Culture

George E. Johnson, Founder of Johnson Products and Afro Sheen, Dies at 99

George E. Johnson, the Chicago entrepreneur who built Johnson Products into a Black hair-care empire behind Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen and sponsored 'Soul Train,' has died at 99.

Sports

Mbappé Condemns Paraguayan Senator's Racist Posts; French Federation Files Complaint

Kylian Mbappé condemned Paraguayan senator Céleste Amarilla for 'blatant racism' after her posts targeting him following France's 1-0 win, and the French Football Federation filed a criminal complaint.

Daily Roundup

The Daily Roundup: 7-Eleven Sues Nike Over the Air Max 95, NBA Free Agency Reshapes the East, Essence Fest Wraps, and AI Funding Hits a Record $510B — July 6, 2026

7-Eleven sues Nike and forces the Air Max 95 Big Bubble off SNKRS, Jaylen Brown lands in Philadelphia as Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto, and global startup funding hits a record $510 billion in the first half of 2026.

Daily Roundup

The Daily Roundup: Air Jordan 7 Miro, World Cup Quarterfinals, Beyoncé's 'Morning Dew,' and Mistral AI — July 5, 2026

The World Cup 2026 quarterfinals are set as France, Morocco, and Argentina advance, Wimbledon reaches the round of 16, and the Air Jordan 7 'Miro' returns July 10 at $255 in its first U.S. release.

Intelligence Brief

The Intelligence Brief: LeBron Leaves the Lakers, JAIDE Lands the First Air Jordan 11 Collab, and AI Takes 43% of Venture Funding — July 4, 2026

Value concentrated at the top this week: OpenAI and Anthropic took 43% of all H1 venture funding, Jordan Brand handed JAIDE the first Air Jordan 11 collab in 30 years, and LeBron James left the Lakers to chase fit on his own terms.

Culture

KidSuper Designs a Capsule Collection for Larry David's HBO Series

KidSuper designed a limited capsule for HBO's 'Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness' — a custom letterman jacket, cap, keychain and apparel with hand-drawn colonial imagery, on pre-order for the Fourth of July weekend.

Culture

Beyoncé Surprise-Releases 'Morning Dew (Donk)' Ahead of B'Day 20th-Anniversary Reissue

Beyoncé dropped 'Morning Dew (Donk)' as a surprise July 4 single — her first new music in two years and a long-bootlegged 2013 cut — launching a 60-day countdown to a 20th-anniversary reissue of B'Day.

Culture

New Music Friday: Tekno, Madonna & Ken Carson — July 3, 2026

Tekno returns with the Where Did Love Go? EP, Madonna reopens the dance floor on Confessions II, and Ken Carson pushes rage rap further on xperiment — plus Jorja Smith and Wizkid link up.

Daily Roundup

The Daily Roundup: Messi and Argentina Close the World Cup Round of 32, Nike Ja 3 'Tiger' Drops, Minions & Monsters Owns July 4, and OpenAI's $122B Raise — July 3, 2026

Messi and Argentina close out the World Cup Round of 32 against Cape Verde in Miami, the Nike Ja 3 "Tiger" and KD 6 "Meteorology" both drop today, Minions & Monsters eyes a $65M-plus July 4 opening, and OpenAI raises $122 billion.

Culture

Megan Thee Stallion Launches Hot Girl Summer Fragrance With Coty

Megan Thee Stallion is entering the fragrance business with Hot Girl Summer Eau de Parfum, an $84 Coty collaboration that lands at Ulta Beauty starting July 5.

Culture

MoMA PS1 Opens Its First Courtyard Commission With Precious Okoyomon

MoMA PS1 has launched an annual Courtyard Commission program, opening July 24 with Precious Okoyomon's living forest and a large interactive bear sculpture visitors can walk through in Long Island City.

Culture

New York City Sets Record $323.8M Culture Budget Under Mamdani

New York City's fiscal 2027 budget includes a record $323.8 million for the Department of Cultural Affairs under Mayor Zohran Mamdani — up nearly 7% from the prior record — plus a new $10 million-a-year Cultural Stability Fund.