Source: FayesVision/WENN.com / WENN Cardi B Is Headlining Her Own Las Vegas Residency Cardi B just landed something most musicians don’t conquer until they’re years and years into their career: a Las Vegas residency. According to the Associated Press , Cardi is going to takeover the new Las Vegas club. KAOS is an amphitheater-style dayclub and a nightclub that is slated to open its doors in April as part of Palms Casino Resort’s $690 million renovation. The redevelopment of the site will feature brand new state-of-the-art technology performers can use to improve their performances, including a rotating 360-degree DJ booth. Cardi is set to join the likes of KAOS alum including G-Eazy, Kaskade, and Skrillex. Bardi snagging her first Las Vegas residency comes on the heels of the rapper picking up a whopping five Grammy nominations, including one for album of the year for her debut, Invasion of Privacy . The Las Vegas residency isn’t the only first performance-wise Cardi will be experiencing, either. In addition to her nominations, Belcalis will perform at the Grammy Awards for the first time this year. Congratulations to Bardi on all the major success!
Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Spotify’s Value Sky Rockets Following Going Public On Tuesday, the Spotify opened up to the New York Stock Exchange at $165.90 a share, which puts the company’s value at $29.5 billion. According to TechCrunch , their “estimated” value translated to that of $23.5 billion, so it’s safe to say the biggest streaming platform surpassed expectations. Spotify began trading through “direct public offering,” which allowed current shareholders to sell an existing number shares directly to stock market investors rather than issuing new stock. This allowed Spotify shareholders, including employees, to sell early. Spotify’s founder Daniel Ek explained why they took this approach in a blog post . “Spotify is not raising capital, and our shareholders and employees have been free to buy and sell our stock for years. So while tomorrow puts us on a bigger stage, it doesn’t change who we are, what we are about, or how we operate. This is why we are doing things a little differently,” he wrote in part. “[…] Spotify has never been a normal kind of company. As I mentioned during our Investor Day, our focus isn’t on the initial splash. Instead, we will be working on trying to build, plan, and imagine for the long term. Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we stumble. The constant is that we believe we are still early in our journey and we have room to learn and grow.” Last month, the company said it had 159 million monthly active users, 71 million of which are premium subscribers. According to MarketWatch , Spotify closed the day at $149.95 per share, which brings the valuation of the company to $27 billion.
Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET Friday Will Be Michael Smith’s Last Day On SportsCenter Michael Smith is set to leave his role as ESPN’s SportsCenter 6 p.m. ET host, and his last day will be on Friday, March 9. Smith’s departure comes a little over a month after his former co-host, Jemele Hill , left the program to join ESPN’s website, The Undefeated . Smith has not yet announced where he will be going after leaving SportsCenter , but Sports Illustrated reports that he–just like Hill–still has multiple years left on his ESPN contract, so it’s assume that he will stay within the brand in one capacity or another. According to New York Post reporter Andrew Marchand, the most likely replacements for Hill and Smith will be Sage Steele and John Anderson, who are the currentl hosts of SportsCenter at night. As @sportsrapport tweeted, I was told last week that Sage Steele and John Anderson were favorites to be new 6 pm SportsCenter team. As @richarddeitsch reported, Michael Smith will no longer do SC. This was a when, not if, situation. — Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) March 9, 2018 In September of last year, ESPN Executive Vice President Norby Williamson took control of the SportsCenter franchise, and immediately instituted changes to the show that greatly affected how Hill and Smith did their jobs. He himself admitted that there was “probably an element of truth” to claims that Hill left the show at least in part because of the changes he implemented–and the same could probably go for Michael, as well. As for next moves, Smith himself hasn’t commented on anything in particular, but Williamson said in a statement , “Michael is a talented commentator, and we greatly appreciate and value his contributions and creativity. We are in the process of discussing with him potential next ESPN assignments.” Good luck to Smith on his next endeavor!
Image via Paras Griffin/Getty Nipsey Hussle Teams With Developer To Open Vector90 Co-Work In Crenshaw Nipsey Hussle found himself in some hot water last month after some comments he made about the LGBT community in relation to media representation, but he’s still doing his best to help his people. According to CBS Los Angeles , the Victory Lap rapper is helping to provide entrepreneurs and creatives a safe and nurturing place to conduct their businesses. Nip has teamed up with Real-estate investor David Gross to create Vector90 in an effort to empower a seriously underserved community. “I always think there would be a lot of people in my shoes had they had those breaks,” he said. Vector90 will also teach STEM classes to children. Hopefully some of them will become the next “Shuri” and outpace all the colonizers in technological advancements.
Image via Getty Jacqui Cooper Slammed For Racist Comment About The Chinese White people HAVE to be more aware of how they speak about other cultures, races and religions. Especially when there are ugly stereotypes that are pervasive among said demographic. Enter Jacqui Cooper. A former Olympian skiier from Australia who was doing commentary for channel seven in the UK. During last night’s broadcast, Cooper made mention of the Chinese athletes and dropped this bomb: ‘Very Chinese,’ Cooper said of Yan Ting’s first jump. ‘They all look the same, they’re very hard to tell who’s who.’ *record skips* Wait. Excuse us. Come again? ‘They all look the same, they’re very hard to tell who’s who.’ Whoa. Really? Jacqui’s employer tried to come to her defense… ‘During tonight’s cover of the women’s aerials, commentator Jacqui Cooper a former Olympian and World Champion – noted than an aerial manouevre was in a technical and style sense, very Chinese,’ Seven said. ‘Meaning that the whole of the Chinese aerial team are trained in the same way – and the manouevre referenced was a classic technically perfect, trademark of that team’s style. ‘At no time was the commentary racist, intended to be racist or offensive.’ First of all, the ruling class doesn’t get to decide what is and isn’t racist. Secondly, why tf isn’t Jacqui making the statement. She’s a grown azz woman who said what she said and she can just as easily apologize as one. Jacqui cooper, I love you. But saying that the Chinese aerial skiers “look the same” is kinda racist. @7Olympics isn't doing well at all. #7Olympics — Len Webster (@lennwebster) February 15, 2018 I 100% know that she meant their jump style but poor choice of words at that very moment. #7Olympics — Len Webster (@lennwebster) February 15, 2018 Get your s#!t together, Becky Jacqui.
New Apple iPhone 7 Slogan Translates To Phallic Phrase In Cantonese Being a global company and all, Apple really might wanna consider how their marketing will be received in other countries… Via DailyMail Apple’s ‘This is 7’ slogan for its new iPhone 7 has a rather unfortunate translation in Hong Kong. Smartphone users have been mocking the technology firm’s latest marketing line because it sounds just like ‘This is penis’ in Cantonese. China is one of Apple’s biggest markets, but the translations for its new slogan differ drastically across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. While mainlanders and Taiwanese people predominantly speak Mandarin, Hong Kong dwellers typically converse in Cantonese, which is why the comical translation only affects them. Suffice to say, social media users in Hong Kong are LMFAO’ing ‘The slogan “7, is here” in China is the best. They got so many “7”s,’ said one Facebook user. ‘Why didn’t people say anything during the launch of Windows 7?’ queried another. ‘How about iPhone 7 Plus? More “7”s?’ suggested another user on the social network. Will you be putting a “7” to your face in the upcoming weeks? Image via Apple
Hombres @INPEC_Colombia atraparon paloma q transportaba celular a internos d cárcel de Cómbita @ELTIEMPO @Citytv pic.twitter.com/mGhtqvw7bV — Édgar Pacheco (@pachecoprensa) August 29, 2016 Colombian Prison Officials Catch A Pigeon Smuggling A Cell Phone Into Jail Prisoners are the most resourceful people to ever walk the Earth. Via NYPost This pigeon ruffled a few feathers — including its own — by trying to smuggle a cellphone to a jailbird. The high-tech carrier pigeon flew to the Combita prison in Colombia on a wing and a prayer and was caught outside with the device attached to its back. It was unclear who hatched the plan for the poor pigeon, which was grabbed by two guards who removed the little harness holding the phone. Prison officials said they are investigating which inmate was behind the birdbrained mission. Who the hell trained this pigeon?! Mike Tyson??? Image via Twitter
Dear Bossip , My closest and longest standing girlfriend of 16 years and I have recently come to an awful fallout. Our relationship was already strained considering I had bumped heads with another one of our mutual friends who did me wrong, and for five years they were cut out of my life. All that changed earlier this year when my mother died suddenly of a brain stroke. Both of my friends attended the funeral and all our beef was immediately squashed given the circumstances. I should have been more cautious, but to be honest I was really happy to have my two besties back in my life. And, at the time, I thought that any petty drama in the future would be avoided as we are mature adults. I was wrong. My initial friend and I have never fallen out before. We may have had some heated moments, but it’s never been a slanging match. Until now. It all started when my girlfriend invited me to her son’s religious confirmation. My other mutual friend is his godmother. But, she was getting married and then having her honeymoon so his event had to be postponed to assure her attendance. The date of the affair was up in the air until further notice. In the meantime, I had managed to locate my biological father. As you can imagine, at 35 years old this was a big thing for me. To celebrate I arranged a night out followed by a party at my house in which my closest friends and existing family could meet my father and new stepmother. On at least 5 separate occasions, I reminded my best friend of the date. I sent her a link to the event that we would be attending and I kept on reminding her that I wanted her and her man to be there. As my other friend was getting married and couldn’t be there, due to being on her honeymoon, to me that was acceptable. When the day arrived my best friend sent a message with my brother saying she couldn’t be there because she had to work. I did not hear from her asking how we got on. This left a bad taste in my mouth, but I did not say anything about it as I was unsure how to approach the situation given our long history of friendship. I was hurt at the fact that she didn’t have the decency to even pick up the phone to call me and let me know herself or even ask me about the DNA results that she knew I was awaiting. The following week our mutual friend returned from her honeymoon. We met up for drinks, as we both live in the same neighborhood, to catch up. Two days later, I’m on Facebook and there is all these photos on my feed of my two friends and her son- celebrating at the son’s event, which I was not told was going to be happening that day. I seriously felt a way as I had just seen the mutual friend for drinks and she did not mention anything about the fact that the event was going to be taking place a matter of days later. Still, I said nothing. The following week was my birthday. While celebrating in Barcelona, both of them messaged me to wish me a happy birthday?! I paid them dust. Fast forward to the present day. After being out of the country for a month and meeting my new family on my father’s side, my brother tells me that my mother’s ashes are to be scattered. Given the situation of how I feel about my best friend – I messaged her and told her that I did not want to see her at the grave site as I was questioning our friendship. I explained to her why I felt the way I did and that whatever condolences she would have potentially wanted to pass along would not be greeted with the best enthusiasm. Instead of righting her wrongs and apologizing- she says that she didn’t know that she was supposed to be meeting my dad and that no friends were invited to her son’s event as it was just ‘Family only.’ I told her that I was disgusted by her behavior and that real friends do not categorize real friends in such a manner. Now, I’m left wondering if I have made the right decision or if I have acted in haste? Thoughts? – A Confused Friend Dear Ms. A Confused Friend , I think you need to clarify with your friend why you have cut her off because I was confused by reading your letter. I wasn’t sure who was who – who was getting married, who was having the religious ceremony for their son. And, when you brought them up again I had to go back to the top of the letter and find out which one was the best friend, and who was the mutual friend, and why you fell out with the mutual friend, but now you all are cool again. I also didn’t follow, and wasn’t clear if you confronted your best friend and told her why you cut her off, or are you expecting her to guess why you are mad at her? Does she, or did she know that she was cut off? And, you want her to right her wrongs and apologize, but for what? Look, you are mad because you were not invited to your best friend’s son’s religious confirmation. However, your mutual friend was invited, and you’re mad because your friend told you that it was “family only.” But, isn’t the mutual friend the “godmother” of the child? So, if the mutual friend is the godmother, then, technically she is “family,” or considered “family.” And, it appears that she is much closer to your best friend than you, considering your best friend asked your mutual friend to be the godmother of her child. So, my question to you is why are you calling her your best friend when it seems that the other woman may be her best friend? (Sips tea) I think you may have given too much credit, and too much credence to your relationship with your so-called best friend. You are not on the same page, and though you may think she is your best friend, she is best friends with your mutual friend. And, before you start dismissing and chopping folks off, I think you need to have a conversation with her as a grown woman and express how you feel, and ask her about your friendship. I’m sure you may realize that you two have different interpretations of your friendship, or what your friendship is about. Now, yes, you have every right to be upset considering she bailed on your reunion and meeting of your father. You did express that you emailed, called, texted, and confirmed with her that you wanted her and her man to be there for the festivities. And, you can confront her about it and ask her what happened. Ask her why she didn’t show up and why failed to show support for an important moment in your life. Again, have a grown woman conversation with her, and find out the reason. I noticed that whenever you have a beef or issue with your friends that you tend to shut down. You don’t say anything, and you don’t confront them about it. You let it fester and then you create this whole scenario of what you think happened, why it happened, and how they did you wrong. You pretend everything is fine and things are all good, yet, you are stewing with being upset, angry, and disappointed. They have no clue that they did something to you, and that you are upset over it. And, then, you just stop speaking, and start pouting and then go to your corner and then when they ask what’s wrong you blow up and make them out to be wrong and bad for something they had no clue over what they did. I am very certain you do this a lot with all of your relationships and with other people in your life. Also, didn’t you say you fell out with both of them at one point, or at least your mutual friend for five years, and it wasn’t until the death of your mother that you and she reconciled, and came back together as friends? So, if this is the case, then if you haven’t spoken to the mutual friend for five years, it may be possible that during that time she and your best friend developed their own friendship and became close. And, your best friend probably didn’t tell you because if there was bad blood, then, I’m sure she was like why mention her if you’re going to bad mouth her when she and her are growing close, and your best friend has a friendship with her independent of you. Ma’am, it’s time to grow up and be an adult, and when someone or something bothers you, then you confront the person gently and lovingly and explain that you are upset by what they did. You talk with them to get clarification over the matter, and see how the miscommunication may have been prevented, and, or, you discuss if something wasn’t clear, or misconstrued. You can avoid a wealth of headaches, anger, upsets, and being mad if you just calm yourself and talk with the other person. I’m sure all disagreements, misunderstandings, and any other concerns can be worked out if you just ask take the time to get very clear and make sure everyone is on the same page. Because, again, you were not at her son’s religious confirmation because you are not family, and if she didn’t express that to you, then, you need to ask her why it wasn’t clear, and if your friendship as her best friend doesn’t constitute you as “family.” You need to be on the same page regarding your friendship and how you interpret best friend, and she interprets best friend, or if you are her best friend. – Terrance Dean ***(Attention all media/news outlets, if you use this story and letter, or any parts of this content for your outlets you must give credit to this site, the columnist, and his advice)** Hey Bossip Fam, what do you think? S hare your opinions and thoughts below! Also, e-mail all your questions Terrance Dean: loveandrelationships@bossip.com Follow Terrance Dean on Twitter: @ terrancedean and “LIKE” Terrance Dean on Facebook, click HERE ! Make sure to order my books Mogul: A Novel (Atria Books – June 2011; $15); Hiding In Hip Hop (Atria Books – June 2008); and Straight From Your Gay Best Friend – The Straight Up Truth About Relationships, Love, And Having A Fabulous Life (Agate/Bolden Books – November 2010; $15). They are available in bookstores everywhere, and on Amazon, click HERE !
