surprises Students at Disney Dreamers Academy
In her role as Disney Dreamers Academy Ambassador, actor and singer Halle Bailey, who plays the lead role as Ariel in the live-action remake of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” was part of many special moments during this year’s event, sharing her own personal struggles and lessons on her path to success. She also personally hosted two aspiring filmmakers from the class at the world premiere of “The Little Mermaid.”
Over the years, Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired more than 1,500 students from across the country. Each year, graduates have gone on to become doctors, engineers, performing artists, entrepreneurs, Disney Cast Members and more, and some have transitioned into mentors to the Disney Dreamers who followed them.
The Disney Dreamers Academy program is an important part of Disney’s commitment to supporting diverse communities by encouraging the next generation to think big and to use what they learn in their relentless pursuit of their dreams in hopes of making a difference in the lives of others.
Grammy Award-winning singer, actress, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Monica is announcing MoTalk Radio, a limited radio series airing exclusively on Apple Music’s global live-streaming radio station Apple Music Hits.
On MoTalk Radio, Monica will focus on R&B of the ’90s and ’00s with mixes curated by DJ Baby Yu. She will bring this music to life with her commentary and insight, and will include candid interview segments with various personalities, touching on music and trending cultural topics.
The debut episode will air Saturday, June 24 at 3pm PT featuring special guest NBA Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Shaquille O’Neal.
About the show, Monica says, “MoTalk is an outlet for artists, entertainers, musicians, politicians, athletes, and others to share their story, their way! Being interviewed over the years has given me insight that allows me to tell the story respectfully, our truths are often diluted and distorted for the gain of others. MoTalk brings that to an end, and gives creatives back their stories. Discussing hard topics, creating change, and highlighting the greats is key for me.”
This month, Red Bull officially debuted Red Bull 1520, a new YouTube channel dedicated to hip-hop programming from the world of Red Bull, featuring beats, bars and live performances from rap’s next movement. Ensuring fans never miss a beat, Red Bull 1520 will showcase exclusive content from Red Bull’s various music events across the U.S. as well as original series featuring content you won’t find anywhere else.
Informed by the artists and movements born from the last 50 years of hip-hop but focused on the future of the genre, Red Bull 1520 pays homage to the culture through talent-driven and engaging programming, starting with the debut of two new monthly hip-hop music series: Red Bull Spiraland Red Bull Rap IQ.
Based on the popular Japanese format, Red Bull Rasen,Red Bull Spiral invites 3-4 MCs to Red Bull’s LA recording studio to collaborate on a one-of-a-kind cypher. Filmed in one continuous take, Red Bull Spiral challenges even the most seasoned artists to stay cool under pressure and deliver perfect bars as the camera spins through the studio, capturing every movement. Watch LA crew Coast Contra kick off the series with their debut episode here, and look out for upcoming drops featuring KenThe Man, Kalan.FrFr, Baby Tate, LaRussell, Buddy, Nana, and more.
“We definitely had to take our time and approach this like a show,” says Coast Contra’s Ras Austin. “It’s a challenge but we wanted to make it as fun of an experience for the viewers as we could. When Taj gets in a certain pocket and everybody starts a rotation in sync with his flow. Super dope moment!”
Over the weekend, it was confirmed in a post to her 5.4 million IG followers that popular OnlyFans model Diana Deets, who is better knowns as “Coconut Kitty,” was found dead in an apparent suicide. Her age is still yet to be confirmed.
The post read, “It’s unfair. Life is unfair. We wish you guys could get to know her the way her friends and family did. See, she was such a light to this world. Truly she was always glowing. You could never slow that girl down. She was so hard headed and strong, but also just so kind with the biggest heart we have ever known. She was always trying to lift everyone up around her. She wanted everyone to win.”
Deets claimed to be 24 years old for many years and in an exposé by Rolling Stone, it was discovered that she edited her photos considerably, which led to allegations that she was baiting pedophiles. In the article, Deets related the creation of her Coconut Kitty character to her visual art, explaining, “I wanted to make something that looked like a real-life anime character, small chin, big eyes, that was made in my likeness, because I use a picture of myself and I edit it. I just wanted to create a fantasy, just a character. And I was able to hide my identity and still make money off my art.”
Deets was also accused of luring younger women to join OnlyFans, but in her response stated, “I wouldn’t do anything in an unsafe environment, and I wouldn’t attend myself if I was unsafe. And I wouldn’t do that to someone else if it was unsafe for them.”
Ne-Yo, the three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning R&B hitmaker, iconic songwriter, actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, has sold a cumulative 20+ million adjusted albums worldwide. His debut single, 2005’s “So Sick,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified quadruple Platinum.
Since then, the Motown Records/Compound Entertainment recording artist has racked up a collection of hits including “Sexy Love,” “Closer,” “Because of You,” “Miss Independent,” and “Push Back” [feat. Bebe Rexha and Stefflon Don]. Three of his albums have entered SoundScan’s Top Current Albums chart at No. 1. Ne-Yo has also proven to be as powerful with his pen as he is in the studio and on stage. The Las Vegas native quickly became known as a go-to hitmaker, penning bangers like Rihanna’s “Unfaithful,” “Russian Roulette,” and “Take a Bow,” along with Beyoncé’s 2006 breakup anthem “Irreplaceable” and songs for such artists as Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Carrie Underwood, and Celine Dion, among others.
Ne-Yo’s film and television credits include NBC’s World of Dance, Empire, Stomp the Yard, Save the Last Dance, Battle: Los Angeles, George Lucas’ Red Tails, The Wiz Live! and Starz’ Step Up: High Water. Most recently, Ne-Yo released his eighth full-length album, Self Explanatory, which boasts singles “Handle Me Gently,” “Don’t Love Me,” and “You Got The Body.”
Academy Award, Grammy and Emmy-winning artist Common takes fans behind the scenes of the official music video for “The Light,” in the latest installment of Vevo Footnotes, premiering today. The exclusive content is part of Vevo’s celebration to honor the historic 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop – more details here.
“Thank you Vevo for always supporting my work, this is dope to be a part of Vevo Footnotes. This is the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and man…hip-hop has changed my life in ways that I can’t even fathom. I thank God for hip-hop, and thank y’all for celebrating ‘The Light’ and including it in Footnotes for the celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. Peace.” – Common
In the episode, Common pays tribute to J Dilla, delves into how Erykah Badu influenced the song’s message about the different dimensions of love and shares how, as a Southside Chicago dude, he initially felt uncomfortable about not wearing socks during the music video shoot. Additionally, Common discusses “The Light” being one of his greatest videos, his favorite line in the song and how proud he is that so many people have told him they’ve played the song at their weddings.
Actress Tiffany Haddish says she lost all her jobs after a recent lawsuit was filed against her. Along with Aries Spears, the two comedians were accused of grooming and coercing two siblings “Jane” and “John Doe”, aged 7 and 14 at the time, to take part in sexually explicit skits on two separate occasions.
On Wednesday Haddish told reporters the lawsuit cost her everything, including all her jobs, but that she feels relieved now that the whole thing is behind her.
According to reports, Haddish worked out a settlement agreement, privately with the two accusers and in return, the “Jane Doe” has now dismissed the lawsuit entirely.
