Anonymous Donor Picks up Tab for Graduates of Texas HBCU

Photo courtesy of Wiley College

While current and former college students across the nation await word from President Biden's administration on what, if any, student loan relief will be provided by the government under the man who at the very least promised to forgive $10,000 per borrower while on the campaign trail — an anonymous donor eliminated the concern for a group of recent Texas graduates over the weekend.

During Wiley College's commencement ceremony Saturday, the school's president and CEO, Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr., announced that the graduates remaining balances owed to the historically Black school in East Texas had been cleared.

Congratulations 2022 Graduates, YOU ARE DEBT FREE!
Go Forth Inspired, glorious deeds to do. 🥹🙌🏾#wileygrad22 #wileycollege #hbcu #hbcugrad #hbcupride #goforthinspired pic.twitter.com/a0zHUDTFc4

— Wiley College (@WileyCollege) May 7, 2022

"You are debt-free. You do not owe the college a penny." Felton Jr. said as the crowd of over 100 students and their families cheered his proclamation.

He continued, "If you have a balance, you had a balance," Felton Jr. said. "You no longer have a balance."

According to a press release from the HBCU, the financial head-start for its grads was made possible by an anonymous donor. It cleared an estimated $300,000 worth of debt owed to the school, whose costs to attend are around $17,500 (tuition, fees, and room and board), by the class of 2022.

"The anonymous gift sets graduates on a continued path to success and allows Wiley College to strengthen its commitment to providing an affordable exceptional education," Felton Jr. said in the release.

He added, "Our commitment to our students goes beyond their time while they are enrolled. We are constantly communicating with donors to assist students in these ways so that they can begin their after-college experience with less debt. We are grateful for this anonymous donor who will assist the students in paying off their balances to Wiley College and help us achieve institutional goals of graduating our students with little to no debt."

R&B Singer, Jewell, Dead at 54

Jewell Caples, the R&B vocalist who earned the title "The First Lady of Death Row Records" for her work on some of the iconic rap label's biggest hits, is reportedly dead at 54.

Former labelmate Daz Dillinger broke the news on Instagram.

"IM SAD THIS REALLY HURT BUT JEWELLZ PASSED THIS MORNING," wrote the rapper alongside a picture of the singer.

He added, "WOW DEATHROW FOR LIFE. WE GONE MISS HER."

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A post shared by Dazzel Dillinger (@dazdillinger)

Caples, who went by Jewell professionally, joined the label in 1992 and in subsequent years appeared on multiple platinum albums released by its roster of rap giants, including Dr. Dre's "The Chronic", Snoop Dogg's "Doggystyle," and Tupac's "All Eyez On Me."

She also found some success as a solo artist. Her cover of the Shirley Brown classic "Woman to Woman" reached No. 16 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs list in 1994.

In 2011, her self-published memoir, "My Blood My Sweat My Tears," caused controversy for encouraging rumors about Dr. Dre's sexuality — with many taking the author to be accusing the producer of being gay and her thoughts on who really murdered Tupac.

RIP Jewell ❤🕊

Her voice shined on hella classic records, including:

Let Me Ride
Who Am I? (What's My Name)
Dre Day
Foe tha Love of $
The Dream Team Is in the House
Thug Passion
Bitches Ain't Shit
I'd Rather F You pic.twitter.com/CEPkpUHUhq

— Ruben || Check the Rhyme (@checktherhyme1_) May 6, 2022

"Is he [gay]? [Laughs] Do we know for sure? Hmmm. I mean, there have been talks about back in the day with the tight, glitter pants, when he was wearing eyeliner and stuff like that," she told HipHopDX in a 2011 interview about the book. "I’m just [telling] some experiences that I went through when I was on Death Row that I’ve seen with my own eyes. So, that’s all I’ma say about it. It’s in the book. Get it. Read it. Understand it. Absorb it."

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Lionel Richie Join Packed and Diverse 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the dynamic duo whose songwriting and production skills are the driving force behind some of pop and R&B music's greatest hits over the last 30 years, are headed to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

"We are overjoyed to announce that we have been elected to The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2022," the duo's official Twitter account posted following the announcement Wednesday. "Thank you so much to the voters, everyone at @rockhall and of course the fans, without whom none of this would be possible."

Originally members of Prince's opening act, The Time, they were fired for missing a gig in 1983 because they were busy producing for other acts. Nearly four decades, 16 No. 1 pop hits and 26 R&B chart-toppers later, they're joining their former mentor in rock ’n’ roll's Valhalla.

We are overjoyed to announce that we have been elected to The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Thank you so much to the voters, everyone at @rockhall and of course the fans, without whom none of this would be possible. #RockHall2022 #MusicIsTheDivineArt #FlyteTyme40 pic.twitter.com/eIMPVjJv8X

— Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (@JamAndLewis) May 4, 2022

"I was shocked, quite honestly," Jam said, reacting to the group's selection to the "musical excellence" category by Hall of Fame officials, to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "As far as career recognition, it's as big as it gets to me. It's huge to me. People that are members of that club, so many of them are people I admire and love."

The hitmakers, who worked with everyone from Michael and Janet Jackson to Human League, will be joined by a lineup of equally impressive musicians, and rock notables in the class. R&B legend Lionel Richie and Harry Belafonte, who helped incorporate calypso and West Indian music into the mainstream in the 1950s, are also among the 14 acts to be inducted.

Other notables joining the hall this year include Eminem, Dolly Parton, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Carly Simon and Judas Priest. The induction ceremony will be held Nov. 5 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. For a complete list of inductees click here.