Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon, who is famously married to WWE mogul Vince McMahon, to take on the role of Secretary of Education in his administration. Having previously served as the WWE’s chief executive, Linda stepped down from the role in 2009 to pursue a career in politics. She ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut twice, in 2010 and 2012, but lost both elections.
“Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students and Workers, and make America Number One in Education in the World. We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort,” Trump said in a statement on Tuesday night.
Linda McMahon Speaks At The Republican National Convention
It’s not the first time McMahon will have worked with Trump behind the scenes. After supporting his campaign throughout the 2016 election cycle, McMahon took on the role of Administrator of the Small Business Administration for the former president’s first time in office.
The presumptive appointment of McMahon comes after Trump previously promised to shut down the Department of Education. In one campaign video caught by AllHipHop, he accused schools of “indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual and political material.” To take action against the perceived situation, Trump vowed to slash federal funding to “any school pushing Critical Race Theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.” As for Trump’s other picks, he also caused controversy by selecting Dr. Mehmet Oz as the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as Matt Gaetz as the Attorney General.
The hip-hop world has lost another incredible figure earlier today. According to a report from AllHipHop, Michigan rapper Xzibit tragically announced the passing off iconic West Coast MC Saafir. He did so through an emotional and well-written post on Instagram just hours ago. “I can’t believe I’m writing this right now, but don’t know what else to do at the moment. Approximately at 8:45am this morning, my brother Reggie known to the world as Saafir passed away. We have so much history I can’t even explain what I’m feeling right now. We surrounded him and let him know how much we loved him. He can rest now,” Xzibit began.
“Friends, Family, everyone that rocked with us from the Hip Hop community, if you could be so solid and reach out for @chopblack his younger brother, and @lilsaafir his son, the family really needs to be supported during this time. That’s all I have right now. My soul is crushed. We love you Bro.” Saafir was 54, and his cause death is not known at this time.
For those who may not be familiar, Saafir was a prominent figure in the underground scene. He dropped his debut record, Boxcar Sessions, in 1994. However, he may be best recognized for his affiliation with a couple of rap groups. One of them was the Hobo Junction and the other being Golden State Project. The latter was a collective of Saafir, his “brother” Xzibit, and Rass Kass.
However, the underground legend was not just a spitter. He also had a role in the cult-classic film, Menace II Society. Fans in the comments section of Xzibit’s post were extremely supportive, with several notable names popping in to send their condolences. Royce da 5’9″ was left speechless, simply replying, “” Our deepest condolences go out to Xzibit and Saafir’s family and friends.
After many hours of preparation it’s finally time to enjoy Howard University’s 100th Homecoming celebration featuring a collaboration between the school’s talented marching band and legendary hip-hop producer, Just Blaze.
We pick up the HBCU Homecoming series with only a day left before Director of Bands Chancellor Mills gets to prove himself in his first year in the position with the help of more than 100 band members and his staff. “It’s all in the planning, first and foremost,” Mills said in preparation for the event. “We don’t want to throw anything together and just put it out there; it’s huge this year.” As Mills said, the planning is critical, as the pressure of the occasion couldn’t be any higher, with current students and alumni all expecting a great show.
“This performance is just going to signify where this program is,” said Mills. “It’s going to dictate how we’re going to move for the next 3-5 years. It’s significant in terms of what we want to give back to our community.”
Fortunately, the hard work pays off as the band comes out at halftime to give the crowd their best with renditions of hip-hop classics produced by Just Blaze, including Joe Budden’s “Pump it Up” and “What We Do” by Freeway, who appeared to perform the song in-person. “I’ve had my songs played at a million sporting events,” Blaze said of the performance. “This is just kind of a great add-on to that part of the legacy. It sounded amazing.”
As Blaze says in the episode, the party was far from over after the performance. Check out additional footage from the band’s night performance and more to see how the performance was received.
Uncle Luke is quite the outspoken hip-hop voice, and he recently took to social media to rant about the villainization of the Black community. Specifically, he seemed to argue that there are alleged systems in place that look to make successful Black people out to be villains in the culture, and even named Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Diddy as specific examples of Black superstars that formed part of these very same systems and contributed to the villainization of their community.
“LeBron James is a villain,” Uncle Luke began. “Why? Because he has all-Black representation. […] You guys don’t know, that’s how America works. I, Luther Campbell, I am a villain. I’m a bad guy. That’s why when you look at my profile, ‘bad boy of hip-hop.’ I will never get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Puff Daddy was not a villain, he was one of them. Kanye West was one of them. Jay-Z was one of them. Biggie Smalls, a villain. Tupac, a villain. We all are villains. And until you people realize that as Black people in America, you are the villain. It’s black and white. You are the opposite of white. We will always be in competition with them. Y’all don’t hear me.”
Of course, this is far from the first time that Uncle Luke has expressed his thoughts on these issues and similar ones. In fact, he recently spoke on the Diddy situation and claimed that he was “consumed” by drugs. So to hear this sort of assessment now is not very surprising, although many in the comments section of the Instagram post covering this above found plenty of room for debate and pushback concerning these remarks.
Meanwhile, Uncle Luke doesn’t just call out rappers for more serious fare, but also when he feels like he deserves some of their flowers, too. He took to social media earlier this year to ask female rappers for recognition and compensation for innovating the more lewd and party-centric style that they eventually came to prominence through. We can only wonder as to what hot take will emerge from the Miami rap icon.
Christian “King” Combs has been dealing with the scandal of his father Diddy’s federal alleged sex trafficking case, but his social media presence can also turn more wholesome. Moreover, he recently took to his Instagram page on Friday (November 15) to post a heartening and sincere tribute to his late mother Kim Porter, who tragically passed away due to pneumonia six years ago. King shared some clips of the two of them together plus some sweet pictures in addition to a heartfelt and heart-breaking caption. Even though the Combs family faces a lot of uphill battles, tough conversations, and intense media scrutiny these days, they recognize the importance of maintaining a united family in remembrance of those they’ve lost.
“I LOVE YOU MOMMY AND I MISS YOU SOOO MUCH!!! [red heart emoji],” King Combs wrote on his Kim Porter tribute post on Instagram. “Every single day I think about you and I wish I could go back in time and feel your love again and hear your voice !! I miss you and I know you are still with me everyday [red heart emoji] [baby angel emoji] #Foreverkp.”
Diddy’s twin daughters Jessie and D’Lila Combs also joined King Combs on Instagram to pay tribute to their mother Kim Porter. “We can’t believe it’s been 6 years without you,” their message on the social media platform kicked off. “We think about you every single second of the day, we love and miss you so much words can’t even explain, we wish you were here with us. But we know your spirit will be around forever!! We Love you Mommy [two red heart emojis].”
Meanwhile, King Combs’ tribute to Kim Porter comes amid federal prosecutors’ accusations that Diddy is trying to manipulate witnesses and jurors in his case. Allegedly, he’s called his family members to organize a positive social media campaign for his birthday and to reach out to alleged victims and potential witnesses to sway the trial in his favor. Of course, these are all just allegations at the end of the day that everyone should take with a grain of salt until the trial develops further.
NLE Choppa has faced a lot of backlash in the past for his support of the LGBTQIA+ community and his decision to perform at Pride events. This criticism comes from both sides of the aisle, with bigots trashing his solidarity and community members accusing him of just pandering and co-opting their identity. However, when you hear the Memphis MC talk about the situation, it’s clear that he’s trying to come from a place of support and unity above all else. He recently reflected on this matter during a new episode of the Caresha Please podcast with former City Girls member Yung Miami.
“Yeah, I’m appreciative of it,” NLE Choppa told Yung Miami about having a big queer following. “I’m appreciative of it because, at the end of the day, I feel like we are taught to not show love to people because they walk a different life. Who taught that s**t? Who taught that people are supposed to show hate in any instance? God don’t do that. God is love. What the hell is we showing hate for? He would never, He would never. What would God do?”
Of course, this new era for NLE Choppa has not only resulted in some of his biggest hits and moments of attention, but also a lot of opportunities for collaboration and media expansions. For example, he recently unveiled the trailer for a wild comedy film with him, Lil Wayne, Ray Vaughn, Sophie Rain, and many others. Whether or not you like what Choppa engages with, he continues to build his extracurricular achievements within and outside of his music career. Even if some are clearly bigger than others, it doesn’t change the consistent advocacy and norm-challenging behavior which does open the door for deeper discussion to people outside of the loop.
Meanwhile, NLE Choppa still engages in some of the typical Internet antics here and there, even if only tangentially. His baby mama recently tasked her Instagram Live viewers with watching her child, which sent social media for a loop earlier this year. But we’ll see what other reflections on identity and solidarity emerge from this perspective.
Depending on who you ask Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet was the album of the summer (if you ask me, that honor goes to Charli), and with the album debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200, viral videos for the singles “Please Please Please” and “Taste,” the near ubiquitousness of Espresso (I couldn’t go into an Uber, a gym, or a store this year without hearing it blasting from speakers), nobody can deny that 2024 has been the best year in Sabrina’s career.
Even though summer is over, if you’re a Carpenter — what Sabrina affectionally calls her fan base — Sabrina has been keeping you fed. For her Short ’N Sweet tour, Sabrina is making headlines and filling social feeds with her fun, light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek stage show, her kitschy meme-worthy merch, and a series of pop-up takeover cafes that have hit New York City, Chicago, and this weekend, Los Angeles.
The LA Short N’ Sweet Cafe will run from November 15-17 between the hours of 9 AM – 7 PM and is being presented at Melrose’s Verve Coffee Roasters (a solid coffee shop in its own right) and offers limited edition merch, a full Sabrina-inspired menu, and all sorts of staged photo opportunities that look… straight out of a Sabrina Carpenter music video. The pop-up was made in partnership with Cash App, which we’re only mentioning because using the app will score you a 30% discount on a single transaction.
We hit up the Short N’ Sweet Cafe to give you the full details on what to expect.
What’s The Vibe?
Sabrina Carpenter is the vibe. Cute outfits, perfect makeup, get your poses ready — I showed up to the pop-up wearing what I thought was an okay outfit, but I felt a little underdressed considering all the super fans and influencers who were dressed to impress.
What we’re trying to say is, don’t slump on the fit — you might be visiting a coffee shop in the middle of the day, but almost everyone is dressed like they’re hitting the club after.
The Menu
As a coffee connoisseur, I was thoroughly impressed by the menu, which featured all sorts of delicious iced and hot lattes named or themed after Sabrina Carpenter songs and lyrics. The menu also has several pastries, but they were sadly unavailable at the preview event.
I tried two drinks, the Honeybee Draft Latte and the Heartbreak Jamaica. The Honeybee featured a mix of lavender, honey, espresso, and milk, and featured a floral and herbaceous flavor that hovered nicely over vivid toasty coffee notes.
The Heartbreak Jamaica couldn’t be more different despite being iced. The drink featured hibiscus and coffee cherry, providing a flavor that was well-balanced between tangy, sweet, floral, and bitter-tasting notes.
I honestly wanted to try the full menu but I was buzzing on caffeine after the two drinks.
The Merch
The merch was typical concert fodder: shirts, bags, hoodies, socks, as well as coffee mugs, but everything is very, well, Sabrina. For example, one shirt featured a graphic print of lacy lingerie over a plain white t-shirt cut. It’s a sleep shirt that lets you have things both ways, which feels kitschy and very in line with the Short ’N Sweet aesthetic.
Prices for the merch go as low as $15 and as high as $80.
The Photo Ops
Aside from the menu, the photo ops are the real draw of the pop-up experience. There are several stage set-ups with vintage-inspired furniture that recalls the ’50 and ‘60s that’ll have you looking like you’re starring in your very own Sabrina Carpenter video.
But in my opinion, it’s the more naturalistic sets that use the Verve coffee shop architecture that look the best. Posing in front of a Sabrina-emblazoned backdrop on a lip-shaped couch is one thing, but sitting on beautifully paved steps while sipping coffee with the sunshine hitting your perfect fit? That’s some straight-up Gossip Girl Blair Waldorf shit.
All in all, the Short ’N Sweet Cafe offers a lot for die-hard Sabrina Carpenter fans, and a good enough menu that even non-fans will find something to enjoy.
The Short ’N Sweet Cafe can be found at Verve Coffee Roasters in Melrose, 8925 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
Pharrell faces a lot of challenges as the men’s creative director for Louis Vuitton, and one of the big ones is the backlash from animal rights protestors. He ran into a group of activists rallying against his use of fur and animal products for his clothing creations – or rather, LV’s – while outside the GQ Men of the Year party at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Thursday (November 14). The PERFECT FANTASY collaborator kept things cool, responding in a calm tone with some repetitions of “God bless you” and even offering one of the protestors a hug. They didn’t appreciate that and rejected it, but he eventually got back into his car. You can check out a clip of the moment by clicking the “Via” link down below.
For those unaware, this is not the first time that Pharrell directly confronted animal rights protestors in a peaceful and amicable manner. A similar situation occurred at a private screening of his Piece By Piece LEGO biopic, where a PETA protestor interrupted the celebration. Regardless, it’s easy to see why he didn’t pay this much mind this time around, as he was too busy celebrating GQ‘s honor of “Designer of the Year.”
Elsewhere, Pharrell recently ruffled some feathers given a recent interview with GQ, in which he briefly talks about Drake’s beef with him and how he bought P’s jewelry at an auction. “I think beyond all of the on-goings, at the heart of all of it, he’s a fan of music,” he told the outlet. “He’s a fan of the history of what it is, and I happen to be a part of that, and those artifacts are a part of it.” “It didn’t,” the Neptunes producer answered when asked whether or not Drizzy’s comments about having his legacy in his house, melting his chains down, and featuring them in a music video bothered him.
That GQ conversation also saw Pharrell speak on André 3000 and his hiatus from rap, Taylor Swift beef rumors, celebrity endorsements of political candidates, and a whole lot more. It was a very engaging conversation, but hopefully he also takes some time to address the protests against his creative endeavors in advocacy for animal rights.
Kodak Black has been through a lot in his life, seeing all the highs and lows of fame along with a string of personal issues and run-ins with the law. While many might solely attribute this to his own choices, there are a lot of folks within the hip-hop community and outside of it with genuine concern for his well-being and a desire for him to get better. For example, Gillie and Wallo recently sat down to talk to Yak, and the latter gave an impassioned speech to him about his purpose, his special nature, his commitments, and his potential.
“Look at me, man,” Wallo said as he stretched his hand out to Kodak Black. “Listen. You special. Don’t ever doubt yourself. You got them babies counting on you. Now, it’s gon’ be times when you gon’ doubt yourself. You gon’ be in pain. But them babies counting on you. You got to be here. And I’m telling you that because a lot of people get around you and they see your success. A lot of people need you, and they’re yes men. I ain’t here to ‘Yes, man.’ You know me, every time we connect. You know I got love for you. Not because I need you. I got love for you ’cause you a young cat, and I was young, Gil’ was young. Live. Live!
Elsewhere, Wallo remarked on how Kodak Black lights up when he hears about his children and how people show love whenever they see him. He also told the Florida rapper to not focus on the Internet mobs laughing, mocking, or criticizing at his expense, as neither they nor Wallo truly know his pain. But Kodak has people counting on him, and also a lot of special talent that many similarly talented folks in his position didn’t get the chance to fully benefit from. In addition, the podcaster told the artist to help change the narrative around the community and foster a more positive outlook and example for their peers.
“Don’t hurt yourself, brother, and that’s why we come down here,” Wallo told Kodak Black. “It’s about what you feel inside of yourself.” At the end, they stood up and embraced in a show of love and support, which we hope to see more of down the line.
Boosie Badazz is expecting his ninth child, and he and his fiancée Rajel Nelson recently hosted a gender reveal at his birthday party this week to roll out the blue or pink carpet for their bundle of joy. This marks their first kid together, and they cheered with their loved ones as they learned that they will welcome a daughter into the world very soon. Congrats to the couple for this life milestone, and congrats to the Baton Rouge rapper for having one heck of a birthday. We’re sure that this won’t be the last we hear of this new chapter online.
Elsewhere, Rajel Nelson recently hit back at critics of her relationship with Boosie Badazz. “I get up and make my coins just like everybody else,” she said on Instagram Live. “Now if you living off your n***a, that’s your business. But don’t try to pin my life to yours. Now clock that tea. They just be so negative. These h*es wake up mad miserable with their own lives and they come and portray they s**t on my Live. I don’t understand why y’all get on my s**t and just judge me by whatever when I’m not a hateful, bitter person at all. I don’t know what the f**k be wrong with y’all, it’s delusional. But many blessings be with you. May God be with you, baby.”
Hopefully this new development gives both Boosie Badazz and Rajel Nelson plenty of space and comfort in order to deal with their more adverse and negative social media interactions. Or, in Boosie’s case, cleaning up his legal situation. He recently asked Donald Trump for a presidential pardon following his successful campaign for the election of the chief executive of the United States.
Meanwhile, Boosie Badazz is also trying to clean up his social media presence, asking T-Pain to help connect him with Mark Zuckerberg so he can fully put him back on Instagram. He’s been able to handle things with alternate accounts and the like, but there’s nothing like your main. In any case, we wish the couple the best on this parenthood journey.