The British-based podcast ShxtsNGigs, hosted by James Duncan and Fuhad Dawodu, has come under fire for controversial remarks made during their American tour, particularly in Atlanta. While appearing on the Pour Minds podcast, the two hosts claimed there were “no baddies” in Atlanta, a comment that many found both disrespectful and absurd. Atlanta, often seen as a Black cultural epicenter, has long been home to the very aesthetic they dismissed. The remark was not only tone-deaf but stung even more as it was made on a podcast hosted by two Black women from Atlanta, further underscoring the disconnect.

The controversy deepened when another clip surfaced, showing Duncan and Dawodu sitting passively as Andrew Schulz, a comedian notorious for inflammatory comments, described Black women as “abusive” and “exhaustive.” Rather than challenge Schulz, the hosts laughed along, signaling a tacit endorsement of his remarks. For many, their silence and complicity in that moment were more damaging than their earlier misstep in Atlanta. Schulz’s comments fed into long-standing racist and misogynistic stereotypes, and Duncan and Dawodu’s failure to defend Black women sparked outrage.

This backlash has been particularly significant because ShxtsNGigs had garnered a following among Black women who felt the podcast was a rare space of humor and cultural reflection where they were not the target of disparagement. The hosts’ Atlanta comments, combined with their inaction during Schulz’s tirade, have led many to question the safety and inclusivity of a podcast they once trusted. In a city celebrated for its strong influence on Black culture, particularly the “baddie” aesthetic rooted in AAVE, such dismissive remarks struck a deeply personal chord for many listeners.

What could have been shrugged off as ill-considered humor has instead revealed deeper fissures in how Black women are treated in media spaces. The hosts’ behavior has brought to light the ongoing issue of misogynoir, where Black women are often dismissed or disrespected in spaces they helped cultivate. For ShxtsNGigs, this controversy could mark a turning point, as listeners increasingly demand accountability and respect from the media figures they support.

Two people were critically injured in Atlanta after an argument turned into a shootout inside a wings restaurant on June 5.

According to Fox 5 Atlanta, the shooting took place in an Atlanta’s Best Wings restaurant, which is connected to a BP gas station at around 2 a.m. A surveillance video obtained by the media outlet shows what looks like two customers arguing before one of the men pulls out a weapon and starts shooting. The footage reveals the second man leaves the restaurant but returns twice.

The initial encounter shows him getting into a fight with another man before wounding him, leaving him on the ground. The man who was shot is seen dragging himself out of the camera’s view. When the gunman returns, the footage shows him running up to the counter and grabbing something; as he leaves, he is shot.

Employees at the restaurant, according to WSB-TV, said the men got into an argument over a comment about a dollar bill dropping to the floor. After one of the men went back outside, he returned to Atlanta’s Best Wings to demand that an employee return a $5 tip he had just given. The two men continued to argue at each other. Then, at least 10 shots were fired. Although there were other people in the restaurant, no one else was hurt.

Source: 2 Men Shoot Each Other Following Dispute At Atlanta Wings Restaurant

Mariam Creighton, 21, a sophomore volleyball player at Albany State University, died May 12 during a shootout in an Atlanta nightclub.

Creighton, from Stockbridge, Georgia, and Nakyris M. Ridley, 20, during the 2:30 a.m. shooting at Elleven45 Lounge. Four others were injured after police said that an unidentified gunman started shooting during a fight inside the club.

“Mari was just an all-around great young lady that will truly be missed,” her coach at Stockbridge High School, John Holladay, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Creighton’s death has shocked the Albany State community. A transfer from fellow HBCU Benedict College, she had 5 digs and one assist during the 7 matches she played for Albany State in 2023.

“We at Elleven 45 are profoundly affected by the recent tragic events,” the club said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to all those impacted, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the individuals and families who have suffered loss and injury. The safety and well-being of our patrons and staff have always been our paramount concern. To ensure a thorough investigation in cooperation with local law enforcement, we will be closing our doors today.”

Source: 21-Year-Old HBCU Athlete Fatally Shot At Atlanta Nightclub

The family of 19-year-old Noni Battiste-Kosoko is demanding answers from officials after being found dead in an Atlanta jail on July 11.

“My child was arrested for a misdemeanor and died in jail. And we want answers!” the teen’s mother, Shashu Battiste, told 11 Alive.

According to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, Battiste-Kosoko was found “in her cell by herself with no obvious signs of injury” during dinner time. The teen was held in the Atlanta City Detention Center since May following an arrest for a misdemeanor bench warrant without bond.

Speaking to Fox 5 Atlanta, the teen’s family said she was diagnosed with a mental illness. The heartbroken family also vowed to uncover “all the facts surrounding this shocking and unfortunate occurrence.”

“If it is discovered that Noni’s death is the fault of those who were responsible for her care, they will be held accountable,” loved ones stated. 

Another person at the jail spoke to Fox 5 anonymously, saying staff neglected the woman’s needs.
“The second she stepped into any jail, somebody should’ve been like, ‘She’s not supposed to be here,’” the cellmate told Fox 5. “It was clear she just needed somebody.”

The Department of Justice has been investigating the Fulton County Jail, which faces allegations of discriminating against people with mental health issues and failing to provide adequate medical care at the facility. Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s civil rights division, addressed the allegations during a press conference, ABC News reported.

“Our investigation into these matters is guided by one core principle: People held in jails and prisons do not surrender their constitutional and civil rights at the jailhouse door,” Clarke told reporters.

Source: Atlanta Teen’s Family Demands Answers After She Was Found Dead In Jail After Being Arrested On A Misdemeanor Bench Warrant

*Michael Gidewon, the co-owner of a popular Atlanta lounge, was fatally shot at his nightclub early Saturday morning.

A security guard at the scene said a patron had been kicked out for being too intoxicated but later returned with a gun and shot and killed Gidewon, 11Alive reports.

The victim co-owned the popular Republic Lounge with his brother, Alex Gidewon, and both were involved with AG Entertainment. Gidewon was known for hosting and befriending artists such as T.I., Young Jeezy, Usher, Nelly, Jermaine Dupri, Lil Baby, and Ludacris, Fox 5 reports.

Watch the video report above about his killing.

Celebrity stylist Jeremy Haynes posted his condolences on Instagram: “My brother, My friend, My role model. God please watch over my family as we morn the loss of an amazing father, brother, friend & most importantly husband,” he wrote.

As Yahoo reports, Simon Guobadia, husband to “Real Housewives” star Porsha Williams, also reacted to news of Gidewon’s death on social media, writing in part: “Shocking on the news of your passing is an understatement. As a family man, your loss touches me to my core.”

Source: Co-owner of Atlanta’s Republic Lounge Fatally Shot at His Nightclub | Video

*ATLANTA (WGCL) — Right now, it looks like an old, abandoned brickyard, but the old Chattahoochee Brick Company site holds a history mired in blood, sweat, and tears.

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“This is the location of the Chattahoochee Brick Company. It was owned by one of the former mayors of Atlanta,” said Kwame-Osheyefo Kalimara, an attendee at the ceremony Saturday.

The company used the convict leasing system, forcing African-Americans to work in horrible conditions, with no regard for their health.

“It filled a lot of pockets of the corporations that also did business with the mayor. Some of the people who were leased here were actually buried here,” said Kalimara.

Source: City of Atlanta Buys Old Brick Company Site Where Black Convicts Worked for Free and Died | WATCH

But few have been taught about the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre, which shaped the city’s geography, economy, society and power structure in lasting ways.

Much like the Red Summer of 1919 in the South and Northeast and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 in Oklahoma would years later, the white-on-Black violence in Atlanta shattered dreams of racial harmony and forced thousands from their homes.

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A grass-roots coalition is working to restore Atlanta’s killings and their legacy to public memory. Historic markers and tours are planned for this September’s anniversary. A one-act play will be performed simultaneously at group dinners across the city. Organizers are seeking 500 hosts, with the ambitious goal of seating 5,000 people to discuss the lasting effects.

These activists say the massacre doesn’t fit comfortably in Atlanta’s “cradle of the civil rights movement” narrative, but they insist on truth-telling as some politicians push to ignore the nation’s history of racial violence.

Mislabeled a riot, the killings of at least 25 Black people and the destruction of Black-owned businesses had a specific purpose: thwarting their economic success and voting power before African Americans could claim equal status, said King Williams, a journalist who gives tours describing what happened.

“The mob began its work early in the evening, pulling negroes from street cars and beating them with clubs, bricks and stones,” the Associated Press reported on Sept. 24, 1906, adding that “negroes were beaten, cut and stamped upon in an unreasoning, mad frenzy. If a negro ventured resistance or remonstrated, it meant practically sure death.”

Source: Atlanta’s Image As Black Mecca Challenged by Facts of Infamous 1906 Race Massacre | VIDEOs

Source: Courtesy of Target / Courtesy of Target

Last night, our insta-auntie, Tabitha Brown, did a thing in Atlanta, Georgia. Tabitha and retail giant Target brought the first installment of their four-part collaboration to the runway. While the event was about showcasing the fashions from the limited-time-only line, it also offered an experience that complimented the brilliance of the more than 75 colorful items.

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The Tabitha For Target Fashion Show was held at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. The venue featured beautiful luxe tropical decor that allowed many Instagram-able opportunities. Guest had the pleasure of an open bar with signature cocktails and delicious hors-d’oeuvres while the house DJ moved the crowd.

The event was hosted by journalist/host Danielle Young and comedian Kev On Stage. The two hosts sat with Brown following the fashion show to discuss the partnership. The designer said she was “given full creative freedom” to execute her vision. In true Tabitha Brown fashion, she dropped some fantastic gems. “It’s always waiting for us to get to it,” Brown said about our dreams as she reflected on her journey to this point. The vegan influencer also shared that she aspired to have a clothing line even after dropping out of fashion school but never imagined it would be with Target.

Tabitha Brown For Target Prioritizes Inclusivity

Source: Courtesy of Target / Courtesy of Target

Source: Courtesy of Target / Courtesy of Target

Brown wanted to ensure that this collection was one that everyone could enjoy, and as each model walked the rainbow runway, that intention was apparent. The models represented many communities of women; plus-size, straight size, tall, short, mature, and young. Speaking of a young model, Brown’s daughter Choyce Brown opened and closed the runway showcase with grace and proficiency as if she had been ripping the runway for years. Brown shared that “seeing her baby girl walk” in the show was definitely a highlight. She shared that her mother, who is now deceased, told her that she would have fun playing dress-up with her daughter. She went on to say, “today, we got to play dress up in the clothes I designed.”

Source: Tabitha Brown Showcased Fashions From Her Target Collaboration On An Atlanta Runway

Source: Mike James, Brian Stukes, Patricia McDougal and Earl Gibson / Urban One Inc.

On Saturday (October 2), WOL News Talk 1450 in Washington D.C. celebrated its 41st anniversary – a moment which showcased the perseverance and tenacity of its founder, Urban One maven Cathy Hughes.

The radio station, which serves the D.C. area with today’s news, politics and community events, was the first station in the Urban One family. Currently, the company has stations that stretch from D.C. to Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Raleigh and Richmond.

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In a post on her official Facebook account Monday (October 4), Hughes wrote, “Thank you GOD for 42 years of blessings and we pray for 42 more. This was then and this is now! Happy anniversary WOL News Talk 1450!”

Founded on October 2, 1980, Urban One was the brainchild of Hughes by taking the power of radio and focusing it squarely on the Black community in heavily Black populated cities across the country. Soon the reach of Urban One would expand into a television network (TVOne) and land a partnership with Reach Media bringing talent such as Rickey Smiley and others to even more airwaves nationwide.

Considered by many to be the largest distributor of urban content in the country, Urban One has found a footprint in Black America, from radio to television and more, providing programming geared to listening to and amplifying the voices of the people. In 2019,  the company launched Urban One Honors, a celebration of Black excellence, history makers, change creators and more with honorees including Jamie Foxx, Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliott and more.