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Ja Rule became a pioneer in the hip-hop industry years ago when he dropped his first album, Veni, Vetti, Vecci back in 1999. During a time when the new millennium was upon us, music had to change to adjust to the times. Ja Rule came prepared. The album debuted at number 3 on the US Billboard 200 and sold 184,000 copies in its first week. This is all the reason why he plans on celebrating its 25th anniversary."Next year marks the 25th anniversary of Ja Rule and my first album Veni, Vetti, Vecci," he told Hot 97. "On June 1st, I'm going on a world tour for 25 years of Ja Rule and it's gonna be out of this world."While he did not specify details, Ja did spend some time focusing on the status of hip-hop 24 years after he first stepped on the scene. <h2 id="h-ja-rule-s-impact">Ja Rule's Impact</h2>Just at the top of the month, The Game appeared on Apple Music's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRmdjpqpyO4">Bars and Nuggets</a> podcast where he acknowledged the rapper's impact on the industry. “You know, Ja was Drake before Drake," he explained. "You know what I’m saying? He had the radio — he had the hits on the radio." https://twitter.com/SaycheeseDGTL/status/1677022508690595842?s=20Ja says that although he is flattered by the flowers given to him, he believes every artist is their own individual person with their own skin in the industry. "I obviously thank Game for the compliment," he began. "But I think everybody has their moment in time and in hip-hop. My time was my time. Drake's time is his time. Everybody has their thing."With this year being the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Ja Rule knows that there were people before him who influenced his work and that hopefully his work did the same. He says that his influence on the industry was specific to his experience and is grateful he was able to contribute what he could to the next generation. "It could never be another Drake. Drake is Drake. There could never be another Ja Rule. Ja Rule is Ja Rule. We all, in music, are fans of each other's music and I just hope and pray that my catalog and my contribution to hip hop, if it influenced anybody to do anything dope, I'm more than happy about that," the rapper shared.<h2>Keeping A Legacy Going</h2>Ja Rule's love for hip-hop doesn't stop at his ability to influence a generation. He is now giving artists he has grown to respect when he was coming up, the stage to share their stories as well as help them really make a profit from it. One of Ja's newest business ventures, <a href="https://iconn.live/">ICONN Live App,</a> gives creators the ability to profit from their own content. "The original thought of the app was really to help content creators monetize their content," he detailed. "We have all these platforms —Youtube, Instagram, and Twitter —and they own all the content. They take advantage of the content creators in ways that I just didn't think was fair."Therefore, he stepped in to lend a helping hand. The app is a live-streaming entertainment marketplace. There, you can catch one-of-a-kind free live broadcasts and pay-per-view events, including his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vibesconcerts/?hl=en">VIBES concert series.</a>VIBES concerts are live, in-person events with some of hip-hop's greats. They are only streamed on the ICONN Live App. When discussing the series, Ja says he just wanted to give artists a space to tell their stories."I wanted to showcase the legends, man. Some of my heroes that I grew up on. The reason why I rap," he recalled. "But the real basis of VIBES is to be intimate. It's an intimate concert and it's iconic artists doing their classic albums. Telling the stories behind the music."<h2>The Future Of Ja</h2>Along with ICONN Live and the VIBES concert series, Ja is busy with many other business ventures. He recently launched his own exclusive luxury wine, Rose Vine Cellars in partnership with Wines that Rock and Ross Reedy.Additionally, he says that he has invested in a few businesses such as Limewire, Big Crunch and is even a partial owner of a Texas pickleball team. However, he is most excited about his philanthropic work. "I also do a lot of charitable work that doesn't get talked about. I just recently gave money to HBCUs. We did Morgan State, Howard and Spellman. We have a few more that we want to do as well," he shared. Ja Rule concluded by sharing how important it is to tend to the youth of our nation. "Let's keep, creating great athletes and, and great musicians. But also on the flip side of that, let's also give them the business acumen that they need. Even lower grades of schools like high schools and middle schools because our kids need that."

EXCLUSIVE: Ja Rule Reveals New Tour, Addresses The Game, and Talks To The Status of Hip-Hop

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<h4 id="h-morgan-states-band-is-the-first-hbcu-to-participate-in-the-international-memorial">Morgan States' band is the first HBCU to participate in the international memorial.</h4><a href="https://www.hot97.com/educate/morgan-state-students-win-zillows-housing-hackathon-after-developing-an-app">Morgan State University's</a> Marching Band, the Magnificent Marching Machine, will have the distinct honor of performing in the <a href="https://www.ddayparade.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">D-Day 80 Normandy Parade</a> taking place on June 6, 2024, in Normandy, France. Next year marks the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of D-Day: The Battle of Normandy and the Liberation of France. The D-Day Parade will pay homage to WWII Veterans for their service to our nation. The band received the exclusive invitation to participate from the Music Celebrations International. They hope to receive monetary support from donors to help fund their international trip.“It is truly a tremendous honor and opportunity for our student musicians to travel abroad and give a performance of such historical significance. However, this honor comes at a substantial investment and the entire Morgan Community—far and wide—will need to be tapped to help raise the resources needed to underwrite travel and accommodations for our beloved band,” said Tara Turner, interim vice president for Institutional Advancement at Morgan. Turner added, “We are looking to our alumni, donors, the business community for their support and hope that our community can make this experiential performance abroad happen for the students.https://www.instagram.com/p/CtIBD_3JN0X/The D-Day Parade news comes on the heels of the marching band's Juneteenth White House visit. The MSU band took part in the “Battle of the Bands” and squared off against Tennessee State University.Morgan State and Tennessee were among four HBCUs invited to perform; the others were from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia and Fisk University in Nashville.https://www.instagram.com/p/CtzrNiMpy1D/

Morgan State University Marching Band To Perform At D-Day Memorial Parade In France

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When the love of chemistry and love of ice cream combineHBCU Alumna, Kelli Bain is putting her chemistry degree to use for a sweet purpose. As the owner and founder of [N7] Kream Lab, Bain has found a way to stick out amongst the competition by using liquid nitrogen. [N7] Kream Lab is a liquid nitrogen-based ice cream parlor that opened back in 2021 in Ellenwood, GA.<img src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/33ha8wSuwmm0zoOhpaP2RS/7f6da75cba74114e824f45706fcf58b9/Kelli-Bain-N7-Ice-Cream-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-88280"/>According to <a href="https://hbcubuzz.com/2022/10/tuskegee-university-chemist-creates-successful-liquid-nitrogen-ice-cream-business/">HBCUBuzz</a>, Bain's passion for ice cream began in Indianapolis under the tutelage of her grandfather. Her grandfather was a gourmet chef and educator who hosted Sunday dinners that ended in his signature homemade ice cream. Bain, eager to learn how to make the treat, would go to his house on Saturdays because the dessert took 24 hours to freeze. “I would be so excited to see all the things that he put into the pitcher to make the ice cream base, even though it would take so long to freeze,” Bain <a href="https://hbcubuzz.com/2022/10/tuskegee-university-chemist-creates-successful-liquid-nitrogen-ice-cream-business/">shared with HBCUBuzz</a>. “Papaw would say ‘Kelli, this is a family recipe passed down from generations, so we have to make sure we get it right.’ We’d add the liquid to the metal insert, put the top on it, add it to the bucket with the ice, then begin the churning. Papaw would say ‘add the ice slowly around the can, then sprinkle the salt evenly over the top of the ice.’ I would reply ‘why,’ and he would say, ‘because that’s the only way to freeze the ice cream.’”These cherished family moments eventually led Bain to purse a chemistry degree from Tuskegee University in Alabama. She furthered her studies with a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry. After gaining substantial experience as a chemist and instructor, Bain wanted to incorporate her family tradition. “I decided that it was time to pass down the tradition of ice cream making, but I needed to make it interesting and fun,” she said to HBCUBuzz. Thus, [N7] Kream Lab was born. The process of making liquid nitrogen ice cream is quicker and healthier as compared to traditional dairy ice cream. She uses the cryogenic freezing process, where materials can quickly be frozen to less than -285 fahrenheit. “So, equipped with my grandfather’s homemade ice cream recipe, my children and husband as taste testers, a Dewar purchased on eBay and some nitrogen from Mr. Johnson, [N7] Kream Lab was born,” said Bain. “We took a family tradition and made it a family business.”https://www.instagram.com/p/ChVHYb6AWIU/Even while being a chemist and business owner, Bain makes sure to include philanthropy as part of her business goals. [N7] Kream Lab is dedicated to improving the level of STEM education for underrepresented minorities. Thus, she has launched several programs for her younger patrons to take part of such as Reading for Scoops. She also launched the Khem Lab Initiative Project Inc, a not-for-profit dedicated to advancing public engagement in STEM working to address the systemic and structural barriers.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiBA_-5G4Qo&t=29s

Tuskegee University Chemist Creates Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream

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Three Howard University students are embarking on a new educational endeavor.Racheal Ayankunbi, Carl Romer, and Ashleigh Brown-Grier have received Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2022-2023 academic year.The prestigious Fulbright U.S Student Program will allow the students the opportunity to travel to Greece, the U.K., and South Africa to research and represent Howard University.Each year, the U.S. Congress appropriates funds to the U.S. Department of State to sponsor the Fulbright Program. The program provides awards to approximately 8,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals each year from the United States and 160 countries.To date, Howard University has produced more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. “We are pleased to receive this grant for another year, which will provide the opportunity for our students to study all over the world,” said Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, president of Howard University. “Congratulations to this year’s accomplished recipients and graduates. I look forward to seeing the ways our Bison contribute to shaping the communities overseas.”<img src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/7krWrAmpObD0vNYUxZEPhY/2696e78dddfa7376a04c67fc231a4d66/Racheal-Ayankunbi-Headshot-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-88180"/>Racheal Ayankunbi (B.S. ’22) graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s in biology and double minors in chemistry and classical civilization. A Maryland native, Ayankubi participated in the Karsh STEM Scholars Program and held two Summer internships at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Gateways to the Laboratory at Weill Cornell’s Tri-Institutional M.D.-Ph.D. Program. Additionally, Ayankunbi tutored undergraduate students at Howard in chemistry with the Office of Tutoring and Learning Support Services. Ayankunbi is also a member of Howard University’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Gamma of D.C. During her time in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, Ayankunbi will be studying the role of epigenetic regulators in the development of bladder cancer. Carl Romer (B.S. ’22) graduated with a degree in economics and minored in philosophy. Romer was an active member of the HU Chess Club. Since graduating, Romer has worked as an economic consultant at the OECD, a research assistant at the Brookings Institution, and most recently a data analyst at the California Policy Lab at UCLA. Romer is most proud of helping to form a union at the Brookings Institution with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union. Romer will continue in these studies at the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom, where he’ll work towards an MSc in economics and philosophy. <img src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/4TnjhdVOO0sbb5s0ve2ODj/e4b0d9ee711a14d2cb3f5c656ed581e3/Carl-Romer-1-813x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-88181"/><img src="https://images.ctfassets.net/bjeljlcmmjko/2j6agQXa99FmSAeqgjnKAc/061ec5a09d8e855733748b4f06db756c/Ashleigh-Brown-Grier-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-88182"/>Ashleigh Brown-Grier, an Alabama native, is a Ph.D. candidate in the higher education leadership and policy studies program at Howard University. Her interest of study focuses on international student experiences at HBCUs during COVID-19. For the 2022-2023 academic year, Brown-Grier will spend nine months in South Africa as a Fulbright Student studying Black institutions of higher learning in South Africa and examining the apartheid era inequities and their exacerbation during COVID-19. This Fulbright grant is Brown-Grier’s second award. In the 2016-2017 academic year, she spent 10 months in Malaysia as a Fulbright English teaching assistant at a secondary school. She is a member of the 2020 Fulbright alumni ambassador cohort for the Institute of International Education (IIE). https://twitter.com/HUPrez17/status/1571947544850178050

Congrats! Three Howard University Students Selected as Fulbright Scholars

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HBCU Classic games are a celebration of 130 years of Black College FootballThe inaugural Toyota HBCU NYC Classic took place September 17th at the Metlife Stadium. The Howard University Bison and Morehouse College Maroon Tigers faced each other on the football field for the first time in seven years. The game concluded with a victory for the Bison who scored 31 points to post a 31-0 shutout win over the Morehouse Tigers.Over 35,000 fans and alumni took over the parking lot and graced the stands of the Metlife on September 17th. Adorning their college paraphernalia, HBCU tailgaters of all ages partied throughout the parking lot. That excitement carried inside the arena to watch the game and the highly anticipated halftime show. Morehouse alumnus Spike Lee made an appearance to support his fellow Tigers.https://twitter.com/Morehouse/status/1571590424833454081To start the weekend, Bison and Tigers from far and wide gathered in Times Square for the HBCU NYC Classic Pep Rally, sponsored by MJ The Musical on Broadway. Cast members, Apollo Levine (Shaw University graduate), Myles Foster (Bowie State University student), and Michelle Mercedes, hosted the crowd calling spectacle on behalf of Black Theatre Day, an open call to action to all Black theater institutions and supporters to join together and amplify the importance of Black theater institutions by recognizing the 200-year legacy of Black theater in the U.S. During the pep rally, senior Gregory Coleman (BA ’23) was presented with a $10,000 scholarship for being an outstanding student.https://www.instagram.com/p/CioCfp5J26c/This was the 37th time in history that they played each other. Howard has a dominating 25-10-2 record against Morehouse all-time. Both teams started the 2021 season with at least four straight losses before achieving their first win.<video controls src="blob:https://www.hot97.com/b2fb5c61-302c-4309-a7df-c7692b749fcc"></video>

HBCU NY Classic Recap: Morehouse vs Howard

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Zillow's efforts to reimagining real estate doesn't stop at homebuyers and renters. It includes those behind the scenes as well.Zillow's second <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3654960-1&h=15956403&u=https%3A%2F%2Fzillow.mediaroom.com%2F2022-08-11-Zillow-and-UNCF-open-registration-for-HBCU-Hackathon&a=HBCU+Housing+Hackathon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HBCU Housing Hackathon</a>, which drew more than 200 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), awarded top prizes to teams that developed innovations to help renters and first-time buyers find their dream homes.The top three finishers in the hackathon, in collaboration with the <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3654960-1&h=399614944&u=https%3A%2F%2Funcf.org%2F&a=United+Negro+College+Fund+(UNCF)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Negro College Fund (UNCF)</a> and <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3654960-1&h=123637414&u=http%3A%2F%2Famplify4good.com%2F&a=Amplify+4+Good" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Amplify 4 Good</a>, won over the judges with projects that offer impactful tech solutions that align with Zillow's mission to help consumers overcome obstacles in their journey to find a home.https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci3IRYzpNfw/ZillowBears, a team of four Morgan State University students, won first place and $20,000 for its "Z-Save" application, which estimates monthly mortgage costs and lets users deposit that amount into a virtual wallet that tracks their payment trends. The app also shows lenders data points to help determine whether potential homeowners qualify for a mortgage and offer them a way to prove creditworthiness outside the traditional credit scoring system. Zillow® also will donate $25,000 to Morgan State's computer science program as part of the first-place prize."I wanted to participate in the hackathon to learn more about the real estate industry and explore on a deeper level how technology can help solve the most prominent issues people face every day when trying to secure a home," said Nanfwang Dawurang, a member of ZillowBears and a senior computer science student at Morgan State University. "Seeing how different people look at the same issue in completely different ways and the various innovative and exciting ideas presented in tackling housing issues showed me that progress can always be made when people come together and are intentional about solving a problem."The HBCU Hackathon brought together 65 teams. Six teams advanced to the final round and had five minutes to present their ideas virtually, using live demonstrations and presentation decks, to a panel of judges made up of Zillow and tech industry leaders."We are very impressed with the caliber of the work, the quality of the presentations, and the outstanding, innovative ideas the students displayed at Zillow's second HBCU Housing Hackathon," said Aldona Clottey, Zillow vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and one of the judges. "With 20 schools represented, this hackathon not only helps Zillow continue to foster engagement among HBCUs, but it allows us to tap our next generation of technology leaders to help ensure we are continuously evolving as a company and positively impacting the technology industry as a whole."

Morgan State Students Win Zillow’s Housing Hackathon After Developing an App

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HBCUs have been revered in the African American community for generations. However many may not know the roots of how, why, and where these pivotal institutions came to fruition. Episode 2 of PBS' '<a href="https://www.pbs.org/weta/making-black-america/">Making Black America': Through the Grapevine</a> will delve into this lesser known topic. 'Making Black America' is a four-part series from executive producer, host and writer Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.which will premiere October 4th on PBS. The documentary style series will shed light on the Black people’s ability to collectively defy white supremacy and define Blackness in ways that transformed America itself. https://player.pbs.org/viralplayer/3072088321/<figcaption>Provided by PBS</figcaption>Each episode of the series is meticulously curated to highlight varies aspects of the black experience in the 20th century. The first episode will showcase how free African Americans exercised their self-determination. Episode two will explore the genesis of black organizations and networks. Episode 3 will show how the Great Depression devastated America’s economy and brought Black America to its knees. The last episode, 4, will explore how Black cultural and political movements — from Black Power to Black Twitter — embraced a radical consciousness that championed a new generation.Watch the full trailer below:https://player.pbs.org/viralplayer/3068947325/<figcaption>Provided by PBS </figcaption>

Learn About The History of HBCUs: 'Making Black America' Premiering on PBS

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In an effort to continue serving the urban population, Morgan State University is in the works of constructing a College of Osteopathic Medicine.Morgan State University (MSU), founded in 1867, is a doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. In 2017, MSU was designated as Maryland’s preeminent public urban research university. While the school has always been known to be a public urban research university, this designation acts as an official stamp by the State of Maryland .To continue their mission of providing higher education and graduate study in the Baltimore area, MSU will be adding a medical school to the campus. The College of Osteopathic Medicine at MSU will be the first medical school to be offered at a historically black college. After graduating from this medical school, graduates will obtain a D.O degree (doctor of osteopathic). Doctors of Osteopathic medicine use a unique whole-person approach to help prevent illness and injury. According to the <a href="https://osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/what-is-a-do/">American Osteopathic Association</a>, DOs receive special training in the musculoskeletal system, your body’s interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones. Additionally, they are also trained to look beyond your symptoms to understand how lifestyle and environmental factors impact your well-being. https://twitter.com/AttorneyCrump/status/1525839166885576705Currently Baltimore has two medical schools, The University of Maryland School of Medicine and the John Hopkins School of Medicine. The construction of The College of Osteopathic Medicine will be the third for the city and first for an HBCU. The university will begin accepting it's first class in fall of 2024. However the medical school should be <a href="https://themsuspokesman.com/13753/campus-news/morgan-state-university-to-demolish-old-montebello-complex-and-build-college-of-osteopathic-medicine/">finished by 2026</a>. Although the college will accept students before the physical medical facility is built, students pursuing degrees in osteopathic medicine will complete classes in other facilities on campus.

Morgan State University To Open Medical School On Campus

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The Department of Defense (DoD) wants to involve more historically Black colleges and universities and minority institutions in its university-affiliated research center program.The DoD currently has 14 university-affiliated research centers and <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3076782/air-force-dod-plan-to-create-first-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/">plans </a>to create a 15th. The new center will be the first to be associated with an historically Black college or university.Historically Black Colleges and Universities<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3076782/air-force-dod-plan-to-create-first-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/"> graduate about 30%</a> of African American science, technology, engineering and mathematics students, and the Defense Department and the Air Force want to tap into that talent, said Heidi Shyu, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering. For decades, Congress has recognized the need to develop a diverse national science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce. While federal agencies provide significant opportunities for underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities in these fields, the national STEM workforce remains less racially and ethnically diverse than the U.S. general population. As the largest employer of federal STEM professionals, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) plays an essential role in the U.S. science and technology ecosystem and can greatly expand opportunities to diversify the STEM workforce. To this end, the DoD operates under a department-wide STEM strategic plan, with the following goals:1. Inspire community engagement in DoD STEM education programs and activities to provide meaningful STEM learning opportunities for students and educators.2. Attract the Nation’s and DoD’s current and future STEM workforce through multiple pathways to educational and career opportunities.3. Increase participation of underserved and underrepresented groups in STEM education and workforce development programs, activities, and outreach.4. Advance the efficiency and effectiveness of STEM education and workforce development programs, activities, and outreach through evaluation and assessment.The department of defense will be <a href="https://sam.gov/opp/196cd0a83211492baaff02b304490e98/view">accepting </a>proposals until Nov 7th, EST 8 AM.

Armed Forces Seeking Partnership With HBCUs On University Affiliated Research Center

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American Football as we know it was invented just four years after the Civil War and spread throughout the country's elite white universities throughout the Reconstruction Era. The white history of American football began when there were only 37 States in the Union on the backs of guys named Walter Camp and Pop Warner, and the first ever football game was played between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869 - but when did Black football begin?It began on December 27th, 1892 in Salisbury, North Carolina, a town that at the time had a population of about 4,000. Specifically at Livingstone College, which was the first college in all of North Carolina to grant Black women with college degrees just five years before in 1887.https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZuO0qvyWoeo3KxNutMxg6?si=5d43bc19eda44ce9Players from Biddle College, which is now Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. traveled more than 40 miles in the winter by horse and buggy to Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C to play the first Black college football game ever on Livingstone’s snowy front lawn.The uniforms worn by both teams were created by women who attended Livingstone’s industrial department. Their cleats were modified street shoes and both teams had to save up money to purchase a real regulation football.The story of the first Black college football game is a story of young people making history on their own terms without anyone else's permission. Consider the racial politics of 1892… this was four years BEFORE Plessy Vs. Ferguson codified segregation into law. This predates the Supreme Court codifying “separate, but equal,” which wouldn’t be overturned until 1954 by Brown Vs. the Board of Education.Biddle ended up losing to Livingstone by a score of five to nothing on one lone touchdown scored on a fumble recovery by Livingstone manager W.J. Trent. In 1892, a touchdown was only worth five points and the extra point was not yet introduced to the game. A few of the players from the first Black college football game were: J.W. Walker, W.J. Trent, R.J, Rencher, Henry Rives, J.R. Dillard, Wade Hampton, Charles H Patrick, J.J. Taylor, and F.H. Cummings. They were pioneers for what is now the biggest sport in America, and may they be remembered accordingly.https://omny.fm/shows/captains-majors-the-journey-to-the-hbcu-ny-foot/the-howard-bison/embedLearn more about <a href="https://www.hot97.com/hbcu-central">HBCU</a> history on HOT 97's newest podcast series "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/captains-majors-the-journey-to-the-hbcu-ny-football-classic/id1644231857">Captains & Majors</a>!"

The Story Of The First Black College Football Game

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Howard University and Jordan Brand have inked a 20 year partnership to elevate Howard’s athletic programs. On top of the partnership with Howard University, Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand has a $100 million dollar commitment to the Black Community to support organizations fighting for systemic change in America.Vandyke Jones, the director of equipment at Howard University told HOT 97 that “we’re one of the few schools that’s working direct with Jordan.” Meaning that Howard athletics no longer needs to source equipment and jerseys from often expensive third-party vendors. “We’re excited to get the same types of deals that Power 5 schools have,” Jones explains. Similarly, a deal of this nature helps to entice recruits to come to Howard for athletics. “You tell a kid that we’re working with Jordan and everyone goes crazy,” said Jones. <h2 id="h-jordan-and-howard-university-ink-20-year-deal">Jordan and Howard University Ink 20-Year Deal. </h2>This sort of validation from a major brand is just one of a number of co-signs from major players in the sports world to further elevate HBCU sports. Vandyke noted “just knowing that a major brand is investing in your athletic department is huge.”Overall the Jordan brand will be seen on Howard athletes, as well as their famous Showtime Marching Band. The partnership spans across athletics, clubs, academics, and merchandise. In a Howard University press release, Jordan Brand President Craig Williams said, “Howard University and Jordan Brand share a legacy of excellence and deep commitment to the Black Community. As an HBCU graduate, I understand the educational impact an institution like Howard University has. We are proud to partner with Howard University and see the growth in Black talent on the field and well beyond it.”The Howard University Bison are moving on from their previous Under Armor apparel and will be unveiling their new threads on August 27th. “We have always been proud of our legacy at Howard University, but we are audacious enough to believe our future could be brighter than our past. Partnering with Jordan Brand is another signal of our ambitions as a university to become an even brighter beacon for Black Excellence. We are thrilled to work on that vision of greatness together,” said <a href="https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/howard-university-welcomes-jordan-brand-family">Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, Howard University President</a>.Don't miss the chance to see Howard University take on Morehouse in th<a href="https://www.metlifestadium.com/event/2022/09/17/metlife-stadium/hbcu-new-york-football-classic---morehouse-vs-howard">e upcoming HBCU New York Football Classic</a> at MetLife Stadium.