Chuck D Accepts Reverb Award at Stax in Tribute to Music’s Power and Purpose

Chuck D receives the inaugural Reverb Award from the Soulsville Foundation at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis on Friday. At left is songwriter David Porter. (Photo: Claire James)

Rap pioneer Chuck D received the first-ever "Reverb Award" from the Soulsville Foundation during a powerful ceremony at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music on Friday — a moment that bridged generations of Black musical resistance, from protest soul to politically conscious rap.

The honor, part of the Foundation’s new Power of Music Honors series, celebrates artists who wield music as a tool for activism, education and real-world change. And few embody that ethos more than Chuck D, the commanding voice behind Public Enemy, whose “Fight the Power” remains a battle cry more than three decades after it was released.

“I grew up on my mom’s Stax records and to this day am still in total and complete awe of the talent, the genius, and the legacy that came out of the soul of Memphis,” Chuck D said at the ceremony. “I am humbled beyond any words to receive this honor and I share it with everyone who came before me, stands alongside me now, and will follow us all in the future.”

Presented by songwriter and soul icon David Porter — co-author of “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’” — the award recognized Chuck D not just for his music, but for his decades-long role as a cultural commentator, activist and music historian.

“Chuck D has utilized his platform to transcend the sequestered space of musicians as entertainment,” said Soulsville Foundation CEO Pat Mitchell Worley. “His activism and role as a music historian have fueled the knowledge and self-determination of a generation and exemplify the Power of Music Honors.”

The setting made the moment even more profound. Stax Records was never just a hit machine — it was a community anchor that created jobs, mentored local talent, and nurtured revolutionary Black artistry. During the 1960s and ’70s, it launched the careers of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the M.G.’s and The Staple Singers, and helped define the sound of Southern soul and the pulse of Black America.

That legacy continues through the Soulsville Foundation and the Stax Music Academy, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. At the ceremony, soul singer Talibah Safiya and current Academy students delivered stirring renditions of “Respect Yourself” and Johnnie Taylor’s “I Am Somebody,” affirming the next generation’s connection to the music’s mission.

The Power of Music Honors will be presented annually to individuals and organizations who use music to open doors, build community, and spark cultural movements. The Reverb Award — named for the echo of impact — is the highest distinction, and Chuck D’s selection as its first recipient reflects a full-circle moment: the rebel spirit of soul finding its mirror in the fire of hip-hop.

The award also shines a spotlight on Soulsville’s ongoing work, including Music Employs, an initiative that connects young artists with training, mentors, and real-world pathways into creative industries. It’s all part of a broader mission to ensure that the power of Memphis music isn’t just remembered — it’s reimagined for the future.

Floyd Mayweather Sues Business Insider for $100M Over Real Estate Story

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is stepping back into the ring — this time, the courtroom. The undefeated boxing legend filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit Wednesday against Business Insider, its parent company Insider Inc., and journalist Daniel Geiger, accusing them of knowingly publishing false claims about his real estate dealings in a story he says was laced with racial bias and malicious intent.

Filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the suit claims that Business Insider ignored direct documentary evidence, dismissed multiple offers to view verified records, and proceeded to publish a story headlined: "Floyd Mayweather Jr. bragged about a $400 million property deal. There's just one problem."

Mayweather's legal team says there was no problem. In the complaint, they assert that the article misrepresented his business acumen, omitted key facts, and relied on anonymous sources to cast doubt on his ownership claims. The lawsuit also accuses Geiger of an aggressive pattern of harassment — including hundreds of phone calls to Mayweather’s friends, family, and associates, many placed late at night — and alleges he made racially charged comments suggesting the boxer was unqualified to own such properties.

"Floyd Mayweather earned his legacy through discipline and hard work, both in and out of the ring," said attorney Bobby Samini of Samini Block APC. "This lawsuit isn't just about setting the record straight — it's about holding the press accountable when they cross the line from journalism into calculated character assassination."

The complaint seeks $100 million in damages, a public retraction, and injunctive relief, citing defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and prima facie tort. The full complaint can be viewed here.

USC Awards Presidential Medallion to Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine for Innovation in Education

Jimmy Iovine, left, and Andre “Dr. Dre” Young, right, celebrate with a graduate of the USC Iovine and Young Academy during commencement ceremonies in Los Angeles. (Photo: USC Iovine and Young Academy)

Andre “Dr. Dre” Young and fellow music industry titan Jimmy Iovine were awarded the University of Southern California’s highest honor — the Presidential Medallion — during this month’s Academic Honors Convocation, recognizing a decade of educational innovation and cultural impact through the USC Iovine and Young Academy.

The two co-founders, whose names now anchor USC’s 21st school, joined USC Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni and philanthropists Leslie and William McMorrow as the latest recipients of the medallion, which is given to individuals who bring "significant honor and distinction" to the university.

 

The announcement was made by USC President Carol Folt during April’s Academic Honors Convocation. “They’ve brought immeasurable value and innovation to the learning experience for our students,” she said. “It would be a privilege to honor everything they’ve done to usher in a new era of education.”

For Dre and Iovine, the moment represents a full-circle evolution from shaping the sound of a generation to reshaping the future of learning. In 2013, the duo donated $70 million to create the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy, an interdisciplinary program blending design, technology and business. The Academy has since expanded with affiliated high schools in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

“Education was siloed,” Iovine said during the ceremony. “So we said, ‘What if we create a school where people collaborate and learn to innovate together?’”

Dr. Dre, the Compton-raised hip-hop pioneer and co-founder of N.W.A., first teamed with Iovine while launching his landmark solo debut "The Chronic" under Iovine’s Interscope Records. That partnership later grew into Beats Electronics and Beats Music, companies that helped redefine consumer audio and streaming before being acquired by Apple in 2014.

Dr. Dre’s production resume includes shaping the careers of Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak. He also co-produced HBO’s Emmy-nominated docuseries "The Defiant Ones."

Meanwhile, Iovine’s legacy spans decades in music and media — from engineering records for John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen to executive producing some of hip-hop’s biggest crossovers. “I think we created something really special,” Iovine told the audience. “And thank you, Dr. Dre — you’re the greatest partner and friend that ever lived.”