Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Nas

The battle between rap titans Nas and JAY-Z has taken an unexpected turn, and this time it’s not about bars or beef. The Queens-bred lyricist has thrown his hat into the ring with Resorts World Casino New York City’s audacious $5 billion expansion plan, a move that could significantly impact the casino landscape in southeast Queens.

The high-stakes showdown

At a recent event attended by gaming executives, local politicians, and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, Nas unveiled the grand vision. His proposal aims to entice New York City into granting Resorts World one of its coveted three downstate gaming licenses. Currently, Resorts World operates under a “racino” license, allowing betting via slot machines alongside horse racing. But Nas wants more—a full-fledged casino experience that could rival the best in the world.

The Nas-backed plan

So, what’s in this ambitious proposal? Here are the highlights:

1. State-of-the-art entertainment venue: Imagine a cutting-edge space that hosts concerts, shows, and events, drawing top-tier talent from around the globe.
2. Greenspace and luxury hotel: Nas envisions a lush oasis where visitors can unwind, surrounded by greenery and luxury accommodations.
3. Conference center: A hub for business meetings, conventions, and networking, designed to attract professionals and industry leaders.
4. Genting innovation campus: A $50 million investment to house the Kenny “The Jet” Smith Academy, a community healthcare and wellness center, and the Queens STEAM Institute.
5. Aqueduct park: This sprawling park will feature 3,000 units of workforce housing, over 50 acres of dedicated green space, and new transit connections to JFK Airport and Manhattan.

The competition

While Resorts World seems well-positioned due to its existing racino status, it faces fierce competition. JAY-Z, Nas’ former rival, is part of a competing bid to open a boutique-style casino in Times Square. The Brooklyn billionaire has teamed up with SL Green and Caesars Entertainment to transform the 1515 Broadway office tower into a swanky entertainment hub.

As the battle for gaming licenses heats up, Nas remains optimistic.

Halle Bailey- Halle Berry

Last Thursday , Halle Berry and Halle Bailey shared pictures from their time together at a Major League Soccer game. The two attended the LA Galaxy versus Inter Miami opener in California, capturing a long-awaited photo op that evidently delighted fans online.

The former captioned the post, “When two Halles link up. [I] truly adore you, [Halle Bailey].” Meanwhile, the Instagram carousel highlighted their encounter with smiles and a hug against the soccer match backdrop.

Bailey responded warmly, “I was living for this moment! Thank you for being so kind to me. You’ve made my life.” The Little Mermaid actress also expressed her excitement in an Instagram Story. She shared a photo of their embrace with the text, “Can [you] tell I’m freaking out?”

Usher With Alicia Keys

Last Wednesday , “The Breakfast Club” premiered a virtual interview with Usher, who spoke on headlining the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show. During the conversation, the Atlanta star was asked about Alicia Keys’ inclusion during the performance and the debate it caused on social media.

“In no way is there anything that was done there that should have been viewed as bad or in any way perverted or anything like that,” Usher made clear. “No, it was literally about having fun because of a song that me and Alicia made many years ago, and we celebrated it because of the legacy of it. No disrespect to anybody or anything like that.”

Tyler The Creator

Last Tuesday (Feb. 21), Tyler, The Creator took to social media to reveal that he was tapped by Pharrell Williams to create a Spring 2024 men’s capsule collection for Louis Vuitton. Consisting of items inspired by aviation and golf, the collection will launch globally March 21.

“Thank you, [Pharrell]. I love you. You keep throwing me the keys,” Tyler wrote on Instagram alongside images from his collaboration. “[To] the [Louis Vuitton] team: Thank y’all for allowing these ideas [to] come to life. Thank you [Darren Vongphakdy]. We really ran in there like we ran the place. And [to Tara Razavi] and [Luis ‘Panch’ Perez]: [We’re] the trio for real.” Tyler also called a custom-made Louis Vuitton chessboard “my favorite thing I’ve made.”

Beyoncé

Beyoncé’s latest music has won her yet another culture-shifting accolade, this time in unexplored territory.

Last week, the 42-year-old confirmed the long-held fan theory that the sequel to 2022’s Renaissance: act i will be a country album, as she released two new singles in that style.

On Monday (February 12), just one day after the songs ‘Texas Hold ‘Em and “16 Carriages” went live, a fan account dedicated to the Houston native shared that “Beyoncé is the FIRST black female artist to reach the top of Apple Music US Country chart in history. She is also the first female black artist to occupy the first and second position on the chart simultaneously.”