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A passion area for Shannae Ingleton-Smith has blossomed into a 6-year-old talent management firm prioritizing diverse creators. Ingleton-Smith understands the nuances of the creator economy, having worked as an influencer who was earning revenue and steadily securing more deals. She also co-led a Facebook group with a close friend that helped Black creators learn how to advocate for themselves and negotiate opportunities. This even led to a mention by a Forbes writer who highlighted the significant revenue creators were generating through the group. In addition, while actively working in a corporate role, Ingleton-Smith began receiving requests from creators to become their manager. “I was working full time, and I had a job. And I was just like, ‘I’m just doing this for fun. I’m learning and I like helping people. I don’t expect to be paid doing this.’ That was my mentality initially,” she said in an interview with AFROTECH™. “Then I think after the fourth or fifth person asked me...
Aaliyah’s legacy will forever be cemented into the culture, but a new collection honors the late singer for both her exceptional talents and the love she had for Detroit, MI, just in time for International Women’s Day. According to Complex, KITH has released an exclusive line of apparel featuring photos of the “Rock The Boat” singer that have never been seen by the public before thanks to a partnership with her estate and photographer Robert Whitman. The collection is a personal one for KITH founder, Ronnie Fieg, who has been a fan of the New York-born, Detroit-raised singer. Her impact continues to touch the lives of generations of fans both past and present. It might even attract even more fans debuting just months following reports previously made by AfroTech about the long journey to clearing the musician’s catalog for streaming services.
Aaliyah and her reign continues. When Aaliyah’s “One In A Million” album first released in 1996, it peaked at No. 18 despite influencing the music industry and being a fan favorite. Fast forward to 25 years later, HipHopDX reported that the late singer’s sophomore project — which recently became available on streaming platforms — has reentered the Billboard 200 and secured the No. 10 spot. According to MRC Data, “One in a Million” sold 26,000 equivalent album units. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blackground Records 2.0 (@blackgroundrecords2.0) After a drawn out legal battle between her label Blackground Records — now renamed Blackground Records 2.0 — and her estate, fans were finally granted their wish of access to Aaliyah’s entire discography. As previously reported by AfroTech, Blackground Records 2.0 partnered with Empire, an independent distribution company, for Aaliyah’s music to go digital. On Aug. 20, 2021, “One In A Million” kicked off the R&B icon’s music...
Aaliyah fans are in for a huge treat. According to Forbes, the late singer’s music could soon be available on streaming platforms. Aaliyah — who passed tragically at the age of 22 — singlehandedly changed the music industry as one of the most influential singers of R&B. To this day, her music continues to impact the masses. Now, it will reportedly make the transition into the digital age. The official paperwork has been reportedly been completed to share her music digitally with a staggered rollout of her music onto streaming platforms starting with “One In A Million” (1996) on Aug. 20. The only music from the singer that lives on streaming platforms is her 1994 debut album, “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number.” Her “One In a Million” hit, which was released in 1996, along with the self-titled album “Aaliyah” released just one month before her death in 2001, is noticeably missing from streaming platforms. Plus, singles like “Are You That Somebody?” Documents reveal that the music...
Cleveland, OH’s first Black-owned brewery has touched down. The origins of Black Frog Brewery traces back to 2014 when its founder Christopher Harris, who is also a husband, father, and veteran, began working on the craft from his garage, an Instagram post reveals. Two years later, he scaled the business from his garage to its first location in Holland, OH, and it has been a part of the nearby community ever since. According to its website, Black Frog Brewery offers five different core beers crafted in-house: Amphibian (Pale Ale); Flying Frog (India Pale Ales); Cream of the Frog (Cream Ale); Ebony Prince (Milk Stout); and Froglicious (Honey Brown Porter). It also offers specific brews for its summer, spring, fall, and winter seasons and has a lineup to honor legends in the Hip Hop community such as Left Eye (Kolsch Watermelon) and Aaliyah (Kolsch Raspberry). “Our Hip Hop Beer Series, where we raise a glass to hip hop legends! Each brew is crafted with inspiration from our...
DEI terms are being removed from some public colleges. According to a landing page from The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17, titled “Responsibility of Governing Boards Regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives,” on June 14, 2023. The bill restricts diversity, equity, and inclusion offices, as well as the programs, activities, and trainings across public institutions of higher education. It went into effect in January 2024. “DEI programs have been shown to be exclusive, they have been shown to be ineffective and they have shown to be politically charged,” Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, the ban’s author, stated on the Senate floor, according to The Texas Tribune in February 2024. “Many of these programs have been weaponized to compel speech instead of protecting free speech.” An internal memo shared in November 2024 by TikTok user momuniversity, who was a UT Austin educator at the time, provided updated...
Russell Simmons , a pivotal figure in the music and fashion industries, has amassed significant wealth over the decades. This fortune stems primarily from his groundbreaking contributions to hip-hop culture, business ventures, and media endeavors. Simmons is best known as the co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, a label that helped launch the careers of iconic artists like LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, and Run-D.M.C. Building Wealth Through Music The foundation of Simmons’ net worth lies in his revolutionary work in music. Def Jam Recordings , which he co-founded with Rick Rubin in 1984, became one of the most influential labels in hip-hop history. The label’s success, fueled by signing game-changing artists, established Simmons as a major player in the music industry. By the late 1990s, he sold his stake in Def Jam to Universal Music Group for a reported $100 million, cementing his financial success. Expanding Into Fashion Simmons didn’t stop with music. In 1992, Russel Simmons ventured...
Eve is making major business moves — specifically by securing a major deal. According to Music Business Worldwide, Olivier Chastan’s acquisition firm, Iconoclast, announced on Wednesday, Sept. 25, that it acquired the publishing rights to the double platinum-selling Hip-Hop artist’s catalog. “Eve’s contributions to hip hop and popular culture are unparalleled. She’s not only a great artist but a true pioneer for women in the genre,” Chastan, founder and CEO of Iconoclast, said. “We are honored to help preserve and elevate her incredible legacy, ensuring that her influence continues to inspire future generations of artists and fans alike,” he added. Eve’s claim to fame came in the late 1990s with her debut album, “Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady,” which catapulted her to top the Billboard 200 — the third female rapper ever to do so. Iconoclast described her as a “trailblazer” and a “defining voice in hip-hop, known for her lyrical prowess, dynamic flow, and unique fusion of...
GloRilla hopped on the rap scene in 2022 and hasn’t looked back since. The Memphis rap scene may be getting tons of attention now, but its impact has deep roots that go back to some of the early years of Hip-Hop. From artists like 8Ball & MJG to the Oscar award-winning group Three 6 Mafia, the Memphis rap sound is a staple among fans of the genre. And newer artists like GloRilla ensure the sound remains at Hip-Hop’s forefront. GloRilla Quickly Rises To The Top From the church pews to the Hip-Hop stage, GloRilla’s journey is a testament to resilience. Born Gloria Hallelujah Woods, AFROTECH™ previously reported that the rapper’s musical roots were planted in the church, a common starting point for many Black artists. Raised in a religious family, the Memphis native’s first musical passion was singing. However, when life threw her a curveball in the form of losing her voice, she didn’t give up. Instead, she discovered a new love for rap and released her first mixtape under her original...
If at first you don’t succeed, the late singer Aaliyah said “dust yourself off and try again.” And for entrepreneur Randy Hazelton that worked. Now, Hazelton says his company, H&H Hospitality, is on track to reach $50 million in revenue by the end of 2023 and “rise to $100 million in 2025,” according to Forbes.
If you feel nostalgia when you hear Aaliyah’s “One In a Million” or Ginuwine’s “Pony,” then you have been impacted by the musical prowess of mega-producer Timbaland. With a decades-long musical catalog and an ever-evolving entrepreneurial strategy, the Virginia native shared his insight and expertise at AFROTECH 2023.
A wise woman once said, “If at first, you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again.” And while the late Aaliyah was hinting at an exchange between her and a potential suitor, the same applies when it comes to shooting your shot as an entrepreneur — just ask the founders of Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria.
Legendary producer Timbaland is coming in with a lesson about self-worth for aspiring creatives. The Virginia native opened up about the current climate of producers in the industry, noting that he believes young creatives aren’t placing enough value on their artistry, thus their pay is reflecting it. At one point, Timbaland even revealed that he was making up to $500,000 per song at the height of his career, creating classics alongside fellow icons like Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, Ludacris, and more.
When the business idea stems from your own need for something the market does not provide, it’s bound to be a hit! For 13-year-old Aaliyah, the idea for Awesomeliyou came from her own need to have a heating pad on the go due to the effects of her menstrual cycle. “One day I was on my period and I was on my couch and I was cramping really badly and my mom had to go and pick up a relative so I had to come with her and I was so upset because I had to part ways with my heating pad, but I just sucked it up and went,” she shared in a video posted on the Internet. “As I was going out the door, I was talking to my mom and I was like, ‘You know, somebody should create a leak-proof period panty with a heating pad that’s like portable.’ And my mom was like ‘You should do that.'” I love it pic.twitter.com/43QVldK8H9 — Tamorah Shareef Muhammad (@ModestyQueen19) August 11, 2022
The Weeknd’s chart-topping hit “Blinding Lights” shattered records spending 90 weeks on the Hot 100 Chart. The accomplishment earned the three-time Grammy winner the top spot on Billboard’s Greatest Songs of All Time Hot 100 Chart, surpassing Chubber Checker’s classic hit “The Twist.” To celebrate, Autograph will be partnering with The Weeknd and Billboard to launch a limited edition NFT collection. “This collaboration highlights a momentous achievement and a very special moment in time for one of the most influential artists today,” said Julian Holguin, President of Billboard, in a press release provided to AfroTech. “We’re thrilled to celebrate that moment and translate the most quoted rankings in music to innovative, new formats. The digital trading cards and NFTs launched in partnership with Autograph will truly capture the excitement that ‘Blinding Lights’ inspires and allow fans to own a defining moment in music history.” As AfroTech previously told you, Autograph — the NFT...