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Reboot Of VH1’s ‘The Surreal Life’

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Contributed by Scott Lipscomb

Surreal in the dictionary is defined as “having the qualities of surrealism; bizarre.” Well nothing is bizarre about the news of a reboot to “The Surreal Life!”

Deadline reported the popular reality series that puts celebs in a house with different challenges is coming back for a reboot!

The popular show ran 6 seasons from 2003 to 2006 and is now set to air a 7th season coming soon. The new cast includes Tamar Braxton, August Alsina, Dennis Rodman, Kim Coles, Frankie Muniz, adult film star Stormy Daniels, wrestler CJ Perry and YouTube star Manny MUA.

Tamar Braxton has the most reality tv experience of the star filled cast but the mix of personalities should be an interesting mix Yahoo News reports.

“Braxton is the most experienced reality star on the cast. She was introduced to us via Braxton Family Values, and was then given her own spin-off show with her former husband Vincent Herbert, Tamar & Vince and was also a cast member on Celebrity Big Brother 2. After getting divorced, she then starred on Tamar Braxton: Get Ya Life, where we got a glimpse into her then-relationship with David Adefeso.

Dennis Rodman also has his own reality TV credits. He has been a cast member of The Apprentice, Rehab With Dr. Drew, Sober House With Dr. Drew and Celebrity Mole Yucatan. Kim Coles has one reality show under her belt. In 2005, she was a cast member of Celebrity Fit Club, which documented eight celebrities’ weight loss journeys. August Alsina has been known to be unpredictable so we are excited to see his introduction into reality television.”

Like the original version, the reboot of The Surreal Life will air on VH1. Additionally, the revived series will be produced by the same company that was behind the original, 51 Minds Entertainment. However, it is unclear if the location–Glen Campbell‘s former mansion–will be retained for the reboot.

Snoop Dogg Thanks Fans For Keeping His Mother In Prayer

Posted by @Robinrazzi
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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

Snoop Dogg first shared with fans in May that his mother was facing some health problems. On Sunday he shared a photo of his mother to thank fans for their continued prayers.

“Happy Sunday me and my brothers went to c mama today and she opened up her eyes to c us and let us know she still fighting,” he captioned the photo of himself and his brothers at their mother’s bedside. “God is good thanks for all the prayers 1 day at a time.”

 

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A post shared by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg)

Many celebs such as Shad Moss, Jammie Foxx, LaLa Anthony and more all showed support under his post People Magazine reported.

“Pull through mama snoop we love you!!! You all in my prayers unc. I love you man,” Moss commented on the post reported BET.

We will continue to keep Mother Beverly Tate and Snoop Dogg in prayers.

Keeping Our Pets Safe

PETA has some tips on how to keep your dog safe during the hot summer months

Posted by Bobby Gailes
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As the summer heat continues to sizzle in the DMV, I have some friendly tips this morning on how to make sure we are keeping our four-legged fury family members safe in the hot weather.  My guest is Diana Mendoza – Companion Animal Program Manager for PETA. 

Even on a relatively mild 86-degree day, the sidewalk can reach 135 degrees—hot enough to burn anyone’s bare feet, including dogs’! PETA’s PSA urges dog guardians to test the sidewalk’s temperature with their hands, avoid midday walks, walk in the grass, take breaks in the shade, watch out for signs of heatstroke, and bring along plenty of water to help dogs stay happy and healthy on walks all summer long. For more information go here:

 

Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.

Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.

Listen to this mornings segment here:

 

COVID-19 Update

Why are we going in the wrong direction with infections?

Posted by Harold Fisher
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Dr. Anthony Fauci says the CDCis now considering revising its mask guidelines.  Thousands of people in Missouri are being told to mask up starting today.  The city of St. Louis and the entire county now require masks be worn indoors again, even if vaccinated against coronavirus.  Missouri, Texas and Florida, make up 40-percent of all new infections.  What’s going on?  Why are we going in the wrong direction?

Resources:

AdCouncil_Tuskegee_Invitation

Sherry Thompson, Coalition Lead, Ad Council, COVID-19 Vaccine Education Initiative (not pictured)

Dr. Yolandra Hancock, MD, Pediatrician, Advisory Board Member, Mask America

 

Kevin Hart On Turning Down Offer To Go To Space

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

Kevin Hart could one day be in space, but for now the comedy star is staying right here on planet Earth.

During his latest episode on his Sirius XM show Straight From The Hart, he shared he was offered a trip to space but declined the offer, reported People Magazine.

“I was offered a seat on a shuttle to space, and the offer came with wanting to document a celebrity’s experience,” he told his co-hosts, The Plastic Cup Boyz. “They said they wanted to document my experience from start to finish and have me complete it. It was like 30, 45 days of spending time with a team, and then you’re looking at a 60- to 90-minute trip.”

Money wasn’t a factor in his decision as he notes safety and being able to be there for his kids was his priority.

“I said, ‘I would love to know the record of space shuttles that made it versus the ones that didn’t. What’s the record of success versus non-success?’ And that’s my reason. That number is too close. It’s not a crazy upside down number one way or the other. It’s too f—— close, and that’s that for me,” he explained.

On Tuesday (July 20) Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, 57, took his own flight to space lasting 10 minutes and 10 seconds, according to Reuters.

Issa Rae Issa Wife!

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

Issa Rae has officially tied the knot!

The Insecure star in an Instagram post Sunday, revealed she got married in South OF France this past weekend. Her and Louis Diame pulled off a private wedding in a stunning Vera Wang gown and her husband’s Dolce and Gabbana Suit reported People Magazine.

 

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A post shared by Issa Rae (@issarae)

“A) Impromptu photo shoot in a custom @verawanggang dress. B) My girls came to help me, but they all coincidentally had on the same dress! They were sooooo embarrassed. C) Then I took a few flicks with Somebody’s Husband,” she joked in the caption. “Big thanks to @whiteedenweddings for being so gracious and accommodating and making this feel so real and special.”

Many details about the special day remain top-secret for now. But perhaps that shouldn’t come as the biggest surprise to fans who know that Issa tries to keep her relationships on the private side.

Back in April 2019, fans speculated that Issa received a proposal from her longtime love after she was spotted wearing a ring on her Essence cover. But when appearing on The View soon after the reveal, the actress brushed off the speculation by sharing, “I’ve got a lot of rings on my finger. I wear jewelry, you know?” E Online reported.

Aside from reducing negative energy Rae explained that she didn’t like strangers in her personal life.

“I remember, back in the day, I used to post my relationship from a long time ago,” she recalled to Bustle. “And I remember I saw these commenters that I didn’t know, comment on an old picture and be like, ‘See.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t like this.’ And then, from that point forward, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m never acknowledging anything.'”

Tiffany Haddish Talks Fitness Prep to Play Flo-Jo

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

Any great movie star knows how to embrace a role. Tiffany Haddish is no exception as she is set to hit the ground running in her latest role as Florence Griffith Joyner aka Flo-Jo.

Haddish tells People Magazine that she is undergoing a fitness plan to transform her body, ““This is going to be huge — and my legs are going to be amazing!” the 41-year-old told the magazine. “Florence Griffith Joyner was an amazing human being and the more I’m learning about her, the more I’m like ‘Wow!’”

After already losing 50 pounds Haddish is excited for her role “First of all, it feels good to be able to wear a two-piece and not feel like, ‘Oh, I got to put a whole sarong on and a very large coverup, coverall situation. It feels good to be able to be free. And the main thing about the whole transformation is my knees feel like they’re happy. And when my legs is happy, Tiffany’s happy.”

As far as style points, Haddish has been trying on the iconic nails and track suits Flo-Jo wore. ““Yeah. I have tried on some of the outfits and I must say, I look pretty darn good in them,” she told PEOPLE. “I had the long nails over the summer. We don’t have long nails right now because there’s a lot of typing that I’m doing; I’m in the process of writing my next book. So we need the fingertips so we can move quickly on the keyboard, but the nails will be back sooner than later.”

The untitled Flo-Jo biopic was announced in June and will be produced by Tiffany with Flo-Jo’s widower and former coach Al Joyner as a creative consultant.

Prince George’s County Schools Masking Up This Fall

School CEO, Dr. Monica Goldson tweeted from her offical school account this morning that will be the policy.

Posted by Harold Fisher
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Prince George’s County Schools students, teachers and staff will be required to wear masks this fall.  School CEO, Dr. Monica Goldson tweeted from her offical school account this morning that will be the policy.  The tweet also mentioned only about half of eligible students have received a vaccine. Dr Goldson encouraged families to take advantage of the school system’s summer clinics.

 

First African American Nominated To Be MD U.S. Attorney

Barron was also a prosecutor in Prince George’s County and Baltimore in the early 2000s.

Posted by Harold Fisher
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(Mitchellville, MD) — The first African American is being nominated to become Maryland’s U.S. Attorney. President Joe Biden named Prince George’s County Delegate Erek Barron his choice for the role today. Biden and Barron have known each other for years after Barron was a policy adviser for Biden in the U.S. Senate. Barron was also a prosecutor in Prince George’s County and Baltimore in the early 2000s. The Senate will have to approve the nomination.

Del. Erek Barron, (D) Prince George’s County

Merry Clayton’s Beautiful Scars

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https://youtu.be/ApdhHqvF9R8

Following the film “20 Feet From Stardom’s” win at the Oscars, legendary singer Merry Clayton was in an horrific car accident.  Her faith brought her through several surgeries and five months in the hospital to the recording of her latest Gospel album, “Beautiful Scars,” a true testimony to her journey.

Civil Rights Icon Bob Moses Dies at 86

The nation is mourning the loss of civil rights icon Robert Moses who died yesterday at the age of 86. No official word on the cause of death.

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(Monday, July 26, 2021) – He was a towering figure of the civil rights movement.  Robert Moses endured beatings and jail while leading voter registration drives in the 1960s.  He died yesterday at his Hollywood, Florida home at the age of 86.

Moses was the field director of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in Mississippi during the 1960s.  He was a key figure to the 1964 Freedom Summer where hundreds of students went to the south to register voters.

Moses later went on to help improve Black education in math.  In 1982 he founded the Algebra Project, which included a curriculum to help poor students excel in math.

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Empowering DC Residents

UPO’s free Financial Navigators Program

Posted by Bobby Gailes
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This morning we spotlight the United Planning Organization and their work to empower DC residents to live and reach their full potential.  My guest is Andrea Thomas – President and CEO of the United Planning Organization or UPO

UPO’s Navigators Program is free for DC residents who were affected by COVID.  Residents can receive help managing their financial issues, including help with connecting to public programs. For more information go here: 

Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.

Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.

 

Listen to this mornings segment here:

The Silver Fox Squad

40-plus men, promoting grey beards, healthly lifestyles and mentoring.

Posted by Harold Fisher
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Yes… they do look good. When you search the dictionary for the word “foine”, that’s F-O-I-N-E!  You will see a picture of these men.  The Silver Fox Squad has been breaking the internet with their bearded, buffed, bold and brilliant video postings. There’s more to them than the sex appeal of furry faces.  There’s some stuff to the fluff.

Irvin Randle, Creator, The Silver Fox Squad
Michael Johnson, Member, The Silver Fox Squad

 

Whaaat? Is VanJess Singing A Cappella?

We’ve gotten a lot of attention from people who had our best interest at heart, and many who didn’t.

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https://youtu.be/kREaU57C3Mw

Wow! These two beautiful Nigerian American ladies, stole our hearts, again. We’ve been loving their music on WHUR, but who knew they were so dope and so sweet.

I don’t want to give it all away now, but, they took us on their musical journey. Don’t be fooled by their sweet and innocent looks. These ladies are sharp as they come. When it comes to honoring their craft, they can teach a masterclass!

You’ll enjoy this conversation.

Alabama Councilman Won’t Quit After Using Racial Slur

Tarrant, AL councilman used N-word during city council meeting

Posted by Harold Fisher
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TARRANT, Ala. (AP) — A white city leader in Alabama was captured on video using a racial slur toward Black people during a council meeting. Tarrant City Council member Tommy Bryant told news outlets his use of the slur Monday night reflected something the city’s Black mayor had said during an earlier private meeting. Bryant says he won’t apologize and might run for mayor. Others are calling for his resignation. Bryant stood up from his council seat during a public session and used the slur to refer to a Black female council member. Some in the audience gasped.

DC Police Release Suspect Video

“Enough is enough”!

Posted by Harold Fisher
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https://youtu.be/WesCq5hTeCw

“Enough is enough”.  That’s the assessment Washington, DC Police Chief Robert Contee gave after yesterday’s shooting near Logan’s Circle which is a popular tourist spot.  Two men were shot there and Contee visited the sight today and spoke to a gathering crowd, saying it’s time to get violent criminals off the streets.  He went on to say it’s time we stop coddling and trying to help some violent criminals because some of them “might not want a job.”  The two victims who were shot are expected to survive.  The shooting came less than a week after shots near Nationals Park forced fans at the baseball game to seek cover and the game against the San Diego Padres to be suspended.

Billboard Names Pharrell and Neptunes Greatest Producers of 21st Century

Posted by @Robinrazzi
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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

Being on any all century list is a huge honor, but to be the 2nd ranked on a list of the top producers is outstanding. The Virginia Duo of Pharrell and the Chad Hugo were second to only to Max Martin.

Billboards’ list named 50 producers handpicked by their staff with name, defining work, signature sound, and a hidden gem from their catalog.

The signature sound from the duo was described as “Liquid guitars, clanging percussion, and the most intoxicating synth tones you’ve ever heard — usually kicked off with a four-stab count-off, and often punctuated with a keyboard sound like a dying firework — which played as big a part as anything in hip-hop taking complete control of popular music in the ’00s.”

2002 seemed to be there defining year with hit songs “Hot In Here” By Nelly and “Grindin'” by Clipse that showed off “staggering simultaneous aptitude for pop-conquering maximalism and streets-locking minimalism.”

The hidden gem of the duo was “I Ain’t Heard Of That” by Slim Thug and Bun B which is an ‘addictive shuffle.” The layered percussion and synth whooshes were an essential to any producer during the time.

Earlier in the year, they produced Brent Faiyaz’s “Wasting Time” featuring Drake, Snoh Aalegra’s “In Your Eyes,” IDK’s “Keto” featuring Swae Lee and Rico Nasty, and two Moneybagg Yo tracks “Projects” and “Certified Neptunes.”

Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” and Ludacris’ “Money Maker” are just 3 of the many Hot 100 number 1s the duo has produced.

The top 20 names on the list were rounded out by the likes of Timbaland, The-Dream and Tricky Stewart, Mike WiLL Made-It, Kanye West, Noah “40” Shebib, Mustard, Lil Jon, Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre.

https://youtu.be/9nCi6K_Rs38

One Year Ago Today: DMX and Snoop Dogg Verzuz

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

One year ago today we saw the late DMX and Snoop Dogg have a friendly Verzuz battle.

https://youtu.be/RG4TRTbENnE

The battle saw 1.9 million fans stop by and show love to the two emcees. Stars such as Charlamagne tha God, DeSean Jackson, Wayno, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Diddy, LaLa, Keyshia Cole, LaMelo Ball, Fabolous, Jadakiss and more all joined the live and showed love in the comments.

The highly anticipated battle had an intermission where Snoop Dogg showed love to Long Beach and did his fan favorite C-Walk.

Revolt TV reported “This was a time everyone could come together for both rappers, as they shared their experiences dealing with the gift and curse of a dog’s loyalty. DMX dropped a banger with the classic “What These B**ches Want” featuring Sisqo. As Snoop Dogg assisted as the hype man, showing true sportsmanship, he then recaps his trip to Brazil with producer and songwriter Pharrell Williams with their intentional anthem “Beautiful.” Before dropping their records, they gave respect and shout outs to their wives who have been muses in their careers.”

Both rappers had a mutual respect for each other and gave each other the flowers that two greats deserve. The night ended as a win for fans of rap and hip-hop as they got to experience an unforgettable battles and the late DMX.

The Obamas Producing New Netflix Animated Series ‘Ada Twist, Scientist”

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

What do the Obamas and Netflix have to do with each other? President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are producing a Netflix series for kids called “Ada Twist.”

Their latest project is aimed to help build a love and curiosity for science in preschoolers. “Ada Twist, Scientist” follows an 8 year old black girl on her daily missions to learn more about the world. The shows main character is an 8 year old black girl, based on the books by Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts.

Their production company, Higher Ground Productions, has already produced “a variety of acclaimed TV and film projects through their deal with Netflix, including the Academy Award-winning documentary American Factory, producing projects like Kevin Hart’s Fatherhood, and jumping into children’s programming with the cooking show Waffles + Mochi” reported Essence.

As the announcement of the series states, “solving the mystery is only the beginning, because science isn’t just about learning how and why and what… it’s about putting that knowledge into action to make the world a better place.”

In a statement by Essence they emphasize the great lessons and bigger picture the show promotes.

“The show also celebrates important things, including STEM education, scientific discovery, how to work together and the power of friendship. To further inspire kids, each 26-minute episode will end with a live-action aspect that will feature an actual scientist. They will speak to the themes explored in the episodes and the ways in which their work connects to it. From having a little Black girl lead these stories and presenting diverse real-life researchers, Ada Twist, Scientist is aiming to change the way people see scientists and what they associate with such a person.”

The Obamas personally reached out to Chris Nee, creator of popular kids show Doc McStuffins, to help produce the project. Doc McStuffins’ main character is also a young black girl. The showrunner is Kerri Grant and executive producers include the Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions and Mark Burton of Wonder Worldwide.

We are excited to see more representation and diversity in the shows for our kids.

It’s Official: LeBron James Joins The Billionaire Club!

Posted by @Robinrazzi
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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

We previously reported that LeBron was on pace to become a billionaire earlier in July. After a slam dunk in the box offices with Space Jam, LeBron was annouced as the first active player in basketball to make $1 billion in career earnings.

CBS Sports reports that LeBron has made $330 Million from NBA contracts, and another $700 Million in endorsements, merchandise, and licensing media.

” His endorsements with AT&T, Beats, Blaze Pizza, GMC, PepsiCo, Rimowa and Walmart bring in over $100 million annually alone. That’s on top of the gobs of money he makes through his partnership with Nike, with which he signed a lifetime deal back in 2016 that brings in $30 million annually on its own.”

LeBron is the first NBA player to reach this milestone while still actively playing, and joins an elite club of 5 other athletes to reach this. Names like golfer Tiger Woods, boxer Flloyd Maywether, tennis player Rodger Federer, and soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The sky is the limit for LeBron who is one of the most popular athletes in the world on and off the court.

Keyshia Cole Mourns Her Mother’s Passing

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Contributed by Scott Lipscomb

After the passing of her biological other, Frankie, Keyshia Cole posted a series of photos as a tribute to her mother.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Keyshia Cole (@keyshiacole)

She wrote:

“This is so hard man. Can’t really even find the words. SMH. I honestly don’t even know how to feel. You can never prepare for something like this… Ever!!! but you will be missed. It’s crazy because… For weeks I’ve been quoting you, from the goose that laid the golden egg, to calling Neffe shoes slow burners, cause they were bought scuffed up already ? your humor was unmatched!!! Naturally so funny, that’s what I loved about your personality…. we all did. I created this post to show my love and appreciation for your life and I would like to thank my fans + supporters, shooot your supporters and fans, for being here with us during these hard times, and the love that you all have for us…..the love for all your children was definitely felt. When u said all you want is to have ALL OF YOUR CHILDREN IN ONE PLACE, AT ONE TIME meant the most to you, And I’m completely down to do that for you. Even through our deference’s …. WE LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! Frank da bank!”

Her mother passed away at 61 on Monday from a reported overdose.

Her mother appeared on her BET reality series “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is” where she battled with addiction and staying clean.

“Our viewers first got to meet and know her in ‘Keyshia Cole: All In’ as Keyshia Cole’s birth mother and in multiple other unscripted projects, including ‘Keyshia Cole: My New Life’ and ‘Frankie & Neffe.’ Viewers also go to see first-hand Frankie’s trials and tribulations as she battled addiction and as she tried to mend her relationship with her daughters,” the statement continued. “Frankie was a resilient woman, mom, and friend with so much to offer and will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Keyshia, Neffe, and the family during this difficult time.”

USA Today reported that Daniel Gibson, Cole’s ex-husband, also shared his condolences.

“From day 1 you showed me love.. i mean after you roasted my big (expletive) shoes lol it wasn’t never a day we saw each other we weren’t laughing bout sum’n.… legends never die & you (definitely) that in my eyes.”

A High School Reunion barbecue

Eastern High School is hosting it’s Rambler Take-Over Saturday July 31st.

Posted by Bobby Gailes
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It’s a High School Reunion Barbeque Style.  Graduates of Eastern High School in DC are asked to make your way back to the campus this weekend for a tailgating and ALL alumni barbeque.  My guest is Bill Wright – Eastern High School Alumni Class of ’78

Tailgating Eastern High School alumni barbeque is Saturday, July 31st @ 4pm on Eastern’s parking lot near the baseball field.  Attendee are asked to bring something for the grill.  For more information, call 301742-0517

Tune in to Taking it to the Streets, weekday mornings at 6:15, 7:08 and 8:40 on the Steve Harvey Morning Show on 96.3 WHUR.

Follow me on facebook and twitter at @bobbygailes for updates and to stay connected.

 

Listen to this mornings segment here:

Recreational Water Safety in DC

What you need to know about water safety this summer.

Posted by Harold Fisher
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We are in the middle of the summer boating, swimming and fishing season.  The warm weather is perfect for all of them.  But it’s not just something you can jump into with out knowing the safety rules.  We have the experts who will share what you need to know before doing any of those summer activities in the District of Columbia.

Resources:

U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check

MPD Boating Safety Course Information

Lt. Andrew Horos, DC Harbor Patrol, Metropolitan Police Department

Master Captain Jim Reals, U.S. Coast Guard

Bizarre Discovery in Bridge Collapse Debris

Military Stretchers found

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(Washington, DC) — As the investigation into the pedestrian bridge collapse in D.C. last month continues, officials are revealing a startling find in the debris from the accident. The D.C. Department of Energy and Environment reports that crews working at the site discovered dozens of military-grade medical stretchers stacked in the foundation of the bridge. Boxes of the stretchers, dated 1954, were shipped to the D.C. Office of Civil Defense with the intent to be stored at the Davis Elementary School in Southeast D.C. Officials say there’s no immediate word on how the stretchers destined for the elementary school made their way into the foundation of the bridge.

New COVID Penalty For NFL Teams

NFL Teams Will Forfeit Games If Game Can’t Be Rescheduled

Posted by Harold Fisher
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(New York, NY) — The NFL is announcing teams with COVID outbreaks among unvaccinated players will be forced to forfeit games if they can’t be rescheduled this season. The team responsible for a canceled game will also be responsible for financial losses. That team may be subject to potential discipline from the commissioner. The league says it does not plan to add a “19th week” to fit in games that need be made up. This is the first year the NFL will play 17 games instead of 16, making the regular season 18 weeks long.

U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team Will Not Stay In Olympic Village

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

Navigating COVID has made many events and gatherings more challenging than ever before. With safety as the main priority, the U.S. gymnastics squad will not stay in Olympic Village.

Instead, the squad will stay in a nearby hotel. Cecile Landi, the coach of Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, wrote on Twitter that the reason behind the decision is safety for the coaches and athletes CBS Reported.

“It was also a decision that we all made together,” Landi wrote. “We know it isn’t ideal during a pandemic. We feel like we can control the athletes and our safety better in a hotel setting!”

The news comes after alternate Kara Eaker tested positive for Covid-19. A nonathlete tested positive on Saturday, two athletes staying in the village tested positive on Sunday and two more athletes tested positive on Tuesday.

LeToya Luckett Shares Coparenting Gems

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

Coparenting is not always fun, but it should always be done with the best interest of the kids in mind. Singer and actress LaToya Luckett hopped on Instagram Live to share some advice on coparenting.

The recently divorced Luckett said “I think as long as people keep the kids first and what’s in the best interest of the children, that’s what’s most important, when you consider them first,” she said. “Sometimes — most of the time, it’s not about us. It’s not about the parents, the things that went wrong.”

 

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A post shared by LeToya Luckett (@letoyaluckett)

Luckett and Tommicus Walker have two children together, Giana and Tysun. During the live she expressed that it is important to not try to fix went wrong with the marriage and to focus on the children.

“What my therapist told me, what’s important especially when you’re in the coparenting space is to try not to fix what went wrong in the marriage in the coparenting space. Don’t try and fix your problems from the past in your new chapter. Don’t bring it with you although the same people are going to be there,” Essence reported.

She later went on to emphasize the importance of boundaries saying “And being clear, setting clear boundaries is very important. Very, very important.”

Overall she seems to be doing well and smiling, “I feel as long as God keeps waking me up in the morning, regardless of what happens in my life, regardless of what the world throws at me, as long as I can breathe breath in my body, that first of all I’m going to give all the praise to God but two, I’m going to find my joy,” she said. “I’m going to find it and hold onto it for as long as I possibly can and smile through all of it.”

Michaela Coel Cast In Black Panther 2’s ‘Wakanda Forever’

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

Michaela Coel has landed more time on the big screen. Coel has been added to the cast for Black Panther 2 “Wakanda Forever.” This is the sequel to the first Black Panther that grossed over 1.3 billion worldwide.

Coel’s HBO Max series “I May Destroy You” earned four Emmy nominations. She served as a writer, producer, and actress on the show.

Coel’s other credits include “Black Mirror”, “Chewing Gum,” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

While additional cast has not been confirmed, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong’o, Florence Kasumba and Angela Bassett will likely reprise their roles from the original film reported Variety.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is set for wide release on July 8, 2022.

https://youtu.be/7qndjVdi8sU

Atlanta Mayor To Create Office Charged With Reducing Crime

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced on July 16th the creation of the Office of Violence Reduction in an effort to further combat the city’s spiking crime rate.

The creation of the new office was one of the recommendations submitted by the Mayor’s Anti-Violence Advisory Council comprised of community and business stakeholders that began to convene this past May to review Atlanta’s plans to combat violent crime. The Mayor’s working group also advised Bottoms to pursue $70 million investment to jumpstart their recommendations. Those plans include the hiring of 250 more police officers; expansions to the city’s camera network and license plate reader systems; and the addition of 10,000 more streetlights in the city by December 31, 2022. “The funds will be transferred from other departments to provide $50 million in public funding. The remaining $20 million will be generated by philanthropic and non-profit partners,” stated Bottoms.

As cited in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the city of Atlanta along with 14 other U.S. cities and counties were selected last month to work with the White House over the next 18 months to address the national rise in homicides.

“Because our state was open, and there were many people coming into our city, we were starting to see an uptick in crime before many other major cities, and unfortunately what we saw was just not something happening in Atlanta,” said Bottoms.

Newly appointed Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant asserted, the homicide rate is currently up by less than 25 percent and that the new public safety plans “are actually putting a dent in violent crime.”

Stokely On His New Album Coming This Summer

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R&B veteran Stokely is preparing to follow up his 2017 album, Introducing Stokely, with his sophomore effort, Sankofa, arriving this summer. Stokely says he can’t wait to showcase his musical personality on his new solo album, which will feature appearances from Snoop Dogg, H.E.R, Wale and more.

A Whitney Houston Hologram Concert Is Opening In Las Vegas

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The “An Evening With Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Concert” is set for a Las Vegas residency starting this October at Harrah’s Las Vegas.
The concert will feature a four-piece live band, backup singers, dancers, cinematic effects and of course, the voice of the late Whitney Houston.
Songs including “I Will Always Love You”, I Wanna Dance With Somebody”, “Higher Love”, and several others will be performed.
Are you open to seeing a hologram concert? Do you think it would be sort of creepy or really cool? What late musician would you want to see as a hologram performance?

https://youtu.be/O-WZFAZV2WI

Maria Taylor Parting Ways With ESPN

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Contributed by Scott Lipscomb

What’s done in the dark always comes to light. Weeks after a fellow ESPN host’s call got leaked about Taylor, Taylor decided to depart from ESPN and decline a contract extension.

Maria Taylor is one the top NBA analysts of today, and is reportedly heading to NBC Sports to help cover the Olympics via the New York Post.

Earlier this month, the New York Times published a bombshell story regarding comments that Rachel Nichols, another NBA analyst for ESPN, made about Taylor. Nichols who is white, felt as though Taylor was only able to cover the finals because of the company’s “diversity efforts.”

Taylor thanked ESPN for her time with the Network

“So thankful to Jimmy and all of my great teammates and friends at the SEC Network, College GameDay, Women’s and Men’s college basketball, and the NBA Countdown family — the people who believed in me, encouraged me, pushed me, and lifted me up,” Taylor said in a statement. “Words are inadequate to express my boundless appreciation, and I hope to make them proud.”

Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN and sports content, added that Taylor’s “remarkable success speaks directly to her abilities and work ethic.”

“There is no doubt we will miss Maria, but we remain determined to continue to build a deep and skilled talent roster that thoroughly reflects the athletes we cover and the fans we serve,” he said in a statement. “While she chose to pursue a new opportunity, we are proud of the work we’ve done together.” reported CNN.

https://youtu.be/8-tr4X0KhIs

Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) to Portray Thelonious Monk in Biopic

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Yasiin Bey, the artist formerly known as Mos Def, has taken on a new role.
He will play Jazz Icon Thelonious Monk in an upcoming biopic.
The movie begins production in the summer of 2022.
According to a press release, the film will “will center around [Monk’s] struggles for musical success, mental illness and the spiritual love triangle between his wife Nellie and one of the world’s richest women, Nica Rothschild.”
Is Bey a better actor or rapper?

Beyonce’s New Orleans Mansion Catches Fire

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A New Orleans mansion that is reportedly owned by Beyoncé caught fire on Wednesday evening.

The mansion, located in the 1500 block of Harmony Street, was reported ablaze around 6:15 PM, two firefighters responded and contained the fire around 7 PM.

A smoke alarm went off which triggered the firefighters to respond. No injuries were reported and the fire was totally extinguished by 8 PM.

The gothic-style mansion was built in 1926 and has been owned by Sugarcane Park LLC since 2015 which shares the same address as Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment LLC. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Have you ever had your house catch on fire? What was the outcome?

Dr. Dre To Pay Ex-Wife Almost $300,000 A Month In Spousal Support

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Nicole Young got a payday as a judge ruled that she would get almost $3.5 million a year in spousal support from her ex-husband, Andre Young or better known as Dr. Dre.

The order reads: “[Dr. Dre] is ordered to pay to the [Nicole Young] spousal support in the sum of $293,306.00 per month, payable on the first of each month, commencing August 1, 2021.”

Dre is also responsible for providing health insurance for Young. The order will remain in effect until Nicole either remarries, finds a new domestic partner or either party dies.

Young was never able to prove there was a prenuptial agreement between the couple, she claims Dre destroyed the agreement. If a prenup was in play, Young would’ve received a lot more of Dre’s $820 million estate.

Do you think the amount Nicole is receiving is fair?

Sean Diddy Combs Is Dropping a New Album in September

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Diddy posted a two slide swipe post on his Instagram.
The first slide said Off The Grid Vol 1.
The second slide said 9-24-21.
He captioned the post, Off The Grid. The album September 24, 2021. Welcome to the love era.
What artist has taken an indefinite break but you really want to hear new music from them?

The YMCA’s Is Connecting Young People To Science and Technology

The YMCA is preparing for it’s annual Thingamajig Invention Convention

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Listen to this mornings segment here:

Who’s That Girl In The Car?

“His parents must be wondering where they went wrong!”

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https://youtu.be/ldnzqKHgTJc

And then there were three: Autumn Joi, Coka Lani, and myself (Angela Stribling).

You can find our girl, Nina Brown, hanging out with Frank Ski as the show went to Hawaii.

Yes, of course we were salty about not getting to tag along. But, Nina’s insta-pics are giving us life. 😉

For our views, along with the comment section, on everything from the Master and Slave viral story, to

all things fun and hilarious. Press Play.

DC Gun Violence, Problems and Solutions

Why are we seeing so much gun violence in the District.

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Deadly gun violence in the District of Columbia continues to grab headlines and the attention of communities that have to deal with the threat at their front doors.  We’re taking a deep dive into the problem and looking for possible solutions.

Trayon White, DC Councilmember, Ward 8

 

Denise Rolark-Barnes, Publisher, The Washington Informer

Black America and the War on Drugs

50-year war on drugs imprisoned millions

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Fifty years ago this summer, President Richard Nixon declared a war on drugs. Today, the U.S. remains mired in a deadly opioid epidemic that did not abate during the worst days of the coronavirus pandemic. Whether anyone won the war is questionable, but the losers are clearly Black and Latino Americans, their families and their communities. Mandatory minimum prison sentences have been a key weapon of the drug war. Decades later those harsh penalties have fed a prison industrial complex that has millions of mostly Black and brown people locked up and shut out of the American dream.

Cheney Blasts McCarthy Over Jan. 6th Commission

McCarthy made his decision after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi banned two of his Republican picks for the committee

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(Washington, DC) — A fellow Republican says House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is trying to prevent Americans from knowing how the attack on the Capitol happened. That’s just one of the allegations Republican Liz Cheney of Wyoming is making after McCarthy said no Republicans, aside from Cheney, will serve on the House January 6th Commission. McCarthy made his decision after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi banned two of his Republican picks for the committee, citing the “integrity of the investigation.” Cheney, who was appointed by Pelosi to serve on the committee, said she agreed with Pelosi’s decision to nix the two Republicans.

Congresswoman Liz Cheney, (R) Wyoming

COVID Halting Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ Production

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As a new variant of Covid is among the world, popular Netflix series Bridgerton has stopped production indefinitely.

Deadline reported “We hear that Netflix has paused production for an indefinite period of time as the streamer and producers at Shondaland establish a timetable for a safe return amid the Delta variant of coronavirus surging across the UK.”

After a second positive Covid test in one week, an executive decision was made to halt production until workers could safely resume. Cast and crew members are tested daily to ensure a minimal spread and ensure the safety of those on set.

“Nearly 52,000 people tested positive for coronavirus in England on Friday, while there were 49 deaths. Despite the rise of the virus, the UK government is pushing ahead with reopening the country on Monday, when all legal restrictions on social contact will be removed.”

Season 1 became Netflix’s most viewed series after it was watched by 82 million households around the world. The show was also nominated for 12 Emmy Awards this week.

Lebron James King Of The Box Office

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LeBron James is having quite the year, after being on pace to become a billionaire this year, he now tops box offices with Space Jam: A New Legacy.

Space Jam: A New Legacy took the no. 1 spot at the box office this weekend, grossing $31.6 million dollars according to CNN. The film knocked Black Widow from the top spot and was only expected to gross $20 million.

The cartoon and live action sports comedy was widely panned by critics, but loved by audiences.

Produced by Ryan Coogler and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the movie has been hit hard by the critics, scoring 31% on the review site, Rotten Tomatoes. James’ response? Just two words, “Hi haters.”

https://youtu.be/0H2cIbUGJJc

First Black Girl Duo Goes Undefeated at Harvard Debate

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

For the first time in the history of the Harvard Debate Council, two Black girls from Atlanta have made history as the first Black female duo to win the annual summer debate competition at Harvard University.

The Harvard Debate Council hosts a annual summer residential program for high school students from over 15 countries. For two weeks the students study for the program wide debate. Due to covid restrictions, it took place virtually this year.

Jayla Jackson, 16, is a rising junior at Holy Innocence Episcopal School. Emani Stanton, 17, is a rising senior at North Atlanta High School. Both girls are current members of the Atlanta-based Harvard Diversity Project, an initiative founded by Harvard’s award- winning debate coach and author Brandon P. Fleming. In 2017, Harvard accepted Fleming’s proposal to establish the Diversity Project as a means to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus.

“Fleming recruits underserved Black youth in Atlanta with little to no prior debate experience. He trains them every weekend for one year in Atlanta leading up to the Harvard summer program, exposing them to higher-level academic disciplines. In four years, Fleming has raised over one million dollars to enroll over 100 African-American students into the Harvard debate residency on full scholarship. All four cohorts trained by Fleming’s unique curriculum have gone on to win the international debate competition at Harvard” People Magazine Reported.

The dynamic duo went undefeated with a 10-0 record and brought home the 4th consecutive championship to the Atlanta based program.

“The achievements of this program and our scholars reveals to the world the power of educational equity.” Jackson remarks about the historic win, “We want to use our platform to show people what’s possible when the playing field is leveled for those who need it most.”

LeBron James’ Media Company Calls Out The Olympics

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LeBron James’ media company Uninterrupted is a voice for athletes all over. After the Olympics added a new rule, the company took to twitter to express their concerns.

Rule 50 seemingly ‘silencing athletes’ with its ban on political protests during medal ceremonies. The controversial rule prohibits demonstrations, along with political, religious, and racial propaganda at the Olympics. That also includes peaceful demonstrations on the podium.

As previously reported, rule 50 is the reason all Olympic competitors have been banned from donning Black Lives Matter apparel or kneeling during the national anthem while participating in sporting event The Jasmine Brand Reported.

The tweet reads ““Rule 50 is a rule in the Olympic Charter that bans any kind of demonstration and prohibits any opinionated political, religious or racial propaganda at the Olympic site in 2021,”

“The only time an athlete is able to speak freely is at press conferences and to the media, but not on the Olympic podium when the world is watching.”

“Sport is not neutral. When athletes speak up – whether from a stadium, gymnasium, or track – they start conversations and things change.”

“Give athletes the chance to show up fully and to make change.”

LeBron is no stranger to speaking about social injustices.

“I speak from a very educated mind, so I’m kind of the wrong guy to actually go at because I do my homework. I would never shut up about things that are wrong. I preach about my people, and I preach about equality. Social injustice. Racism. Systematic voter suppression. Things that go on in our community.”

“Because I was a part of my community at one point and saw the things that was going on, and I know what’s going on still because I have a group of 300-plus kids at my school that are going through the same thing, and they need a voice. And I’m their voice. I’m their voice, and I use my platform to continue to shed light on everything that may be going on, not only in my community, but around this country and around the world.”

Venmo Will No Longer Let Strangers See Your Payments

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Venmo has removed the public feed feature, which allowed people across the globe to see user payments.
In Venmo’s statement, they said, “As part of our ongoing efforts to continually evolve the Venmo platform, while staying true to the heart of the Venmo experience, we are removing the global feed. This change allows customers to connect and share meaningful moments and experiences with the people who matter most.”
Many users did not like the fact that complete strangers could see what payments were being issued.
Users can still see activity amongst their friend groups only if permission is granted.
Which digital payment service do you use the most? Which service gave you the most problems as far as fraud?

Stolen Manhattan Beach Lodge To Return To Black Family

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

In the 1920s there once was a place in California where blacks could enjoy the beach free of racism. After years of trying, the city council used eminent domain to acquire the property.

Charles and Willa Bruce are the names of the black couple who owned the lodge in Manhattan Beach, California where blacks could escape the racism of the country. “It was a very important place because there was no other place along the coast of California where African Americans could actually go and enjoy the water,” Shepard, the Bruce family historian and spokesperson, told Insider.

Now in 2021, the family is set to gain rights to the property after years of legal battles.

Willa and Charles only received only about $14,000 in compensation after taking legal action, according to the Los Angeles Times. Officials previously told CNN the land is worth approximately $75 million that subsequent generations of the Bruce family have missed out on. Shepard said the land was worth between $35 and $75 million, but officials told Insider in a statement the land has not yet been assessed and would be “in the coming months.”

https://youtu.be/dbERFYZVaeI

Netflix To Include Games As Part Of Monthly Subscription

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Netflix announced that they will be offering games as part of their monthly subscription.
The company said, “We view gaming as another new content category for us, similar to our expansion into original films, animation, and unscripted TV. Games will be included in members’ Netflix subscription at no additional cost similar to films and series. Initially, we’ll be primarily focused on games for mobile devices. We’re excited as ever about our movies and TV series offering and we expect a long runway of increasing investment and growth across all of our existing content categories, but since we are nearly a decade into our push into original programming, we think the time is right to learn more about how our members value games.”
Earlier this month, Netflix teased this route with the new deal with Shonda Rhimes, which included gaming and virtual content.
There are also rumors that Netflix will be teaming up with Playstation to offer their games on their platform as well.
What do you think about Netflix getting into the gaming space? Would you play games on Netflix or are you content with the current platforms you are on?

Mariah Carey Wasn’t Pleased About Biggie Shouting Her Out

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Mariah Carey has had a long successful career, and she has worked with countless artists including hip-hop artists.
One hip-hop artist that she did not care for was Biggie Smalls.
“Just Playing Dreams’ was a track Biggie used to speak about the women he would like to have sex with.
In the song, Biggie raps, “Mariah Carey’s kinda scary.”
In her memoir, Mariah says, “I had never met Biggie, but there was a running story that I had beef with him because of his song ‘Dreams of F—ing an R&B B—-,’ “I was kinda scary? What does that mean?” she thought. “F-him. If he only knew some of the scary s- I’d actually been through.”
She did say that Biggie and she worked things out, and he assured her that he meant no disrespect.
She even said that she was trying to get Biggie on the remix of ‘Honey’, but he passed away before she could get him to hop on the song.
What is the worse thing someone has said about you? How did you feel when you heard it? Did you confront that person?

Kanye Donating 5000 Free Tickets to HBCU Students, Staff, Faculty

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Contributed By Scott Lipscomb

Kanye West is not only a musical genius, but also one of the biggest cultural icons in the world. As he once said in a song “Everything I do, need a news crew present.”

Well, today he makes headlines for donating 5,000 tickets to Atlanta area HBCUs for his “Donda” listening party. The event will take place Thursday night at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Page Six reported “5,000 tickets to faculty, staff and students of Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, Morris Brown College and ITC.”

“Donda,” which is named after his late mother Donda West, comes nearly two years after the Yeezy designer’s last album, “Jesus Is King.” It was originally meant to be released in 2020 but never came to fruition.

The album was first heard at an exclusive event in Las Vegas this past weekend. West also aired a commercial during the NBA Finals with track star Sha’Carri Richardson as promotion for the album.

https://youtu.be/q9lFaCkFN7I