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While celebrating the gift of new life that’s on the way, Nelly and Ashanti have also shared a new venture they’ve embarked on. On April 17, 2024, the couple announced that they are engaged and expecting their first child. “This new year of life is such a blessing full of love, hope and anticipation,” Ashanti said, per Essence. “Motherhood is something that I have looked forward to, and sharing this with my family, fiancé and loyal fans, who have been so supportive of my career, is an amazing experience.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ashanti (@ashanti) In Ashanti’s pregnancy announcement video, she opens an early pregnancy test from diagnostic company Proov. What’s more, the company’s logo is featured at the end of the video. Essence reports that Ashanti and Nelly are co-owners of Proov. According to the company website, Proov offers affordable at-home, science-backed fertility and hormone marker tests. In addition to early pregnancy tests, there are “Hers and...
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...
Rapper Nelly is doubling down on his decision to sell his catalog. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the artist sold 50% of his catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners in 2023. The deal reportedly included singles such as “Ride Wit Me,” “Dilemma,” and “Hot in Herre” and was worth $50 million. On a recent episode of “The Shop” podcast, Nelly discussed his decision to sell a portion of his catalog, explaining that it was a move to secure his equity and build generational wealth. “You filtered both through both of those. You can never really sell anything like that forever. Technically a lease. So in like 30 years it comes back,” Nelly said on “The Shop.” “So, if I ain’t took the little 50 mil and made nothing happen in 30 years, then I need my a– whooped anyway. You hear a lot of people say, ‘I would never do it. I would never do it.’ Why wouldn’t you do it? That’s your equity, that’s your gold.” He continued, “That’s why you would never have generational wealth because what you don’t...
When rapper and singer Nelly first found success , he wanted to share it with his mother. Nelly, whose given name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., was born in Austin, TX, but raised in St. Louis, MO. He adopted a “hustler” mentality as a teenager from witnessing his mother balance jobs in the fast food industry, he shared during an interview on “The Shop” podcast. He revealed his mother, Rhonda Mack, helped him secure his first job at a food truck when he was 14 years old while she worked as a manager at the McDonald’s in Clayton, MO. At the time, Nelly was saving up to attend his high school’s homecoming. “She said, ‘Yo, I can’t give you a real job, but on the weekends they got a truck… She said, ‘I can give you a job there.’ I said, ‘Oh, I’ll take it.’ And the owner would pay me $25… I wound up getting about $140 by the time homecoming came,” Nelly recalled on “The Shop.” In high school, Nelly also found a position at McDonald’s by working at the grill, he told Access Hollywood. His...
In the early 2000s, Nelly had us all stomping in our Air Force 1s. Now, however, he’s suggesting that he might’ve also been why the price of the popular Nike sneakers has never been the same. While sneaker shopping with Complex, the St. Louis emcee revealed that the Air Force 1 sneaker just so happens to be one of his favorite pairs of kicks. He even began to elaborate on being partly responsible for reviving the popularity of the sneaker on his 2002 hit titled “Air Force Ones.”
In September 2020, Nelly earned a whole new legion of fans when he was announced as one of the cast members of the hit ABC reality competition series, “Dancing with the Stars.” But while many people believed that the rapper born Cornell Haynes Jr. in St. Louis was merely “washed up” and trying to become relevant again, the fact is, he was never irrelevant in the first place. As it turns out, the actor, rapper, and philanthropist is also quite the shrewd businessman, as well. So much so, in fact, that he’s earned an estimated $8 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth. But how did he do it? Simply put, Nelly made a series of wise business moves that involved diversifying his business investments. He’s invested in everything from sports teams to fashion, all while still releasing new music for his devoted fan base. Even the music switched up over a period of time: though initially starting out with rap music, he eventually transitioned into a more country and western feel,...
The catalog of one of Hip Hop’s greats, the late Notorious B.I.G., is reportedly up for sale. Various artists have seen massive profits from their music catalogs, including John Legend and Nelly, who sold 50% of his catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners in 2023 for $50 million, as previously reported by AFROTECH™ . That same year, Wiz Khalifa also sold a portion of recorded music and publishing assets to HarbourView, and R&B artist Jeremih followed suit in 2024. The estates of late artists have also sold catalogs. David Bowie’s estate cemented a deal with Warner Chappell Music in 2022 to acquire his 27 studio albums for $250 million, Variety reports . Sony Music Group also acquired half of Michael Jackson’s publishing and recorded music catalog in a deal valued at a minimum of $600 million in 2023, according to Billboard. The Hollywood Reporter states that by 2030 the publishing rights asset class will reach more than $10 billion. Now, it appears that the estate of Notorious...
T-Pain is the next artist to cash in on his publishing and masters. Variety reports that the Grammy-award winning artist, who has secured 10 Billboard Hot 100-charting singles, sold his publishing catalog and select masters to HarbourView Equity Partners. It is unclear at this time which songs are included in the deal or how much the purchased price was. The announcement also coincides with the 20th anniversary of several T-Pain songs such as “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’),” “Bartender (featuring Akon),” “I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper) (featuring Mike Jones),” Flo Rida’s “Low,” and “I’m Sprung,” among others. “I’m excited for this next chapter and to partner with HarbourView Equity as they help preserve the legacy of my music,” T-Pain said . “This catalog represents years of hard work, creativity, and unforgettable moments, and I’m grateful to see it continue to reach new heights. I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.” HarbourView Founder and CEO Sherrese Clarke commented: “We are...
Snoop Dogg is rapidly losing social media followers after his appearance at President Donald Trump’s Crypto Ball. As of Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, the “Gin and Juice” rapper — Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. — has 88.1 million Instagram followers, a drop of 571,800, and 20.7 million on X, down 17,177, according to the New York Post. Snoop Dogg’s performance at the pre-inauguration bash on Jan. 17, 2025, drew significant backlash from people who pointed out his previous anti-Trump position and speculated that financial incentives may have motivated him to take part. “For all the hate, I’m going to answer with love. I love too much,” Snoop Dogg said, addressing the criticism on Instagram Live. “Get your life right, stop worrying about mine. I’m cool. I’m together. Still a black man. Still 100% black. All out till you ball out or till you fall out.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) Per another report by the Post, in September 2018, Snoop Dogg...
The music catalog company holding the hits of artists like 50 Cent, Eric Bellinger, John Coltrane, and a host of others has officially been sold. Hipgnosis, which is described as having “a collection of proven hit Songs of cultural importance by some of the most talented and important Songwriters globally,” per its website, has sold its assets to Blackstone for $1.6 billion. Additionally, its leader, Merck Mercuriadis, who was once responsible for managing Beyoncé, has also stepped down from the company, The New York Times reports. The Hipgnosis Songs Fund is an “investment trust” currently listed on the London Stock Exchange in the U.K. and owns the rights of “tens of thousands of songs,” per the outlet. During a meeting on Monday, July 8, 2024, a board for the company voted to accept an offer from Blackstone, worth $1.6 billion, to purchase its assets. Already, Blackstone had taken majority control of the company’s “investment adviser” side of the business through a $1 billion...
With the National Center for Health Statistics reporting that the maternal mortality rate for Black women is roughly two times the rate of their white counterparts, BirthFUND is on a mission to change the narrative. Created by award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Elaine Welteroth, the BirthFUND program has raised a total of more than $1.2 million and is working toward its mission to provide “a direct solution to combat the maternal health crisis by raising funds and awareness for midwifery care.” “Every day, I am motivated to make a difference on this issue because of the unfathomable loss of life too many families experience during and after childbirth in this country and all across the world,” Welteroth told AFROTECH™ . “The preventable deaths of mothers like April Valentine and Kira Johnson — both due to gross medical negligence — are constant reminders to me of the urgency and importance of this issue. The devastating reality is that they could have...
In case you missed it, AFROTECH™ Executive is heading to New Jersey. If you’re unfamiliar with the event, previous stops included Seattle, WA; Washington, D.C.; Brooklyn, NY; and more. As the event heads to Newark, NJ, on June 28, attendees will have the opportunity to explore topics like practical AI applications, equitable resources for entrepreneurs, tech advancements, and innovative economies. In addition, the highly anticipated AFROTECH Executive Newark will allow attendees to hear from speakers like A ngela Rye, principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies and co-host of the Native Land Pod. Her fireside chat will focus on bridging the gap for an equitable community. The conversation, moderated by Black Tech Green Money host Will Lucas, will explore a world where opportunities and access are endless, ensuring that entrepreneurs who represent the community are equipped with the tools needed to be successful and can inspire others to build a more accessible, diverse, and thriving...
AFROTECH™ Executive is back on the road for 2024! Last year, the multi-city series made stops in Seattle, WA; Washington, DC; and Brooklyn, NY. The discussions led by tech leaders and founders ranged from finance and fintech to artificial intelligence (AI). Moreover, the likes of Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan, Fearless Fund Co-Founder and CEO Arian Simone, and Esusu Co-Founder and Co-CEO Wemimo Abbey were in the room for AFROTECH™ Executive. As previously shared by AFROTECH™, in 2023, for the closing event in Brooklyn, NY, the fireside chats focused on the critical role of corporate responsibility in addressing the wealth gap and the impact that fintech has in creating new avenues for wealth-building and financial inclusion. “One thing that I really took away is that these speakers are all very authentic and just made me feel very welcomed and comfortable to be in this space,” first-time attendee Annellyse Munroe shared at the time. “And they gave us real tangible tips to be...
The success of Usher Raymond’s Las Vegas, NV, residency was due to his focus on legacy over profit. During an interview with V-103 Atlanta, the 2024 Super Bowl performer, often crowned with the title of being the “King of R&B,” revealed his initial intentions when he was producing the show that would go on to sell more than 470,000 tickets. His catalog which includes classic hits such as “Superstar,” “Confessions, Pt. II,” and “U Got It Bad” have remained a fixture in culture throughout the decades. His fourth studio album “Confessions,” which includes some of the aforementioned tracks, is now 14 times platinum, per Entertainment Weekly. Today, Usher is still ringing out tunes, releasing his ninth studio album “Coming Home” in February 2024, Hypebeast reports. Indebted to his fans and understanding his on going contributions to the world of music, Usher reveals he invested every dollar that he was given during the first run of his residency into the show which was held at the...