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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. âYou can put out great songs in minutes,â Timbaland told Rolling Stone. âI always wanted to do what Quincy Jones did with Michael Jacksonâs âThrillerâ when he was [almost] 50. So my âThriller,â to me, is this tool. God presented this tool to me.â 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 fatherâs life and has teased a potential joint album in the future. âI actually just got a sample of him talking to me. It made my mind go another route with the possibilities...
Travis Scott has launched a new program that will fuel the design and creativity of students. In 2020, the rapper and songwriter extended his impact in his hometown of Houston, TX, by launching the Cactus Jack Foundation in November 2020, providing the next generation with educational and creative resources, Variety notes. One year after its inception, the foundation launched the 60,000-square-foot Cact.us Design Center at TXRX Labs, serving at-risk middle and high school students. It offers training, mentorship, and exposure to career paths in graphic design, fashion, and music, according to information shared with AFROTECHâ˘. The foundation also provides $10,000 scholarships to college students in partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Fund through the Design Ethos Program. It has awarded scholarships to two cohorts since 2024. Recipients include: Gerald Baano-Stewart II (Morehouse College, 2024) Amanda Kerr (Savannah College of Art and Design, 2024) Satchel Smith (Thomas...
Will.i.am believes creatives will continue to stand the test of times in the midst of artificial intelligence (AI). One Step Ahead In Technology The rapper and singer-songwriter has been ahead of the curve of technology for quite some time. As AFROTECH⢠previously reported, he was an early investor in Beats Electronics and even incorporated their technology in the Black Eyed Peasâ âBoom Boom Powâ music video 15 years ago. He reportedly made a fortune from the investment when Apple acquired Beats Electronics and Beats Music for an amount nearing $3 billion. Will.i.amâs interests in technology have only widened since then. He invested in machine learning startup Inflection AI, and through a private investment group he has invested in additional companies empowered by AI such as: Udio Anthropic OpenAi Runaway FYI (Focus Your Ideas) He is also leading change through his own company FYI (Focus Your Ideas). As AFROTECH⢠previously reported it is an AI-driven collaboration platform created...
Eve is making major business moves â specifically by securing a major deal. According to Music Business Worldwide, Olivier Chastanâs acquisition firm, Iconoclast, announced on Wednesday, Sept. 25, that it acquired the publishing rights to the double platinum-selling Hip-Hop artistâs catalog. âEveâs contributions to hip hop and popular culture are unparalleled. Sheâs not only a great artist but a true pioneer for women in the genre,â Chastan, founder and CEO of Iconoclast, said. âWe are honored to help preserve and elevate her incredible legacy, ensuring that her influence continues to inspire future generations of artists and fans alike,â he added. Eveâs claim to fame came in the late 1990s with her debut album, âLet There Be EveâŚRuff Rydersâ First Lady,â which catapulted her to top the Billboard 200 â the third female rapper ever to do so. Iconoclast described her as a âtrailblazerâ and a âdefining voice in hip-hop, known for her lyrical prowess, dynamic flow, and unique fusion of...
As lavish as it might seem being born into Hollywood royalty, thereâs a lot of pressure on the shoulders of nepo babies . Siblings Jaden and Willow Smith know this all to well, as their parents Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have been walking red carpets and causing controversies at award shows for decades. Though they got involved in the entertainment industry as children (Willowâs acting debut was in 2007âs I Am Legend alongside her father), the brother-sister duo has made a point to carve out their own lane instead of following in their parentâs footsteps. While sheâs an undeniably talented musician, thereâs been talk of Willow Smithâs college plans over the years, suggesting she could take a hiatus from the studio to pursue other fields. The 23-year-old comes from an affluent family, but still, sheâs made a name for herself as a singer, actress and visionary. Her first single, âWhip My Hairâ blew up in 2010; in 2024, Smith continues to impress on her Empathogen LP, which Vogue...
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 â90s. BlackPast reports the original group members included Paul Duane âDJ Paulâ Beauregard, Jordan Michael âJuicy Jâ Houston III, Lola Chantrelle âGangsta Booâ Mitchell, Darnell âCrunchy Blackâ Carlton, Ricky âLord Infamousâ Dunigan, and Robert Cooper âKoopsta Kniccaâ Phillips. The group paved their way first in Memphis, TN, before they found success across the country in the later â90s, ultimately selling millions of albums, mentions Genius. Among their records includes âStay Fly,â âDoe Boy Fresh,â âLolli Lolli (Pop That Body),â âWho Run It,â and âItâs Hard Out Here for a Pimp,â which earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2006 for its feature in the film âHustle & Flow.â 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. âI...
There appears to be no limits for 2 Chainz in his quest as an entrepreneur. Krystal As AFROTECH⢠previously reported the âIâm Differentâ artist was named the head of creative marketing for fast-food chain Krystal, a venture that pays homage to his upbringing with its sliders and shakes. The opportunity led to the launch of a series of new platforms and partnerships with the brand, such as menus, merchandising, and co-branded restaurants based in Atlanta, GA. âI can remember Krystal being a part of so many pivotal moments of my childhood and teen years,â 2 Chainz said in a statement at the time. â Some of my best moments were made better by going to Krystal, and Iâm a fan for life. I want everyone to feel that, too, and canât wait to put Krystal in the spotlight it deserves.â Esco Restaurant & Tapas Scaling his interests in the food space, 2 Chainz has also franchised his Esco Restaurant & Tapas â created alongside his business partner Mychel âSnoopâ Dillard in 2016 â with plans to...
Wu-Tang Clanâs âOnce Upon a Time in Shaolinâ 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 âpharma broâ 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 Clanâs sales contract with Shkreli stated that âOnce Upon a Time in Shaolinâ was prohibited from being publicly released until Oct. 8, 2103, which was 88 years into the future. However, the album isnât 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: âDo people still...
Rick Ross is auctioning off items for a good cause. According to Billboard, the rapper is teaming up with Julienâs Auctions to host Push It to the Limit: Luxury and Lifestyle, a two-day event held June 25-26 live and online with 800 items up for grabs. People mentions items such as Rossâ exclusive collection of street and contemporary art, designer wear, rare sneakers, and music memorabilia like Michael Jacksonâs sealed âONEâ by Cirque du Soleil light-up glove , and more. Specific items include the Air Jordan Retro 5 âUniversity of Michigan Fab 5â PEs (estimated value, $2,000-$3,000); Air Maxes (est. $1,000-$2,000); DJ Khaled âFather of Asahdâ Air Jordans (est. $3,000-$5,000) and Virgil Abloh Off-White collaborations (est. $500-$700); Versace silk shirts (est. $500-$700); and designer sunglasses and varsity jackets (est. $200-$500); among others, per Billboard. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julien's Auctions (@juliens_auctions) Whatâs more, in partnership with The...
Will Smith learned a tough financial lesson early on in his career. During an episode of the podcast, â7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony & Kid Mero,â Smith reflected on a peak moment in his career in 1988. Smith had won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance with DJ Jazzy Jeff for their single âParents Just Donât Understand,â Pop Sugar reports. Their win was even more significant because it was also the year that the Best Rap Performance category was introduced. However, that career highlight also came during a time when Smith ran into trouble for neglecting to pay his taxes. âI was like, you know the IRS gets money from everybody, they donât like need mine, but they felt differently,â Will said on the podcast. âSo, I didnât pay taxes for the two years and won a Grammy and all that. So, they just thought they should take my stuff. So, I was a little down, and I went out to L.A. I sold everything in [Philadelphia, PA], like I was, like, broke-broke sold everything in Philly.â According...
Snoop Dogg was one of Redditâs earliest investors. The social news website and forum was created in 2005 by Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian while they were college students at the University of Virginia. Their idea was supported through startup incubator Y Combinator, which gave them access to $12,000 in funding for their vision to build âthe front page of the Internet,â The Street reports. The company would grow as users were able to create a slew of subreddits that encompass a range of topics. Six years from Redditâs inception, it became a major player in the social media sphere, boasting 35 million visitors and 2.8 billion pageviews, Ohanian wrote in Fast Company. In 2014, the company attracted the support of Snoop Dogg, who participated in a $50 million seed round led by Sam Altman, now OpenAI co-founder and CEO. âI worked my way in. You understand me? I didnât mean to tell everybody, but Iâm a part of Reddit too,â Snoop Dogg said in a 2017 interview for âGGN News.â The...
Over the past few years, TikTok has been completely dominating the social media space. Within its takeover, musicians have been able to grow their fan base â whether it be through viral dance challenges or the song itself trending. The popularity and traction found on the app have also been translating into skyrocketing streams. Here are seven Black artists who have a high streaming record (or several) thanks to going viral via TikTok.
Instagram is back with its ongoing initiative to invest in emerging Black artists and designers. As previously reported by AfroTech, in 2021, the social media giant partnered with the Brooklyn Museum in a joint effort to launch the #BlackDesignVisionaries. This year, the grant program is back and bigger than ever.