Alexa can tell you the weather. Siri knows a few jokes. In China, voice-computing company iFlytek built similar smart assistants beloved by users. But its tech is also helping the government listen in.
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Monday, May 18, 2020
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Nelly ‘Verzuz’ Ludacris battle mishap convinces Twitter women do it better
The latest “Verzuz” Instagram Live battle on Saturday between Ludacris and Nelly, like its predecessors, was highly anticipated by music fans — particularly those who came of age during the late 90s and early 2000s.
Unfortunately, the friendly music battle between the hip-hop veterans was marred by the unpredictability of the internet. Early into the battle, Nelly’s WiFi was apparently in need of a modem reset as his feed repeatedly went in and out of sound and visuals while over 300,000 people awkwardly watched.
READ MORE: Jill Scott and Erykah Badu’s ‘Verzuz’ battle breaks record and heals souls
Even Ludacris himself pointed out the obvious as Nelly did his best to keep the show going.
Though the St. Louis rapper was eventually able to resolve the technical difficulties, it didn’t take long before Black Twitter made Nelly the butt of countless jokes and memes. Many quickly compared Nelly’s internet woes to Teddy Riley‘s sound issues during his “Verzuz” battle with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds.
Some even pointed out the irony that Riley had apparently been laughing at Nelly during his live stream mishap.
Teddy Riley looking at Nelly like, didn’t you learn from me?! #Verzuz #nellyvsludacris #nellyvsluda pic.twitter.com/ebpdGI6JQW
— Rodney No King (@Rodbez1) May 16, 2020
Bruh!! Teddy Riley laughing at Nelly having technical difficulties is 2020 in irony! #Verzuz pic.twitter.com/Eo8pobQqYm
— Okay D-book!™ 💥 (@iitsdbook) May 16, 2020
This nigga nelly WiFi got him looking like he went back in time pic.twitter.com/N2pIBLgHmm
— DisMizzinthisbich (@DisMizz_) May 17, 2020
Others on Twitter pointed out that of the “Verzuz” battles so far, the only successful one without any technical issues was last week’s matchup between Erykah Badu and Jill Scott — proving that women truly do it better.
“Everybody had technical difficulties in [their] verzuz but Erykah and Jill Scott. They [were] vibrating on a higher frequency u boys need to get ya chakras right. Nelly and Ludacris need some sage,” said Twitter user @iamphilhunt.
“No live battle was as calm and beautiful as Jill Scott’s & Erykah Badu’s. See why women are better,” someone else tweeted.
READ MORE: What the Erykah Badu, Jill Scott battle taught us about group economics
Everybody had technical difficulties in they verzuz but Erykah and Jill Scott. They was vibrating on a higher frequency u boys need to get ya chakras right. Nelly and Ludacris need some sage. pic.twitter.com/dfZXZwys2C
— TigerHoods (@iamphilhunt) May 16, 2020
“Erykah Badu and Jill Scott had more than double the viewers (in comparison to Luda and Nelly) on their Verzuz WITH over 1 billion impressions,” wrote Twitter user @WannasWorld. “Numbers aside, the energy was great, the storytelling was refreshing and all ego was left at the door. More women battling please.”
“Jill Scott & Erykah Badu had a verzuz without fail ….black women make everything better lol,” tweeted @askashleyp.
Thankfully, Nelly was able to resolve his WiFi issues and he and Ludacris went on to give music lovers the trip down memory lane they were hoping for, playing hits like Ludacris’ “What’s Your Fantasy” and “Southern Hospitality” to Nelly’s “Country Grammar” and “Hot In Herre.”
Naturally, the rappers’ musical catalog could not be complete without their collaborations with some of music’s leading ladies including Janet Jackson (“Call on Me”), Kelly Rowland (“Dilemma”), Mary J. Blige (“Runaway Love”), Ciara (“Oh”), Missy Elliott (One Minute Man), Nicki Minaj (“My Chick Bad”).
NELLY & KELLY! “Dilemma was a HIT!!!!🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/qBvj5538O9
— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) May 17, 2020
What’s more, some took to Twitter to acknowledge Ludacris and Nelly’s contributions to music that, in addition to collaborating with some of the best women in music to date, they also celebrated Black women and their many shades and shapes of beauty in their songs.
@Nelly_Mo and @Ludacris showing love and respect to black women and our natural beauty and curves after we experienced Goddesses@JillScottJS8 and @fatbellybella is pure Magic!! Black Woman are phenomenal. Black Men are phenomenal!No matter what Black People winning regardless
— Moving The Mountains (@MovingTheMtns) May 17, 2020
“@Nelly_Mo and @Ludacris showing love and respect to black women and our natural beauty and curves after we experienced Goddesses @JillScottJS8 and @fatbellybella is pure Magic!!” tweeted @MovingTheMtns.
“Black [Women] are phenomenal. Black Men are phenomenal! No matter what Black People winning regardless.”
The post Nelly ‘Verzuz’ Ludacris battle mishap convinces Twitter women do it better appeared first on TheGrio.
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Cynthia Bailey Is Looking for ‘The Next Great Face of AMBI’
Model Cynthia Bailey is teaming up with skincare brand AMBI to find the Next Great Face of AMBI.
The search is being done to find true beauties representing diverse ethnicities and multiple backgrounds that will embody the beauty and inclusivity of the American multicultural community. AMBI has partnered with Bailey to utilize her modeling expertise as a judge and tapping the Bailey Agency for talent.
“I have always been a big fan of AMBI Skincare, from both using the product and seeing results, to watching how the brand has evolved over the years. I thought it would be a natural fit to partner with a brand with a history as rich as AMBI, and which has resonated with consumers for many years, especially during times like we live in right now. AMBI is working to help women and men of every shade realize that they are intrinsically beautiful, and I’m excited to be a part of that,” says Bailey in a written statement.
Three winning models will receive a financial stipend in the amounts of $3,000, $2,000, or $1,000, respectively, as well as a year’s worth of AMBI Skincare and a three-day, two-night stay for a model photo shoot with Cynthia Bailey to be featured in a digital campaign.
“All of us at AMBI are committed to expanding the beauty conversation around people of color. The launch of the Next Great Face Search strategically facilitates this commitment like none other. We are searching coast to coast for the next great beauty . . . who also just happens to be a person of color,” says Tauro Jenkins, head of business.
The model search has already started and runs through May 26. To enter, consumers should upload a one-minute “I am AMBI Beautiful…” video via their Instagram and Facebook accounts, stating a testimonial of why they should win, and use #FaceofAmbi while tagging five friends.
From the first round of entrants, 100 quarter-finalists will be selected on June 4. AMBI Skincare and the Bailey Agency will conduct final interviews to choose 10 finalists. The three winners will be selected and announced on July 31 The model search is open to all people of color over the age of 18.
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6 Black Patients Who Died From Coronavirus — After Being Denied a Test!
Nationwide — Federal data has already confirmed that most of the deadly victims of COVID-19 in the United States are African American. However, many news reports are failing to report that many of those who have died from the virus were also denied tests. In fact, some were denied a test multiple times. Here are six cases:
#1 – Bassey Offiong: a 25-year old Nigerian American college student at Western Michigan University who died from the virus just a few weeks before his graduation. Detroit News reports that he was denied a test multiple times.#2 – Gary Fowler: a 56-year old from Detroit who died at home from the virus. USA Today reports that he literally “begged” for a test, but was rejected on multiple occasions.
#3 – Rana Zoe Mungin: a 30-year old social studies teacher from Brooklyn who died from the virus after being on life support for almost a month. CBS News reports that she was rushed to the hospital three different times and was denied a test each and every time.
#4 – Kayla Williams: a 36-year old mother from London, UK with three children who died from the virus just 24 hours after she called for an ambulance. The Guardian reports that was initially told that she was not a “priority”.
#5 – Deborah Gatewood: a 63-year old from Detroit who died from the virus just two weeks after testing positive. NBC News reports that she was denied a test three times from the very hospital where she worked.
#6 – Thomas Fields Jr: a 32-year old Navy sailor who was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, who died from the virus. However, his story is a bit different. He himself was not denied a test, but prior to him feeling sick, his mom began to show the symptoms of the virus and was denied a test. WTKR reports that Thomas took care of his mom when she was sent home untested, but sadly he contracted the virus from her. As she got better, he got worse. Had she been given a test, she would have been in the hospital and would not have exposed her son to the virus.
There’s even a song about it
As to be expected, these stories have created a national uproar within the nationwide Black community. Activists, educators, preachers and even media personalities have been speaking up about it. One musician, whose son was denied a test, even talks about it in a viral R&B song he wrote (Listen to the song at CoronavirusSong.com).
The way of delivery may be different, but their message is the same: Black and brown people are being discriminated against when it comes to who gets or doesn’t get a COVID-19 test… and it’s killing them!
The article was originally published in BlackNews.com
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How a bad contract cost Little Richard a fortune: ‘Whoever heard cutting a penny in half!’
The recently departed Little Richard inspired countless musicians and singers as the architect of rock ‘n’ roll music.
However, as monumental an artist he was, Richard wasn’t immune to the pitfalls of unfair record contracts. Because of that, he missed out on a lot of money when he signed with Specialty Records in 1955, Forbes reports.
After sending a demo of what was to become his breakout single “Tutti Fruitti” and signing the deal, Richard pocketed just $25,000 from the initial 500,000 sales of his first hit.
READ MORE: The Little Richard neither I nor Little Richard wanted to be
The flamboyant crooner later found out that his cut for every record sold was only half a cent. Turns out that Richard sold his publishing to Specialty’s boss, Art Rupe, for only $50.
“Whoever heard cutting a penny in half!” Richard was quoted in his biography, The Life and Times of Little Richard. “It didn’t matter how many records you sold if you were Black. The publishing rights were sold to the record label before the record was even released.”
It was typical in the 1950s that Black music artists received no royalties for their music. White artists, by comparison, would earn between 3% and 5% of their sales.
READ MORE: Ava DuVernay reveals Little Richard tipped her $100 a week as a waitress
Little Richard later sued Specialty Records decades later for millions in unpaid royalties. The pop icon, who died at the age of 87 on May 9, sought $112 million in owed money in the 1984 suit.
Both parties would settle out of court and the amount of money Richard received was undisclosed. His catalog would be purchased by Michael Jackson the following year when he bought the ATV catalog, which included The Beatles‘ music.
“I was a dumb Black kid and my mama had 12 kids and my daddy was dead,” Little Richard recalled about taking the deal. “I wanted to help them, so I took whatever was offered.”
The post How a bad contract cost Little Richard a fortune: ‘Whoever heard cutting a penny in half!’ appeared first on TheGrio.
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Private Investigator: Companies Are Hiring Us To Make Sure Employees Are ‘Working’ From Home’
A private investigator said his businesses is experiencing a boost in customers due to companies hiring his team to check up on employees who may be skipping out on work amid the coronavirus pandemic.
According to PIX11, Dorian Bond of Bond Investigations Inc. said his phone has been ringing off the hook from employers who have had trouble reaching their workers.
“Calls started coming in from corporations saying, ‘We need you to watch an executive, or somebody [else]. They’re supposed to be working from home and we can’t get ahold of them,” Bond told PIX11.
Bond Investigations Inc. was established in 2003 and operates in the U.S. and Canada. Bond said he could not name the companies that have hired his services due to confidentially agreements. However, he did say his firm took six calls from corporations that suspect an employee may be using the coronavirus to take a vacation.
“If I get the call, usually, [the company] is pretty sure it’s happening, they just need the documentation evidence so, when they decide to go with the termination, they have the proof,” Bond told PIX11.
Bond added that in the past several weeks, he’s caught people who were supposed to be working, playing golf, fishing, or boating. Bond also said he discovered two employees who were seeing each other intimately.
“A top executive was having a relationship with a subordinate, and they were ‘Zooming’ from the same house but in different rooms,” Bond said.
Bond said it bothers him to see employees playing on the job while millions of Americans suffer through the rigors of unemployment, filing for benefits, and waiting for coronavirus stimulus checks.
Telecommuting has become such a valued resource during the pandemic that tech giants Google and Facebook have said their employees can work from home through the end of the year. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told his employees they could work from home forever if they choose.
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Meet The Chef Leading One Of The Popular Restaurants On The French Riviera
Monte Carlo is the embodiment of glamour and luxury. The small country of Monaco is one of the prime travel destinations along the famous French Riviera with its capital city surrounded by five-star hotels with megayachts docked at bay and the glitzy Grand Casino Royale at the center of it all. A-list celebrities and even royals have been known to vacation there as they enjoy the scenic views. It is also the home of a famous Michelin star chef who happens to run the kitchen behind one of the most popular restaurants in Monte Carlo.
Caribbean-born Marcel Ravin is known from his decadent culinary creations. After leaving his native island of Martinique and moving to Europe to study the art of cooking, Ravin has made his way into popular, luxurious restaurants with his masterful cooking inspired by his Creole roots. “I brought with me the memory of dishes from my native land: spices, produce, and remarkable recipes,” said Ravin in an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE. “This baggage, which I love to call my “mind palate,” guided me on my path and shaped my identity, becoming the basis of my culinary identity.”
This Michelin star chef’s culinary talents eventually got him the opportunity to lead the Blue Bay Restaurant at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort overlooking the water. He says his experience living in the famous city as a black man has been peaceful, usually receiving warm receptions from residents. “When I arrived in Monaco, I’ve been very well welcomed,” he explained. “I didn’t feel any difference regarding the color of people or culture. I will always remember the sentence of the SAS Prince Albert of Monaco—thanks for being there and I hope you will stay a long time among us!”
In addition to leading the Blue Bay, Ravin collaborated with Air France Airlines to create new signature dishes for business class and premium economy.
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Meet The New Travel Host Who Wants To Take You Around The World With ‘Fly Brother’
Due to the COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, pandemic, many of our summer travel plans have been put on hold as cities and countries around the world stay under quarantine. Luckily for travel enthusiasts, this travel expert is offering viewers an opportunity to travel around the world with him with his new PBS series.
Ernest White II is the host of the new series, Fly Brother, which started as a blog back in 2008 while he was living as an ex-pat in Colombia.
“I’ve always been interested in geography, cultures, languages, all of that. I was born with a curiosity about the world and would study maps and read about different countries, and my parents, other family members, and other adults in my community stoked that curiosity as I was growing up,” said White in an interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Finally, when I was 16, I went to Sweden as a foreign exchange student and my life was forever changed.”
Since then, White has traveled to over 70 countries using his creative storytelling talents to help others learn about different cultures and share the experiences of the people he meets along the way. The travel docu-series follows as White visits his friends, both old and new, in eight exciting destinations such as São Paulo, Namibia, and Mumbai.
During a time when many of us are uncertain of when we will be able to travel again, White hopes his show will help visitors experience a temporary escape through his storytelling. “The world is experiencing a radical transformation and travel, like every industry, will continue to change in unexpected ways.
“That said, humans desire connection and want to experience new places and people, and I think that desire will eventually override any trepidation people have about traveling,” said White. “Surely, this won’t be easy at first, and many safety procedures will need to be implemented—and followed—but in the meantime, there are plenty of virtual experiences and digital communities to keep us in a traveling mood until we can get back out into the world safely.”
You can watch the series through the Public Television Stations by checking your local listings.
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This Retired-Navy-Veteran-Turned-Entrepreneur Is Launching A Successful Apparel Line
It’s never easy to make a career transition. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to let go of a career you have dedicated some time to and leave it behind for a new career, sometimes in a completely different field. After retiring from the U.S. Navy, one savvy business entrepreneur made a complete pivot from naval veteran to fashion maven with the launch of her successful apparel clothing brand.
The New Orleans-based veteran has always had a love of fashion and when she retired from serving in the military, she decided to get back in touch with her love of fashion with the launch of her clothing boutique, Coco’s Wardrobe. She also manufactures all of the clothing in the Big Easy with the goal of providing stylish, comfortable clothes for women ranging from dresses, skirts, rompers, and more for an affordable price.
“I wanted to design and sell clothing that I would love and would want to wear,” said Brittney Nicole to Black Business. “I also felt that other women were looking for something different than most of what they were finding in stores, so I set out to design clothes that both look sophisticated and feel incredible. I am completely dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of my customers wearing something that makes them feel amazing.”
In addition to clothing, her boutique has also extended its collection to stylish face masks amid the COVID-19, or novel coronavirus, pandemic available through her website.
Top: Brianna Grey Long sleeve bodysuit #casualslay #casualvibes #onlineboutique
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