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Gerald Knight: Versatile DJ Will Put His Spin on TWG 2022 at Legion Field

BIRMINGHAM TIMES — TWG 2022, which will draw elite athletes from more than 100 countries around the globe, will take place from July 7 through July 17, 2022, at various venues across the Birmingham metro area—including Protective Stadium, Legion Field, the Birmingham CrossPlex, and the Hoover Metropolitan Complex—and is expected to have an estimated $256 million in economic impact.
The post Gerald Knight: Versatile DJ Will Put His Spin on TWG 2022 at Legion Field first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
The post Gerald Knight: Versatile DJ Will Put His Spin on TWG 2022 at Legion Field appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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4 years ago

July 6, 2022

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By Nicole S. Daniel | The Birmingham Times

The World Games 2022 (TWG 2022) kick off in Birmingham next week, and not only is the city prepared but one of the area’s premier DJs for the event—Gerald Knight, aka DJ New Era—is prepared, as well.

Knight announced in late May on social media that he was selected to be one of the DJs at Legion Field, site of the flag football competition. His daily responsibilities will include hyping the crowd, playing music during warmups and when a team scores, making sure the music matches the vibe, and most importantly keeping everyone entertained.

TWG 2022, which will draw elite athletes from more than 100 countries around the globe, will take place from July 7 through July 17, 2022, at various venues across the Birmingham metro area—including Protective Stadium, Legion Field, the Birmingham CrossPlex, and the Hoover Metropolitan Complex—and is expected to have an estimated $256 million in economic impact.

Supportive Home

Knight, 35, who also DJs basketball and softball games at the University of Alabama (UA), grew up in a very strict two-parent household with two brothers—one older, Eugene, and one younger, Randall—in Fairfield, Alabama. There were no video games on school nights, and the boys had to be in bed by 8:30 p.m.

Knight describes his parents as very supportive and notes that they play a major role in his life. Both his mother and father are members of historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs) that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council, collectively referred to as “The Divine Nine”: his father is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, and his mother is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

When Knight decided that he wanted to become a DJ, he turned to his parents for financial support to buy equipment.

“My parents would help me get bookings for Greek events, and they would support me by showing up and cheering me on,” said Knight, adding that his father, who worked at the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center, would often recommend his son for corporate events.

Growing up, Knight loved shoes and clothes. Because he had expensive taste and wanted to buy certain name brands, he had to find a way to make money while at Fairfield High Preparatory School and when he went to college at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).

“I wanted to become a DJ when I saw how much money I could make,” he said.

At the age of 21, he sharpened his DJ skills after his parents invested in turntables for him. He also watched videos on YouTube, where he learned the basics of mixing. Eventually, he had the opportunity to shadow a few DJs and learned how to hook up speakers and better work his turntables.

Word of Mouth

Becoming a DJ enabled Knight to both express himself through fashion and earn money. While in college, a lot of his income came from selling CDs and mixtapes to students, as well as through his bookings, most of which came from word of mouth. Although he was a student at UAH, he was also popular on the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU) campus.

“I was always [at AAMU] passing out business cards and selling mixtapes,” said the DJ, who notes that his preferred type of music is old-school R&B and lists Anita Baker, Brian McKnight, Joe, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, and the Isley Brothers as some of his favorites.

Knight also earned his moniker, DJ New Era, during his college years. He was known for wearing headgear by the New Era Cap Company, headquartered in Buffalo, New York, that has been the exclusive baseball cap supplier for Major League Baseball since 1934. According to Knight, his name stands for new beginnings. When a person hears his name, he said, he wants them to think of him being cool, sexy, talented, humble, self-made, and God-fearing.

“With age comes growth, and you have to grow with your age,” said Knight. “Change is good, and it’s needed when you want to grow.”

Knight graduated from UAH in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in management information systems. He chose the major because it was in the business field, and he knew he wanted to do something that involved computers and marketing. “I use that degree when it comes to marketing and branding myself,” he said.

After graduation, Knight went on to build a name for himself with appearances in Alabama, New York, Georgia, and Texas, as well as in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Miami, Florida—all of which attracted the attention of large corporations, such as Victoria’s Secret, Macy’s, DSW, and Abercrombie and Fitch.

Knight currently co-hosts the “Alabama in the Morning” show with female host Amber “Alabama” Cole on 103.7 The Q (WQEN-FM); the program airs Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Knight delivers an open format style of mixing, successfully blending different genres of music, including hip-hop, rock, reggae, house music, and more.

“God Is Good”

Like many in the Birmingham metro area, Knight is looking forward TWG 2022. “When I received the email, I was excited because [it] read, ‘The World Games.’ It took me an hour to reply back [because] I didn’t want to seem too eager,” Knight laughed.

He was recommended for TWG 2022 by faculty and staff at UA, where he is contracted to DJ for basketball and softball games. Reminiscing, he remembers that his favorite UA gig was DJing a Welcome Week event for freshmen, which led to a contract with the school’s athletic department specifically to serve as DJ for the basketball and softball teams.

“Networking is key in my book for success. God is good and right on time,” he said.

When TWG 2022 event coordinators reached out to UA for DJ recommendations, they recommended Knight. Asked if this will be a challenge, Knight said, “Not at all. I’m very versatile.”

“UA has made me become comfortable due to the diversity the school has, and my music catalog is enormous,” he said.

You can listen to DJ New Era on the “Alabama in the Morning” show, which airs Monday through Friday, from 6 a.am to 10 a.m., on 103.7 The Q (WQEN-FM).

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

The post Gerald Knight: Versatile DJ Will Put His Spin on TWG 2022 at Legion Field first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

The post Gerald Knight: Versatile DJ Will Put His Spin on TWG 2022 at Legion Field appeared first 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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