You May Still Qualify For A $1,400 Stimulus Check — Here’s How To Find Out

The efforts of a financial institution created to fund underserved farmers is being put on pause. According to a news release, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in October 2024 the launch of the Southern Farmers Financial Association (SFFA), a bank that would make it easier for underserved farmers to access funding. Black farmers, in particular, face greater challenges in securing loans and often encounter discriminatory practices, Civil Eats mentions. To create better outcomes, Southern Farmers Financial Association r eceived $20 million in funding through former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Inflation Reduction Act, which would support lending and outreach, hiring full-time staff, and attracting private sector capital. “Every farmer needs affordable financing. Farmers must have reliable and consistent access to capital to be successful,” USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Dr. Basil Gooden said in a news release. “For too...

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....

A portion of Notorious B.I.G.’s estate will now be handled by Primary Wave. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, a deal rumored to be in the “eight figures” was in the works between Notorious B.I.G.’s estate and the music publisher and involved half his publishing and master rights, including his rights to name, image, voice, and “other identifiable characteristics.” Notorious B.I.G.’s estate had been primarily run by his mother, Voletta Wallace, who was instrumental in securing stake from Bad Boy Records. Christopher Wallace, otherwise known as Biggie Smalls or Notorious B.I.G., had been one of the first artists to sign to the label owned by Sean “Diddy” Combs. Bad Boy Records had 50% stake in his songwriting catalog, Variety mentions. Voletta was able to increase the estate’s stake to 85% after arguing it was doing the heavy lifting in securing deals to license and monetize Notorious B.I.G.’s music. She then secured the remaining 15% stake in 2020. “Securing control of my son’s...

Carmelo Anthony’s intro into solo investing paid off big time. In 2006, Daniel Huang and Shawn Dougherty bootstrapped mStation with a $250,000 investment, developing speakers and cases for iPods and MP3 players, according to Forbes. Within their first year, they generated $1 million in revenue, most of the earnings coming from North America. The founders went on to make some power moves with the help of Carmelo Anthony, who was an active NBA player at the time. Here’s how. The Carmelo Anthony Effect In 2007, Huang and Dougherty acquired Mophie, which was responsible for creating the OG portable battery for iPhones. Forbes notes the pair created a battery-powered case, and Mophie’s revenue scaled from $2.6 million in 2008 to $200 million by 2013. Mophie’s revenue was predicted to reach $1 billion within the next five years. “What we got from them that we didn’t have was a global Apple retail presence, customers in 60 plus countries, and a diversification into the case business,”...

If you’ve ever casually flipped through the television channels in search of something to watch, you probably already have a cursory knowledge of Tyler Perry’s massive TV empire . The writer, director, producer and actor has spent the last two decades absolutely dominating the film and television world, with such acclaimed projects as “Why Did I Get Married,” “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” and more recently, “Beauty In Black.” Perry has brokered exclusive deals with entertainment giants including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and has even opened a massive studio facility in Atlanta, which spans over 330 acres. The New Orleans native has also spoken at length about his mission to support Black actors, writers and filmmakers through his expanding empire, even serving as a mentor to 50 Cent . Since Tyler Perry has become such an enormous part of the Hollywood system, it only makes sense that fans far and wide have started searching for ways to get involved. Luckily, we’ve got the...

It appears a four-year partnership between Buy From a Black Woman and H&M has come to an end. According to a press release, the nonprofit, founded by Nikki Porcher in 2016, has partnered with H&M since International Women’s Day in 2021. Together, they have supported 30 Black women through accelerator programs and helped over 15 founders obtain their Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification within two years. On its own, Buy from A Black Women has hosted over 100 workshops and trainings, awarded 45 business grants, and provided 20 relief fund stipends to Black women business owners. Between 2022 and 2023, Buy From a Black Woman was able to drive more than $2.7 million in revenue towards Black woman founders. In 2023, Buy From a Black Woman and H&M hosted the The Inspire Tour, which was the brainchild of Porcher since 2019, and it reached various cities including Philadelphia, PA ; Charlotte, NC ; Houston, TX ; Los Angeles, CA; and Atlanta, GA. The aim was to amplify...

Swizz Beatz is one of the most influential producers and entrepreneurs in the music industry, known for crafting chart-topping hits while expanding his business empire beyond music. His career spans decades, from producing for top artists like Jay-Z and DMX to co-owning major brands and making strategic investments in art and real estate. With multiple revenue streams, Swizz Beatz has built substantial wealth, but how much is he actually worth today? Let’s explore his music career, business ventures, and financial success before revealing Swizz Beatz’s net worth in 2025. Swizz Beatz’s Rise in the Music Industry Born Kasseem Dean in The Bronx, Swizz Beatz entered the music industry as a teenager in the late 1990s. His uncles founded Ruff Ryders Entertainment, and through their connections, he started producing tracks for DMX, Eve, and The LOX. His breakout came with DMX’s 1998 hit “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem,” which became a defining moment in hip-hop. As a producer, Swizz Beatz developed a...

Hybrid and electric vehicles have been a big trend in recent years as new and innovative technologies prioritize convenience and sustainability. BYD (Build Your Dreams) is a Chinese company that has positioned itself as a dominant force, leveraging cutting-edge technology to challenge the industry’s established leaders . One of the most recognizable brands in the EV industry is Elon Musk’s Tesla . While Tesla has long been regarded as the undisputed innovator in this realm, BYD is steadily carving out its own niche. In global markets with impressive advancements in EV technology, vertical integration and growing sales figures the question is no longer if BYD can compete with Tesla, but how it will continue to close the gap. The foreign company is already doing well for itself in terms of both market share and technological prowess. BYD was founded in 1995 in Shenzhen, China. It is a publicly traded company with major holdings under the control of Wang Chuanfu, the founder and...