Source: Stewart F. House / Getty Marquis Jefferson, Father Of Atatiana Jefferson, Dies The father of the Fort Worth woman who was gunned down by a police officer in her home has unfortunately passed away. A family spokesperson confirmed that Marquis Jefferson, 58, suffered a heart attack and died Saturday night at Methodist Charlton Medical Center. “Less than a month ago, he was working at El Centro, mentoring kids twice a week,” family spokesman Bruce Carter told KXAS-TV (Channel 5). “He just couldn’t get back from what happened with his daughter.” Marquis Jefferson first made headlines when he filed a restraining order to put a stop to his daughter’s funeral that was planned without him. The funeral was rescheduled and held October 24. As previously reported 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson was shot and killed Oct. 12 in her home while she was playing video games with her nephew. The officer who killed her now faces a murder charge. This is all so, so, sad. Our condolences go out to the whole Jefferson family.
Source: Atlanta Police Department / Via APD Alexis Crawford Died Of Asphyxiation, Roommate In Custody More details have been released surrounding the death of Alexis Crawford . As previously reported after a week’s search, Alexis’ body was found and her roommate and the roommate’s boyfriend were taken into custody. Now according to WSB TV , Alexis’ cause of death has been revealed as asphyxiation. Alexis’ roommate 21-year-old Jordyn Jones, is charged with malice murder. Jone’s boyfriend Barron Brantley, who is also charged in Crawford’s death, was booked Friday night. The motive for Alexis’ murder is unclear but authorities report that she filed a complaint against Brantley three days before she disappeared accusing him of “unwanted touching and kissing” inside the apartment she shared with Jones. According to the police report, “the victim stated that the suspect rubbed his hand on her shoulder and kissed her on the neck. The victim stated that she asked the suspect what was he doing and he stated he thought she was Ms. Jones.” Baron Brantley was previously charged with robbery and has been arrested multiple times for family violence and cruelty to children Roommate now in custody, charged with murder of Clark Atlanta student https://t.co/ttzqR195eM pic.twitter.com/hqDObiVnYb — WSB-TV (@wsbtv) November 10, 2019 Both suspects were being held without bond at the Fulton County Jail. Alexis Crawford’s funeral is scheduled for this week in Athens, Georgia.
Source: CHANEL / CHANEL Pharrell Tells Rick Rubin His Feelings On “Blurred Lines” Lawsuit & More (Video) Pharrell Williams is still aging backward and doing all the positive things we’ve become accustomed to expect from him. Earlier this year he had his first annual “Something In The Water Festival” which was well received and even set to come next year with an expansion pack attached. Recent Pharrell team up with GQ for an exclusive editorial and portraits. He is still one of the driving forces and influences at the Adidas powerhouse right beside Kanye West. Usually, we don’t get too many open and honest interviews from Pharrell with his opinion on display on different topics. Thanks to GQ & Rick Rubin we now have an hour-long open form discussion with Pharrell & GQ. The main topic people took away from this interview was his opinion and thoughts on the “Blurred Lines” lawsuit. In which it seems he was faulted for the song “feeling” like another classic. Or as Rolling Stone describes it: In a lengthy legal battle that concluded in 2018, a judge ruled that Pharrell, the song’s producer/co-writer, and singer/co-writer Robin Thicke would have to pay just shy of $5 million to the family of late singer Marvin Gaye over similarities between Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Gaye’s 1977 song “Got to Give It Up.” But in the GQ video segment, Pharrell maintains that the two tracks only share a “feeling,” which can’t be copyrighted. The verdict would cause anyone to be upset as it states it shares a “feeling” which cant be copy-written so there shouldn’t be an issue. Pharrell ends up calling the whole thing “his lesson.” Rubin & Williams go on to discuss how trap music’ & salsa music have a similar sound but aren’t the same at all and how the verdict of the case set him back personally. Another interesting take was the trip down memory line in which Rick & Pharrell reminisce how hard it used to be to see Hip-Hop on TV or radio and how the industry tried to suppress the genre until white kids started liking it. Even a slight dive into why Hip-Hop was being suppressed. Overall an amazing open conversation more artists should do. Watch the discussion in its entirety below, the lawsuit talk starts around the 27-minute mark.
Source: davidf / Getty Boy In Critical Condition After Falling From 9th Floor Window According to the NY Post , a seven-year-old boy is fighting for his life after falling out of a ninth-floor window in the Bronx. The special needs child reportedly fell at around 11 AM Saturday morning at 1453 Harrod Avenue, near East 174th Street in Soundview. “I was making coffee when I heard the kid screaming so I ran outside..He couldn’t speak because of his condition so he screamed,” says a neighbor who rushed to help the child after the accident. It was unclear how the child fell out of the window, or whether the family was home at the time. He was rushed to Jacobi Hospital, where he is listed in critical condition.
B lack youngsters are making boss moves in the entertainment industry. Earlier this year, actress Marsai Martin became the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history. 11-year-old Us star Evan Alex recently announced that he’s in the process of writing a script for a horror film, the Hollywood Reporter reported. Evan Alex, the 11-year-old actor who starred in Jordan Peele’s #UsMovie , is writing his very own horror script and even got some pointers from Peele himself https://t.co/4SfX34kSwo — Hollywood Reporter (@THR) November 4, 2019 Alex shared the news at an annual event hosted by UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. He says he’s received pointers from director and producer Jordan Peele . “I’m working on my own project,” he told the news outlet. “I’m writing a script. I’ve talked to Jordan about it. I’ve talked to him about the horror and about how I want this to be a little like Game of Thrones .” Alex hasn’t even entered his teenage years yet and he’s already laying the foundation for a promising career in the film and television industry. He’s been featured in several projects including the web series Mani and Showtime’s comedy-drama series Kidding . Alex has also made appearances on Sesame Street and Jimmy Kimmel Live! . He says he’s inspired by Peele and learned about the different facets that go into the creation of a movie while filming Us alongside Lupita Nyong’o , Winston Duke , and Shahadi Wright Joseph . “The exciting thing about making this movie is being able to do all these different things and doing things with a really good director, so it’s really fun working with him,” he said in a statement, according to Bustle . “You can sit with him and he’ll teach you like what to do and how he does it, and it was really nice learning from him.” One of his most recent projects was a short film titled Black Boy Joy which featured actor Will Catlett and was directed by Martina Mossell Lee . SEE ALSO: #BossMoves: 14-Year-Old Marsai Martin To Become Youngest Hollywood Executive Producer In History Marsai Martin’s Production Company Inks First-Look Deal With Universal Pictures [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3892470″ overlay=”true”]
B lack youngsters are making boss moves in the entertainment industry. Earlier this year, actress Marsai Martin became the youngest executive producer in Hollywood history. 11-year-old Us star Evan Alex recently announced that he’s in the process of writing a script for a horror film, the Hollywood Reporter reported. Evan Alex, the 11-year-old actor who starred in Jordan Peele’s #UsMovie , is writing his very own horror script and even got some pointers from Peele himself https://t.co/4SfX34kSwo — Hollywood Reporter (@THR) November 4, 2019 Alex shared the news at an annual event hosted by UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. He says he’s received pointers from director and producer Jordan Peele . “I’m working on my own project,” he told the news outlet. “I’m writing a script. I’ve talked to Jordan about it. I’ve talked to him about the horror and about how I want this to be a little like Game of Thrones .” Alex hasn’t even entered his teenage years yet and he’s already laying the foundation for a promising career in the film and television industry. He’s been featured in several projects including the web series Mani and Showtime’s comedy-drama series Kidding . Alex has also made appearances on Sesame Street and Jimmy Kimmel Live! . He says he’s inspired by Peele and learned about the different facets that go into the creation of a movie while filming Us alongside Lupita Nyong’o , Winston Duke , and Shahadi Wright Joseph . “The exciting thing about making this movie is being able to do all these different things and doing things with a really good director, so it’s really fun working with him,” he said in a statement, according to Bustle . “You can sit with him and he’ll teach you like what to do and how he does it, and it was really nice learning from him.” One of his most recent projects was a short film titled Black Boy Joy which featured actor Will Catlett and was directed by Martina Mossell Lee . SEE ALSO: #BossMoves: 14-Year-Old Marsai Martin To Become Youngest Hollywood Executive Producer In History Marsai Martin’s Production Company Inks First-Look Deal With Universal Pictures [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3892470″ overlay=”true”]
L os Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been dedicated to improving the lives of youth and their families in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Months after the one-year anniversary of the creation of his I Promise School for at-risk children, James has now announced that he will be adding transitional housing for the families of students that are facing financial hardships, CNN reported. LeBron James is adding safe housing to the school he founded in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, so students have a stable place to live while they get their education. https://t.co/g6rBgiweJH — CNN (@CNN) November 4, 2019 The LeBron James Family Foundation is teaming up with Graduate Hotels for the initiative. The company—which is known for the development of hand-crafted boutique hotels near colleges and universities throughout the country—will restore a residential building in the Highland Square community. The building—which is located minutes away from the I Promise School—is slated for completion by July 2020. James, who has utilized his platform to speak out on several social and political issues and has been a fierce advocate for the improvement of education, believes that the success of the students is dependent on having a solid foundation at home. “Initially, our work was focused on helping these kids earn an education. But we’ve found that it is impossible to help them learn if they are struggling to survive — if they are hungry, if they have no heat in the freezing winter, if they live in fear for their safety,” he told the news outlet. “We want this place to be their home where they feel safe, supported, and loved, knowing we are right there with them every step of the way as they get back on their feet.” Graduate Hotel CEO Ben Weprin is excited to team up with James and his foundation for this impactful project. “It’s humbling to see the change they are affecting on a daily basis and we’re honored to be a part of the journey,” he said. James has also been focused on fighting food insecurity. He joined forces with Walmart for a campaign to spread awareness about hunger in America and opened a pantry for underprivileged families at his I Promise School. SEE ALSO: LeBron James Surprises Student With Back-To-School Shopping Spree LeBron James Aims To Combat Hunger In Underserved Communities [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3892948″ overlay=”true”]
L os Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been dedicated to improving the lives of youth and their families in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Months after the one-year anniversary of the creation of his I Promise School for at-risk children, James has now announced that he will be adding transitional housing for the families of students that are facing financial hardships, CNN reported. LeBron James is adding safe housing to the school he founded in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, so students have a stable place to live while they get their education. https://t.co/g6rBgiweJH — CNN (@CNN) November 4, 2019 The LeBron James Family Foundation is teaming up with Graduate Hotels for the initiative. The company—which is known for the development of hand-crafted boutique hotels near colleges and universities throughout the country—will restore a residential building in the Highland Square community. The building—which is located minutes away from the I Promise School—is slated for completion by July 2020. James, who has utilized his platform to speak out on several social and political issues and has been a fierce advocate for the improvement of education, believes that the success of the students is dependent on having a solid foundation at home. “Initially, our work was focused on helping these kids earn an education. But we’ve found that it is impossible to help them learn if they are struggling to survive — if they are hungry, if they have no heat in the freezing winter, if they live in fear for their safety,” he told the news outlet. “We want this place to be their home where they feel safe, supported, and loved, knowing we are right there with them every step of the way as they get back on their feet.” Graduate Hotel CEO Ben Weprin is excited to team up with James and his foundation for this impactful project. “It’s humbling to see the change they are affecting on a daily basis and we’re honored to be a part of the journey,” he said. James has also been focused on fighting food insecurity. He joined forces with Walmart for a campaign to spread awareness about hunger in America and opened a pantry for underprivileged families at his I Promise School. SEE ALSO: LeBron James Surprises Student With Back-To-School Shopping Spree LeBron James Aims To Combat Hunger In Underserved Communities [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3892948″ overlay=”true”]
R &B singer John Legend has been a fierce advocate for criminal justice reform. The Ohio native is furthering his efforts to reduce recidivism and provide support for the formerly incarcerated and others whose lives have been directly impacted by the flawed criminal justice system. According to Forbes Legend—whose real name is John Roger Stephens—recently announced that there would be a second cohort for the Unlocked Futures project. John Legend wants to improve job opportunities for people with criminal backgrounds https://t.co/6ZmGCjvGuP pic.twitter.com/l1tFZyeZVR — Forbes (@Forbes) October 27, 2019 The initiative is a collaborative effort between Stephens’ Free America campaign, the venture philanthropy fund and social innovation organization New Profit, and Bank of America. The 14-month accelerator program was designed to empower inmates who want to become social entrepreneurs. Throughout the program participants learn about everything from marketing to acquiring talent to grow their businesses. Each individual that completes the program receives a $50,000 grant to further their ventures. Projects that were developed in the first cohort include Clean Decisions, a commercial cleaning service that employs ex-offenders and a platform called Flikshop which gives inmates the ability to receive mail from their loved ones through an app. “We started this as a collaboration, saying, ‘Let’s not just tell folks to hire formerly incarcerated individuals, but to invest in their ideas,’” said Stephens in a statement. “All of the members have business ideas that will help them feed their families, employ others and strengthen our communities.” He added that assisting formerly incarcerated individuals in reintegration has tremendous value. Programs like Unlocked Futures are needed. Research shows that nearly 76 percent of inmates go back to jail within five years. “Unlocked Futures recognizes that entrepreneurship is a pathway for people who have been affected by the criminal justice system to earn a family-sustaining income and build a career,” read the initiative’s website. “People whose lives are affected by the criminal justice system have unmatched expertise and insight into where the system can be improved for better outcomes.” SEE ALSO: Find Out How John Legend Is Helping Ex-Inmates Turn Their Lives Around John Legend, Issa Rae And Others Support Crowdfunding Campaign To Restore Nina Simone’s Childhood Home [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3892906″ overlay=”true”]
R &B singer John Legend has been a fierce advocate for criminal justice reform. The Ohio native is furthering his efforts to reduce recidivism and provide support for the formerly incarcerated and others whose lives have been directly impacted by the flawed criminal justice system. According to Forbes Legend—whose real name is John Roger Stephens—recently announced that there would be a second cohort for the Unlocked Futures project. John Legend wants to improve job opportunities for people with criminal backgrounds https://t.co/6ZmGCjvGuP pic.twitter.com/l1tFZyeZVR — Forbes (@Forbes) October 27, 2019 The initiative is a collaborative effort between Stephens’ Free America campaign, the venture philanthropy fund and social innovation organization New Profit, and Bank of America. The 14-month accelerator program was designed to empower inmates who want to become social entrepreneurs. Throughout the program participants learn about everything from marketing to acquiring talent to grow their businesses. Each individual that completes the program receives a $50,000 grant to further their ventures. Projects that were developed in the first cohort include Clean Decisions, a commercial cleaning service that employs ex-offenders and a platform called Flikshop which gives inmates the ability to receive mail from their loved ones through an app. “We started this as a collaboration, saying, ‘Let’s not just tell folks to hire formerly incarcerated individuals, but to invest in their ideas,’” said Stephens in a statement. “All of the members have business ideas that will help them feed their families, employ others and strengthen our communities.” He added that assisting formerly incarcerated individuals in reintegration has tremendous value. Programs like Unlocked Futures are needed. Research shows that nearly 76 percent of inmates go back to jail within five years. “Unlocked Futures recognizes that entrepreneurship is a pathway for people who have been affected by the criminal justice system to earn a family-sustaining income and build a career,” read the initiative’s website. “People whose lives are affected by the criminal justice system have unmatched expertise and insight into where the system can be improved for better outcomes.” SEE ALSO: Find Out How John Legend Is Helping Ex-Inmates Turn Their Lives Around John Legend, Issa Rae And Others Support Crowdfunding Campaign To Restore Nina Simone’s Childhood Home [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3892906″ overlay=”true”]
