N Less Entertainment Partners with SPLC and Hip Nation for Mississippi HBCU Tour to Promote Voting Engagement

N Less Entertainment Partners with SPLC and Hip Nation for Mississippi HBCU Tour to Promote Voting Engagement

N Less Entertainment, a renowned record label in the hip-hop industry, has unveiled a significant partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Hip Nation for the Mississippi HBCU Tour. The primary objective of this collaboration is to encourage young students to participate in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Hip Hop Text-a-Thon, ahead of the crucial November 2023 elections.

The Hip-Hop Text-a-Thon is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24 and will feature hip-hop artists and representatives from N Less Entertainment, SPLC, and Hip Nation visiting three prominent institutions: Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, and Mississippi Valley State University.

Esteemed hip-hop artists such as BIG30, Big Homiie G, DeeMula, Drac Baby, BezzalBoyBlacc from N Less Entertainment, and CMG recording artist Big Boogie will engage with hundreds of students to underscore the importance of voting. They will also raise awareness about changes in community and state laws while actively participating in sending voter mobilization text messages to voters across Mississippi, reminding them to vote on November 7th.

“We are committed to providing Black students with the knowledge and opportunities to empower them to make decisions that affect their futures,” says KeMario Brown, General Manager/Senior Vice President of N Less Entertainment. “We have a responsibility as leaders to raise awareness and with the support from SPLC and Hip Nation, our artists will work to encourage them to be a part of the solution to our communities’ problems and that begins with VOTING.” 

The voter turnout in the 2022 elections was alarmingly low, particularly in states like Mississippi, where less than a third of eligible voters participated. Mississippi’s voting landscape is further complicated by lifelong voting bans for individuals convicted of certain felonies and a lack of pro-voter programs, such as early voting and online registration.

“Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy. Yet, there is a long history of political oppression that has led to the isolation of a significant portion of people in this country—namely, Black people” said Waikinya Clanton, State Director of the SPLC Mississippi State Office. “It is important that initiatives like the HBCU GOTV Hip Hop Text-A-Thon,  are community-focused, culturally relevant, and responsive, speak boldly to concerns and interests of a high probability voting bloc.  The HipHop Text-a-Thon connects culture, community, and cause with the goal of mobilizing and empowering young people to positively impact and influence the electoral process.”

Cameron Trimble, Co-founder of Hip Nation, expressed excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing the influential power of hip-hop in driving civic engagement. N Less Entertainment, which boasts multiplatinum hip-hop artists like Moneybagg Yo, BIG30, Big Homiie G, Dee Mula, and super producer Turn Me Up YC, is well-positioned to promote voting engagement through this partnership significantly.

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The post N Less Entertainment Partners with SPLC and Hip Nation for Mississippi HBCU Tour to Promote Voting Engagement appeared first on The Source.

Brett Favre To Be Deposed In Mississippi Welfare Scandal

Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre will be deposed in connection with a sprawling welfare scandal in Mississippi later this month. Favre is accused of participating in a scheme that saw millions of dollars in money earmarked for Mississippi’s most at-risk families diverted elsewhere. In particular, Favre is suspected of working with former governor Phil Bryant to use fraudulent funds to help build a new volleyball venue at Southern Miss. The case has been unfolding over the course of the last year, thanks to the work of Anna Wolfe and other journalists at Mississippi Today.

Favre is one of 43 defendants in the case. Of the $77 million prosecutors believed was fraudulently lifted from the state’s TANF fund, Southern Miss is believed to have received $5 million while Favre has paid back $1.1 million he reportedly received for speeches he never gave. Also being deposed at the end of October is former Southern Miss president Rodney Bennett. Bennett was recently hired as the chancellor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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Brett Favre Deposition: What You Need To Know

Brett Favre
MADISON, WISCONSIN – JUNE 11: Former NFL player Brett Favre waves as he walks onto the 18th green during the Celebrity Foursome at the second round of the American Family Insurance Championship at University Ridge Golf Club on June 11, 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

A deposition serves as a baseline for a person’s account of events. The individual being deposed is asked questions under oath and their answers are recorded on audio and video. This allows the prosecution to refer back to the deposition if the individual says something different in court. Depositions aren’t free-for-alls however. That is to say, the prosecution can’t throw random questions at Favre to catch him out. While there is leeway for exploration, the deposition largely has to stick to what Favre himself knows.

There is no time limit on a deposition. However, most depositions only last one eight-hour session. The next step after deposing Favre will come at the trial. If the prosecution chooses to call on Favre to testify, he will have to be careful to ensure that his testimony on the stand matches what he said in his deposition. If his story changes, he will be “impeached” by the prosecution. This means that he would lose any credibility in the eyes of the judge and jury.

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Ugly God Accused Of Killing Best Friend’s Father

Royce Cornell Davison-Rodriguez, better known by his stage name Ugly God, has been accused of murder. Police responded to reports of a shooting in Gulfport, Mississippi just before noon on June 29. Upon arrival, law enforcement found 50-year-old Renaldo Delavallade dead from multiple gunshot wounds inside a vehicle. Gulfport is the second-largest city in Mississippi and serves as the co-county seat of Harrison County.

At this time, police have only stated that the suspect is in custody and cooperating with detectives. However, several of Delavallade’s relatives have taken to social media to accuse Davison-Rodriguez of the crime. One TikTok showed the alleged police report in the case. Davison-Rodriguez is listed as the suspect and is accused of killing Delavallade with a small-caliber handgun. Furthermore, the individual claims that Davison-Rodriguez has been publicly bragging about his involvement but has not been prosecuted as his uncle is a judge in Gulfport.

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Ugly God Accused Of Murder

@tyzlyfe

UGLy GOD 🥹🥹🥹💔💔💔💔💔i just dont have any more words 💔💔💔Our Justice System had let me Down🙏🙏🙏🥹🥹🥹His Uncle The Judge kept him free akademiks @The Shade Room #justiceforrenaldo #XXL #uglygoddess #damonreece

♬ original sound – Tishia

Davison-Rodriguez first rose to prominence with his 2016 single “Water”. He was later named as part of XXL‘s Freshman Class of 2017 and performed his freshman cypher alongside Playboi Carti, MadeinTYO, and XXXTentacion. His 2019 debut studio album, Bumps & Bruises peaked at #46 on the Billboard Album 200. He self-released an EP, Two Place, earlier this year. At this time, it is unclear at what stage the investigation is. It is unknown if Davison-Rodriguez is in police custody or has been charged with a crime.

The most recent TikToks made about the case from the account @tyzlyfe, which appears to belong to Delavallade’s sister. “UGLy GOD 🥹🥹🥹💔💔💔💔💔i just dont have any more words 💔💔💔Our Justice System had let me Down🙏🙏🙏🥹🥹🥹His Uncle The Judge kept him free akademiks,” the account captioned a video on August 4 alongside footage of Delavallade’s funeral. The judge in question is reportedly Judge Damon Reese. According to LinkedIn, Reese took the bench in December 2022 after 15 years working for the Harrison County Public Defender’s Office. Neither Davison-Rodriguez’s representatives nor the Gulfport Police Department responded to requests from XXL for comment. This is a developing story.

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Superstar Pride Turns Himself In, Charged With 1st-Degree Murder

Up and coming rapper Superstar Pride has turned himself in to police. According to the Panola County Sheriff’s Office, officers were called to a home yesterday (July 19), where they found a 40-year-old man dead. The man, identified as Marcus Wheatley, had multiple gunshot wounds. Upon further investigation, Cadarrius Pride AKA Superstar Pride, was found to be the suspect. The events leading up to the shooting are currently unclear. Pride’s connection to Wheatley is also unknown.

The 21-year old’s family later called police, notifying them that Pride would like to turn himself in. He then surrendered to Chief Deputy Reginald Lantern, and was brought to the Panola County Detention Center. He has been charged with 1st-degree murder, and does not currently have a bond. Unfortunately, if he’s convicted, Superstar Pride could be facing some serious time behind bars.

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Superstar Pride Turned Himself In

Earlier this year, Superstar Pride’s track “Painting Pictures” debuted at No. 99 in the Billboard Hot 100. It eventually reached No. 25 on the chart, peaking after the 5lbs of Pressure track went viral on TikTok. At one point, the song was removed from streaming platforms due to copyright issues, much to fans’ disappointment. It famously samples Faith Evans’ 1995 Faith track, “Soon As I Get Home.” It later returned after issues with the sample were resolved.

In an interview with Billboard in May, Superstar Pride revealed plans to drop his debut album, 777, this summer. Though he had claimed he wanted to release the LP on July 7, it has not yet been unveiled. He went on to discuss his upbringing, revealing the meaning behind the title of his EP 5lbs of Pressure. “I knew I had five pounds of pressure because it takes five pounds of pressure to pull a trigger.” He told the outlet, “I seen that I had five pounds of pressure at the age of seven, and that’s when a lot of my life changed. I just took that stage of life and I’m telling my story.”

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Big K.R.I.T. Rings In 2023 With “Birthday Song”

After a steady run in 2022, Big K.R.I.T is kicking off the year on a high note. The Mississippi-born rapper emerged on New Year’s Day with his latest release, “Birthday Song.” Though his birthday is actually in August, “Birthday Song” is a short offering that bridges together influences of bounce music, tinges of crunk, and twangy Southern hip-hop for an infectious bop to jumpstart the new year. K.R.I.T isn’t necessarily showcasing his lyrical prowess on this record but instead, provides an upbeat bop to keep everyone’s spirits high as they enter 2023.

“We gonna start this year off right! Happy Birthday From Me To You! Capricorns you’re up first… Let’s Go,” he wrote, hinting that he might have even more birthday-themed anthems in the works for this year.

Though K.R.I.T. is a rather lowkey figure, he emerged last year with a slew of excellent projects. He blessed fans with his latest solo studio album, Digital Roses Don’t Die, boasting 17 songs with a single feature from Rolynné. Afterward, he joined forces with Smoke DZA, Wiz Khalifa, and Girl Talk for their joint project, Full Court Press. The album contained 10 songs in total with Curren$y joining them on the tracklist.

While K.R.I.T. is already blessing us with some new heat to set the tone for 2023, he’s approaching a huge milestone in his career. In April, he’ll celebrate the 10-year anniversary of his 2013 mixtape, King Remembered In Time. The project further showcased the rapper’s production style with appearances from Southern staples like Future and Bun B.

Make sure you press play on Big K.R.I.T.’s new single below and sound off with your thoughts in the comment section.

Quotable Lyrics
A party ain’t a party unless you with your friends
(Where the ladies at?)
A party ain’t a party unless you with your friends
(Where the fellas at?)

XXXTentacion Foundation Helps Mississippi Residents Amid Water Crisis

XXXTentacion’s mother, Cleopatra Bernard, has teamed up with Polo G‘s mother Stacia Mac, to help residents of Jackson, Mississippi. Working through the XXXTentacion Foundation, the two have made a significant donation of bottled water. The city has been going through a water crisis for seven months.

“When my son conceived this foundation, his dream was to help those in need, especially young children, troubled youth and people who are ignored by society,” Bernard said in a statement. “Stacia brought the Jackson issue to my attention, and after learning more about the resident’s [sic] plight, I realized it was in direct alignment with what Jahseh (XXXTentacion) wanted to accomplish.”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 15: A view of a tribute to slain rapper XXXtentacion during day 2 of Rolling Loud Festival at Banc of California Stadium on December 15, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

Mac also added: “Based on Jackson’s history, this crisis is a result of systemic racism and economic inequality. So we have to step in and assist our people before things gradually get worse.”

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba thanked both Bernard and Mac for the assistance in a press release.

“I thank Dr. Tom Ellison and Project Help for enlisting the aid of the XXXTentacion Foundation and Ms. Cleopatra Bernard,” they said. “The truckloads of water provided by the foundation [are] essential for our children and elderly. We are deeply moved by their actions. The doctors, volunteers, countless hours, exceptional expertise and time spent away from home to ensure that all Jackson residents have access to clean, reliable and safe drinking water.”

Additionally, the XXXTentacion Foundation has partnered with Project Help to help offer medical attention to locals. The organization works with over 4,500 volunteer doctors to provide disaster relief.

[Via]

Incriminating Texts Link Brett Favre to $8M Welfare Scandal

Screen Shot 2022 04 12 at 9.07.59 AM

According to a report from Mississippi Today, NFL legend Brett Favre was involved in a welfare scam in which  Favre received over $8 million in funds from Mississippi officials, which has been allegedly proven with texts of the famed QB pressing Miss. officials for the money.

Anne Wolfe’s exposé revealed that Favre had special access to Gov. Phil Bryant and others who controlled the welfare spending, including the state’s welfare chief and a grant-funded nonprofit director. The allegations came about after the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services and five others were indicted for misappropriating funds within the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. 

Nancy New was among those indicted. She gave Favre $5 million in grant funds to build a volleyball stadium at his alma mater at the University of Southern Mississippi, which could be part of the forthcoming civil suit.

A pharmaceutical company backed by Favre called Prevacus allegedly received $2,5 million in stolen funds from the Mississippi Department of Human Services. In comparison, Farve collected over $1 million for himself, but an auditor says he still owes $228,000 in interest on the money he improperly received. 

Mississippi Today’s messages allege that Favre told Prevacus owner Jake Vanlandingham to offer Gov. Bryant shares in Prevacus, but Bryant denied ever considering taking the stock. Nancy New is accused of giving the $2.15 million to Prevacus in exchange for shares of the stock. 

Farve reportedly received a Ford F-150 Raptor from the state’s then-director of Department of Human Services, John Davis, who was arrested in 2020 on five counts of conspiracy, embezzlement, or fraud. 

MDHS Director Bob Anderson said that the department would be filing civil charges against Favre, but Farve has not been charged with any crime.

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