Hip Hop Travels to Outer Space With “Pale Blue Dot” Released From Int’l Space Station

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Dr. Kamran Rashid Khan, also known as Lazarus, is ready to make world history by becoming the first music artist to debut his song from the International Space Station. Lazarus is a Detroit-based rapper who has been frequently touring with Wu-Tang Clan and also a practicing physician who treated patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He has now teamed up with Jim Green, who has served as NASA’s chief scientist for 42 years, to bring the first song in music to realistically and accurately describe space travel from the point of view of an astronaut.

Hip Hop turned 50 this year as celebrated at the 2023 Grammy Awards. In a recent live Instagram broadcast with Jim Green, Lazarus discusses the power of Hip Hop over the years. “Hip Hop as a form of music has always been there for the art of expression and to bring awareness to subject matters. And now utilizing Hip Hop we can speak on topics like space travel, what’s going on in outer space, terraforming, insights we can gain about pollution, crops, agriculture.” 

This history-making song is called “Pale Blue Dot” and launches from the ISS on March 11th via a livestream and then is going to be released on all streaming platforms the next day on March 12th. This is an extremely proud moment for Hip Hop and shows once again that this art form has absolutely no boundaries or limitations.

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Fired Twitter and Google Employees Create Rival Social Media Platform

Fired Twitter and Google Employees Create Rival Social Media Platform

Sarah Oh, a former human rights advisor for Twitter, and her friend Gabor Cselle, a former Director at Google, have teamed up to create T2, a rival service to Twitter.

Currently, in beta, T2 offers a post feed with a 280-character limit. However, according to Oh, that’s not the only difference between T2 and Twitter. “We really do want to create an experience that allows people to share what they want to share without fearing risk of things like abuse and harassment, and we feel like we’re really well positioned to deliver on that,” Oh told CNN.

There have also been many creators who have teamed up to create Twitter-esque social media platforms to attract those users who have left Twitter after expressing their distaste for the app following Elon Musk’s takeover. For example, the founders of Instagram announced Artifact, “a personalized news feed” powered by artificial intelligence, a description that quickly earned it comparisons to Twitter. According to CNN, it resembled news reader applications like Apple News or the defunct Google Reader. Artifact displayed popular articles from large media organizations and smaller bloggers in a main feed, tailored to users based on their activity and selected interests. 

Additionally, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell, who served as Twitter’s global head of social and editorial for three years, and  DeVaris Brown, who served as a product manager lead, were let go by Musk and have also teamed up to create their own social media platform, Spill.

According to The Insider, Spill, named for the phrase “spill the tea,” will use blockchain to compensate users for popular posts and include a feature called “tea parties” where users can gather online or in real life to connect. “While Spill is for everyone, we are catering to culture drivers who frequently set new trends yet routinely get overlooked and under compensated,” Terrell tweeted in his announcement of the app. “Yes, we mean Black creators, Queer creators, and a variety of influential voices outside the U.S.”

Following the app’s announcement, Terrell tweeted that Spill had received 20,000 reservations for handles within 12 hours.

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TikTok’s SoundOn Partners with Snoop Dogg to Bring Death Row Catalog Exclusively to TikTok

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Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records have teamed up with TikTok’s SoundOn to exclusively provide the legendary Death Row library to the TikTok audience for one week before its DSP release.

It has been a year since the storied catalog was accessible. SoundOn, TikTok’s all-in-one artist platform for music distribution, development, and promotion, will distribute the catalog in this groundbreaking collaboration.

Your favorite creators can now use the label’s well-known tracks, such as “Gin and Juice” and “Ain’t No Fun,” as the soundtrack to their most recent dance, dish, or narrative. The venerable studio albums Doggystyle and The Doggfather by Snoop Dogg are included in the recently made catalog. Via the TikTok Sounds Page, creators will also have access to a special playlist that was put together in collaboration with Death Row Records.

“I’m excited for y’all, because Death Row Records is back up for you to enjoy. You can go get that playlist right now and you can listen to any song you want off the catalogue strictly on TikTok… Tell ’em Snoop Dogg sent you.”

Snoop Dogg via Tiktok

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From Escobar to Investo-bar: Investments by Nas Continue to Run Up His Net Worth

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Nas is known for arguably being one of the greater rappers of our time. However, in the past few years, Nas has added a different title to his name, that of a tech investor. Nas has invested in over 40 companies as a founding partner of Queensbridge Venture Partners. Queensbridge Venture Partners is a venture capital firm created by the rapper and his manager, Anthony Saleh. Nas said he decided to get involved in tech investments because he wanted “to be surrounded by the smartest people in the world.”

Nas has quite an impressive investment profile. Here are some of the companies he has invested in, along with their valuations: Dropbox- $10 billion valuation, Lyft- $5.5 billion valuation, Tilt- $400 million valuation, and Robinhood-raised $50 million in Series B. He was also an early investor in Ring, the smart doorbell company. After Amazon acquired Ring, he made $40 million, following Ring’s $415 million in sales in 2018. Nas was also an early investor in Coinbase, an online platform for buying, selling, transferring, and storing cryptocurrency. His stake is now worth $40 million. 

Earlier this year, Nas teamed up with Google to raise $20 million in financial banking for Carry1st, a South African gaming company. SpongeBob, Mine Rescue, and Match League are just a few of the games released by Carry1st. In an interview with THR, Carry1st co-founder and CEO Cordel Robbin-Coker said, “We’re excited to partner with this world-class group of investors who, in addition to capital, bring expertise across gaming, fintech, and web3. In 2021, we launched multiple games and digital commerce solutions, achieving really strong growth. Together we can accelerate this growth and achieve our goal of becoming the leading consumer internet company in the region.”

At this rate, it does not look like the Queensbridge rapper is slowing down any time soon, and we are here for it. 

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TikTok Celebrates Black History Month with First-Ever Visionary Voices List

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TikTok unveiled their first-ever Visionary Voices list, which honors Black creatives, small business owners, and culture changemakers on TikTok, as well as #BlackTikTok programming and initiatives to commemorate Black History Month, such as special guest and album playlists, a week-long #womeninhiphop celebration, and more!

The #BlackTikTok community is at the vanguard of culture and creativity, from creating viral dances and sounds to teaching neglected Black history and celebrating Black Joy through music, fashion, wellness, and more. TikTok honors #BlackTikTok this Black History Month and throughout the year to highlight the impact this community has had on culture as large.

TikTok celebrates Black History Month by highlighting the innovators, changemakers, and small companies at the forefront of #BlackTikTok and culture in general. Our festivities will feature the release of our first Visionary Voices list, the third edition of our Visionary Voices Media Salon series, Black music playlists, LIVE programming, and more.

You can learn about the creators below.

@_itzpsyiconic_ (Houston, TX) – On TikTok, Kelon has constructed an entire universe (dubbed the “Terriverse”) of complete disorder. Kelon has delivered smiles to his devoted followers nightly on TikTok LIVE while portraying his infamous personas Terri Joe, Jeorgia Peach, and Amethyst Jade. His material is not for the faint of heart, but it guarantees a good time and a good chuckle.

@cozy.games (San Francisco, CA) – Kennedy is a game developer and lifestyle designer that focuses on infusing warmth into all facets of life. With inspirational content and game recommendations, she hopes to invite more individuals into the “cozy” side of the gaming community.

@emmanuel.uddenberg (Toronto, Canada) – Emmanuel Uddenberg is a TikTok creator from Toronto who mixes his love of fashion and creativity via his films. His taste in minimalism and modern aesthetics, as well as his laid-back manner, pervade his account, creating a tranquil atmosphere for individuals looking for everyday style inspiration.

@kahlilgreene (New York, NY) – Kahlil Greene, dubbed the “Gen Z Historian,” is a digital educator best known for his Hidden History series, which delves into instances of American injustice. Kahlil is a Yale University alumnus who served as the college’s first Black president in its 318-year existence. His purpose is to provide young people with a knowledge of why American society runs the way it does through commentary on US politics and culture.

@xoxoemira (New York, NY) – Kahlil Greene, dubbed the “Gen Z Historian,” is a digital educator best known for his Hidden History series, which delves into instances of American injustice. Kahlil is a Yale University alumnus who served as the college’s first Black president in its 318-year existence. His purpose is to provide young people with a knowledge of why American society runs the way it does through commentary on US politics and culture.

@chikybomreal (Miami, FL) – Chikybombom, Lisette Eduardo, is a social media celebrity, businesswoman, and media influencer. She is originally from the Dominican Republic and is one of the most well-known internet personalities, with over 10.3 million netizens following her on TikTok.

@icespicee (New York, NY) – “You thought I was feelin you?” has become a popular line on social media, thanks to Bronx rapper/singer Ice Spice. That question was first addressed by the 23-year-old rising singer on her viral song “Munch (Feelin’ U),” and it has been up ever since. While Ice Spice is steadily rising through the ranks as the First Lady of Bronx Drill, she has much more in store for her—crossing genres and expanding her reach beyond New York City.

@keith_lee125 (Las Vegas, NV) – Keith Lee is a creative based in Las Vegas, Nevada who utilizes his platform to spotlight small-owned and family-run businesses that may have excellent food and service but are not widely known. He uses his meal review method to deliver his honest opinion while doing one of his favorite things: eating.

@lynaevanee (Atlanta, GA) – Lynae Vanee, a two-time NAACP Image Award nominee, is an Atlanta-based poet, producer, director, and starring performer. Lynae, a Spelman College and Boston University graduate with a Master of Arts in African American Studies, uses her digital platforms to discuss race, feminism, politics, and inclusivity.

@maiyathedon (New York, NY) – Maiya The Don is a Brooklyn-bred Hip Hop artist known for her huge personality and braggadocious punchlines, and she’s on a mission to make everyone feel as confident as she does. Maiya, a 20-year-old makeup artist and beauty maker on TikTok, is soaring to prominence with her new single “Telfy,” which pays homage to Black-Owned fashion brand Telfar.

@brandonblackwoodnyc (Brooklyn, NY) – Brandon Blackwood was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and is the Founder, Creative Director, and CEO of his own brand. He is a first-generation American born to Jamaican and Chinese parents, and he founded Brandon Blackwood NYC in 2015, which is heavily influenced by his personal life, since each bag is named after his family, close friends, or places he has lived. He was also nominated for a CFDA Award for Best Accessory Designer recently, and his brand has subsequently grown into eyeglasses, outerwear, and footwear.

@danessamyricksbeauty (Bethpage, NY) – Danessa Myrick’s has been a celebrated makeup artist and educator for over 25 years. Her multi-use products enable beauty lovers of all skin tones and skill levels to create, modify, and explore a world of beauty without borders.

@juicybodygoddess (Charlotte, NC) – Summer Lucille is a Charlotte, NC-based creator and entrepreneur that blends her love of fashion and developing women’s confidence through TikTok videos. She tells people that they are appreciated and encourages everyone to love their size, belly, and body, regardless of size or weight.

@spicekitchengrill (Brentwood, MD) – Olumide Shokubi, the founder and proprietor of Spice Kitchen, is a first-generation Nigerian-American committed to reforming, educating, and empowering Black people globally. General Manager Marcus Bryan seeks to promote the beauty of Black cuisine by sharing the jewel that is West African street food with the globe through creative videos on TikTok.

@urbandessertlab (New York, NY) – Urban Dessert Lab, the World’s First Oat-Milk Ice Crème Shoppe, was founded by Courtney B. and Zan B.R. The duo has a cult following and nationwide media and celebrity recognition for their plant-based concoctions, which include artisanal soft serve, hard scoop ice crème, cakes, toppings, and mix-ins, with a location in New York City and a second one coming soon to West Hollywood, CA. Zan and Courtney regularly collaborate with organizations that raise awareness about social justice problems and use TikTok as a platform for community interaction, involvement, and the sharing of delectable content.

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Creators Watch Out: Buzzfeed To Use AI To Create Content

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BuzzFeed says it will use AI tools provided by ChatGPT creator, OpenAI, to “enhance” and “personalize” its content, according to a memo sent by CEO Jonah Perett to his staff. Buzzfeed is a news and entertainment website that covers many topics, including politics, business, food, music, sports, and the latest technology. ChatGPT is an extensive language model chatbot developed by OpenAI that has a remarkable ability to interact in conversational dialogue form and provide responses that can appear surprisingly human. OpenAI gained attention from industry leaders and investors and has been used to write high school and even create legal documents.

 CEO Jonah Peretti said AI would play a relatively significant role in the company’s operations. “To be clear, we see the breakthroughs in AI opening up a new era of creativity that will allow humans to harness creativity in new ways with endless opportunities and applications for good,” he said.   Peretti elaborated that the technology will be used to create quizzes and assist in personalizing content specific to its audience. Experts foresee the technology enhancing the quality of many jobs while taking over administrative tasks and replacing some workers.  

BuzzFeed will not be the first journalism platform to use artificial intelligence. CNET, an American media website that publishes reviews, news, articles, blogs, and podcasts, has been using an AI tool to generate reports that human editors later scan for accuracy before publication.

Last month, the company said it would cut about 12% of its workforce to rein in costs. The hope is that implementing this AI technology will assist in growing and energizing the business. Buzzfeed recently reported a net loss of $27 million in revenue.

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Instagram Set to Debut New ‘Quiet Mode’ Feature

Instagram Set to Debut New 'Quiet Mode' Feature

On Thursday, Instagram announced its latest feature, “quiet mode,” geared to help users focus and set boundaries with their followers.

The feature will send automatic replies to followers who try to message you letting them know you were not notified of their message. Additionally, the profile’s activity status will change to alert followers that quiet mode has been turned on. This update is one of several changes on Instagram today, including expanded parental control tools and other tools to manage recommendations. Its parental controls allow parents to filter out posts with specific words in their captions and hashtags. Instagram had already allowed users to filter out DMs with a self-made list of potentially harmful or offensive content. Still, the expanded filtering option will enable users to tailor their feeds more granularly than before.

While anyone can access this feature, the company said it would prompt teen users to enable it if they use the app late at night. Social media addiction is a behavioral disorder in which young adults become so addicted to social media and cannot reduce or cease their online media consumption despite clear negative consequences and severe drawbacks. According to CNN, US teens spend an average of more than seven hours per day on screen media for entertainment, and tweens spend nearly five hours, a new report finds, and that doesn’t include time spent using screens for school and homework.

Instagram is one of the world’s top social platforms, with at least 1.440 billion users worldwide as of July 2022. Quiet mode will initially be available in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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Microsoft Rumored to Cut 11,000 Jobs in Forthcoming Days

Microsoft Rumored to Cut 11,000 Jobs in Forthcoming Days

Microsoft will begin 2023 with massive layoffs. According to CBS News, the tech giant will shed talent due to the impact of the economy.

The news, originally reported by Sky News, states the software company will announce the layoffs in the forthcoming days, and nearly 5% or 11,000 positions will be cut worldwide. Engineering divisions appear to be the target for talent removal.

Microsoft declined to comment, citing the news is a “rumor.” Microsoft currently employs over 200,000 people across the globe.

Microsoft said earlier this month that it would provide all U.S.-based employees unlimited time off under a new “Discretionary Time off” policy.

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Spotify Gives Megan Thee Stallion, Flo Milli Their Own Anime Characters

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Spotify and leading Livestream shopping platform NTWRK are collaborating to celebrate the streaming service’s Feelin’ Myselfplaylist with an exclusive trading card pack featuring anime caricatures of iconic female rappers Megan Thee Stallion, Ice Spice, GloRilla and Flo Milli. 

The NTWRK x Spotify hype-worthy trading card pack will feature the up-and-coming and established rappers as a modern-day super heroines celebrating women in hip-hop. Fans will have the chance to win the exclusive trading card pack only on the NTWRK app today (Dec. 20) at 1 pm PST / 4 pm EST.  

The back of the cards will include the individual initials of each rapper and a barcode that leads users to the Feelin’ Myself playlist, encouraging collectors to dance along as they unveil their new pack of cards.  

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Remember When They Wanted to Ban TikTok? It’s Already Starting To Happen

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U.S. lawmakers and politicians have been increasingly waging war on TikTok, the hugely popular social media app owned by Chinese company Bytedance.  

TikTok’s critics have accused the app of being a direct channel to the Chinese government and, thus, a privacy and cybersecurity risk. In particular, they have raised concerns that TikTok collects massive amounts of data from U.S. citizens. It may be shared with the Chinese government and could be used to interfere with U.S. elections by spreading misinformation.

The app is already banned from all devices issued by the U.S. military. This past Wednesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a bill banning the app from all devices issued by federal agencies. The bill contains exceptions for law enforcement, national security, and security research.

Earlier this past week, the governors of Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Utah ordered their agencies to prohibit the app on all state-issued devices. These states join Texas, Maryland, South Carolina, and Nebraska, which already have similar bans.   These bans also include, for example, blocking the use of the app on campus and dorm WiFi at state universities. 

Sen. Marco Rubio (R. Fla.) is leading a bipartisan effort to pass a law banning TikTok altogether in the U.S. The proposed legislation would ban social media companies belonging to “countries of concern,” i.e., China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela. 

In a statement on its website, TikTok states that it stores U.S. user data in the United States and that none of its data is subject to Chinese law. It says further that it has never been asked to remove content by the Chinese government and would not do so if asked.   However, in July 2022, TikTok confirmed in a letter to U.S. Senators that employees outside the U.S., including China-based employees, could access data on U.S. users. 

Implanting a U.S.-wide TikTok ban would present a formidable challenge. Over a billion users visit the TikTok site each month, and substantial commercial interests use TikTok as a platform and rely on its services.   A TikTok ban would likely be politically unpopular. It would raise the question of why foreign social media companies are being singled out when there are domestic social media companies, such as Facebook, that are equally capable of disrupting U.S. elections through the spread of propaganda and misinformation.

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