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Tyrese Gibson’s life was changed for the better thanks to a Coca-Cola commercial. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Gibson garnered a lot of attention, which would spark a bidding war with 20 record labels, due to his appearance singing in a 1994 Coca-Cola commercial while a student at Locke High School in Los Angeles, CA. He learned about the commercial opportunity through his late music teacher, Reggie Andrews, who received a call that the company was hosting national auditions scouting for new talent, specifically a male between the ages of 16 and 18, Gibson explained while on the podcast “Club Shay Shay.” It would also be Andrews who took Gibson to the audition because he did not have a car and money was tight at the time. “I was broker than broke. My stomach was touching my ribs. I didn’t have a car. I didn’t have a ride,” Gibson recalled. “It was no way I was getting on the bus, especially with a transfer ’cause it was like close to downtown LA, and I was living in Watts South...
Tyrese Gibson, widely known simply as Tyrese, is a multi-hyphenate talent regarded for his work on film and television, as well as his Grammy-nominated music career. Like many A-listers, Tyrese has worked his way up from small commercial placements to top-billed positions in massive blockbuster films. Unlike a number of his peers, however, Tyrese Gibson amassed his net worth purely from his own talent, business acumen, and hard work, rising out of the slums of the Los Angeles neighborhood Watts and earning millions. There are conflicting reports for Tyrese Gibson’s net worth, ranging from $5 million to over $30 million. Suffice it to say that the talented performer holds a multi-million dollar fortune, which is earned through a number of high-profile income streams. Here’s a brief look at where Tyrese came from, where he is now, and the many avenues he has utilized to earn his fortune. Tyrese Gibson’s Humble Beginnings (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) Tyrese was raised by a...
When you think about the most recent travel advertisement you saw, do you recall seeing any Black people? After realizing there were not many Black people represented in travel company commercials, entertainer Tyrese Gibson knew that something had to be changed. From this thought, he created Voltron Travel, an online travel platform that was launched in 2013. It’s a Black-owned travel service that is dedicated to making the booking experience nothing short of ordinary for people who look like us. Now, the actor has relaunched his platform powered by Priceline® Partner Network. Recently, the travel company announced that it will partner with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to provide scholarships and other educational opportunities for thousands of students each school year. “We applaud Tyrese Gibson and Voltron Travel for their commitment to the Black College Community,” said TMCF Vice President of Development Betsy Burton-Strunk in an official statement. “Finding partners...
Tobe Nwigwe’s investments in himself and his savvy networking have paid off immensely. At Art Basel Miami, the artist and fashion designer took part in a panel discussion, reflecting on his journey so far, moderated by “Earn Your Leisure” podcast hosts Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings. He shared a memorable story about invest ing in his own artistry by funding a feature with Pharrell Williams , who was already a fan of his work. “Pharrell charged a lot of money for his beats. It costs a lot of money. So when he hit me up and was like, ‘Yo, I love what you’re doing.’ I was like, ‘Man, appreciate it.’ He was like ‘Man, the industry been waiting on somebody like you.’ I was like ‘ Man thank you, man.’ He was like , ‘It’d be honor if you could come up to Miami ‘ and we met Pharrell,” Nwigwe said on the panel. Photo Credit: Earn Your Leisure Their collaboration resulted, and as part of the agreement, Nwigwe received an invoice for the feature — a testament to the professional exchange that...
According to Jamé Jackson, whether you recognize it or not, you are a brand. Jackson, the founder of the entrepreneurship website and podcast “TheBlondeMisfit,” serves as LinkedIn’s community manager of community segments, overseeing over 17,000 individuals. Her tenure with the social networking platform for professionals has centered on scaling its video content and viewership. According to her LinkedIn, coaching, workshops, and initiatives have led to an increase of 0.05% in video creation and attracted VIP and executive clients from tech companies to the platform. “My contributions have positioned LinkedIn as a leader in video-first professional storytelling, further reinforced by my role in ramping the video tab beta to over 10 million members, resulting in a 16% month-over-month expansion within just 12 weeks,” she describes on her LinkedIn profile. Jackson joined the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast, hosted by AFROTECH™ Brand Manager Will Lucas, where she emphasized the...
Seasoned tech executive Omar Johnson is leveraging his experience to revolutionize how brands market themselves. Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Johnson’s exposure to technology was initially limited to video games and consumer electronics. However, his inquisitiveness grew and ultimately helped him secure roles with major tech giants. “A lot of my curiosity was sort of like self-driven,” he told AFROTECH™ in an interview. Tech Journey Johnson’s interests also lay in marketing, leading him to earn an MBA from Emory University in 2004. Following a brief stint at Campbell Soup Company as an associate brand manager, he transitioned to roles with brands such as Coca-Cola and Nike. At the latter, he began as an assistant brand manager before being promoted to content manager of advising and innovation, which remained his focus. “Find the most important things that the company is betting on for the future and work on those things,” Johnson explained. “I always had that sort of lean when I was at...
Activism has always been the center piece for Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson. Advocacy Was In His DNA Within his family home during his upbringing, his parents would often discuss issues faced by their eastern Long Island community. The family even once skipped out on a family trip to Six Flags in New Jersey due to his parents allocating the funds to support Jesse Jackson’s second run for presidency in 1988. “I remember really early on getting involved in protests and activism and knocking on doors with candidates well before I could even vote,” he told AFROTECH™. “So it’s always been part of my DNA… There was something about that I was always drawn to about social change and about the idea that I could be part of making the world a better place, making things better for my family, making things better for my people, making things better for myself.” To no surprise, Robinson’s community work also take root in Long Island, an area which he says had a small population of...
It is no secret that professional sports players are some of the world’s highest-income earners. From basketball to soccer to American football, these athletes earn a top dollar through highly negotiated contracts to play the game they love. But who are the people who ensure these massive deals are secured? Agents have been on the front lines of deals and negotiations to ensure their clients receive the “big bucks” and contracts that reflect their skillset and worth. One of the more prominent firms involved in some of sports’ largest deals is Klutch Sports, led by founder Rich Paul. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rich Paul (@richpaul) According to an AFROTECH™ profile, Paul built his career without attending college. After high school, he started reselling vintage jerseys, which led to a chance meeting with LeBron James in 2002. At the time, James, a 17-year-old basketball phenom, admired Paul’s powder blue Warren Moon Houston Oilers throwback jersey in an airport,...
Embracing technology has helped Tems evolve her artistry. Born Temilade Openiyi in Lagos, Nigeria, the Afrobeats R&B star had a deep passion for music from a young age — even joining a choir as a teenager — and recognized the art of making music was always more than just a side interest for her. “The way I love music, the way I loved writing and making music, producing, it was more than a hobby,” Tems expresses on “The Breakfast Club” podcast. “It’s just something that I just genuinely enjoyed. I didn’t expect ever to make anything from it. I was just like, ‘Yeah I could do this all day. If I can get a job to sustain me, and I’ll just be doing this all day.’ Literally that was my mindset.” Tems’ fire for music followed her in higher learning. She attended Monash South Africa, a university in Johannesburg, South Africa, GQ reports. In her dorm room, she continued to write songs and relied on YouTube to learn how to make beats. She also used Logic software to record and produce....
Allyiah Gainer is making a bag from YouTube alone. From An HBCU Student To YouTuber Gainer’s rise as a content creator and beauty guru dates back to 2015. She was briefly a student at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL, and intended to pursue a career in pharmacy. Her motivation for attending school was driven by her father, and after they had a falling out she dropped out of school, as shared during the “Big Boss Energy” podcast with Kayla Burke. However, Gainer remained enrolled to make use of her dorm and meals, which had already been covered under her full-ride scholarship. “I needed somewhere to live, right? I couldn’t just peace out,” Gainer explained on the podcast. Her new plan was to fulfill her dreams of becoming a makeup artist, and she secured a part-time job at a MAC store located at a nearby local mall, which had been her highest-paying job at the time. ESSENCE reported she was also able to land her own clients who were her former classmates. When she realized...
Monique Rodriguez is turning a new leaf. Rodriguez is the founder of organic and natural haircare line Mielle Organics, which she founded in 2014. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, her company achieved early success scaling from her garage into major retailers, including Target, Walmart, and CVS, among others. By 2021, the company had been worth over $100 million. Although this achievement stands as a remarkable milestone for Rodriguez, her path to securing investments hasn’t always been paved with ease and success. Inc. Magazine reports she bootstrapped her business for the first seven years and then shifted her attention to securing capital. However, in the process she was met with rejections and unexpected changes to term sheets. In fact, a group of investors once presented her with a $2 million deal for 40% stake in the company, which she turned down. “I knew in my spirit that they were not the right investors, but I felt that because I wanted to continue to grow my business, I...
Quinta Brunson’s rise in entertainment continues to gain recognition. According to a news release, the Philadelphia, PA, native is set to receive an honorary degree from the city’s Temple University. She will first be presented with the 2024 Lew Klein Excellence in the Media Award for her efforts to uplift underrepresented voices in entertainment on Tuesday, May 7, per CBS News. During the commencement ceremony the following day, she will serve as the school’s commencement speaker and receive her honorary degree. “I am simply honored,” Brunson said i n the news release. Temple President Richard M. Englert, shared in a statement: “We are thrilled to recognize Quinta Brunson for her remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication to her craft. Quinta embodies the spirit of Temple’s commitment to creativity, innovation and social impact. Her talent, authenticity and trailblazing spirit inspire us all.” For Brunson, recognized for her successful ABC series “Abbott Elementary,” where...
Rap enthusiasts have argued that the opening verse to UGK’s “International Players Anthem” by Andre 3000 is one of his most iconic lyrical performances. Everything about it, from powerful world play to the melodic flow, creates the perfect formula for a rap verse. Although this is one example, Andre 3000 is held in regard for his lyrical prowess. Whether it is eclectic combinations with Outkast group mate Antwan “Big Boi” Patton or a smooth feature, fans get excited when Andre 3000’s name is mentioned because they know something great is about to come. Born Andre Lauren Benjamin, the Atlanta, GA, native became famous as a member of Outkast — the iconic rap duo. Andre 3000 and Big Boi would make waves in rap, highlighting the talent, depth, and presence of rappers from the South. During the 1995 Source Awards, Outkast won the award for Best New Artist. In a room filled with tension and clamor from rappers representing the East and West Coasts, Andre 3000 took the mic and, without any...
“Fast & Furious” has been around for a reason, according to Ludacris. The latest installment of the successful franchise, “Fast X,” which stars Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, and Ludacris, was released across U.S. theaters on May 19, 2023. Already, the action-packed film grossed an impressive $319 million worldwide, according to IndieWire. As of this writing, it reportedly ranks as the third-highest grossing box office opening worldwide for a “Fast & Furious” movie after “Fate of the Furious” ($541.9 million) and “Furious 7” ($397.6 million), according to Deadline.