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Smokey Robinson Went From Earning $5 A Week At Motown To Becoming The Label's Vice President

Smokey Robinson’s journey in the music industry was one filled with humble beginnings. The multi-hyphenate artist and producer was the lead singer of The Miracles as early as 15 years old, Vulture reports. The group was instrumental to Berry Gordy, who helped bring their talent to his record label, Motown Records, making them one of its first artists when it was founded in 1959. “Berry sat us down. He said, ‘Imma start my own record company. Ain’t nobody paying. Imma start my own record company, and we gonna be the crew, and we’re not just going to make Black music,'” Robinson said on the “R&B Money” podcast. “‘We’re going to make music for the world. We’re going to always have some great beats and some great stories, and that’s going to be our quality control to have that when we put our records out, but we going to make music for the world.'” Robinson’s early days at the label were filled with sacrifices. He recalls earning just $5 a week when the label first started. “Berry had...

Feb 26, 2025

Kendrick Lamar Sees 175% Spike In Spotify Streams After Super Bowl LIX Halftime

Kendrick Lamar received mixed reactions from the public over his Super Bowl LIX halftime performance — but it led to a nearly 175% increase in Spotify streams across the United States. According to an Instagram post shared by Spotify on Feb. 10, 2025, several songs from Lamar’s halftime setlist experienced significant boosts. “Not Like Us” — the popular Drake-aimed diss track released in May 2024 — saw a 430% increase, followed by “HUMBLE,” which rose 300%. “DNA,” which, along with “HUMBLE,” is from the 2017 album “DAMN,” experienced a 260% increase. “Luther,” performed with SZA, and “tv off,” featuring lefty gunplay, both experienced a 170% increase in streams. SZA also benefited from the performance, with an 80% increase in her Spotify streams.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Spotify News (@spotifynews) Exactly one week after winning five Grammy Awards — bringing his total to 22 — Lamar performed 10 songs at Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9, 2025, including five tracks...

Feb 11, 2025

As Kendrick Lamar Prepares To Take The Super Bowl LIX Halftime Stage With SZA, His Agency PGLang Will Lead The Show's Sound Technology And Production

As Kendrick Lamar prepares to take center stage at Super Bowl LIX, alongside SZA, keep a close eye on the production. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Apple Music (@applemusic) It will all be spearheaded by Lamar’s agency pgLang, which embraces creators from authors, film and television directors, producers, musicians , and more who are aligned in the vision to produce “quality” and “unconventional concepts,” its website mentions. Currently, 30 individuals and five executives are on board the pglang team, and they will have a hand in Super Bowl LIX — held Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans, LA — working on edits, production, stage design, sound tech, and more. During a press conference with Apple Music, the Super Bowl’s main sponsor since 2022, Lamar highlighted the importance of pgLang’s team, giving them their flowers and acknowledging that their collective efforts are what made it all possible for the show to reach its finish line. “Shout out to pgLang…That’s my...

Feb 7, 2025

LinkedIn Community Manager Jamé Jackson Encourages Users To Lean Into Short Form Video Content To Grow Their Personal Brands

According to Jamé Jackson, whether you recognize it or not, you are a brand. Jackson, the founder of the entrepreneurship website and podcast “TheBlondeMisfit,” serves as LinkedIn’s community manager of community segments, overseeing over 17,000 individuals. Her tenure with the social networking platform for professionals has centered on scaling its video content and viewership. According to her LinkedIn, coaching, workshops, and initiatives have led to an increase of 0.05% in video creation and attracted VIP and executive clients from tech companies to the platform. “My contributions have positioned LinkedIn as a leader in video-first professional storytelling, further reinforced by my role in ramping the video tab beta to over 10 million members, resulting in a 16% month-over-month expansion within just 12 weeks,” she describes on her LinkedIn profile. Jackson joined the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast, hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas, where she emphasized the...

Dec 27, 2024

Snoop Dogg Reveals Dr. Dre Didn't Initially Approve Of His Purchase Of Death Row Records — 'Why Would He Bring That Back Into His Life?'

Dr. Dre had his doubts about Snoop Dogg securing ownership of Death Row Records. Both Hip-Hop artists and businessmen were signed to the label in the ’90s before parting ways. Snoop Dogg’s decision to leave the label in 1997 was difficult, as he faced consecutive challenges. “See, that’s what you gotta understand. Ni–as broke my spirit,” he explained on the “The 85 South Comedy Show” podcast. “They broke me, man. They broke my spirit. Look, ‘Doggystyle,’ workin’ on [The] Doggfather, win my murder case, Dre leaves, Tupac get killed, Suge going to jail, Death Row want to kill me. That’s all in the same year.” Fast-forward to 2022, and Snoop Dogg reclaimed his time, returning to the label not as an artist but as an owner. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he acquired Death Row Records from the Blackstone-controlled MNRK Music Group. “It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely...

Dec 26, 2024

Keke Palmer Says Her Father Sacrificed His Pension While Her Mother 'Gave Up Everything' For Her To Pursue Her Dreams

Keke Palmer has no regrets about being the breadwinner for her family. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Palmer earned her first $1 million at just 12 years old as a child actress . At that time, her parents, Sharon and Larry, also hired a business manager to help oversee her finances. “They wanted me to know that they weren’t the ones controlling my money. They had heard these stories, and my mom said ‘I don’t want money to come in between me and my child,'” Palmer said on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast. Her parents would remain her backbone as she found her footing in Hollywood. Her early acting footprint included roles in “Barbershop 2: Back in Business”, “Akeelah and the Bee,” and “Jump In!” In 2008, she landed her own show on Nickelodeon with “True Jackson, VP” and her “life was changed after that,” she told People. “I was happy my family, we came to California for me to pursue my dreams I got my own show, right. H oney, my parents at their best made $40,000 a year growing...

Dec 2, 2024

Erika Allen Is Behind Chicago's Green Era Campus, A Sustainable Model That Will Establish A Retail Store, Farming, Nursery, And More

Erika Allen is on a mission to create sustainable communities. Heart Posture For Serving Others Growing up, she had an epiphany that ignited her desire to serve the broader community. And it was her interest in the creative arts that eventually guided her toward a multi-faceted passion project in Chicago, IL. Between 1987 and 1992, Allen transitioned from her family farm to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During this time, she encountered structural racism and social demarcation that shaped her perspective and mission. “Was literally told during my orientation to not go south of Van Buren, which of course triggered a lot of questions as to why, and that was just sort of something that was shared with me and was indoctrinating me as a new student,” she told AFROTECH™. “And to come to find that south of Van Buren was the south side, primarily black community that I’m part of. That really fired me up, my heart posture around wanting to extend what was a privilege to...

Dec 2, 2024

Howard University Alum Lady London Was Accepted Into Medical School But Decided To Bet On A Rap Career Instead

Lady London chose to pursue rap after being accepted into medical school. While speaking on Revolt’s podcast, “The Blackprint,” the rapper born Zaire Miylaun Stewart reflected on the pivotal moments that led to her transition into music. She boasts two degrees, starting with a bachelor’s from Howard University, where she double-majored in sports medicine and chemistry. Lady London holds her time at the Historically Black College and University in high regard. “I was a rambunctious teenager. I went away to school because I was always told I had to go to school..and if I was going to be a part of community it had to be the Black community. So I went to a HBCU. I wanted educational goals but I didn’t think I would come out with so much experience of life. I know there’s like this whole thing where they say like ‘PWIs are the real reality of school because 72% of the world is white. The reality is if you learn how to make it in these communities and at Howard, if you can make it at...

Nov 29, 2024

James Harden Credits The Late Kobe Bryant For Investing In BodyArmor

James Harden hit the jackpot thanks to an investment decision influenced by the late Kobe Bryant. During an interview on the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast, the basketball star revealed that Bryant suggested creating a pool of money dedicated to investments, including sports drink company BodyArmor. As previously reported by AFROTECH™ , Bryant had invested $6 million in BodyArmor back in 2014. “Kobe basically was like ‘W e going to put a stash of $5 million and then any like business opportunities — it might be as little as $200,000, it might be $500,000 just depending on what, you know, what investment it is. But we going to put a pot together and we just going to invest our money,’ rest in peace before he passed away,” Harden explained to “Earn Your Leisure” hosts Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings. “ But BodyArmor was the beginning of that, and we seen how it is.” While it is unclear what Harden’s direct contributions were, the investment into BodyArmor was a smart move. In 2021,...

Nov 25, 2024

Keke Palmer Reflects On Becoming A Millionaire At Age 12 And 'Unrealistic' Expectations Surrounding Money Management That Came With It

Keke Palmer became a millionaire by the age of 12. In 2004, the Chicago native landed her first film role in “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” . Her breakout role came in 2006 with “Akeelah and the Bee” and just a year later, she showcased her acting skills as Mary Thomas in Disney’s “Jump In!” alongside Corbin Bleu. By that time, Palmer’s parents had already hired a business manager—a strategic decision aimed at ensuring financial transparency. “They wanted me to know that they they weren’t the ones controlling my money. They had heard these stories and my mom said I don’t want money to come in between me and my child,” Palmer said on “Club Shay Shay.” Palmer also benefited from a Coogan account, which was designed to hold a percentage of child star’s earnings. She added, “That always was there regardless of anything else.” Palmer also spoke on the intricacies of reaching millionaire status by 12. “I became a millionaire at 12. To expect everybody to have become a millionaire at 12...

Nov 22, 2024

Kelly Rowland Gets Candid About Early Financial Mishaps — 'If I Would Have Known At 19 What I Know Now'

The city of Houston, TX, remains deeply rooted in the heart of Kelly Rowland. Rowland, originally from Atlanta, GA, relocated to Houston, TX, when she was 8 years old to pursue her dreams of becoming a singer and resided with the Knowles family. She rose to fame as part of Destiny’s Child, originally named Girl’s Tyme, which was managed by Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé Knowles’ father. When she was 11, Rowland joined Girl’s Tyme, which originally had six members. She remained part of the group through various lineup changes, ultimately becoming one of the lasting three members of Destiny’s Child in 1999, alongside Michelle Williams and longtime friend Beyoncé. The group disbanded in 2006, but is still recognized as one of the best-selling music groups in history, with over 60 million records sold, noted Business Insider. Destiny’s Child made its mark in music history thanks to records like “Say My Name” (1999), “Bills, Bills, Bills” (1999), “Soldier” (2004), and “Lose My Breath ” (2005)....

Aug 27, 2024

Kelly Rowland Recalls Blowing $30K In 30 Minutes And Other Financial Decisions That Led Her To 'Chill Out'

At some point in your childhood, you wanted to eat at McDonald’s. You go on to ask your mom if you all could stop there, and she hits you with, “Do you have McDonald’s money?” And while this is a question to a question — it is widely recognized as a resounding “no.” Disappointed by the news, you go home and find something to eat that’s already in the house. The new gag, there is a bunch of off-brand food and stuff you probably didn’t want. This is the story of many, and Kelly Rowland is a testament to the experience as well. Born Kelendria, the American singer and actress is a member of the iconic group Destiny’s Child. The group rose to fame in the 1990s and maintained that stardom well into the 2000s. Rowland, along with Beyoncé, Michelle Williams, and at one point LaToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson arguably owned the girl group era during that time. Rowland and her bandmates went on to give the world hits like “Bills, Bills, Bills,” “Soldier,” and “Cater 2 U.” The group would go...

Nov 10, 2022

A Look Into Michelle Williams’ $10M Fortune And Success Outside Of Destiny’s Child’s Domination

It’s no secret that Destiny’s Child is not only one of the biggest girl groups of all time but also at the top of the best-selling. Before officially saying goodbye to their fans in 2006, the legendary group sold over 60 million records, according to Capital Xtra. While the trio of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams were a force together, they each went on to pursue successful careers in their own lanes. However, during Williams’ journey, she briefly hit a turn. In an interview with UBS, the Grammy-award winner shared that a lack of communication and misunderstanding with her financial advisor turned into a “substantial investment loss.” “Knowledge is powerful. Ask questions. It’s your money—you have a right to know what’s being done with it,” Williams told the outlet. But, we already knew that she was a survivor . Bossing up after the initial setback, Williams’ net worth sits at $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Now, here’s a look inside all...

Jul 22, 2022