Dante Simpson, CEO and founder of ESPAT TV and Studios, shares his incredible journey from fashion and music executive at Sony BMG to pioneering the intersection of gaming and culture. In this powerful talk, Dante reveals: The story behind the iconic Travis Scott Fortnite event that reached 27 million users How gaming culture evolved from “nerd culture” to mainstream cool EXCLUSIVE: The first-ever announcement of Hot 97’s Summer Jam coming to the metaverse Why the $188 billion gaming industry (larger than film and music combined) has room for everyone Lessons on perseverance, innovation, and why success lives on the other side of fear “We don’t create the games. We create the story told around the games.” Whether you’re a gamer, artist, engineer, or entrepreneur, this is your invitation to join the future of digital culture and gaming innovation.

A tense and controversial moment at the 2026 BAFTA Awards is continuing to spark backlash across Hollywood after actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were interrupted onstage by a guest who shouted the N-word. The incident occurred while Jordan and Lindo were presenting during the ceremony. Midway through their appearance, an audience member shouted the racial slur, creating visible discomfort in the room and quickly igniting conversation online. The individual was later identified as a Tourette’s advocate whose condition can include involuntary vocal tics. BAFTA officials had reportedly alerted attendees in advance that the guest might make unexpected noises during the show Jamie Foxx was among the most vocal critics following the broadcast. Taking to social media, the Oscar-winning actor expressed frustration and skepticism about the situation, calling the moment “unacceptable” and suggesting he did not fully accept the explanation that the outburst was involuntary. View this post on Instagram In the immediate aftermath, host Alan Cumming addressed the audience, explaining that the outburst was related to Tourette’s syndrome and asking for compassion. However, the incident continued to draw scrutiny, particularly around how the situation was handled in real time. Delroy Lindo later shared that he wished someone from BAFTA had checked in with him and Jordan following the disruption, highlighting concerns about support for the presenters at the center of the moment. The BBC has since apologized for allowing the slur to air in its tape-delayed broadcast, saying the segment will be edited in future airings. View this post on Instagram

Healthcare workers represented by 1199SEIU are mobilizing across New York, holding a series of advocacy days and rallies in Albany to push back against looming federal funding cuts that they warn could severely impact hospitals statewide. Major actions have already taken place in January, with another large-scale demonstration scheduled for March 5, 2026. Union members and healthcare advocates are calling on state legislators to take immediate action to protect Medicaid funding and prevent potential hospital closures. Organizers say the stakes could not be higher, describing the situation as a “code red for healthcare.” Speakers at the rally warned that the Trump administration’s sweeping Medicaid reductions, described by advocates as the largest in history, could have widespread consequences for patients, workers, and vulnerable communities. “It’s code red for healthcare,” organizers emphasized. “These cuts are going to hurt all of us. We’ve all got to fight back.” Advocates stressed that Black women, Latino communities, and residents in low-income and rural neighborhoods would be disproportionately affected if funding protections are not put in place. Rally leaders urged state officials to shield New York’s healthcare system from what they called dangerous federal cuts. Participants were encouraged to visit the Healthcare Education Project and 1199SEIU booths on site to learn how to get involved in the ongoing advocacy effort. The Albany action also drew cultural and community support. Media personality Miabelle led the march, DJ Spazo energized the crowd from the turntables, and Dr. Bob Lee addressed attendees in support of the campaign. With another major rally planned for March 5, healthcare workers say the pressure campaign in Albany is far from over as they continue urging lawmakers to safeguard Medicaid and protect hospital access across New York.

50 Cent didn’t resist taking advantage of the opportunity to roast his former friend and boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr, who just announced he’s back in the sport. The rap mogul took aim at the undefeated boxing champion after reports surfaced about another potential return to the ring. Mayweather is expected to compete in an exhibition following his high-profile bout with Mike Tyson. News also broke that the boxing superstar reportedly signed an exclusive deal with CSI Sports/Fight Sports. That was enough to spark a reaction from Fif. According to the Instagram page 2Cool2Blog, 50 posted — then quickly deleted — a sharp message directed at Mayweather. “Broke gotta box till ya drop champ, ain’t nobody gonna watch that s**t LOL,” he allegedly wrote. View this post on Instagram As usual, screenshots were captured just before the post disappeared. The latest jokes from 50, the undefeated former champion, follow a year of beef between the two former friends. The jab marks another round in a feud that stretches back more than a decade. 50 Cent and Mayweather once moved as a unit. They promoted fights together and floated business ventures. Their partnership, however, unraveled amid financial disagreements. Rapper 50 Cent Roasts Boxing Superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s Unretirement Since then, 50 has repeatedly mocked Mayweather’s wealth and literacy in interviews and online. He even slipped a joke about the boxer into a recent commercial appearance. Mayweather, for his part, rarely responds directly. Outside the Instagram smoke, Mayweather is battling legal issues. He has filed suit against Showtime, alleging the network assisted a former manager in a scheme that cost him hundreds of millions. The lawsuit centers on claims of financial misconduct tied to past boxing events. Still, 50 appears unmoved by the allegations. Each new boxing announcement seems to reignite his commentary. In hip-hop and boxing, rivalries rarely fade quietly. As Mayweather gears up for another exhibition, fans are watching two arenas. One sits under bright lights. The other lives on social media, where 50 Cent never hesitates to throw a punch.

Pop icon Michael Jackson’s journey through hip-hop continues to unfold, with hip-hop producer Mannie Fresh retelling the story of their meeting through Master P. During a recent episode of the Still 400 podcast, the New Orleans producer shared a wild studio story involving the King of Pop. According to Fresh, Jackson once mistook him for Master P. The No Limit Records founder controlled the late 90s rap scene with classics such as “Bout It, Bout It,” “Make’em Say Uhhh,” and “Hoody Hooo.” Fresh said the moment unfolded at New York’s Hit Factory. Engineer Fabian Marasciullo was working on a Jackson session. Marasciullo, known for his work with Lil Wayne, invited Fresh into the room. “Fabian was working with Michael Jackson,” Fresh recalled. “He said, ‘You want to meet Michael Jackson?’ I said, ‘Right. Michael Jackson?’” Fresh stepped inside as a fan. He left with an unforgettable mix-up. “[Michael] was like, ‘Hey, man. I love all of your music. I really enjoy it,’” Fresh said. At first, he thought Jackson meant his Cash Money Records catalog. Then the compliment shifted. “He said, ‘I love everything, Master P. You’re great,’” Fresh explained. Jackson believed he was speaking to Percy Miller, not the Big Tymers producer behind “Back That Azz Up.” Mannie Fresh’s story follows many hilarious adventures with the icon told by hip-hop legends, including T-Pain, Wycelf Jean, and Snoop Dogg. Hip-Hop Producer Mannie Fresh Says Michael Jackson Thought He Was Master P When They Met Fresh chose silence over correction. “I think anybody would’ve done what I did,” he said. “I was like, ‘I’ll be whoever you want me to be, Michael Jackson.’” The room carried historic weight. Jackson created Thriller and Off the Wall. His presence alone felt surreal. Fresh later joked that if they had formed a bond, he would have asked for a car. Marasciullo has shared his own Jackson memory. He once described working with Rodney Jerkins on “Rock My World.” As the track played, Jackson delivered his signature kick. “I almost fell out of my chair,” Marasciullo said. “It was so wild.” For Fresh, the mistaken identity remains hip-hop folklore. It stands as a rare collision between New Orleans bounce and the King of Pop.

Percy “Master P” Miller believes his future in college basketball may extend beyond the front office. The music mogul currently serves as assistant coach and President of Basketball Operations at the University of New Orleans, where he has helped reshape the Privateers’ program. In a recent interview, Miller said several colleges have contacted him about potential opportunities. Those conversations, he explained, center on both his business strategy and his presence on the bench. “I have so many colleges now looking at me,” Miller said. “They’re saying, ‘Come join our program because of the business side that I have.’ I’m thankful for being where I’m at and just working.” Miller, who previously played professional basketball, acknowledged that some schools have inquired about him as a head coaching candidate. “I think it’s both,” he said, referring to executive and coaching interest. “They even want me to be a head coach. I don’t know if I’m ready yet.” At New Orleans, Miller has focused on financial stability, community engagement and recruiting visibility. The university does not sponsor football, placing added emphasis on men’s basketball as a flagship sport. Miller views that reality as an opportunity. Master P Claims College Basketball Wants Him As A Head Coach, Inspired By Deion Sanders “It’s not just about basketball,” he said. “If I use the basketball team to help get more students into the school, then that’s when we’ve made it. It’s not just about wins and losses.” Miller points to respected leaders as examples of modern program building. He cited Kelvin Sampson at the University of Houston and Deion Sanders at the University of Colorado Boulder. “Times are changing,” Miller said. “People don’t want traditional coaches anymore. They want coaches who think outside the box. Just the way he has that fatherhood with his program, no matter if you’re winning or losing, he’s going to be there.” For Miller, leadership in college basketball extends beyond the court. “I’m not just a coach,” he said. “I’m a teacher.”

50 Cent and T.I.’s social back-and-forth has sparked a new beef between 50 and Tip’s son, King Harris, after the mogul shared a controversial photo of T.I.’s wife, Tiny Harris, which prompted King to troll 50, mentioning the mogul’s late mother, Sabrina Jackson. King Harris’s feud with 50 marks the mogul’s second with a rapper’s son, following his 2026 feud with Diddy’s son, Christian “King Combs” Combs. King Harris joined the T.I. and 50 Cent feud on Sunday (Feb. 22) after the mogul shared a forewarned Instagram post to T.I. with a photo of Tip’s wife, Tiny Harris, performing. 50 would caption the post, “I keep saying keep my name out ya mouth, ok ?” View this post on Instagram King would comment under the 50’s post with Tiny Harris, ready for war and ready to get messy. “Where ya mama [eyes emoji],” comments King. Ahead of unleashing a series of Instagram stories directed at 50 Cent, he’d share an Instagram post that begins with a photo of 50’s late mother, Sabrina Jackson, and the beef, with a tombstone engraved with Jackson’s name and lifespan. The explicit caption to 50 reads: “FUCK YO BIT*H A$$ and dig up yo mama!!” View this post on Instagram In the Instagram stories tagging 50, King’s rant continued in defense of his mother. T.I.’s Son King Harris Disrespects 50 Cent’s Late Mom, Sabrina Jackson, Over Sharing A Photo Of Tiny Harris “Bitch-ass n***a want to say something about my momma, yo momma dead as f*ck,” King began. “Yo momma dead a f*ck, go dig her up. Post a picture of yo muthaf*ckin’ momma, n***a, she dead, pay respects… I don’t know how you bitch ass n***as are raised, I’m not raised like that. I’m not going about my momma, I’m not going for it. So tell yo dead ass momma, dig her ass up and post a picture that look better than my momma, n***a. Y’all don’t know who y’all f*ckin’ with… You better put that music up or shut the f*ck up. ‘Cause all that other shit ain’t gonna get it.” View this post on Instagram In a continued story captioned to 50, “Not goin’… Now what the f*ck you gonna do about that? I don’t give a f*ck how a n***a play it. N***a post my momma, like yo momma ain’t dead as f*ck. Go put some flowers on that b*tch grave. N***a posting my momma, my momma is a muthaf*ckin legend. Your momma is a muthaf*ckin’ jake… You a ho-ass n***a, and I will say that shit to your face.” King finished the story with a RIP tombstone, captioned, “@50Cent this is where yo mama at!!” T.I. would issue his own response to 50’s post about Tiny late Sunday. It reads: “Fu*k N***a you can post a fat ho in a snowstorm on a unicycle juggling dildos… You still a HO!!! #KingSaidThat” 50 Cent has laughed off King Harris’s remarks about Sabrina Jackson, according to latest Instagram post. “Lol,” 50 captioned the post with a photo of the popular cartoon frog meme. Tiny Harris has also not made a public remark regarding either the beef between T.I. and King Harris or the beef between T.I. and 50 Cent at this time.

Gunfire erupted early Sunday at a memorial for Lil Poppa, born Janarious Wheeler, leaving four people wounded and prompting an ongoing criminal investigation in Jacksonville, authorities said. Four People Shot During Memorial for Rapper Lil Poppa; Jacksonville Police Actively Searching for Suspect Behind the Shooting #lilpoppa #riplilpoppa pic.twitter.com/8GzMsJbYkD — yodda3x (@yodda3x) February 22, 2026 The shooting occurred shortly after 12:15 a.m. near A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and Jessie Street on the city’s East Side. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, 12 to 15 rounds were fired into a crowd gathered to honor the 25-year-old rapper, who died earlier this week in Atlanta. Officers located a 34-year-old woman at the scene with a gunshot wound. Rescue personnel transported her to a nearby hospital. A 39-year-old woman and two men, ages 37 and 43, later arrived at area medical centers in private vehicles. All four victims survived, law enforcement officials confirmed. Investigators have not released a suspect description or identified a motive. The agency said detectives are canvassing the area for surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. The investigation remains active. Community members said the gathering commemorated Wheeler’s life and career. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a suicide caused by a gunshot wound to the head. Four Shot At Lil Poppa’s Memorial Gathering In Jacksonville, Florida Wheeler, a Jacksonville native, emerged as a prominent voice in Southern hip-hop. In 2022, he signed with Collective Music Group, founded by Memphis rapper Yo Gotti. The label issued a statement following his death. “We are stunned and devastated by the loss of our beloved family member, Janarious ‘Lil Poppa’ Wheeler,” the company said. “Poppa was more than a talented artist — he was an ambitious young man with depth beyond his years and endless potential.” The statement added, “He thoughtfully poured his pain, growth and truth into his art. His passion and authenticity connected and inspired fans from all walks of life.” Authorities urged anyone with information about the Jacksonville shooting to contact investigators.

Claressa Shields is still the “GWOAT.” ​The undisputed heavyweight champion defeated  Franchon Crews-Dezurn by unanimous decision in front of more than 17,000 fans at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday night. ​According to ESPN, all three judges scored the 10-round bout 100-90. ​Shields, who was fighting in front of her home crowd,  is now 18-0 (2 KOs). ​”I felt like I had to take my time. Franchon hits hard, and she’s tough, and you’ve got to be very tricky with her,” Shields said after the fight. “She was trying to cause the upset today and got me with some shots. But Franchon is exactly who she thinks she is — ‘The Heavy Hitting Diva.’ And that’s one of the best fights that I’ve been in in my professional career,” she continued. “Especially at 10 rounds. It was fun. I had to watch my ass every round.” Good night! #ShieldsCrewsDezurn2 pic.twitter.com/8Cp6Gv4lzZ — DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 23, 2026 ​Crews-Dezurn shared how much Shields’ success in the sport has inspired her. ​”She inspires me. She came in at a time where I was dominant and shook the table up,” Crews-Dezurn said. “When I’m seeing her, I’m like, ‘OK, that’s a point I could get to, or that’s somebody who can keep fire under me,’ and it’s never a jealousy thing. I’m proud of her.” ​The bout was a long-awaited rematch when they faced each other in their professional debuts in 2016. Shields earned a four-round decision victory. ​At the beginning of the fight, Crews-Dezurn came out aggressively and continued throughout the first couple of rounds, attempting to score a knockdown on Shield. But Shields quickly took control of the fight and cruised to a decisive victory. ​In the crowd were former boxing champion Terence Crawford, rapper Tee Grizzley, Mike Epps, Michael Blackson, and many other celebrities. ​For her ring walk, Shields brought out Lil Boosie, who performed”Set It Off.” ​During her post-fight press conference, Shields said that she wants to take on Shadasia Green later this year as she held her niece. She also said that she plans to take before taking a break from boxing in 2027 to have a child.

After a credit card snafu at a restaurant in Milan, Snoop Dogg paid its owners back in an epic way. The rapper—who’s serving as a special correspondent for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina —apparently stopped by Cronoz, a gastropub located in Livingo, for some takeout. According to Sofia Valmadre, the daughter of the restaurant’s owners, the rapper had a massive order, which included a cheeseburger, chicken wings, chicken nuggets, and French fries. However, when it came time for him to pay up, the rapper’s credit card declined. “He sent his staff to take [the card] and pay, but they couldn’t pay. I don’t know why, it wasn’t going,” Valmadre said. “So my mother told him that it was OK [to take the food] without paying.” Not long after, Snoop returned to the restaurant with a big surprise: five free tickets to the men’s snowboard halfpipe final. After Snoop Dogg’s credit card didn’t go through on a takeout order in Livigno during the Winter Olympics, he paid the next day and gifted the restaurant owners five tickets to the men’s snowboard halfpipe final. pic.twitter.com/nS4H99M2ox — NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) February 15, 2026 Snoop Dogg’s Security Allegedly Clashed With Dutch Athlete at Winter Olympics On a more sour note, last week Snoop Dogg’s Milan trip took an unexpected turn after a backstage encounter between his security team and Dutch speed skating champion Marianne Timmer. The incident reportedly occurred at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium following the men’s 1000-meter race. Timmer said she was waiting in a hallway to speak with athletes when a member of the rapper’s security detail approached. What she described as a routine moment quickly became tense. In an interview with Sportnieuws, Timmer said she was pushed while standing against a wall. “I was standing against a wall, and one of the security guards pushed me even closer,” she said. “I said, ‘Just act normal’, it’s a really wide hall, about four metres. But then the guy came back and I said, ‘What? Do I have to go through that wall or something?’” She indicated that the hallway had ample space and that she did not understand the need for force.