HBCUs

The Honda Battle Of The Bands Will Invite HBCU Marching Bands To Los Angeles For Its First-Ever West Coast Showcase

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Honda Battle of the Bands 2023, Morgan State University
HONDA

For the last 20 years, the Honda Battle Of The Bands (HBOB), an invitational showcase that spotlight some of the best HBCU marching bands across the country, made its home on the East Coast. Annual showcases from its launch in 2003 to 2020 (except for a one-year hiatus in 2019) were held in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. After a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the HBOB returned in 2023 and Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama was selected as the first HBCU to host the invitational. Another break came in 2024, but now the HBOB is back as they confirmed a showcase will take place in 2025. Here’s the twist: They’re going west for the first time ever.

The HBOB will take over SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Saturday, February 1, 2025 for the 19th showcase in its history. Six bands will receive the honor of participating in the invitational for its West Coast debut. The bands for the showcase will be selected through a voting process that includes HBOB fans, HBCU band directors and students, and Honda representatives. Voting begins on July 15 and fans can cast their vote on the HBOB website. Tickets for HBOB 2025 go on sale on May 15 on the HBOB website.

“Honda continues its commitment to powering the dreams and success of HBCU students by providing experiences and opportunities like Honda Battle of the Bands,” said Yvette Hunsicker, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion & Diversity at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Bringing Honda Battle of the Bands to California will provide a platform for these young musicians while expanding awareness of the rich legacy of HBCU schools.”

Ahead of HBOB 2025, Honda showed its commitment to HBCU music education with a $50,000 grant to Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The grant is dedicated to “awarding scholarships that will power the academic ambitions of HBCU student-musicians across the country,” according to a Honda press release. More information about the scholarship program can be found on the Thurgood Marshall College Fund website.

Deion Sanders Blasts NFL For Lack Of HBCU Rep In Draft

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Deion Sanders helped put an HBCU school on the map. As head coach of the Jackson State football program, Sanders’ squad lost just six games over three seasons. That included two perfect seasons in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Additionally, Jackson went 12-1 in the 2022 season, only losing in the postseason Celebration Bowl.

Sanders left Jackson State at the end of the 2022 season to take the vacant job at Colorado. He brought many of his star players with him and has transformed the program there. He has put Colorado back on the map, even if the program is seeing massive player turnover. The school’s spring game sold out for the first time ever. One the flip side, 20 players entered the portal right after the game. It’s a wild time in Colorado. However, Sanders was not happy with the treatment HBCUs got at the 2023 NFL Draft. He took to Twitter to force his frustrations.

Sanders Calls Out 31 NFL Teams

HBCUs are often overlooked on draft day. Just 12 players from such schools were picked between 2016 and 2021. Four went in the 2022 draft. Furthermore, that number dropped to just one over the course of the 2023 draft. The lone HBCU representative in 2023 was Jackson State cornerback and kick returner, Isaiah Bolden. Bolden was selected 245th overall by the New England Patriots, just 14 picks before the end of the draft. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that he was a Coach Prime alum.

Posting to Twitter, Sanders made his thoughts on the lack of HBCU rep very clear. “So proud is you @isaiahbolden23 You deserved to be drafted much higher but I’m truly proud of u. I know how much u want this. I’m ashamed of the 31 other @nfl teams that couldn’t find draft value in ALL of the talented HBCU players & we had 3 more draft worthy players at JSU.” However, Sanders’ comments met a lot of backlash from white people who somehow interpreted Sanders’ comments as a call for affirmative action. HBCUs have long had to deal with being viewed as the “second-tier” in both educational standards and sporting prowess. However, it’s an unfair perception and one that Sanders is putting on blast.

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A New “Freaknik” Documentary Is In The Works

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Nostalgia for the 90s is all the rage right now. From music to fashion, the decade has experienced a renaissance in recent years. Thus, it only makes sense to do a documentary on one of the most iconic names of the decade. Freaknik was a street concert that took place in Atlanta during the 80s and 90s. Subsequently, the event has become one of the most discussed topics of the decade. Now, a new project seeks to tell the untold story of the event.

“Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” will air on Hulu. According to Variety, the project “Recounts the rise and fall of a small Atlanta HBCU picnic that exploded into an influential street party and spotlighted ATL as a major cultural stage.” The company did not announce when the documentary would be released. However, some Twitter users seem to be nervous about the contents of the new documentary. Comedian David Alan Grier tweeted his humorous reaction to the project, “On my way to court to get a cease and desist for this new Freaknik documentary,” he said.

Freaknik Goes From Small Concert To Massive Event

Guests attend Freaknik21 – Celebrating 21 Savage Birthday in Underground Atlanta (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

Freaknik has its roots in historically black universities. The event was created in 1983 by students at Spelman College. Initially, it was conceived as a small picnic for students at Spellman and fellow Atlanta HBCUs, Morehouse, and Clark Atlanta. However, the event would explode in popularity during the 90s. During this time, the event evolved from a small picnic to a massive multi-day event. Subsequently, students from HBCUs across the country began to make the annual pilgrimage to Atlanta.

Freaknik undoubtedly made an indelible impact on black culture during the 90s. Many lifelong friendships were made at the event. Moreover, many festival-goers will tell you attending the event was among the happiest times of their lives. However, there was also an ugly side to the event. Women in particular reported sexual harassment from male festival-goers. Moreover, reported rapes and sexual assaults became commonplace. Subsequently, authorities in Atlanta intervened, and the festival was shut down in 1999. However, the event did make its triumphant return in 2021. That iteration of the festival was headlined by Atlanta native 21 Savage. It will be interesting to see how this new documentary balances the good and bad from the festival’s 40-year history.

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Deion Sanders Wants Colorado Band To Adopt HBCU Sound & Style

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Deion Sanders recently met with the Colorado Buffaloes’ band director to adopt a style more akin to HBCUs. Moreover, many expressed anger and disappointment when Sanders made the call to step down as coach of a historically black university. However, it seems he wants to inject that experience into his current tenure coaching a new football team. Furthermore, Jackson State fans and players were familiar with his line of “Now give me my theme music” at the end of his pregame speech. Now, he suggested that Colorado adopt some of that same sound both on and off the field to boost morale.

“At HBCUs, it’s kind of traditional that the bands kind of coincides,” he expressed in a YouTube video from Well Off Media. “I know it’s a difference, but it don’t have to be. We like one big happy family. We’re probably gonna have a new theme song that I want you guys to get and it’s not hard. And I think you can knock it out of the park. It’ll take it to a whole new level when the band is able to execute it. That’s going to be good. Really, really good.”

Deion Sanders Looks To Move Colorado Band In HBCU Direction

Moreover, the NFL star’s new theme would reportedly replace “Here I Go” by rapper Mystikal, although it’s unclear if it will still be incorporated. While he asked for the new music to be played for the group in the video, the audio was removed from the clip. Still, it might not be enough to distract from current hot water he’s in concerning his comments on recruiting. In particular, people thought his discrimination in picking quarterbacks versus defensive players was close-minded.

“Well, we have different attributes,” he remarked on the Rich Eisen Show. “Smart, tough, fast, disciplined with character. Now, quarterbacks are different. We want mother, father. Dual parent. We want that kid to be 3.5 [GPA] and up. Because he has to be smart. Not bad decisions off the field, at all. Because he has to be a leader of men. Defensive linemen is totally opposite. Single mama, trying to get it, he’s on free lunch. I’m talking about just trying to make it. He’s trying to rescue mama. Like mama barely made the flight. And I want him to just go get it.“ As many pointed out, this narrative is unfortunately common among coaches. Regardless of his missteps, check out the full video above and stay tuned to HNHH for the latest on Deion Sanders.

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Chloe Loved An HBCU Marching Band’s Routine Set To ‘Treat Me’ During A Football Game

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chloe bailey marching band
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Like her mentor, Beyoncé, emerging pop-R&B star Chlöe is also apparently becoming a favorite of HBCU marching bands. During a Saturday night matchup between Alabama State University and Howard University for the MEAC/SWAC Classic, Alabama’s drill team the Honey Beez put on an enthusiastic, gold-clad showcase to Chlöe’s second solo single “Treat Me.” The Honey Beez twirled, twerked, tossed their matching high ponytails, and did the splits as the band turned the uptempo “Treat Me” into a blowout of epic proportions.

When Chlöe saw a clip that had been uploaded to Twitter the next day, she couldn’t contain her love for it. “Ahh, I love this!!” she wrote. “I’ve always wanted to perform my song on the field.”

“Treat Me” peaked at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the singer her second solo Hot 100 appearance after her solo debut “Have Mercy” managed to climb to No. 28. She later revealed that she wrote the song while going through a breakup. Its spicy video, which was inspired by Grace Jones and Janet Jackson, prompted some fans to joke that she’d doubled down on the overt sexiness of the “Have Mercy” video in response to critics who wanted her to tone it down.

You can see the Alabama State Honey Beez’s routine and Chlöe’s joyous response above.

Adidas Announces HBCU Student Athlete Ambassador Network

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ADIDAS

Adidas is announcing a new “name, image and likeness” network that’s open to student-athletes at NCAA Division One schools sponsored by the company.

The new network allows 50-thousand students throughout 23 sports and 109 schools to be come paid spokespeople for the brand.

Adidas says the program is set to launch in phases over the next 12 months, starting with historically Black colleges and universities and also Power Five conference partners in the fall.

“The adidas NIL network embodies our belief that sport has the power to change lives by upskilling athletes and giving them the ability to begin to experience an entrepreneurial path that will carry them beyond their college years,” Jim Murphy, Adidas NCAA program lead, said in a statement.

It will be available to other participating schools by April of next year.

Student athletes will initially be paid a percentage of the sales they drive at adidas.com or the adidas app, as well as the ability to be paid per social media post. The company didn’t disclose how much the student athletes would be making if they choose to participate in the new program.

The post Adidas Announces HBCU Student Athlete Ambassador Network appeared first on The Source.

Preserving Legacy: Nonprofit Organization Grants More Than $650,000 To Five HBCUs

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hbcu nonprofit organization

A nonprofit organization is granting more than 650-thousand dollars to five Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

According to the Miami Herald, The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the grants will be funded through its HBCU Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded the grants to “preserve, and leverage their historic campuses.”

“There are 105 HBCUs across the country, and their infrastructure needs are increasingly urgent,” the National Trust for Historic Preservation said in announcing the grants.

Calling the commitment “a roadmap for preserving and celebrating the historic and hallowed places important to their institutional legacy.”

This year’s recipients are Florida A&M University, Rust College, Johnson C. Smith University, Shaw University and Voorhees College.

Continue the conversation on social media.

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Cordae Funds Scholarships For HBCU Students With Help From Disney And ESPN

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Cordae isn’t just a critically acclaimed, hit-making young artist on the rise — he’s also an outspoken activist and advocate for social change in America and the world. Last year, he was arrested at a sit-in protest of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s home to push for Cameron to file charges against Breonna Taylor’s killers (a felony charge against him was dropped) and now, he’s partnered with Disney Dreamers Academy and ESPN’s The Undefeated to stand up for education by funding scholarships for HBCU students.

His efforts are being fueled by his participation in the upcoming compilation project Liberated / Music For the Movement Vol. 3, set to be released June 18 in honor of Juneteenth, the Black American holiday celebrating the official end of slavery in the United States. The Music For The Movement series, sponsored by The Undefeated, celebrates Black history and accomplishments of Black American activists, artists, and athletes, spawning records like Tinashe’s cover of “I’m Every Woman.”

Cordae, who appears on the track “What’s Life” with Common, committed to donating his proceeds from the track to funding scholarships for HBCU students. The Undefeated and Disney Dreamers Academy matched his donations. Cordae explained his decision in a press release. “So many people need the money more than I do,” he said. “I feel as though when you’re in such a blessed position, it’s important to pay that forward to be a blessing to others. It’s especially important to me to invest in our youth and the future. Young people are the future of our society and the world, so we must do all we can to ensure they are properly positioned to succeed. If I can spark the brain of a few future world leaders and geniuses, I’ll die a happy man.”

Liberated / Music For the Movement Vol. 3 also features Chloe Bailey, Kamasi Washington, Lucky Daye, and Yara Shahidi, and is due 6/18 on Hollywood Records.

Cordae is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.