1. Kendrick Lamar Breaks Streaming Record With “Not Like Us”

Kendrick Lamar is running the numbers up with “Not Like Us” by breaking a streaming record previously held by Cardi B. “Not Like Us” debuted on the Billboard 100 at No. 1 with 70.9 million official streams, 5 million radio airplay audience impressions, and 15,000 sold in the U.S. in just five days, making it the most streamed song over a seven-day period. Due to his rap battle with Drake, three of Kendrick’s songs cracked the top 10. 

2. Drake Leads 2024 BET Award Nominees With Seven Nominations

For the 2024 BET Awards 2024, Drake led all nominees with seven nominations. The 6 God’s nods include ‘Album of the Year’ for For All The Dogs (Scary Hours Edition), ‘Best Male R&B/Pop Artist,’ ‘Best Male Hip Hop Artist,’ ‘Best Collaboration’ with Sexyy Red and SZA “Rich Baby Daddy,” ‘Viewer’s Choice’ with Sexyy Red and SZA “Rich Baby Daddy,” and twice for ‘Video of the Year’ for “First Person Shooter” with J. Cole and “Rich Baby Daddy” with Sexyy Red and SZA.

Culture’s Biggest Night, “BET Awards” 2024, will air LIVE on BET on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at 8 PM ET/ PT.

3. Coi Leray Partners WIth Foot Locker For New Women’s Campaign ‘Start with Sneakers’ 

Rap star Coi Leray has collaborated with Foot Locker and adidas, on a new women’s campaign, Start With Sneakers. Leray is the new brand ambassador, and the campaign marks the beginning of Foot Locker’s year-long partnership with the Grammy Award-winning rapper. The partnership will feature several activations leading up to her upcoming EP release and U.S. tour.  “Start with Sneakers redefines sneaker culture through a social-first, customer-centric approach. Leveraging Coi’s  creative collaboration, the campaign is strategically tailored to resonate with women across key social platforms like TikTok and Instagram.”

4. Jamie Foxx To Star In ‘Back In Action’ On Netflix

After suffering from serious health complications, Academy Awards winner Jamie Foxx is set to star in an upcoming action comedy, “Back in Action.” Co-starring Cameron Diaz, the description reads, "Years after giving up life as CIA spies to start a family, Emily and Matt find themselves dragged back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown." 

“Back In Action” will premiere on Netflix on November 15.

5. Alicia Keys Announces Release Date For “Hell’s Kitchen” Cast Album

Following the success of her play “Hell’s Kitchen,” Alicia Keys has announced the release of the “Hell’s Kitchen” cast album. The LP will feature new and reimagined songs by Keys that are performed on the hit Broadway musical. Keys expressed her excitement about the announcement in a post on IG.” We’ve been cookin’ 🍳👀Pre-save The Hell’s Kitchen cast album now!!!! Droppin June 7th, 2024,” her post read.

6. Black Thought Receives Honorary Doctorate From Rutgers University

Tariq Trotter, aka Black Thought, co-founder of The Roots, was the keynote speaker at Rutgers University–Newark’s commencement ceremony and received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree on Wednesday (May 15).

“You all will be the ones shifting the world for my generation,”  Trotter said to the graduates.“Right now, we have fear. No one knows how we’re going to come out on the other side of all this hurt that has been growing in our chests since well before 2020.”

Thought spoke to more than 3,100 graduates, including 393 doctoral students and 944 master’s degree students. This year’s graduating class consisted of students from 32 different countries.

7. AND1 and The Ballin’ HBCU High School Premier Basketball Showcase Partner For Tournament

AND1, the iconic footwear and apparel brand, partnered with The Ballin’ HBCU High School Premier Basketball Showcase for an invitation-only tournament held at the Chase FieldHouse in Wilmington DE this weekend. The event “aims to bring together talented youth players from across the nation to showcase their skills and connect with HBCUs.” In attendance were HBCU alums, AND1 Mixtape legend and HBCU Alum, NBA Hall of Famer Ben Wallace. 

During the tournament, four teams that competed were named after the HBCU Athletic Conferences and AND1 shoes: SWAC Attacks, MEAC Rise, CIAA Chosen One, and SIAC Overrides.

In the Boy’s game, D’Andre Gibbs was named the MVP as the CIAA“Chosen Ones” lost to the SWAC“Attacks” 78-86. For the Girl’s game, MEAC “Rise” drafted the SIAC “Overrides” 67-53, and Alyssa Febres was named the MVP.