For the third consecutive year, hundreds of women of color will convene in Brooklyn, New York, to celebrate their hair and heritage at CurlFest this Saturday. The annual one-day festival was launched in 2014 by the Curly Girl Collective, an experiential marketing group that specializes in multicultural beauty, as a way to empower women with naturally kinky or curly hair.
During the event, attendees will have an opportunity to hear from beauty experts, bloggers, and social influencers as well as shop for beauty products, fashion, jewelry, and accessories. They can also participate in fun games and a dance-off.
Tag a friend that’s coming with you to #CURLFEST! #naturalbeautyfestival #curlygirlcollective #naturalbeauty #tb #festivalseason #Brooklyn #squadgoals
A post shared by Curly Girl Collective (@curlygirlcollective) on
Last year, attendees traveled from around the world—even from as far as Brazil and France—to join in on the festivities at the 2016 CurlFest, which Black Enterprise’s Raven Davis described as a remarkable experience of “curls and kinks galore.” Davis also spoke to one of the founders of Curly Girl Collective, Charisse Higgins, about the growth of her business and CurlFest, which is now recognized as the largest natural beauty festival in the world.
Since the beginning of the Curly Girl Collective movement in 2011 the five co-founders have gone from curating small events and panels for women with natural hair to launching CurlFest in 2014 which has quadrupled in the number of attendees, clients and sponsors.
Charisse believes what makes Curly Girl Collective and CurlFest different is “the sense of community that is created through the movement. Prior to the very first CurlFest in 2014, the co-founders planned to “reach more people—connect more people to the brands and bloggers they love and have fun celebrating natural beauty.”
The fun begins this Saturday, July 15 at noon at Prospect Park in Brooklyn. For more information, visit www.curlygirlcollective.com.
Did someone say #flashbackfridays? Meet us at the soul train line! #curlygirlcollective #curlfest #july15th
A post shared by Curly Girl Collective (@curlygirlcollective) on
There is no doubt that Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine’s cultural contributions as music producers and entrepreneurs have transformed the landscape of both the music and tech industries. The complete breadth of their meteoric rise—both independently as creatives driven by a passion for music, and together as a dynamic entrepreneurial duo—is impeccably captured via filmmaker Allen Hughes’ original, vivacious storytelling for the four-part HBO docuseries The Defiant Ones.
Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre from the official trailer for The Defiant Ones. (Screenshot Source: YouTube, User: HBO)
Jimmy and Dre as Architects of Contemporary Culture
Hughes’ The Defiant Ones provides an empirical look at the professional evolution of Dr. Dre, founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment, and Jimmy Iovine, co-founder of Interscope Records, illustrating their ascension to modern-day mogul status. An unconventional “pursuit of the American Dream” narrative, Hughes says he was inspired by Jimmy and Dre’s ability to keenly focus on their own gifts and talents, leveraging all the qualities that made them unique to make their dreams come true. Their success as record producers and entrepreneurs is proof that mastery of this can ultimately create a foundation for high achievement for anyone in any industry.
“They [Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine] taught me that identifying what your gift is or your passion, putting blinders on, and just focusing on that while tuning out everything else is the quickest way from A to B in becoming a success,” Hughes said, in his interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
The docuseries highlights both Dre and Jimmy’s fearless approach to identifying fresh, raw talent as well as their relentless work ethic. While seemingly very different men, it’s clear that Jimmy and Dre’s mutual appreciation for pushing creative boundaries to challenge the status quo has paved the way to their success in the music industry. As sound engineers and music producers, each has had their hands in crafting the iconic melodies that define the generational soundtrack for the latter half of the 20th century and the new millennium. Their inherent ability to look past the trends of “the now” in order to cultivate the sound of the future is what enabled Jimmy and Dre to nurture the careers of numerous groundbreaking artists, such as Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and N.W.A; U2, Bruce Springsteen, Eminem, No Doubt, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Nicks, Tupac Shakur, Lady Gaga, and many others.
As entrepreneurs, the successful launch of Beats Electronics and Beats Music modernized platforms for music consumption, raising the bar of expectation for how we hear and process sound by simply enhancing how we listen to music. Not to mention, Apple’s procurement of the Beats empire back in 2014 is still considered the largest business acquisition in history, reportedly costing the tech giant a cool $3 billion; thus validating Jimmy’s initial instinct to “f*** sneakers and do speakers” as right on the money—literally and figuratively.
Like Eminem tells Hughes in the film, “Jimmy Iovine is the levitator; Dre is the innovator.” Independently, Dre and Jimmy have each demonstrated their musical genius and entrepreneurial prowess. However, when they come together and their powers combine, they are an unparalleled force to be reckoned with. From fostering the careers of some of the greatest artists of all time, to their shared entrepreneurial coup with Beats’ acquisition, Jimmy and Dre have done more than just move the needle of culture. In fact, I would venture to say that they’ve taken that needle and scratched it across the turntables of life, tattooing an incredible legacy into cultural consciousness by forging this revolutionary path of their own design.
One-on-One With Allen Hughes About HBO’s ‘The Defiant Ones’
But why take my word for it, when you can hear straight from the mastermind behind the film? Check out BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s exclusive interview with Allen Hughes, director and executive producer of The Defiant Ones.
(Source: YouTube, User: Black Enterprise)
Dr. Dre Amps Up the Soundtrack
Though the soundtrack for The Defiant Ones is rich with nostalgia, after a brief hiatus as a solo artist, the film’s release has given Dr. Dre a great opportunity to debut some new music. Check out his latest single “Gunfiyah,” featured in Part One of the four-part series.
(Source: YouTube, User: Beats 1)
To learn more about The Defiant Ones, click here. For more information about how and where to watch the HBO docuseries, click here.
Blacks are twice as likely as whites to die from their first heart event, a new study shows. Preventing a first heart attack may, therefore, be more crucial for blacks, researchers said.
“Our concern is that blacks may not be seeking medical attention for important symptoms that could signal heart problems,” said the study’s senior researcher Monika Safford, M.D., John J. Kuiper Professor of Medicine and chief of General Internal Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
In the analysis of several studies, reported Monday in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation, researchers found that in two studies, black adults ages 45-64 have about twice the risk of fatal events compared with whites. The same is true for older people, although to a lesser degree.
The higher risk may be due to cardiovascular risk factors and so-called social determinants of health—the conditions in which people are born, grow, work and live, the study found.
However, accounting for these same factors resulted in a lower risk of nonfatal events in black men compared to white men, with similar patterns among women that were not statistically significant.
It was a finding that surprised researchers given that blacks have a higher burden of unfavorable social determinants of health and cardiovascular risk factors. The findings suggest another factor the researchers could not measure may be driving the results.
“Greater public awareness of heart attack symptoms would benefit everyone,” Safford said. “Many people think that heart attacks are only present if they have severe chest pain. In fact, many heart attacks cause only mild symptoms and people may mistakenly think they are having a bout of indigestion.”
This article originally appeared on American Heart Association News.
Today marks the start of the third annual Harlem Whiskey Festival, bringing whiskeys from around the world to aficionados uptown.
In addition to a Grand Tasting at The Cecil on July 12th, there’s a cigar pairing at Papa Juan cigar lounge and a private Craftsmanship Dinner at Minton’s honoring Hill Harper, former New York Knick John Starks, DJ D-Nice, celeb dentist Lee Gause, entertainment attorney Ed Woods, and artist Alonzo Adams, among others.
Harlem Whiskey Festival (Image: Entourage TV)
BlackEnterprise.com spoke with Ron Williams, the entrepreneur behind the festival, to learn about the business behind the spirit:
Tell us about your company, Exclusive Access Group.
It was launched in 2007 as a boutique concierge service for professional athletes. “Serving and protecting gifted lifestyles” is our tagline. As a byproduct of our work with athletes we’ve been able to develop tremendous relationships with luxury brands.
When and how did you get into whiskey?
My introduction happened several years ago when my good friend NBA legend Michael Jordan and I shared a bottle of Macallan Single Malt Scotch and a Cuban Cohiba in Toronto.
Harlem Whiskey Festival (Image: Entourage TV)
Why start this festival in Harlem?
I decided to start in Harlem simply because Harlem deserves its own festival. Our objective is to make whiskey hip, fun, cool, sexy, and accessible to women. And to give small batch and craft distilleries an opportunity to reach an underserved audience.
Many people don’t know that there’s a history here, in Harlem.
Harlem actually has a rich history with the spirit, dating back to prohibition. There’s an emerging whiskey movement in Harlem, and we’re at the forefront of it.
This is the third year of the festival. How has it evolved?
We’re super excited about our growth in terms of attendance and brand support. We have whiskeys from around the world, including Japan and India, participating this year. We’ve also added a trade opportunity, so local restaurant and bar owners can come in and meet distillers and brand ambassadors.
The event kicks off with a Craftsmanship Dinner. What makes the honorees special?
Our Craftsmanship Dinner has evolved into an event in and of itself. We’ve assembled an impressive group of honorees this year. Whiskey is about craftsmanship. And our honorees excel at their respective crafts.
Harlem Whiskey Festival (Image: Entourage TV)
You also started a cigar company. How did that come about?
We decided to launch Harlem Cigar Co. because of our passion for cigars and our work with Sensi Cigars Group. We have an ownership stake in Sensi Cigars Group. And we couldn’t think of a better way or platform to introduce their whiskey-infused cigar, which is made in Costa Rica with Cuban tobacco, than during this festival.
I’ve been a journalist for about a decade and have been to many press events. Typically, the average press event is a dreadful affair. A company wants to show the press a new product or service usually through a slideshow or some sort of awkward presentation. Lexus recently invited a few journalists from across the nation to what was an innovative press event at a location that you must add to your travel bucket list: Blackberry Farm in Tennessee.
Blackberry Farm is a 4,000-plus acre pastoral resort in Walland, Tennessee. The entire place is nestled against the Great Smoky Mountains—there is not a bad view to be had in the quaint cottages and carriage houses you can rent during your stay.
On the resort, there’s a slew of activities including paddle boarding, fly fishing, horseback riding, wine and whiskey tastings, and hiking (be cautioned; the seasoned hiking guides will mention the black bears and wild pigs that roam the woods of the Smoky Mountain foothills).
An eclectic selection of food is in abundance. Blackberry Farm is a highly lauded culinary destination with much of the food sourced locally from the region. It’s heaven for foodies, especially Southern cuisine aficionados.
An added luxury: Lexus is a partner with the resort. You can ask the concierge for the keys to any of the latest-model Lexus vehicles on the property and take one for a spin.
Of course, such accommodations don’t come cheap. Expect to pay nearly $700 just for a room and over $1,000 for the smallest guest house. Larger houses can cost up to $9,000 for a weekend.
As an African American woman, I felt quite at home and was charmed by the locals’ hospitality. With the exception of a few off-site mom-and-pop gift shops, I saw no Rebel flags or any other pageantry giving homage to the dark days of the antebellum South. In fact, from what I read online, Walland was one of the few towns in the Deep South that was pro-abolitionist and anti-Confederacy.
Click the below gallery to view the slideshow of the Lexus press event, appropriately named #LexusMountainAdventure.
It’s been over three years since his last album, but Jay-Z has returned with his 13th solo album—hyphen and all. The mission? Not to own the season like he did for “seven straight summers,” but to empower and uplift rap’s consciousness.
(Image: Wikipedia)
4:44 is raw, intimate, educational, and uplifting all at the same time. In 36 captivating minutes, Jay-Z has managed to record what is sure to become known as one of his most important albums.
The album starts with “Kill Jay Z” and ends with “Legacy,” a verbal will. This is no mistake. Throughout the album, the listener is treated to quite a journey.
Remember that scene in Fade to Black, when Jay’s in the studio and wants to speak more about issues that affect the hood?
“They Scared to Be They Self (2004) HD,” clip from Fade to Black (Source: YouTube, User: Movieclips)
This is THAT album.
“Cry JAY Z, we know the pain is real But you can’t heal what you never reveal What’s up, JAY Z? You know you owe the truth to all the youth That fell in love with JAY Z.”
– From “Kill Jay Z.”
For the record, the tap at Kanye is vintage HOV…(and I’m sticking with the caps. Ha!)
Financial Planning—HOV Style
The next track is “The Story Of O.J.,” which is the antithesis of his 1998 single “Money, Cash, H**s,”from the album Vol 2…Hard Knock Life. Instead of bubbling “hard in the double R,” financial planning takes center stage:
“You wanna know what’s more important than throwin’ away money at a strip club? Credit.”
– From “The Story Of O.J.”
A reference to Drake’s misplaced comments regarding Jay-Z is also addressed:
“I bought some artwork for one million
Two years later, that sh** worth two million
Few years later, that sh** worth eight million
I can’t wait to give this sh** to my children
Y’all think it’s bougie, I’m like, it’s fine
But I’m tryin’ to give you a million dollars’ worth of game for $9.99.”
– From “The Story Of O.J.”
Pay attention to the last line; Jay offers to give you a million dollars worth of games for $9.99, which also happens to be the price of a subscription to TIDAL, his new digital entertainment platform.
JAY-Z (Image: i am guilty, original resolution, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Later, in quite possibly one of the best bars on the album:
“Y’all on the Gram holdin’ money to your ear There’s a disconnect, we don’t call that money over here.”
– From “The Story Of O.J.”
Not only does Jay mock those who choose to hold wads of money to their ears, but he is also clever enough to link it to phones—the very thing we use to take pictures.
On Entrepreneurship
“Smile”is a mature look at life. Jay reflects back on life experiences and the lessons learned from them, reminding us that “a loss ain’t a loss, it’s a lesson.”
“A loss ain’t a loss, it’s a lesson
Appreciate the pain, it’s a blessing” #Smile pic.twitter.com/aNsvwSlfXD
— JAY-Z (@JAYZclassicBars) July 1, 2017
However, even within all of that, there’s still a bit of street knowledge:
“Black entrepreneurs, free enterprise
That’s why it’s a black market, that’s why it’s called the trap
That’s why it’s called the project ’cause it’s exactly that
All these people was gon’ kill me, heh
’Cause the more I reveal me, the more they ‘fraid of the real me.”
– From “Smile.”
On the track “Caught in Their Eyes,” we gain insight into how the streets prepared Jay-Z to become hyper-observant:
“I survived reading guys like you
I’m surprised y’all think you can disguise y’all truths
I seen eyes wide as they about to shoot.”
– From “Caught in Their Eyes.”
The track titled “4:44” is a cathartic fable on the impact of infidelity. Listeners also get to experience Jay-Z at his most vulnerable, which is something we’re not used to hearing. Note the lyrics:
“I never wanted another woman to know
Something about me that you didn’t know
I promised, I cried, I couldn’t hold
I suck at love, I think I need a do-over
I will be emotionally available if I invited you over
I stew over what if you over my sh**?”
– From “4:44.”
Ageism in the Music Industry
Age in hip-hop is a contentious issue, particularly when it comes to the 47-year-old rapper. “Family Feud” deals with this head on with a rather pertinent question:
“Hovi’s home, all these phonies come to a halt
All this old talk left me confused
You’d rather be old rich me or new you?”
– From “Family Feud.”
The song also touches upon the previous history of internal fighting and discourse within the hip-hop industry, and its overall impact on culture:
“Nobody wins when the family feuds
We all screwed ’cause we never had the tools.
I’m tryna fix you
I’m tryna get these n****s with no stripes to be official
Y’all think small, I think Biggie.”
– From “Family Feud.”
Supporting Black Businesses
There’s also a nod to supporting black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs:
“F*** rap, crack cocaine
Nah we did that, Black-owned things
Hundred percent, Black-owned champagne
And we merrily merrily eatin’ off these streams.”
– From “Family Feud.”
And later:
“What’s better than one billionaire? Two.
I’ll be damned if I drink some Belvedere while Puff got CÎROC
Y’all need to stop.”
– From “Family Feud.”
The track “Bam” is a welcome addition to the album. First of all, Damian Marley brilliantly channels Jacob Miller in a manner that is sure to solidify his status amongst music legends. Secondly, no Jay-Z album is complete without a flurry of boastful lyrics:
“Put that drum in your ear, don’t get Srem’d
I’ll Bobby Shmurda anybody you heard of n****s could not be further, I fathered your style Birth of a Nation, Nat Turner style
Uh, y’all make me turn up all this talkin’ down
Uh, n****s is skippin’ leg day just to run they mouth
I be skippin’ leg day, I still run the world.”
– From “Bam.”
From fake dracos, to self-snitching, “Moonlight”is an uncompromising take on the current state of rap. It’s designed to make people uncomfortable:
“Y’all f*** the same f***in’ chicks
I’m in the skrt with ya — yeah, right
I’m the skrt with ya — cool story
I’m on the ch — ‘nough of this
Look, I know killers, you no killer, huh?
Please don’t talk about guns
That you ain’t never gon’ use
Y’all always tell on y’all self.”
– From “Moonlight.”
As the album winds down, “Marcy Me” takes the listener on a trip down memory lane. There are nods to Big Daddy Kane, Biggie Smalls, and Jay-Z’s old stomping grounds in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn:
“Shout out to Nostrand Ave., Flushing Ave., Myrtle
All the County of Kings, may your ground stay fertile
Shout out to Big Poppa, Daddy Kane, heroes
Thus concludin’ my concerto. Marcy me.”
– From “Marcy Me.”
The album poignantly ends addressing the value of one’s legacy and what that means:
“There was a time America wouldn’t let us ball
Those times are now back, just now called Afro-tech Generational wealth, that’s the key
My parents ain’t have sh**, so that ship started with me.”
– From “Legacy.”
Jay-Z’s Homage to Raising the Bar
Overall, the album is stellar—there’s no doubt about it. The production from No I.D. is excellent, and Young Guru has Jay sounding incredible. This album will connect most with fans of my generation.
4:44 signals a distinct shift from what we usually expect. There is no ‘hit’ in the conventional sense, and that’s OK. The album isn’t about that. On the contrary, it’s about raising the bar. Once upon a time, Jay-Z influenced us to ditch jerseys and auto-tunes. Now, he’s trying to empower us, keep us honest, and lead culture forward.
A new blueprint has been laid down; it’s time to study, then follow it.
*This article originally appeared on Medium.
Sumit Sharma is a freelance writer covering all things Digital Marketing and Hip-Hop. Once the former editor of The Hip Hop Chronicle, Sumit interviewed the likes of Kanye West, Ice Cube, Nas, and Russell Simmons, accumulating over 5.5 million views on YouTube. Follow him on Twitter: @hiphopchroniclel; Instagram: @hiphopchronicle; and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thehhc
Power has been an adventurous ride since the first season. Courtney Kemp, writer, creator, and executive producer is amazing, and has been giving us one of the best shows on television for four years in a row.
(Image: Twitter/@OmariHardwick)
Without giving too much away, this season the cast really steps into the fullness of their roles and characters as they are in for a huge ride, especially James St. Patrick who plays the main character, “Ghost,” an entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur myself, I’ve noticed there are lessons for that can be learned by watching Power:
Know Your Lane and Stay In It
It’s always best to stay in your lane of expertise. Let’s admit it, as bad as James wants to get away from being Ghost, and just run his club full time, we have watched this become a constant struggle for him. There is nothing wrong with having multiple streams of income, however, as entrepreneurs we must stay true to our passion, otherwise things tend to get a little hectic and we lose focus of our talents and calling. Not saying that James should be in the drug game either.
Have an Accountability and Support System
Tasha is Ghost’s “hold him down, ride or die” partner. We all need a Tasha in our life as entrepreneurs. Even through the bad times of their relationship, she always has Ghost’s back. Tasha is also the type to let Ghost know when he is wrong and holds him accountable for his actions. He may not always want to listen to her, but she will forever give him the truth—even when it hurts.
Don’t Cheat on Your Dream
Infidelity is what has Ghost locked up. The grass almost always looks greener on the other side. Put in the work by watering your own grass in your own backyard before meddling in your competitors. The hard work always comes before the harvest, not after, so by making sure that you take care of home first is when you will reap all of the benefits and rewards of your labor.
Know Your Value and Your Worth
Even though we love how much Tasha supports Ghost through the thick and thin, we still need her to know her value and her worth. As entrepreneurs, we tend not to recognize the greatness that everyone else sees in us, and this can cause major problems within our businesses, as far as how much we charge and what we offer our clients. It’s OK to not sit down and not be as humble as we should when we go to the drawing board to map out what we want to offer our clients and what that will cost them to work with us.
Always Work and Be Authentic
No matter what is happening, Tommy Egan is going to be himself. He doesn’t care who doesn’t like it and what people say, because at the end of the day Tommy is going to be Tommy. As entrepreneurs, not just for branding purposes but for us to exist and live within our truth, we must be authentic with ourselves in order be authentic to those that we serve. When you can be yourself and do what it is that you want to do, you are first serving yourself and this allows us to operate with complete fullness. Then, we don’t have to be held to a false standard but can instead focus on living and exceeding our dreams and expectations in our areas of expertise.
I’m sure by now you’ve heard about the toxic relationship drama that’s stirring with Rob Kardashian and his ex-fiancé Blac Chyna. One would hope that love has everything to do with it—but even if it doesn’t, as the story unfolds, there is still so much to learn here.
Everyone has gone through the aches and pains of heartache, rejection, and deception but add social media to the mix and things can go from bad to worse in zero to 60. We now live in a world where sliding into someone’s DMs, screen shots, video recordings from phones, and reposting have become the norm and everyone now has a platform to comment on your situation. So keep it off of social media! And even if something does leak, don’t succumb to social pressure and allow the comments of other people to egg you on or interfere with making decisions that are not in your best interest.
As a nurse, my job is to help people find ways to live happy and healthy lives. When I see all the Arnold Palmer (drink made of ½ tea and ½ lemonade) going on social media with this couple it urges me to remind people of the more important issues. Don’t allow hookups and heartbreaks to compromise your health.
A Heartbreak Can Literally Break Your Heart
Broken heart syndrome is a stress-induced heart ailment also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, which can happen even if you’re healthy. It can occur when the body is overwhelmed by a surge of stress hormones that can be caused by an emotionally stressful event. These hormones damage and weaken the heart muscle and often mimic the signs of a heart attack and/or heart failure. This is partly why you feel pain in your chest when your heart is broken.
If your physical well-being is deteriorating or you have chest pains, get medical attention right away to make sure it isn’t a real heart attack. Don’t isolate yourself. Your doctor can be a great resource and help to ensure your physical and emotional needs are being addressed. If you find yourself in stressful situations, quickly surround yourself with positive people who love you and will make sure that you’re doing well. And if you see someone you know going through this, be kind. Instead of saying I told you so, which may only exacerbate their feelings, help them to get through these tough times.
(Image: Instagram/Blac Chyna)
Mental Health Problems Are Real
Conditions like depression, grief, anxiety, anger, and low self-esteem are very prevalent despite what social media will lead you to believe. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people suffers from these and or other mental illnesses. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Over the course of your life, if—or rather when—you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. If heartbreak goes unchecked or unmanaged, it can lead to both emotional and other physical harm, which can be complicated by disrupted sleep and eating patterns (too much or too little), an inability to concentrate, and lack of energy or focus. There are established ties between depression, mental health and heart disease. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
Family history of mental health problems
Mental health problems are common but help is available. It is possible for people with mental health problems to get better and recover completely.
STDs Can Disrupt Your Life
Just because someone is well-dressed, has money, or appears to have their life together doesn’t mean they don’t have a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners carries the risk of contracting and spreading diseases. These can make a permanent impact on your life physically, emotionally, financially, and even spiritually. Not to mention that not all STDs or STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are treatable such as:
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most commonly transmitted sexual infection.
In the United States, about 1 out of every 6 people aged 14 to 49 years have genital herpes.
Human immunodeficiency virus, (HIV) weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection.
Although these are no longer considered death sentences, why would you knowingly put yourself at risk to acquire these. Strap up! Be monogamous. Be celibate! Say no! Or do it yourself. Don’t play with your life or the life of others. Especially if there are children that you are responsible for.
Be Good to Yourself
These are only a few of the pressing issues that immediately come to mind when I see this story. So take it from America’s Favorite Nurse, please take care of yourself. Loving someone doesn’t have to hurt but it also has to start with loving yourself. Set boundaries. This is not the time to laugh or put yourself above the situation. Take this as an opportunity to re-evaluate yourself, your physical and mental well-being, and your relationships.
I don’t have to know Rob or Chyna personally to know that they are hurting themselves and others by engaging in such risky, impulsive, and petty behavior. I get it, love (or what we think is love) will make you do silly things but it should never come at the expense of your own sanity or physical well-being. If you find yourself in a toxic relationship like this and you’re struggling with what to do next, here are some words of advice from one of my Instagram favorites @KendallKyndal, “Find yourself. Take care of yourself… Build yourself back up.” (pardon the language)
A post shared by kendallkyndall (@kendallkyndall) on
Nurse Aliceis a nationally board-certified and award-winning cardiac clinical nurse specialist with nearly two decades of experience in cardiovascular health. She is a community health activist and freelance media health expert. She has appeared on various national radio and TV shows including Dr. Oz, The Doctors, Dr. Drew, News One with Roland Martin, Tom Joyner Morning Show and more. She is also the author of “Curb Your Cravings: 31 Foods to Fool Your Appetite.”
You can follow her at AskNurseAlice.com and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @AskNurseAlice
(Image: The Reset podcast created by Laura Mignott)
Once considered “an obscure method of spreading information,” podcasting has evolved into a popular medium for creating audio content for both people and corporate brands. It gives storytellers a platform to talk about their interest while offering listeners the convenience of listening on demand.
In addition to growing in popularity, the business of podcasting has remained on a steady trajectory of growth and momentum over the past few years. According to a new study released by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and conducted by PwC US, ad revenue in the industry is projected to top $220 million in 2017, which is an 85% uptick compared to last year. Research also shows that revenue has grown 73% from $69 million in 2015 to $119 million in 2016. Needless to say, now is the time to get in on the action.
Laura Mignott, the co-founder and managing partner of Digital Flash, a digital experience agency based in New York City, decided to get in the game late last year. She launched The Reset, a podcast that focuses on marketing, business, and government. Each week, Mignott conducts one-on-one interviews with influential business and policy leaders where they talk about their careers and hot-button issues. Mignott, who has over 10 years of experience working in interactive marketing for household brands such as M&Ms and Campbell’s, also lends her expertise in digital marketing.
In an interview with Black Enterprise, the full-time entrepreneur opened up about her podcast, why she launched it, and shared tips for those looking to start their own.
How would you describe your podcast?
The Reset podcast focuses on highlighting the people who do the real work in business. They give their insights and experiences on their particular industries, all while having wine and french fries with me in studio in NYC.
When and why did you begin podcasting?
I started podcasting in December 2016 because I wanted to hear a podcast that spoke honestly—warts and all—about business. When [I] looked for a business podcast, I wasn’t finding honest, practical voices that were the same ones we hear in business, so I set out to create something I wanted to hear.
How do you record each episode?
We tape episodes at Bang Studios in NYC.
What was the hardest part about launching The Reset?
Doing the research to make sure there wasn’t anything [that already existed] like the podcast I was creating.
What steps would someone need to take in order to start a podcast?
Find a topic that you’re passionate about, getting the right equipment, whether you’re doing it yourself or getting a producer to help you, do your homework to determine what you want the show to be and then get guests you [can] have a nice conversation with.
What advice would you share with someone looking to launch a podcast?
Talk about something you care about. Just get started, don’t be afraid to do it. You’re not going to get a million listeners off the bat, the key is to do something you care about and share it with your communities using social channels like Facebook, Instagram, [and] LinkedIn.
The Reset is available for download on iTunes and Stitcher.
We’re ending Black Music Month on a high note by honoring the 45th anniversary of the BE 100s with a commemorative Spotify playlist compilation. Every song on this playlist of 45 tracks was produced by a record label once featured on our prestigious listing of the top black-owned businesses in the nation. Our 2017 list will be live soon.
Whether you prefer to “get your groove on” or “drop it like it’s hot,” gather up your crew for a Soul Train Line, because these classic hip-hop and R&B melodies will surely make you want to, as Teddy Pendergrass says, “Get up, get down, get funky, get loose!”
( From The Warriors. Screenshot Source: Hulu)
Songs From Motown:
Founded in 1959 by Berry Gordon, Jr.
“I Want You Back,” performed by The Jackson 5
“Got to Be There,” performed by Michael Jackson
“The Way You Do the Things You Do,” performed by The Temptations
“I Hear a Symphony,” performed by The Supremes
“The Tears of a Clown,” performed by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
“What’s Goin’ On,” by Marvin Gaye
“Got to Give it Up (Part 1),” by Marvin Gaye
“Isn’t She Lovely,” by Stevie Wonder
“Uptight,” by Stevie Wonder
Songs From Philadelphia International Records:
Founded in 1971 by Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.
“Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose,” by Teddy Pendergrass
“Love Train,” performed by the O’ Jays
“When Will I See You Again,” performed by The Three Degrees
“Me and Mrs. Jones,” by Billy Paul
“If You Only Knew,” by Patti LaBelle
From Stax Records:
Founded in 1957 by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton.
“I’ve Been Loving You,” by Otis Redding
“ Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song),” by Otis Redding
“Try a Little Tenderness,” by Otis Redding
“Sittin on the Dock of the Bay,” by Otis Redding
“Theme from Shaft,” by Isaac Hayes
“Hung Up on my Baby,” by Isaac Hayes
“Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic,” by Isaac Hayes
“I’ll Take You There,” performed by The Staple Singers
“Everyday People,” performed by The Staple Singers
“The Weight,” performed by The Staple Singers
“Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom),” performed by The Staple Singers
Songs From Sussex Records:
Founded in 1969 by Clarence Avant.
“Lean on Me,” by Bill Withers
“Use Me,” by Bill Withers
“Ain’t no Sunshine,” by Bill Withers
“If It Ain’t Funky,” by Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers
“We the People,” by Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers
Songs From SOLAR Records:
Founded in 1975 by Dick Griffey and Don Cornelius.
“Fantastic Voyage,” performed by Lakeside
“Mary Mack,” performed by Babyface
“My Kinda Girl,” performed by Babyface
“Dancing in the Sheets,” performed by Shalamar
“Rock Steady,” performed by The Whispers
“No Parking (On the Dance Floor),” performed by Midnight Star
Songs From Def Jam Recordings:
Founded in 1983 by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin.
“This Is How We Do It,” performed by Montell Jordan
“Mama Said Knock You Out,” by LL Cool J
“Rock the Bells,” by LL Cool J
“Fight the Power,” by Public Enemy
“Bring the Noise,” by Public Enemy
“I’ll Be,” performed by Foxy Brown featuring Jay-Z
Songs From No Limit Records
Founded in 1990 by Percy “Master P” Miller.
“Wobble Wobble,” performed by the 504 Boyz
“Lay Low,” by Snoop Dogg, featuring Nate Dogg, Butch Cassidy, Tha Eastsidaz, and Master P
Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre from the official trailer for The Defiant Ones. (Screenshot Source: YouTube, User: HBO)
Harlem Whiskey Festival (Image: Entourage TV)
Harlem Whiskey Festival (Image: Entourage TV)
Harlem Whiskey Festival (Image: Entourage TV)
(Image: Wikipedia)
Sumit Sharma is a freelance writer covering all things Digital Marketing and Hip-Hop. Once the former editor of The Hip Hop Chronicle, Sumit interviewed the likes of Kanye West, Ice Cube, Nas, and Russell Simmons, accumulating over 5.5 million views on YouTube. Follow him on Twitter: @hiphopchroniclel; Instagram: @hiphopchronicle; and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thehhc
(Image: Twitter/@OmariHardwick)
(Image: Instagram/Blac Chyna)
(Image: The Reset podcast created by Laura Mignott)
( From The Warriors. Screenshot Source: Hulu)