Juicy J says he has consistent revenue coming in from music sampling. The artist was a part of Hip-Hop group Three 6 Mafia, which formed in the early ’90s. BlackPast reports the original group members included Paul Duane “DJ Paul” Beauregard, Jordan Michael “Juicy J” Houston III, Lola Chantrelle “Gangsta Boo” Mitchell, Darnell “Crunchy Black” Carlton, Ricky “Lord Infamous” Dunigan, and Robert Cooper “Koopsta Knicca” Phillips. The group paved their way first in Memphis, TN, before they found success across the country in the later ’90s, ultimately selling millions of albums, mentions Genius. Among their records includes “Stay Fly,” “Doe Boy Fresh,” “Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body),” “Who Run It,” and “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” which earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2006 for its feature in the film “Hustle & Flow.” Before making an imprint for innovating the Hip Hop space, it had not dawned on Juicy J to consider the business side in addition to the art form. “I...
It’s one thing to get a nod of approval from a musical mastermind, but to have them clear an entire song for free is truly next level. Legendary girl group Sisters with Voices, or SWV, first hit the music scene in 1988 as a gospel group. When the 1990s hit, they soon became one of the most successful R&B groups of the decade, thanks to hits like “Weak,” “I’m So Into You,” and “You’re the One.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by SWV (@officialswv)
Black designers’ work is being stolen from day by day. On Aug. 29, Hanifa’s Anifa Mvuemba came forward with her own story. In a tweet, the founder and fashion designer voiced her frustration since one of her designs being stolen. “Only because this sample took me monthssss to perfect,” she wrote. “This is actually crazy. I’m not going to tag or mention them. But this is crazy.” Only because this sample took me monthssss to perfect. This is actually crazy. I’m not going to tag or mention them. But this is crazy. pic.twitter.com/GDZQg6vTBK — + (@AnifaM) August 29, 2022
Kanye West has been off the grid for a minute, but now one of his popular records has stirred up a new legal battle. Variety reports that a lawsuit has been filed against Universal Music Group for the rapper’s song “Power,” the debut single off his album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” sampling King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man.”
There’s no need to walk into interviews blindly anymore. There are many AI tools designed for interview prep, offering features ranging from mock interviews to personalized feedback. These platforms allow users to receive guidance from knowledgeable AI and even connect with other real people for more realistic practice. Some of these platforms are specifically designed to aid interview candidates in certain fields, like tech, but others provide personalized practice for a variety of fields . With stiff competition in a job market that’s already hard to break into, using AI for prep can help take some of the stress out of interviewing. Let’s explore 10 AI tools designed for interview prep, what they do, and which interview candidates can benefit from them the most. Interviewing.io This resource is best for those pursuing technical roles, especially software engineering . Interviewing.io offers anonymous mock interviews with engineers from top tech companies that provide detailed...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. The question of who controls your data and how it’s used has been a topic of discussion since the dawn of the internet. The rise of social media giants like Meta and X has only heightened awareness and concern around data privacy. What happens when data collection goes beyond your age and interests to your genetic makeup? That’s the concern surrounding the recent news about 23andMe. As reported by AP News, the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after former CEO Anne Wojcicki’s attempt to buy back the company’s assets fell through. Founded in 2006 by Wojcicki, Linda Avey, and Paul Cusenza, 23andMe was created to empower consumers with insights about their genetic makeup to inform health decisions. As reported by CTech, the company went public at a $3.5 billion valuation and was once valued as high as $6 billion. In addition to consumer-focused tests, 23andMe has contributed to genetic...
A Black woman-owned wine brand has secured a sweet victory. Established in 2023, IBest Wines has secured a partnership with American Airlines. The company was launched by Ingrid Best, who carries two decades of experience in the wine and spirits sector from companies such as Diageo, Moët Hennessy, and Bacardi, the company website mentions. She entered the industry as a brand ambassador, assisting in the launch of a small rum brand for Diageo in San Francisco, CA, New York, and Miami, FL, she said during an interview on “Way Up With Angela Yee.” She later rose up the ranks in the aforementioned companies, holding titles that include Regional Marketing Manager for Hennessy (2013-2016), Brand Director for D’USSE (2019-2020), and CE’s EVP, Global Head of Marketing Spirits (2021). Her career milestones include managing two of the largest venture joint spirit partnerships. “I was so fortunate to be exposed to every facet of the business, which typically, in an ambassador role, you aren’t...
Fans are flocking to support the music of the late Angie Stone. The Grammy-nominated soul artist and member of The Sequence passed away on March 1, 2025, at 63 years old, according to Variety. Stone was in a car accident with an 18-wheeler while traveling from Montgomery, AL, to Atlanta, GA, causing her vehicle to overturn three times. Of the nine passengers in her van, she was the only one who did not survive. Stone, born in Columbia, SC, is survived by her children Diamond Stone and Michael Archer and her grandchildren. “Never in a million years did we ever expect to get this horrible news,” Diamond and Michael said in a statement, the outlet notes. “Our mom is and will always be our everything. We are still trying to process and are completely heartbroken.” Stone leaves behind an imprint that includes her most revered song, 2001’s “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” 10 solo albums, and three Grammy nominations in categories including: best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals...
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...
Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool, but its effectiveness depends on how well you communicate with it. Whether you’re drafting emails, creating social media content, or tackling complex problem-solving, refining your approach to AI prompts can make a significant difference. By understanding key prompting techniques, you can guide AI to generate more precise, relevant, and valuable responses. How Different Prompting Techniques Shape AI Responses Zero-shot prompting allows AI to generate responses without any prior examples. This method helps brainstorm fresh ideas, generate unbiased perspectives, or explore open-ended requests. For instance, if you ask AI to “Write a social media post about the benefits of remote work,” it will create a response based purely on its training data without any specific context. However, when you need a more structured response, few-shot prompting offers a way to refine AI’s output. By providing a few sample responses, you help AI understand the...