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New music from the late legendary rapper Eazy-E could be on the way, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). There are mixed reaction from artists regarding the use of AI. However, the technology has been embraced by some, including Timbaland. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the artist is an advocate for the music AI creation tool Suno. “You can put out great songs in minutes,” Timbaland told Rolling Stone. “I always wanted to do what Quincy Jones did with Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ when he was [almost] 50. So my ‘Thriller,’ to me, is this tool. God presented this tool to me.” Tag teaming in the appreciation for AI is Lil Eazy-E, born Eric Darnell Wright Jr. He is the son of Eazy-E, who passed away in 1995. According to TMZ, Lil Eazy-E has expressed interest in creating an AI-packaged biopic film about his father’s life and has teased a potential joint album in the future. “I actually just got a sample of him talking to me. It made my mind go another route with the possibilities...
Gillie Da Kid and Wallo helped squash a longtime beef between Cam’ron and Mase, leading to a major financial win. Cam’ron and Mase had been longtime friends as Harlem, NY, natives who played on the same high school basketball team, HotNewHipHi mentions . The duo later collaborated in the Hip Hop scene, forming the group Children of the Corn in 1993, which lasted for four years. Beyond the group, Cam’ron and Mase worked together once more on the single “Horse & Carriage,” featured on Cam’ron’s album “Confessions Of Fire” (1988), released by Sony. However, it was reported that Mase, who was signed to Bad Boy Records, requested $40,000 from Cam’ron to appear in the video, per The Fadar. Mase did not appear in the video, and a body double was used instead. Shortly after, in 1999, Mase stepped away from the music industry and became a pastor the same year he released his album “Double Up” (1999). “He went to church. I kinda didn’t understand it at the time because that’s my man all day,...
As Kendrick Lamar prepares to take center stage at Super Bowl LIX, alongside SZA, keep a close eye on the production. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Apple Music (@applemusic) It will all be spearheaded by Lamar’s agency pgLang, which embraces creators from authors, film and television directors, producers, musicians , and more who are aligned in the vision to produce “quality” and “unconventional concepts,” its website mentions. Currently, 30 individuals and five executives are on board the pglang team, and they will have a hand in Super Bowl LIX — held Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans, LA — working on edits, production, stage design, sound tech, and more. During a press conference with Apple Music, the Super Bowl’s main sponsor since 2022, Lamar highlighted the importance of pgLang’s team, giving them their flowers and acknowledging that their collective efforts are what made it all possible for the show to reach its finish line. “Shout out to pgLang…That’s my...
Jay-Z will be launching a groundbreaking partnership, marking a first in the United States. Billboard reports that Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, a full-service entertainment company, has partnered with South Korean fintech company Musicow to introduce “the first Music Equity Service Provider in the United States.” This will give U.S.-based music fans a rare opportunity to obtain partial ownership of songs created by their favorite artists, while also earning a share of the revenue generated from sales. This will be made possible by giving artists the ability to fractionalize their royalty revenue and sell shares of their tracks to individual investors, creating an all-around win for everyone involved. “The music industry is evolving into a shared ecosystem where fans and creators can earn together,” Roc Nation Vice Chairman Jay Brown said in an interview with Billboard. “Our mission is not only to support and empower artists by providing the tools and services they need to build a better...
Streaming may not be the easiest job, but it’s not harder than a standard 9-to-5 — or at least not according to Kai Cenat . During an interview with Shannon Sharpe on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast, the online streamer was asked if his job is more difficult than a typical 9-to-5, to which he replied, “F-ck no.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Club Shay Shay (@clubshayshay) “Anybody who says streaming is harder than a 9-to-5 is an idiot,” Cenat said. “I work so hard on my streams, it takes a lot of hard work, there’s a lot of planning. You got to be in front of a camera for dozens of hours. I understand that, it’s hard.” “But harder than a 9-to-5? You’re talking about somebody that may not even want to be there,” he continued. “I love streaming. I think about it all the time… The average 9-to-5 worker don’t want to be there.” Cenat added that when those that work a 9-to-5 job finally receive their paychecks, they often use them to pay bills and care for their...
Lupe Fiasco is stepping into academia to share his insights on rap! The artist, born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, announced on Instagram that he will join Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute this fall as a professor for its four-year Hip Hop degree program. The program is led by Hip-Hop producer Wendel Patrick, who serves as an associate professor of music engineering and technology at the Peabody Conservatory. “Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining the faculty at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute in Fall 2025 as a Distinguished Visiting Professor,” Lupe Fiasco wrote on Instagram. The rapper behind “The Show Goes On” later added, “The @peabodyinstitute is one of the oldest music conservatories in America. World renowned for its rigorous training and for producing some of the world’s greatest musicians, and I’m honored to contribute to this legacy doing what I love most, Rap.” As for what students can expect, the course will include lessons with a...
Despite releasing three albums, Common found himself struggling to sustain his music career. The rapper’s career took off in Chicago, IL, in the ’90s. He released three albums during this decade: “Can I Borrow a Dollar?” (1992); “Resurrection” (1994); and “One Day It’ll All Make Sense” (1997). Common explains that his first album received limited attention and credits his second album with putting him on the radar of some of the industry’s greats. “I remember Biggie doing one of those promos for me, being like ‘Yo this I wish this kid was from Brooklyn.’ I remember seeing Nas, and he was like ‘Keep doing your thing,” Common recalled on the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast hosted by Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings. The rapper also opened up about the challenges he faced in the music industry early in his career, which caused him to question whether it was a sustainable path. “It was hard being in Chicago and trying to get even signed or get heard… I still wasn’t planted in the industry. I...
Investor and “Shark Tank” judge Barbara Corcoran has high praise for Kevin Hart. Hart made an appearance as a guest judge on the show during its 13th season alongside Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner and others. The purpose of “Shark Tank” is to provide a platform for entrepreneurs across industries to pitch in front of powerhouse investors with hopes of securing their investment. Speaking of the importance of appearing on the show, Hart said, according to ABC Audio, “If I can reach back and give opportunities to others, to people of my community, to the younger generation that is coming up that should be our future leaders of tomorrow and our future groundbreakers of today and tomorrow, why not? I’m not in the business of just doing it for me. You know, I think that’s the role that we all play when we get to sit in these chairs, is the role of opportunity for not just ourselves but others.” Hart’s expertise in entertainment and business has made him an...
Google continues to build on its commitment to invest $1 billion in Africa’s digital economy. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Google announced on Oct. 6, 2021, that it would focus on supporting the continent’s tech sector over the next five years to make the internet more accessible. “Today I’m excited to reaffirm our commitment to the continent through an investment of $1 billion over five years to support Africa’s digital transformation to cover a range of initiatives from improved connectivity to investment in startups,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai said during a virtual event held in 2021, per TechCrunch. Fast forward to 2024, and the tech giant has already invested over $900 million since the announcement and expects to reach its goal by 2026, according to information shared on its platform. Its most recent investment includes participation in a $90 million funding round for telecom solutions provider Cassava Technologies, one of Google’s partners in building the first subsea...
Tyrre Burks has raised new funding that will benefit younger athletes. The Chicago, IL, native is the founder of Players Health , a platform providing support solutions for sports organizations, teams, leagues, and clubs. These solutions include insurance offerings and an athlete safety suite that encompasses education and training, injury management forms, incident reporting, compliance forms, and tools to support name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, its website mentions. As a former college athlete who went pro in the Canadian Football League, Burks understands firsthand the importance of athlete safety. During his playing career, he endured multiple injuries, including an experience during his college freshman year when he was paralyzed on the field for 45 minutes. “My freshman year of college I was catching a low ball with my head down, and I get hit. I’m paralyzed on the turf, could not move. This happened… It’s probably the most bizarre feeling you could ever have where you...
Goodr has opened a new grocery store in Atlanta, GA. The Atlanta-based company, which combines technology and logistics to combat food waste and fight food insecurity, is the brainchild of Jasmine Crowe-Houston. “[Goodr] uses technology to solve hunger — that’s our big focus. I think we are taking a radically different approach to how this country solves hunger and food waste,” Crowe-Houston told AFROTECH™ in a 2021 interview. “A lot of times people say to me, ‘How is this a business? How can this be profitable?’ But, the main thing is people have to understand that billions of dollars get spent every year on food insecurity and trying to make sure people have access to food. But, it typically only goes to the same organizations.” She added, “And what we’re trying to do is come in and kind of disrupt that and say, ‘Listen, we’re getting a lot wrong about solving hunger if we’re always going to give money to the same people. We’re going to keep on having the same results.’ Give Goodr...
Content creators are taking over. Entertainment is entering a new era as attention shifts away from traditional cable TV, streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Peacock, and even movie theaters. More people are seeking fresh, innovative ways to engage their time and dollars. And the creators are certainly delivering with engaging content that circulates the web and is also attracting countless celebrities and companies who are looking to capitalize in a new territory. Forbes notes the creator economy is currently valued at $250 billion, and that number is projected to nearly double by 2027. Three top Black creators are not just participating in this revolution — they’re leading it. Kai Cenat Kai Cenat currently holds the crown as Twitch’s most-subscribed streamer, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. The New Yorker, who once lived in a shelter, recently concluded his month-long November 2024 “Mafiathon 2.” Users tuned in to his 24/7 Twitch livestream throughout the month,...
A new Detroit, MI, coffee shop has opened its doors. Crain’s Detroit Business reports Charity Dean, president and CEO of the Michigan Black Business Alliance, has launched Rosa Cafe + Market at 222 Third Ave. This isn’t Dean’s first venture either — she previously opened a Rosa Cafe, named after her great-grandmother, in 2022. “We just wanted to make sure we were open for the people,” Dean explained to the outlet. “There’s been a lot of excitement about the new cafe, so we wanted to get it open.” The new 800-square-foot storefront, which is currently being stewarded by five employees, is in a luxury residential property close to the Detroit River. The Cafe will be able to seat nearly a dozen customers at once inside while more can gather in its outdoor patio. Customers can expect to sip on various coffee items including an Ethiopian house roast coffee made by Faust Haus Roasting Co. Additionally, there will also be snacks and food options available for purchase. Dean is looking...
Playing the long game paid off for Lady London. While speaking with Revolt CEO Detavio Samuels on “The Blackprint” podcast, the Bronx, NY-born artist spoke candidly about her journey into securing revenue through brand partnerships. It all began by considering the brands she often used and researching what she needed to build relationships and land opportunities. “I started YouTubing things like how are people reaching out to brands and figuring out like who’s their key point? Who handles talent? Who handles like brand partnerships within this thing? Reaching out to them with emails, forming a deck. Get your one-sheet or your EPK (Electronic Press Kit),” she explained on the podcast. Key metrics she flagged that help individuals determine their brand value included follower count, the number of females and males interacting with content, and the top five target areas. Lady London added, “Show all the things that make you a person on one thing, and send it off to brands and say,...
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is making significant moves in the real estate sector. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, the boxing world champion has invested $402 million in an affordable housing project in New York, which includes over 60 buildings with more than 1,000 units “Growing up, I used to dream about owning just one home by myself, when you work hard you can achieve anything,” Mayweather told TMZ. Mayweather’s investments in real estate also include ownership of nine skyscrapers in New York through a partnership with SL Green. “‘You see that building right there? Yeah, we own that. You see this building? We own it.’ So we was walking and walking . Then he said, ‘You know, a boxer makes money when he’s boxing. A football player makes money when he’s playing football. A basketball player makes money when he’s playing basketball.’ He said, ‘But New York real estate, you make money when you sleep.’” On Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, Mayweather also invested in a $10 billion office portfolio...