Nearly 700,000 people live in Washington. We work, raise our children, serve in the armed forces, and pay federal taxes at a higher rate per person than residents of any state. Not one of us can cast a vote that counts in Congress. How did the capital of a self-governing nation come to deny self-government to the people who live in it? The answer runs through the city's history. When Black Washingtonians gained political power in 1867, Congress abolished the city's elected government and handed control to three presidential appointees. Direct federal rule lasted a century.

YG's run-in with law enforcement isn't pumping the brakes on his highly anticipated VERZUZ battle with The Game. Sources close to VERZUZ tell TMZ Thursday night's event will continue as planned. YG is set to face fellow Compton rapper The Game in their Compton Forever VERZUZ battle, scheduled to kick off at 6:30 PM PT. The confirmation comes after YG was detained during a SWAT response at a property connected to him in Burbank early Thursday morning.

Taylor Frankie Paul is returning to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for Season 5 following months of legal battles and wild allegations. The influencer is scheduled to film the Hulu show's intro over two days, though she will not join the rest of the cast for regular filming.

It may only be mid-summer, but HBCU homecoming chatter is already taking over the timeline! On July 17, North Carolina A&T officially launched its 100-day countdown to the legendary "Greatest Homecoming on Earth," when a record-breaking 200,000 visitors are expected to flood Greensboro for the university's historic centennial celebration, setting the stage for one of the biggest Black cultural events of the year. From NC A&T's landmark 100th anniversary celebration to massive citywide takeovers at Howard University and Jackson State, HBCU homecomings continue to generate multi-million-dollar footprints, evolving into major corporate marketplaces year after year.

Soulja Boy is asking for a DNA test after his ex, Jackilyn Martinez, filed a lawsuit against him seeking support. According to court docs, Soulja isn't confident he is the father of 3-year-old KeAndre Cortez Way. The rapper also checked the boxes indicating he would split the costs of the pregnancy and the legal battle if it turns out he is the dad.