Philadelphia rapper and former Ford model Chynna dead at 25

Philadelphia rising rap star Chynna, who started as a model, has sadly died at the age of 25.

Chynna, whose full birth name was Chynna Rogers, died at her home in Philadelphia on Wednesday, her manager John Miller told PEOPLE magazine. Miller didn’t disclose the cause of Chynna’s death.

READ MORE: Nicki Minaj becomes first female rapper to amass $100M

In a statement to PEOPLE, the rapper’s family said simply: “Chynna was deeply loved and will be sorely missed.”

In December, she had recently released the four-track EP in case i die first. The music was dark and heavy and draws listeners in on her vibe: “S*it don’t last forever, do it?/S*it ain’t ‘bout forever, is it doe?/I’m just sad you didn’t get it doe,” as she raps on one track, ASMR.

When she was 14, Chynna was signed by Ford Models and began modeling. While she was still a teenager, she was mentored by A$AP Yams, who died five years ago. This link to A$AP Mob helped her gain rap cred from the start. She released 2013’s hit track Selfie and a year later, “Glen Coco.” In 2015, she put out I’m Not Here. This Isn’t Happening and Music 2 Die 2 in 2016, according to Pitchfork. 

She told Pitchfork her music was for “angry people with too much pride to show how angry they are.”

Chynna was open about her previous addiction to opiates in some of her music, and also in interviews. “It got to the point where I had to do something just to be able to get on stage and do my job. I didn’t like that,” she told Pitchfork in an interview. 

It is not known if drugs played a part in her death, her friend Quinta Brunson left a cryptic message that made many think that she was referring to Rogers.

Just lost another friend to drugs. I’m not going to be quiet about it. I’m tired of drug culture. Everything about it. Everything attached to it. I know there’s a bigger picture. But i don’t care right now. I’m so tired. And sad.

— quibi brunson (@quintabrunson) April 9, 2020

pic.twitter.com/xQaLGXTtLa

— quibi brunson (@quintabrunson) April 9, 2020

And I will love you forever, and we are going to change this world for you. https://t.co/rONXUHbm3e

— quibi brunson (@quintabrunson) April 9, 2020

While she does not mention Chynna by name, the close proximity of the texts and Rogers’ history, allowed many fans to connect the dots.

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Upon learning of her death, celebrities took to Twitter and posted their memories and tributes to the rapper.

Rapper Vince Staples posted on his Instagram that he needed everyone to know that she was “too special for words.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

I don’t like doing this when my people go but I think everybody needs to know that you were special. Too special for words. Stay outta trouble lil cuh.

A post shared by @ vincestaples on Apr 8, 2020 at 6:23pm PDT

“Chynna you were f—— hilarious bro… today was our last exchange of jokes & those I will miss the most. I can’t believe it idk how to. I love you. So very much. My heart is officially iced,” Kehlani tweeted.

chynna you were fuckin hilarious bro… today was our last exchange of jokes & those i will miss the most. i can’t believe it idk how to

i love you. so very much.

my heart is officially iced.

— Kehlani (@Kehlani) April 9, 2020

Rapper Kari Faux tweeted “I love u, Chynna. Forever, my rap game Laura Croft.”

i love u, Chynna 🖤🦇
forever, my rap game Laura Croft pic.twitter.com/6RG0V7SRGj

— LOWKEY SUPERSTAR (@KARIFAUX) April 9, 2020

“Chynna deserved way more love. We need to make sure to give folks their flowers while they are here to see them. This hurts so bad cause I know she was f—— next man. Her music and vision was raw as f—,” Dom McLennon, a member of Brockhampton, tweeted.

Chynna deserved way more love. We need to make sure to give folks their flowers while they are here to see them. This hurts so bad cause I know she was fuckin next man. Her music and vision was raw as fuck.

— dom from hartford (@DomMcLennon) April 9, 2020

 

The post Philadelphia rapper and former Ford model Chynna dead at 25 appeared first on TheGrio.

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Kobe Bryant's Latest Children's Book Tops New York Times Bestseller List

The legacy of Kobe Bryant continues to live on. The legendary athlete, Oscar-winner and author has added another New York Times bestselling book to his long list of accomplishments.

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Black Party Supply Business to Gift Families with Decorations to Celebrate Birthday’s During COVID-19

COVID-19 has changed life as many people know it. Nevertheless, life goes on. While large social gatherings have been prohibited across the nation, people are finding unique ways to celebrate special moments like anniversary’s, tying the knot, baby showers, and birthdays. Yet for some, funding celebratory moments can be a challenge due to the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. In response, Tabitha Salomon, founder and CEO of Party Dash, created the “Spread Joy” relief program to allow parents to donate party supplies to families in need.

According to Slackline, the events and party supplies industry is down 55% and is in the top 15 fastest-declining categories due to the pandemic.

Salomon launched Party Dash at the beginning of 2020—and she is already giving back so that parents can host fun virtual or household parties and bring their children joy. One hundred percent of profits from the program will go to the COVID-19 relief effort.

We spoke with Salomon about her journey into entrepreneurship and her mission to spread joy during these uncertain times.

Meet Tabitha Salomon

What led you to create Party Dash?

I’m that friend who constantly brings communities of people together. I believe that events and parties are a pathway to connection. About two years ago, I was working at Google and I thought perhaps there’s a fun opportunity to add value in the space by doing something novel or to do something that perhaps hadn’t been done well before. I started to talk to other people like myself who love to get people together for milestone events like your kids’ birthday parties, your friend’s baby shower, etc. I kept hearing over and over again that busy parents would find it frustrating because they’re visiting three to five stores on average to piecemeal party supplies together when they walk to a store or a party store, it was usually chaotic and overwhelming.

In one of those conversations, I had a mom say to me, ‘I feel like someone’s thrown up on me when I walk into a party store. I will never forget that. That is such a visual description of how bad the experience is. Oftentimes, products are outdated and poor quality. So, when I was thinking about how we’re going to bring ‘party back to life’, our vision was to essentially make curated boxes that are conveniently shipped to that busy parent’s door. And we took it a step further by saying let’s also think about being a conscious brand. Today, our products are sustainably sourced. Over 80% of the products on our platform are biodegradable. And, we’re always looking for a mission to give back to our community.

Spreading Joy During Uncertain Times

Party Dash’s space party decorations (Image: Courtesy of Party Dash)

People are hosting virtual parties on Zoom and social media platforms like Instagram Live. Even though we’re living in this moment of uncertainty, tell us more about your decision to help families get in the spirit of celebrating during these times.

Most party suppliers are essentially like, ‘Hey, we’re just gonna like not sell for the next couple of months because people aren’t having parties.’ And we thought, No! If anything, it’s when people are living with fear, anxiety, and doubt is when we should be the light.  We should give people a reason to get together and celebrate. And we should be the conduits of those celebrations. So, it’s not that people stop celebrating, it’s how they celebrate that looks different.

To your point, we’re seeing a huge spike in virtual parties that are being done. I was on a call yesterday with a group of five moms who had just finished planning or about to start planning kids’ birthday parties. And they were telling me that they love the fact that they can still make it feel festive.

Knowing that we’re a part of that makes me and my team feel really good about what we’re doing. Essentially, we’re just trying to spread joy and a time that’s full of anxiety and fear.

Spread the Good News

Party Dash’s unicorn decoration set (Image: Courtesy: Party Dash)

How can families apply to be selected as beneficiaries of the Spread Joy campaign?

For the next two months, applications will be open. We’re seeing a lot of nonprofits, like the Boys and Girls who are a partner of ours, are getting involved. Essentially what they’re doing is they’re emailing everyone in their communities because they know those parents are usually a bit more low-income. And when income is cut in their household even more—things like this [parties] are the first things to go.

if you have to choose between celebrating and putting a smile on your kid’s face for that one special day or putting food on the table, that’s a really terrible decision and options to choose from as a parent. So, we’re saying to that particular parent, ‘You don’t have to choose anymore, we got your back. We’re going to support you and help you to turn this into a festive and memorable experience for your kid’s birthday.’

We’re also thinking a lot about the folks that are on the front lines. The nurses and the health techs who are working around the clock fighting COVID-19. When people get home, the last thing they want to do is go online and shop or go on Pinterest and put the boards together. Or, go on Amazon and piecemeal their event together.

Now, all they have to do is spend two minutes applying for this. And then we’ll ship out the box that fits that particular theme or occasion that their kid loves. We’re really thinking about these two communities and others who’ve been negatively affected. And again, with this mission of helping to spread joy.

Apply

If you’d like to donate to the cause and spread joy or benefit from the program, click here to get involved and or apply.

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/2XnRgcg

Black Party Supply Business to Gift Families with Decorations to Celebrate Birthday’s During COVID-19

COVID-19 has changed life as many people know it. Nevertheless, life goes on. While large social gatherings have been prohibited across the nation, people are finding unique ways to celebrate special moments like anniversary’s, tying the knot, baby showers, and birthdays. Yet for some, funding celebratory moments can be a challenge due to the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. In response, Tabitha Salomon, founder and CEO of Party Dash, created the “Spread Joy” relief program to allow parents to donate party supplies to families in need.

According to Slackline, the events and party supplies industry is down 55% and is in the top 15 fastest-declining categories due to the pandemic.

Salomon launched Party Dash at the beginning of 2020—and she is already giving back so that parents can host fun virtual or household parties and bring their children joy. One hundred percent of profits from the program will go to the COVID-19 relief effort.

We spoke with Salomon about her journey into entrepreneurship and her mission to spread joy during these uncertain times.

Meet Tabitha Salomon

What led you to create Party Dash?

I’m that friend who constantly brings communities of people together. I believe that events and parties are a pathway to connection. About two years ago, I was working at Google and I thought perhaps there’s a fun opportunity to add value in the space by doing something novel or to do something that perhaps hadn’t been done well before. I started to talk to other people like myself who love to get people together for milestone events like your kids’ birthday parties, your friend’s baby shower, etc. I kept hearing over and over again that busy parents would find it frustrating because they’re visiting three to five stores on average to piecemeal party supplies together when they walk to a store or a party store, it was usually chaotic and overwhelming.

In one of those conversations, I had a mom say to me, ‘I feel like someone’s thrown up on me when I walk into a party store. I will never forget that. That is such a visual description of how bad the experience is. Oftentimes, products are outdated and poor quality. So, when I was thinking about how we’re going to bring ‘party back to life’, our vision was to essentially make curated boxes that are conveniently shipped to that busy parent’s door. And we took it a step further by saying let’s also think about being a conscious brand. Today, our products are sustainably sourced. Over 80% of the products on our platform are biodegradable. And, we’re always looking for a mission to give back to our community.

Spreading Joy During Uncertain Times

Party Dash’s space party decorations (Image: Courtesy of Party Dash)

People are hosting virtual parties on Zoom and social media platforms like Instagram Live. Even though we’re living in this moment of uncertainty, tell us more about your decision to help families get in the spirit of celebrating during these times.

Most party suppliers are essentially like, ‘Hey, we’re just gonna like not sell for the next couple of months because people aren’t having parties.’ And we thought, No! If anything, it’s when people are living with fear, anxiety, and doubt is when we should be the light.  We should give people a reason to get together and celebrate. And we should be the conduits of those celebrations. So, it’s not that people stop celebrating, it’s how they celebrate that looks different.

To your point, we’re seeing a huge spike in virtual parties that are being done. I was on a call yesterday with a group of five moms who had just finished planning or about to start planning kids’ birthday parties. And they were telling me that they love the fact that they can still make it feel festive.

Knowing that we’re a part of that makes me and my team feel really good about what we’re doing. Essentially, we’re just trying to spread joy and a time that’s full of anxiety and fear.

Spread the Good News

Party Dash’s unicorn decoration set (Image: Courtesy: Party Dash)

How can families apply to be selected as beneficiaries of the Spread Joy campaign?

For the next two months, applications will be open. We’re seeing a lot of nonprofits, like the Boys and Girls who are a partner of ours, are getting involved. Essentially what they’re doing is they’re emailing everyone in their communities because they know those parents are usually a bit more low-income. And when income is cut in their household even more—things like this [parties] are the first things to go.

if you have to choose between celebrating and putting a smile on your kid’s face for that one special day or putting food on the table, that’s a really terrible decision and options to choose from as a parent. So, we’re saying to that particular parent, ‘You don’t have to choose anymore, we got your back. We’re going to support you and help you to turn this into a festive and memorable experience for your kid’s birthday.’

We’re also thinking a lot about the folks that are on the front lines. The nurses and the health techs who are working around the clock fighting COVID-19. When people get home, the last thing they want to do is go online and shop or go on Pinterest and put the boards together. Or, go on Amazon and piecemeal their event together.

Now, all they have to do is spend two minutes applying for this. And then we’ll ship out the box that fits that particular theme or occasion that their kid loves. We’re really thinking about these two communities and others who’ve been negatively affected. And again, with this mission of helping to spread joy.

Apply

If you’d like to donate to the cause and spread joy or benefit from the program, click here to get involved and or apply.

from Black Enterprise https://ift.tt/2XnRgcg

Bank of America and Uber Are Giving Back To Communities Impacted By COVID-19

In response to COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, many private companies and financial institutions are doing what they can to provide relief for those impacted by the viral outbreak. The global pandemic has caused massive economic fallout and political tensions amid the race for more effective treatments, and ultimately a vaccine.

The virus has triggered state governments in the U.S. to issue mandatory stay-at-home orders, closing all non-essential businesses until the disease can be contained. Over 700,000 jobs have been lost since the pandemic started with another 3 million filing for unemployment in the first weeks, the largest number claims ever recorded in a single week.

Bank of America is one of the major companies looking to help individuals impacted by COVID-19 by committing $100 million to support local communities in need. The funds will be used to help improve medical response capacity, food insecurity, increase access to remote learning amid school closures, and provide financial support to the country’s most vulnerable populations. In addition to the pledge, the banking institution will also be offering deferrals on credit cards along with home and auto loans to current customers.

“Bank of America is deferring mortgage payments for up to 90 days or until the crisis is over,” Bank of America representative Bill Halden told Business Insider. The company will also increase funding to several national and global organizations that are on the front lines, tackling the most pressing issues in local communities.

Uber is also stepping up, providing support by teaming up with healthcare union 1199SEIU, which represents over 450,000 first responders in the country, to deliver free meals and discounted rides to healthcare professionals.

“Each and every day 1199SEIU members put aside their own fears and go to work on the front lines, helping to save lives in the face of a global pandemic,” says George Gresham, president of 1199SEIU to USA Today. The $2 million partnership will serve healthcare workers in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland.

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