Artists
BESLA Closes Out 2025 Mid-Year Conference in Atlanta with Honors for Matt Barnes and Lil Jon
Under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Advocacy, Artistry & Access,” the conference drew hundreds of attendees from across the country, all eager to explore the critical intersections of law, creativity, and equity in entertainment and sports. This year’s gathering featured interactive panel discussions, fireside chats, networking opportunities, and new actor and television writing workshops, providing an enriching, cross-disciplinary experience for both legal and creative professionals.
May 29, the first day of the conference, was officially declared BESLA Day in Fulton County by Fulton County Commissioners Moraima “Mo” Ivory and Marvin Arrington Jr., who were in attendance to present the proclamation and recognize BESLA’s contributions to the legal and creative communities.
BESLA proudly honored two cultural trailblazers whose work embodies leadership and influence:
• Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, and philanthropist Lil Jon received the Beacon of Industry Award and joined a fireside chat discussing his expansive career, business ventures, and his advocacy for mental health and community development.
• NBA Champion, entrepreneur, and media personality Matt Barnes was presented with the Power Player Award during a special program at Georgia State University College of Law. He participated in an engaging conversation highlighting his transition from athlete to business leader and advocate.
“This year’s conference was a true celebration of what happens when advocacy meets artistry and access,” said Allison Hobbs, BESLA Board Member and Chair of the 2025 Mid-Year Conference. “We are proud to provide a space where legal professionals, creatives, and changemakers can come together to learn, grow, and empower one another.”
A key highlight of the conference was a timely panel examining the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics in light of the pending House v. NCAA settlement. Experts Donald Woodard, Traci Bransford, Darrell Thompson, and Mason Ashe led an in-depth discussion on what the $2.8 billion proposed settlement could mean for student-athletes, institutions, and legal practitioners.
Prominent entertainment attorneys Janine Morris-Meggets, Aziza Bowser, and Roy Turner led a panel about protecting child performers and shared legal perspectives and best practices for safeguarding young talent, while decorated actor and musician Tristan “Mack” Wilds lent his insights and experience as a successful former child performer who is still in the business today.
To view photos from the 2025 Mid-Year Conference, visit: Photo Gallery.
For more information about BESLA and upcoming events, visit www.besla.org.
About BESLA
The Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association (BESLA) is a nationally recognized leader in legal education and professional development for lawyers and professionals in the entertainment, sports, and related industries. Through premier programming, scholarships, and mentorship, BESLA remains committed to advancing diversity, access, and excellence in entertainment law. BESLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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Earl LC Robinson Former Member of the Platinum Recording R&B Group Public Announcement Passes Away at 59
The R&B group Public Announcement was founded in 1991 by Earl Robinson. R Kelly hired the group after firing his previous group, MGM. The original members of Public Announcement were Earl Robinson, Andre Boykins, and Ricky Webster.
Born into the 90’s is the 1992 debut collaboration album by R. Kelly and the R&B group Public Announcement. The album featured several R&B hits, including: “She’s Got That Vibe,” “Honey Love”, and “Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)” just to name several.
Public Announcement released several albums All Work, No Play, Don’t Hold Back and When the Smoke Clears. The R&B group hit songs include “Body Bumpin’ (Yippie-Yi-Yo)”, “Mamacita” “John Doe,” “Man Ain’t Supposed To Cry.”
Earl Robinson worked with numerous artist on They Authentic Records, LLC. He contributed his time producing, giving vocal lessons and developing artist. Over the past several years Robinson has worked with artist such as Tocarra, Prince JoShun, Ra Unskrypted and released solo albums titled: Kiss The Night Away and The Steppers Set on his label Done Deal Records LLC.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
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Now streaming exclusively on SoundCloud, My Own Flow marks the definitive evolution of AIKO NOVA — a cinematic dark-pop project where emotion and production collide. Across eleven remastered tracks, the album immerses listeners in a world of shadowed beauty: deep bass beds, live-sounding percussion, analog synth layers, and flashes of Spanish guitar woven through lush electronic textures.
Fronted by AIKO’s unmistakable vocals — warm, raspy, and intimate — the record captures both fragility and strength in the same breath. From the haunting piano and atmospheric pulse of “Fall” and “Dawn,” to the confident momentum of “My Own Flow” and “True Fire,” each track feels alive, cinematic, and emotionally charged. “Silver Flame” and “Drifting” shimmer like midnight reflections, while “Crown Of Stars” and “Between The Smoke” dive into darker, hypnotic grooves anchored by human-sounding beats and layered harmonies. The final trio — “Sugar And Gasoline,” “Hold My Fractures,” and “Let You Be Free” — lands with quiet intensity, closing the album in a whisper of catharsis and rebirth.
AIKO NOVA isn’t a conventional band — it’s a multidisciplinary sound collective built around a single creative vision: to merge the emotional weight of live performance with the precision of electronic art. My Own Flow feels handcrafted and cinematic, blurring the lines between dark-pop, downtempo, and electronica.
Now available on SoundCloud, this album is both confession and confrontation — a late-night journey through heartbreak, healing, and the rediscovery of self. My Own Flow doesn’t just play; it breathes.
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