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Abu Dhabi’s vibrant dining scene in the United Arab Emirates is getting a taste of New York City, NY, with the opening of Brooklyn Chop House at the W Abu Dhabi—Yas Island. According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, the iconic Asian-fusion steakhouse will make its international debut on Nov. 30, 2024, located in what is reportedly the world’s only hotel built over a Formula 1 racetrack . The new business will replace the former Indian eatery, Angar, and the Italian restaurant, Amici. “We are thrilled to bring the vibrant essence of Brooklyn Chop House to Abu Dhabi,” said founders Robert “Don Pooh” Cummins and David Thomas. “ This opening is not just about introducing our signature blend of Asian-inspired steakhouse cuisine; it’s about creating a cultural fusion that reflects New York City’s energy while embracing the UAE’s warmth and hospitality.” Brooklyn Chop House Abu Dhabi intends to provide a premium dining experience that mirrors the energy of New York City while...
East Chop Capital has closed its funding and will deploy capital to Black investors. According to a press release provided to AFROTECH™, the private equity firm’s founders and HBCU graduates Calvin L. Butts Jr. and Carrington Carter have closed an $11 million fund, which draws equity investments from 93 limited partnerships, including Liberty Financial Services. This brings East Chop Capital’s total raise to $15 million. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, $4 million in 2021 had been raised to support its presence in the global vacation market, which is projected to reach $132.7 billion in 2033, as reported by Future Market Insight. East Chop Capital is poised to achieve a 25% return, taking into consideration the fees or expenses involved in overseeing the fund. With additional capital at its disposal, East Chop Capital is poised to amplify its efforts in the initial round, with plans already set in motion to invest in Florida and Texas. “Fund II is about scale and pattern...
NLE Choppa has made it clear, with both his actions and words, that he has no intention of merely being known as “just a rapper.” Born Bryson Lashun Potts in Memphis, TN, the rising Hip-Hop superstar has already started diversifying his interests outside of the music industry. On Sept. 27, AfroTech reported that Potts launched a vegan food truck that, he hoped, would be the flashpoint for change in his economically depressed neighborhood. NLE’s This Can’t Be Vegan Food Truck Is Official Up And Running. First Pop Up Will Be At The Eat To Live Vegan Fest At 645 E Georgia Ave, Memphis, TN 38126 FOLLOW @nlethiscantbevegan On Instagram For More Updates On Locations In The Future 💜 pic.twitter.com/y1rjvFg3rg — NLE Choppa (@Nlechoppa1) September 25, 2021 “Memphis, I feel like, is a place where vegan food is needed the most ’cause I know, just by getting our hands on better food will change the thought process,” NLE Choppa said. “Possibly the crime rate will go down, scholars will go up,...
NLE Choppa is enacting change in his hometown of Memphis, TN with his latest venture. In a Twitter post on Sept. 25, the budding rapper announced the launch of his vegan food truck — This Can’t Be Vegan. NLE’s This Can’t Be Vegan Food Truck Is Official Up And Running. First Pop Up Will Be At The Eat To Live Vegan Fest At 645 E Georgia Ave, Memphis, TN 38126 FOLLOW @nlethiscantbevegan On Instagram For More Updates On Locations In The Future 💜 pic.twitter.com/y1rjvFg3rg — NLE Choppa (@Nlechoppa1) September 25, 2021 NLE Choppa envisions his vegan food truck as a means to help decrease Memphis’ crime rate, as well as to improve education. “Memphis, I feel like, is a place where vegan food is needed the most ’cause I know, just by getting our hands on better food will change the thought process,” he said in a video on Twitter. “Possibly the crime rate will go down, scholars will go up, anything. Bro, I have a vegan food truck that will be mobile across the city, from hood to hood, suburb...
The singer-songwriter is honoring Mental Health Awareness Month with an all-new meditation program. This week, Forbes reported that Alicia Keys announced a partnership with self-care guru Dr. Deepak Chopra’s Chopra Global to launch an integrated 21-day meditation experience titled, “Activating the Divine Feminine: The Path to Wholeness,” which focuses on “collective healing through accessing The Divine Feminine” and restoring joy in users’ lives. “I believe the Divine Feminine is an extremely powerful force within all of us,” Keys says according to ESSENCE. “It helps you grow, it helps you create, it cultivates who you are. There’s a major imbalance in our world, and we can all feel it. To counteract it, we have to open the door to the Divine Feminine in us and its ability to repair and create.” The outlet shares that Keys’ new free program — which exists within The Chopra App — aims to help listeners find the balance between their feminine and masculine powers and “return to peace...
When Hip-Hop meets tech, you get late Houston legend DJ Screw who innovated recording technology in a way that birthed a chopped and screwed movement that still exists today. In an effort to carry on Screw’s music legacy, Houston music authority OG Ron C founded The Chopstars — a Houston-based collective of DJs and turntablists — to preserve the chopped and screwed technique. The Chopstars — which consists of members like DJ Candlestick, DJ Lil Steve, DJ Hollygrove, and others — all adopted this special technique and have managed to maintain its momentum in the music industry for nearly two decades. “Chopping and screwing, in essence, is turntablism/DJing,” The Chopstars’ DJ Slim K shared. “What makes it innovative is the fact that it’s one of, if not, the only DJ technique [that exists] in 2020 where you still have to use turntable skills.” Unlike today’s class of DJs who heavily rely on recording technology to do most of the work for them, The Chopstars make use of their skills to...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. During Donald Trump’s second presidential campaign, his relationship with the tech industry was highlighted due to his budding relationship with Elon Musk , who spent $288 million to help elect Trump. While many people in tech believe this is when the federal government started to embrace the tech industry, the relationship with the federal government was started by former President Barack Obama during his campaign and subsequently expanded while he was in office. Obama first supported technology via social media on the presidential campaign trail in 2008. Facebook had been founded on Harvard University’s campus four years before his campaign, and due to its connection with the younger electorate, he leveraged it in a way not seen before, though it has been seen since with Donald Trump’s embrace of X. Obama’s campaign used Facebook to target younger voters, empower grassroots organizations, and...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. The heart of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is about creating equitable access to opportunities, but unfortunately we are seeing the ladder of opportunity be systematically pulled up ever since President Donald Trump started his second term. Once he was sworn in, a slew of companies in the private sector, including large tech companies like Amazon and Meta, rolled back their previous commitments to DEI, with some in the financial sector like banks JPMorgan Chase and Citi Group following suit. This focus on the rollback of DEI is not only impacting the private sector but the world of education as well. Through Critical Race Theory (CRT), which started as a legal topic back in the 1970s and 1980s at Harvard Law School, Derrick Bell argued that racism appears in policies, even when these policies seem neutral. He stated that they are not just on the individual level but are present institutionally...
Student loan borrowers may be experiencing whiplash this year, as the rules and guidelines for repayment have continued to see massive sweeping changes. If you’ve been following along with political news in recent months, you’re likely already aware of the fact that president Donald Trump has plans to dismantle – and perhaps entirely abolish , the Department of Education. This is a far cry from Joe Biden’s economic plans , which included wiping out millions in student loan debt over the course of his term, and setting the stage for additional loan forgiveness down the line. Whether you’re a borrower concerned about your financial future, or just a passive onlooker questioning the economic impact of Trump’s many executive orders , you may be interested in what happens to unpaid student loans when and if the Department of Education goes the way of the dodo bird. Luckily we’ve got you covered, with a comprehensive look into the history of the Department of Education, what Trump is...
Issa Rae refers to Sienna Naturals’ expansion with Sephora as a “dream come true.” Rae co-founded the award-winning hair care brand Sienna Naturals, which was first envisioned by Hannah Diop in 2012. Diop, reflecting on her own challenges in finding hair products that met her needs, recalls how clarifying shampoos fell short in restoring her hair’s health during her time on the swim team. This firsthand experience played a pivotal role in shaping Sienna Naturals, a brand founded on a proprietary clean chemistry approach that prioritizes scalp health , according t o the brand’s website. The haircare line is powered by hydrating, abiotic, pH-balanced ingredients (H.A.P.I.). “The first impression I want people to have when they use Sienna Naturals is how beautiful their hair is. So that wet-feel design is very intentional,” Diop told AFROTECH™. Photo Credit: Sienna Naturals When Rae discovered Sienna Naturals, she was in the process of learning how to best care for her natural hair...
If you’ve been tapped in to the world of business news in recent months, you’re likely well aware that DEI measures are firmly on the chopping block, thanks to the Trump administration . The DEI framework, which seeks to support diversity, equity and inclusion within the workplace, has been an invaluable tool in the national marketplace to ensure that those in marginalized communities are given a fair shot at employment and upward mobility. Much like other social programs, such as affirmative action, DEI has been integral to the success of disabled individuals, underprivileged youths and those who identify as part of the LGBTQ community . Unfortunately, a powerful minority of fringe right-wing lawmakers have taken issue with DEI initiatives and have quixotically maligned the entire practice as discriminatory. Since the newly established White House cabinet has become so dead-set on eliminating DEI measures across the board, legal requirements for fair hiring practices have already...
If you’ve been plugged into the stand-up comedy scene at all in the last decade or so, you’re likely well acquainted with the name Roy Wood Jr. The hilarious comedian, best known for his work as a long-time correspondent and occasional guest host on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” can most recently be seen cracking up the panel on CNN’s “Have I Got News For You.” Wood may not have invented the comedy news genre, though he’s certainly put his own entertaining spin on it, having gone on to head such significant events as the White House Correspondents Dinner . His latest stand-up comedy special, “Lonely Flowers,” premiered on Hulu today, Jan. 17. Since Roy Wood Jr has become such a hot commodity in the world of comedy lately, it only makes sense that fans are wondering just how much cash he’s taken in with his numerous hosting and writing gigs. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive guide to Wood’s life, career and overall net worth. Wood’s Early Life And Career...
If the workforce were a playlist, 2025 would give “Renaissance” by Beyoncé — a vibe shift, a reset, and a clear signal that the world of work is hitting some new high notes. The game is changing, and whether it’s artificial intelligence (AI) running point, the return of curated travel experiences, or frontline roles making a comeback, one thing is clear: opportunities are out here, but they won’t fall into your lap. For Black professionals, the stakes are high. Job competition is fierce, with 2.5 applicants per role compared to 1.5 in 2022. Confidence is shaky, and hiring managers ghost candidates like they forgot the assignment. However, according to LinkedIn’s Jobs on the Rise 2025 report , nearly 60% of these roles are fresh on the scene, signaling change and opportunity. “Fields like AI, experiential industries, and frontline jobs are booming, offering fresh opportunities to break into spaces where we’ve historically been underrepresented,” says Andrew McCaskill. AI: The...
If you grew up watching classic sitcoms of the 1980s and 1990s, you’re surely already aware of Jaleel White. The former child star, best known for his breakout role as Steve Urkel on the ABC series “Family Matters ,” has grown to become a veritable superstar since he got his big break over 30 years ago. Those looking to find White in something a little more modern should tune into the Disney+ original series, “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew,” which premiered on Dec. 2. The show, which has already amassed tons of positive reviews from critics and general audiences alike, sees the beloved entertainer fighting against the forces of intergalactic evil in a galaxy far, far away, alongside the likes of Jude Law, Nick Frost and Tunde Adebimpe. Since Jaleel White has been all over newsfeeds lately, many fans have begun to wonder just how well the actor has saved his sitcom salary and diversified his financial portfolio. Luckily, we’ve got you covered, with a comprehensive guide to Jaleel’s life,...