Earlier this year it was rumored that the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 collaborations would be coming to an end after 2023, but now the sneaker community has gotten word that 2024 will be seeing another highly anticipated installment into the “Cactus Jack” x Air Jordan 1 collection.
According to Hypebeast a new and spiffy colorway for the highly popular Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 low is on the way and will feature a black and olive color scheme that will go beautifully with a pair of camouflage pants that New Yorkers are known to feature in their weekly fashion ensemble. Travis himself previewed this particular pair of sneaker months ago, but many assumed it was one of his many “Friends and Family” pairs that have never seen the light of day (we need those purple Air Jordan 4’s, Trav!!!).
Per Hypebeast:
An initial preview of the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Black Olive” has appeared, pointing to next year as a possible release period. Similarities can be drawn to the duo’s initial “Mocha” pair that stirred up the sneaker scene back in 2019. This time, the mocha brown has been swapped out for an olive finish that combines with a black base, a white lateral reverse Swoosh and an off-white midsole. Red branding elements are scattered throughout while the medial favors an olive Swoosh to complete the look.
At the time of writing, information surrounding the release of the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Black Olive” is very limited. However, reputable sneaker insider zSneakerHeadz has shared that the pair is currently expected to release during the fall of 2024. Stay tuned for updates as we expect it to be made available via Nike SNKRS and select retailers at some point next year.
Needless to say demand for these will be through the roof, but like the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 releases before these expect stock to be extremely limited with anywhere from 100,000 – 250,000 pairs being made available. With millions of sneakerheads foaming at the mouth for these, those kind of numbers really are just another a drop in the bucket.
Check out pics of the next “Cactus Jack” Air Jordan 1 lows below and let us know if you’ll be trying in vain to snatch a pair when they drop sometime next year.
Aretha Franklin, Prince—both among the most influential artists of all time. And they had something else in common: Both died without leaving a will.
Under local state laws, Franklin’s assets would be divided up among her children. However, as The Detroit Free Press reported, because of copyrights, published songs, and other intellectual property, Franklin’s estate could end up becoming a hotly contested court battle waged by many parties and one that could be litigated for years.
One has to wonder what Prince would think about the public spectacle that surrounded his estate, which was estimated to be worth about $300 million.
The music icon worked so hard during his life to protect his privacy, and now the details of his assets, and more importantly the possibility that he did not create a plan for them after his passing, have cast his financial life into a spotlight that he tried so desperately to avoid.
“I think Prince simply thought he had time,” said Lori Anne Douglass, an estate-planning attorney at Moses & Singer in New York.
“For someone who worked so hard to be private and maintain control of his own music, it doesn’t make sense that he gave up his power in this way. The most important thing we learned from Prince is that you simply never know when you’re going to die,” she added.
Douglass pointed out that while so much discussion centered around the fact that Prince didn’t have a will, a trust would have allowed him to protect his privacy. That information is private, whereas the content of wills is public.
When you consider, however, that a significant portion of wealth is passed through generations, you begin to understand the significance of creating a plan for your assets when you move on, and some of the challenges our community has had when it comes to building wealth.
“Not only does this put our ability to transfer wealth to future generations at risk, it also comes at a tremendous cost,” he wrote. “Without an estate plan, your assets fall subject to probate. According to one estate planning firm, probate costs surviving families a collective $2 billion annually – including more than $1.5 billion in attorney fees. Dying intestate (passing away without a valid will) not only blocks the transfer of wealth; it can leave a crippling financial burden to your heirs.”
“What’s at stake? How about more than $1 trillion in black spending power? How much of that are we willing to lose to probate, estate taxes, and other costs we need to plan for? What about the homes and other real estate we’ve acquired, and our investment portfolios, including retirement plans and other savings? What about the nearly 2 million businesses owned by African Americans? How can we say we are doing our very best for future generations while leaving all of this, and more, unprotected and at risk?”
For many of us, the hardest part of estate planning is figuring out how to begin. Douglass said the first step is to think about what happens as people die, and to consider the fact that we are all living longer, and likely to become incapacitated in some way at some point in our lives.
“The first step is getting your disability documents in order through a healthcare proxy and power of attorney. You can get statutory forms on your state’s website,” said Douglass.
The person you appoint to make healthcare decisions is called “the agent.” You are “the principal.” Unless you limit your agent’s authority, in most cases, they have the power to make any medical decisions you would make on your behalf.
“When beginning your estate planning, it’s also important to make sure that you have the correct beneficiary designations on things like employer benefits–401 (k)’s and insurance,” said Douglass.
In addition, when you start the estate planning process, you should consult an attorney so that you understand how the different aspects of your plan should come together. Douglass suggested seeking out a free consultation, which can at least result in guidance and affordable recommendations.
With the renaming of James Herman Banning Ames Municipal Airport in Ames, Iowa on June 17, 2023, there are now seven airporst in the United States named in honor of a great Black American. The long journey to rename these insitutions serve as a reminder that there needs to be greater representation in our airspace and travel industries: only a tiny fraction of the nation’s 19,000 airports bear the names of African Americans.
We recognize National Air Traffic Control Day with these seven airports named for Black Americans, who are remembered every time we take flight from one of these locations.
James Herman Banning Ames Municipal Airport—Ames, Iowa
James Herman Banning cemented himself in the history of aviation when he became one of the first Black pilots to successfully fly from the United States’ west coast to the east coast in the early 1930s. As one of the most notable Black pilots in early aviation history, the Iowa resident was honored with a renaming ceremony of the Story County airport in 2023. There, travelers can also learn more about Banning’s record-setting accomplishments through an exhibit within one of the airport’s terminals.
Frederick Dougless Rochester International Airport—Rochester, New York
In 2021, Rochester, New York’s international airport was officially renamed to recognize the accomplishments of Black abolitionist and Rochester resident Frederick Douglass. Located in the third most populated city in the state of New York, the renaming of the airport started with a sculpture. “Our project ‘Re-energizing the Legacy of Frederick Douglass’ put 15 fibreglass monuments on the streets of the city of Rochester for the Frederick Douglass birthday Bicentennial, which was in 2018,” says Carvin Eisen, a professor at SUNY Brockport who helped spearhead the project. One of the sculptures now finds its home in the newly named aiport. “We suspect that somewhere around a million travelers a year come here. So this will be the first image that they see of Rochester and the last image that they take with them when they leave,” he delcares.
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport—Birmingham, Alabama
Celebrated activist Fred L. Shuttlesworth stood strong against Jim Crow laws and deadly racism to see civil rights reforms come to fruition. The Mount Meigs, Alabama, native worked with other activist organizations in the 1960s to organize the historic Freedom Rides, marches and boycotts in the name of equality. In 2008, Shuttlesworth’s name was added to the state’s largest airport to honor the pastor’s legacy.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport—Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Ambitious Baltimore lawyer Thurgood Marshall made history in 1967 when he was named a justice on the nine-panel United States Supreme Court, the first Black American to ever hold the position. Throughout the entirety of his law career and his 25 years on the Bench, Marshall advocated and secured victories for women’s autonomy and civil rights. In 2005, the Maryland airport changed its name to the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to honor this civil rights pioneer.
Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport—Jackson, Mississippi
World War II veteran Medgar Evers dedicated his life to advocating for racial equality after returning home from the military. He worked tirelessly to desegregate education and eradicate Jim Crow in Mississippi, putting his own life on the line for change. His assassination in 1963 spurred an intense outcry within the Black community and a fiercer push for civil rights, with the Civil Rights Act being passed a year later. In January 2005, the international airport in Jackson, Mississippi, was renamed in honor of the civil rights martyr.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—Atlanta, Georgia
The grandson of activist John Wesley Dobbs, Morehouse graduate Maynard Jackson made his own history as the first Black mayor of Atlanta. As he worked to reform the city’s police department during his two consecutive terms as mayor, he paid special attention to the city’s airport. After working to expand and modernize the facility, the city voted to rename the airport to pay homage to the former mayor after his death in 2003. Today, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport serves millions of travelers as one of the busiest airports in the United States.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport—New Orleans, Louisiana
Louis Armstrong is one of the most beloved figures in music and a staple of the budding jazz scene of the 1920s. While the raspy-voiced musician worked to revolutionize the genre with hits such as “What a Wonderful World,” the New Orleans native, known as “Satch,” left his mark on all of America. In 2001, Armstrong’s hometown renamed their local airport to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to pay homage to the iconic Louisiana trumpeter.
Summer is officially here and that means it’s time for the annual BET Awards. We don’t have many award shows that are centered around just US anymore so we have to always show support to our own. The BET awards and red carpet have seen iconic moments. This year some of the music industry vets and newcomers hit the red carpet in style. From OG’s like Warren G, Bow Wow, and the Ying/Yang twins to newcomers like Summer Walker, Lil Meech, and Toosii.
Below, EBONY has rounded up the best red carpet looks of the night from the 2023 BET Awards.
Summer Walker and rapper Lil Meech. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images)
Flo Milli. Image: Leon Bennett/WireImage for Getty Images
Victoria Monet. Image: Paras Griffin for Getty Images for BET
Doechii. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Latto. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Coco Jones. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Slim Jxmmi (L) and his brother Swae Lee (R) of duo Rae Sremmurd. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Lola Brooke. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images)
Christian “King” Combs. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
GloRilla. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Lance Gross. Image: Paras Griffin for Getty Images for BET
Yo-Yo. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Skye Townsend. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Fridayy. Image: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
Ari Fletcher. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Scott Evans. Image: Michael Buckner/Variety for Getty Images
Ambré. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)
DJ Lungelihle Zwane aka Uncle Waffles. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Warren G. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Jasmin “WatchJazzy” Brown. Image: Paras Griffin for Getty Images for BET
Bow Wow. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Bianca. Image: Michael Buckner/Variety for Getty Images
Miss Diddy. Image: Paras Griffin for Getty Images for BET
Lamman Rucker. Image: Michael Buckner for Variety via Getty Images
The Sugarhill Gang. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Madisin Rian. Image: Michael Buckner/Variety for Getty Images
J. Bernard Calloway. Image: Michael Buckner/Variety for Getty Images
Jalyn Hall. Image: Paras Griffin for Getty Images for BET
Aaron Bastian. Image: Paras Griffin for Getty Images for BET
E-40 and his wife Tracy Stevens. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Fat Joe. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
MC Lyte. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Crime Mob. Image: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP for Getty Images
Fatherhood has the power to move us in many ways. Black fatherhood, specifically, is integral to the infrastructure of our community. In a world that seeks to denigrate Black men, they shine their light brightly as a reminder that they are present, involved and ready to uplift the future of our world. Generationally, even with all of their complexities, Black fathers have been sources of love, stability, strength and fortitude.
Outside of the celebrity father figures we look up to on our favorite sitcoms or in pop culture, the real superheroes are the everyday dads who show up for their community and families in the best way they know how. Whether they were given the blueprint to succeed in fatherhood or had to figure it out on their own, these fathers prove just how capable and exceptional they can be.
In the spirit of continuing to uplift Black men in all of their identities and efforts, five Black fathers—Tony Taylor, Anthony Jules, Michael Johnson, Cory Mickens and Don Felton— take time to reflect on the advice given to them by father figures in their own lives. Additionally, they share their hopes for what their children will internalize through their example.
They were asked two specific questions and provided a wealth of wisdom that can fuel many generations to come.
What is the greatest life lesson that your father or a father figure shared with you?
Tony Taylor: My father taught me a lot of skills, like working with my hands, and that I can do anything that I put my mind to, along with the value of respect. Additionally, he taught me kindness, confidence and most of all, resilience. When I looked at my dad, I would always see self-confidence, which he instilled in me. The greatest piece of advice that I carry from him is to be my own thinker, to be a leader and to create my own path.
Anthony Jules: I think the best advice I’ve gotten from my elders has been, “When the storms of life ultimately come, keep God at the center.” This piece of advice has a way of grounding and calming me in moments of stress and duress.
Michael Johnson: The greatest piece of advice my pops gave to me as a man is that I should always seek growth in knowledge: Be bold and if you don’t know, then don’t be afraid to ask questions. He taught me to always understand that knowledge is the key to success, and if anyone shall ask anything of you, keep your mouth closed until you have the correct answer.
Cory Mickens: My father has always taught me to love and communicate with my family. When I was in high school, he gave me the poem Don’t Quit and I placed it on my wall. I played sports at the time and tried to play football. He said to me, “Just like you do with sports, you don’t quit on your family. Never quit.”
Don Felton: I spent a lot of my summers down in Norfolk, Virginia, hanging out with my grandfather and my uncles so my insight about life came from them.
What lessons do you hope to pass down to and instill in your own children?
Taylor: I would like my daughter to always understand that although the sun may not always be shining, tomorrow will be a better day. Life is all about having resilience, so you must have faith in yourself and know that God is always with you no matter what you do.
Jules: First, find your happiness. Whatever it may be or wherever it may lie, pursue it. Second, help people whenever you can. That brings a great reward in life for others, as well as for yourself. Third, have fun. Life should be enjoyed, not just endured.
Johnson: The greatest advice I have always shared with my child is to always know and believe in who you are. Never think to be or change into someone that you’re not. Stay true to who you are, God loves you no matter what. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Mickens: As a father of five, they’ve taught me more than I’ve taught them. They’ve taught me how to love, how to be respectful and how to listen to different opinions. I think I’ve passed those things down to them. Also, I want them to love God and have a personal relationship with the Lord, and treat others how they want to be treated. It’s very important to be a good person and have good character. Lastly, to be strong, find peace and never ever quit. Don’t quit.
Felton: The family gene that I believe has been passed down to my daughter is the significance of helping others in life. Also, you gotta make time to do wholesome and simple things, things that don’t even cost money. Just spending time is important. She’s 25 now and eventually, she’s going to leave the nest and start a family of her own. But I am always going to cherish the memories that I have.
Tony Taylor and then-five-year-old Savannah Taylor at Café Savannah, a restaurant he named after her. Image: courtesy of the Taylor family
Anthony Jules and his daughter Erica (left) and son Alex (right) in a beloved throwback picture. Image: courtesy of the Jules family
Michael Johnson and daughter Makaylla (left) flicking it up for the camera. Image: courtesy of the Johnson family
Cory Mickens and wife Laverne(center) with children (left to right)Kahari, Josiah, Kiara, Taylor and Elizabeth on a family vacation. Image: courtesy of the Mickens family
Don Felton (right) and daughter Donyel chilling in Times Square. Image: courtesy of the Felton family
Pharrell Williams’ creative director debut Tuesday in Paris for Louis Vuitton menswear was a celebration of legacy, joy, and his Virginian roots. Ushering in the new era of menswear for the historic French fashion house, Williams shut down the Pont Neuf bridge for famous friends Beyoncé, JAY-Z, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Megan Thee Stallion, and Louis Vuitton brand ambassador Zendaya who arrived with former stylist Law Roach. The show began at sunset and featured a full orchestra and gospel choir dressed in white. Over 70 looks were displayed, modeled by a wide sweep of creatives, including UK rapper Dave, and longtime collaborators Pusha T and No Malice of Clipse.
The extravagantly orchestrated runway show showcased distinct aesthetics that paid homage to Williams’ home state, his own fashion legacy and influences that helped inspire this season’s show. In a statement about the representation of the appointment, Williams added that this was about fulfilling his personal destiny while acknowledging the opportunity it has afforded him as a chance to celebrate his cultural legacy and home state of Virginia.
“A lot of people lost their lives and suffered through the experiences to get us to these positions. It’s not lost on me that I’m afforded this opportunity to tell these stories.” Those stories woven throughout the garments showcased during Tuesday’s show, also represent the 20-plus years of public influence within his own story.
It’s a task for someone with a storied history of dismantling the boundaries between hip-hop and couture, as Pharrell affirmed in the transition from iconic producer to legendary multi-hyphenate creative. It may not have been the show that officially showcases Pharrell as a respected designer and leaves much to be anticipated for what is to come next. But for hardcore Pharrell supporters and Neptunes nerds, it was a full-circle debut for a man whose pivot is centered around legacy — one that even Williams himself had to acknowledge.
Here are seven easter egg moments from Pharrell Williams’ Louis Vuitton Menswear Debut.
Homage to Virginia’s State Motto
The collection’s staple theme, VA TO PARIS, can be traced back to Williams’ colorfully bedazzled motorcycle jacket from this year’s Something In The Water festival. As Pharrell stated in a recent interview, “LV is for Louis Vuitton, but it’s also ‘lover’,” referring to the famous Virginia state motto. Several pieces in the show were embellished with the phrase “Virginia is for lovers” — from the custom LV shirts worn by the staff and design team to specific statement pieces such as the blue crocodile leather baseball jacket and floor-length overcoats worn by the Clipse.
Even the bridge-side location of the show represented the metaphorical link between Virginia and Paris.
Princess Anne High School Varsity Jacket and Marching Band
Pharrell used the collection and connection to Virginia to pay homage to his iconic Princess Anne Varsity Jacket that he often wore during the early 2000s. The letterman jacket was from Pharrell’s years at Princess Anne High School, where he was also in the marching band. During an unearthed video clip from a 2003 episode of the MTV show When I Was 17,When I Was 17, Pharrell spoke about the influence that the marching band had on him musically. The influence is shown clearly as the models and the collective finale were choreographed as a united strut.
The memorable varsity jacket was auctioned off late last year during Williams’ Joopiter auction of celebrated items, but for many, brings up extreme nostalgia, as an item often seen during N.E.R.D.’s Fly or Die era.
In his notes, Pharrell states, “The memory of Princess Anne High School is epitomised in savoi-faire takes on the varsity jacket.”
2000s BBC / BAPE Homage
Many called out the pixel camo concept as repetitive, but longtime fans see updated versions of Billionaire Boys Club and Bathing Ape works by Pharrell and Nigo. Pharrell even created a finsta-styled BTS page entitled Skateboard as a reference to his nickname Skateboard P where fans could have an inside look into the making of the collection. Nigo, whose signature BAPE pattern was often paired with Pharrell’s affinity for cargo, army fatigue pants and beanies, are highlighted in pixel-replicated garments.
Titled “Chains ‘n Whips,” Pharrell stated that the song was recorded in Paris in his space at the Louis Vuitton office. As Pusha T and No Malice walked the runway sporting Dapper Dan-inspired trench coats, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and more could be spotted nodding along to the presumed Jim Jones diss.
Footage of the song has since gone viral, including a clip released Wednesday morning, via P, of the superproducer, No Malice and Pusha rapping along to the song in the Louis Vuitton offices prior to the show. It didn’t take long for Pusha fans and hip-hop enthusiasts to call out the subliminal bars aimed at Jones following his claims that Pusha shouldn’t be considered one of the greatest rappers of all time.
Since the show, Jim has responded. Taking to Instagram to post a video of him laughing with the caption, “Let me know if they serious cause my name is #Capo,” and another video with the caption, “Lol that verse did not make the list champ, it was cute.”
With accents of pearls adorned on tweed jackets and the overt return of the Damier checkerboard aesthetic, much of P’s collection can be viewed as homages to his couture relationship with the late Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld and former Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs.
There’s a well-documented history between Lagerfeld and Williams which began in 2011. During this time, Williams served as a Chanel ambassador. Appearing in promotional short films, composing original music for runway shows and even launching a Chanel x Human Race sneaker collaboration for adidas.
However, it was Marc Jacobs who truly began Skateboard P’s ascent from streetwear to couture when he invited him and Nigo to partner on a range of sunglasses for Louis Vuitton called Millionaire Sunglasses. Many called out the checkerboard garments in Williams’ SS24 collection as a call back to Jacobs’ Louis Vuitton Paris Fashion Week show in 2012 which featured an overwhelming collection of bold colorways via the classic checkerboard print. In a recent video released today, Pharrell revealed the name of his custom $1 million dollar Speedy bag featured during the show as “Millionaire” in reference to his designed LV sunglasses from the Marc Jacobs LV era.
Following Pharrell’s LV debut, Jacobs took to Instagram posting a photo of the two, simply stating, “believer since 2002.”
The Use of His Uncle’s Choir — Voices of Fire
Like the overplay of Damoflauge, some elements of the show felt redundant and overproduced. Voices of Fire, led by Williams’ uncle Bishop Ezekiel Williams, sang “Joy (Unspeakable),” a piece composed by Williams for the show. This isn’t the first time Williams has worked with the choir. In 2020, Pharrell joined his uncle and other spiritual leaders in his hometown of Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach in search of talented singers to join a world-class choir.
In recent years, Pharrell’s spiritual evolution has led him to become more grounded and seemingly too humble. Much of the evolution he credits to wisdom through his friendship with Nigo and his family’s relationship with faith. To many, myself included, the choir element within the performance has been overdone within the fashion world, especially when designers such as Kirby Jean-Raymond have masterfully used choirs as motifs in shows. However, for Pharrell, the use of his uncle’s choir was an extension of his tribute to Virginia and his family roots. Pharrell’s mother is a devout Baptist, while his father’s side attended COGIC in Virginia Beach.
The Neptunes References
Though the night was centered around P’s influence and years of studying within the world of fashion, his musical imprint with Neptunes’ co-creator Chad Hugo lay in plain sight. Embellished on a few of the garments is the phrase “The Louis Vuitton Lovers Presents.” While the phrase does reference the Virginia state motto, it also references The Neptunes Present…Clones, Chad and Pharrell’s compilation album that turns 20 this year.
Following the finale with Pharrell and the Louis Vuitton design team, guests ventured onto the yellow checkerboard runway to The Neptunes’ remix of Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stonger.” During the Louis Vuitton live stream, lyrics “Daft Punk, Neptunes” could be heard blaring over the crowd as a shot of the flashing Effiel Tower ended the show. While guests were treated to a special JAY-Z set that featured iconic Neptunes-produced songs like “Frontin” and “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me).”
