The early-to-mid-2000s was a particularly unique era in rap music. From the tall white T-shirts to the emergence of popular dance trends, rappers during this era kept listeners hungry to keep up with every trend they introduced. Nelly was among those influential rappers. Born Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., Nelly burst onto the music scene in 2000 with his debut album, “Country Grammar.” The album and its title track earned Grammy nominations during the 2001 awards, prompting insight into the rapper’s trajectory. The current father of four would experience more success following his debut release with other songs such as “Hot in Herre,” “Air Force Ones,” and “Pimp Juice.” Nelly’s success would land him additional Grammy nominations, with him eventually earning three awards, according to the Grammys website. While the St. Louis, MO-raised rapper experienced significant success in the music industry, he did not subject himself to staying behind the mic. Nelly launched the record label Derrty...

When it comes to the Queen of Soul, no one could ever depose Aretha Franklin. Her contributions to the music industry — and, indeed, to pop culture — cannot be overstated. She stands as one of the best-selling musicians of all time, with 75 million albums sold to date and climbing. And according to Celebrity Net Worth, her likeness, music streams, and catalog have a total net worth of $80 million and climbing. The death of Aretha Franklin left a hole in the world of pop culture that will never be filled. On Aug. 16, 2018, she passed away at the age of 76-years-old, having succumbed to her battle with pancreatic cancer. Fortunately, however, her legacy lives on. She has four sons — all of whom are in the entertainment industry, and who have very successful careers of their own. Throughout her life, Aretha Franklin encouraged her sons’ careers — and even had them perform with her on more than one occasion. And now, her grandchildren are carrying on her legacy with music careers of...

Sheila Johnson became the first Black woman billionaire in America when she co-founded BET with her husband, Robert Johnson. At the time, she made headlines by providing the first Black platform for arts and entertainment, and doing so at a time when the Black narrative was either whitewashed to be more palatable to “Middle America” or eliminated from the status quo altogether. Today, Sheila Johnson — who is now 72-years-old and the owner of Salamander Hotels & Resorts — is entering what some might call the “golden years” of her career. And according to CNN, part of those “golden years” involve investing in a new musical called “Grace.” The musical, which was by acclaimed composer and playwright Nolan Williams Jr. and executive producer Dale A. Mott, pays homage to Black culinary history as well as Black women entrepreneurship. Naturally, with these themes resonating so strongly in Johnson’s life, investing in the musical was a foregone conclusion. “If you listen to the music, it...

Fans who enjoy Hamilton and keep up with everything startups and Silicon Valley will rejoice to know that Rhyme Combinator’s ZipSloth the Musical exists.  It’s a story about two entrepreneurs chasing their dreams that was first performed in front of a sold-out crowd in 2016. The team behind Rhyme Combinator are a group of artists and founders putting those passions together to create this ode to entrepreneurial culture through the lens of creative media. ZipSloth the Musical was written and developed by founders including Beau Lewis, Jodie Ellis, Brent Schulkin and Jason Tan. Later on, co-producers including Anthony Veneziale (from Broadway’s In the Heights ) and Sara Faith Alterman (from Netflix’s Mortified ) joined the team. Other than taking place in the Bay Area and focusing on a unique storyline, ZipSloth the Musical is also different from other musicals because of the format. It includes video projection, tech and viral media in the show itself with the intention to hold the...

Five days of fun, networking, mentorship , and the chance to enjoy everything the most magical place on Earth has to offer — that’s what Disney’s Dreamers Academy is all about. From Wednesday, March 26, to Sunday, March 30, 2025, students from around the world traveled to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL, to be inspired, motivated, and energized by educators, business executives, community leaders, and celebrities, including “DREAMbassador” Tyler James Williams (“Abbott Elementary”) and former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe . For the 100 participants — ages 13 and 19 — such as Alexis Limary, Jayden Kelly, Christian Rutter, Iraj Shroff, Ava Powers, and Tristan Williams, getting accepted into the 18th annual Dreamers Academy was a dream come true, preparing them for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and math ( STEM ). “The opportunity to even be able to come to Disney World, expenses paid, that’s just someone’s dream. Also, to be able to become a part of...

Andrea Wallace has reportedly secured funding for an entertainment marketplace. In 2018, Wallace, a professional DJ with a business degree from Grand Valley State University, founded and launched Opnr, an “all-in-one data-powered” solution designed to simplify the booking process for musical talent. According to the company website, it provides concert organizers with data and analytics to help them book the right talent for local events. It also helps musicians showcase their work through an electronic press kit generator that serves as a resume, and through its FAN-CLAIM™ software, they can connect with their local fanbase. According to MLive , Opnr has been used by nearly 12,000 musicians and 800 organizers. “We’ve got pretty good traction,” Wallace said of the company, which is headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, according to the outlet. Even so, it has not been easy to gain support in funding. “There are plenty of people in Grand Rapids who are super helpful,” Wallace mentioned,...

The Grammy Awards marked a major moment for Beyoncé — and her Spotify streams. After taking home the Album of the Year award for the first time on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 — following four previous nominations without a win — the singer’s eighth studio album “Cowboy Carter” saw a 795% increase in streaming on Spotify compared to the previous day, according to Variety. Tracks such as “My Rose” and “Oh Louisiana” experienced a 175% increase, while “Ameriican Requiem” rose by 170%. “Protector” increased by 150%, “Alligator Tears” by 140%, and “II Most Wanted” by 135%. “I just feel very full and very honored. It’s been many, many years,” Beyoncé said during her Grammy acceptance speech. “I just want to thank the Grammys, every songwriter, every collaborator, every producer, for all of the hard work.” Beyoncé’s Album of the Year win made her the first Black woman to win since Lauryn Hill for “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” in 1999. The Houston, TX, native also won the Best Country Album...

Taraji P. Henson feels indebted to fellow actresses Phylicia Rashad And Debbie Allen. The sister duo, Rashad and Allen, are graduates of the illustrious Howard University and have gone on to be revered in the entertainment industry. Rashad most recognized for her role as Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” while Allen’s resume includes acting credits and producing staple shows such as “A Different World,” “Scandal,” and “Empire.” The duo had a large influence on Henson, not only for their influence but also for sewing seeds into her acting dreams. Henson attended Howard University in the 1990s and faced challenges during her junior year while pregnant. “I really ran out of money . I didn’t know how I was going to finish, but I knew I was going to finish,” Henson said during an interview on the show, “Today with Jenna & Friends.” Her saving grace would come from the Dr. Andrew Allen Sr. Memorial Scholarship, established by Rashad and Allen in honor of their father, who also graduated...