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BuddieRoe Headlines the NCAA Men’s Final Four Halftime Show with Bun B and TSU’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band

ABOVE: BuddieRoe and Bun B perform at the NCAA Men’s Final Four Halftime Show All Photos by Quincy Green (Q Green Photography) The walls of NRG Stadium bristled with energy as the baritone sound of a marching band horn section reverberated through the cavernous hall.  The sound battled against the roar of the almost 75,000 […]
The post BuddieRoe Headlines the NCAA Men’s Final Four Halftime Show with Bun B and TSU’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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ABOVE: BuddieRoe and Bun B perform at the NCAA Men’s Final Four Halftime Show

All Photos by Quincy Green (Q Green Photography)

The walls of NRG Stadium bristled with energy as the baritone sound of a marching band horn section reverberated through the cavernous hall.  The sound battled against the roar of the almost 75,000 fans that had descended on the building where Kirby meets the 610 freeway for the NCAA Division Men’s Final Four Tournament. The MC standing center court, donning a white basketball jersey surrounded by the TSU Ocean of Soul drumline, stepped back as the percussionists rocked back and forth, driving the crowd’s energy with each pound of their drums. Pushing the hair out of his face, the rapper directed his attention to the other MC standing alongside him at center court.  As the music and the roar of the crowd combined into a wall of sound, BuddieRoe and Bun B continued to trade bars in the middle of the NRG Stadium.

Three years ago, BuddieRoe was using his lyrical skills to secure a win in the H-Town rap battle, a win which helped to continue to solidify his place in the Bayou City rap scene and catch the eye of Bernard Freeman, better known as Bun B. Now he has released a new album and has made recent appearances on NBC’s TODAY Show and at NCAA Men’s Final Four’s halftime show as the headliner, alongside Bun B, at NRG Stadium. Backed by Texas Southern University’s Ocean of Soul marching band, the halftime show was produced by EdENT (Educational Entertainment). EdENT is also the parent company to the wildly popular literacy initiative Reading With A Rapper, which served as the official partner for the NCAA’s Read to the Final Four program during its time in Houston.

BuddieRoe poses with TSU Motion of the Ocean dancers

BuddieRoe is the very first artist to sign to EdENT, an entertainment label with a mission to “Educate, Entertain and Evolve.” His latest offering, Lost & Found, is a collection of work that the Mo City MC crafted to appeal to fans of any age.

“I called the album Lost & Found because regardless of if you’re 15, 25, 35, or 55 there are always elements of yourself that you’re trying to find,” describes Buddie.  “I just want to tell people that the person you see in the mirror right now doesn’t have to be the person you see tomorrow.  I’m just trying to say what I wish someone had said to younger me.”

BuddieRoe has spent his career developing his sound and building his reputation for being a wordsmith in Houston cyphers.  He’s worked with artists like Slim Thug, Lil Keke and Doughbeezy and released a string of albums including SunRise Over Briargate, 5 Days, and West Fuqua Kids: An Emotion Picture.  And while he has been able to do this independently, an opportunity came a little over a year ago from an unlikely source: an educational company called EdENT.

“I didn’t have any expectations when I first started working with them,” says Buddie as he recalls the early days when EdENT was simply Reading with a Rapper, a program using musicians to help increase student involvement with literature.  “I saw their Instagram page and liked what they were doing.  They just had good intentions.  They wanted to help kids.  I didn’t know it was going to turn into this.  I didn’t know everything we were going to do.  I just thought we were teaching kids how to read through rap.”

Bun B performs at the NCAA Men’s Final Four Halftime Show

Reading With A Rapper, the brainchild of Jarren Small and Douglas Johnson, began as a program to teach students how to read using music and morphed into a full-fledged educational/entertainment company.  BuddieRoe is the first artist to release an album under the new EdENT imprint, giving Buddie the opportunity to teach a new generation of students through his music, while also monetizing his art by licensing it for curriculum usage.

“When Jarren and Doug approached me about creating an album, they made sure to let me know I wouldn’t have to compromise my art.  They just wanted me to be authentic.  The lyrics are, of course, clean but I was already transitioning in that direction.  I wanted to focus on improving my lyricism and not cussing was already making me do that.  I just wanted to create more in-depth songwriting.”

That in-depth writing produced Lost & Found, a 15-track album where Buddie takes a long look at himself.  The album features singer/songwriter Lenora and legendary UGK MC Bun B who shared the stage with him at the NRG Stadium on Monday night.

BuddieRoe opened the NCAA Men’s Final Four halftime show with “Torch,” his latest single from Lost & Found. Before Buddie and the TSU Ocean of Soul band took the stage, a snippet of the music video for “Torch” played on the jumbotrons. In the music video, which seems eerily kismet, BuddieRoe talks to his fictional teammates (played by his childhood friends) in the locker room and expresses his nervousness for his upcoming performance – the biggest yet. “Just thinking about this performance… I ain’t never performed in front of this many people before. I’m kind of shook if I’m honest,” BuddieRoe admits in the music video.

Buddie’s teammate affirms him by saying, “No reason to be nervous, bro. I’ve seen you put the work in, seen you put the hours in. As long as you prepare like you did with the games, there’s nothing to worry about.” The other teammates chime in, “Yeah, man, you got this. Trust me, you got this.”

BuddieRoe performs at the NCAA Men’s Final Four Halftime Show

As the clip ended, the horns began blaring through the speakers as BuddieRoe and the TSU Ocean of Soul band stormed the stage to perform the energetic single which seemed to be created for a stadium performance. After he set the stage ablaze with “Torch,” the jumbotron displayed a purple sky with clouds as the “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)” instrumental played over the speakers. Images of Bun B and the late Pimp C during their UGK days flashed as Bun B suddenly appeared center stage to a roaring crowd. Bun B and BuddieRoe then went into a bar-for-bar performance of “Induction” and the crowd went wild. The song, which is listed as an interlude on the Lost & Found album is only two and a half minutes long but speaks volumes for the relationship between established and up-and-coming MCs in Houston.

Bun B’s involvement with initiatives like Reading With A Rapper and promising young talent like BuddieRoe speaks volumes of his character and impact. In the midst of a jam-packed year filled with personal and professional successes, Bun still finds time to give his time and energy to greater causes. So much so that the Trill Burger co-owner was also honored with the NCAA Legends & Legacy Celebration award immediately following their halftime performance.

As the game ended and confetti filled the stadium in celebration of UConn’s national championship win, BuddieRoe smiled taking it all in. He remained calm prior to his performance and after. When asked how he could remain so calm with the gravity of the moment, he replied with assuredness, “I’ve performed in front of 5 people and gave it my all. So, it’s the same commitment with 75,000. I’m just grateful. It’s bigger than me.”

The post BuddieRoe Headlines the NCAA Men’s Final Four Halftime Show with Bun B and TSU’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band appeared first on Houston Forward Times.

The post BuddieRoe Headlines the NCAA Men’s Final Four Halftime Show with Bun B and TSU’s Ocean of Soul Marching Band 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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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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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)

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)

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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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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