Have you ever been hanging out, and suddenly the dance floor got slightly “excited?” This likely could’ve happened when you heard the sounds of will.i.am and the Black Eyed Peas. From songs like “Let’s Get It Started” to “My Humps,” the eclectic group has music that helps define moments and keeps the party going. However, the group’s musical prowess is not by happenstance. Arguably, much of the group’s success can be credited to its leader. Born William James Adams, Jr., the Los Angeles, CA native, has early childhood roots in music stemming from his early beginnings in the Estrada Courts housing projects. During these early times, he found inspiration from legendary Hip-Hop acts like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. In fact, the “I Like To Move It” rapper found so much inspiration from those groups that he doesn’t even have an answer for the age-old rap question: Biggie or Tupac? In a recent interview with Skillz on the Hip-Hop Confessions podcast, the Black Eyed Peas leader...
Legal battles over late rappers’ estates have been heating up headlines as of late. Earlier this month, AfroTech previously reported that Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s children claim they have yet to receive money from their father’s estate. Now, the lawsuit between Sekyiwa Shakur, Tupac’s sister, and Tom Whalley continues to unravel.
Fans will get a more in-depth look into the life of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur, thanks to an incoming soul food restaurant debuting in Los Angeles, CA, for a limited time only. AllHipHop reports The Shakur Estate will be opening the Powamekka Café in honor of the life and legacy of the late Shakur. The vision will be brought to light in partnership with Fixins Soul Kitchen and will be located near the Wake Me When I’m Free exhibit at LA Live.
Discussions surrounding non-fungible tokens (NFTs) suggest that the market is volatile and could be facing some significant challenges soon. But the creators entering the NFT community are responding with the words of former Atlanta Housewives star Porsha Williams, “Who said that?” This week, AfroTech learned about several new NFT offerings, and we are here as your trusted guide to give you the rundown of each one.
Childhood memorabilia of Tupac has been placed on the online market. Forbes reports that the rare “Haiku” is one of the late rapper’s “earliest pieces of writing ever recorded, and is the first of his manuscripts to come to market outside of his already rare personal correspondence.” On March 23, his early body of work from the age of 11-years-old went up for auction on Sotheby’s with bids looking to reach about $300,000. The sale is their second Hip-Hop themed auction, which includes collected items from late rapper Biz Markie and DJ Jazzy Jay.
Taking a trip down memory lane has gotten Nas wrapped up in a new lawsuit. After posting a photo of him, Tupac, and Redman from July 1993 to his Instagram, Hip-Hop photographer Al Pereira filed a lawsuit against him in February for sharing it without permission or licensing the work, according to HotNewHipHop. The popular photo was uploaded by the rap legend in 2020, which is three years after Pereira registered copyright, according to the outlet. He claims that the Instagram post took away from his work’s worth. Court documents reportedly show that Pereira “accused Nas of ‘profiting from the work’ while ‘using it to increase his social media status.'” Nas has yet to comment on the lawsuit.
Iconic 90s fashion brand Cross Colours has made its way to Nordstrom NYC to launch a one-of-a-kind immersive shopping experience for one of the world’s greatest brands. According to a press release, the brand has announced a two-week exhibition pop-up shop at the major retailer’s New York-based flagship shop as part of Nordstrom’s revolving Center Stage platform — known for featuring some of the most prominent brands from around the world. “Nordstrom is giving the brand one of the greatest platforms in the history of Cross Colours,” co-founder Carl Jones said in a statement. “This launch will be the first time we have the opportunity to showcase our full collection in one place – the fleece, the denim – and in the way that we would like to present it to our customers. We have an opportunity to create a true Cross Colours experience for our customers. For us, that’s everything.” The temporary installation displays both the past and present stages of the brand along with its core...
Black creativity wins again! When it comes to the Internet, we are always sure to start or take a trend to the next level and this time it’s the late Tupac, who’s been the topic of conversation across social media. Just two days after the world honored what would’ve been the Hip-Hop legend’s 50th birthday, an animated version of the “How Do You Want It” emcee made its way around the web. On Friday (June 18), a clip of a scene between the late rapper and Omar Epps surfaced — except Tupac had been turned into a cartoon. A Twitter user captioned the post, “They said if Juice was made by Pixar.” They said if Juice was made by Pixar y’all relax ??? pic.twitter.com/QJwL8mGjJn — Highkage DarkMagiXian (@TallDarkNAnson) June 18, 2021 As you can see, it was accompanied by a video of the scene from the 1992 cult classic where Bishop, portrayed by Tupac, and Q, played by Epps, had an intense discussion after he had been avoiding him after he shot their friend Raheem, played by Khalil Kain....
Dr. Dre had his doubts about Snoop Dogg securing ownership of Death Row Records. Both Hip-Hop artists and businessmen were signed to the label in the ’90s before parting ways. Snoop Dogg’s decision to leave the label in 1997 was difficult, as he faced consecutive challenges. “See, that’s what you gotta understand. Ni–as broke my spirit,” he explained on the “The 85 South Comedy Show” podcast. “They broke me, man. They broke my spirit. Look, ‘Doggystyle,’ workin’ on [The] Doggfather, win my murder case, Dre leaves, Tupac get killed, Suge going to jail, Death Row want to kill me. That’s all in the same year.” Fast-forward to 2022, and Snoop Dogg reclaimed his time, returning to the label not as an artist but as an owner. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he acquired Death Row Records from the Blackstone-controlled MNRK Music Group. “It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely...
Simon Guobadia is a successful entrepreneur, film producer, and philanthropist who gained widespread recognition in recent years, partly due to his appearances on the reality TV show “ The Real Housewives of Atlanta ” and his high-profile relationship with Porsha Williams . As of 2024, Simon Guobadia’s net worth is estimated to be around $40 million. This wealth is primarily derived from his various business ventures, investments, and production projects, showcasing his savvy as a businessman and investor. Early Life And Career Beginnings Simon Iyore Guobadia was born in Nigeria and later moved to the United States to pursue his education and career. He attended the University of the District of Columbia, where he studied accounting, laying the foundation for his future endeavors in finance and entrepreneurship. Simon began his professional career in corporate America, working as a tax manager at various firms, which provided him with a strong understanding of business operations...
Porsha Williams is a well-known television personality, actress, and businesswoman who rose to prominence through her appearances on The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA). Over the years, she has built a considerable net worth through her television career, entrepreneurial ventures, and various endorsements. As of 2024, Porsha Williams’ net worth is estimated to be around $6 million, reflecting her financial growth and business savvy. Early Life And Background Porsha Stewart, now Porsha Williams Guobadia, was born on June 22, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia . She comes from a notable lineage, as her grandfather, Hosea Williams , was a prominent civil rights activist who Martin Luther King fondly referred to as “my wild man, my Castro” due to how effectively he could organize a protest. Porsha’s upbringing and her family’s background instilled in her a sense of ambition, which would later drive her success in both the entertainment industry and business. Television Career And Rise To Fame...
It’s hard to discuss Hip-Hop’s legendary impact without mentioning certain names, and one of those is West Coast icon Snoop Dogg. From his debut song “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)” to his commentary on the 2024 Olympic Games, Snoop Dogg has become a household name across various intersections of the entertainment industry. As the current owner of Death Row Records, he is reconnecting more intentionally with his musical roots. According to a previous AFROTECH™ report, the deal follows the release of Snoop Dogg’s latest album, “B.O.D.R.,” which dropped on Feb. 11, 2022. “I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value,” the 52-year-old emcee said in a statement to NPR in 2022. “It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely meaningful moment for me.” Snoop Dogg is now...