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AAMU Head Drum Major Jeremy Bellot: ‘To Be On That Stage is Something Big’

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. For The Birmingham Times As the head drum major for Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU) and its Marching Maroon and White Show Band of the South, Jeremy Bellot is the face of the marching band. “It’s about leadership,” said Carlton J. Wright, director of the AAMU band. “You have to […]
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3 years ago

October 25, 2023

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Alabama A&M Head Drum Major Jeremy Bellot at Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville, AL. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

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By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

For The Birmingham Times

As the head drum major for Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU) and its Marching Maroon and White Show Band of the South, Jeremy Bellot is the face of the marching band.

“It’s about leadership,” said Carlton J. Wright, director of the AAMU band. “You have to have the right person who can motivate and get things done with other students.”

For AAMU, that man is Bellot, a senior music education major, who is aware of the work that goes into being a leader. The precision of a marching band requires each musician and member of the marching band and color guard to know their roles, but the head drum major must know it all.

Bellot said he welcomes the challenge.

“You’re having to be basically like a regular student and an extension of the band director,” he said. “It is a lot of work, having to know all the songs, all the tempos, everything on the spot. … It’s all worth it if you control it and have a good head on you.”

Bellot and the Marching Maroon and White Show Band of the South will take the field on Saturday, October 28, at Birmingham’s Legion Field for the Magic City Classic, the largest historically Black college and university (HBCU) football game in the nation, which matches the AAMU Bulldogs against the Alabama State University (ASU) Hornets.

At 5-foot-5, Bellot will stand tall in Legion Field as he has throughout his journey as head drum major. He knows the excitement surrounding the Magic City Classic.

“It’s really an exciting, very electrifying stadium,” Bellot said. “To see all the people that come to support both bands and how big it is consistently throughout the years, it makes it feel special to be there, it makes you want to be on top of your game. … To be on that stage is something big.”

AAMU has traditionally had a special routine for marching into Legion Field. Beyond that, the preparation this week is special because of the unique showcase.

“We want to make sure we’re on top of our game,” the head drum major said. “That’s a big, big game, and we would hate for us to not be the best that we can.”

Click to view slideshow.

Musical Family

Growing up in St. Thomas of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Bellot went from playing trumpet to baritone to trombone. He grew up in a musical family: his parents and aunts were singers, and his brother played percussion.

Bellot, 23, was introduced to musical instruments in the fourth or fifth grade, when the band director at his school invited students to “buzz” through a mouthpiece of a trumpet. Bellot succeeded.

“After that, I got a passion for playing a brass instrument,” he said. “I played that up till the ninth or 10th grade, when I was switched to baritone. I also learned trombone in jazz band in my 11th grade year. I just stuck to it after that.”

Bellot honed his skills by watching brass performances on YouTube and television.

“I saw the trumpet [and other] brass, like tuba, trombone,” he recalled. “That’s really what got me hooked, I guess basically seeing it all the time.”

The senior is marching in the footsteps of his brother Daniel Watt, who was head drum major at AAMU during the 2014–2015 marching season.

Bellot had been content to just be in the band during the 2021 season, as he was the trombone section leader. That was the season his Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., line brother became a drum major, which whet his appetite to assume the title.

“That led me to wanting to do it,” Bellot said. “I was basically like, the one to step up to continue it on because nobody else [in his graduating class] wanted to. I felt like I was capable of being a great leader for the band.”

He added, “I just love my university. I love the band. I feel like I wouldn’t mind risking it all, me being off my horn, for the best of the band.”

AAMU often has multiple drum majors, and this season is no exception with five. Bellot is joined by juniors Za’Coreya Howard, Jamari Thomas, and Alexander Betts, and sophomore Ja’Michael Bridget.

Leadership

Band director Wright said the criteria to be head drum major goes well beyond an ability to dance.

“All of the student commands come through the drum majors,” Wright said. “They are in the top leadership position as far as students are concerned. They carry out the orders of the director or assistant directors and make sure all the section leaders are accountable for what they are doing.”

Drum majors also play a role in determining what the fans see. They provide input to the band director.

“When we create a field show or drill, being creative combined with showmanship makes something look good and presentable to the audience and adds to what the band is doing, as well.”

Beyond his college career, Bellot wants to be a band director, but he’s not particular about the level of band he directs.

“Wherever God blesses me to be,” he said. “If I can get experience at any field, I’ll be happy with it.”

The AAMU head drum major said he wants to be a teacher, so he can change lives. “I relocated to Atlanta, [Georgia], due to [Hurricane Irma], which shut down our [St. Thomas] school system in 2017,” Bellot said. “I feel like if I could [overcome the hurricane and become part of a collegiate band], I could help somebody else to do the same. I love people. I love food. I love music. I love God because He made [the good favor that’s befallen me] happen for me.”

Typical Day

Bellot generally rises before 9 a.m., to “get my mind right,” he said, by listening to motivational speeches and praying before classes.

“Basically, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I have a 10 a.m. [class],” he said. “Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have a 9:30 [a.m. class], so I get up around 8. I have no classes at [noon], so that’s when I eat my lunch.”

After lunch, Bellot prepares for either his 2 p.m. classes or band practice.

“I take time to do my studies or make sure I’m good with all my homework before I go to practice,” he said. “I have some work study, as well. I go help out with the [band] directors to see if there’s anything I can help with. After that, I basically have my 2 o’clock, which is either piano or my trombone lessons.

“I try my best to keep [my schedule] under control,” Bellot said. “I’m in the last stretch. I’m trying to graduate.”

The 82nd Magic City Classic between Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University and Alabama State University will take place on Saturday, October 28, at Birmingham’s Legion Field. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. Central Time.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

The post AAMU Head Drum Major Jeremy Bellot: ‘To Be On That Stage is Something Big’ first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

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May 3, 2026

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The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

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May 3, 2026

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Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

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May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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