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In this case, imitation is not flattery! According to REVOLT, one of the members of the iconic Hip-Hop group, Wu-Tang Clan, is not pleased with recent attempts to sell counterfeit merchandise promoting the group. RZA, whose real name is Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, claims that an e-commerce business that could potentially be operating from China, is behind the sales of products embedded with the Wu-Tang Clan logo. Additionally, he alleges that other companies are using the group’s trademarks to reel in fans looking for authentic memorabilia.
Wu-Tang Clan legend RZA is the latest to partner with Calm for a project. In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone, the god revealed how his partnership with the mindfulness meditation app was part and parcel of his larger world view. “I say meditation is better than medication,” he said to the outlet while explaining that he also practices veganism and meditation as part of a holistic approach to health. “A lot of equations I had to figure out in life came to me through long walks. There was a point when people thought I was bugged out…Right before Wu-Tang had really gathered, I’d walk [on] Staten Island. I’d walk through all the neighborhoods and people would look at me and think I was talking to myself and shit. But I was contemplating. I was calculating.” The “King of the Sleeping City” — narrated by LeBron James — is actually the second project that RZA released in the so-called “mindfulness space.” The first, an EP called “Guided Explorations,” was released in partnership...
Living a plant-based lifestyle is becoming more popular and Violife’s new program — backed by Wu Tang’s RZA — is set to help the growing community. While the plant-based market grows, Black-owned restaurants have hit losses during the pandemic. According to a press release, Violife launched its annual Plant Grants program to “help these restaurants give everyone – vegans, flexitarians, and the plant curious alike – an easy and inspired way to eat more plant-based food every day.” The vegan cheese brand selected five recipients to receive funding of $20,000 each. “With the 2021 Plant Grants program, we’re tackling plant-based food inequity head on by empowering Black-owned restaurants to offer more plant-based dishes to their communities – dishes that will delight customers and keep them coming back for more,” Lisa Akey , Head of Away from Home Marketing for Violife said in a statement. As a vegan himself, RZA aligned with Violife’s mission toward more plant-based food accessibility...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Overhyped tech sectors of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence have seen a recent resurgence in the past year. Most of AI’s rise can be attributed to the hype and fear that surrounds its use. If you ask OpenAI CEO Sam Altman his thoughts, he’ll tell you that AI is needed to bring us into the future, but to scientists like Dr. Joy Buolamwini who approaches the use of AI cautiously, its lack of regulation can prove harmful to people of color. Despite doubts about the use of AI technology, it’s become almost ubiquitous in culture. Students have used ChatGPT for essay assignments, workers are using ChatGPT to write emails , and others have suggested using AI to create something as simple as grocery lists and corresponding menus. But even as AI and cryptocurrency continue to experience unprecedented growth, experts predict that AI will reach its peak in 2025 and then burst. Still, a second Donald...
During Donovan Mitchell’s off season he is educating himself on the wine sector. The starting guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers is said to be the first-ever NBA star wine apprentice, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. Mitchell dove into the various aspects of winemaking with the help of The Prisoner, a Napa Valley-based wine brand that has worked closely with the NBA since 2020. The company also works with 100 growers in the northern region to produce various blends, according to their website. Mitchell’s introduction to the winery dates back to two years ago, while attending an event in the midst of the summer league in Las Vegas. “Ever since then it’s been a non-stop in my house,” he explained in a YouTube video. Now, as a student in the field and through the assistance of The Prisoner’s head winemakers, Chrissy Wittmann and Todd Ricard, he became more familiar with the systems in place to blend wines while in the barrel room and has gained an understanding of the...
Today, Black comedians are among the most celebrated and widely recognized names in the entertainment industry – but it wasn’t always that way. Just a few decades ago, it was rare for People of Color to see themselves represented on TV, but all that changed thanks to the work of Keenen Wayans. The 66-year-old comes from a family of funny (and talented) people , including siblings Damon, Kim, Shawn and Marlon. While he got into Tuskegee University on an engineering scholarship , Wayans dropped out one semester before graduating to focus on comedy. After moving to California and learning the tricks of the trade from Robert Townsend, the Harlem native never looked back. For Almost 45 Years, Keenen Wayans Has Been A Pioneer In Black Comedy (Photo by Pool DENIZE/PELLETIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images) Keenen Wayans was in his early 20s when he headed out west, but it didn’t take long for him to find work. By 1982 he was making appearances on the hit TV series Cheers ; this was followed...
Household names in American sports are more commonly associated with athletes from the NBA, NFL, and MLB. However, some athletes outside these organizations have broken past the ubiquitous fandom of American basketball, football, and baseball — one being Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton. The British native’s journey into racing began at the tender age of 8 when he was gifted a used go-kart, coming in at a price point equal to his family’s monthly income, according to Formula 1. Hamilton’s story is a testament to the power of family support, as he participated in local racing events, won championships, and honed his skills with their backing. His dedication to his craft led to him winning his first F1 race, the Canadian Grand Prix, at the age of 22. This win was especially noteworthy as Hamilton was the first Black driver in the sport. In July 2024, the 39-year-old won his 104th race at the British Grand Prix, while already holding the honor of winning the most Grand Prix titles of...
Wu-Tang Clan’s “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” could have an earlier release date thanks to non-fungible token (NFT) collective PleasrDAO. In 2015, the legendary Hip-Hop group auctioned off only one physical copy of their seventh studio album, and former “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli reportedly bought it for $2 million, according to The New York Times. PleasrDAO then acquired the album for $4 million in 2021 from the U.S. government after Shkreli was convicted of securities fraud. Previously, Wu-Tang Clan’s sales contract with Shkreli stated that “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” was prohibited from being publicly released until Oct. 8, 2103, which was 88 years into the future. However, the album isn’t as inaccessible now. The New York Times reports that on June 13, PleasrDAO started giving listeners access to a five-minute sampler of an encrypted digital version, an NFT, for $1 in addition to fees. The collective stated it was part of an experiment and posed the question: “Do people still...
Wu-Tang Clan has made it clear that they are nothing to f —k with since the release of their debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” in 1993. Nearly three decades later, nothing seems to have changed, at least not for original member Raekwon. While the legendary emcee was one of the leading rhyme assassins for the groundbreaking New York hip-hop group, he also reached great success as a solo artist starting with his platinum-selling debut, “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…” — a.k.a “The Purple Tape.”
The PepsiCo Foundation and the National Urban League are taking the mantra of “support Black-owned businesses” to the next level. The two organizations have partnered to create the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program (BRAP) — a $10 million commitment to help Black-owned restaurants be profitable and thrive — BET reports.
What started out as an interaction over Instagram may eventually turn into Drake adding a restaurant to his list of business ventures. Following the news of Randy’s Patties — a Jamaican restaurant in Toronto — shutting down on Feb. 26, the rapper showed great interest in coming in to save the day for his hometown’s food favorite. According to Complex Canada, eTalk anchor Tyrone Edwards announced the closing on his Instagram page, where locals dropped comments regarding their deep disappointment. Many online mentioned the news to Drake, in which he went on to chime in with his ambitious query for the iconic Jamaican establishment. “I’ll buy Randy’s right now,” the longtime supporter openly declared via Instagram. His response resulted in a wave of Randy’s Patties fans backing his statement, along with Edwards’ reply: “Soon link you, trying to get ahold of someone over there.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tyrone T-rex Edwards (@mr1loveto) Although Drake’s Instagram...
Wu-Tang Clan’s own Raekwon has scored another win. In a press release announcement, it was revealed that the legendary rapper’s Lambrusco — which he calls “Licataa” — is now being distributed through Legacy Wines & Spirits, a Black-owned distribution company based in Kentucky. The union between Raekwon and Legacy was, in fact, a natural one. Licataa was inspired by the “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx” rapper’s love of Italian culture and heritage. To bring the Lambrusco into the United States, the Chef (born Corey Woods) teamed up with Cantine Ceci, a family-owned winery with 80 years of history to produce a rich, bold, sparkling red wine. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Licataa (@licataawine) Situated in the rolling hills outside Parma, Italy, Cantine Ceci farms in the traditional way, with vineyards planted to catch the sun, carefully monitored throughout the growing season before each grape is harvested by hand at the perfect moment of ripeness. While the wine, itself, is...
Who are the top-paid NBA players in the 2021-2022 season? The answer just might shock you. Despite the belief that LeBron James would have been the top-paid player in the NBA — and certainly, he works hard enough — the reality is, it’s Steph Curry who holds the title. While his salary doesn’t take into account his other investments — including sponsorships and endorsements — it’s still impressive nonetheless. ESPN dropped the full list of the NBA players with the most impressive salaries late last month, and no less of an authority than NBCSports pointed out that the top-paid players had already locked in their contracts for years to come. “Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been the NBA’s highest-paid player for the past four seasons,” the outlet reports. “And he won’t be relinquishing that title in 2021-22. The three-time NBA champion will make a league-high $45,780,966 in base salary this season (via Spotrac). The contract that’s kept him as the NBA’s highest earner is...
Companies continue to create opportunities and resources for Black entrepreneurs, and now Fiverr — an Israeli online freelancer platform — is one of the latest to support. The platform has launched the Future Collective Fellowship Program, a business accelerator fellowship for Black entrepreneurs, according to Zenger. In the act of Fiverr joining the movement toward equality for Black-owned businesses, five businesses were selected for the program’s inaugural class and each will receive $24,000. The program is also backed up by 1863 Ventures, a Black-led and D.C.-based nonprofit organization and Maestra, a women of color-owned business strategy firm. “Fiverr’s purpose is to provide anyone, no matter their race, religion, background or beliefs, the opportunity to build their business, brand or dreams. The U.S. is our largest market and therefore it’s incumbent upon us to use our platform and resources to help our community there however we can,” said Fiverr CMO Gali Arnon. Along with...