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TikTok may be hindering its own future as it faces significant challenges that could lead to a ban in the United States . According to Fortune, a recent court hearing highlighted the app’s legal battle against a law requiring the China-based platform to be sold to a non-Chinese entity by Jan. 19, 2025, or risk being banned in America. The U.S. government’s worries center on the possibility of the Chinese government influencing content and accessing user data. During the hearings on Sept. 16, 2024, at the U.S. Court of Appeals, TikTok’s lawyers reasserted that such a sale would be impractical and infringed on the U.S. right to free speech . As AFROTECH™ previously reported, t he Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act — which TikTok is the subject of — is advancing in Congress, which could enforce parent company ByteDance’s sale of the app and restrict TikTok’s operations further in the U.S. A modified version of the bill, which was proposed to “...
Victoria Monét is the latest star to bring her talents to the video game industry. The “Jaguar II” crooner took to X, formerly Twitter, to share the news that her dance moves have made it to “Fortnite.” The popular online video game and platform, developed by Epic Games, was first released in 2017. For one of its games, “Fortnite Battle Royale,” the main objective is to be the last one standing on Battle Royale Island. Playable characters can “loot, build, explore, and fight” against 99 other players in the match to be declared the winner. Now, Monét is bringing the moves and choreography for her hit single “On My Mama” to the video game. “Fornite said lemme show ya’ll why they’re called V bucks,” she said in a post shared via X. “The ‘Lookin Good’ emote inspired by ‘On My Mama’ by Victoria Monét is now available.” The “On My Mama” music video, which now has amassed 62 million views on YouTube, is directed by Los Angeles, CA-based Grammy-nominated creator, child, per BET. It was...
It looks like TikTok is standing firm on not going down without a fight. In April 2024, AFROTECH™ previously reported that President Joe Biden signed a law to ban TikTok if its owner, ByteDance, didn’t sell it within a year. The bill followed the House of Representatives’ introduction in March of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act , which aims to “protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications.” A main allegation that has come from U.S. government officials is that TikTok puts Americans’ personal data in danger of being exposed to the Chinese government, which catalyzed Biden’s law. However, TikTok has doubled down on stating the claim is false, saying it hosts data on U.S.-owned Oracle servers, according to CNN . “We will not stop fighting and advocating for you,” TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew shared in a previous statement on its platform, per AP News. “We will continue to do...
Our mindset shapes not only our perception of the world but also our perception of ourselves. Embracing an abundance mindset can lead to a transformative shift in perspective, helping to alter not only our outlook but our lifestyle. This mindset is a philosophy that embraces the belief that there is more than enough of everything to go around – whether it’s wealth, success, love or opportunities . Author Stephen Covey first introduced the concept of the “abundance mindset” in his book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Covey describes an abundance mindset as the belief that the world provides plentiful resources and time, offering ample opportunities to accomplish one’s goals . Covey also coined the term “ scarcity mindset, ” the opposite of abundance thinking. Those with a scarcity mindset perceive a lack of time or resources to achieve their objectives. This mindset often leads to negative thoughts and short-term thinking. What Is An Abundance Mindset? At its core, the...
Dance transcends the arena stage for Larry and Laurent Bourgeois, otherwise known as Les Twins. While our favorite duo continue to impress audiences on Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, they have taken up other avenues to spread positivity and make a difference.
Juicy J’s “Bandz A Make Her Dance” seems to be taking on an entirely new meaning as exotic dancers have been proposed to enter the metaverse. You read that right. No longer are adult entertainment venues constricted to some of the famous names touted by Drake — Tootsie’s, Magic City, and King of Diamonds. One company presented the idea of people sitting in the comfort of their homes and making it rain in the metaverse. But how is this possible?
With two decades in the game, Bow Wow still isn’t letting up on his hustle. In February, the rapper announced his partnership with KISS Colors & Care as its celebrity ambassador, as previously reported by AfroTech. Fast forward to a month later, he’s now the face of the Polaris Make Your Mark campaign, HipHopDX reports. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Slingshot® (@polarisslingshot) As he continues to work with brands, Bow Wow acknowledged in an interview with the outlet that his business ventures’ success is thanks to Jay-Z and Diddy blazing the path before him. “He’s definitely one of the [firsts],” he said in reference to Ice-T sharing in a past interview about Snoop Dogg being a pioneer of the rapper turned mogul pipeline. “I think what Ice-T probably means is this was the first gangster rapper; somebody who came up gang-banging and all of a sudden, everybody in America loves him. And we can credit him for that. But for, me JAY-Z and Puff as rappers in Hip Hop were...
Dancing makes the world go round and it could pay off in the long run. Groovetime — a dance marketplace platform — is on a mission to not only teach dance through motion tracking and AI technology but to also help folks monetize those moves along the way. “At Groovetime, we believe that everyone should have a chance to experience dance,” said the company in an official press release shared with AfroTech, while explaining that it has pivoted to the non-fungible token (NFT) space. View this post on Instagram A post shared by GROOVETIME (@itsgroovetime)
Laurieann Gibson is here to make the world dance! The renowned Emmy Award-nominated director, producer, author, choreographer and pop culture innovator has joined forces with Cinedigm to launch the BOP (Born Out Of Passion) Network. It will be the first multimedia streaming service offering an all-inclusive slate of global dance-related programming. “Not only is BOP a dream come true, but it is born out of passion,” said Gibson in an exclusive interview with AfroTech. “BOP is all things dance. It is a new, global network streaming service, an entertainment value that has yet to be established and experienced. It is the joy that dance brings, the hope and aspirational aspect of it, the whole razzle-dazzle.” Laurieann Gibson started out as a dancer, however, throughout her career she has built superstars — from Diddy to Megan Thee Stallion to Alicia Keys and beyond. She’s even cultivated international superstars on hit reality shows like “Beyond the Spotlight,” “Dance Moms,” “Making...
The Black TikTok strike made headlines last month after Black creators seemingly refused to create choreography to Megan Thee Stallion’s “Thot Sh*t” single for non-Black TikTokers to steal without giving credit. However, that wasn’t the beginning and end of the strike’s mission. In fact, the Black TikTok strike was never solely about Black creators refusing to create dances. The real reason for the strike was fueled by users who were fed up and frustrated with the way Black creativity on apps like TikTok is constantly stolen, replicated and profited off of for the benefit of others. According to TikTok influencer Erick Louis — whose viral video helped spark the beginning of the strike — he originally joined the app back in November because he saw the community being built by Black TikTokers that stirred joy, education and entertainment on the platform. However, it’s been disheartening for him to see the way Black creators are excluded and taken advantage of while TikTok does little...
Black TikTokers are fed up with not getting the credit they deserve for starting social media’s most popular dance trends. Now they’re going on an online strike to protest against white creators who steal their work. Most recently, there have been several reports that state Black creators on the video sharing platform have staged a strike refusing to make a new dance to Megan Thee Stallion’s newest TikTok-made song, “Thot S**t.” Reason being, Black TikTokers don’t want to see white creators stealing yet another dance trend from them. This past weekend, TikTok creator Erick Louis (@theericklouis) posted a video online saying that he made up a new dance to Megan’s song but before he could reveal it, text on the video said, “Sike. This app would be nothing without [Black] people.” @theericklouis If y’all do the dance pls tag me ? it’s my first dance on Tik tok and I don’t need nobody stealing/not crediting ♬ Thot Shit – Megan Thee Stallion According to Insider, other Black creators...
One choreographer has had it with people stealing other people’s dance moves and not giving them the proper credit. Variety reports JaQuel Knight — who became best known for his work on Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” video, and has since gone on to work for the likes of Megan Thee Stallion — has formed a one-of-a-kind company called Knight Productions and Music Publishing Inc. The Queen Bey’s choreographer will be copyrighting his signature dance moves under this umbrella and has made history as the first to do so in the process. “Copyrighting movement is about putting the power back in the artist’s hands,” Knight said to Variety, as part of the announcement. “We set a historic precedent with our ‘Single Ladies’ copyright achievement, and we are thrilled to be launching Knight Choreography & Music Publishing, Inc. so that the next generation of artists are afforded the same platform, resources, and tools to thrive, creatively and financially, in the commercial music...
The New York Times shared breaking news from federal health agencies early Tuesday morning (Apr. 13) recommending that the United States put a temporary halt on administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine following reports that six individuals developed a rare disorder involving blood clots within two weeks of vaccination. CNN reports that a joint statement from Dr. Peter Marks — director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research — and Dr. Anne Schuchat — principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — was released stating, the following: “[The] CDC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Wednesday to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. [The] FDA will review that analysis as it also investigates these cases. Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of...
Africa’s budding music scene has garnered attention from companies and labels all over for the past few years, making it a major global player. Now Apple Music is stepping up to create a dedicated platform to pay homage to its roots. Isgubhu — which is a Zulu word meaning “beat” — is Apple Music’s exclusive destination for all things dedicated to African Dance and Electro music, including subgenres like Gqom, Amapiano, Kwaito, Mzansi House, Deep House and Shangaan Electro. According to a press release, the new platform aims to honor an evergreen set of genres and artists who have been pivotal in shaping the Dance and Electronic scene around the world like South African artists Black Coffee and DJ Lag, Kenyan producers Euggy and Slikback, prolific Ugandan group Nihiloxica. “Apple Music has been a long term supporter of the incredible DJs, artists and producers within the Dance and Electronic music community in Africa and we’re very excited about the launch of Isgubhu,” said Stephen...