Josh Rodgers

Marvin Sapp has long been a pillar of gospel music — but his story isn’t just about hits and accolades. It’s a calling from the divine, a testament to personal resilience, and an unwavering commitment to one’s purpose. With a voice that rings with power and conviction, Sapp has built a legacy that spans faith, music, and community leadership. Marvin Sapp Is More Than A Singer According to Sapp’s church website, the 58-year-old is often quick to clarify his identity: “Not a singer that happens to preach, but a preacher called by God who is gifted to sing.” That dual calling has shaped every step of his journey. From his start singing at the age of 4 to joining the legendary gospel group Commissioned in 1990, and eventually launching his solo career in 1996, Sapp’s artistry has always been an extension of his ministry. As a solo artist, he released influential projects, including “Grace and Mercy,” “Thirsty,” and “Here I Am.” His 2007 hit, “Never Would Have Made It,” became a cultural...

Leave it to Steph Curry and Michelle Obama to remind us that health and flavor don’t have to be enemies. The NBA legend and the forever First Lady have teamed up to launch PLEZi Hydration, a new sports drink aiming to do what health gurus allege Gatorade and Powerade never quite pulled off — offer hydration without compromising on health. Born out of Obama’s public benefit company, PLEZi Nutrition, the drink is marketed as a “healthier” option for individuals who want to stay active without consuming excessive sugar and sodium. According to its website, each 16.9-ounce bottle packs only 12 grams of sugar — less than half of what you’d find in traditional sports drinks — plus 500 mg of potassium, 120 mg of sodium (vs. 210 mg), and the full daily dose of vitamin C. And this isn’t a slap-your-name-on-it celebrity endorsement. Both Curry and Obama were deeply involved in creating the drink from the ground up. Based on a CNBC report, Curry helped with everything from the packaging to the...

Companies are increasingly blending storytelling, commerce, and technology in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. One such company is pgLang, the multidisciplinary agency founded in 2020 by Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free. While it has often been described as a creative agency, pgLang operates across multiple industries and platforms — from music and film to brand partnerships and live events — positioning itself as a hybrid model within the broader creative economy. Based on a previous AFROTECH™ report, pgLang describes itself as a “multilingual” company, referencing its spoken language component and ability to communicate across forms: music, television, film, books, podcasts, and visual media. The company’s creative outputs reflect this flexibility, leveraging cross-platform strategies to distribute content that resists traditional industry categorization. This approach earned the company recognition from Fast Company, which named pgLang one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative...

When the New England Patriots inked Stefon Diggs to a four-year, $69 million deal, $25 million of it guaranteed, it didn’t just make headlines; it marked a directional shift. A franchise long defined by systematic precision and conservative spending is finally reaching a new identity: one shaped around adaptability, controlled risk, and cultural recalibration. Betting On Diggs Production In A Post-Prime Window Diggs is 31 years old, and he’s coming off a torn ACL that sidelined him in Week 8 of the 2024 season. And yet, his numbers from those eight games with the Houston Texans weren’t symbolic—they were substantial. According to ESPN, he tallied 47 receptions for 496 yards and three touchdowns, ranking seventh in total receptions at the time and averaging 62.0 yards per game. C.J. Stroud posted a 104 passer rating and a 73% completion rate when targeting him, evidence of Diggs’ continued ability to elevate a quarterback’s efficiency. Even if the explosiveness has dulled slightly,...

On March 15, 2025, the U.S. bombed Houthi terrorist targets across Yemen. But two hours before the world knew, a Signal message had already mapped the strike. The sender? Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The recipients? Top intelligence officials, but also Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic — a journalist inadvertently folded into the highest levels of American military planning. This wasn’t a clandestine leak. It was a raw, unfiltered display of the fragility of power in the digital age. It was a breach not orchestrated by a hostile foreign actor but self-inflicted — executed casually, almost thoughtlessly, by the nation’s top security officials on a consumer messaging app. For those of us who approach these matters with a deep understanding of U.S. statecraft and a critical perspective shaped by intellectual and resistance traditions, the story may demand more than mere procedural outrage. It calls for an unflinching analysis of how an empire, when unmoored from...

For decades, Ben & Jerry’s has been more than just an ice cream company — it’s been a loud, proud, and unapologetic advocate for progressive causes. From climate justice to racial equity, the brand has built an identity around speaking truth to power. But now, that identity is at the center of a corporate power struggle. Ben & Jerry’s is accusing its parent company, Unilever, of firing CEO David Stever, not because of poor performance but because he refused to back down from the company’s social mission. According to the New York Times, the lawsuit, filed in a Manhattan, NY, federal court, claims that Unilever violated a key part of its 2000 merger agreement by removing Stever without advisory board approval. What started as a quirky Vermont ice cream shop with a social conscience has now turned into a legal battleground, with Unilever allegedly trying to muzzle the very activism that made Ben & Jerry’s a cultural force. A Brewing Corporate Clash Ben & Jerry’s alleges that...

At a time when public trust in government is already on shaky ground, the latest actions by the IRS and ICE are only deepening the divide. Word is spreading fast: the IRS is reportedly finalizing a deal that would give Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to confidential taxpayer data to locate and deport undocumented immigrants. For many, this isn’t just another policy shift — it’s a direct betrayal of a system that asked for participation and is now threatening punishment in return. At the heart of this issue is more than just bureaucracy — it’s about survival, privacy, dignity, and the weaponization of information against some of the country’s most vulnerable communities. This marks a potential turning point in U.S. immigration enforcement strategy, raising significant privacy and civil liberties concerns across the country. A Dangerous Shift In Tax Data Use According to CNN, the proposed agreement between the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would...

If you’ve ever hesitated at checkout, wondering whether you need that grocery haul, electronics upgrade, or self-care splurge—you’re not alone. And Klarna, the AI-powered payments and commerce platform, is betting big on that exact moment of hesitation. Klarna has joined forces with DoorDash and Walmart to give shoppers flexible pay options. These strategic partnerships don’t just mark a shift in how we handle money at checkout—they reflect a deeper story about consumer habits, trust, and the evolving economy in 2025. Klarna And DoorDash Team Up According to an announcement from Klarna, DoorDash customers in the U.S. will soon see Klarna listed as a payment option when ordering from the app or website. This will make it even easier to snag groceries, electronics, beauty items, and even the DashPass Annual Plan without having to pay the full amount upfront. The options? Pretty straightforward and stress-relieving: Pay in full at checkout Pay in 4 equal, interest-free installments Pay...

The Tesla Cybertruck was designed to turn heads. With its rugged, stainless-steel body and futuristic, almost sci-fi design, it looks more like something out of a movie than your typical pickup truck. It wasn’t made to blend in, nor was Elon Musk. Like the Cybertruck, Elon Musk has become impossible to ignore, inserting himself into the political and economic framework of the nation with the same brash insistence that has defined his business empire. Now, with Tesla recalling over 46,000 Cybertrucks—nearly every unit on the road—Musk faces something he has long evaded: accountability, based on a Reuters report. The trucks’ stainless-steel trim panels are coming off, a fitting metaphor for a company whose once-unquestioned dominance in the EV sector is beginning to show fractures​. This recall is more than a mechanical failure. It is a referendum on Musk’s leadership, shifting allegiances, and unrelenting attempt to weld his corporate interests to the machinery of American politics....

The crypto market is surging following a major regulatory shift. According to CNBC, XRP jumped 10% to $2.49 after Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has dropped its case against the company. This decision marks the end of a four-year legal battle that has shaped the industry’s regulatory landscape and fueled speculation about a broader shift in the SEC’s approach. Ripple’s Long-Awaited Victory Speaking at the Digital Assets Summit in New York, Garlinghouse reflected on the drawn-out legal fight, calling it a painful yet necessary battle for the industry. “It’s been almost four years and about three months since the SEC originally sued us, certainly a painful journey in lots of ways,” Garlinghouse said. “I really deeply believed that we were going to be on the right side of the law and on the right side of history.” The SEC sued Ripple in 2020, alleging that the company sold XRP as an unregistered security. Ripple scored a...

If you missed out on your 2021 stimulus payment, there’s still time to claim what you’re owed. According to USA Today, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is giving eligible taxpayers another chance to receive up to $1,400 through the Recovery Rebate Credit. Are You Eligible For The Stimulus Payment? You may qualify for this Economic Impact Payment (EIP) if you: Filed a 2021 tax return but did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit. Have not yet filed your 2021 tax return but do so before April 15, 2025. To check if you’re eligible, review your 2021 tax return. If the Recovery Rebate Credit section is blank or marked $0, you could still receive your payment. Filing before the deadline ensures you receive not only this credit but also any additional refund you may be entitled to. How To Claim Your Stimulus Money For those who already filed their 2021 tax return but didn’t claim the credit, there’s nothing else to do — the IRS began automatically distributing stimulus payments in...

In tech, where innovation reigns supreme, Celonis isn’t just playing the game—it’s changing it. As the global leader in process mining intelligence, Celonis is revolutionizing how businesses operate, cutting inefficiencies and driving real impact. But let’s be real—transforming industries is only half the mission. The real flex? Investing in people. And that’s exactly why Celonis has partnered with AFROTECH™—to open doors, create opportunities, and ensure Black tech professionals have a seat (and a voice) at the table. Celonis is taking businesses from “doing things the way they’ve always been done” to “doing things smarter, faster, and more sustainably.” By using AI-driven process mining, companies like Dell, Uber, and Johnson & Johnson are unlocking hidden value, making data-driven decisions, and stepping boldly into the future. But Celonis isn’t just about optimizing workflows—it’s about optimizing opportunities for Black tech professionals to lead, innovate, and drive change. At...

The music industry can be a tricky game — one minute you’re up, and the next you’re left wondering where all the money went — an intricate maze of talent, timing, and business. Few stories illustrate its complexities as vividly as Dawn Robinson’s. As a founding member of En Vogue, she was part of a movement that redefined contemporary R&B, blending impeccable harmonies with a bold, sophisticated image that commanded attention. Yet, the same industry that lifted her to legendary status ultimately left her to navigate an unrelenting financial storm. Robinson, now 59, recently revealed in a profoundly personal YouTube video that she has been living in her car for the past three years, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This revelation is more than a personal hardship — it is a case study of what happens when artists, especially Black women in the music industry, are not given the tools to own their success beyond the stage. Her story is not about missteps alone but about an industry...

Billionaires have long found ways to minimize their tax burdens, using loopholes and financial strategies that allow them to pay far less percentage-wise than everyday Americans. While many assume the ultra-wealthy contribute significantly to the nation’s tax revenue, the reality is that their effective tax rates — what they pay relative to their total wealth — are far lower than those of middle-class and working-class individuals. Their methods to shield their fortunes are legal, yet they contribute to widening economic inequality and an ever-growing fiscal deficit. The disparity between billionaire and working-class tax rates was highlighted in a live chat hosted by The Washington Post. Journalist Jeff Stein responded to a user asking about billionaires paying their fair share in taxes. He pointed out that while billionaires pay large sums in taxes, their effective tax rate remains much lower than that of the average American. He explained that one key reason is the ability of...

For generations, the idea of retirement was wrapped in images of palm trees, golf courses, and pastel-colored condos lining the Florida coast. But for today’s retirees, those images are changing. The decision of where to retire is no longer just about sunshine and tax incentives; it’s about affordability, quality of life, and long-term stability. Instead of heading south, many retirees are opting for places like the Midwest, trading palm trees for pine forests, ocean waves for mountain peaks, and high insurance rates for financial security. And this shift isn’t random. For decades, Florida has been synonymous with retirement. The Sunshine State’s warm climate, tax advantages, and retirement-friendly communities made it the ultimate destination for older Americans. However, recent trends suggest that the tides are turning. A new study from Mirador Living, titled “Retirement Expectations vs. Reality: Factors that Impact Retirement Decisions,” reveals a surprising shift in where...