VIDEO DISCUSSION: Cardi B checks in with the authorities, and; Taylor Swift gets out the voter registration

QUICK TAKES

In this episode of What's The 411, journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean start off the episode with the Quick Takes segment talking about news stories related to Chance the Rapper’s $1 Million donation to the city of Chicago for mental health services; singer/actor, Tyrese, introduces his baby girl; comedian Katt Williams gets arrested for abusing a taxi driver in Portland; actor Damon Wayans takes everyone off guard announcing his departure from Fox’s Lethal Weapon, a class-action lawsuit against LaCroix Sparkling Water regarding independent testing showing the beverage containing unnatural ingredients including roach insecticide; actress Erika Alexander gets a role on the CW’s DC-comics-based Black Lightning Season 2 and she will be playing a therapist with telepathic abilities; the multi-talented Janelle Monae joins the cast of the upcoming film, Harriet, and; rapper and actor, T.I., confesses his infidelity to his wife, Tameka aka Tiny.

WHAT’S POPPIN’ – CULTURE & THE LAW

he civil lawsuits against Bill Cosby are starting to queue up. Now that Andrea Constand has gotten justice, accuser Judy Huth’s case against Cosby has a trial date. Huth, who accused Cosby of molesting her when she was 15-years-old at the Playboy Mansion, has a hearing in November and a trial date set for December.

Q. Why isn’t Hugh Hefner’s estate, and/or the Playboy Club being sued for having a minor on its premises?

WHAT’S POPPIN’ – CULTURE & THE LAW

Brett Kavanaugh is now a US Supreme Court judge and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford is back home after speaking her truth about a sexual assault by Kavanaugh when she was a teenager.

Q. Does the MeToo Movement have any relevance?

WHAT’S POPPIN’ – DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION

October is Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness Month. And, unfortunately, domestic violence occurs every day. LaShonda Childs, a 17-year-old Ohio girl, was killed by a 28-year-old ex-boyfriend who would not take no for an answer. The harassment was so bad, LaShonda Childs posted on Facebook, 'I Ain't Even Safe In My Own House,' as he became more violent even after she filed for a protective order.

If you need help with domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence helpline at 1-800-799-7233

WHAT’S POPPIN’ – CARDI B

Rapper Cardi B reported to the New York City police after a brawl occurred at a strip club where her husband, Offset's group, Migos, was performing and two women were injured, one was suspected of having an affair with Cardi's husband. Cardi was charged with two misdemeanors, assault, and reckless endangerment, she had a mug shot taken and was fingerprinted, according to TMZ.

WHAT’S POPPIN’ – TAYLOR SWIFT

Pop singer Taylor Swift, who has shied away from being vocal about politics and civic action, decided to step out front and center. She informed her fellow Tennesseans on social media how to register to vote, which sparked record numbers of new voter registrations.

VIDEO DISCUSSION: Katt Williams is in trouble with the law, again; actor Damon Wayans takes everyone by surprise, and Erika Alexander gets a new role

In this version of What's The 411’s Quick Takes, award-winning journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are talking about news stories related to:

• Chance the Rapper’s $1 Million donation to the city of Chicago for mental health services;
• singer/actor, Tyrese, introduces his baby girl;
• comedian Katt Williams gets arrested for abusing a taxi driver in Portland;
• actor Damon Wayans taking everyone off guard announcing his departure from Fox’s Lethal Weapon;
• a class-action lawsuit against LaCroix Sparkling Water regarding independent testing showing the beverage containing unnatural ingredients including roach insecticide;
• actress Erika Alexander gets a role on the CW’s DC-comics-based Black Lightning Season 2 and she will be playing a therapist with telepathic abilities;
• the multi-talented Janelle Monae joining the cast of the upcoming film, Harriet, and;
• rapper and actor, T.I., confesses his infidelity to his wife, Tameka aka Tiny.

I always wanted to know what it would be like to obtain a healthier lifestyle in a holistic fashion. That's why I was excited to attend a wellness gala given at the Nicholas Bookstore in Brooklyn to celebrate the legacy and 60th birthday of holistic healer, Queen Afua. She is the founder of the Global City of Wellness Institute, a set of schools that trains future leaders in principles of personal, physical, and emotional wellness. The gala also celebrated the return of her son, Supa Nova Slom, from his recent U.S. Army service in Afghanistan.

A world-renowned certified holistic health specialist, Queen Afua, has shared messages of spiritual healing to various institutions such as NASA and The Coalition of 100 Black Women, as well as with audiences in the Caribbean, Europe, and Canada. Her essays and articles have been published in various newspapers and magazines where she shares her views on health and longevity; and health issues that threaten urban communities. Queen Afua has changed the lives of thousands through her cleansing formulas, her one-day seasonal fasting retreats, books, and holistic empowerment workshops.

To get healthy, "first you need a vision of what your purpose is..."she said.

One needs to determine if the purpose to lose weight, find internal healing, or overcoming diseases such as diabetes, fatigue, or stress. Next, the 21-day journey begins using her detox program including formulas and tablets to overcome all that is clouding one's health and lifestyle.

So how did Queen Afua get to this place of natural healing? Did she grow up this way?

Not really, she made the change to holistic healing as she said to me using the civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer's quote, "I was sick and tired of being sick and tired" and came to the conclusion that "it was time for a change."

From seven to seventeen years of age Queen Afua was sickly, experiencing mood swings, PMS, chronic asthma, and other chronic diseases. In her quest to get better, she was invited by a friend to a healing retreat. After fasting for one day her body changed for the better.

From that point on, she became a holistic life coach because "whatever the issues are," she said to me, "in nature we can heal ourselves."

Queen Afua's two sons, whom she refers to as her "phenomenal sons," were born vegans. Her youngest son, Ali Torain (aka Ali the Great), is CEO of Queen Afua Enterprises and trains in (non-competitive) bodybuilding.

"...In our journey you don't get respect as a man unless you have a certain presence," he said before the conference. "A lot of men get respect when they show the ability to look good and have bodies that are fit."

Ali talked about growing up with his brother as vegans and even today he prefers to get his protein from fruits and vegetables. He's been preparing vegan dishes since he was 17 years-old. He later became a professional chef and then started working alongside his mother teaching the value of healthy eating.

Supa Nova Slom is Queen Afua's oldest son. His book, THE REMEDY, explains his passion for a healthy lifestyle. A member of a hip-hop group, The Cosvarti, Supa Nova uses hip-hop as a platform to address social and political issues that affects today's communities. Influencing the nutritional habits of various artists such as Erykah Badu, T.I., Jada Kiss, and The Game, Supa Nova is known as Hip-Hop's Medicine Man. One doesn't readily think of vegans in the military, but he's also an active duty soldier.

"I joined the military because I wanted to challenge myself," Supa Nova stated. "I wanted to have the experience to serve my country and see if I can really survive that experience."

When Supa Nova was deployed to Afghanistan, he was a member of the Special Forces Unit. He called his experience in the military spiritual. Wellness was his ministry, as he spread his message to his fellow soldiers and superiors so they could maintain mental, physical, and spiritual stability in the midst of war. Supa Nova shared with his fellow soldiers his wisdom of survival through the benefits of "juicing" and his product, "Supa Mega Greens," a health supplement made of natural plants. There were times when the Taliban fired shots at his camp while they were juicing.

"If I could be dodging rockets and small arms fire everyday for nine months, and I'm still meditating, still juicing, still praying, still doing the right thing, eating right in the midst of that, I don't want to hear nothing about you can't be awesome," he said.

Supa Nova's new platform, "No Excuse Wellness," is a message that is a blend of military and popular culture and it fits in with his style.

It will also fit in with the family's new venture. During the conference, Ali The Great introduced the launching of the First Family of Wellness and its platform for the Global Nation of Wellness. So look out for Queen Afua and her sons, as they will be touring major cities throughout the United States starting this fall.

"The healing of a nation begins with oneself," and "the power to heal is within you and you have the power to heal yourself," Queen Afua stated emphatically with a dash of regality.