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Gillie Da Kid and Wallo helped squash a longtime beef between Cam’ron and Mase, leading to a major financial win. Cam’ron and Mase had been longtime friends as Harlem, NY, natives who played on the same high school basketball team, HotNewHipHi mentions . The duo later collaborated in the Hip Hop scene, forming the group Children of the Corn in 1993, which lasted for four years. Beyond the group, Cam’ron and Mase worked together once more on the single “Horse & Carriage,” featured on Cam’ron’s album “Confessions Of Fire” (1988), released by Sony. However, it was reported that Mase, who was signed to Bad Boy Records, requested $40,000 from Cam’ron to appear in the video, per The Fadar. Mase did not appear in the video, and a body double was used instead. Shortly after, in 1999, Mase stepped away from the music industry and became a pastor the same year he released his album “Double Up” (1999). “He went to church. I kinda didn’t understand it at the time because that’s my man all day,...
At the center of the District of Columbia-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area lies Maryland, the Free State. A symbol of political freedom and four HBCUs, all of them were established during or before the year 1900. Located in Baltimore, Bowie and Salisbury, these Maryland-based universities, like many of their counterparts, are publicly supported. They have a combined annual economic impact of over $1 billion. Together, they’ve also created over 10,000 jobs for the areas local to the institutions. The history of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have taught us that creating opportunities and environments that champion higher education for Black students is not only fruitful for admitted youth but for surrounding communities. Here are the four HBCUs in Maryland. Bowie State University Bowie State University (BSU), named after its home city, was the first HBCU in Maryland (1865). Located in Prince George’s County, BSU is in the northeastern region of the state. The...
Yo Gotti is seeing a return on his investment in D.C. United. The “Rake It Up” rapper purchased a minority stake in the league in 2021 at a time when it was valued at $730 million, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. His foray was driven by his admiration for Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan, co-chairmen of D.C. United who have former ties to the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, which represents Yo Gotti’s hometown. “What I’ve seen them do in Memphis with the Grizzlies and just as businessmen in general; I wanted to be in business with them. D.C. United, I think, is a great organization and D.C. has always been, overall, one of my favorite markets, even as an entertainer,” Yo Gotti told The Athletic. “It’s always been one of my favorite cities to come to — the whole DMV area has always been one of my favorite places to come to. Being from Memphis, even when I was building outside of my tri-state area, I want to say that Maryland, Baltimore, those were some of the biggest shows I’ve ever done. So...
Angel Reese is among a trio of powerhouse Black women who are now investors in the DC Power Football Club. The Maryland native and current Chicago Sky player is already making strategic business moves in her rookie year. In May 2024 Reese joined an ownership group for the DC Power Football Club, a new professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, DC, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. “I want to help grow women’s sports and elevate female athletes across the board,” Reese said in a statement, per Sportico. “We’re taking over, and I’m honored to be able to support Power FC and invest in women’s soccer in the DMV community.” Jason Levien, D.C. United’s CEO and co-chairman, commented: “Angel’s decision to be a founding investor alongside us in Power FC is groundbreaking. As a Maryland native, Angel is so passionate about being a catalyst for positive change in women’s sports in the DMV as well as globally while inspiring the next generation of female athletes. We’re looking...
Most who make a name for themselves in the world of rap don’t plan on spitting bars forever. Instead, many of the best lyricists hustle hard to stack cash and then invest it accordingly so they’re set for life. Thanks to this approach, Chamillionaire’s net worth continues to grow long after he stopped rapping full-time. The Houston-bred entertainer came up in the early 2000s and is best known for his The Mixtape Messiah series (the original of which is the longest and most bought mixtape in Texas history). Early on, Chamillionaire started making smart financial decisions that eventually landed him the role of entrepreneur in residence at venture capital firm Upfront Ventures. Read on to learn more about his journey! Chamillionaire’s Confidence Helped Get Him Started In The Rap Game (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage) Strong networking skills helped Chamillionaire get his foot in the door of hip-hop alongside his friend Paul Wall. The ambitious duo connected with Michael “5000” Watts,...
Howard alumni are taking over the restaurant scene in Washington, DC. In 2012, Denville Myrie Jr. began selling Jamaican jerk chicken from the comfort of his Howard University dorm room, which filled a gap for quality late night foods, according to information on his company website. Students took great interest in Myrie’s cooking, and he would carry on with the food service beyond the campus walls. He was able to hire his peers as delivery drivers when he relocated into a town house, and his employees would serve Howard University six days a week. Myrie’s vision was also aided by Kadeem Todd, who also attended Howard University and serves as a co-owner in the business, according to Fox 5. The business, named Jerk at Nite, became so successful, a food truck was purchased in 2014, with jerk oxtail serving as one of its standout menu offerings. Over time, two additional food trucks were purchased with the goal of establishing a storefront for what would become Jerk at Nite. In 2019, a...
Jerami Grant is now a team owner! The Portland Trail Blazers forward joined the D.C. United ownership group as an investor, a press release mentions. The move marks a full circle moment, given his upbringing in the DMV region in Maryland. Now, he will have a chance to not only sport a new hat but also discover new ways to reinvest in the region, he reveals. “I am honored to be joining the D.C. United ownership group. Having grown up in the DMV, Washington, D.C. holds a special place in my heart, and I am proud to invest in the community that has played a significant role in shaping who I am today,” Grant said in the news release. “D.C. United’s ownership group has shown impressive growth over the years, extending their influence beyond sports into the realms of music and arts, which is something I deeply respect. The club’s commitment to social responsibility is admirable, and I am eager to contribute in a meaningful way by giving back to the community. I strongly believe in the...
![Angel Reese Fulfills Her Dream Of Owning A Professional Sports Team — 'I’ve Always Had [A] Desire To Invest In A Local Team As A Maryland Native'](https://cms.afrotech.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Angel-Reese-1568x882-1.jpg "Angel Reese Fulfills Her Dream Of Owning A Professional Sports Team — 'I’ve Always Had [A] Desire To Invest In A Local Team As A Maryland Native'")
This is Angel Reese’s year, and we’re just living in it! According to The Athletic, Reese is officially a “professional sports owner” as she has joined the ownership group of DC Power Football Club, Washington, DC’s new professional women’s soccer team — which will begin competing in the USL Super League in summer 2024. “I want to help grow women’s sports and elevate female athletes across the board,” Reese said in a statement. “We’re taking over, and I’m honored to be able to support Power FC and invest in women’s soccer in the DMV community.” “Angel’s decision to be a founding investor alongside us in Power FC is groundbreaking,” D.C. United CEO and Co-Chairman Jason Levien added. “As a Maryland native, Angel is so passionate about being a catalyst for positive change in women’s sports in the DMV as well as globally, while inspiring the next generation of female athletes. We’re looking forward to her partnership in the boardroom as an equity partner.” As a native of Randallstown,...
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for tech lovers – Google’s annual I/O summit. CEO Sundar Pichai, who’s been heading the company since 2015, gave a two-hour keynote speech which predominately focused on how his teams will be keeping up with the growing demand for Artificial Intelligence . Already, plenty of buzz is generating around Google Veo – their “most capable” video generator yet. It’s comparable to Open AI’s Sora, which only launched three months ago but has been revolutionary for experimental creatives. The program isn’t ready for the general public just yet, but what was shown by Pichai and his collaborators looks promising. Here’s everything you need to know about Google Veo: What Is Google Veo? Past attempts at developing AI video generators have produced lackluster results – Google’s Phenaki and Imagen Video both created distorted and sometimes crude clips. In January 2024, they unveiled Lumiere, a massive step up from past attempts, though Sora didn’t take long...
AfroTech has announced yet another big musical talent is heading to the 2022 AfroTech Conference! As previously reported by AfroTech, music heavyweights such as Bia, Zaytoven, Bas, and more will be headlining the conference’s inaugural music experience. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AfroTech (@afro.tech) “We are thrilled to bring such incredible musical talent to the AfroTech stage, and expand the AfroTech Franchise to include a music festival. This is especially fitting since our annual conference is being held in the live music capital of the world,” said Morgan DeBaun, CEO of Blavity, Inc., owner of AfroTech in a statement. “We are also excited to host our conference live and in-person after hosting it in a metaverse the last two years. The addition of our live music festival truly rounds out the entire AfroTech experience as we celebrate Black and multicultural innovators, and these rising creative artists.” In addition to the music stage’s lineup, on Nov. 17, the...
Cordae has always been wise beyond his years. From his clever lyrics to the words of wisdom he drops in interviews, it comes as no surprise that the DMV rapper was one of the speakers at TED2022: A New Era. While his charisma and great sense of humor shined through his time on stage, Cordae introduced an insightful concept — all off the top he later revealed to AfroTech — of what he believes is the formula behind his success.
Seeing residents from your area and the community itself thrive is what majority of people dream for. However, what ultimately makes that dream a reality is being right at the frontline for change. It’s the premise for what Broccoli City has been building in being a part of raising awareness about sustainability in Black communities. Over ten years strong, the Black-owned social enterprise’s co-founders Brandon McEachern, Darryl Perkins, Jermon Williams, and Marcus Allen have brought over 20 million millennials and Gen Zers together for the cause of creating opportunities for progress through the heart of music, art, and social impact. The mission has birthed one of the nation’s biggest entertainment events: Broccoli City Festival. After briefly being placed on pause due to the pandemic, the Washington, D.C.-based music festival is back on May 7 and May 8 for its eighth annual event. Broccoli City Festival’s lineup features some of the DMV’s very own, including Wale, Ari Lennox, and...
Missy Elliott is a legend — who is also all about her coins. The DMV legend found herself in the headlines when Jowell — of the popular reggaeton group, Jowell Y Randy — brought her name up in an interview. In his interview, he claimed that Elliott threatened to sue and “demanded millions” when it was revealed that the Bad Bunny hit, “Safaera,” sampled more than a little bit from “Get Ur Freak On.” Naturally, Jowell’s comment unleashed a tirade of online hatred against Missy Elliott. And at one point, things got so bad that an Ariana Grande fan page called out Jowell for his comments in his interview. Thank you jowel! Thank you for all the hate your interview is bringing Missy! Had you explained that there was 6 samples and 15 writers maybe they wouldn't all be attacking Missy for no reason because she took "everything" https://t.co/uNGNZawPqm — Ariana Fanpage (@BigAriGrande) March 16, 2022 Things only got worse when Jowell doubled down on his comments. Fuck that! Let them enjoy...
Cordae is an artist who has been viewed by music listeners as ahead of his time. To place his futuristic persona on display aside from his music, the DMV rapper just made his entrance into the digital world. Hypebeast reports that Cordae dropped his debut non-fungible token (NFT) collection, “IDENTITY,” on NFT marketplace OneOf. The collection is a collaboration between him and artist Shaylin Wallace, and its pre-sale sold out in less than a minute ahead of its main sale, which began on Feb. 22, according to the outlet. IDENTITY: @cordae x @surrealistshay is LIVE! 💥 Head to https://t.co/lHRZl3s63t NOW to grab your NFTs. This is gonna sell out fast. Let's Goooooo!!! 🚀🚀🚀 #BeOneOf #Tezos pic.twitter.com/FNrgvRF76g — OneOf (@OneOfNFT) February 22, 2022 The inspiration for Cordae’s new series stems from his nature of staying ahead of the curve by learning today’s innovations whenever embarking on new endeavors. “I always like to just put my head into it and do research to learn more...