Is Casanova headed home? Cas has been sitting behind bars on federal racketeering charges for some time, but perhaps that time is coming to a close. Speaking on The Joe Budden Podcast, Officially Ice gave an update.
I saw Casanova this week, shout out to him,” Ice said. “He sends everybody his love. He said he’s looking to get sentenced soon, and he thinks he’ll be out.”
Ice added, “He’s in Essex. I got somebody over there, and when I went to go see them, he just happened to walk out at the same time.”
In Nov. 2022, the Brooklyn-born rapper sponsored a Thanksgiving event at Children of Promise in Brooklyn, New York. Children of Promise’s mission is “to partner with children and families impacted by mass incarceration to dismantle the stigma and heal from the trauma plaguing Black and Brown communities.”
The event, which had fellow rapper Jay Critch in attendance, included activities and giveaways for the children of the program. Casanova sent in a video message for the attendees. “Children of Promise we giving back. We don’t stop giving back behind bars. You know what it is.”
In May 2022, Casanova pleaded guilty to numerous crimes in his Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case.
For over 30 years, through countless chart-topping hits and landmark artists, Death Row Records has stood as one of the music industry’s most iconic and culturally significant platforms.
Today, it is under powerful new management. Recently acquired by Snoop Dogg, the infamous musical empire has reemerged as a multi-category cultural platform across music, fashion, entertainment, and cannabis, all united by the blockchain for a new generation.
Today at 8AM PT, their first cannabis drop will be announced on social media at @DeathRowRecords and @DeathRowCannabis, using an animation of their globally recognized logo and reveal of their branded pre-roll tube. The teaser video was created by artist MylarMen with a soundtrack by Kevin Gilliam aka DJ Battlecat. The 22-second clip is sure to electrify the global fans of the label while being a buzzy beginning of Death Row Records’ domination of the weed nation.
Promising to return Death Row to its former glory, all elements of the former label are being refitted for today’s audience and their evolving tastes. The first drop debuts in limited edition commemorative metallic bags, featuring the iconic hooded prisoner figure seated in an electric chair on the front. Important to note: this is a brand new version of the prisoner that was designed for the launch of the cannabis brand – the main difference being he has one hand broken free and is smoking a fat doobie.
Another especially exciting note for those cannabis connoisseurs is the man responsible for curating Death Row Cannabis. AK – hand-selected by Snoop himself – is a longtime West Coast legacy cultivator and industry insider, best known for his role alongside former partner WizardTrees in sprouting, selecting, and expertly growing the RS11, Studio 54, and Shirazi strains from exotic cannabis breeder DEO. He’s the man behind the IYKYK brand SMKRS, and he is also well known as the VP of Cultivation for TRP LLC, who owns a majority of the Cookies stores across the nation including their facilities in Florida.
AK’s reputation for growing “fire” weed and his palette when it comes to selecting winning strains, keeps people camped out in lines in front of their dispensaries.
Launching in-stores next week, Death Row Cannabis is not one to keep its fans waiting. The brand will soon make an announcement with an exact date and locations for their debut drop.
Select Cookies California stores (Brentwood, San Bernardino, and San Diego) will be the first locations to carry Death Row Cannabis, with other locations and more states to follow soon.
Fashion designers in the British capital are uniting to advance the “An Hour For Ukraine” initiative before Christmas. With support from the archbishop of Canterbury and the mayor of London, British landmarks will switch their festive lights off for an hour at 8pm local time on Wednesday, the darkest day of 2022. These landmarks include Trafalgar Square, Canterbury Cathedral, Lambeth Palace and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, and several other key locations in Paris, New York and Sydney.
This initiative, organized by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, involves his fundraising platform United24, members of the Ukrainian parliament, fashion and creative platform 1 Granary, and War Against War, an alternative media organization. All of these players are a part of a $10 million fundraising drive to obtain generators to heat hospitals across Ukraine this winter.
Social media platforms come with their own set of drawbacks, yet they still have the ability to spread news across borders in a powerful way. With a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from Central Saint Martins, the founder of 1 Granary, Olya Kuryshchuk, has pushed for fashion brands to use social media platforms as a way to encourage audiences to turn off their lights for an hour at home from around the world.
In explaining the message behind this affair, Kuryshchuk said “I am part of the global fashion industry but I am also Ukrainian. Part of my family is still in Kyiv and they don’t have electricity, heating, water, internet, or phone connection along with over 10 million people. The ‘An Hour For Ukraine’ awareness campaign is set up to bring attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in my home country.”
The designers participating include Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault of Knwls, Richard Quinn, Charles Jeffrey, Stefan Cooke, Chopova Lowena, Kiko Kostadinov, Paolina Russo, Masha Popova, Sinéad O’Dwyer, Eftychia Karamolegkou, Lutz Huelle, Ranra, Paula Canovas Del Vas, Jordan Dalah, Duran Lantink, Katie Burnett, Tallulah Harlech, Michael Stewart of Standing Ground, Robyn Lynch, and Goom Heo.
Vans and Timberland are launching their first capsule collection together in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the former label’s iconic “Half Cab.” ‘Half Cab,’ first released in 1992 and Timberland’s sturdy ‘Euro Hiker’ boots were created in 1988. The original silhouette is most known for its firm construction that guarantees performance in cold-weather (great for metropolitan terrain trotters) and its clean earthy appeal. The duo is teaming up on an entirely new hybrid silhouette that’s half skate shoe and half hiking boot, dubbed the Vans Skateboarding x Timberland Half Cab Hiker.
The pair have described the collaboration to be “entirely unique” while still upholding familiarity. The ⅝ cut upper placed on top of a Euro Hiker boot outsole alongside two-tone round boot laces reflects that statement. The ‘Half Cab Hiker’ is made up of canvas, Timberland’s premium leather, and a ReBOTL lining made from at least 50 percent recycled plastic. The shoes also contain padded leather collars, rubber lug outsoles and dual iconography. The colorways available include Wheat and Chocolate/Olive.
In addition, the ‘Half Cab Hikers’ is a reimagined take on Timberland’s premium 6-inch Waterproof Boots born out of 1973. The Vans team modernized the shoe by taking inspiration from streetwear, workwear and skate aesthetics. The new model stays connected to the Vans aesthetic with an appearance of the signature checkerboard print. More developments can be seen in the all-black updates that mark the release of the Vans Skateboarding x Timberland 6-Inch Boot.
Infusing the DNA and legacy of these footwear brands unveils a classic yet contemporary take on two treasured silhouettes. The Vans Skateboarding x Timberland collaboration launches on December 20 via select Vans & Timberland retail stores. The collaboration is also available on Van’s website and Timberland’s website. The Half Cab Hikers are priced at $160 USD while the 6-Inch Boot retails for $230 USD.
The founder of Cookies and Vibes Papers Berner sat down with music icon Erykah Badu to discuss their newest strain collaboration “That Badu”. It is a Limoncello cross-bred by Bret from Lemonnade and grown by Mad Cow Genetics. Berner and Badu also discussed mushroom tea and how the different strains affect people when they smoke them.
West Coast hip hop legends Ice Cube and Cypress Hill announced as the headliners among a roster of classic rap acts for the upcoming annualHigh Hopes concert series in Ontario, California on November 19, in association with BobbyDee Presents and Dr. Greenthumb. The concert lineup includes Method Man and Redman, Xzibit, and The Doggpound.
“This is a legendary and iconic lineup,” said B-Real of Cypress Hill, aka Dr. Greenthumb in announcement press release. “High Hopes has curated the smoker’s ultimate playlist, and it’s a platform that I’ve supported since day one. This is the beginning of a new movement that Chang and I started with our Smoke Out. We’re excited to roll out even more surprises this year and in the future.”
High Hopes Concert Series features world-class artists, iconic headliners, and some of the most influential trailblazers in the music industry, coming together to support cannabis culture and celebrate the legalization of weed.
“We’re still in prohibition,” said Chang Weisberg, High Hopes Co-Promoter. “We have to keep up the fight for decriminalization, common sense tax reform, and safe access. High Hopes is a platform for music and medicine.”
High Hopes will begin at 7pm PT and end at 12am PT. General tickets are on sale now. Purchase tickets here.
In other news, it was announced this week that Ice Cube has taken over as CEO of his co-founded 3-on-3 basketball league, Big 3. Cube will be replacing recently appointed CEO, Chris Hannan, who was given the position February 2021. The BIG3’s Monster Energy Celebrity Game will be broadcast on CBS this Sunday at 4 p.m. ET.
Following the announcement of hisAtlanta Hawks partnership, Scotty ATL unveils a brand-new album, Candler Road to Melrose. Last week the 37-year-old shared he will create through partnership custom grillz for the Hawks schedule release representing different NBA teams.
On Friday, Candler Road to Melrose released via Cool Club/ Cinq Music Group, which finds the southern emcee exploring the journey and path that led him to his highly successful grillz business on Melrose Ave.
Scotty ATL, known for his distinct drawl and vernacular, keeps it fresh while switching flows over 13 tracks with production from super producer Zaytoven, DJ Burn One, DJ Tune and more.
Candler Road to Melrose arrives as the follow up to Scotty’s trio of singles released earlier this year. “Go Twin,” “LA Care,” and “Nomo Heaux,” featuring Young Dro, all appear on the album.
For collaborations the East Atlanta native taps Curren$y and G Perico on “Spike Lee,” Sleepy Brown on “Remember Chad,” and Iamsu! on “Night Vision.” While Big K.R.I,T. joins on “Chosen & Frozen,” and Ace Hood flexes on “Congratulations.”
The successful entrepreneur and artist continues to build his craft and financial freedom with a new project and expanding his company, Grillz By Scotty.
In recognition of #BlackBusinessMonth this August, Scotty ATL spoke with the Source’s Kim SoMajor about business after COVID-19, new ventures with PUMA, The Atlanta Hawks, and much more.
When and what sparked you to start a grillz business?
I’ve always worn grillz since I was in high school. I made a name for myself in Atlanta as a rapper. One of my old friends lost his job as a dental assistant. He wanted to do grillz. At first I was just helping him and then it got more serious.
How did it serve as another option outside of your rap career?
It has allowed me to make extra income to support my dreams and provide for my family. It has also given me a bigger platform to share with the world.
How did your business adjust during the stay-at-home orders and how is it now?
I adjusted by decreasing staff and increasing my knowledge of online businesses. Now we do both in store and online. I have a store in Atlanta on Candler Rd. and another store on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles.
With your business, you are providing an opportunity for other people too. What has been a definitive moment for you that reaffirmed that you made the right move in starting it?
Everyday I think about that. Helping my dad move out of the projects and give him a job is the biggest.
Atlanta native and lifelong Hawks fan @ScottyATL created custom grillz for our schedule release
Major brand collaboration opportunities on the way. New designs. New moves for the culture. Maybe more locations…
How did you know that was the next move for you?
I knew it because I started making money everyday and that was my goal from the beginning.
Talk about your new grillz design and how you’re elevating your business?
I have newly designed colored grillz are out now. They’re limited edition and very unique. I’m more than a grill maker, I’m a grill designer. You haven’t seen these before.
Congratulations on your partnerships, to watch your dedication and growth in rap and business is very inspiring. What do these success-building opportunities mean to you?
My role as an influencer in this project was to capture ATL culture through my eyes. I had an amazing time and I’m so proud of myself and our company.
According to a confirmed report from TheBalst, NBA star Dwyane Wade has filed a court petition to legally change the name and gender of his transgender daughter, Zaya Wade.
According to documents obtained from the L.A. County Court, Wade is asking a judge to officially change his child’s name from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade toZaya Malachi Airamis Wade. Zaya is a transgender, however, being that she is under 18 years of age, her father has to be the one to officially request the change in court.
The petition mentions Zaya’s mother, Siohvaughn Funches, but says that Dwyane Wade has full authority to make the decision. “Pursuant to the terms of the Final Custody Judgment, (Wade) has full authority to make decisions on behalf of the petitioning minor, and he is not required to receive consent from Ms. Funches-Wade. As a courtesy, Ms. Funches-Wade has received notice of this petition,” the document reads.
In the filing, Wade asks that the court legally issues a decree recognizing that the minors’ gender is changed to “female. It also specifically cites the reason for the change as “to conform with gender identity.”
The multi-millionaire athlete admits he is shocked by his daughter’s confidence in this area, saying, “I went years without telling my chef that I don’t like cilantro on my burger — as an adult, it took me years to have the confidence to say that…My daughter, at 8 years old, had the confidence to say, ‘This is who I am. This is who I want to be.’”
Tevin Campbell may be known for his hit 90s song “Can We Talk” and this week, he definitely talked, opening up about what it was like to be a queer man in the R&B industry in the 90s and how it has changed from then to now.
In an interview with host Janine Rubenstein on the PEOPLE Every Day podcast, Campbell confirmed that he identifies as a gay man, something that likely did not come as a surprise to many of his fans as earlier this year, he tweeted (and later deleted) the phrase “Tevin is…” followed by a rainbow flag emoji.
Campbell discussed some of the struggles of being a child celebrity, noting that he never really hid his sexuality from anyone close to him, saying that “I didn’t hide anything about me. I didn’t try to act a certain way or anything. You just couldn’t be [gay] back then.”
He explained that many of his songs were just R&B songs, but the industry tends to make songs heteronormative.
He noted that despite growing up in the public eye, that he was lucky to have made it while claiming that a lot of child stars “don’t make it.” He then went on to note that “a lot of us do,” saying that the fact that he has is one of the reasons that he has embraced himself. (Campbell first began his music career at age 12.)
He noted that when he did Hairspray in 2005, it was the first time that he was around a significant number of LGBTQ people who were living their best lives and that’s how he became more comfortable with his sexual identity.
He said that major stars such as Lil Nas X and Frank Ocean have helped increase LGBTQ representation in the R&B and music industries in general, but still noting that there is a lot of work when it comes to representation and acceptance in the industry.
He also dished on some of the general industry turmoil including a decades-old semi-beef with Usher, who was also mentioned as a possible artist to sing “Can we Talk” back in the 1990s. (He said that he and Usher are on good terms and there are no hard feelings.)
He also said that he likes watching the “Can we Talk” challenges on TikTok today and that he is excited about the future of R&B, citing artists such as Frank Ocean and Jasmine Sullivan.
He left listeners with the parting advice to love themselves, both the good and the bad.
It started, as so many stories do today, with a phone call about COVID-19. The devastating effect of the virus was being felt by the music industry. Touring was impossible, and this hit Black and independent promoters with a devastating impact. But it was from these conversations that the Black Promoters Collective was born.
With the murder of George Floyd, and the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement, the BPC recognized the importance of pooling together resources and knowledge to drive change in the music industry. A step that became not just necessary, but essential.
The BPC felt that the shared experience of Black musicians and promoters, their successes and their voices, could no longer be ignored by a biased industry. Troy Brown, Chief Marketing Officer of the BPC said “It’s time for us, as the culture, to buy back the culture. We need to go to these artists and say, ‘Here’s what we can do for you that some of these other big corporate entities can’t.’”
Now, just a little over two years later, the BPC grossed $60 million in their first quarter by putting on some impressive tours. The Collective headed up a 30-city tour for New Edition, called The Culture Tour featuring Charlie Wilson and Jodeci.
Another tour for Maxwell would feature Anthony Hamilton and Joe across 25 cities. Closing up an astounding quarter with a six-day tour featuring the legendary Patti LaBelle.
Off the back of this success, BPC is now promoting a 23-city tour for Mary J. Blige, the Good Morning Gorgeous arena tour. The tour will feature support from Ella Mai and Queen Naija.
The BPC is clearly starting to claim its share of the market. Working collectively, they sought to buy tours. Their collective work and expertise allow them to bid for entire tours, rather than smaller single dates or venues.
Their combined market weight, bringing together expertise from members from Detroit; Atlanta; Houston; Raleigh, N.C.; New York/New Jersey, Oakland and California, allows them to compete on a level playing field with giants like AEG and Live Nation.
History doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme. This is not the first time that Black promoters have joined forces to confront the deep systemic white bias of the live music industry.
In 1998, a $700 million lawsuit was filed against multiple promoters and booking agencies by a group calling themselves The Black Promoters Agency. The lawsuit claimed antitrust and civil rights violations, but would be lost in 2005.
By contrast, the BPC continues to make inroads into the live music industry. With a mindset that firmly believes in reclaiming and buying back culture that was theirs in the first place, the BPC uses their Collective economics and business knowledge to their advantage.
The BPC has a mission of inclusion, and they mean it. They seek to work across multiple genres with a range of artists. Sticking to their mission, the BPC has managed to bring an increasing number of Black-owned businesses, as well as people of color, into the live music industry. And not just artists, but everyone from the caterers to the vendor partners. An action that, according to BPC’s Troy Brown, “Doesn’t happen in other, bigger corporate outfits.”
The BPC is making huge strides towards achieving their mission. By making the industry more inclusive, the BPC ensures a world that respects the work of Black promoters and provides artists and fans with options that are not just Live Nation and AEG.
lining made from at least 50 percent recycled plastic. The shoes also contain padded leather collars, rubber lug outsoles and dual iconography. The colorways available include Wheat and Chocolate/Olive. 
