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Charlamagne tha God has been inspired by his father’s entrepreneurial spirit for as long as he can remember. His father, who owned a fish market and a construction business, told him long ago, “When you get a business, don’t put your name on it. Because people [will] hate on it for no reason.” He’s kept that advice in mind on his journey. Born Lenard McKelvey, Charlamagne has established himself as a radio host, television personality, comedian, and businessman. One of his latest ventures involves expanding Krystal Restaurants. In an interview with AFROTECH™ , Charlamagne said franchising has always been a goal of his, and partnering with Krystal, a beloved Southern staple, was a great opportunity. “It just became one of those things that me and my wife wanted to do,” he told AFROTECH™. “This is one of those situations that just happened pretty organically. And I was with it. My wife was with it. You know, my financial team was with it. And we made it happen.” Charlamagne and his...
Krystal’s fourth South Carolina location opened in Orangeburg on Monday, Dec. 9, thanks to a partnership with Charlamagne Tha God — also known as Lenard McKelvey — and his wife, Jessica Gadsden-McKelvey. The couple are spearheading a five-store expansion of the quick-service chain across South Carolina, with the grand opening of the new Krystal location set for Dec. 20 — an event that will include Charlamagne Tha God himself, according to a press release. The new Krystal slider restaurant, located at 1486 Chestnut St., will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For the media personality and entrepreneur, the project holds personal significance. “Orangeburg is special to us because it’s the home of South Carolina State University, my mother’s alma mater, while my wife’s father is an alumni of Claflin University,” he shared ahead of the store’s opening. “I also have an honorary degree from SCSU, where I established the Ford Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, so it’s a blessing to...
If you are familiar with popular culture, you’ve likely heard of “The Breakfast Club” with Charlamagne tha God. Weekly, Charlamagne and his co-hosts dive into topics around entertainment, businesses, mental health, and more. Known for his hot takes and exploratory commentary, Charlamagne has made it known that his dimensions are not limited to his job behind the mic. He is an accomplished entrepreneur.
2 Chainz is on the mission to help bring in a new wave of Krystal’s supporters. At the start of the year, the rapper was tapped as the Head of Creative Marketing for the fast-food chain, as previously reported by AfroTech. Under the role, the Atlanta native aims to be a part of the resurgence of the restaurant he loved growing up. In the announcement of the collaboration, it detailed that 2 Chainz and his team would put Krystal in the spotlight and grow by launching new platforms and partnerships, a custom co-branded Krystal restaurant, a “Luxe Line” of premium food, and NFTs.
Looks like 2 Chainz will be adding a new title under his belt. According to a press release, the multihyphenate will become the Head of Creative Marketing for fast-food chain Krystal. For 2 Chainz, who grew up enjoying music and Krystal’s delicious sliders and shakes, the rapper looks forward to putting the southern jewel on the map for many more. “As someone who grew up in the South and understands Krystal’s place in culture and community, 2 Chainz is a perfect partner for adding to and amplifying our brand message,” said Thomas Stager, President of Krystal Restaurants, according to a press release. “There is an authenticity in this relationship that reflects our own deep pride in and commitment to the brand and our communities, and we know 2 Chainz has his own equally deep personal connections to Krystal. Together, we will bring the feeling and flavor of Krystal to as many new fans as possible.”
The third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Pullman Yards in Atlanta, GA. Founder Charlamagne Tha God will join popular personalities from his and iHeartMedia’s Black Effect Podcast Network for the one-day festival — which promises some of the “biggest and best” podcasts — featuring live recordings to amplify Black voices and informative discussions to inspire the next generation of podcasters. The Black Effect Marketplace will also be in full effect, featuring various Black-owned businesses and a lineup of food trucks to keep the energy high throughout the day. “We’re excited to return to Atlanta, building on the incredible momentum of the podcast industry and the growing impact of Black creators in the space,” Charlamagne said in a statement. Mandii B and WeezyWTF, hosts of the “Decisions, Decisions” podcast, will host the festival with sounds by DJ Loui Vee of 105.3 The Beat in Atlanta. Appearances are anticipated by popular...
Co-founders Audrey Djiya and Peter Nsaka have secured funding from Fearless Funding. TechCrunch reports that the pair became connected while attending Stanford University. Djiya attended its school of business, while Nsaka studied computer science. Although they pursued different educational journeys, they were united by a shared mission: solving the complexities surrounding international commerce. Their focus became streamlining the movement of goods across borders, addressing issues such as inefficient supply chains, inconsistent regulations, and barriers to trade. Their unique perspectives and expertise became the foundation for tackling the challenge with innovation and collaboration. For Djiya, she had taken note from her family, who were entrepreneurs. “Growing up watching family members move goods cross-border, the challenges around international commerce really stuck with me,” she told the outlet. Nsaka made his own observations while at Shopify. He took on the role in 2020...
A TikTok ban could result in the loss of substantial earnings for small businesses and social media creators. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the China-based platform, with over 1 billion users globally and 170 million in the U.S., is at risk of being banned as a result of the intention to “protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications.” The ban is expected to go into effect on Jan. 19, 2025, depending on whether the platform is unwilling to sell the application, per ABC News. On Dec. 6, 2024, the federal appeals court denied TikTok’s push to overturn the ban. Within days, TikTok doubled down and requested an emergency injunction to allow the Supreme Court to review the decision to ban the application at the start of the upcoming year. “The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional...
Leading with integrity over the dollar sign is food reviewer Keith Lee’s mantra. Keith Lee is renowned for his social media presence, where he shines a spotlight on small-owned businesses , helping them gain widespread attention. With 16.8 million followers on TikTok and a staggering 794.2 million likes (as of this writing), his influence is undeniable. Beyond amplifying businesses, Keith is also known for his restaurant reviews, many of which have gone viral. His reviews carry significant weight, often referred to as the “Keith Lee Effect” — a phenomenon where his endorsement can skyrocket a business’s popularity, while a less favorable review might have the opposite impact. As previously reported by AFROTECH™ , Keith Lee’s platform played a pivotal role in supporting Soul Prime Chicago, founded by Shonya “Chef Royce” Williams. At the time, the restaurant was facing financial struggles just four months after opening, struggling to pay its staff. Following Lee’s video, customer...
There appears to be no limits for 2 Chainz in his quest as an entrepreneur. Krystal As AFROTECH™ previously reported the “I’m Different” artist was named the head of creative marketing for fast-food chain Krystal, a venture that pays homage to his upbringing with its sliders and shakes. The opportunity led to the launch of a series of new platforms and partnerships with the brand, such as menus, merchandising, and co-branded restaurants based in Atlanta, GA. “I can remember Krystal being a part of so many pivotal moments of my childhood and teen years,” 2 Chainz said in a statement at the time. “ Some of my best moments were made better by going to Krystal, and I’m a fan for life. I want everyone to feel that, too, and can’t wait to put Krystal in the spotlight it deserves.” Esco Restaurant & Tapas Scaling his interests in the food space, 2 Chainz has also franchised his Esco Restaurant & Tapas — created alongside his business partner Mychel “Snoop” Dillard in 2016 — with plans to...
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people found themselves pivoting due to the unforeseen circumstances. In Tigo B’s case, the unexpected turn of events happened after he landed a deal with Universal Music Group. As the world slowed down though, so did things for musicians, which led the North Carolina native to ponder what to do while his music was temporarily paused. The brainstorming resulted in a successful business franchise.
This article was originally published on 1/14/2019 Millions of women in sub-Saharan Africa make the dangerous and arduous trek to the wells each day, sometimes walking an average of 3.7 miles to access clean and safe water for their families. The powerful idea of women from different tribes banding together to accomplish a goal inspired entrepreneur Krystal Scott to launch a space for professional Black women to connect. The Well Space launched on International Women’s Day in March 2018 and aims to provide an authentic network of career-driven Black women based on genuine relationship building. After nearly a year of building the community from scratch, The Well has just reopened the waitlist for women to apply to join the Tribe and launched a new website along with the rollout of new member benefits. “A lot of what we need to advance in our career can be gotten from our relationship with other people,” said Scott, founder, and CEO of The Well. “It’s really important for Black women...