Chief of Universal Music Group Lucian Grainge sent a memo to his staff announcing the formation of a task force to “accelerate our efforts in areas such as inclusion and social justice,” this week, following the death of George Floyd and protests across the country.

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Grainge is appointing chief counsel Jeff Harleston to lead the task force.

“This week, yet again we saw our society’s most painful realities about race, justice and inequality brought—cruelly and brutally—into the harsh light of day,” Grainge wrote in the memo. “But no matter how shocked or saddened or infuriated we may be, we cannot just despair. We must act. Each one of us has a duty to do what we can to alter those realities, to help build a society that is far less unequal and much more just.

“I’ve appointed our General Counsel Jeff Harleston to lead a UMG Task Force to accelerate our efforts in areas such as inclusion and social justice. Jeff is convening a group of qualified executives from throughout the company to review our current programs, identify gaps and deficiencies, update our plan where it’s outdated, propose new initiatives, and ensure that these issues remain at the top of our agenda.”

Grainge goes on to say that more details will come next week.

Check out the full memo here.

[Via]

Reality star mogul, Kris Jenner is not one of the unfortunate members of society to contract the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. Apparently, the mastermind behind the Kardashian/Jenner clan was concerned that she might become of the thousands of victims to become infected with the life-threatening virus after hearing the news that Universal Music Group CEO, Lucian Grainge was hospitalized after being diagnosed with the illness. Just weeks prior to Grainge's announcement of testing positive for the coronavirus, Kris Jenner had attended his 60th birthday party alongside some other members of the 1% of the pop culture and entertainment industry.

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A source revealed to ET, that despite being asymptomatic, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star wanted to "make sure she was being proactive in getting tested" after coming being exposed to the virus in a social setting. The unnamed source stated:

"Kris wasn’t sick and didn’t have any symptoms, but since she was in contact with someone who tested positive, she took the test. Jenner luckily tested negative for coronavirus."

Lucian Grainge's 60th birthday bash was only sixteen days ago and featured luxe guests including the likes of Apple CEO Tim Cooke, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, legendary music manager Irving Azoff, British billionaire Philip Green, Kris Jenner, and more. Fortunately, a source revealed to Page Six, that Grainge's 60th celebration was an intimate gathering stating:

"The party was just close friends, no artists or Universal executives. It was 16 days ago, and while we are concerned about Lucien, everybody else in the group is fine, to my knowledge."

On Monday (March 16), Kris Jenner took to her Twitter account to show support to the medical professionals that assisted in her testing. Unfortunately, Stringer Bell AKA Idris Elba revealed early today that he tested positive for COVID-19, but is in good spirits. 

Check out Kris Jenner's Tweet thanking the healthcare workers in the post provided below and take as many precautions as possible in order to protect you and your loved ones.

In the midst of a full-scale press tour, 50 Cent took a moment to chop it up with Angie Martinez, who has recently been killing it as the host of Infamous: The Tekashi 6ix9ine Story. Given their shared fascination with the young rapper, it was only a matter of time (55-minute mark) before the topic of 6ix9ine was raised. 

When asked whether 6ix9ine can still thrive in music after everything that transpired, Fif seems convinced that the kid will be alright. “There’s nothing that will stop him from selling records,” he states, reasoning that many of the more vocal detractors haven’t paid for music in years. “They’re not the music-buying audience. Middle America has kids that understand that you didn’t support people who were gonna hurt your mom. That you didn’t support people who were going to hurt you. They do try to understand the energy that goes on it and all the terminologies and all that stuff. But they do understand that part.”

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“They’re going, ‘was I supposed to keep it real and do 40 years for the dudes who were gonna do something to my mother and they was actually plotting to really hurt me?’ To the kids, they don’t understand it. They don’t understand the street stuff.” 50, ever in the know, also alludes that the man backing 6ix9ine, Lucian Grainge, will not allow the rainbow wonder to fail. “That’s the machine, Ang. That’s the big machine.” He also reveals that 6ix9ine’s court date set his record label back $280k.  “They had a full music video set up for him to shoot. Full production to shoot the video to a song they recorded. With all the energy around him being released, if you don’t hear anything until a song surfaces? Every kid would have been saying ‘let me see what he said.’ It would have went so far.'” 

“He’ll have the same fear 2Pac expressed that his fear was,” he continues. “He expressed that he would get killed by a random nobody. That’s who Tekashi has to be worried about as far as gang activity. As far as the energy going on outside.” Angie laughs, joking that Fif would still do a documentary if that happened. “Absolutely,” he maintains, sporting a devilish grin. “This is hip-hop culture we’re documenting. Somebody has to cover it.”

Apparently, Drake has an unlimited budget because he’s “the greatest.”

HipHopDX ran into Universal Music Group CEO Sir Lucian Grainge and asked him about Drake’s budget by referring to a bar on the classic track “Stay Schemin,” where Drake raps, “Tell Lucian I said ‘fuck it,’ I’m tearin’ holes in my budget.”

“If ever Drake or whenever Drake calls up and says he needs something for his project, I give it to him,” Grainge says with a smile. “Because he’s the greatest.”

Strong praise from the boss himself. Drake most recently released a pair of singles with frequent collaborator Future titled “Desires” and “Life is Good.” Fans expect a follow-up to What A Time To Be Alive could be one the way soon.

RadRadar’s Brian “B. Dot” Miller recently appeared on Genius’ For The Record and discussed what he’s heard from Drake’s upcoming music: “Prior to the interview, Drake sent me a record. He just said he wanted to set the tone of the interview. It’s incredible. It sounds like one of those timestamp joints… It’s just one of those kinda flamboyant kind of records. It has a great sample to it, everyone’s going to love it. It’s called ‘Say When.’ I think Elliot talked about that in that. He’s talkin’ that — He be talkin’ that sh*t.”