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LeBron James' Mom Said, 'Trust Your Gut,' While Considering A $10M Reebok Offer, Then In 2015, He Signed A $1B Lifetime Deal With Nike

LeBron James has revealed why he turned down a $10 million shoe deal at 18. The Los Angeles Lakers player appeared on the “New Heights” podcast to reflect on the array of shoe deals he considered during his early days in the league. While currently signed with Nike, James once weighed different options. At a young age, James was inspired by Michael Jordan and Penny Hardaway, who were both signed to Nike. When he began playing for AAU, he grew fond of Adidas, Nike’s retail competitor. “It was Adidas from seventh, eighth grade to pretty much my junior senior year. They sponsored us. Every year, we played in all the Adidas tournaments,” he said on the podcast. At one point, a wave of companies approached James, but he felt that Reebok had delivered the most compelling pitch. “I’m sitting across from the table. I’m a senior in high school…I’m going back to class the next day. They flew me in. I’m going back to St. Vince St Mary the next day, my senior year, and the guy slides over a...

Jan 16, 2025

Meet Entrepreneur Keon Williams, The Youngest And First Black Franchisee At Tacos 4 Life

Entrepreneur Keon Williams is making history as a franchisee. QCity Metro reports that Williams’ interest in the food business dates back to his time working in his family’s businesses in the Charlotte, NC, area. His father ran the sub shop, Chat and Chew, while his grandfather owned a hoagie shop. “I watched them, the growing pains, the goods and the bads,” Williams told the outlet. He is following in their footsteps today as the latest franchisee of Tacos 4 Life Dilworth, which has 19 locations across five states. Williams’ storefront is  located in Charlotte’s Dilworth neighborhood. By opening the location, he is making history as the youngest and first Black franchisee of the restaurant brand. “I wanted to come here. I know that there aren’t any Black businesses or food businesses in this area,” Williams said, according to QCity Metro. “I wanted to be that beacon of change and that beacon of light.” Customers supporting Williams’ 3,000-square-foot restaurant can try a variety of...

Jan 9, 2025

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

How Business Lawyer Kwame Christian Turned Life Lessons Into Global Impact Through The American Negotiation Institute

Kwame Christian leverages his expertise to inspire and equip professionals with the tools to succeed. Christian’s journey can be traced back to Tiffin, OH, where he was raised as a first-generation Caribbean American, often standing out as the only Black student in his classes. A defining moment in sixth grade shaped his path: being rejected and ostracized by peers on the playground. This experience ignited a deep desire for connection and acceptance. By high school, he channeled that drive into leadership, rising to become the captain of both the basketball and tennis teams. Reflecting on his journey in an interview with AFROTECH™, Christian admitted he adopted a “people pleaser” mentality, often prioritizing others’ approval over his authentic self. “I wasn’t my authentic self in many ways,” he said. “I still had really great connections, but when it came to difficult situations and difficult conversations, I would always agree, even if I disagreed, I wouldn’t speak up if I didn’t...

Dec 23, 2024

8-Time All-Star Damian Lillard Has Reportedly Secured A Lifetime Deal With Adidas

Damian Lillard just received back-to-back victories. The eight-time All-Star is currently on the roster of the Milwaukee Bucks following a three-team trade in November 2023, a news release mentioned. It has not taken long for the team to reach a major milestone. On Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, the Milwaukee Bucks were announced as champions over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the annual in-season NBA Cup, which is in its second year. What’s more, players on the team with standard contracts will be awarded $514,971 each for the victory, notes WGN-9 TV. “I’ve had a lot of experience individually where I’ve had accomplishments and stuff,” Lillard said, according to AP News. “But to have some team success and win something and be the last team standing in this tournament, it feels great.” Giannis Antetokounmpo, power forward and teammate, commented: “I’m so happy for Dame that we got our first trophy together. This is just the beginning. We have to keep on improving and getting better, and we...

Dec 19, 2024

How Marc Andreessen's 'Whole Self' Philosophy Can Help You Strike A Healthy Work/Life Balance

The concept of work/life balance has been a significant sticking point in the social consciousness for years now, especially highlighted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and beyond. For some working individuals, going above and beyond seems to be the only way to feel valued at work, while others argue that they’re only willing to offer minimum performance for minimum payment . The value of hard work has long been a topic of debate, sparking discussions among young professionals and seasoned industry leaders alike—from boardrooms to online forums and beyond. Most recently, American tech mogul Marc Andreessen weighed in, introducing his argument for keeping the so-called “full self” out of the office. To understand the breadth of Andreessen’s comments, we’ll have to briefly unpack what it means to present your full self, dive into the collective opinion on American workplace values, and study industry trends in both social and professional spaces. It’s unlikely that we’ll...

Dec 2, 2024

Issa Rae To Sit Down With Georgia State Law Students To Discuss The Legal Side Of Her Career For 'The Legal Life Of Issa Rae' Course

A class on Issa Rae’s legal life will be taught at Georgia State University College of Law. Black Enterprise reports that George State University law professor Moraima “ Mo ” Ivory designed the course to highlight the legal considerations essential for celebrities with high-profile careers. As a result, the law students will be able to gain a firsthand account from the “ Insecure ” creator herself. She will speak to the class about contracts she has created to land deals over the past decade. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, some of her contracts include a substantial $40 million, five-year deal that dates back to 2021. This deal is in partnership with her media production company, Hoorae , and WarnerMedia. According to Variety, the agreement granted HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. Television the exclusive rights to her television work, as well as a first-look film deal across various WarnerMedia brands. “T his is the first class where every single contract was the actual artist...

Nov 7, 2024

Derrick Rose Net Worth: A Look Into The Retired NBA Player's Life And Career

Since 2008, the Chicago Bulls point guard, legend and recent retiree Derrick Rose has been making a name for himself in the NBA. The Englewood native was drafted as a first overall pick by his hometown team and named MVP in the 2010-2011 season. That same year, he began to suffer knee injuries. In 2012, he tore his ACL, which required surgery and recovery for an entire season. “The Windy City Assassin” would go on to play with the Bulls until 2016, then entering into eight consecutive trades that would eventually result in him spending the last season of his career with the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite the impact of his health outcomes on his career, Rose is still considered a great within the NBA world and has attained a significant amount of wealth. Here’s what we know about Derrick Rose’s net worth. Derrick Rose’s Net Worth Began With A $22.5 Million Four-Year Rookie Contract Upon entering the league, in 2008, the Simeon Career Academy and University of Memphis alumni secured a...

Oct 1, 2024

OneRepublic Frontman Ryan Tedder Says Timbaland Waiving Publishing On The Group's 'Apologize' Remix Changed His Life

Timbaland turned down the opportunity to earn publishing from a successful song in his catalog. First released in 2006, “Apologize” was OneRepublic’s lead single that was later featured on their debut album “Dreaming Out Loud.” It was originally written and sung by the group’s frontman Ryan Tedder. OneRepublic was then approached by hit producer Timbaland to remix the song, which was later listed on his 2007 album “Shock Value.” Their collaboration was a success, reaching the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Tedder says he is grateful to Timbaland, as the remix was “a life changer.” It allowed him to purchase a home, made possible through their publishing agreement, which amounted to Timbaland waiving his portion. “The truth of the matter is when they called me about the publishing splits, I was grimacing,” he said during a recent interview on “Behind The Wall” podcast with Daniel Wall. “I was ready to just be like, ‘I’m gonna get creamed on this. They’re gonna take half...

Sep 26, 2024

How Juicy J's Late Mother Influenced His Wisdom In The Music Business — 'My Mom Saved My Life'

Juicy J’s late mother, Shirley Houston, played a part in his knowledge of the music business. At 13 years old, Juicy J, born Jordan Michael Houston III, was already learning how to make music by relying on the tunes from his grandfather’s piano, he explained on the “Springhill” podcast in conversation with Wiz Khalifa. “I used to always tell him, I used to be like, ‘But I got to be on the piano.’ He like, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘I got to get ready.’ ‘Ready for what?’ I said, ‘Man I’m going to be rich, famous,” Juicy J explained. “ I always felt that I was going to be great in music.” The “Bandz a Make Her Dance” hitmaker had so much belief in his musical potential, he also made it his mission to to learn about the business side as well. He asked his late mother, who was a librarian, to check out some books that would expand his knowledge. “My mom saved my life. Rest in peace,” he said. “She saved my life, because when I was 13 she worked as a librarian, and I told her I want to know...

Sep 18, 2024

How Clarke Peoples Turned Day-In-The-Life Videos As A New York College Student Into A 6-Figure Content Career

Clarke Peoples had a “formulaic” road map that was disrupted by content creation. Columbia University Student Peoples was a student at Columbia University in New York, NY. It had been the only school she applied to, and she placed all her energy into perfecting her application, she shared with Business Insider. “I put in a lot of work to earn enough scholarships to get into Columbia. I spent months writing my application essay and did whatever I could to make myself a more competitive applicant. It was the only school I applied to, and soon I was in New York living out my dreams,” she said. Putting all her eggs in one basket ultimately paid off as she would be admitted into the school. She proved herself to be ambitious — pursuing an American studies degree — with an overarching goal of becoming a lawyer and launching a startup company. Peoples also had other backup plans including becoming a finance intern for a wealth management asset firm.   Early Career Opportunities By her...

Sep 17, 2024

Eastside Golf, A Lifestyle Apparel Brand Founded By 2 Morehouse Graduates, Debuts Footwear Collaboration With Nike

The founders of Eastside Golf continue to build on their momentum in the golf apparel space while staying true to their roots. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Morehouse College graduates Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper founded the brand without a fashion background in 2019 after working full-time in corporate America. The company boasts products such as polo shirts, sweatshirts, pants, shoes, and accessories including bags, all tailored towards men and women. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Eastside Golf (@eastsidegolf) Beyond the product offerings, the founders have continued to pave their own way through their mission that centers moving the sport forward among the youth and non-golfers while increasing diversity in a predominantly white sport. Their vision has led to an increase in support as they scaled their annual revenue from $100,000 in their first year to $4 million in 2023. They kicked off 2024 with a $3.4 million raise led by EP Golf Ventures, and the...

Sep 4, 2024

Sian Proctor Has Been Chasing Space Throughout Her Lifetime And Became The First Black Woman To Pilot A Spacecraft

Representation in space exploration is crucial, and Sian Proctor stands among the luminaries. A woman on a mission, Proctor aspired to have an impact on society. The geoscientist had been “chasing space” throughout her lifetime, Space.com mentions. Born the same year Neil Armstrong made history with his first steps on the moon during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission, and raised with a father working at the NASA tracking station on Guam, Proctor would go on to make her own significant contributions. Historical Firsts As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Proctor became the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft. This was accomplished after she earned a Ph.D. along with a pilot’s license and SCUBA certification. She also completed a four-month mission in a building located near a Hawaiian volcano for an experiment imitating the conditions and stresses on a habitat like Mars in 2013. Ultimately, Proctor’s expertise, creativity, and dedication to her JEDI space initiative — a just, equitable,...

May 30, 2024

Will.i.am Reflects On The Investments That Changed His Life — 'I Invested In Tesla In 2006 Before Elon Took Over'

While working in the music industry, many artists make the smart move and don’t limit themselves to only excelling in music. Will.i.am is among such musicians who are the definition of “multi-hyphenate.” As an entertainer, record producer, tech entrepreneur, and founder, the East Los Angeles, CA, native has built an extensive resume for himself. “Investor” is yet another title under his growing list of endeavors. In an interview with the “Drink Champs” podcast, Will.i.am recounted two specific investments he’s made thus far. When asked by host N.O.R.E. whether he’d choose Steve Jobs or Elon Musk — like in a game of “This or That” — Will.i.am was prompted to share how both CEOs have made an impact on his life. “I invested in Tesla in 2006 before Elon took over [the company] — around the same time,” Will.i.am explained on the podcast. He continued, “And then, I was a part of Beats. And then, Apple bought Beats from us. So you’re talking about two companies that changed my life. So, I...

May 6, 2024

How Wallo267’s Life Experienced A 180-Degree Transformation With Him Landing A C-Suite Role And Running A Multi-Million-Dollar Podcast

The life of Wallace Peeples, also known as Wallo267, is a testimony of defying the odds. After serving a 20-year prison sentence, the Philadelphia, PA, native has been actively transparent about his journey. Wallo267 has become known for his unshakeable honesty and for being an avid advocate for those affected by the criminal justice system. His passion for amplifying such issues brought him to his new C-suite role. In February 2024, Reform Alliance announced that Wallo267 would lead its marketing department as chief marketing officer (CMO). View this post on Instagram A post shared by REFORM Alliance (@reform) Wallo267 shares with AFROTECH™ that the appointment happened organically after Reform Alliance co-founder and billionaire Michael Rubin recognized his marketing acumen. “Rubin was interested in me, seeing I just always have been a natural, organic guerrilla marketer out here — no budget marketing. I’ve always done it,” Wallo267 told AFROTECH™ in an interview. “And, he went to...

Mar 14, 2024