#KRITICIZM - NEW ORLEANS, LA — Entrepreneur, media executive, and author Darren Ogden Sr. is taking lessons learned from years of building relationships, creating opportunities, and growing his own businesses and putting them into the hands of aspiring entrepreneurs with his newest book, 40 Ways To Build Leverage, Business Relationships & Gain Income. Released independently in 2026, the book represents a new chapter for Ogden as an author. It follows his first book, Speak Lik

#KRITICIZM - Hip-hop is often built on moments of chance, instinct, and timing. One of its most iconic tracks, Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones, Part II,” nearly never saw the light of day. In a candid revelation, Havoc, one half of the legendary Queensbridge duo, admitted he was this close to deleting the very beat that would become the cornerstone of a rap classic. While working alone in his Queensbridge apartment, Havoc was piecing together what would unknowingly become one of the

#KRITICIZM - When conversations arise about the rise of Roc-A-Fella Records or the cultural explosion of hip-hop in the late '90s and early 2000s, one name that deserves just as much spotlight as any chart-topping rapper is Damon Dash. Often painted in the media with a focus on controversy or personal missteps, what gets overshadowed far too often is the undeniable truth: There would be no Roc-A-Fella without Dame Dash. Born May 3, 1971, in New York City and raised in Harlem,

#KRITICIZM - In the gritty world of the BMF series on Starz, Layton Simon, known by his alias “Lamar Silas,” emerges as a formidable adversary to the infamous Black Mafia Family in their early days in Detroit. While the show portrays Lamar as a psychopathic character, his real-life counterpart Layton Simon was a force to be reckoned with in the streets of Detroit, particularly in the Ecorse and Southwest areas, long before the rise of Meech and Terry Flenory. Layton and his b

#KRITICIZM - In the 1990s, Samuel Monroe Jr. became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces in urban cinema—not because audiences loved him, but because of how convincingly he played some of the most hated characters on screen. Known for his menacing presence and ability to fully embody controversial roles, Monroe often found himself typecast as the villain, the troublemaker, or the character you couldn’t help but despise. His performances were so believable that many view

#KRITICIZM - Among The Notorious B.I.G.’s catalogue of gritty street tales and hard-hitting rhymes, one track has continued to intrigue fans and stir up debate for decades — “I Got a Story to Tell.” Featured on his iconic posthumous album Life After Death, the song showcases Biggie’s brilliant storytelling ability as he recounts a tense, almost unbelievable scenario involving a secret affair, a home invasion, and — as later revealed — a New York Knicks player. In the song, Bi

#KRITICIZM - In the mid-2000s, Chris Brown was on a fast track to superstardom, becoming one of the most prominent young voices in R&B. But behind the scenes, there was one hit song that could have been his — the sultry slow jam “Bed” — which ultimately became the breakout record for J. Holiday instead. Written and produced by The-Dream, “Bed” became an instant R&B classic when it was released in 2007. With its sensual lyrics and smooth melody, the song catapulted J. Holiday

#KRITICIZM - The early 2000s was a golden era for R&B and Crunk&B, with artists like Nivea and Ciara making major waves in the industry. However, behind the scenes, there was almost a major shift in how things played out. Jive Records initially wanted to give Nivea’s song “Okay” to Ciara, but the track ultimately remained with Nivea. The decision proved to be significant, as “Okay” became Nivea’s third and final Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, solidifying her place

#KRITICIZM - Sam Cooke wasn’t just one of the most iconic voices of soul music — he was a visionary who sought more than just fame and fortune. He wanted freedom. He wanted ownership. And he became the first Black artist in American history to own both a record label and a publishing company — a move that would change the music industry forever, and possibly cost him his life. At a time when most artists — especially Black musicians — had little to no control over their music

#KRITICIZM - Before she became one of the biggest stars in the world, Beyoncé appeared in the late 1990s R&B music video for Case’shit single “Happily Ever After.” The song, known for its romantic vibe and timeless visuals, showed a young Beyoncé playing Case’s love interest — but what many fans don’t know is that an important behind-the-scenes decision changed the video’s ending. At the time of filming, Beyoncé was still underage, and her father and manager, Mathew Knowles,